According to the Taoist 5 Elements, Spring is the season of the Wood Element, making this the perfect time to get out in nature and learn about our local plants! Come spend a beautiful day exploring our local California medicinal herbs and learning how to identify and use them. Athene offers an integrative medicine perspective- incorporating Eastern and Western schools of Herbal Medicine, as well her background as a professional Field Botanist and years of study in the Plant Spirit Healing Traditions of the Amazon. In the spirit of reparations, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to support local indigneous peoples.
The Medicine of these Times
What is the medicine of these times? Is it Ayahuasca? Is it AI? Is it astrology? Or a secure attachment? We’re all still learning. We’re looking for our own way of responding, finding our truth. Yet…
The medicine of these times is not something we need to acquire, or even do. It’s not outside of ourselves…..it’s deep inside, in our core.
Our core is our deep inner refuge, our seat of clear knowing and unshakable peace, and it’s in our body. Our core is not an abstract idea existing only in the mental realms. Ancient Taoist and Shamanic traditions tell us the core is the deep center of our being located in the lower belly, below the navel. When we cultivate and strengthen our core, we create a powerful center that can remain unshaken no matter what goes on outside.
Finding and staying in our center is the simple and essential medicine of these times.
My first Tai Chi teacher did not pride himself on being able to knock down his opponents. His only goal was to remain so rooted in his core that nothing could throw him. I’m still learning from and practicing that teaching 30 years later.
When we know how to stay in our core, we don’t get triggered or pulled off center by life. Then we can respond, rather than just react. If we wish to truly create meaningful change, we must come from our core.
The core is physical, yes, and it is also part of the subtle energy body, and made of light. The core of light is our eternal nature, within us, that is also the eternal nature of the Universe. Our core of light contains the wisdom of our healed ancestors, not only humans, but the plants, the stars, even the elements themselves, and all that we are. All that we are is the Universe, and it is inside of us. The work now is to awaken and dwell there.
How do we do this?
1. Charge your core with light daily. We can charge the core through breath, intention, sound, and visualization. We can do this by placing the hands over the low belly, breathing in light and exhaling any heavy energy. See below for a free 5 minute meditation to connect with and strengthen the core.
Other tips for going deeper…
2. Find and heal the split off parts of ourselves that are disconnected from our core, that may block us from dwelling there fully. Unresolved trauma creates split off parts in our beings. These parts pull us away from our core in difficult moments- then we are unable to truly respond and can only react from a disempowered place. Residues of traumatic events may live in our bodies and obstruct our access to our core- they need to be cleared. This work is best undertaken with a qualified shamanic practitioner.
3. Ask for the support of the Universe! Remember that when we are in our core, we have access to infinite support and resources. Infinite. The core of our being is pure light and it is one and the same with the center of the Universe. The Universe deeply desires us to support us. But we need to remember to ask!
4. Practice when the stakes are low. Learning to dwell in our core can be like exercising an under-utilized muscle. Our culture over emphasizes the mental and not the physical. At any given moment, we are mostly in our heads and not in our core. Unless we practice. If we wait for a difficult situation to arise, and then try to get in our core without much familiarity with it, success will be difficult. Practice getting in your core when it’s easy- while you’re in line at the grocery store or taking a walk in nature. Give the new pathways a chance to develop.
5. Chose, speak, act from your core. There is great power now in what is chosen, spoken, and acted upon. Our choices now will reverberate throughout the centuries. Choose, speak, act from your core. The more we do this, the more powerful we become and the more we strengthen this new way of being for ourselves.
May all beings be free and happy!
Now is the Time for Albizia, Happiness Flower
Albizia julibrissin, Happiness Flower, aka Silk Tree
I’m 10 feet above the ground perched on the highest rung of an aluminum stepladder, gazing out at a sea of delicate pink and white flowers. “I’m back,” I say to the Albizia tree, “thank you so much for blooming another year. May I harvest some of your blossoms?” In answer, a beautiful silken flower drifts down to rest on my shoulder….
