Health Tip • Kuzu - The Wonder Root

Kuzu (aka Kudzu) is a white powdery starch derived from the root of the kuzu plant, a hardy creeping vine native to southern Japan and Southeast China. Kuzu is highly valued both as a cooking ingredient in Japanese and Chinese cuisine as well as a natural remedy for a wide variety of ailments in Traditional Oriental Medicine and Macrobiotics.

Kuzu, often referred to as the wonder root and more revered than Ginseng by the Japanese, is well known for being highly alkalizing to the body. It is an excellent remedy for strengthening weak digestion and intestinal irritations. It is useful for acid indigestion, overeating, overindulging in sweets, stomach aches, flatulence, diarrhea as well as headaches and migraines. It also has proven to be an effective remedy for hangover from alcohol consumption as well as recovering from jet lag. Kuzu reduces symptoms of cold and flu and when taken at onset can alleviate symptoms altogether. It is also effective for general body pains and relaxes tight muscles. Kuzu is rich in flavonoids which have shown to lower cholesterol levels, reduce the risk of the formulation of blood clots, and protect against heart disease.

Ume-Sho-Kuzu

This recipe is one of the most widely used home remedies in Macrobiotics. It is best taken on an empty stomach in the morning or between meals. For generally improving digestion, take once a day 2-3 times a week or when symptoms are present. For best results with colds & flus as well as headaches and migraines, it can be taken as a meal replacement prepared as a drink or thicker cream. Eating little or no solid foods during a cold allows the body to heal and detoxify rather than having to use its energy for digestion.

In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water to the boil over medium heat. Dissolve kuzu in a bit of cold water, and add to the hot water. Simmer and stir constantly to prevent lumps until mixture turns translucent. Add umeboshi plum or paste and shoyu (or tamari) to taste. To further enhance digestion and promote warmth in the body, grate small amount of fresh ginger and squeeze a few drops of ginger juice into the kuzu drink. Drink while hot. As a variation you can prepare a kuzu cream, following the same steps above, but using about 1 tablespoon of kuzu powder

Apple-Kuzu Drink

This delicious drink is a great home remedy when you’re feeling tense and stressed. It is calming, has a relaxing effect on your muscles and promotes peaceful sleep. It is perfect for young children. It is helpful for reducing fever, giving a boost to children who are weak and lacking in energy, as well as calming down hyperactivity in children.

In a small saucepan, heat the apple juice and salt over medium heat until bubbles form at the side, before it boils.
Dissolve the kuzu in small amount of cold water. Add to the apple juice and stir constantly to avoid lumps. Simmer until the kuzu thickens and the color changes to translucent. Drink warm.

Kuzu can also be used undiluted to relieve acid indigestion and upset stomach. Take a chunk of kuzu of about ½ inch in diameter, place it on your tongue and allow it to dissolve slowly in your mouth.

Cooking Ingredient

As a cooking ingredient, Kuzu makes an excellent thickening agent, producing sparkling translucent sauces. Always dissolve Kuzu first in a small amount of cold water. Add to hot mixture, such as sauce, gravy or soup, towards the end of cooking. Stir constantly to avoid lumps and simmer for 2-3 minutes to neutralize any starchy taste. For a brown sauce, add a little tamari, shoyu or miso. Approx. 1 tablespoon of kuzu will thicken one cup of liquid, use more for a gel like consistency. Due to its high alkalinity, Kuzu is an ideal thickener for desserts such as puddings, custards, icings, pie fillings, counterbalancing the acidity of sweeteners. - Kuzu is available here at The Healing Point or at your local health food store.

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The Curse of the Purse • Tips from our Osteopaths

Our bodies are designed to cope with various strains placed upon it, and it does this very well up to a certain point. However, daily habitual movements and postures that take our bodies out of correct alignment, insignificant as they may appear at the time, compound over the years. They force our body into compensation patterns that can cause us pain and discomfort in seemingly unrelated areas later down the track. Depending on where our bodies cannot cope any longer will usually be where symptoms arise. Here are two classic examples of daily habits that can end up leading to back, hip, neck or shoulder pain as well as headaches.

For Men:
Try to avoid sitting with your wallet in your back pocket, as this places the ischial tuberosities (sitting bones) at different heights. This creates a similar effect to standing with a leg length discrepancy. Your body has a coping mechanism to always keep your eyes level. Sitting on your wallet will lead to your body compensating for this uneven sitting position, up through your lumbar spine, thoracic cage, eventually all the way to the very top of your spine and occiput.

For Women:
Avoid carrying a heavy handbag on one shoulder. It will cause your shoulder and thoracic cage to drop due to the weight on that side, creating a scoliosis type curvature upwards. A scoliosis type curve is when your spine curves laterally (sideways) and rotates in the opposite direction. It is much better to use a backpack or across the shoulder type satchel, as your body is able to carry weight in a more balanced position.

