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.
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