The mayor of Lyon, France, a city where I’ve spent some time feeding on the city’s meaty and copious cuisine, announced that school lunches for 29,000 elementary-school students would no longer include meat. Well, the reaction was guaranteed:
Not so, thundered Gérald Darmanin, the interior minister. He tweeted that dropping meat was an “unacceptable insult to French farmers and butchers” that betrays “an elitist and moralist” attitude. Julien Denormandie, the agriculture minister, called the mayor’s embrace of the meatless lunch “shameful from a social point of view” and “aberrational from a nutritional point of view.”
I’m not that upset, as the kids will get plenty of meat elsewhere. But the fracas is funny.
This natural hand sanitizer combines antimicrobial herbs to kill the bugs that cause infection. It can be used when out and about without the need for water.
½ cup aloe vera gel
2 tsp. herbal-infused oil
1 tsp. thyme tincture
10 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
Put the aloe vera gel into a small mixing bowl, then slowly add the infused oil, whisking together thoroughly.
Add the tincture and essential oils and whisk again.
Pour into pump or squeeze bottles, seal, label and date. Use as needed.
If you love the effects of ginger on your immunity and digestion, this tea is a must add to your catalogue of teas. In addition to the ginger, Gingerade contains the nutritive herbs of milky oats, fennel, and honeybush, which create a delicious blend. Rosemary, known as the herb of remembrance, supports the mind and memory. Lemongrass, with its delicate citrus scent, brightens the mind and uplifts mood.
3 parts milky oats
2 parts ginger
2 parts honeybush
1 part lemongrass
1 part rose hips
1 part fennel
1 part dried berries (e.g., elderberry, blackberry, blueberry)
0.5 part rosemary
1 drop lemon essential oil, or fresh lemon zest to taste
Hot Infusion: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Infusion: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons tea in a lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or a cool place for at least 2 hours.
Old Man’s Beard or Traveller’s Joy (clematis vitalba)
A native perennial found in hedgerows, wood edges and scrub, it may be a beautiful plant, but it was said to do the Devil’s work for him by trailing into the other plants and choking them. Used medicinally in homeopathic preparations for rheumatism and skin eruptions, the plant contains protoanemonin and ingestion leads to severe abdominal pain and gastrointestinal irritation. Contact can cause skin irritation, which is why it was known as herbe aux gueux (‘beggar’s weed’) in France, having once been used by beggars to irritate the skin in order to simulate sores. The acrid smell of the foliage causes profuse watering of the eyes and nose when inhaled.
This vegetable concoction is a beautiful green color reminiscent of a lush, grassy meadow. Gin is the perfect base for the savory ingredients. The preparation of the drink is quick and simple due to the ease with which snow peas and basil are muddled.
3 snow peas
3 basil leaves
Sprig dill
Bar spoon pink and black peppercorns
2 ounces gin
¾ ounce Sour Mix
Garnish basil leaf and pink peppercorns
Muddle the snow peas, basil, dill, and peppercorns in a shaker. Add the gin, Sour Mix, and ice to the shaker and shake vigorously. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a basil leaf and pink peppercorns or garnish of your choice.
Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, this is a simple fruity blend. Using dried fruits creates a wonderfully sweet tea — a healthy and satisfying choice when you crave sweet foods.
2 parts rose hips
2 parts hibiscus
2 parts dried berries
1 part lemongrass
1 part linden
1 part white tea
0.75 part cinnamon
Hot Infusion: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Infusion: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons tea in a lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or a cool place for at least 2 hours.
Meditation: As long ago as the fifth century B.C.E., Taoists practiced meditation as a tool for cultivating inner peace. There is always an aspect of the mind that is quiet, calm, and present; however, it can be masked by thoughts, stories, and emotions that pull us out of the present moment. The mind can be like a toddler, running around from place to place, with an attention span of about one minute. It can easily switch from one emotion to the next. Meditation is not simply the practice of stopping all this chaos and quieting the mind; rather, it is the building of awareness about the mind’s habitual nature and the reduction of its distractions.
Exercise: Moving our bodies daily is vital to our overall well-being. Physical activity also moves our blood and cleanses our organs. Tai chi and qigong are both ancient forms of exercise used in Chinese medicine for the cultivation of energy. When visiting east Asian countries, you will see groups of people coming together to practice these movements every day. Even if you don’t know these two ancient practices, walking, running, swimming, dancing, hiking, playing sports, and even stretching are all wonderful forms of exercise.
Nutrition: Food is like medicine. It can nourish us to our very bones, bring us back from illness, and give us a tremendous amount of energy for living. Many of us are getting sick. Returning to natural, unprocessed, whole foods that match your constitution, align with the season, and support you through any imbalances you may be experiencing is the most direct way to find balance. Through this lens, each meal provides an opportunity to heal from the inside out and to prevent illness rather than be vulnerable to it.
Cosmology: Cosmology refers to the foundation of any spiritual tradition that reveals the core beliefs of how we human beings came to exist and what helps us to thrive. In Taoist cosmology, human beings are not seen as separate from the natural world but rather as a manifestation and integral part of it. Therefore, to cultivate a state of balance, we must look to the natural world around us and mimic the rhythms and cycles we see.
