I saw this in Bon Appetit magazine and meant to share – but then couldn’t locate again..now here it is. Am afraid if I don’t post now, I will not find it during the winter ‘cold’ season. Am sure it will also work for those summer colds – which seem to be more annoying and last longer. Let me know what you think of it.

Makes one dose:
1Tbs fresh lemon juice
2 tsp honey or light agave syrup
1 tsp finely grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 tsp of super echinacea extract
pinch of cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in mug with 1 cup of boiling water. Stir until all honey is dissolved. Let sit for one minute and drink.

the saying goes “two heads are better than one” We have seen this proven time and again. Especially in health care, groups with similar or same conditions are able to share and help each other.
We are starting monthly sessions of groups of 15 – 20 patients with similar diagnosis to share materials and thoughts.
Let us know what topic you would like us to host

The DC metro area is one of the highest allergy rated nationwide. If you are feeling extra fatigue, experiencing nasal congestion or constant throat clearing…ahem…you could be one of this area’s allergan victims.
Many of the over the counter antihistamnes will take care of symptoms. If you try the medications for a week and do not get any relief, come into the office for a consult.
If your symptoms are associated with a fever or a productive cough, it is probably not allergies.
One of the best things to help control these allergies is to take a night time shower. Washing off all the pollen and allergy particles before you go to bed will help tremendously. Also be very wary of room or house humidifiers..they make the mold and spore count increase drastically. If you must use one – be sure and add the bacteriostatic solution for humidifiers daily.
Don’t let allergy season keep you indoors. This is the time of year to get outside and enjoy the great DC spring weather. Take an antihistamine. And call your nurse practitioner if it doesn’t work.

If you have had a week’s worth of vomiting/nausea/diarrhea – chances are good you have the norovirus. It’s nasty and it’s in the DC metro area.
First – STAY HOME
Put yourself on the BRAT diet Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast. Drink only FLAT gingerale or gaterade or ginger tea. NO water as it will increase the stomach acid and make the symptons worse. Stay on the BRAT diet until you are symptom free for 2 days.
Wash your hands Wash your hands Wash your hands

I have spoken with a few of you about the It Works products.
I am so impressed with this company and its products. The longer I use them the better they get. All of the products are made with natural plant materials. There is no “animal testing” done with any products.
The new improved vitamin just came out Feb 1st. It has upgraded the dose of Vit D (which most of us need) and added omega 3 fatty acids..to help lower cholesterol.
AND of course there is that crazy wrap thing.
If you are interested in any of the products – including the wrap – visit my website gailf.myitworks.com or come by the office and talk with me.

You know I stress eating healthy and less animal protein.
But this recipe is for those of you still eating beef/pork/lamb…try this delicious chicken …. it’s perfect on a cold winter evening:

APRICOT CHICKEN
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup flour
2 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup apricot preserves
12 cut fat free low sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce

Coat each chicken breast with flour. Heat oil med heat in a large skillet. Brown chicken for 3-4 minutes per side. Reduce heat to low.

Combine apricot preserves, chicken broth and soy sauce in small bowl and then add to skillet. Cover and simmer for 15 min. Remove chicken, cover with foil and keep warm.

Turn up heat and cook sauce until slightly reduced and thick (about 1-2 min) Serve chicken with pan sauce.
per serving: 290 calories, 1.9 g fat, 34.2g carbohydrates, 0.8g fiber, 34.4g protein.

don’t forget to send me a photo of the dish!

The ‘flu’ is caused by a virus. If you have a sudden onset of flu like symptoms, it probably is the flu. Viruses tend to hit suddenly and harshly. The flu symptoms are fever, body aches, cough, and congestion.
The treatment is to treat the symptoms. Take ibuprofen or Tylenol (not aspirin) for fever and body aches. Take an over the counter medicine for cough and congestion.
There are several studies showing that Elderberry extract will limit the length and the severity of flu symptoms.
Please wash your hands frequently, clean your cell phone with antiseptic and get plenty of rest. Stay home from work and catch up on your reading.
If your temperature goes over 102, call the office.
AND when your symptoms are gone..come in and get the flu shot because you can get this several times.

Many of the new year resolutions are about cravings – either curbing or sustaining. We want to curb our appetite for cigarettes, food, alcohol, sex etc. We want to sustain our cravings for economic growth, health, and relationships.

Do you remember the hobbit who went off the charts with craving? ‘My precious” .. a not too subtle reminder that cravings tend to take over our lives. As soon as we get what we crave..we want ‘more’.

This year let’s try to be content. Let’s resolve to give thanks for all we have – no matter how little or much it may be. Alice Walker said ” this could be our revolution: to love what is plentiful as well as what is scarce.”
A Unitarian minister, Forrest Church, put is this way:
“Want what you have
Be who you are
Do what you can”
I like those words – I especially like the ‘do what you can’ as I have always tended to try to do more than possible and berate myself for not doing more.
Want what you have – we all have gifts to be thankful for..but do we all ‘want’ everything we have?
Be who you are – fulfill your quest in life by doing what brings you bliss..if you find joy in the doing then the doing is what you should continue.

I wish for a contented 2013 for us all.

It’s the holiday season again. This year has been one of many changes in our practice. Hopefully, we emerge better because of them. The Chinese symbol for change is two characters..opportunity and peril.
This new year – let changes happen to open your view of the world, to enhance your perspective of nature and to enliven your life. Every choice we make leads us down a path. Don’t let fear of uncertainty rule your life. Embrace the opportunity fraught with peril.
Wishing each of us a healthy, loving and prosperous 2013

The recent shootings of children and teachers gives pause to us all. We must look at this violent aspect of our culture. USA has 87 gun related deaths each day.
If you have a gun in your home, it is more likely to be used by a teenager in a suicide than to thwart off an invader. We must reevaluate our need to possess guns.
The second amendment was written by men who owned slaves, treated women as chattel and lived with and in  violence. Times have changed and so too must our culture.
The loss of a child is so horrific that we have no word for the surviving parent….we use the words orphan, widow, widower…but there is no word for a parent who has lost a child. And in the case of the murder of your child..the only word I can come up with is  ’senseless.’
How can we allow this to continue in our society?
Please write your representatives and demand gun laws and gun enforcement laws.