LOTUS ROOT, LUNG REGENERATOR AND BLOOD VESSEL REGENERATOR

                                         

                             LOTUS ROOT

THIS AMAZING MEDICINAL FOOD IS DESIGNED TO REGENERATE OUR LUNGS. A CROSS SECTION OF THE LOTUS ROOT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE A CROSS SECTION OF A LUNG.  IT IS THE MOST SACRED MEDICINE AND SYMBOL IN ASIA AND ANCIENT WORLDS.

Description: 

 Golden 6" lengths with approx 2" diameter.  Grows like linked sausages.   You can find them in Asian grocery stores.  In Edmonton, Lucky and Lucky 97 Supermarkets are reliable in the fresh roots during the season.  It is in great abundance during Chinese New Year at the beginning of February.  I have seen it in TNT and Lucky Supermarkets in Edmonton.  Sometimes, you will see the Japanese name on their Produce label card, RENKON.

Lotus Root is so powerful it breaks down the excess mucus in the lungs and entire body.  It is very beneficial for yeast infections, allergies and candida conditions.  Since ancient times lotus root has been known to have an influence on the repiratory system.  It helps to dissolve and eliminate excess mucus in this area.  Therefore it can be used for:

1.  Coughing and colds

2.  Sinus problems, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and pneumonia

How to prepare as Lotus Root Tea

It is always best to use the fresh root as it is the most potent.

1.  Cut 6 thin slices-1/4" thick  (easy cutting w/ thin Japanese vegetable knife)

2.  4 cups of water

3.  1 tsp of fresh grated ginger root or 2 large slices of fresh ginger root

Simmer on medium boil for 20 minutes until golden or red color shows.

Ancient Japanese Favourite

Add a pinch of grey sea salt or a pinch of Tamari (wheat free) soya sauce to Lotus Root tea.

FOR SEVERE PNEUMONIA OR BRONCHITIS

Lotus Root Link Tea

This tea is made from the connecting sections between the swollen parts of the lotus root.  Slice thin cross sections of the connecting sections.  Cook in 300 degree oven for 20 minutes until they are dried.  Stored in glass jar until needed. 

When needed:  

GRIND 1 tbsp of lotus root into a powder.  Put in 4 cups water and grated ginger and bring to a medium simmer.  Simmer for 20 mins until golden or red.  Just know this is potent emergency medicine.  Coughing, usually, stops immediately.

THIS TEA WILL HELP SHRINK AND HEAL BROKEN BLOOD VESSELS AND THEREFORE IT IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN CASES OF STROKES AND HEART CONDITION.

PRESSURE COOKING SHORT GRAIN ORGANIC BROWN RICE

                                

Serves 10

7-1/2 c                           Water

6 c                                  Brown Rice

3 strips or                       Kombu

½ tsp                              sea salt

Wash rice.  For people cooking in stainless steel pot-please soak overnight or 4 hours to remove phytoic acid and to achieve the same digestibility and flavor as pressure cooking.  Soaking also activates the life force of the grain or seed. 

1.      Break kombu into water into 1” chunks.  Bring water and kombu to a slow boil.

2.     Add rice and salt.

3.     Turn down heat to slow rhythmic hiss of pressure valve. (elec-4, gas-med low)

4.     Cook 40 min.  (Optional:  last 10 min turn down to low)

For 1 cup rice – 1-1/4 water

      2                 - 2.5

      3                -  3.75

      4                -  5

      5                -  6.25

LOTUS ROOT - THE LUNG REGENERATOR

Botanical name:  Nelumbrium nuciferum.

Lotus Root Tea:

Cut a lotus root in slices, or use slices of dried lotus root.  Add 4 cups water and simmer covered for about 20 minutes.  Add some tamari soy sauce and simmer another 10 minutes.  This is helpful to melt mucus accumulations in the body, especially in the respiratory system.

In Edmonton, available at Lucky Supermarkets and TNT supermarkets.

LIVER and GALL BLADDER MERIDIANS

FUNCTION:    STORAGE, DISPLACEMENT and ENERGY DISTRIBUTION

Function of Gall Bladder Meridian:

Distributes nutrients and balances total energy through the aid of internal hormones and secretion such as bile, saliva, gastric acid, insulin and intestinal hormones.

KYO:  (means   Deficient energy in Japanese)

Psychological:     Emotional excitement resulting in hypersensitivity.  Sudden fatigue after tension, timid, easily frightened, lack of determination, strained nerves, light sleeper, lack of energy, general fatigue and no guts.

