1. Know that you are not alone.  The vast majority of us are trying to do more and there is only a finite number of minutes in a day.  It’s okay to know you can’t do it all.

2. Once you’ve acknowledged that you can’t do it all, you have a couple of choices.  First, ask for help.  So many of us are terrible at that!  Second, or if you are unwilling to ask for help, prioritize and be okay with everything not getting done.  For example, right now I’m staring at a sliding glass door covered in toddler hand prints and dog slobber, carpet that needs to be vacuumed, and numerous piles and projects on the bookshelf that need to be put away and none of these are likely to get done today.  Instead, I’ve got laundry going, the kitchen is clean, and because both kids are quiet, I’ve sat down to write this.

Would I love to have a spotless house as well as be able to get the three year old to her gymnastics class, take her to the library, weed the garden, exercise, and entertain the four month old? Sure!  But because it is low on my priority list (and I dislike cleaning), it gets pushed to the weekends when my husband and I do a blitzkrieg clean to make the house liveable.

3. Don’t forget time for yourself.  Did you snort your coffee when you just read that?  There are days when I get my me-time in 5 minute snatches and usually only because my three year old hasn’t found me in the bathroom.  I only recently started taking a whole hour once a week to go to yoga.  But speaking from experience, even that makes a difference to my attitude.

4. Don’t cut out your sleep.  In Chinese medicine, the most important and beneficial hours of sleep occur before midnight.  Irregular or poor quality sleep can contribute to a host of health issues including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

5. Exercise.  It will keep you healthy and will help your energy and endorphin levels which will help your mood and motivation.

6. If you’re looking for something other than caffeine to help get you through the day, we have a few suggestions.  Foglifter will help you focus and push through your list without pushing into adrenal stress by supporting the liver. Guarana helps with fatigue and headache. Immune Plus helps by supporting your immune system and keeps your body from breaking down under stress.  Mega Ginseng Plus assists with energy levels and stamina.  UP! is a caffeinated tonic that will support your body instead of crashing once the caffeine wears off.

Post office buzzes with bee deliveries each spring

Pain relief and sleep – California Poppy seed extract was used by Native Americans a painkiller and commonly used it for toothaches.  It contains californidine and is considered to be a sub-opiate, however it is a more mild and non-addictive than its relation the red poppy.  California Poppy does not contain opiates and is not addictive, like red poppy – the natural source of opium – is.  California poppy is safe for children and is commonly used to assist with bedwetting, insomnia, anxiety, nervous tension, and pain relief.  It may also be helpful for stomach cramps, muscle aches, and difficulty going to sleep (and not just staying asleep).

Acid reflux and heart burn – Our No Burp formula is the Chinese formula Shu Gan Wan in liquid form.  It is especially effective for patients who are unable to swallow pills and want immediate relief from heartburn or indigestion.  This formula is especially effective for heart burn, indigestion, or reflux.  If a first dose doesn’t provide immediate relief, wait five to ten minutes and take a second dose.  Repeat until symptoms lessen.  This is especially good when used after a rich or fatty meal.

High blood pressure – Our Heart Health Hi formula is a blend of 22 herbs drawn from Chinese, European, and Native American traditions and has been shown to help symptoms of high blood pressure.  It is especially effective when used along with making lifestyle changes including increasing exercise and a healthy diet.

This formula is appropriate for cardiovascular symptoms including high blood pressure, poor circulation, high cholesterol and sluggish liver function. It works best when used in a lifestyle-change program that includes exercise as well as appropriate attitude and diet changes.

Hyperglycemia – High blood sugar is an issue that can lead to serious and long term complications when not dealt with, including damage to the blood vessels, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, and nerve problems, not to mention diabetes.  Our High Blood Sugar Balance formula is especially effective in cases of early diabetes or where a person may be pre-diabetic when used along with increasing exercise and improving one’s diet.  High Blood Sugar Balance helps normalize blood sugar metabolism.  Be sure to closely monitor your blood sugar levels when first beginning to use this formula and gradually increase the dosage until your levels improve.

