Here’s our favorite newbies this week!
Ingredients:
1 cup organic strawberries
1 bunch of basil chopped
1/2 cup honey
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
Blog
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This Summer: Take Charge of Your Health
Summer is here, and I wish I felt better. I never thought I’d be someone who’d have to seek out ways to get back on track. At some point, I stopped taking care of my body, and the repercussions have been painful.
For one thing, my stomach is a mess. I have always been able to eat ANYTHING without issue. I can no longer eat chocolate, red sauce, red meat, wine, beer…the list is getting longer all the time and frankly, I’m starting to panic. The burning in my stomach is a constant companion.
Migraines were something I thought were only for “other” people. I figured these people were doing something wrong! I eat healthy, I am active- I don’t get migraines. But I do get these terrible headaches on a weekly basis. They make my eyes puff up and I get nauseous from the pain. My co-worker sat me down and told me it was time to admit that indeed, I have migraines.
I can’t take anything for my headaches because of my now-sensitive stomach. Pain-Relievers make the burning in my stomach unbearable.
To make matters worse, I’ve been gaining weight over the last two years. The thought of having to add in strenuous exercise and a diet right now just makes me want to cry. It’s just another thing I have to deal with on my already-full plate. My health feels out of control right now, and I don’t know where to start.
My doctor blames stress for all these issues, and I know he’s right. Balancing family, work, a social life makes me feel like I’m drowning sometimes. It is time to take control of all this. It is summer, after all, and its a good time to take a long deep breath. Mindfulness is something I am always striving for, anyway. (I’m sure I can schedule it in somewhere.)
Seriously, though, how do I get control of my stomach? How do I manage my stress levels? What’s the best course of action to get back in shape? How can I take charge of my health again?
This summer, Basil Bandwagon has decided to bring the answers in the form of a 10 Week Summer Program: Take Charge of Your Health. It’s all online, you don’t have to get dressed or interact with other humans. Just sign up HERE, and let us deliver the goods to you. You can join at any time during the 10 weeks- there’s no stress!
We will be gathering the best info from our brains and the minds of local practitioners and health coaches to give YOU (and me) the power to feel good again. We’ll have videos, printable shopping lists for your fridge, coupons and even more goodies. We even made a Summer Camp Facebook page! This will be a place to ask questions and interact with others on the same journey.
I’m excited to learn along with you and get results. So, sign up- and share with your friends. It’s going to be a great journey!
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How to Clean a Watermelon (Demo!)
Want to get every bite out of that gorgeous organic watermelon? Here’s how a pro does it!
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New Product Wednesday: May 25th Edition
This week, it was hard to choose what to show in our video! We are excited about new supplements for the whole family from Megafood, a new Bone Broth product, and more. Check us out! -
Watermelon Arugula Salad
Here’s a no-miss recipe to bring to that family barbecue this weekend. Bright cubes of sweet watermelon sits atop curly green arugula- it looks gorgeous on the table and it’s even better on the tastebuds.
Ingredients:
1/4 Medium Red Onion, Thinly Sliced
3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinaigrette
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
Pepper, Freshly Ground
12 Ounces of Organic Arugula
1 1/2 lb. of Chilled Organic Watermelon
8 Ounces Organic Valley Feta Cheese1. Soak sliced onion in cold water for 10 Minutes (this mellows the onion)
2. Toss the arugula and onion in Balsamic Vinaigrette
3. Cube Watermelon
4. Top with Watermelon and Feta and enjoy!! -
Guest Post: Reiki Revealed by Sue Ann Seccia-Harnden
Why is everyone talking about Reiki for gaining health and wellness, why do hospitals use Reiki as part of their standard care and recovery practices, why did Newsweek feature a 4-page article on it in March 2016, and why do I love to teach Reiki to people? Let me pull back the cloak a bit and de-mystify what this Japanese healing art is really all about…. For starters,
- Do you know anyone who is looking for a natural, gentle, effective way to maintain their physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health?