Physical:                Tired eyes, no energy due to fatigue caused by improper distribution of nutrients.  Tired legs, dull eyes, weak eyesight, lack of bile, poor digestion of fats, prone to get diarrhea and constipation; neuralgia; dizziness, mucus formation in eyes, pale complexion, anemic, obese in spite of poor appetite, accumulation of fatty tissues without consumption of greasy foods; easily fatigued, gastric hyperacidity, improper nutritional distribution.

JITSU   (Excessive energy in Japanese)

Psychological:       Assumes too much responsibility; fatigued, tendency to push self in work, pays attention to small details, easily upset, impatient, always in a hurry for nothing; tired eyes, too much concentration.

Physical:                  Lack of sleep causing tired eyes, bloated stomach, loss of appetite, glassy eyes, yellowish in white part of eye and skin; pain, tearing and high pressure in eyes; tendency to blink frequently, stiffness in extremities, stiff muscles, pain in rib cage, bitter taste in mouth, burning sensation in chest, gallstones and spasms in gall bladder, shoulder pain, heaviness in head, migraine headache, constipation, mucus stagnation, itching in area of tonsils, coughing, excessive intake of sweet, lack of sour food consumption.

EPILEPSY

Epilepsy is so misunderstood.   There are so many Canadian people that are put on  pharmaceutical drugs as the only alternative.

We as Canadians need to be informed… just how our bodies work. 

The Epilepsy NEUTRALIZER is:   Acupressure points behind the big Toe nails….3 points, exactly….If you see a friend or client that is going into an epileptic seizure….ask permision to immediately put  your thumb or fingers behind the Toe Nail and PUSH down with deep PRESSURE.  Get the friend to breathe….continue deep breathing and pressure until they are feeling better
Simple explanation is too much pressure and fluids in the head.  Deeply pressing foot acupressure points draws the excess pressure and fluids into the body.

Signs of epilepsy are:

The friend starts to stiffen; sweating on the face and skin. 

These people are far out on the health spectrum.  To remedy this…They should immediately stop all fluids …except for sips of warm water.  With children and adults, immediately stop feeding them pop, sugar and all fruit juices. 

According to Oriental Medicine; if you have developed Epilepsy, you have fluid pressure on the brain and central nervous system.  By pressing the 3 points, behind the toe nail …you are drawing the excess fluid pressure away from the brain and Central Nervous system.  Everyone is always shocked when they see how easy and effective this is.  Within 30 seconds; your friend is okay…and unstiffens and stops sweating.  NO SEIZURE EVENTUATES.

Feed the friends and children, sips of warm tea and soup…no cold fluids or foods.  Study the Macrobiotic food and lifestyle regime….www.macrobiotics.org    and you will always be rewarded with the restoration of amazing health and energy.  If this person has also developed diabetes; macrobiotic nutrition is even more critical.

FREEDOM THROUGH MEDICINAL FOODS…EATING THE FOODS; WE ARE DESIGNED TO EAT.

MINERALS and TRACE ELEMENTS

Minerals and trace minerals are the building blocks of all life.  Minerals function as co-enzyme to enable the body to quickly and accurately perform its activities.  They are needed for the proper composition of body fluids, the formation for blood and bone, and the maintenance of healthy nerve function.  All the minerals together comprise only about 4% of the entire body weight, but they are responsible for major area of human health.  Minerals keep the body pH balanced, and are essential to bone formation and to the digestion of food.  Minerals regulate the osmosis of cellular fluids, electrical activity in the nervous system, and most metabolic function. 

They transport oxygen though the system, govern the heart rhythm, help you sleep, and are principle factors in mental and emotional balance. 

Trace minerals are only .03% of the body weight.  Interesting!  But Deficiencies can cause severe depression, PMS and other menstrual disorders, hyperactivity in children, sugar imbalances, nerve and stress conditions, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, premature aging of skin and hair, memory loss and inability to heal quickly.

Sea Vegetables-Most Nutritious food in the World

Sea vegetables are the greatest food source of nutrition and minerals.

WAKAME –The Women’s Seaweed

Graceful, green fronds with a subtly sweet flavor and slippery texture.  Expands quite a bit, so cut it in small pieces.  High in calcium, thiamine, niacin, and Vitamin B12.  Traditionally used in Oriental medicine to purify the blood, strengthen intestines, skin and hair.  Beneficial for the reproductive organs, and to help regulate women’s cycles.

KOMBU- The Great Enhancer

Mellow flavoured, broad green frond, expands greatly when soaked.  Contains glutamic acid—a food tenderizer and flavor-enhancer.  Softens beans and makes them more digestable.  Sweetens root vegetables in stews, so they melt in your mouth.  For “al dente” kombu, cook ½ hour to 45 minutes, then slice into bite size pieces or julienne strips.  Or, cook it for 1-1/2 hours in a pot of beans, stir the pot and the kombu will dissolve and disappear.

