Herbs

I started seeing an acupuncturist about a month ago. I had pretty terrible allergies this past month. Sneezing a hundred times a day to the point where it almost starts feeling good, and itchy throat and eyes. I've also been having a lot of neck pains and shoulder tension. And acid reflux. And.....

So for my new Eastern medicine cures:

1: Acid Reflux - I went on a bland diet. This past year I've struggled a little keeping my voice in tip top shape. All the docs told me to go on a bland diet. Meaning, no spicy food (but I'm Korean!!!), no chocolates or coffee (but I NEED them on a daily basis!!!), no gorging or eating late at night (but that's my style!!!), and no alcohol (but I need to get wasted atleast once a week!)*. I never really listened to these Western doctors. What do they know? They don't have ancient knowledge!!! Turns out, it actually works. (doh!)

2: Neck & Shoulder pain - My acupuncturist asked me stand up for her, how I normally would. Under her examining eyes, I felt like I looked like Jar Jar Binks. My posture is terrible!!! So I've been practicing better posture every day, and voilà! No more aches and pains! (Now that I recall, this is something a vocal teacher once told me back when I was recovering from laryngitis. Do I hate being told what to do that much???**)

3. And as far as the allergies....well, my acupuncturist prescribed me a nice healthy, pungent dose of Chinese herbs. Turns out you can't brew these things in any ordinary metal pot though (of course not!). So I bought a new electric clay pot to brew these bad boys in, as well as a book for pre-menopausal women (I of course, didn't realize the book was for women in their 50's+. The girl behind the desk simply told me that this was their most popular book. She also told me that she didn't like to read. But now that I look back on my last visit, I seem to recall everyone in the waiting room being old ladies. One of them might even have been knitting.) So I've been drinking this stuff, and I have to say--it's working! My allergies are 98% gone. And as for the book, so far I've only read the introduction on "Your Second Spring".

So the other day when I was bored, I decided to take a look at what all was in these bags of herbs. Answer is....I have no idea. As I was pouring the herbs into my fancy new clay pot, something hard fell to the floor. It was a piece of wood. An actual little piece of wood (pictured below). These mysterious dried artifacts from the forest, are actually quite beautiful up close.





That's all for now. I'm gonna go eat a brownie***, and watch some anime. The day keeps going back and forth between beautiful blue skies, and grey ones with little patches of rain.

I hope you have a good one!

love,
p. ahn

* this of course, is not true.
** Yes.
*** I know, I know. I'm not technically allowed to eat a brownie on my bland diet. But today is a special day, and in case you forgot, please refer to the double asterisk right above this one. ;)