This isn’t my tree, it belongs to my neighbor, Albizia Seth (well, he doesn’t actually know I call him Albizia Seth, but what greater honor than to be named after such a heavenly tree)And by the grace and generosity of Albizia Seth, I come here every July when the skies are blue and the days are long, to harvest these medicine flowers.
And, what, pray tell is the medicine of Albizia? Known as Happiness Flower in traditional Taoist medicine, Albizia is a 2000 year old medicine that gentles the heart and the emotions, treating anxiety, insomnia, depression, irritability, and all manner of post traumatic stress. And, it grows everywhere here in California as an ornamental tree. I’ve counted at least 10 in my immediate neighborhood in Oakland alone.
Sitting down to a cup of Albizia tea tastes like soft moist earth and a sweet embrace. Sipping the gentle brew, I feel a ripple of calm spreading into my heart and throughout my whole body. An herb’s taste is like its’ handshake, how it introduces us to its spirit- medicine. Albizia’s handshake begins with a mild sweetness, telling us everything is ok, yet it finishes with an astringent almost provocative kick, to remind us that not only is Albizia here to offer serenity and inner peace, but to also help move out pent up emotions and blocked energy in the body.
For many of us, the stagnations and difficulties of life can build up over time as constraint in the body. When this happens we can experience symptoms like chronic frustrating pain, especially chest pain and tightness, as well as upper back pain (the heart energy center has a front and a back), and moodiness, anxiety, depression, or just a lack of joy. We can’t be fully in the present, because we’re carrying around a heavy load of stuck energy. This can be particularly true for survivors of trauma.
Every person responds uniquely to trauma, often developing an unconscious survival strategy to cope- these strategies are brilliant and get us through difficult events, but years down the line, we may find that we have lingering physical and emotional discomfort, because we were unable to process the trauma fully at the time. Now the memory of the events lives just below the surface of conciousness in our bodies, as unexplained physical pain or chronic anxiety, shame, depression, or irritability
Albizia, Happiness Flower, is the perfect medicine here. Albizia not only calms the spirit, it also moves out stuck energy and physical blockages simultaneously. What’s more, it does so with an innate knowing of how much to move and how much to soothe, so that the release happens at the pace that is right for us.
This is of utmost importance when we’re working with trauma. If we try to unravel the knots too quickly or forcefully, we can overwhelm the nervous system and then restimulate, rather than heal the trauma. Just as we cannot rush or force a flower to open, so we cannot push or compel the heart to open again after a traumatic event. When tended with care, the heart opens in its own time and knowing, just like a flower only blooms when it is ready. So, when the time is right for us, Albizia can be a truly exquisite guide and companion for healing.
Safety Note: Please do not harvest or consume medicinal plants unless you are under the guidance of a trained professional.
This article copyright 2025 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac, all rights reserved.
Menopause as a Wisdom Initiation- Podcast
The perimenopause years are an enormous transition for female bodied people. We live the first half of our lives bathed in estrogen. Suddenly, that is gone. Our bodies, hormones and outlook on life can shift profoundly, seemingly overnight.
Listen to my podcast on on the alchemy of menopause
There is deep body intelligence underlying the process, yet our culture seeks to make the change invisible. Little information exists to empower and uplift the perimenopausal years. Many folks find themselves feeling lost and bewildered. Thankfully, ancient Taoist teachings can empower us to reclaim menopause as a wisdom initiation.
Taking a sage approach, menopause is an opportunity to step into the beauty of Eldership. Not cover girl glamor beauty, but the beauty of how we have been humbled and taught by this human life.
As a Gynecology Professor, I ask students to bring a media image of menopause to class- invariably the images are of jokes poking fun of the dreaded hot flashes, weight gain, and irritability. But, Menopause is not a disease to fear, nor is it comedic relief. Rather, ancient Taoist medicine tells us it is an alchemical transformation.