HIJIKI-The Strong One

Striking black strands, with a firm texture and uniquely strong flavor.  Richest of all the seaweeds in calcium and iron—a good choice when you need to be able to stand up under pressure.  Known in Japan as “the bearer of wealth and beauty, hijiki is traditionally used to strengthen the bones, revitalize skin and hair.  Also builds strong intestines.

ARAME-The Artist’s Choice

Delicate brown-black strands with a mild, semi-sweet flavor, and firm, pleasing texture.  High in both calcium and iron.  Surprisingly artful when combined with other foods—try adding ¼ cup to a batch of cornmeal muffin batter, or a pot of split pea soup or adzuki bean salad.  Also delicious and attractive cooked together with buckwheat and onions as a pilaf.   What else could you use it?  If you are looking for a Quick Fix:  Using Arame in a stir fry.  Soak for 5 – minutes and add towards the end of your stir fry cooking.  Add a small amount of tamari (wheat free soya sauce) as you add Arame to stir fry.

BURDOCK ROOT- How to prepare as medicinal delicious french fries

Burdock root is known since ancient times as God’s healer stabilizer for the large intestine or colon.  It is the main ingredient of Essiac tea available in many cancer clinic and health food store in North America.

It is an extremely yang root, long and thin…it cleans the blood, liver and restores the vitality to our colons.

*Alkalizes the blood   *Restores Mental Clarity   *Prevents Colds/Flu

*Curbs sugar craving   

Do you remember the days when running through the fields you would get purple burrs stuck to your pants?  Those were burdock burrs.  The plant has huge elephant ear-sized leaves.  You need a tree spade/pic/sharp trowel to dig up the root so you don’t snap off this long root.  If you choose to dig it up, please, do it with respect and do not take all that is there.

If you buy it from Choice’s health food store or an Asian market where it is often called GOBO.

 To prepare the burdock root as medicinal delicious food 
"More delicious than French Fries."

1.  Wash and cut in the heaven and earth cut which is on a diagonal.

     Use a sharp square vegetable knife as this root is dense and solid.

     Cut burdock root in diagonal slices about l/16” thick. 

2.  Prepare a cast iron frying pan by heating on medium until hot.

3.  Add 3 tbsp of toasted sesame oil

4.  Add ¼ tsp of grey sea salt.  Cover with lid that fits inside the      

     Pan.

5.  Cook for approximately 7 minutes. 

6.  Add pinch of grey sea salt.  Add l tbsp of water if burdock root is

     woody or is sticking to pan.  Cover and cook another 7 minutes.

7.  Add pinch of grey sea salt.  Cover and cook another 7 minutes. 

Add 2 tbsp of cooked root to miso soup for a delicious rich flavour.

Add to stir fry or as additional vegetable to your dinner.

My students often say it tastes like a delicious salty sweet potato fry.

Caution: This root is very powerful so no more than 2 tbsp a day or you will find yourself evacuating more than you want to.

It is high in potassium in its raw state so when cutting the burdock root do NOT put your fingers to your eyes or face.  It will cause an allergic reaction.  Be sure to wash the cutting board and knife 
In Edmonton, you can buy commercial GOBO (Burdock root) at Lucky Supermarkets, TNT, and organic at Planet Organic.

ARTHRITIS, KIDNEY FUNCTION AND SALT BATHS

George Oshawa, the grandfather of Macrobiotic suggests the Number 7 Food regime to relieve arthritis.  To change the condition will take your body the time it needs to release all toxicity in the kidney/blood systems.  By changing your foods to the ‘easiest’ to digest and the ‘highest’ in nutritional value for all organs; you will completely cure yourself in six months.

If hip or knees are consideration and you have cartilage challenges…just know cartilage grows and becomes bone every day.  (teeth, different)  In other words, bone is the final development of cartilage. 

Look for dislocation of hip bone or pinched nerves in the spine affecting the endocrine system which passes through the spine.  The resulting disturbance of hormone function may be caused by weakened kidneys that start to malfunction.

WEAK KIDNEYS CANNOT KEEP CALCIUM in the blood which is needed for bone formation.  Then, degenerative arthritis develops.

Weak kidneys cannot maintain blood alkalinity; causing the blood and other body fluids to become acidic.  If the body fluids become acidic, available calcium is used from your bones and teeth to neutralize acidity and calcium will be lost from bone and cartilage.

