Here in the Portland area, I've already encountered a few different cold strains this year.  I have yet to see any cases of the flu, but it's only a matter of time.  While I love seeing patients, sometimes staying home and resting is your best strategy with the simple forms of these illnesses.  Below you will find a few tips on how to care for yourself should illness strike your house.

Pumpkin spice everything is everywhere.  You may not be a fan, but someone you love is - even if they won't confess to it out loud.

If you struggle with an autoimmune condition such as Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis like I do, all these sugar filled treats are not only tempting, but potentially triggering.  With colds and the flu on the prowl, changes in barometric pressure, and colder weather creeping in, my joints are already showing just how ready they are to act up.

What am I to do?  Miss out and feel down?  Indulge and feel down?  There's gotta be a better way!

Lucky I enjoy getting crafty in the kitchen.  I share with you my guilt-free pumpkin pie indulgence:

The longer I dedicate myself to the art of healing, the softer I become.  My hands, my words, the herbs I work with – all are softer.

In medical school, I was trained in osseous manipulation (cracking backs), but due to my arthritis this was never accessible.  I thought I would remain in the realm of biochemistry, diagnostic testing, and juggling complex medical cases – primary care.

Then three years in, reality hit.

I live with a chronic pain condition. It is magnified by stress and demands a level of self care previously unknown to me.  Even the act of receiving a massage or chiropractic adjustment could put me in bed for days.  I began to question whether I would be able to continue being a doctor or even work as the pain and fatigue were so severe.  Then, I found Craniosacral Therapy.

Nutrition focuses on what we put in our bodies. Nourishment expands this focus to our relationships with food, our cultural and personal traditions, how food can bring us pleasure, and how we feel about eating.

Meeting Elder:

Sambucus nigrans also known as elder is my favorite medicine to use as an immune tonic.  The berries are rich in antioxidants and balance your immune system particularly against viruses.  I think of elderberry syrup as my flu shot especially in years when the shot has lower effectiveness. 

Besides the berries, the flowers also have many benefits.  Used as a tea or tincture, they are great for nasal irritation, sinusitis, and fevers with hot/dry skin (1).  Used as a flower essence, elder flower is for “Integration of the shadow side.  Elderflower can help us come to terms with the dark side that is within us all.  It gives a sense of protection as we face this fearful challenge and promotes a deeper understanding and acceptance of the self” (2).  The plant as a whole is cooling and drying with sour berries and bitter flowers.