Eggs are good for you when they come from healthy chickens that have free access to grass pasture, are fed an organic feed, and are properly taken care of. When the yolks are golden yellow–almost orange–and the shells hard, these are good signs. Very often even organic brands have pale yolks and thin shells. When we don’t know about the farm where our eggs are produced, it is difficult to know which brand to buy. If you don’t know your farmer and his/her practices, visit Cornucopia Institute’s organic egg scorecard. Their list and the ratings will help you make a good choice at your local, natural foods grocery. Once you find a brand that you have available locally, go to the scorecard and click on the name to open the criteria list with individual ratings. The long list of criteria which determines the rating is very educational! Check it out!
April’s Natural Face Moisturizer
What you put on your skin is as important as what you eat! Go natural with wholesome ingredients like the ones in this face moisturizer. Some ingredients are easiest to find online at iherb.com, vitacost.com, or PipingRock.com. Look for small glass jars to store your moisturizer.
Thank you, April!
Makes Two 2-ounce jars
1/4 cup shea butter
2 Tbsp. virgin coconut oil
1 tsp. vitamin E oil
1 tsp. Argan oil
1 Tbsp. cocoa butter
2 tsp. beeswax
1/2 tsp. hyaluronic acid powder
Optional for anti-inflammatory effects and pleasant scent
1/2 tsp. lavender essential oil
10 drops frankincense essential oil
10 drops sandalwood essential oil
10 drops geranium essential oil
Optional for SPF addition
1 Tbsp. zinc oxide
Melt the shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter and beeswax over very low heat or in a double boiler. Remove from heat and add liquid oils, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid powder, and zinc oxide if desired. Mix well and add the essential oils if desired. Stir well again. Pour while still warm and liquid into 2-ounce wide-mouthed jars. Cool until hardened. Rub fingers over moisturizer to lightly moisturize around eyes, face, and neck. Long-term storage best in refrigerator.
Baking Soda in Your Medicine Cabinet
Baking soda belongs in everyone’s “medicine cabinet” as part of their health protection plan. It’s a true blessing that it is inexpensive but still very powerful! People tend to forget about it–don’t let that happen to you!
In my opinion, everyone should brush their teeth with baking soda. Besides really cleaning/whitening the teeth and killing bacteria that cause tooth decay, it will reduce the risk of colds and infections when used daily. It can be used straight by dipping a wet toothbrush into about a 1/2 tsp. of baking soda. If you prefer using toothpaste, put some toothpaste on your toothbrush and then dip it into the baking soda.
Also, when mixed with a little water to make a paste it can be used on the skin and nails as an anti-fungal and also for itchy skin and poison ivy. After it dries rinse it off with warm water.
Baking soda can be taken internally also at a dilution of 1/4 tsp. per cup of water and preferably on an empty stomach two times a day. This provides a source of bicarbonate which buffers acids in the body. This can be helpful for the kidneys and the bladder in the case of bladder infections and interstitial cystitis; the baking soda alkalizes the urine which assists an acid-irritated bladder. There are many other benefits but these are the most important to keep in mind.
If you are trying to reduce sodium intake, use potassium bicarbonate instead. You can purchase online potassium bicarbonate.
Simple Celery Soup
Not too many ingredients in this one but good just the same when you just want something warm, light, and nourishing without too much work! If you have any broth on hand, use it instead of water. The soup is still flavorful without the broth. Also, if you eat dairy, cream would be good instead of the coconut milk.
2 servings
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup ghee
4 cups chopped celery
1 cup classic coconut milk, or cream if you wish to use dairy
1 cup water
1 tsp. dried sweet basil
2 Tbsp. chickpea miso
salt to taste
Melt the ghee in a soup pot on medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add celery and saute another 5 minutes. Add the water, coconut milk and basil. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to keep it at a simmer. Cover but crack the lid. Simmer for 1 hour. Remove from heat and add the miso. Blend until smooth with an immersion blender. Add salt to taste. Serve hot.
Chicken Shiitake Soup
If you haven’t tried cooking shiitake mushrooms, this is an easy introductory recipe. Not too many ingredients and it is quick too. We had this for dinner with some baked butternut squash and a salad. A good roasted whole chicken and chicken broth recipe is posted here. If you want to add some starch for a more substantial meal, simply add 1 cup cooked rice when you add the chicken meat.
Serves 2
2 cups homemade chicken broth
1/2 cup of finely chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped shiitake mushrooms
1/2 to 1 cup chopped cooked chicken meat (optional)
2 tsp. mellow white miso (MisoMaster brand is good)
salt to taste
black pepper (optional) to taste
Heat broth in soup pot on medium heat until simmering. Add celery and simmer for 10 minutes. Add mushrooms and simmer another 10 minutes. Add the chicken and heat for a few more minutes. Take off heat. Mix miso in a bowl with a few tablespoons of the hot broth from the soup until it dissolves and then add this mixture to the soup. Stir well. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Best served immediately.
Could Barely Walk
Please explain why you came to our office.
“Lower back problem. Could barely walk.”
Please describe your response to treatment.
“The problem has diminished quite a bit. It took a few visits before it got tolerable.”
`64 year-old male
Green Beans and Rice with Pesto
This is one of those dishes that is super quick when you have leftover rice and some basil pesto in the fridge. If you haven’t tried this simple basil oil (pesto) recipe check it out here.
I am still getting green beans from the garden–it does make a difference when they are fresh. If you don’t have garden green beans, try your local farmers market.
One other note: the rice I used was cooked in chicken broth–recipe is here. Vary the amount of rice you use based on how much starch you are hungry for!
Serves 2
2 cups chopped green beans steamed until just tender
1 to 2 cups cooked brown jasmine or basmati rice
1/4 cup basil oil
sea salt to taste
Once green beans are cooked to your liking, drain any water in the pan and add the rice. Warm over low heat. Take off the heat and stir in the basil oil and salt if desired. Serve immediately.
BEWARE FAKE MEATS!
Anyone who eats needs to be informed about our food supply–it’s just too easy to make bad choices while thinking you are doing good for yourself and the planet. Check out this interview in the Price-Pottenger newsletter for the nitty-gritty on fake meats. I couldn’t agree more—Excellent job!
Frequent Illness No More
Please explain why you came to our office.
“My son had frequent ilnesses and we were in the doctor’s office a few times a month.”
Please describe your response to treatment.
“Since Dr. Burgoon has been seeing him, he is sick WAY less often! He is also sleeping better and having more regular BMs.”
~3 year-old boy
A Real Head Turner
Please explain why you came to our office.
“My neck was causing constant pain both on my job and at home. I would have intermittent pain in my lower back and daily pain in my right forearm and hand.”
Please describe your response to treatment.
“It is very remarkable that while my neck isn’t completely cured yet (I’m on my 4th visit), it is not causing me constant pain. I am able to turn my head much easier. My arm feels better. I do feel like a newer woman.”
62 year-old female