During menopause, the energetic center of body which formerly was seated in the womb migrates to the heart. Now, instead of using our monthly blood to nourish new life, the menses cease, and, the blood is sent instead to the heart to nourish the wisdom of the spirit.
So perimenopause is an alchemical transformation. And, it can proceed relatively smoothly when we support the process using ancient Taoist medicine. No matter what age we are, the basis of health remains the same: the balance of yin and yang, the smooth flow of qi in the body, and wise use of our internal resources. Using Taoist medicine, acupuncture and herbs, a natural, symptom free, perimenopause is possible!
Want to learn more? Listen to my podcast on on the alchemy of menopause.
Coming in 2026....Roots of Plant Medicine Course!
Roots of Plant Medicine Course
Cohort 3 begins January 2026
SOLD OUT!!
Class Schedule:
Sundays, 10am- 12pm, in Oakland, CA
1/25/26 GROUNDING~ Oak
2/22/26 PROTECTION~ Yarrow
3/15/26 RECIPROCITY~ Tobacco
4/12/26 HEART RESONANCE~ Reishi
5/3/26 SHAMANIC JOURNEYING~ Mugwort
6/7/26 ALLYSHIP~ TBD
Join us for a 6 month course to cultivate deeper relationships with local California plant allies and their medicinal uses. Learn foundational spiritual tools for working with any kind of plant medicine.
Each monthly class meets for 2 hours and focuses on a particular Plant Teacher, its medicinal uses and related spiritual tools.
Class offerings include guided plant meditations, nature walks, qi gong and energy awareness, sound healing, plant baths, shamanic journeying, and more….
Cost: $350 for the 6 month series, limited to 15 participants.
Oak, a beautiful ally for grounding, strength, and connection with our ancestors
All plants are medicine, and all plants are visionary. Partnership with plants is what makes us human- it goes back for millenia and it’s encoded in our DNA. The local plants growing right outside our front doors can be our best medicine, when we learn how to listen.
The same fundamental spiritual tools apply whenever we choose to work with any plant conciousness. It doesn’t matter if its chamomile, cacao, or enchanter’s nightshade. When we have basic skillsets in place like grounding, protection, reciprocity, energy awareness and shamanic journeying, we can deepen our relationships with healing plants and more easily integrate our experiences into daily life. And, anyone can learn!
Join us for a 6 month journey into the Roots of Plant Medicine!
SOLD OUT!!
Warrior’s Plume (Pedicularis densiflora) Harvest 2022
About the Instructor~ Athene Eisenhardt has followed the plants in one way or another her entire life. Professional work as a Field Botanist for Yosemite National Park led her to begin wildcrafting herbs and studying the Taoist 5 Elements in nature. This led to formal study of Taoist Herbal Medicine, Western Herbalism, and Ayurveda. Athene also spent 2 years living and training in the indigenous plant spirit healing traditions of the Amazon, and has continued to train rigorously in the Shipibo Amazon lineage since 2009. An active teacher, Athene regularly offers Community Herb Walks in the East Bay, and is a Professor of Herbology at Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, CA.
This course and all course materials copyright 2024 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac, all rights reserved.
Letting Go makes us Truly Alive
“What must I give more death to today, in order to generate more life?”
- Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Fall is here, and all around us we see the world letting go. Leaves fall, the days grow shorter, and we breathe a collective exhale. We cannot live life fully without also being brave enough to release the old. Outdated habits or identities can feel comfortable and safe, even when they no longer serve us. Yet it is only through letting go that we discover our authentic self, what is really of value in life.
Part of the medicine of death is to remind us how to truly be alive. If we lived as if this day were our last, wouldn’t we choose to be present for all the miraculous beauty life has to offer? Yet, the beauty is not found by acquiring or doing more things. We find the beauty in space.
As we stand on the precipice of surrender, we can feel apprehensive of the unknown. If I give up one thing, what will I be left with, and how will I fill the void? We look for ways to fill up the emptiness. But what if emptiness is where it all really happens?
