Many women dread the last week of every cycle because of how irritable and miserable they feel. Chinese medicine has been treating premenstrual symptoms for thousands of years and here at the YinOva Center we have drawn on this traditional wisdom to help modern New Yorkers address their PMS simply and effectively. Many of our patients are surprised and thrilled to find out that PMS can be solved and that they don’t have to put up with feeling moody and uncomfortable every month.

Recently Parents TV came to our center to interview me and talk to one of our patients about using Chinese medicine to treat PMS and below you can see the video

In Chinese medicine uncomfortable symptoms before the period are related to Liver Qi Stagnation and by this we mean that stress and fatigue cause qi and blood to circulate less well and our livers to function sluggishly resulting in hormonal transitions that are not smooth. At the YinOva Center we use a combination of weekly acupuncture to move qi combined with a natural herbal formula to help balance hormones, gently and safely. Your herbs can be specially tailored to suit your particular symptoms so, for instance, if you suffer from breast tenderness we can add qing pi (Tangerine Peel) which can really help. Likewise if  abdominal bloating and gas is a problem we can add mu xiang (Costus Root) to help move qi in your abdomen.

Most of our patients find they need to take the herbs for three months to bring their body back into balance after which we wean them off and, like Suzanne in the interview above, they usually find that their premenstrual symptoms are much more manageable.  Likewise we suggest weekly acupuncture for the first three months followed by a treatment once a month for a further two months and as Suzanne says in the interview this is usually enough to make a permanent change.

There are also plenty of things you can do to help yourself. Here is the advice we give our YinOva patients about tackling their PMS :-

• Get regular exercise. This moves qi and blood and smooths hormonal transitions.
• Eat plenty of vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens.
• Prioritize unsaturated fats such as olive oil and whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal.
• In the week before your period avoid alcohol, coffee, salt and processed foods.
• If you feel irritable take Vitamin B6 (50 – 100 mg)
• If you suffer from breast tenderness take Vitamin E (400mg).
• If you suffer from bloating take take Magnesium (400mg)
• If you feel weepy take Calcium (1200mg)

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A special shout out goes to our YinOva patient Amelia. Amelia, who is 13, has been our patient since she was 5 years old. She heard about our Help for Haiti Month and emailed me and ask if she could join in by holding a bake sale in our office. So last Monday evening she stayed up untill 3am baking an enormous amount of cookies, muffins and cakes. On Tuesday she arrived with her Mom, Joanna, and set out her stall in our waiting room. Many of you met her and bought her cakes, which were delicious. She tended to her stall from 9am until 9pm which was an amazing achievement, especially for someone who had been up so late the night before.

Many of you emailed me to tell me how inspired you were by Amelia’s efforts and on behalf of the whole YinOva community, I’d like to express our appreciation for her hard work and enthusiasm. Way to go, Amelia!

Amelia raised $250 dollars and decided to give the money to Habitat for Humanity a charity that she had researched on the internet and she chose because they had been working in Haiti for over 20 years and so, she felt, they would have the infrastructure in place to be of real benefit to people who were rendered homeless by the earthquake.

One of the many things I love about the YinOva Center is our sense of community. I am thrilled that Amelia felt so at home here that she chose us to host her bake sale and so grateful that you all  supported her, enthusiastically, by buying her cakes and cookies. Thank you.

The Chinese have followed a lunar calendar since 2600 B.C.E. which means that the first day of the year can be anywhere between late January and mid February. This year New Year’s Day happens to fall on Valentine’s Day making this a particularly auspicious occasion for those of us who live in the West.

Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is a time when families get together, put aside disagreements, honor their ancestors and thank the gods for their blessings. People rush to pay off debts before the old year ends and wear new clothes to signify a new beginning. The color red features prominently in decorations and clothing because it is thought to bring good luck and happiness.

It is traditional to prepare for New Year by cleaning your home and here at the YinOva Center we have spent the month of January cleaning house in a variety of ways. Many of you joined me on our annual YinOva cleanse as a way of renewing your commitment to your health for the the year ahead. Mark, our YinOva manager, has been busy cleaning out cupboards and rearranging our office and we are marking the passage of time and the changing of seasons by saying goodbye to some of our lovely YinOva acupuncturists and welcome new members of the team into our office. We wish Marie and Liz well as they start out in private practice and welcome Anne and Kymberly to the YinOva Center. Both of them bring experience and considerable new skills and talents to our team and we are thrilled to have them on board and I know they are looking forward to taking care of you as we embark on the Year of the Tiger.