Dietary suggestions

Staple foods

50%                whole grains

20-30%          vegetables (avoid potato, eggplant, tomato)

5-10%             sea vegetables (these contain calcium and magnesium-

                        Strong bones)

5%                  raw vegetables (optional)

1-2 cups         Miso soup every day-good blood formation

2-3 pcs           pickles (rice bran pickles-best)

2-3                  times/month beans

1-2 tsp            sesame/olive oil/day

Foods to Avoid

Sugar, sugary foods, cakes, sweetened drinks, alcoholic drinks, drugs, pain killers, high protein foods including tofu, cheese, eggs, high fat foods such as butter, coffee and spices. 

STRENGTHENING THE KIDNEYS

Strengthening the kidneys is the first step to strengthening bones and bone cartilage.

1. Yuen method-major detox triad, strengthening……..
2. Drinks as little as possible so that you urinate 3-4 times maximum per day.  If you urinate more often than that you are drinking too much unless detoxing.
3. Apply a hot ginger compress over the kidneys 2-3 times/week.
4. Massage your spine from neck to hip bone with a ginger juice/sesame oil mixture (1 tsp ginger juice with 1 tsp sesame oil)
5. Dry far infra red sauna to sweat.  If cannot do sauna, do sea salt baths.
6. Take a salt bath every other day.  To make salt bath:  Add 2 lbs of coarse salt to 24 gallons of warm-hot water and stay in 20-30 minutes.

What I have discovered from clients over the years:

1. Clients are afraid of salt….delete all misinformation again around salt.

Dr. William Conners of the Oregon Health Sciences University showed that salt in the diet actually reduces high blood pressure.  He was able to show that those that did not have salt in their diet; their blood pressure was not reduced.

2. Salt deficiencies look like:

insomnia, kidney pain, fatigue, chronic low-grade infections, lack of digestive juices in the stomach or allergy symptoms.

3. If one of my clients has eaten meat or salty foods for a long time; they

May also develop kidney weakness.  Medications create kidney weakness.

What is the function of kidneys in the body?

The body produces waste substances as carbohydrates, protein and fats are metabolized.  Every second 280,000 cells die which also produces waste products.  If these waste substances stay in the body they will make the body fluids acidic causing nerves malfunction and vital organ malfunction.

The composition of blood must always remain constant.  Blood volume must also remain constant.  If blood volume is too high, heart failure might result.  Just know that our blood is used over and over again.  Some blood is eliminated and replaced but not much.  The blood has to be purified and kept constant in composition and volume.  Body function can’t be suspended even for one minute for the blood to be cleansed.  All repairs and adjustments to the blood must be made while the engine is still running.

Blood enters the kidneys and passes through many ducts and tubes and circulates around tissues and membranes that are capable of reabsorbing or passing dissolved solids, water, minerals and glucose.  In adults, 125 milliliters (1/8 quart) of liquid per minute is filtered through the kidneys, about 180 liters or 45 gallons a day which 178 liters or 44.5 gallons must be reabsorbed.

Weak kidneys means that the membranes in the kidneys have become weak and can’t do the job reabsorbing essential substances such as minerals.  So, too much of these essential substances are lost.  These membranes become weak from being overworked by too much fluid to process or too many waste products to eliminate.

Another function of the kidneys related to reabsorbing minerals is maintaining an alkaline condition in the blood.  Calcium, magnesium, potassium and most importantly, sodium have to be reabsorbed by the kidneys to maintain an alkaline condition in the blood.  If the kidneys are weak, these minerals are lost in the urine.

The Health Benefits of Fresh Ginger Root

In Chinese medicine, fresh ginger root is a catalyst or stimulant for our body’s circulation system and blood.  It is used to activate medicines in the roots and foods.  It is delicious in small finely grated form as a topping on salads and foods and will increase your warmth in the cold seasons.

The elder generation use ginger root by soaking their hands and feet in hot water with ginger to stimulate circulation. This helps with treating arthritic conditions.

1.        Aids in digestion                *Perhaps the best root for digestion

2.       .Alleviates High Blood Pressure

**improves and stimulates circulation and relaxes the muscles surrounding the blood vessels, facilitating the flow of blood throughout the body.

**Pregnant Women—ginger treats nausea and Morning sickness.  Ginger root is world re-known for treating sickness. Ginger relaxes the stomach and relieves the feeling of nausea.  Remember, the abdominal area is our second brain.  It is comprised of 20 million neurons behind the stomach.