This is why Tai Chi practice always begins with standing in Wu Ji posture- Wu Ji is the primordial emptiness that contains all life, and it's also a part of each of us. But we have to let go to be able to experience it.
When we create emptiness and space through letting go, we free up the energy to intentionally receive the best of life. We can’t fully inhale without emptying first. Surrender and cessation actually have their own form of joy- it feels less like a Saturday night party, and more like a long blissful exhale.
“How can I find what is truly of value?
You don’t have to try,
You only have to let go,
maybe just for the afternoon
if it feels like too big of a task.
You can always start now.
You don’t even have to tell anyone else
you’re doing it.
Simply exhale
and allow
yourself into
the everywhere
that lives within you,
and enjoy the view.”
Copyright 2024 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac, DAIM
The Why and How of Grounding
What is Grounding? Simply stated, it’s getting out of our head and fully into our bodies, connected to the earth. Grounding creates a vital foundation- when we are grounded we can fully feel and release emotions, and stay in our center no matter what is going on around us. A daily grounding practice can benefit anyone looking for more stability, peace, and clarity amidst a high stress lifestyle. A regular grounding practice can also be especially supportive for people who deal with anxiety, depression, insomnia, ADD/ADHD, head injuries like concussions or TBI, headaches, chronic pain, or PTSD.
In this modern world we are are constantly on the go and bombarded with technology- devices, wifi and the like flood the urban environment. While technology offers many benefits, it also is proven to be harmful to the human brain and nervous system. It can be understood as a form of false yang- all bright lights and fast movement, yet, without real substance beneath. Too much screen time and contact with devices can wreak havoc on our health if we don’t ground ourselves. Believe it or not, the body has its own electric natural charge, which is slightly negative. EMF’s increase positive charge and thus unbalance the deilcate wiring of the human nervous system.
The fast pace of modern life is also another form of false Yang- obliging us to always stay busy, be “on”, and never slow down. It’s an unrealistic expectation that leaves all except the most hearty type A’s frazzled. We applaud those who can multitask, and at the same time, multitasking is actually detrimental to attention span and brain health. When we look at what we busy ourselves with- often phones and social media, all the activity lacks true meaning. And, despite being able to text at any hour of the day, studies show that modern day people in general report higher levels of anxiety and depression.
Grounding is therefore the natural balance to our busy, overloaded lives. And, it only takes a few minutes to do! As we take time to slow down, connect to our bodies and the earth, we become more able to hold a stable center amidst the chaos of the world. Every human being posseses natural energy pathways (grounding cords) that run down from the base of the spine and the soles of our feet to root us into the earth. When those pathways stay open and connected we naturally feel more at ease, resourced and present. We are able to release toxic emotions and excess nervous energy down our grounding cords and into the earth. In turn,via the same grounding cords, we are also able to receive life force from the earth, keeping ourselves balanced, focused, and calm. Ever wondered how Qigong masters can stand completely upright and still for hours? By opening and activating the grounding cords.
Whether you’re a beginner, or more experienced and looking for new inspiration,
I hope you enjoy this free 4 minute grounding meditation!
The statements in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness. Copyright 2024 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, LAc. Music for Grounding Meditation by Calm Whale.
Gifts of the Rain: A Tribute to Medicinal Mushrooms
Ahhh, winter rains. Life awakens in the forest. The trees drink deep and spread their green needled arms wide to taste the mists. Fed by the moisture, licorice ferns spring forth from the crevices of rocks and the roots of oaks. We can hear the happy burble of seasonal creeks running once again. Gleaming emerald mosses carpet the trunks of the bay laurels. And miraculously, almost overnight, mushrooms pop forth from the earth. The lollipop reds of russulas, creamy orange chanterelles, turkey tails with cloud patterned bands like a Japanese painting, ghostly white amanitas glowing against the dark backdrop of the forest. Waking early after a long rainy night, I don my mud boots and rush off to the woods, excited as a kid on christmas morning, to enjoy these very special gifts of the rains.'
