Welcome 2014! New Year’s Cleanse & Other Exciting News

January 2014

Greetings

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

In this first week of 2014 I’m enjoying the feeling that this year is still a blank canvas. There’s a certain spaciousness when one year has ended and another just barely begun. You can feel the opportunity for change. What shall we put on this blank canvas? Vibrant colors and pictures? More balance, better health, vitality, clarity and self-awareness?  Yes Yes!  What do you envision for yours?

Exciting News! Speaking of change, we have a new look for the new year– online!  Today is the launch of the NEW Malibu Acupuncture & Herbs Website!  Check it out!  There is tons of great information on health & wellness, acupuncture, functional medicine, and the work that I do. I will be updating the site regularly so visit often. My hope is that it becomes a resource for natural health for you and your family.  

One of the best things about the new site is that I will now have a blog! A blog gives me the opportunity to better share my knowledge of health and wellness with you. You’ll notice I will be transitioning to more blog entries and less newsletters. Both will be posted online so you can easily access them at any time. 

First thing on the agenda for the new year is a New Year’s Detox. It’s a way to push the reset button on our body and mind for the new year (plus detox out all the junk we ate over the holidays).  Read on to learn all about cleansing, and tips to help support you through your detox.

Wishing you all the best for 2014~

With Love,

Malibu Acupuncture & Herbs

News

New Year’s Health Series

I want to help you get on the fast track to health for the new year.

For new patients, I’m offering $25 off your first treatment through January.

For returning patients, invest in your health with a series–  5 treatments for $50 off the regular price*. The series must be used by February 18th so this for people who are ready to take their health to the next level right in the start of 2014.

* Must be purchased by January 31st
 

Special Points

New Year’s Detox

Ready to detox from the holidays? Cleansing, also known as detoxification, is a simple and effective method for wiping the slate clean, and giving your body a fresh start. 

Many symptoms may be relieved following a carefully planned detox program including:

– general fatigue

- weight loss resistance or excess water weight

- brain fog or mental sluggishness

- skin disorders

- headaches

- joint and muscle pain

- food sensitivities

- food cravings especially sugar, carbs or salt

- bloating, indigestion, constipation

- waking up not feeling rested

- weak immune system, catching colds/flus often



What is detoxification?

Our bodies detox regularly on their own as a part of normal organ function.  For example, the liver and kidneys detoxify the blood.  When these and other detox mechanisms of the body are overloaded, the process becomes less efficient and symptoms may begin to occur. 



Overloading can come from stress, emotional stress, trauma, exposure to toxins, over-eating or drinking,  or just plain old age. Usually it’s a combination of a few.  Some who live a very healthy lifestyle may wonder, “Where are these toxins coming from?” Toxins may be internal or external. Environmental pollution and pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics in our food put stress on our detox organs. Internal toxins can arise as a metabolic by-product from improper digestion, imbalanced colon ecology or stress.



Detoxification gives your organs a rest, so to speak, and allows for these detox mechanisms to repair themselves, facilitating alleviation of symptoms and greater health and well-being. A comprehensive detox program includes dietary adjustments and restrictions, herbal organ detoxification support, daily moderate exercise, and detox acupuncture.  Each person is different with individual goals and constitutions, so it’s best to have a qualified health professional work with you to create a plan that suites your needs.

Custom detox programs

* 5, 10 or 21 days
* Can easily fit into your schedule. Don’t leave you exhausted.  
* Do not require fasting
* Beginner to advanced levels

Recommendations

 Dry skin brushing

Do you know what the biggest organ in the body is? Your skin.

Your skin is also an organ of detoxification, just like your colon, liver and kidneys. Dry skin brushing helps your body eliminate toxins, boosts circulation, lymphatic drainage and remove dead skin cells. Did I mention it also is a method for reducing cellulite?  Well, that’s just an added bonus.  

Dry skin brushing is only the cost of the brush ($10-15)  and takes just a few minutes a day.

How often Every day is best, and even more necessary when doing a detox program.

How to Use the brush on dry skin before taking a shower (taking a shower after washing off the dead skin cells). Brush your skin in long, flowing strokes in the direction towards the heart. You can start from your feet and move up all sides of your legs to your pelvis, and then do the same brushing from your hands to arms to chest.  It’s better to brush lightly to moderately. Hard brushing will not achieve better results, it’s just likely to irritate your skin. 

Type of brush Make sure your brush is made of natural fibers, not synthetic.

Recipe of the Month

Detox Green Soup


Courtesy of Gluten Free Goddess- Original recipe 

I too am guilty of indulging over the holidays.  This week it was time to get back on track. What a better way to begin the new year then with some delicious green detox soup!    

This soup is yummy, I promise. It’s not of those gross green experiments that noone in your house will eat (kids aside). Even better, eating it will help to start mildy cleansing some of the excess sugar and alcohol out of your system. You’re likely to feel more energy and clearer mentally, not bad side effects for a soup.  

Recipe notes- Lemon or lime juice is the final touch.  Make sure you taste test in the end and add as needed. I also recommend sliced avocado on top- the perfect garnish.  

1 TBS olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

1 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cups broccoli, cut up

1/2 pound fresh spinach leaves 

3 parsnips, peeled, chopped

2 ribs of celery, trimmed, chopped

1 handful of parsley, roughly chopped

Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

Lemon or lime juice
 
1. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.  Add in garlic, onion and ginger.  Once onions are softened, add in broccoli, spinach, parsnips, celery and parsley.  Add just enough water to cover the vegetables.

2.  Bring to a high simmer, cover the pot, then reduce heat to medium simmer.  Cook for 15 minutes or so until veggies are softened.

3.  Use a high powered blender to puree the soup.

4.  Taste test and add sea salt, pepper, lemon or lime juice.


Options:

To make this soup creamy add 1-2 handfuls of cashews.  

To make this soup more hearty, add a scoop of jasmine rice. quinoa or sliced avocado.



Serve warm and enjoy!