- Would you like a simple way to tap into your self-healing abilities anytime so you don’t have to run to the doctor or take a pill when you feel unwell?
- Would you, or someone you know and love, want to experience the feelings of peace, joy, harmony, and balance in their life?
- Can you imagine any situation where holding a loving presence of compassion would be an inappropriate course of action?
- What would your life be and feel like if you could just “be”, instead of “do”, all the time?
All these can be addressed through the practice of Reiki healing. Reiki is a Japanese healing art that uses Reiki energy for the purpose of providing stress reduction and a deep relaxation state that promotes healing. From this deep state of relaxation, the receiver can stimulate and activate their own innate self-healing abilities and possibilities, which are infinite.
The word “Reiki” in Japanese means spiritually guided life force energy, which implies that this special healing energy has it’s own wisdom about the root cause of the imbalance that needs healing. A Reiki practitioner, using the various techniques taught in the system of Reiki, is not using their own energy, but rather connecting the energy body system of the client with this Reiki. From there the Reiki does the rest, going where it is most needed. Reiki healing can be done in person with hands laid lightly on or over the body, or from afar as a distance treatment. It can be used on people of all ages, animals, plants, and even life situations to improve and balance energy!
Lay practitioners have been using Reiki for over 100 years, and it’s popularity is growing as a complementary healing approach in hospitals who are seeing faster healing recovery, reduced pain and inflammation, better sleep and appetite, reduction in unwanted side effects of drugs and radiation including chemotherapy, in their patients. There is an increasing body of evidence based research supporting the effectiveness of Reiki across a multitude of healing conditions. There is a fine body of case studies available through the Center for Reiki Research and the International Center for Reiki Training, of which I am an affiliate member Reiki Master-Teacher. Locally here in Hunterdon County, NJ it is offered to patients at Hunterdon Medical Center and the Integrative Medical Center at Hunterdon Regional Healthcare as an option in their care while at the hospital or as an outpatient.
So many of us are pulled in different directions from the demands on our life as parents, caregivers, spouses, singles, pet companions, students, employees, and business people, that literally on a daily basis our life force energies are scattered and displaced. We get overwhelmed, tired, frustrated trying to “do it all” for ourselves and others. But our body and soul are crying out for some peace, balance, and support in the midst of it all…so we can be who we truly ARE as spiritual BEings having our human experience in a physical body. How do we get that support we so desperately crave at a soul level without adding yet more “to do’s” and stress to our daily list of living activities?
First, we need a mind shift…to realize something that is not, but in my opinion should be, taught in school. We need to understand the concept of self-care and what it means to us, and those around us, to be aligned, enabled, empowered to take care of our selves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self-care is NOT selfish! In fact quite the opposite. And, we need to understand that self-care must come first in our priorities, not left to last on the long list of things to do, if there is any time or energy left in the day….a complete 180 degree mind shift for most of us! Practicing daily self-care must become a way of being, an integral part of our routine. We must recognize that without that, we can not be all that we could be – for ourselves, or others.
A happy, healthy, engaged, awakened, and present person is a joy to be around! We should want that for ourselves and those around us! Encounter this person and their light filled energy can be contagious, lifting up all up to higher levels of enjoyment in life! Conversely, you know how you feel when someone whose energy is low, depressed, angry, anxious enters your space – it takes the whole mood of the room down! We are all sensitive to other people’s energy at some level and can sense this basic difference of happy vs. sad. What we are less aware of is how extensive this energy body system is, and how it needs to be taken care of to keep ourselves in good health at all levels.
Reiki has been a part of my life since 1999, and has brought me years of wellness, joy, and connection with others. It’s been an amazing experience as a Reiki teacher to guide my students on the path to their own self-care and healing, and give them a life-long skill they can use for their health and wellness. If you would like to experience a Reiki treatment or take a class, give me a call at (908) 730-0658.
