Change of Season Soup

Change of Season Soup

Fall is here! In reality, it's that time of year where winter starts at 6 AM, 10 AM feels like spring, summer is at 2 PM, and fall is around 4:30-ish PM, so dress accordingly.

Our bodies have to keep up with and adjust to the fluctuating temperatures, making the change of season a common time to catch cold and flu bugs, and leaving us wondering if that sniffle is due to allergies, or if you’ve caught a dreaded cold.

The Change of Season soup, a blend of Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs, can support our bodies acclimating to the fluctuating temperatures, mainly through strengthening the lungs and boosting the immune system.

It contains the following herbs:

• Codonopsis (Dang Shen)

• Astragalus Root (Huang Qi)

• Dioscorea Sinensis (Shan Yao)

• Chinese Lycii berries (Gou Qi Zi)

How To Make The Change of Season Soup

Fill a large stock pot with water, roughly 2-4 liters. Add the above herbs to the pot and place the lid on. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2-4 hours. If the water level boils down, add water to refill if necessary. Using a slotted spoon, or strainer, remove the herbs from the pot.

Drink 1 cup of the decoction daily for 1 week (you may reheat each serving). The soup has a slightly bitter taste, so I suggest adding 1 tsp of honey, or using it as a base for chicken soup, to improve the taste.

You may enhance the immune boosting properties by combining this herbal blend with a homemade bone-broth soup.

Please note: Herbal remedies should always be taken with caution. Please make sure you do not have allergies to these specific herbs.

Sunscreen: Chemical vs Mineral

Sunscreen:
Chemical VS. Mineral

Dr. Andrianna Qandah

Memorial Day Weekend is finally here, which means it’s the perfect time for a friendly reminder to wear your sunscreen!

Sunlight is vital to our overall health — the natural form of vitamin D can strengthen bones, improve mood, and even regulate blood pressure. However, too much bare exposure can lead to harmful effects.

There is significant importance of applying sunscreen for the overall health and appearance of your skin. Adding sunscreen to your daily routine can help reduce the signs of premature aging and the risk of skin cancer, as well as prevent sunburns.

There are 2 types of sunscreens: chemical and mineral. Each type has active ingredients that use different mechanisms to filter UV rays and protect your skin from damage. Mineral sunscreens create a protective barrier on the surface of your skin to reflect and scatter UV rays, while chemical sunscreens get absorbed into the skin to convert the sun's rays into heat, making them less harmful.

With that being said, here are some of Dr. Qandah’s favorite sunscreens:

• The Organic Pharmacy Cellular Protection Sun Cream SPF 30

• EltMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46

• Coola Classic Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30

Be sure to apply daily and liberally on your face, neck, and ears, as well as any other areas of possible sun exposure.