the Acupuncture Works
Winter 2018 - 2019

Needle Notes
Winter - The Water Element - Bladder and Kidney Merdians

The winter is the season of resting and restoring. It is a more inward and sensitive time. If you pay attention to the natural world, you know that nature is more quiet and withdrawn; its resources are deep in the earth, preparing for spring. As the cold winter climate chills you to the bone, seek inner warmth around the wood stove, make a hot and spicy soup and spend meaningful time with family and friends. Cultivate your energy!  
Acupuncture Point of the Season

Kidney 22 - Walking on the Verandah

This is the Exit Point on the kidney meridian which moves energy to the next pathway - the Pericardium (Heart Protector). They are both found on the chest. Kidney 22 is found on the thorax in the 5th intercostal space approximately one inch from the mid line of the body. This is considered a point that creates energetic movement on the "spirit" level as well as physically. It is indicated for cough, asthma, fullness in the chest, nasal congestion, vomiting, anorexia, bronchitis and a weakening sense of smell. This point is a good selection when someone is convalescing after an illness or surgery. It provides a sense of safety and security in going outside for the first time in a while, everything is fresh and new. It provides a sense of ease, recuperation with the ability to look out onto new horizons and positive goals.
Suggestions for the Winter Season

  • The winter is a season of rest and quiet reflection. By resting, we renew our resources for the busy upcoming spring. By reflecting, we can see the roots of our lives and learn from our inner wisdom.
  • Winter is the quietest season, and one of its gifts is Listening. Listen deeply now to the people in your life and to your own intuitive knowing. If you must speak, say, "I am so glad you told me that." Or, "I need to think about that." Or, "That sounds very special." Or, "I love you." Be as open and spacious as the winter landscape.
  • Make lots of fires and cook delicious soups. Take good care of the people and organizations you love and encourage others to do the same. We are each other's best resources.
  • Most importantly, eat sweet and hardy deserts!!
Baked Oatmeal with Blueberries, Bananas and Coconut

  • Author: Cookie and Kate
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Breakfast

★★★★★

You’ll love this baked oatmeal recipe, which calls for coconut milk and coconut flakes, and is naturally sweetened with maple syrup. Use your favorite berries!

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
  • 1 - 14 oz. can coconut milk
  • ⅓ cup water
  • ⅓ cup maple syrup (or raw sugar)
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly (or melted coconut oil)
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2 ripe bananas, cut into ½-inch pieces
  • 1 ½ cups blueberries or other berries

INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with a rack in the top third of the oven.
  2. Butter or spray cooking oil on the inside of an 8-inch square baking dish.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together the oats, coconut, sugar (if you’re using it in place of maple syrup), baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together the maple syrup (if using), coconut milk, water, egg, half of the butter, and the vanilla.
  5. Place the banana slices in a single layer on the bottom of the baking dish.
  6. Arrange two-thirds of the berries on top of the bananas.
  7. Cover the fruit with the dry oat mixture, then drizzle the wet ingredients over the oats. Wiggle the baking dish to make sure the milk moves down through the oats.
  8. Scatter the remaining berries across the top, and sprinkle some extra coconut flakes and raw sugar on top if you’d like.
  9. Bake for 45 minutes, until the top is golden. Remove your baked oatmeal from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Drizzle the remaining melted butter on the top before serving.
Mindfulness is a Source of Happiness
In keeping with the season and cultivating the energy of winter, spend 5 - 10 minutes each day sitting in quiet; no books, music or phone. Just you and your attention to your breath. Breathing in and breathing out. It is an amazing practice and such a gift to be mindful of your being human. As one of our great teachers, Dianne Connelly said, "we are human beings, not human doings."
The difference between fear and courage is a deep breath!
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offices in St. Johnsbury, VT and Hanover, NH