Stress & tension in daily life – Stress and tension seem to be pervasive in our daily lives and many people are on a constant quest to find a way to lessen their stress, while still rushing to get more done in our lives.  Despite the technology that is supposed to make things easier, for many of us it only makes it more difficult to unplug at the end of our day.  In Chinese medical theory, the first place people hold tension is in the stomach. In fact, children frequently get stomachaches when stressed. When we get older, tension may settle in other parts of the body and manifest as headaches, nervous tics, nervous laughter or muscles spasms, but the tension still initially still goes through the stomach.  Our Chill Out formula is designed to relieve the symptoms of stress as well as going back to the original source of the tension—the digestive tract and is effective for people of all ages including children, teens and adults.

If you haven’t already, there are just a few days left to add your comments to the petition to tell the FDA to label genetically modified foods.  Please make sure you do!

Finally, Dr. Oz featured four top natural alternatives to common problems that we in the United States use prescription drugs for, including using California Poppy for pain relief.  In addition to pain relief, it is non-habit forming and can be used as a mild sedative, to help one sleep, and is safe to be used on children as well.  Here is the second part of the video.

All photos taken by David Klemp.

The USDA has extended the public comment period on whether to approve a genetically modified corn that includes one of the main ingredients used in Agent Orange, a highly toxic herbicide that had been linked to a multitude of health issues.  You can sign a petition urging the USDA to reject it here.

If you have trouble sleeping, or have kids who have trouble sleeping through the night (like I do) maybe your (or their) body isn’t intended to.

A little publicized possible federal budget cut we all should know about.

A review on a documentary called Bitter Seeds.  It’s about the devastating effects genetically modified seeds have had on the farmers of India.  The movie may not be showing in your area, but the story (and the article) is one we all should know about.

Finally, a little bit of ridiculous: apparently according to one Indiana lawmaker, the Girl Scouts are in league with Planned Parenthood because it promotes a homosexual lifestyle.

No matter what climate you live in, try to minimize the amount of wind that gets on your head and chest.  Dress in layers and stay warm but not overly so, especially if you’re in and out all day long.  For young children, this is especially important because their immune system and lungs are not fully developed in the first few years of life.  Make sure you are getting plenty of rest, because a tired immune system is a weakened immune system.  Try not to shock your immune system by consuming something cold when you want to stay warm.  It takes more work for your body to stay warm and stay healthy when it is dealing with cold foods or drink.

When the weather is changeable and is warming or cooling drastically in a short period of time it is easy to forget to take the appropriate precautions to keep from getting sick.  You’d think that after almost 10 years of living in Ohio I’d remember this by now but it gets me every time.  My husband’s favorite statement regarding Ohio’s weather is, “Don’t like it? Wait a few minutes and check it again.”  It might be a slight exaggeration, but only just.

If you do end up getting a cold or flu, read our original post on combating the cold and flu season here.

Washington Post Article

Petition on Signon.org

A study in Britain states that half of the British female population could safely give birth at home.

Have you ever wondered what the ideal length for maternity leave is, when considering the health of the mom and the baby?

Breastfeeding mom takes on Facebook.

Screening your 11 year old for high cholesterol?

This is a long article, but well worth reading on the state of heath and diet in the United States. It covers the controversy between fat and carbohydrates and how our increasing carb intake directly correlates to many health issues including diabetes, obesity, and others.

Additionally, soups are a great option for experimentation in the kitchen for cooks of all expertise.  It is an especially forgiving dish, so people who may not feel super comfortable branching out from a set recipe can even add variety to a basic soup without worrying that their meal will be a disaster.

Most of my soups start with a basic chicken stock and I like to save chicken carcasses until I have enough for a pot.  It is simple enough to freeze them until you’re ready to use them.  You could do this with any leftover bones if you wish.

Wondering what you’re going to do with that ham bone from Christmas dinner?  You could turn it into any number of delicious soup options.  In fact, I think mine may end up being a potato/leek/ham soup sometime this week.  Are you worried soup may not be substantial enough for a meal?  Try making a stew, or adding something like barley or another grain to increase its bulk.

Truly, you are limited only by your imagination when it comes to soups.  The variety, the flexibility, and the health benefits are all wonderful reasons to serve soup for dinner.