Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 30, 2016

10

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 30, 2016 


THE JOY OF YOGA

ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTIVE FOR MIGRAINE RELIEF

As any chronic sufferer will tell you, migraine headaches 
can be debilitating, affecting concentration and the ability 
to perform daily tasks. In fact, the odds are high that a 
patient will come to see you with a complaint of migraines.

 The latest epidemiologic data estimates 28 million 
Americans (approximately one in 10) suffer from 
migraines. Furthermore, almost half of those migraine 
cases are undiagnosed.

 Fortunately, as research suggests, Chinese medicine 
may help stop migraines in their tracks. In the March 
2008 issue of the journalHeadache, Italian researchers 
published the results of a study that involved 160 migraine 
patients. Researchers divided study participants into 
different groups, each of which received one of the 
following treatment protocols: real acupuncture plus 
migraine medication, two different methods of mock 
acupuncture with migraine medication, and medication 
alone. Patients were evaluated three and six months after 
starting treatment. Migraines were classified according to 
the following TCM symptoms:

exogenous wind-cold attack;

exogenous wind-heat attack;

exogenous wind-dampness attack;

excess of liver yang;

obstruction of the middle jiao due to damp phlegm;

deficiency of kidney essence; or

stagnation of qi and blood.

 For patients receiving true acupuncture, each syndrome 
was treated with a specific acupoint selection according to 
TCM. Twice a week, patients submitted to two courses of 
10 acupuncture applications each, with a one-week rest 
period between the treatment courses. The sessions lasted 
30 minutes.

 In patients receiving ritualized mock acupuncture, the 
protocol was the same as in the actual acupuncture group, 
but the needles were not inserted. A small cylinder of foam 
was applied to the skin by a double-adhesive plaster on each 
acupoint. Needles with blunted tips were then inserted into 
the cylinder, touching but not penetrating the skin. This 
allowed the patient to feel a superficial, light pricking-
like sensation, thus simulating needle insertion. A slight 
pressure was applied on the needle to simulate the arrival 
of qi. This procedure was used in order to check possible 
placebo effects related to the use of the TCM approach.

 In patients who received standard mock acupuncture, 
only the Western approach was used for diagnosis and 
the following standard acupoint selection was used: tou 
wei (ST 8), xuan lu (GB 5),feng chi (GB 20), da zhui (GV 
14), lie que (LU 7). The same method of needle insertion as 
for ritualized mock acupuncture was used.

 All patients were allowed to take rizatriptan to treat 
migraine attacks, The rizatriptan wafer was administered at 
a dose of 10 mg, and a second dose was allowed after two 
hours if the pain persisted.

 The researchers found that of all the groups studied, 
only the group that received real acupuncture showed 
a significant improvement both in terms of migraine 
disability and reduced medication use, both at the three- 
and six-month follow-up. Mock acupuncture showed 
a slight placebo effect, but only at the three-month 
follow-up.

References:

http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.
php?id=31775

BE IN THE SOLUTION

How are those New Years Resolutions going? 
It’s quite exciting to set a goal and see it come to 
fruition. In fact, it’s one of my favorite things to do. 
Make lists and plans! But what about the steam it 
takes to follow through on all those intentions and 
“this year, I must...”? 

 Our yoga practice or personal sadhana can 
create the structure we need to live the life that we 
want. Think about setting the stage for success or 
good health. What are the aspects of ourselves that 
need to be nourished? What must we have to be 
at our best? Or better yet what can we stop doing 
that will help us get out of our own way? These are 
important and pertinent questions. 

 Yogarupa Rod Stryker made a wonderful 
commentary recently regarding our plan for the 
new year. “If there’s one thing to do in 2016, it’s 
choose one thing in 2015 that you don’t want to 
repeat.”

 Exposing this part and recognizing our lessons 
is what helps us move forward in life. When I say 
move forward, I mean creating a life where we 
thrive and experience joy and times of fearlessness. 
It also means embracing compassion, surrender 
and acceptance.

 Here are 5 basic steps to help bring some 
framework to your yoga practice or personal 
sadhana (daily spiritual practice) as means of 
“setting the stage” for fulfillment:

 1. Asana. Our asana practice can help to generate 
awareness and enliven our physical body. It also 
helps to tone and balance our energetic body. 
We want to get the channels clear and generate 
motivation. 

 2. Meditation. Remember 10 minutes a day is 
better than one hour once a week. Meditation is 
devotion to the Divine. Whatever you recognize as 
the Divine, that is where the attention should go. 
Even being in total connection with Source for 1 
minute is worth it! It’s a spiritual connection. 

 3. Self study or Svadhyaya. Could you have 5 
minutes per day wherever you do some writing on 
those issues nagging at you? This is the time where 
we go back to our heightened awareness and 
question our choices, reactions and feelings. Here 
is where we would identify that lesson learned in 
2015. 

 4. Service. Karma Yoga. There’s no better way to 
welcome abundance then being thankful for what 
we have. Service cultivates gratitude and people 
who are grateful live happily. 

 5. Challenge yourself. Make sure exercise and 
mental stimulation are a part of your day. It’s 
important for us to do things that are hard. We 
need the accomplishment; it builds discipline and 
strengthens the mind. 