Please Note~ Wild mushrooms can be poisonous~ do not harvest or consume wild mushrooms unless you are directly under the supervision of a trained professional
Mushrooms are distinct from other plant life, a separate conciousness, and are classified in their own kingdom- kingdom fungi, a rollicking tribe of forest rebels who some say came originally not from the earth, but from the stars. Wherever they came from in the begininng, scientists tell us that mushrooms may be more related to insects than green photosynthesizing plants.
The ecological roles of mushrooms tell us something of their medcine- they act as tranformers and transmuters, metamorphosing decaying matter into new life, rejuvenating brain and body and transforming conciousness. They offer us new ideas, new ways of seeing and perceving, and innovative ways of doing. Mushrooms have a unique survival strategy and niche in the forest, thus they offer us a fresh look, a creative portal into the possibilities of life.
Mushrooms are also communicators, connecting the entire forest in hidden underground networks, they are the original information superhighway. These underground mycellial networks spread for miles as they share thoughts and even feelings from tree to tree. And of course, their appearance is uncannily similiar to that of neurons in the human brain.
Many medicinal mushrooms are staunch immune system allies which can prevent infections (including cancer) and bolster immune activity. Others can enhance energy, lower bad cholesterol and support the heart, repair damage done by toxic chemicals, balance blood sugar levels and mood, promote the growth of new neural pathways and more! Read on to learn about a few of the key species and how to use them:
Reishi/Ling Zhi is known as spirit mushroom in Chinese and has a thousands of year history of use in Asia to promote long life, calm the spirit and fortify the heart. Ancient lore describes reishi as “food for immortality”. Yet, many people are unaware that we have our own native Reishis (Ganoderma orgense and others) growing right here in North America! In addition to their other benefits, Medicinal mushrooms like Reishi have long been prized for their immunostimulating, strengthening and regulating properties. Reishi posseses an intelligence that can speak directly to the immune system, upregulating or downregulating its activity as necessary. It is also coming forward as a strong support to prevent cancer. On top of all that, it also safeguards the health and function of the Liver.
Oyster Mushrooms - also called the “mushroom flower of heaven”…say no more! Consuming these tasty mushrooms regularly can lower bad cholesterol in the body and protect the lining of the blood vessels. From a Taoist perspective, we can understand part of the medicine of oysters as balancing the waters of the body. They transform what is known as “dampness”, lowering inflammation, healing rashes and skin irritation, reducing edema, swelling and excess weight. Oysters are also hypoglycemic, they can promote healthy blood sugar levels.
Shiitake- Not just a culinary delight, shiitake mushrooms are an immune powerhouse, with strong anti-viral properties. They work best consumed a few times per week as prevention. Shiitake mushrooms also rejuvenate the liver and protect it from chemical damage.
Turkey Tails/Yun Zhi- Known as “cloud mushrooms” for their beautiful striped bands that do indeed resemble clouds. Turkey tails boost Spleen qi and give energy levels a gentle lift while also bolstering the Wei qi, the protective field of energy that surrounds the body and keeps pathogens and unwanted influences out. Modern science backs this up- Turkey Tails are a powerful immune activator that can prevent many kinds of infections. In addition, Turkey Tails offer significant protection from cancer- they help to conserve our DNA and protect it from damage as it replicates.
Poria/Fu Ling- A beautiful mushroom that thrives on the roots of pine trees. Poria can increase energy and digestive function, while also calming the spirit and promoting sound sleep. Like many of our mushrooms, poria thrives in a damp climate and thus has the intelligence with how to deal with excess water or “dampness” in the body. It is a mild diuretic which can flush the urinary passages and leach out unhealthy water retention. It can even be used to treat hormonal bloating and swelling, along with other herbs.