Allanna Treweek • Osteopath

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Seasonal Recipe • Millet Burger

Cook millet in 3 cups water. Use hulled organic millet (unhulled never cooks - it is for sprouting or making pillows!)
Bring millet and a pinch of sea salt and water to a rolling boil. Simmer on lowest flame or flame tamer for 25 minutes. Let rest for another 5-10 minutes before removing lid.

Heat the oil in a large frying pan - cast iron preferably - and saute the veggies, garlic and ginger for 5 minutes. Add the dried herbs and saute for another couple of minutes. Stir the veggies into the millet and add the nuts or seeds, shoyu and breadcrumbs or whizzed oats. Form into patties. If they don't hold together firmly, add a little water to moisten. Let rest for 5 minutes or so. You can either pan-fry in some sesame oil until golden on both sides, or for a lower fat version bake on an oiled baking tray at 200° for 35-45 minutes until golden and crisp.

Nice with mustard, or any other favourite sauce, on wholemeal buns or sourdough bread with lots of lettuce or rocket and sauteed onions. Or serve as pattie without bread with side salad or steamed veggies.

Recipe courtesy of Sahaja from The Great Life www.thegreatlife.com.au
Sahaja has been teaching Macrobiotic/Wholefoods cooking in Perth for 14 years and is a
Macrobiotic Counselor/Educator and Accredited Journey Practitioner.

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Shibashi Qigong • Next Course starts 19 April

This 7 week course offers a complete set of 18 gracefully flowing Qigong movements. The course includes a manual, wall charts and a great DVD. This is the perfect course if you wish to learn Qigong and would like to be able to practice it at home in your own time. It is easy to learn, easy to practice yet very effective ... a meditation in motion. Spaces are limited and booking is essential.
Read more about Shibashi Qigong ...

Apr 19 to June 7 (no class on May 17) • Monday evenings • 5:30 - 7:00 pm • 7 week course

"Learning and practicing Shibashi has been a deep and transformational experience for me. It has helped me to connect with my body and energy in a profound, yet simple way. I feel softer in my movements, with more of my core life force energy accessible throughout the day. After practicing Shibashi it is like my body is humming in a lovely deep silence. I value the grace and clarity Mandana brought to the teachings each week and the practical way the movements were introduced so I could practice them at home and slowly build up to the whole sequence which I now practice most days. Thankyou and look forward to more practice sessions ..." Rebecca B.

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Cosmetic Acupuncture • The Natural Facelift • NEW

Cosmetic Acupuncture is a non-invasive, chemical-free, safe and cost-effective Facial Rejuvenation technique. It has been practiced at imperial courts in China for thousands of years and has recently been re-discovered, becoming increasingly popular in the US, UK and now in Australia.

Cosmetic Acupuncture, also referred to as Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, takes a truly holistic approach, promoting beauty and youthfulness that radiates from within. It treats underlying imbalances at an organ level with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, as well as working directly on the face with a variety of techniques such as Acupuncture, facial massage, facial lymph drainage, dermal rolling etc.

Read more detailed information about Cosmetic Acupuncture, our package deal and our Autumn Special!

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Baby Massage Workshop • Wednesday 5 May • NEW Individual Tuition

Learn to build your baby's confidence and self-esteem through the loving touch of your hands. In this playful workshop you will learn a head-to-toe massage routine, baby gymnastics and a Pressure Point & Reflexology routine. Tuning in and reading your baby's non-verbal cues, you will be able to pass on the countless proven health benefits of Baby Massage and in an atmosphere of love and respect establish a close bond which provides the emotional security your baby needs to thrive and unfold its fullest potential.

Wednesday mornings 5 May or 7 July or 1 Sept or 3 Nov
approx 1.5 hr workshop • 10:30am-12:00pm

NEW • Now also available individual tuition on Wednesdays or Friday mornings, if the above dates don't suit. Covers the same material as the group workshop.

Read more details about this Baby Massage Workshop.

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Product Focus • Nervoheel

Yet another useful and effective product we can highly recommend for your medicine cabinet. Nervoheel is a modern homeopathic preparation which is safe, easy to use and suitable for a wide range of symptoms such as:

Nervoheel also assists in dealing with physical and mental stress caused by irregular lifestyle, shift work and sleep deprivation. It it useful for depression brought on by long term stress, overwork and worry and may calm hysteria, neurosis and panic. Unlike other natural remedies for these issues, Nervoheel has no known side effects or drug interactions and does not cause daytime fatigue. For children and teenagers it can be useful prior to exams, performances and for emotional disturbances related to change and puberty.

Nervoheel is used increasingly around the globe by practitioners with great success. We regularly receive reports from patients coming back for more having benefitted from its calming and stabilzing effects. Nervoheel is easy to take and has no taste. Dissolve tablet under your tongue, preferrably 20 mins away from food, flavoured drinks and toothpaste. It is easy to have on hand for travelling, is great for airplane nervousness and, on your bed side table, in easy reach for sleep disturbances and insomnia. Dosages are as followed:

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