Spring Health: Aligning with Nature

I’m talking about spring health this week in collaboration with Neu Skin Austin - check out her post about how to nourish your skin this spring as well! Spring means Growth, Flexibility, Green, Upward and Outward motion, Movement, Expansion, Newness, Emergence, Cleansing, Renewal. We can tune in to connect with ourselves & the world by any of these actions. The LIver and Gall Bladder are associated with springtime in TCM. Doing a food or energetic cleanse is always optimal at this time. Using therapeutic foods that promote gentle detoxification like burdock root, dandelion, wheat grass, beet and beet greens; or chlorophyll rich foods like any fresh green herbs/ micro greens/ spirulina that promote cleansing but also renewal is wonderful. Sour flavors are also key - lemon, lime, apple cider vinegar, fermented and pickled vegetables. Moving your body with yoga, walking, time outdoors, rock climbing… anything you enjoy! Spend time considering your goals for spiritual and professional growth or change. Spring is a great time to start something new while we are surrounded by the expansive energy and growth happening around us. Spring is also an ideal time to consider changing or leaving anything that is no longer serving you - whether it be an exhausting job, relationship, old habit, or addiction. The Liver embodies a refined assertiveness that is timely, skillful, strategic and forceful, yet remains flexible. When this organ is out of balance we tend to see anger and frustration arise. You may also ask yourself, how could I be more flexible with myself and with others?

Most people have seen spirulina used in smoothies to add a superfood boost to their day, but I wanted to share 2 other ways (besides taking a capsule) you can use spirulina in your kitchen. This is an ideal superfood for spring. Besides mother’s milk, spirulina is the highest source of GLA-rich oils we can consume. These oils are very light for the body and increase metabolism and fat burn-off, similar to flaxseed oil. Spirulina reduces heat signs in the body and can be a key factor in building good blood quality (as in anemia), it is also very easily digestible - suitable for all body types as it is nurturing yet also offers cleansing action due to the high chlorophyll content. A super-green food for a super-green season, & a must-have in your pantry!

Spirulina Gomasio

1 Tbsp black sesame seeds

½ Tbsp white sesame seeds

1 tsp course sea salt

1 tsp dulse flakes

1 tsp spirulina powder 

Mix all components in to a small container and store in the fridge for several weeks. Use as a spice topping liberally on anything from rice bowls, veggies, salads, porridge, soups or popcorn :) 

Spirulina Salad Dressing

3 Tbsp sesame tahini

Juice 1 lemon

2 garlic cloves

1 tsp spirulina powder (or start at ½ if you’re not used to the taste)

2 pitted dates

½ cup water

¼ tsp salt

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth, using more or less water depending on the consistency you like. Great on salad greens, grilled veggies, grain bowls, or as a dip. 

The Wellness Ritual with Alyson Fox

Today marks the beginning of a new series for Medicine Kitchen called The Wellness Ritual. This series is about inspiring people who embody what it is to lead a healthy and conscious lifestyle. These are people who value taking care of themselves, others, and the world at large. I ask them questions about their personal healing journey and the rituals they use in their lives to stay balanced and inspired both mentally and physically. I hope you enjoy! 

Alyson Fox is a designer & artist residing outside Austin, TX. She is my friend and my fitness inspiration. She also happens to be an amazing cook and curious seeker of life-enhancing methods of all sorts. 

MK: So, I know you to be quite healthy in your habits, what is your most tried and trusted ritual for your overall health? 

AF: Honestly, snuggling with Stache (our dog). Hugging our pup close and focusing on his breathing and smelling him really helps to calm me down and makes me more present. Bringing him home from the shelter was the best gift we have given ourselves mentally. He’s so silly and easy. 

MK: When you are able to, what kind of special treatment or therapy do you use to revitalize yourself?

AF: I take a bath that I add mineral salts, baking soda, apple cider vinegar and some almond oil to. I smear a clay mask on my face and soak while reading a magazine. I also get a 10-20  min chair massage before my period.  

MK: Well, I took notes on that bath situation and will be trying that immediately! Do you have a spiritual ritual you practice? If so, what is that for you? 

AF: Laying outside on a blanket with my husband and listening to instrumental music. Stache is usually smushed between us. Also, taking my shoes off and feeling the earth beneath my feet helps me feel grounded.

Alyson jumping on her mini-trampoline. 5-7 minutes per day for cardio and lymphatic drainage.

MK: Was there a moment in your life or reason you became more devoted to self-care and healthy living? 

AF: I was always focused on pushing my body physically from a young age. All of that caught up to me in my early thirties. I went for a run one day and felt very depleted- I’m pretty sure I cried. I stopped 5 minutes in and walked home. I started to rethink what a strong body is. I always felt that you had to exhaust yourself, sweat and eat very specific things to be healthy. Now I have a much different approach. A gentler approach where I move my body often but with softer movements. I eat whole foods but I definitely indulge. I am kinder to myself overall and listen to my body more. 

MK: Take a quick picture of something healthy you ate this week: 

Alyson’s Coconut Milk Chia Seed Pudding made with lemon juice, date, and vanilla powder, topped with peanut butter and figs. :)

MK: What are your current favorite 2 superfoods or supplements and how do you use them? 

AF: 1. Dark chocolate- I eat several squares every- single- day!  Sometimes with cashew butter smeared on top and things like sea salt, cinnamon, black sesame seeds, fig……endless possibilities.      2. Ghee or grass fed butter. I add some to my tea with some almond milk and sometimes I smear on my lips. 

Thanks Aly! Healing hugs for the win :)  

All images (except Aly’s pudding) by Heather Gallagher Photography. :)

Fennel Tea "Cure-All"

Fennel teas are plentiful and easy to find in tea bags in many grocery stores, but making your own straight from the seeds is so much more effective and therapeutic if you are really looking for the health benefits it has to offer. And what are those, you might say?? Well, personally, I like to think of fennel tea being a digestive “cure-all” for many stomach & GI issues. I think that is its biggest strength. Upset stomach, heartburn, gas, bloating, nausea, IBS symptoms, even pain from stomach ulcers can be relieved by fennel tea. You can also modify fennel tea with a few other herbs to customize it to your own taste and need, although it’s already pretty delicious on its own. Another benefit of fennel - the naturally sweet & cool flavor makes a great breath freshener. It would be wonderful to serve a large glass pitcher of this herbal tea alongside lunch for friends or family- they will never suspect you are looking out for their health as well as relishing their company. :) Here is my recipe for basic fennel tea, with some additional variations you might find work best for your tummy:

Fennel Tea:

3 tsp crushed, whole fennel seeds (crushed with a mortar and pestle works just fine to release the oils)

3 C water

Bring water and fennel seeds to a boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes. Strain and drink up to 3 C daily for health benefits. 

Fennel + Licorice Root Tea: Licorice has been researched and proven to help with stomach ulcers, heartburn, and as a general digestive aid. You can buy whole licorice root from an herbal pharmacy and use about 3 grams with the recipe above. *

Fennel + Ginger Root Tea: More warming and stimulating, ginger adds another benefit for digestion by helping nausea, bloating, or feeling “stuck” or cold in your gut. Cut up 3-4 slices of fresh ginger root and add to the recipe above. 

Fennel + Dandelion Leaf Tea: Dandelion focuses more on digestive issues related to the liver. Promoting bile flow, helping digest fats, & cleansing from a rich diet. Add 2 tsp of bulk dandelion leaf in a cheesecloth bag or metal tea ball to the recipe above for a great digestive “detox” tea. *

Happy sipping! 

*Always consult with your healthcare practitioner or nutritionist to be sure licorice and dandelion are right for your body type before consuming in large amounts.