Cordyceps- These fungi are a true energy powerhouse. They directly increase activity of our mitochondria (our cellular energy production centers). Cordyceps literally raises our vibration, creating more energy by causing our mitochondria to vibrate at a faster rate. Cordyceps also enhance oxygen utilization, making it a wonderful tonic for athletes or folks at high altitude. It can also strengthen the respiratory system and benefit those suffering from asthma and long viral illness. In ancient Tibetan medicine, Cordyceps is revered for its ability to winter under the snow in the high mountains, which connects it with the hidden origin of life. It then emerges in spring to share its stong life force with us. Please note, Cordyceps is now endangered in the wild, only cultivated Cordyceps should be used.
Lions Mane- This special mushroom has gained much fame recently for its ability to support memory, cognitive function, and support nerve repair and neuronal regeneration. The mycellium, rather than the fruiting body, has the most medicine here. In Taoist medicine, Lions Mane mushrooms are prized as a fortifying tonic that strengthens all 5 of the vital yin organs- Lungs, Spleen, Heart, Liver, and Kidneys.
I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to some of our medicinal mushroom allies. Of course, there is so much more that could be shared, but that might best be done by communing with the mushrooms themselves. Enjoy the rains, enjoy the fungi and stay happy and healthy!
Please Note~ Wild mushrooms can be poisonous~ do not harvest or consume wild mushrooms unless you are directly under the supervision of a trained professional
The statements in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness. Copyright 2024 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac, DAIM
Nourishing the Mother: 5 Element Seasonal Wellness
Happy Fall!
Autumn, the season of the Lungs and the Metal element, also heralds the arrival of cold and flu season. The Lungs control our Wei (Protective) Qi, which acts like a forcefield around our bodies to keep illness and pathogens out.
How well we take care of ourselves in the weeks leading up to cold and flu season can greatly enhance (or weaken) our resistance to illness. Once we begin to fall ill, it can be too late! Wise use and nourishment of our inner resources can help us stay healthy, and diet is one of the foundations here. Even just cutting out white sugar, which reduces white blood cell activity by 30% for up to 5 hours after eating it, can do marvels.
The Taoist 5 Elements offer us a singular approach to building our Metal/Lungs/Immunity, based on interrelationsips between the elements and the seasons.
In 5 Element Theory, we work with the relationships of the elements in our environment and within ourselves. There is a 5 Element saying, “In order to nourish the Child, nourish the Mother.” Each element exists in a circle of generation, Water creates Wood, Wood creates Fire, Fire creates Earth, and Earth creates Metal. If Earth, the Mother of Metal, is well nourished and healthy, this in turn engenders healthy Metal (the Child). Since Earth is the Mother of Metal, feeding our Earth in order to support Lungs/Wei Qi/Metal is essential now.
The Lung (Metal) channel begins in the Stomach (Earth), so there is no better place to start! Squash and pumpkins are a wonderful, seasonal food that nourish the Earth and in turn the Lungs. Their yellow orange color, round shape, and sweet flavor tell us they are an Earth element food. The flavor of Earth is sweet,and eating balanced healthy sweet foods can help us- while eating empty unhealthy sweet like sugar depletes immunity, and unsettles the Spirit.
Below is a recipe for pumpkin soup, with a classic herbal immune combo- miso (which feeds beneficial bacteria and directly promotes immunity via the gut) ginger (warms and enhances bloodflow and kicks pathogens out from the body) and fresh green onions (which fortify and stimulate the immune system).
Nourishing Pumpkin Soup
Ingredients:
1/2 inch finely grated ginger
half pumpkin, peeled & chopped in small pieces
2 tablespoons miso paste
3-5 fresh green onions, finely chopped
1. Put the pumpkin in a pan and add 3 ½ cups of water. Bring to a boil and cook over low heat to soften- about 20 minutes.
2. Save the water, and once the pumpkin is cool enough, mash it, add the miso paste (stirring well to dissolve) fresh ginger, and green onions. Add a little extra water to make a soupy consistency.
3. Top with nori seaweed.
Enjoy!
