Chrysanthemum flower is one of the best herbs to treat eye disorders. If your eyes are red, burning, painful – you need to make a tea with this herb. You can drink the tea daily and/or – keep the tea in the fridge, soak a soft cloth with the tea and put on top of eyelids. Any health food store with a bulk herb department carries these dried flowers

In Chinese Medicine, Chrysanthemum is called ju hua. It is nourishing and cooling for the meridians of the Lung and Liver. For the Lung it is used to clear febrile diseases and treat some skin conditions. The Liver organ and meridian are responsible for the eyes. Anger, stress, and toxins are all things the Liver works to clear daily.

Hope this helps you cope with the smoke!

I thought, or at least hoped, that after the midterm elections, some of the continual stress would let up. Instead, less than 36 hours after the polls closed in California, wildfires erupted and stress levels have intensified with new traumas being created for thousands of people and animals.

How do you react or cope with stress? Insomnia, emotional eating, no appetite, general anxiety, easily or inappropriately angered, nightmares, drug/alcohol use, emotional shutdown? Our coping methods are endless. It is challenging to stay in our bodies in present time when we feel overwhelmed – that’s what chronic stress can do. One simple action: inhale while counting to 4, exhale while counting to 4, repeat. (Do not do this in smoky air). As you feel calmer and your nervous system begins to settle, you may try extending the counts to 8, for a total of 3 rounds.

If you already have a regular movement practice – great, continue. If you don’t, start gently, maybe gentle stretching or a yin yoga class, or a 20 minute walk. Gentle movement is supportive for your mind and body.

Making time to help others, however you can: active listening, a hug – nurtures the giver as well as the receiver. We all need nurturing, no matter our age. And yes, hugs with 4 legged friends/family are wonderful!

In August I wrote a blog on wildfire smoke, with no thought we would be living with it again 3 months later from the Camp Fire disaster. In addition to the tea recipe below: poached pears are great for lungs which are coping with all the smoke. Poaching the pears with some lemon and fresh ginger will help your immune system. Best to eat the pears while they are warm, or reheat as needed, and drink the liquid.

My Detox Tea for Wildfires: all ingredients are in your local health food store’s bulk herb section. Buy 1-2 ounces each, combine all and store in mason jar. 1 tsp in teaball for 3-4 cups hot water. Steep 5-10 minutes. Drink 3 cups daily.

Equal parts each

• Lemongrass: good for achy joints, exhaustion
• Milk Thistle: supports liver
• Osha Root: LUNG health, detoxification and support
• Nettle Leaf: allergy relief, analgesic pain relief and anti-inflammatory
• Plantain leaf: cough, cold, and lung irritation
• Burdock root: protect liver, detoxify blood, help protect the body from damaging free radicals.
• Yellow Dock root: inflammation of nasal passages and the respiratory tract.
• Green Tea (anti-inflammatory+) &/or Rooibois Tea ( lowers stress hormones +)

Stay Safe

It’s dry and windy. Mornings and nights are cold. Our lungs inhale and exhale EVERYTHING. In Chinese Medicine they are largely responsible for our wei qi (immunity from external pathogens). Seasonal changes can be challenging if you suffer from allergies, asthma or other chronic respiratory conditions. Strengthen your lungs with botanical medicines, acupuncture, qi gong, yoga and cupping!

Fifty percent of my sessions this week have included flash cupping. It strengthens lungs and clears mucous from them. One cup is used at a time and it is quickly and repeatedly placed and removed on upper chest and/or back areas. Bruising is minimal or not at all. I use glass cups because they are the only material which can be sterilized; some people use bamboo cups for this technique. It is necessary to keep the area warm and well covered for 24 hours after this treatment. I do recommend you get this from experienced practitioners; it is a sub-specialty and not taught to massage therapists (that I know of).

If you have chronic allergies, I highly recommend a good quality air purifier in your bedroom. Don’t suffer and make your lungs work more than necessary!

Last week while enjoying a vegetable garden in Calistoga, I got a bee sting. For many this would not be a big deal, but, I am allergic to the venom and keep an epi-pen around for this situation. The problem with the epinephrine injections – a visit to a hospital is required to monitor heart rate and other possible reactions. I did not want to go to the hospital. I instantly pulled the stinger out with my teeth, spat it out and put my hand in cold water. A naturopathic doctor gave me apis mellifica (homeopathic remedy) and then benedryl gel capsules which I bit into for fastest assimilation.

Fortunately I was attending a healers retreat and was surrounded by caring and knowledgeable people. I also applied a basil poultice (yes, chewed up some basil leaves) and applied to area at someone’s suggestion. Lastly, I applied tea tree essential oil to the sting area. Later that day, it was like sting never happened – no inflammation, itching, burning – nothing!

I did not use the epi-pen because I did not feel my throat constricting and was so grateful. I don’t think any one thing I did within minutes of the sting prevented anaphylaxis, but the combination of what I took and applied while remaining calm and feeling supported did.

I write this for the thousands (millions?) of people who have severe allergies and their families. I often see people swatting away bees – this is probably not the safest action to take. Bees are interested in the nectar of flowers, not stinging humans. I just happened to reach for basil flowers without noticing a bee was there and it felt threatened so lashed out with its stinger. If you get stung, immediately remove the stinger if possible and stay calm. If anaphylaxis begins – inject the epinephrine to save your life. From now on while wandering in gardens, on trails or alone I will have antihistamine gel capsules and some tea tree essential oil with me. I suggest you do the same.

Thanks to Rebecca, Chaiya, Ravyn and the AWB crew at the pool!

P.S. First bee sting in more than 20 years