Module Two
RECIPES
sprouting
Click on images for recipes reels. Here are two wonderful things to give a try
BOOSTED PESTO
The quickest pea soup ever
SHITAKE TEA -
Shitake Mushrom Tea – helps with dextofication, liver congestion, sclerosis, fatty liver, excess liver heat. Helpful for relaxing and relieving overly tense muscles and nerves. Helps to dissolve animal fats and lower high blood pressure. Over indulgence, headache, sore eyes, medication side effects.
Ingredients – 1 or 2 dired shitake mushroom soaked in 1 cup warm water
Pinch of salt
Cup of water
Directions
Remove the shitake from soaking water, squeeze out excess liquid and cut into thin strips. Combine the sliced mushroom the reserved water and the other cup of water and a pinch of salt into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes covered.
Drink half a cup at a time and no more than twice daily.
PRACTIcE…
During the Wood element, Springtime, is the time to start new projects! Express your truth and really go for it! The world is your oyster - so get em.
This week I would like for you to begin to become more aware of your internal language to yourself - what does that little voice in your head actually sound like and what kinds of things does it say to you? Start to pay more attention to this, maybe jot things down. Are there any repeating themes coming up?
I’d also like for you to try to notice (or catch yourself) when you react to things. Our reactions feel like involuntary actions that just pop up out of nowhere but they are often very much linked with the voices in your head.
People you might find interesting to learn more about mind/ body connection are - Dr Joe Dispensa & Mo Gowdat - both talk about neuroplasticity and how ultimately we can re wire our brains.
I would also like for you to think about practical ways to support the liver and gallbladder -
Enjoying a glass of water on waking and after this, have some fresh lemon juice in warm water. This helps to alkalise the body and start the digestive system. The astringent sour taste totally aligns with the Wood element and helps to ground the liver after the “floaty” energy of winter.
Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables - the Wood element is all about the colour green.
A delicious spring breakfast recipe I love is onsen eggs - this is a very cleansing light, broth to start to the day
Light some Palo Santo wood - this gorgeous fragranced wood is wonderful for clearing negative energies in your living space and invites a feeling of calm to both body and mind
Go back to the list of foods advised in the WOOD Chapter to remind yourself of useful foods to help support it. Things like -
Sprouts, dandelion, nettle tea, lemon, salsify, spinach, spring onion, asparagus, Jersey royal potatoes, rocket, spring lamb soup
RITUALS
These gorgeous essential oils are wonderful for supporting the WOOD element. Essential oils are a wonderful way of connecting back to the sense of smell, bringing you back to your body and out of your head, as well as holding a host of individual benefits to them.
CRYSTALS- malachite, petrified wood, amber, tigers eye, Citrine
ESSENTIAL OILS- orange, lemon, grapefruit, sandalwood
SELF CARE - spring cleanse, massage, stretching, exercise, looking to nature unfurling, what is being shown to you
SOURDOUGH - we will be making sourdough in our cook along and making x 2 loaves. Why not give one of your loaves away to someone - connection and community can do wonders for our self esteem and feeling of achievement and happiness… and plus…. everyone loves sourdough!
RITUALS TO SUPPORT THE WOOD ELEMENT
HOT AND COLD SHOWERS - the contrast in the temperatures gets the blood moving and is a great way to move lymph, support heart health and release toxins.
EXERCISE - This can be anything that gets you moving. I love POWER PLATES. More and more science is coming out now about VIBRATIONAL exercise and how it supports the body and helps to build immunity and muscle. Click here for more information.
Rebounders are also wonderful ways to keep the body moving.
DRY BRUSHING - This helps to get the lymph moving and helps in elevating toxins - which after quite a stagnant Winter or often moving less can be a problem. Work from the soles of your feet in an upwards motion to the heart.
MASSAGE - this is not only a great way to move toxins from the body but also wonderful for relaxation and to de stress.
ANTIOXIDANTS - make sure you have a diet rich in antioxidants when detoxing (which is things like - berries) as they play an important part in detoxification. Antioxidants that we take in through food can help prevent damage from free radicals and support us through a period of detox or cleanse.
Herbs that support the Liver are -
Milkthistle
Artichoke - bitter and stimulates the liver and digestive secretions, especially bile from the gallbladder
Dandelion root - blood purifier and general detoxication of the liver
Dandelion leaf - supports the transport of toxins via the blood and the exiting through the kidneys
Turmeric - blood cleansing, anti inflammatory, rich in antioxidants, bitter
St Johns Wort
The Wood element is all about GREEN. So bringing nature into your living environment is a wonderful thing to do.
Did you know that having house plants, bringing nature in… all help to organise the nervous system into a calmer state. I love these jars by Ilex Studio which are hassle free (no watering) and the plants can last up to a year with little to no maintenance.
(If you’d like to buy one they have given us the code LITTLEPLOUGH to receive 10% off)
BRING THE OUTSIDE IN
USING NATURAL PRODUCTS
Your skin is an organ and although we don’t usually treat it like one it’s just as important as our heart, liver, lungs etc
What you put onto and into your skin matters - a large amount of what you put onto your skin is absorbed into your skin. Women are often deemed more “toxic” than men due to the fact we generally put more lotions and potions onto our skin and hair.
I love using a natural deodorant and have found this brand to be the best
SPRING CLEANING
Making sure the products you use in your house support you is also key.
I like to make my own household cleaning products by fermenting lemons and adding a touch of sourdough starter - something I learnt whilst with Vanessa Kimbell - see this video HERE for more info
But bought products I like to also use are - KIT AND KIN and TINCTURE