Sue Ann Seccia-Harnden, RMT, is a certified Usui Reiki Master-Teacher since 2001, and Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) Animal Reiki Practitioner since 2013. She is the owner of Fifth Dimension Healing Energy, LLC in Clinton, NJ, offering a variety of holistic, energy medicine-based healing approaches for both people and animals. In addition to her private practice, as a weekly volunteer Sue Ann provides Reiki healing, and other holistic energy-based treatments to a wide variety of NJ’s wild animal species that have been injured or orphaned and are recovering at the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Hunterdon County. Her email is: SueAnn@FifthDimensionHealingEnergy.net. For more information on treatments and classes visit: www.FifthDimensionHealingEnergy.net
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Strawberry Basil Shrub Recipe
Warmer weather is coming. We are shifting from the heavy comforting flavors and textures of winter staples. The arrival of spring flowers makes us crave all things fresh, crisp and sweet. A Shrub is Colonial-era drink thats easy to make and even easier to fall in love with.
The term “shrub” is comes from the Arabic word sharāb meaning “to drink”. The drink has been around for centuries to refresh and quench the thirst of warmer days. It’s simple to make. Mash fruit and sugar, then preserve in vinegar as a syrup. Add to sparkling water or use it instead of simple syrup in your favorite cocktail.
Vinegar is a known preservative, but also as a cooling drink when diluted. Raw, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar is rich in enzymes and helps balance pH.
Our version features honey instead of sugar. We used Strawberries and one of our favorite herbs which is, of course, basil.
In a glass or plastic container with a lid, combine berries and honey. Add vinegar and water and stir gently until honey is dissolved and berries have begun to release juices, being careful not to mash berries. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 1 week.
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Guest Post: Acupuncture, Pain and Opiate Addictions
Opiate addiction has been in the news lately and is again begging our attention as a nation. Opiates are used in attempts to relieve moderate to severe pain. Opiates have been used for many years, usually prescribed for people with long-term, severe pain and a terminal illness, such as cancer. More recently, they have been used for non-malignant chronic pain. Some medical practitioners and lay people have concerns about the increased usage of opiates due to their highly addictive nature.
Many major pain clinics now use acupuncture as a treatment for chronic and severe pain. As I hear of the struggles of opiate addiction, including suicide, I get very sad knowing that acupuncture could have helped so many people reduce pain before they were prescribed opiates as an option. Of course acupuncture will not work for all people, but as a practitioner, I have been amazed at the wide breadth of people that it does help. Patients that find no relief with pain killers and have had intense pain to the point of debilitation have regained their lives through the use of acupuncture. It deeply saddens me that more people are not given the opportunity or access to try acupuncture.
Currently, our medical system offers acupuncture for people in health crisis. We see acupuncture offered in cancer units, pain clinics and detox clinics. I am so happy to see that the medical community appreciates how acupuncture can help these patients in medical emergencies. My question is why wait for a medical emergency to share a gentle medicine that offers great benefit with no side effect? Why not prescribe acupuncture for people with mild conditions? Acupuncture does not interfere with any medical treatments or prescription drugs. Most people enjoy acupuncture treatments, feeling a great deal of stress relief and peace of mind.
Acupuncture should also be used as a preventative medicine. While acupuncture may have been looked at as financially out of reach for many people, Community Acupuncture now offers affordable acupuncture with treatments costing $20 to $40. Because acupuncture can be affordably offered and has no side effects, our medical community should see acupuncture as a first line of care. Most pain conditions begin to show relief after five treatments if not before. If acupuncture is not helpful within this treatment period, it may be time to try something else that has side effects, costs more money, and has ramifications for the long term health of individuals and our planet.
Let’s start with the gentlest solutions first. If they don’t work, let’s move on to more aggressive treatments. By offering the gentlest treatments first, we have the opportunity to reduce the chances of opiate addiction, avoid negative impacts on people’s health and the health of planet and most likely save our healthcare system a lot of money.
To learn more about community acupuncture or find a clinic near you, visit pocacoop.com.