3.       Lower LDL Cholesterol* reduces (bad) cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart dysfunction.

4.       Helps treat ulcers

5.       Anti-inflammatory

6.        Helps arthritis

7.        Colds, Flu
8.        Immunity Boosting.

hhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/diet/8-health-benefits-of-ginger-tea/articleshow/27715978.cms?gclid=CjwKEAiAgvyxBRDmuviAj67g-XQSJABTLMcHijr5HkfMbzBcoA9a8lAEP_W8XgdJ215hCufLY7mnqxoCm_7w_wcB

Sugar Blues-The sweetest poison of all.

This will astound you...




https://www.quantumbalancing.com/news/sugar_blues.htm

Depression/Mental Illness-Autumn Chinese element of Metal

Hello friends…Welcome to Autumn!  I promised you more on Depression.  In Chinese medicine, Grief and depression are a part of the Autumn or Lung and Colon Season-Autumn.   The seeds we have sown, now we shall reap.

Autumn is a season of gathering nature’s product before winter’s rest.  Autumn marks the beginning of a cycle of personal turning within; its first official day is September 23.  The equinox day, when’s night’s darkness equals the length of day.

Metal element in Chinese Five Element theory is associated with autumn and represents the mineral ores and salts of the Earth.  These function in creating structure and communication.  For instance, metal wires establish connections and conduct electricity.  Your brain and nervous system is analogous to electrical wiring.  Metal in Chinese system is similar to aspects of Air in astrology.  Both Air and Metal energies are expressed in the inner workings and activities of the mind, developing ideas, writing and speaking.  Degrees of mental clarity can be compared to Metal’s varying forms, which range from crude, impure and dense or to a shining, crystal clear gem.  Whiteness in the facial pallor can represent a metal imbalance, mainly seen in the skin around the eyes and cheeks.  This may be especially noticeable in someone who has had a bad cold, or acute or chronic lung problems or in someone who has recently been experiencing great worry, grief or sorrow, the emotions corresponding to the Metal element.

These feelings can be a healthy response, but if extreme or prolonged may injure the lungs or large intestine, the Metal organs.  Worry may cause poor, shallow breathing or the holding back of proper elimination, both important functions of the lungs and large intestine.  The sense organ for the Metal element is the nose and associated sense is smell. 

Metal’s body fluid is mucus and the climate is dryness.  However, extreme dryness can injure this element, as can its opposite climate, dampness.  The mucous membranes contain 2 types of cells:  serous-producing a watery fluid and mucous cells, which produce a thicker secretion.  It is the mucus that protects and coats the mucous linings, while the serous fluid helps wash debris and bacteria from these sensitive membranes.  Normally, there is a higher percentage of serous cells along the linings.  Excessive mucus is actually a relative state of dryness from inadequate water intake, too much mucous producing food or a Metal imbalance.

You have a choice, you can be open and joyful, welcoming each breathe and each change in life by looking toward the new experience and growth it will bring.  Or if you dwell on sadness, you are open to injure the Metal element and in turn to colds, lung ailments and digestive problems.  Your bowel habits reflect your approach to change; you hold on to fecal matter until you even experience pain or you can freely let go of your waste products.  The “holding on” occurs not just in the rectum but throughout the body, involving muscular tightness, mental tension and other restrictions of bodily functions.  If you are “holding on” please re-train yourself to more easily and efficiently process your foods, thoughts and emotions.

Regular bowel movements occur naturally after eating a meal since the gastrocolic reflex causes contraction of the rectum in response to distention of the stomach.  This is true particularly in children.  Congesting diets high in meats, dairy and refined foods and poor eating habits, like fast foods interfere with our regular bowel movements.  Congestion of the large intestine often leads to the displacement and loss of tone of this organ and is the cause of many pains and illnesses.  General abdominal discomfort and low and mid-backaches are often referred from the distention of the large intestine.  In the Chinese metal system, congestion in the large intestine manifests in the neck, head, nose and sinuses.  Pressure in the head and sinuses, headaches, sore throats as well as crankiness, lack of energy and even lack of enthusiasm for life can come from a back-up in this organ.

This is exactly how I developed cancer.  My large intestine was not releasing the waste products so my blood became highly acidic.  Within 2 years of changing my diet and life perspective, my blood was restored to alkaline and I loved life.  You must be aware by now that cancer cells cannot form in alkaline blood.  We are designed to be 7.3 ph alkaline.  We are healthy and happy.

This Depression/mental illness information will continue so in the meantime:

1.    Detox your body-In Autumn, the body automatically goes into detoxification   whether you realize it or not.  Why not support this process and recover your mental clarity.  Please see YOU ARE ALL SANPAKU (brown rice fast) ebook on karencruickshank.blogspot.ca

2.    For detoxifying yourself of negative emotions stay posted for the Behavioral Barometer as it is such a quick and easy tool to eliminate these past negative experiences.