 If we add any one of these steps to our life, it will 
be enriched. It’s easy to complain and focus on the 
problem. Granted, there’s a time and place to vent, 
but being in the solution and actually creating it 
for ourselves is where we want to be! I have faith in 
you!


FOOD AND DRINK

My friend, Roger Mendez, says “top shelf” or 
“third floor” when he wants a good brand-
name drink when he is at a bar. Reader Bob 
Carlson might think I have lost my mind, but 
friends and readers, we are moving to the high rent district today. It took me a few years to 
figure out (and maybe just in time now) that when you are at a supermarket looking for your 
favorite wine and frustration sets in, you should search by price - the most expensive wines are 
on the “top shelf” and the bottom shelf is usually where you’ll find lowest prices. You’ll find me 
somewhere in the middle. Please let me, just for this one week, introduce you to the top shelf at 
your local wine department because that is where I found the Oracle 2011 by Miner. Yes indeed, 
the technology of blends and business is all a part of the Miner story. Miner is a family-run 
business in the heart of Napa Valley and was founded by Dave and Emily Miner. Dave’s uncle is 
Robert Miner, co-founder of (you guessed it) Oracle Technology. 

As we have learned over the last couple of years, I do believe in “blends”, and this Oracle is “top 
shelf”. The grapes are sourced from vineyards in the area, including cabernet from Stage Coach 
Vineyard in Napa Valley. I am told that Black Bart used to rob the stagecoach that ran from St. 
Helena to Monticello. If Bart could have gotten his hands on some Oracle wines, he would have 
appreciated the fruitiness of the first taste. The tannins are very smooth, and like many blends 
that include petit verdot (regardless of the price) has a touch of boldness and a bit of spice. This 
blend is perfectly balanced, and I recommend a pairing it with spare ribs, chicken or steak. No 
BBQ sauce, though, as that will take away some of the natural flavors from your wine. Price is $75 
- top shelf indeed, but when it’s time to treat yourself, Oracle is a great option.

Dills Score 90

Retail Around $90 on sale $75 limited distribution throughout So Cal

Winemaker Notes: All grapes are sourced from the Napa Valley

Each week I will give you my Dills Score. Starting with a base of 50 points, I have added 8 points 
for color, 7 points for aroma or “nose”, 8 points for taste, 8 points for finish, and 9 points for my 
overall impression, which includes my value rating.

 Email Peter at thechefknows@yahoo.com and follow me on Twitter @KINGOFCUISINE, listen 
to Dining with Dills Saturdays at 5 PM KLAA AM 830

TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills

thechefknows@yahoo.com

ZUGO’S CAFE CELEBRATES THEIR 

GRAND REOPENING THIS WEEKEND 

WITH NEW LOOK AND MENU

Sierra Madre, CA - Zugo’s Cafe 
& Restaurant has been serving 
the city of Sierra Madre and the 
greater Pasadena area almost 10 
years. After a small hiatus, owners 
of Zugo’s have brought in Chef 
Anthony Bar to create a fresh new 
menu with a seasonal approach. 
Chef Anthony is utilizing French 
techniques while staying true to 
the Italian flavors customers came 
to love at Zugo’s for many years. 
Zugo’s will be adding a delicious portfolio of 
local craft beer as well as a wine list comprised 
of premier California, French 
and Italian wines. Along with 
a Champagne brunch on 
weekends, Zugo’s will be offering 
parties of 10 or more that 
reserve a table Monday through 
Wednesday, a complimentary 
bottle of Champagne. 


Zugo’s Cafe

74 W Sierra Madre Blvd

Sierra Madre , CA 91024

(626) 836-5700 

zugoscafe.com


DOUG CALLIFLOWER’S GAME DAY CHILI


Chili Primero 

1 pound Smoked bacon, cut into 3/8-inch pieces 

4 pounds round steak, cut into .-cubes 

56 ounces canned tomatoes 

15 ounces tomato sauce 

6 ounces tomato paste 

7 ounce can diced green chilies 

2 tablespoons diced jalapeno peppers (optional) 

4 ounces can diced, pickled cactus, drained (optional) 

2 cups chopped onions 

2 cups chopped green pepper 

1 cup minced fresh parsley 

2 teaspoons ground coriander 

3 cloves garlic, minced 

8 teaspoons ground cumin 

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

. teaspoon dried oregano 

. teaspoon paprika 

2 teaspoons salt 

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 

2 tablespoons mild chili powder 

. teaspoon medium-hot chili powder 

. cup masa harina (corn flour) 

Garnish: Sour cream 

Shredded cheddar cheese 

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese 

 In a large skillet, brown bacon, drain and set aside, reserve grease. In same skillet, brown round steak. Put 
round steak and bacon pieces in large stockpot. Stir in tomatoes with liquid, tomato sauce, tomato paste, green 
chilies, jalapenos and cactus. Heat to simmering. 

 In same skillet, sauté onions in . reserved bacon grease until transparent. Add to stockpot. Repeat with 
green peppers. Stir in parsley, coriander, garlic, cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, salt, pepper, lemon 
juice and chili powders. Cook over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Sprinkle masa 
harina over soup and stir. Simmer covered for 4 hours. Garnish each serving with sour cream and shredded 
cheese.