In Chinese astrology each year is assigned an animal and an element. There are 12 animals and 5 elements and that means that a specific sign only comes round once every 60 years. In days gone by this used to be considered the life cycle of a person although with modern medicine combined with the traditional wisdom of Chinese medicine most of us will be fortunate to live well into the next 60-year cycle.

This upcoming year will be a Metal Tiger year and according to the Chinese horoscope it will be tumultuous. Tiger years are said to start with a roar and end with a whimper so we can expect the year to get off to an unpredictable and tempestuous start. It is said that everything, both good and bad, is magnified during a Tiger year so we can expect great highs accompanied by great lows along with big changes.  People can act dramatically and impulsively so a Chinese astrologer would see it as no accident that Watergate happened in a Tiger year. This rashness can threaten friendships and partnerships and lead to discord in our personal lives.  Those of us who follow the Chinese zodiac are preparing our selves for large swings in the financial markets, political unrest domestically and international conflict.

If all this sounds a little scary you should know that Metal Tiger years are considered forceful but not necessarily unlucky. In fact the strength of the metal tiger can be used to get difficult tasks completed and make the impossible happen. Financial markets although volatile should trend upwards and the world’s economies will start to recover. On a personal level this is a good year to finally face up to your most challenging issues and resolve them once and for all. The heat of the Tiger can have a cleansing effect and we could end this year in a way better position than when we started out. This will be particularly true if we are vigilant about this year’s tendency to rash behavior and are careful to keep our own impulses in check.

So what is the key to getting the best out of the Metal Tiger Year? Here is the advice we are giving our YinOva patients.

• Given that this year can lead to arguments and the severing of relationships as well as impulsive behavior, make a conscious effort to think before acting, to pause and breathe before speaking and to cultivate calmness and clarity through meditation and contemplation.
• Use the forceful energy of a Tiger year to make changes in your own life and confront your most difficult issues.
• The power of a Tiger year can be used to turn around any situation or aspect of your life that is no longer working for you.
• Make balance a priority by eating well and getting enough sleep.
• Focus on activities that are yin to balance up the yang energy this year. Take walks in nature, create a water feature in your home or garden, grow food, read books and spend time in peace and solitude.

wellandgoodnyc.com, February 11, 2010

Jill talks to Parents TV about how to increase your libido

WellandGoodNYC.com, Feb 8 2010

BasilandSpice.com, Feb 8, 2010

For my version I swapped butter for almond butter and olive oil and replaced the sugar with maple syrup. So here is my recipe for whole grain, dairy free new year cookies to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year.

Happy New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Vegan Almond Cookies

I cup whole wheat pastry flour

½ cup spelt flour

½ cup almond flour

1 tsp baking soda

¾ tsp sea salt

¼ tsp ground cardamom

1 cup almond butter

1 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup olive oil

1 tsp almond extract

½ cup slivered almonds

Preheat the 350 degrees

Method: -

Mix the dry ingredients together. This includes the whole wheat flour, spelt flour, almond flour, baking soda, cardamom and salt.

In a separate bowl mix together the wet ingredients. This includes the almond butter, maple syrup, olive oil and almond extract.

Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix lightly until just combined.

Put into the refrigerator for half an hour to firm up.

Drop heaping tablespoons full of dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet

Press down with a fork to make little ridges

Press the slivered almonds into the cookies to decorate

Bake for 10 minutes being careful not to overcook because without the usual butter and eggs these cookies are much healthier but can get dry.

A few months ago a journalist from Cookie Magazine spent 6 weeks using our methods to increase her sex drive. She wrote a great article that many of my patients really related to.  In it she described what it’s like to still love your husband but to have lost your mojo. Using Chinese medicine she starts to get her desire back….  You can download a PDF of that article here.

Whenever I write about sex drive on the blog I get emails from patients sharing their stories and bemoaning the fact that they used to feel more sexual and wish they could recapture those days. It’s not surprising that busy women with families and jobs find that having sex is low on their list of priorities but making the time to be intimate is a crucial way of bonding with your partner. You can read a previous blog article about this here.

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We encourage all current patients to come on in and what’s more we’ll be waving Jill’s waiting list to accommodate new patients straight away. Jill will be working extra hours to make sure we get everyone in.

Come and join us and tell your friends as we pass healing energy from us to you to those in need.

This cleanse started with a colon cleanse and moved on to a cleanse of our large digestive and filtering organs the liver and gall bladder. We then took herbs to help our bodies eliminate parasites and followed this with probiotics to repopulate our digestive flora. Last week we cleansed the kidneys and bladder and this week we culminate in a detox of our lymph and blood along with our skin.