Fang Shui: Just as we can benefit from finding balance inside ourselves by meditating, exercising, and eating a diet that is aligned with nature, we can benefit from creating a similar balance outside ourselves. This is called feng shui, and it encompasses the practice of enhancing health through the environmental balancing of the home, office, garden, and other sacred spaces.
Bodywork: Touch is vital to our overall health. The physical practice of being touched in a therapeutic way allows us to relax deeply and experience the release of tension on all levels. Bodywork gifts us with a number of amazing endorphins (feel-good hormones) most especially, oxytocin.
Herbal Medicine: Chinese herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years as a vital tool for maintaining health throughout the life cycles and seasons. Eating medicinal plants from the earth allows us to be in direct relationship with the earth. In addition to a diet that is in sync with our nature, herbal medicine can target specific health imbalances and enhance the healing benefits of meals.
Acupuncture: The final branch of Chinese medicine is also the newest of the eight (though still more than two thousand years old)—the practice of acupuncture. Acupuncture is the art of inserting very fine, sterile needles just under the skin in strategic places to nourish, calm, or otherwise direct the movement of energy. This ancient art form has been found not only to reduce pain but to influence myriad systems in the body, mind, and spirit. From anxiety to leaky gut syndrome to depression to inflammation, acupuncture treats us on many levels. While this practice can certainly address everyday imbalances, I have found it to be most beneficial when used as a tool for prevention.
Drinking this delicious tea, especially prior to or immediately following a meal, helps balance the digestive system and relieve digestive upset. This is a all-purpose digestive system tea that is designed to be drunk daily. Supporting digestion is one of the best things you can do for daily health. A healthy digestive system can prevent many diseases over the long term. Adding a pinch of slippery elm or marshmallow root to each cup will soothe inflamed tissues in the throat, stomach, or intestines.
3 parts dandelion root
1 part fennel
1 part ginger
1 part peppermint
1 part spearmint
O.5 part Chamomile
Steeping:
Hot Infusion: Pour 1.5 cups hot water over 2 tablespoons tea. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Cold Infusion: Combine 2 cups cold water and 1 to 2 tablespoons tea in a lidded jar. Shake the jar to make sure all the tea is saturated. Place in the refrigerator or a cool place for at least 2 hours.
This cream is cooling and soothing for varicose veins, spider veins and hemorrhoids. The astringent properties of witch hazel water and oak bark help to shrink the veins, while yarrow and horse chestnut help maintain vein wall integrity.
1 cup aloe vera gel
2 tsp. horse chestnut leaf-infused oil
2 tsp. calendula oil
2 tsp. yarrow tincture
2 tsp. oak bark tincture
2 tsp. horse chestnut seed tincture
20 drops of rosemary essential oil (for varicose veins only, omit for haemorrhoids)
2 tsp. witch hazel water
Place the aloe vera gel in a bowl. Slowly add the oils, 1 teaspoon at a time, and whisk thoroughly.
Once combined, add the tinctures, one at a time, and whisk again, then add the essential oil and whisk. Finally, whisk in the witch hazel water. Place in a sterilised jar, seal, label and date.
Alternatively, use a plain base cream instead of the aloe vera gel, and whisk in the oils, tinctures and witch hazel water.
For optimal results, apply this cream twice a day, as well as taking internal circulatory herbs.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is thousands of years old and has changed little over the centuries. Its basic concept is that a vital force of life, called Qi, surges through the body. Any imbalance to Qi can cause disease and illness. This imbalance is most commonly thought to be caused by an alteration in the opposite and complementary forces that make up the Qi. These are called yin and yang.
Ancient Chinese believed that humans are microcosms of the larger surrounding universe, and are interconnected with nature and subject to its forces. Balance between health and disease is a key concept. TCM treatment seeks to restore this balance through treatment specific to the individual.
It is believed that to regain balance, you must achieve the balance between the internal body organs and the external elements of earth, fire, water, wood, and metal.
Treatment to regain balance may involve:
• Acupuncture
• Moxibustion (the burning of herbal leaves on or near the body)
• Cupping (the use of warmed glass jars to create suction on certain points of the body)
• Massage
• Herbal remedies
• Movement and concentration exercises (such as tai chi)
Acupuncture is a component of TCM commonly found in Western medicine and has received the most study of all the alternative therapies. Some herbal treatments used in TCM can act as medicines and be very effective but may also have serious side effects. In 2004, for example, the FDA banned the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra and plants containing ephedra group alkaloids due to complications, such as heart attack and stroke. Ephedra is a Chinese herb used in dietary supplements for weight loss and performance enhancement. However, the ban does not apply to certain herbal products prepared under TCM guidelines intended only for short-term use rather than long-term dosing. It also does not apply to OTC and prescription drugs or to herbal teas.
If you are thinking of using TCM, a certified practitioner is your safest choice. The federally recognized Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) accredits schools that teach acupuncture and TCM. Many of the states that license acupuncture require graduation from an ACAOM-accredited school. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine offers separate certification programs in acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and Oriental bodywork.
TCM should not be used as a replacement for conventional or allopathic treatment, especially for serious conditions, but it may be beneficial when used as complementary therapy. Since some TCM herbal medicines can interfere or be toxic when combined with Western medicines, you should inform your doctor if you are using TCM.
Mark Bere Peterson’s Counterculture, Urban Legends, Paganism & Witchcraft 