Dr. Lisa's Bountiful Life

Honey Child

I begin each morning with a cup of tea.

This morning it was English Breakfast.  Sometimes it is Earl Grey; sometimes plain green tea.

Usually I add a splash of rice milk and just a touch of honey.

But that is only when I am at home, or when I am somewhere I have access to the good stuff.  Give me good honey, or give me nothing. I'd rather take my tea straight than adulterate it with sub-par honey.

I've become a sweetness snob.

Sweetness has gotten a bad rap over the past decade.  Two-thirds of our country is now overweight or obese, in large part because we are drawn to things that make us feel better.  Food is one of these--especially sweet food. Candy, cookies, pastries.  If it comforts us, we eat it.

Sweetness is not inherently bad.  In Chinese Medicine, "sweet" is the taste associated with the spleen.  Our spleen is our "earth" organ--our "mothering" organ.  It is represents nurturing; caring.  In Western medicine we recognize the spleen for its production and storage of life-supporting red cells.

We need our spleen, and we need sweetness.

We just need it in the right amount and quality.

We also need it in the right place.

In addition to having a touch of honey in my tea, I like to have a bit of dessert to finish my meal.  It is a good way to provide closure to my tongue. It serves to balance out the experience.

I don't need much.  Just a taste or two. 

But, as with honey, I only eat dessert if it is deserving of being eaten.  Give me good dessert, or give me nothing. I'm a sweetness snob all the way around.

This morning's honey was lovingly provided by one of my friends.  It came from bees that live on her property, near her garden.

I knew this honey would be worthy of my English Breakfast before I even opened the jar. I knew it because my friend is as open and loving as ever a person I've met.  She would never allow mean bees on her property, near her generous garden.

On a more practical note, I knew this honey fell in the category of "good stuff" because, from its jar, it exudes a golden light.  Pure.  Beautiful.  Exquisite.

And I was not disappointed. My tongue swoons at the memory.

I could ask for no better way to begin my day.

No better way than a touch of sweetness, provided by a loving friend.

 

Along the Royal, January 2011

 

 

Be-Good Buckwheat

People (myself included) generally want to be good. Sometimes they just need a little encouragement.  I wrote about this in Sidewalks and Schoolyard Gardens, when I told the story of the sidewalk that was built near our house last spring. It exemplified the  'Field of Dreams' phenomenon. In other words, “if you build it, they will come.”

Make something attractive and accessible, and it becomes exciting and desirable—whether it is a ballpark in the middle of a cornfield, or a way to perambulate unscathed down a busy byway. A sidewalk is the perfect public health intervention. It is a means of promoting physical activity, people-powered transportation and neighborly interactions. Peter Maurin, an early twentieth century social activist, once said, “We need to make the kind of society where it is easier for people to be good.” We can’t just tell people what they should or shouldn’t be doing for their health. We need to make the positive options more appealing. 

This is especially true of food. Recently I wanted my family to experience the benefits of buckwheat, a tasty powerhouse grain that is perfect for active individuals who live in cold climates. Despite it's name, buckwheat is not wheat, and is also good for people who have wheat gluten sensitivities.

Cold Season Tea & Tips

More thoughts on tea...

This winter I've added "Cold Season" tea to my list of recommendations for patients who are ailing. My friend Jeni has told me that she loves the Cold Season smell. Apparently her colleague Linda doesn't share this opinion. I fall somewhere in the middle: I don't love, nor do I hate the smell.