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Black Sesame and Goji Berry Tea

  • 1 cup black sesames
  • 2 Tbsp goji berries, rinsed
  • 3 cups water
  • Brown sugar (raw, unprocessed)

Bring sesame seeds, goji berries and water to a boil and then reduce to a simmer partially covered for about 20 to 30 minutes until 1 cup of tea remains. If it does not cook down in 30 minutes, the flame is too low. Strain tea and sweeten to taste.

Black sesames are very calming and good to drink in the morning if you have morning anxiety, or in the evening if you have trouble winding down. Black sesames nourish and calm the adrenals, as do the goji berries; overall the formula is very moistening. Brown sugar is full of minerals as are the sesame seeds, so this formula is rich in calcium and good for the bones. Brown sugar can be avoided for those sensitive to sugar, but the seeds are bitter. Maple syrup and honey are also suitable sweeteners as is agave; however, I prefer maple syrup or brown sugar for their high mineral content.

Ingredients can be purchased at the local Chinese grocery store or from an on-line service for Chinese herbs, such as Kamwo pharmacy.

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Winter Bath

  • 1 Cup bath sea salt
  • 1 tbsp almond oil or 2 tbsp whole milk
  • 3 drops sweet orange essential oil
  • 3 drops lavender essential oil
  • 1 – 2 drops ginger essential oil
  • Mix together.

Here is a simple recipe for a winter hot soak. It will keep you warm and healthy all winter long. The sea salt bath gives our bodies much needed minerals. The sweet orange and lavender calm the nervous system and release tension. The ginger warms the muscles and relieves pain. The oil or milk acts as an emulsifying agent.

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The Modified Yeast-Free Diet

The basic idea of the diet is to avoid dairy, wheat and sugar, including fruit juice and fruit juice sweetened products, agave, alcohol, you get the picture.

One to two pieces of fruit a day are allowed, but not tropical fruit, such as pineapple, mango, papaya, banana, they are too sweet.  The whole fruit must be eaten, not just the juice.  Most dried fruit is too sweet, goji berries are OK, but they should be cooked prior to eating.

Wheat should be avoided, miniscule amounts in soy sauce won’t kill you, but use moderation.  Wheat free soy sauce is available.  Other grains are OK except barley and rye, but I generally encourage people to get off all types of bread and crackers, even rice crackers, they just turn to sugar in the gut, especially if you binge on them.  Rice is a great grain, white or brown.  White is actually easier to digest, and it is a complex carb, it has staying power.  Brown rice should be washed and presoaked for at least 6 hours and up to 24 hours, that water should be dumped and fresh water used for cooking.  It makes it easier to digest, and prevents constipation, it also brings out the grain’s natural nutty flavor.  Pre-soaking is recommended for all whole grains.

Oats should not be over-processed, if it cooks in less than 10 minutes it is over-processed and breaks down too quickly into sugar in the gut.
Try Bob’s Red Mill oats, they cook in about 10 minutes and do not require pre-soaking.
I also love the buckwheat, it is not wheat, is gluten free and very good for you.
Occasionally as a treat, after the first 6 weeks, soba noodles are delicious, but they do contain some wheat as a binding agent.

Click here to view the modified yeast-free diet

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Red Dry Eyes: Goji Berries & Chrysanthemum

Goji berries are all the rage now, Whole Foods sells them and I have even seen them covered in chocolate! I do not recommend the chocolate covered ones. In fact Goji berries health properties are greatly enhanced by cooking them 5 to 10 minutes, throw them into your hot cereal, soups or even tea. A very nice tea full of B vitamins (the natural way) is to make Chrysanthemum and Goji berry tea. Both of these foods happen to be good for the eyes as well.

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Scar Ointment (for New Scars)

Nelson’s Calendula Cream with Hypericum (the cuts and scrapes formulation):

Add 10 drops of helichrysum essential oil (purchased separately- Sunrose is a good brand) per ounce of ointment.  Mix thoroughly.  Apply to the affected area twice daily and avoid sun exposure to the affected area