3.    To regain the tone of the large intestine, please chew at least 32 times.  Please read Power Eating by Muramoto on the blog.

4.   If you want a quick way to establish your Acid or Alkaline level of your body; you can buy Litmus paper strips either at the drug store or at a nursery.

Sending you Divine Love and light til next time.

Acid and Alkaline in Life

Acidosis

Acidosis is the tendency towards over-acidity that arises in certain dis-eases.  Acid is always developing in the body but it is usually carried away in the body’s excretions.

There are some conditions affecting the digestion in which acidosis develops either because of increased acid production or because of the loss of alkaline substances by way of the bowels.  This happens when there is much loss of fluid from vomiting or diarrhea.  The treatment is to replace the lost fluid and to hinder the production of acid substances by giving water and salts.  Macrobiotics recommends the following drinks to treat diarrhea or vomiting.

1.    Sho-ban -  soya sauce and bancha or barley tea

2.    Umeboshi plum, ginger soya sauce, bancha or barley tea

3.    Kuzu, umeboshi plum, bancha or barley tea

4.    Miso soup with wakame

5.    Sea vegetable soup

Diabetes is the most common disease which cause acidosis.  In diabetes, the body is unable to use glucose so that fats are incompletely burned and acid substances are produced.  The acid becomes accumulated if there are not enough alkaline forming substances in the blood.

PICKLES-a very important part of our digestive process

Pickles play an important role in our digestive process:

1.  Help in the digestion and absorption of grains
2.  Stimulate appetite
3.  Are a good source of fiber
4.  A good source for absorbing salt
5.  A good way to preserve vegetables

Macrobiotic pickles are ones commonly made use roasted salted rice bran.  The utilization and absorption of a food is a difficult process requiring many steps. Pickles play an active role in many of these steps.
Simply, grains are a Complex Carbohydrate.  A carbohydrate is a molecule commonly found throughout the biological world, mainly in plants.  That is made up of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen.  The most commonly known is Glucose.  The terms, Simple sugar, Simple carbohydrate, saccharide and monosaharide are names for the same thing.  This monosacharide is the base unit (glucose), the building block to make Complex carbohydrates.  In Grains, hundreds of glucose molecules or units are linked together.  The intestines can only absorb the simplest sugars:  Mono and D1(2) sachardies.  The Grain molecule must be broken down into these base units in order to be absorbed and utilized as food in our bodies.
The breaking down process is accomplished by 3 things: 

1.  Chewing-the only physical action of digestion.  In this process, the Grains is torn apart to expose the Complex carbohydrates if you don't chew grains well, it cannot be digested and absorbed.  This is the main reason chewing so emphasized in macrobiotic practice.  Chewing also promotes secretion of:
2.  Enzymes-Enzymes are molecules which catalize (promote and greatly speed up) chemical processes or reaction in our body.  In this case, the process to simple carbohydrate is very important.  The salivary enzyme called Amaylase plays a key role here.  Other Enzymes work in the intestinal track.
3.  Bacteria-also work on the break down of the Grains.  When bread dough uses a fermented or bacteria hosting starter, breaking down of the wheat has already begun.  Old rice is easier to digest because bacteria have begun to break it down.  In our intestines, there are millions of bacteria that live right at the sights of food absorption.  This area with the bacteria is known as your Intestinal Flora.  Here the final breaking down of food occurs before absorption.

Pickles play a role with enzymes and bacteria.  The main worker here is a bacteria known as Lactobacillus, prevalent in pickles.  Lactobacilli aid pancreatic enzymes in the breakdown of complex carbohydrates.  Lactobacilli also produce lactic acid, an important food for the bacteria in the intestinal flora. Pickles help strengthen the intestinal flora.
When making pickles, in our case, rice bran, a process technically known as Lactic Acid Fermentation is occurring.  The key is the early establishment of Lactobaccilli before other bacteria which spoil can multiply.  The latter cannot tolerate the high acidity created by lactobaccilli.
I make quick summer pickles and winter pickles.  With quick summer pickles fermentation is so fast there is no need to do anything.  I rub celtic grey sea salt by hand into cut cabbage or other vegetables.  You can use a pickle press or a rock and a plate to apply pressure.  15 minutes.
Winter pickles, the vegetables are encased in a rice bran/celtic sea salt/water mixture.  It is recommended to flip the vegetables from the bottom to the top so the Lactobacillus can be established.  The pressure will be reduced and the lactic acid fermentation will be allowed to go from 1-6 months, depending on how Yang one wants the pickles.  To halt fermentation, pickle crock is simply refrigerated.  Take out pickles are removed to needed.  Just know the more water in the vegetables, the faster they pickle.
If you are over 40 or come from a farm; remember how pickles were always served as part of a meal.  In Japan, a slice of pickle is always served.

