My Morning Coffee

Posted on by Genevieve

I get the question if I drink coffee, a lot actually. Here’s my answer…. sometimes.

I usually drink my interesting decaf coffee concoction (ground decaf, astragalus, and dandelion root) I’ll show how to make it below. I sometimes add actual coffee in, but if I grind regular coffee then I grind cardamom with it to reduce the acidity, jitters, and make it taste even better!

Coffee is bitter and helps to increase peristalsis, the bitter flavor is associated with the Heart in Chinese Medicine. Honestly after my late husband passed coffee was a big antidepressant for me. I prefer to have decaf so I don’t tax my adrenals and cause a stress response in my body, but sometimes when I have a project I don’t want to do (ie. taxes)… if I have my regular coffee suddenly the task seems so much more exciting!!!

Here’s my recipe for my standard cup of coffee in the morning (decaf). 1 part each of: decaf coffee, dandelion root, and astragalus. I have pics of how finely I grind the herbs as well. I get my coffee from Sleepy Monk since my clinic at the coast in Cannon Beach was just a few doors down and the people working there are the best ever and the coffee is always organic and amazing!!! The physical cafe is closed now, but you can still get coffee online. And then for herbs my standard is Mountain Rose Herbs. Sometimes Chinese herbs are sourced from other companies though.

I add astragalus since it is a Qi or energy tonic and supports our digestive organs: Spleen and Stomach. It is also great for the Lungs and so it boosts immunity. You would just want to avoid it if you already are sick with a cold/flu. I add dandelion root since it tastes a bit like coffee and is great to help the Liver release bile and is supportive of gentle detox in our body.

I grind each of these finely with a little coarse texture left… perfect for espresso. I actually use my espresso machine with my concoction and its been going strong for almost 2 years even with all that I throw at it.

Astragalus pre-ground

Astragalus ground

Layers of astragalus, coffee and dandelion root

The finished decaf coffee concoction…

And then for my regular coffee I grind 1-2 TBS cardamon seeds separately to add to my 16oz jar of espresso ground coffee.

Thanks for checking this out and hope you enjoy

Time for Spring Cleaning

Posted on by Genevieve

dandelion

I really love to clean… no seriously, it is weird, but true. Okay yes I get super sick of cleaning my house all the time. But nothing feels better to me when I am super stressed… to just do some crazy cleaning. Spring cleaning is great for aesthetics and how the feng shui in the house appears, but it is also great for internal work too. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the Spring is associated with the Wood element, and the Liver organ system. The Liver is paired with the Gall Bladder. The Liver governs the tendons and ligaments in the body and is considered the “general organ.” You know the one that tells everyone else what to do, how to do it and go, go, go!!! The Liver is associated with a SOUR flavor and the color GREEN. The Liver is something we tax in our society in so many ways, physically, emotionally and energetically.

So this Spring lets do some Spring Cleaning and really help support that Liver!!!

Herbs to Support the Liver

  • Best Liver Formula: Xiao Yao Wan (Free and Easy Wanderer) Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach and moves Liver Qi. And come on… the name kind of says it all; I love to be a free and easy wanderer in life.
  • Single Herbs that are great in Tea: Dandelion Root, Burdock Root, Chicory Root, Turmeric, Artichoke Leaf and my local favorite… Oregon Grape.
  • Foods that Support the Liver: Leafy greens, sour foods like lemon, green smoothies, fermented foods, beets and beet greens and seasonal foods.

Movement to Support the Liver

  • ANY movement!!! Remember the Liver governs the tendons and ligaments in the body… so just getting up and getting moving is going to help make the Liver happy. Taking a nice brisk walk to enjoy the emerging flowers around town; oh this is really embracing the Spring energy of the Liver…. ah…

green

Benefits of a Healthy Liver

  • Hormone Balance
  • Improved Digestion
  • Increased Energy
  • Efficient Detox
  • Less Allergies

Ways to do a Gentle Spring Clean on the Liver

  • Up the amount of fresh plants and veggies in the diet
  • Drink a Liver supportive tea daily for two weeks
  • Add some lemon juice to your water (please drink room temperature or warm, not iced water)
  • Try to eat healthier: limit oils, limit processed foods and heavy, hard to digest foods like animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, etc.)
  • Foods to focus on: salad greens, vegetables, dark leafy greens, green smoothies, green juices… see the GREEN theme here

Green Juice Recipe to Support the Liver

  • 1 green apple
  • 6 leaves of romaine lettuce (or other salad green)
  • 1 chard leaf
  • 2 kale leaves (or sub 1 collard green)
  • 1/4 bunch parsely
  • slice of lemon (if you like more sour add more lemon)
  • Ginger (optional, but I love the warming balance)

Green-Juice