The blood’s job is to nourish all the cells of the body. It delivers oxygen and other essential substances and picks up carbon dioxide and wastes and transports them to the elimination organs to be disposed of. As well as this role in transporting nutrition and waste the blood plays an important part in our body’s ability to defend itself. When we cut ourselves our blood forms a clot in order to prevent bleeding and when we are invaded by a pathogen the blood is our first line of defense. It is the liver’s job to make sure that the blood remains clean but if the liver is sluggish and not doing it’s job properly the blood attempts to rid itself of toxins through the skin. This can cause rashes and skin problems. That is why we cleanse our livers before we start this final stage and cleanse the blood.

Lymph is a watery fluid that moves throughout the body in lymphatic vessels. Lymph is important for fluid balance, it plays a role in removing waste and debris from the body and also attacks foreign invaders. Unlike blood which is pumped around the body, lymph’s progress through the vessels is slow as it relies on muscle contractions to move it through the body. As it slowly circulates lymph passes through nodes which act as filters, helping to destroy micro-organisms and debris.

To speed up the process of cleansing via the lymph it helps to go on a brisk walk or have a massage.

Here are some more detox recipes from my kitchen that Noah, Emma and I have enjoyed.

Tofu Scramble

During our month long cleanse I have mostly chosen grains and fruit for breakfast. Today my husband wanted a change so I put together this tofu scramble for a hearty breakfast without eggs. It got a thumbs up from Noah and so I thought I’d share it with you.

4 green onions, chopped
3 medium sized mushrooms, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 block of firm tofu
1 tomato, diced
1 tsp dried marjoram
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp miso paste
2 tsp Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
1/4 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilanto

• Heat the oil in a frying pan and add the mushrooms and green onions
• Saute over a medium heat for 5 minutes
• Add the tofu along with the marjoram, oregano, cumin, turmeric and cayenne
• Squish the tofu with a wooden spoon until it is broken down and looks like curds
• Add the water, miso, Bragg’s, and tomato and simmer over a medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more water if it starts to stick.
• Taste and add salt and pepper if necessary.
• Take off the heat and add the chopped cilantro and serve.

Split Pea Soup

I love split pea soup and usually use a ham hock to give mine flavor. For this version I added umeboshi paste and a sprinkling of smoked paprika and was pleased with the smoky salty flavor this gave it. Not quite the same as ham stock but not far off.

1 large onion, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
1 large carrot, diced
1 stick celery, diced
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp marjoram
2 cups split peas, washed and drained
5 cups water
1 tbsp Better than Bouillon Vegetable stock
1 tsp umeboshi paste

To serve: Olive oil and a pinch of smoked paprika

• In a large soup pot fry the onion in the olive oil over a medium heat until translucent.
• Add the carrots, celery, thyme and marjoram and put a lid on the pan
• Allow the vegetables to sweat over a low heat for 5 minutes to release their juices
• Add split peas and water and bring to a boil
• Add the vegetable stock and umeboshi paste and boil gently for 30 minutes or until the peas are soft
• Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture briefly so that some of the vegetables break down and thicken the soup. Make sure to leave most of the vegetables intact though.
• To serve sprinkle with smoked paprika and a swirl of olive oil

This week we will be taking herbs that cleanse and tonify the lungs, kidneys and bladder.

Our kidneys, though small, work incredibly hard. Every day the equivalent of 250 gallons of blood pass through our kidneys, which extract toxins and excess water. The kidneys contain tiny tubes called nephrons which over time can become mucusy and congested. Our aim this week is to help clean these tubes so that they kidneys can function better. Sluggish kidney function can make you feel lackluster and tired so you can expect to have more energy as your kidneys cleanse. In Chinese medicine the kidney is also associated with willpower and poor kidney function is linked to fear, lack of motivation and insecurity. Hopefully the work we do this week will help us to be bolder and more motivated.

Our lungs take in oxygen which is absorbed into the blood to support every process in the body. They also get rid of carbon dioxide which is a by-product of the body’s energy production. However, over time the pollution we breathe makes the bronchial tubes in the lungs constrict and produce mucus. This impairs our lung function, causing us to take in less oxygen and thus making us tired and sluggish. In Chinese medicine poor lung function is associated with grief and sadness. So the work we do this week should help us to feel more positive and joyful.

We will be continuing to eat in a way that causes the minimum of stress to our bodies so that our energy can be directed to healing and cleansing.

