December 2008 Newsletter
It's been a while since our last newsletter and a lot has happened in that time. We have done some renovations at the clinic and there is now a second treatment room. A new practitioner has started with us, Anita Bing, we are working on a new website and we are now “officially” developing and preparing to launch our range of skin products.
We'd like to wish you all a happy and safe festive season, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year.
Clare, Anita and Christine.
In this issue:
- Christmas opening hours
- New Practitioner
- Summer – The Fire Element
- Food Therapy: Tomatoes
- Food Therapy: Eating In – Baked Tomatoes with Stuffed Tuna and Rice
- Food Therapy: Eating Out – Bellzain
- The Clinic in 2009
The clinic will be closed for a short break over the Christmas and new year period. The last day for appointments is Tuesday the 23rd of December and we will re-open at 1pm on Monday the 5th of January 2009.
Discover Chinese Medicine is pleased to introduce a new practitioner: Anita Bing, who will be working alongside Clare to help you achieve all your health goals. Anita has completed her Advanced Diploma of Acupuncture and Bachelor of Health Science - Acupuncture as well her Certificate IV in Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedial Massage. Working with clients to help them harmonise their body and mind, Anita specialises in acupuncture, moxibustion, electro-acupuncture therapy, gua-sha, cupping and massage.
Summer is governed by the fire element and is represented by the colour red. It is a time where we naturally feel drawn to be active and more social. The emotion associated with summer and the fire element is happiness and joy, therefore to be aligned with this season we need to be tending to our sense of satisfaction and contentment. It is also a great time to spend pursuing our goals and dreams. All this is facilitated by the warmer weather, longer days and the many events and festivals on at this time of year.
The organs associated with the fire element in Chinese medicine are the Heart and the Small Intestine. Foods that support and nourish the Heart and Small Intestine are generally red coloured foods such as berries, tomatoes, capsicum and beetroot; grains such as quinoa and wheat; and other foods like pinenuts, chestnuts, lychees, longan, passionfruit, watermelon and adzuki beans.
Tomatoes are perfectly suited to eating during the hot weather. They are regarded as 'cool' in nature as they clear heat and promote digestion. Tomatoes strengthen the stomach, calm the liver and are excellent for sufferers of high blood pressure, mouth sores and dizziness. Their red colour had meant the Chinese have used them for many centuries to promote heart health. In recent years science has discovered that lycopene, the substance that makes tomatoes red, can provide protection against heart disease.
Baked Tomatoes Stuffed with Tuna and Rice
For a great Summer recipe, try this quick low-GI and Gluten free meal, taken from the May edition of Delicious magazine.
Serves 4
- 8 vine-ripened tomatoes
- 2tbs Olive Oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2x185g cans tuna in springwater, drained, flaked
- 1 ½ cups (300g) Doongara rice *, cooked according to packet instructions
- 2 tbs chopped flat-leaf parsely leaves
- 120g salad leaves (mesclun), to serve
Preheat the oven to 200g
Cut off the stalk from each tomato about 1cm from the top, reserving lids. Scoop out the core and seeds with a teaspoon, discard seeds and roughly chop any flesh. Set aside.
Place the hollowed-out tomatoes in a baking dish, then season inside with a little sea salt and black pepper. Bake for 5 minutes until tomatoes are hot.
Meanwhile, heat the oil in a frypan over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft.
Stir in tuna, rice, parsley and reserved tomato flesh, then cook for 2-3 minutes until heated through. Season to taste with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Spoon mixture into tomatoes and replace the lids. Bake for a further 15 minutes until softened, then serve with salad leaves.
*Doonara is low-GI rice, available from supermarkets.
Belle Zain
We wandered down one night to our local beach restaurant and were pleasantly surprised by our little neighbourhood wonder. Pizzas are thin-crusted and very tasty, the tapas delicious and the desserts to die for (if you leave enough room!). I always love a pizza with goats cheese, and I can highly recommend that. If dining with friends the tapas platter is great. It faces onto the bay, and provides a lovely view of the sunset if you can get the timing right. They are happy to accommodate changes to the menu for those with allergies and intolerances.
- Oysters with lemon vinaigrette: Nourishes dryness, moves liver qi, cooling. Good for a dry cough. Oysters are good for calming restlessness and insomnia. Avoid if you have skin problems, or suffer from dampness (heavy limbs, poor concentration).
- Rocket pear and parmesan salad - good for nourishing yin and strengthening the lungs, especially if you experience dry cough and sweating at night. Avoid if you have a weak digestion, are feeling tired, or suffering from poor concentration.
- Chicken pizza – with marinated chicken breast, grilled peppers, picked basil and provolone (I had mine with goats cheese instead). Strengthens qi, warming: good for fatigue, cold hands and feet. Caution: wheat can make some feel tired and bloated - avoid if this is the case. Dairy can also upset some: ask for goats cheese which is usually well tolerated.
- Spanish churros doughnuts and hot chocolate : Warms and nourishes the heart. Good for lifting and stabilising mood. Avoid if you have signs of heat: feeling hot, red or itchy skin, rapid heart rate.
Belle Zain
1 Beach St
Port Melbourne
ph 9646 6706
www.bellezain.com.au
As well as the addition of our new practitioner Anita, there will be some other changes to look forward to here at the clinic in 2009. Shortly we will be releasing a skincare line for those of you who are interested in purchasing some natural and effective products. Our products are free from fillers, preservatives, emulsifiers and other constituents that can be harmful to the skin. The range will include products to suit many skin types and concerns, ranging from acne-prone and blemished skin to mature/dry skin.
We will also be launching our new website at the start of 2009, including a new online booking system. Stay tuned for details.