Power Chewing by Muramoto

POWER EATING PROGRAM

YOU ARE HOW YOU EAT

When people experience imbalances in their health, they often try counseling, divorce, relocation, pills, herbs, and surgery. Only as a last resort do they consider changing their eating habits, in the hopes of regaining their health.

When we eat food in a conscious manner, we may, as Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine taught "Let food be our medicine, and medicine be our food."

 Eating is a primal desire, the basis of our survival instinct. Eating is a simple act, yet vastly underestimated as a major influence on health. If you question the importance of food, try fasting for several days, or notice the behavior of a hungry infant. As with all basic human functions, eating can be a greedy indulgence or a spiritual experience. How we eat can merely fill us up and comfort us, or it can heal and transform us.

In many traditions and cultures, eating is considered a crucial, even sacred act. I was told by Lebanese friend that a peasant is not required to stop eating even if a king enters his house. Ancient Jewish law states that if a piece of food larger than an egg is eaten, one must sit down and say grace. Eating with a reverent attitude is recommended in many religious and spiritual ritual practices.

These days, we casually interrupt our meals for the phone and a thousand other hectic, chaotic influences of modern life. While we eat, we jump up and down, talk, read, scurry around, grab a bite, and then grab a digestive tablet.

 According to Consumer Spending Report, Americans now spend over $1 billion on digestive medicines each year Take a good look at your own lifestyle.

If foods are the building blocks of our health, then our stressful mealtime habits are causing us to crumble. Americans are overfed and undernourished. For too many people, food has become a form of entertainment rather than the means of nourishment. Grinning clowns sell high-fat, sugary non-foods. Cartoon characters, film stars and athletes convince Americans to eat junk food.

Yet a growing number of North Americans now are changing their eating habits. Unfortunately, some who eat a healthy diet fail to achieve satisfactory results largely because they focus on what, rather than how to eat. Very few people I observe know how to glean the full power from their food. The effects of even the most healthful meal can be minimized or nullified if eaten improperly.

We each choose what we want for our lives. With PEP, you will derive the maximum benefits from the foods you choose to eat. As you begin to take more care with your food choices, eating manner, breathing, exercise and contemplation, and as you practice directing your energies, you will focus your life more swiftly on where you really want to be.

REALIZE WHY YOU EAT

    Develop an awareness of your motivation for eating. Discover if the reason you are eating is:

1. Mechanical: a spontaneous response to hunger without thought about the quality or effects of food. "I'm so hungry, I could eat anything." "I could eat a horse."

2. Sensory: Eating for the taste, texture, fragrance, visual appeal of the food. "I eat this because it's delicious." "The food looks so pretty." "I love creamy foods."

3. Sentimental: Eating motivated by emotions or memories. "This dish reminds me of childhood, my homeland, the ethnic foods I loved." "I want cookies and milk before bed."

4. Intellectual: Influenced by diet, experts, and scientists. "I eat this because the book says to." "The speaker said these foods are low in calories and high in vitamins."

5. Social: Eating while conscious of the earth and its people, with empathy for others. "I eat food which supports the earth and can feed everyone." As Gandhi said, "I eat simply so that others may simply eat."

6. Ideological: Eating according to religious discipline or spiritual teaching, for development and transformation. "Exercising discipline and care, I eat the food of my spiritual beliefs."

7. Supreme: Freedom in eating deriving from inner wisdom and understanding of self with an awareness of all seven levels. "I eat to support my dream. I know the power of food. I eat to live, not live to eat." (Adapted from George Ohsawa's Seven Levels of Judgment.

READ MORE: http://macrobiotics.co.uk/pep.htm 

GINGER COMPRESS and GINGER SESAME OIL

GINGER COMPRESS

Purpose:  Stimulate blood and body fluid circulation; helps loosen and dissolve stagnated toxic matter, cysts, tumors, etc.
Preparation:  Place a handful of grated ginger in a cheese cloth or 2 large slices of ginger root and put into pot.  Put into a pot containing 1 gallon of hot water kept just below the boiling point, if you boil you will lose the power of the ginger.  Soak a towel into the ginger water, wring it out tightly and apply, very hot, put inside a hot fresh towel; place on area to be treated.  Apply fresh towel every 3-7 minutes until the skin becomes red.
Special Considerations for Cancer cases:  The ginger compress should be prepared in the usual manner.  However, it should be applied for only a short time, 3-5 minutes maximum, to activate circulation in the affected are and should be immediately followed by a taro potato or potato plaster.  