Avoid :

• Dairy products
• Red Meat
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Processed foods (Emma and I have cheated a bit by using some processed foods from the health food store such as rice crackers, rice bread and oatcakes – I’m fine with this)
• Wheat
• Processed sugars
• Shellfish
• Optional: Nightshade vegetables

Have you noticed that you are less hungry and have fewer cravings? I have found that eating consciously has made me want smaller portions and so far I have lost 6lbs. Like many of you I am also noticing that my skin looks better and I have more energy.

Here is a recipe for baked tofu with gravy which I ate  for dinner last night with broccoli and roasted sweet potato.

Baked Tofu

1 12 oz block of Tofu
1/4 cup tamari
2 tbs of sesame oil

• Press tofu block between two plates, weighted down with a cast iron pan, large bowl of water, or heavy cans, for about 30 minutes
• To make marinade, simply whisk together the ingredients in a bowl
• After tofu is pressed, cut the block into slices 1/2 ” thick
• Place pieces of tofu into baking dish, and cover with the marinade
• The tofu can sit overnight in the marinade but should sit for at least 1 hour
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bake tofu about 35-45 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed.
• Serve with Veggie Gravy

Veggie Gravy

1 Pint Veggie Stock
3 tbsp Nutritional Yeast
4 level tbsp Brown Rice Flour
1 tsp Marjoram
2 fl oz sunflower oil
1 1/2 tsp Earth Balance (or other vegan spread)
2 tbsp tamari
1/4 tsp mustard powder
1 clove garlic

• Put the nutritional yeast, brown rice flour, marjoram and mustard powder in a saucepan and stir over a low heat until the ingredients become fragrant
• Add the oil and earth balance and continue to cook over a low heat stirring for 3 minutes
• Add the stock and bring to a boil stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
• Lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes stirring occasionally
• Add tamari and garlic and continue to simmer for a further 3 minutes before serving.

Last week was all about cleansing our colons. How did you do? Emma and I had a couple of hungry days mid-week but we’re now feeling pretty good. This week we will be cleansing the liver and gall bladder. You can read more about the herbs involved here.

In our house we followed a more restricted diet during the colon cleanse so Emma and I are delighted to be eating more solid food and a broader range of foods. We’re still abiding by the following restrictions but I must say we’re getting used to eating this way.

Avoid :

• Dairy products
• Red Meat
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Processed foods (Emma and I have cheated a bit by using some processed foods from the health food store such as rice crackers, rice bread and oatcakes – I’m fine with this)
• Wheat
• Processed sugars
• Shellfish
• Optional: Nightshade vegetables

Last night, as we settled down to watch the Golden Globes, I made two detox friendly patés for us to spread on rice crackers. Both are adapted from and inspired by  The Angelica Home Kitchen: Recipes and Rabble Rousings from an Organic Vegan Restaurant. Angelica’s Kitchen is a great place to eat when you’re detoxing and I’m really glad it’s just down the road from my office.

Lentil Walnut Paté

Adapted from the Angelica Home Kitchen. (Changed a bit to accommodate what I had in my kitchen.)
2/3 cup green lentils
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cups diced onions
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 tbsp mirin
1 1/2 tbsp umeboshi paste (you can use red wine vinegar instead, if necessary, and add extra salt)
1 1/2 tbsp miso
1 tbsp dried marjoram

• Rinse lentils, place in a saucepan, cover with water (about 2″ above the lentils) bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes
• In the meantime roast the walnuts on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees F for 8 minutes
• Saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil over a gentle heat for 10 minutes
• Drain the lentils and put them in a blender of food processor with the onions, walnuts and all the other ingredients.
• Blend until smooth and serve with tofu sour cream dribbled over the top and wheat free crackers.

Beet and Butternut Paté

Adapted from the Angelica Home Kitchen. (Originally a recipe for pumpkin pate but changed quite a bit to accommodate what I had in my kitchen.)

1/2 a cup of sun dried tomatoes (dry packed)
3/4 pound of onions diced
2 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb of beets and winter squash peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 tbsp marjoram
salt and pepper to taste

• Boil 2 cups of water, take off the heat and leave the sun dried tomatoes in the hot water to rehydrate for 20 minutes
• Toast the sunflower seeds in a 350 degree F oven for 10 minutes
• Steam the beets and squash for 20 minutes
• Sautes the onions and garlic in the olive oil until soft
• Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
• Serve with tofu sour cream drizzled on top and wheat free crackers.

Tofu Sour Cream

From The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds (I love this book)

1 pack of Silken Tofu
1/3 cup soy milk
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp nutritional yeast

• Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until smooth.
• Cover and chill for at least an hour to allow the flavors to blend