Arnica and bruises

Ok, I had a request to write about something immediately practical. So, I thought it would be very useful for everyone to know about arnica.  Arnica is a perennial herb with a long history of traditional herbal and homeopathic uses.  (See prior post below for an intro to homeopathy).  Parents will find that it particularly handy this time of year when our kids are apt to get the occasional bumps and bruises as they head outdoors.

If your child does end up with a bump and the skin is intact, apply arnica cream or gel or tincture as soon as possible. You may find the bruising and swelling is completely different with arnica.  The results can actually be quite impressive.  If your child has a bump in which the skin is broken, do NOT apply topical arnica.  Instead, try a dose of over-the-counter homeopathic arnica in the 6c, 12c or 30c potency once by mouth immediately.  Check with a professional homeopath for more specific and individualized dosing.  Arnica topicals and homeopathic remedies may be found in your local health food store and sometimes in regular drug stores.  Arnica treatment of bruising is a gentle and easy introduction to both herbal medicine and homeopathy. 

Don't forget about the usual icing and elevation of the bruised area to reduce swelling.  And, of course, be responsible and see a physician ASAP if your child has a significant injury, laceration, head injury, loss of consciousness, headache, nausea, vomiting, or is otherwise not acting him- or herself.

Photo credit http://en.wikipedia.org

E = mc2

E = mc 2. Energy = mass times the constant speed of light squared.  This fascinating formula is one of Einstein's greatest accomplishments.  Now you may be thinking, what exactly does this equation mean and what does this have to do with integrative medicine?  With E= mc2, Einstein is basically pointing out that energy and matter are different forms of the same thing; that is, energy and matter are interchangeable.

If people are matter, and matter is a form of energy, then people are also energy.  The equation E = mc2 just helps make this truth more tangible for me.  We are more than just our physical bodies. We are matter and we are energy. Therfore, we must care for BOTH the physical and energetic parts of our being.  In some cultures, our energetic bodies are addressed routinely in maintaining health.  Energy medicine has the same goal -- to nourish and heal our energetic bodies as well as our physical bodies.  In this way, there is the potential for a more in-depth healing process.  By healing the energetic body we help the physical body and vice versa.  If we neglect to treat the energetic body, we are leaving out an essential part of a person's health.  Einstein was far ahead of his time in terms of his scientific genius.  It is time for us to fully explore his insights and their implications within the field of medicine.

For you fellow physics enthusiasts that would like to learn more about Einstein's theory of relativity, take a look at his book Relativity: The Special and the General Theory.  Einstein wrote this book for the general public, high school-aged and above.

Photo credit: NOVA website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/kaku.html

No processed foods week

Imagine it... one week eating zero processed foods. That means nothing boxed, canned, or frozen; no food additives or preservatives or chemically-altered foods; no deli meats; no chips, breads, or pastas.  Nowadays, that is quite a challenge for most families.  However, just a few generations back, processed foods were not as widely available and most foods were freshly prepared from their whole food form.  Whole foods are rich in nutrients, providing a rainbow of nourishment for our bodies and soul.  Think of the dark green of kale, broccoli, or chard; oranges of sweet potato and butternut squash; the reds and purples of strawberries and blackberries; and the earthy yellows of brown rice and lentils.  How much more alive and healthy would we feel if we ate real food?

If a whole foods diet sounds daunting to you, then try it in smaller steps. Pick a new vegetable to try each time you go grocery shopping.  Get the kids involved and let them pick out a whole food. Give them some guidelines (something green or orange, not boxed or packaged) and see what they come up with.


Keep the cooking simple. Most dark leafy greens can easily be cooked in a quick saute with olive oil and onions or garlic on low-medium heat. See the photo for the red onion and swiss chard we sauteed with olive oil and then ate with a little brown rice or quinoa on the side. Now that's a power-packed breakfast!  Or, you may opt to chop up and roast some squash or root veggies to bring out their wonderful natural sweetness. Try to keep your meals balanced with colorful veggies and a bean or whole grain.

Enjoy connecting with the earth as you explore new foods.