GINGER SESAME OIL

Activates the function of the blood capillaries, circulation and nerve reactions.  Also relieves aches and pains.  Mix the juice of grated, fresh ginger with an equal amount of sesame oil.  Dip cotton linen into this mixture and rub briskly into the skin of the affected area.  This is also helpful for headache, dandruff and hair growth.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF UMEBOSHI PLUM PASTE

Besides their dramatic flavor, Japanese pickled plums have remarkable medicinal qualities. Their powerful acidity has a paradoxical alkalinizing effect on the body, neutralizing fatigue, stimulating the digestion, and promoting the elimination of toxins. This is the Far Eastern equivalent to both aspirin and apple; not only is it a potent hangover remedy for mornings after; more than that, an umeboshi a day is regarded as one of the best preventive medicines available.

Like many of Japan's ancient medicinal foods, the origin of the pickled plum is obscure. One theory traces it to China, where a dried smoked plum, or ubai, was discovered in a tomb built over two thousand years ago. The ubai is one of China's oldest medicines and is still used for a variety of medical purposes such as counteracting nausea, reducing fevers, and controlling coughs.

The oldest Japanese record of pickled plums being used as a medicine is in a medical text written about one thousand years ago. Umeboshi were used to prevent fatigue, purify water, rid the body of toxins, and cure specific diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, and food poisoning. Slowly, extensive folklore developed about umeboshi's ability to prevent and cure certain diseases.

During Japan's furious samurai period, which lasted through most of the Middle Ages, the pickled plum was the soldier's most important field ration. It was used to flavor foods such as rice and vegetables, and its high acidity made it an excellent water and food purifier, as well as an effective antidote for battle fatigue.

Almost 200 years ago, the Japanese began experimenting with ways to concentrate the healing powers of umeboshi. Finally, a dark liquid called bainiku ekisu (plum extract) was developed. To make the extract, sour green ume plums are slowly cooked down to obtain their most active ingredients in a highly concentrated form. The resulting dark, sticky, thick liquid is usually mixed with hot water and honey and is drunk as a tonic. Dried plum extract is also formed into pills, called meitan. In both plum extract and meitan, the plums' citric acid content is concentrated tenfold, which is equivalent to about twenty-five times the content found in lemon juice.

Many natural healers around the world feel that these concentrated forms of Japanese plums are among the world's most effective natural medicines. Moreover, they do not have the high salt content of pickled plums. 

READ MORE :http://www.mitoku.com/products/umeboshi/healthbenefits.html

MISO SOUP RECIPE

 2 strips of dried kombu   (available at Lucky 97, Lucky Supermarket,  2 shiitake mushrooms   or dried Chinese mushrooms - 4 cups water

- SIMMER OR MEDIUM BOIL together for 30 minutes.  I prefer to simmer as it has a more delicious flavour. 

- ADD pinch of grey sea salt.  Not white sea salt…it is missing the minerals and trace elements that our blood and kidneys need.

- Or a tablespoon of your favourite tamari (wheat free soya sauce ie. SanJ brand-Save on foods and Superstore have different kinds)

- Add onions, thin sliced daikon and julienne cut carrots and during the last 3 minutes some rehydrated WAKAME.  (sea vegetable-super nutritious for the kidney/bladder family as they thrive on minerals)

-POUR broth over l heaping teaspoon of your favourite miso ie.  Barley or brown rice for the kidney/bladder family and mix paste into the broth. 

-Small amount of grated organic ginger and chopped green onions to garnish is a wonderful finish.

ENJOY BEFORE EVERY MEAL.

Miso paste has the 8 essential amino acids, enzymes and natural forming acidophilus.  It allows our bodies to absorb the food to follow easier.

Organic Short Grain Brown Rice-the World's Healthiest Foods

In some parts of the world, the word "to eat" literally means "to eat rice." All varieties of rice are available throughout the year, supplying as much as half of the daily calories for half of the world's population.
The process that produces brown rice removes only the outermost layer, the hull, of the rice kernel and is the least damaging to its nutritional value. The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. Fully milled and polished white rice is required to be "enriched" with vitamins B1, B3 and iron.

READ MORE:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=128

Lotus root tea recipe

LOTUS ROOT TEA

This clears all mucus in the respiratory and nasal sinuses and excess mucus throughout the body.

2     pcs         dried or fresh lotus root

2     slices      fresh ginger root

4     cups       water

Simmer for 20 minutes med heat.  Drink 3 times per day.  Excellent exporant.

Can be used 3 additional times by adding fresh spring water and fresh ginger.