Food as Medicine

Food as Medicine to Reduce Inflammation and Disease

Food is the most important medicine. We truly are what we eat. Everything we consume either provides us with healing nutrition or burdens us with toxicity and inflammation–the root of all chronic disease. In Chinese medicine all foods and herbs have energies of either hot, warm, neutral, cool or cold, as well as create an effect of dampness or dryness. Patients who have too much internal heat (acidity and inflammation) benefit from cooling foods and herbs. Those who suffer from excess dampness (mucous and fat) benefit from drying remedies. All foods and herbs are classified into the five flavors of sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter. A person with too much dampness can benefit from reducing sweet foods, while those with too much internal cold benefit from more warm and spicy foods.

Most modern people have toxicity, which creates acidity, inflammation, and pain. Dietary changes can help the body to cleanse and create a more alkaline environment. Eating the right foods in the right combination can make all the difference in the digestion. absorption, and assimilation of nutrients. Replenishing and balancing the microbiome (the healthy bacterial flora in the GI tract) through foods and supplements is fundamental to good health.

We accept Health Spending Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds for payment.

First Visit: This session consists of a thorough look at your medical history from the Western and Eastern perspectives. We will talk about physical, mental, and emotional concerns, as well as environmental and lifestyle stresses. Please bring in your home pharmacy. Include all over-the-counter and prescription medications, herbs, supplements, essential oils, and homeopathics. After a review of your history, medicines, and diet, Mary Helen will interpret and explain your Chinese diagnosis. 2 hours, $180.

Second Visit: You will receive a treatment plan based on your Chinese diagnosis. This session includes counseling on emotional, lifestyle, and environmental stresses, food-as-medicine, herbal remedies, natural supplements, and detox recommendations. If you are coming in for acupuncture, we will follow with an acupuncture, magnetic, infrared, and aromatherapy treatment. 1 to 2 hours, $90 per hour.

Nutritional Consultation:  For regular clients who need extra counseling on diet, we can take the time to review your daily food journals and give detailed recommendations on foods as medicine for your individual needs. 1 hour session. $90, half hour session $50

We offer phone consultations for people who live out of town or who are not able to come into the clinic. We mail out orders from our apothecary all over the country.