Copyright 2023 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt, L.Ac, DAIM
The statements in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness
A Revisionist History of the Smoothie
Is your smoothie as healthy as you think? This article offers some perspective based on tradtional systems of healing and food energetics. Pureed fruit drinks have been a part of Middle Eastern, South American, and Asian culture for 100s of years. Yet, these refreshments were never traditionally consumed as breakfast- rather as desserts or sweet treats.
So how did the breakfast smoothie begin? With the advent of the electric blender in the 30’s, came the birth of the North American smoothie. Blending a “mylk” (dairy or plant based) with fruits and other nutrient packed goodies for breakfast would seem to provide a quick nutritious meal, especially for folks on the go. But a daily smoothie might actually be draining to the digestive system, dampening our agni (digestive fire) and sapping our vital energy.
How can this be? First off, let’s look at how the digestion works. Our digestive system is like a cooking pot. Our body heats up our food, mixing and simmering it until breaks down into a soup or “chyme” that can be easilty absorbed. Digestion requires agni or fire to break down and transform our food. The temperature of the stomach is ideally 99.6 degrees F, and our digestive enzymes only operate within a narrow temperature range. If we consume cold or iced foods like smoothies, the body has to work much harder to warm us up and stoke the digestive fire.
Furthermore, the digestive process actually begins in the mouth when we chew our food and begin breaking it down with saliva. If we skip chewing, we don’t absorb as many nutrients from the food, and we can also throw off the entire cascade of digestive enzymes. In addition, raw fruits tend to make our digestion work harder and create cold and dampness in the body. When we are younger, and our yang fire is abundant, we may be able to get away with this. But by the time we reach 35, our digestive enzyme output has already declined by almost 30%. Add to this a diet of dampening, cold raw foods like smoothies, and we may be seriously depleting our energy, digestive function, and life force fire. As a result we may find our selves feeling bloated, sluggish, tired, cold, and unable to lose weight.
Summertime would seem to be the perfect season for smoothies, with all the fresh fruit in season. Yet, eating large amounts of fruit first thing in the morning also destabilizes our blood sugar, sending us on an energy roller coaster for the rest of the day. Eating a cooked, protein breakfast such as eggs, or quinoa with nuts and seeds can provide better, lasting energy for the entire day.
But what if you can’t give up your smoothie? Here are some easy hacks to have your smoothie and better support your digestive fire and long term energy.
Ditch the ice: drinking a smoothie room temperature, or even warm! without ice, will go a long way in making it more digestible.
Spice it up: warming spices like cardamom, cinammon, ginger, turmeric, or even fresh basil or rosemary warm and stimulate the digestion, helping offset the cold temperature of the smoothie and enhance the bodies’ absorption of nutrients.
Chew your smoothie: chewing helps to kick the rest of our digestion into gear, signalling the gut to prepare to receive food and secrete digestive enzymes.
Less fruit, more protein: The sweet flavor exists on a continuum- empty to full. Fruits tend to be more of an empty sweet- full of simple sugars, and because of this, too many fruits tend to throw off the digestion and cause dampness, inflammation, and fatigue. Ayurveda actually recommends that fruit be consumed by itself, away from other foods. In contrast, full sweet includes protein rich foods and healthy fats like nut milks or nut butters, flax, pumpkin, hemp or chia seeds, lecithin, or coconut, which are a better choice first thing in the morning.
Try an all vegetable smoothie! For those who have the taste for it, eliminate the fruit and load up on veggies instead.
Check out the recipe below for a healthy smoothie that’s also better for digestion, energy, and blood sugar.
Gazpacho Greens Smoothie
1 avocado
2 tablespoons Green Pumpkin Seeds
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1 handful Chopped cilantro
1-2 teaspoons ground Cumin seeds
1/2 clove garlic, chopped
1-2 cups cooked spinach
1 celery stalk
1-2 small persian cucumbers
1 tablespoon Olive oil
1/2- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
Pinch of Salt
Water as needed in order to blend ingredients
Blend and enjoy!
copyright 2023 by Dr. Athene Eisenhardt L.Ac, DAIM. the statments in this article are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness.