The Chinese date is a useful medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s called Da Zao in Chinese, which translates into big date. Chinese dates are also called red dates or jujubes. And most interestingly, they are not actually dates! True dates are brown in color and grow on palm trees, called date palms. In … [Read more...]
Keeping It Together During the Holidays
Whether you love them, hate them or are somewhere in between, it’s clear that the holidays can be really stressful and they can derail your plans for staying healthy. And this year may be even more so—or at least different. After almost three years of isolation, working from home and curbing travel, it seems like the gates … [Read more...]
Mushrooms: Chinese Herbal Medicine for your Immune System
The damp weather around Vancouver makes it a friendly climate for all kinds of edible mushrooms, including morels, porcini, Pacific Golden Chanterelles, slippery Jacks and Chicken of the Woods. If you come across mushrooms while you’re out in the woods, chances are that you don’t think of them as medicine. Warning, wild … [Read more...]
Trouble Sleeping? We Can Help
Every living organism on the planet needs sleep. It is an integral component of human health, and a sufficient amount of good quality, restful sleep is essential to prevent illness as well as cultivate health and facilitate longevity. The general medical consensus is that seven to nine hours of sleep is the appropriate … [Read more...]
Spotlight Interview: Danzhu Mowat – A Unique Focus on Eye Health
We’re thrilled to welcome Danzhu Mowat to the BodaHealth team! Danzhu is a Registered Acupuncturist, TCM Herbalist and Tai Qi and Qi Gong teacher. Read on to learn about her interesting background and healing philosophy. Jeda Boughton: Hi Danzhu, thank you so much for joining me today. I appreciate you taking the time to … [Read more...]
Did You Know Bees Make Chinese Herbs for Digestive Health?
Lots of people will confess that they have a sweet tooth. In fact, craving sweets is fairly common, and even those people who don’t have a craving for sweet foods often like to finish off a large meal with a sweet bite or two. While eating sugar has gotten a bad reputation, there’s actually a reason you may want something … [Read more...]
Easy (and Healthier!) Festive Peanut Butter Cups
I love chocolate with peanut butter! Here’s a great way to enjoy chocolate peanut butter cups this holiday season, without all the sugar and additives. With just 3 or 4 ingredients, they’re quick and easy to prepare and even make a great gift! Ingredients: 1/4 cup natural plain peanut butter 1-2 tablespoons maple … [Read more...]
What are Muscle Knots?
Do you have any hard or stiff lumps of muscle? Maybe in your shoulders, upper back or neck? Do they feel tight and sometimes a little achy? Congratulations! You have muscle knots. And you’re not alone—muscle knots are very common. These knots can actually show up in just about any of the large muscles on your body, but … [Read more...]
Relieve the Symptoms of Lupus
Some people call lupus a disease with 1,000 faces. That’s because lupus is a complicated and multifaceted disease. There are a number of different types of lupus, a wide variety of symptoms, and each person who suffers from it experiences lupus differently. The first thing to know about lupus is that it’s an autoimmune … [Read more...]
Our Best Health Tips for the New Year
The beginning of a new year brings with it reflections and motivation. Many people decide that the start of the year is symbolically the time to recommit to their health in a variety of ways. Unfortunately, many people become overzealous with their goals, and find that in a month or two, their good intentions have fallen by … [Read more...]
Power Bites
Power bites should only be eaten on your most active days. This recipe packs a lot of calories and energy into a small bite. They are great to take on a hike or as a snack on a day that you might have skipping a meal. They taste great but can take some time to make, so plan ahead. Keep them ready in a container in the … [Read more...]
Cupping Russian Style
Along with acupuncture, cupping is an effective healing tool that’s a part of Chinese medicine. It’s an ancient technique that uses the action of suction for therapeutic effects. Ironically my first encounter with this Chinese technique occurred in Russia. In the summer of 1993, my mother and I traveled St. Petersburg to … [Read more...]
10 Magnesium Rich Foods
Many of us are deficient in magnesium because we don’t often include these important foods in our diet: Raw pumpkin & squash seeds Raw Brazil nuts Quinoa Spinach Almonds Cashews Pine nuts Black beans Lima beans Hazelnuts Why do we need magnesium? Magnesium is essential for maintaining bone density, heart … [Read more...]
