Spring Foraging

By Susan Mead

It’s my preference to eat produce out of my garden and from the farmer’s market when in season (other than fermented foods), so that means relying on lots of root veggies, in the winter. Although cooked kale and collard greens are perfect for a shot of greens in winter, early…

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Fasting–Friend or Foe?

By Susan Mead

From WebMD to Susun Weed, clinical herbalist for over half a century, many of my respected resources say extensive fasting has many concerns–even dangers.  Since the recent trend is to use fasting and “cleanses” as a weight-loss tool, let’s address that first. Is it really a helpful ‘jumpstart’ to rebalancing…

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The Purpose of Beauty

By Susan Mead

My studies of Weston A. Price and his work with native people taught me a little about the genetic reasons why most people are attracted to others we would refer to as physically beautiful. Genetic traits such as perfectly-spaced eyes, a wide brow and uncrowded teeth are indicators of healthy…

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Immune-Boosting Do’s and Don’ts

By Susan Mead

Today’s Blizzard forecast is prompting these reminders to stay healthy this winter: Immune Support Do’s Move your body often, including 23-minutes or more of daily Essentrics®. Wifi streaming, DVD’s, free episodes of Classical Stretch on PBS an dlive classes give you options.           More Sleep; Fewer…

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Tendon Trouble? New to me herb…Soloman Seal

By Susan Mead

This is a follow-up to my last post about a misdiagnosed hernia which is actually an inflamed inguinal tendon. After two weeks of daily 20-minute poultices of comfrey leaf mixed with bentonite clay, the inflammation continued to decrease–and then decreased to almost nothing with the addition of one simple plant,…

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“Surgery is your only solution” – rarely!

By Susan Mead

Many clients who have come to see me as an herbalist/health coach repeat a similar story; after a quick diagnosis, their doctor has informed them that “surgery is your only solution”.  But they, like me, have enough concerns about infections (including MRSA), scar tissue complications and plain old mistakes, in…

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Chronic vs. Acute

By Susan Mead

As you might guess, I do my best to stay away from antibiotics-but  when a hangnail picked up a staph infection and turned into this in 18 hours, I was happy to use them after a 25-year break! The D.O. I went to at Steamboat Medical Group tried to help…

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Ankles and Feet and Toes–Oh, My!

By Susan Mead

While in Montreal for a recent teacher training, I was horrified to learn how much I have been gripping my toes–especially while performing Essentrics® moves like kicks and side-to-side movements. Now that I’m working on releasing my toes more and pressing into the three points (two under the sole; one under…

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Vitamin D–Sun, Food or Pills?

By Susan Mead

Low Vitamin D? You may not need synthetic pills made in a laboratory which is usually all the doctors suggest when you show up low in Vitamin D on a blood test. Before deciding for yourself, consider this list of possible side effects from taking a supplement:   Kidney stones.…

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Midwest ESSENTRICS™ Getaway

By Susan Mead

Check out this YouTube video on my first ever workshop to combine Essentrics classes and interactive sessions on the best uses for herbal medicine. What could be better than a weekend of  ESSENTRICS™ classes taught by three fully-certified Level 4 Essentrics instructors in a beautiful place? One that also includes breakout…

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Dandelion, Your Backyard Herbal Remedy

By Susan Mead

Dandelion has the reputation for thwarting any attempt to kill it–including highly toxic chemicals. So it makes sense it would be the perfect herb for your body to help ward off chemicals, too.  “Detoxing” is popular in the spring but rather than a long fast, I suggest the gentle detoxification…

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Your 2nd Heart

By Susan Mead

I’m just about to send out a newsletter; are you on the list? This one is about the science behind why many physicians refer to your calf muscles as the “second heart”. I have a link for you with all the medical details,  but here are the basics. When you…

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Unexpected benefits from frequent movement

By Susan Mead

I was impressed with this article from the New York Times that indicated that regular movement not only keeps you fit, but also keeps you happier. If you’re not in Steamboat , there is always Essentrics TV  available wherever  you have Wi-Fi or DVDs for purchase or… You can record…

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Essentrics Schedule + Weight Rebalancing

By Susan Mead

My New Year’s Intentions include: Weighing myself weekly Last winter, I put on 14 pounds after going to several months without weighing myself and getting addicted to sugar again which is so easy!   In my past, I’ve obsessed with weighing myself more than once a day which is not…

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Take Your Workouts UP a Notch

By Susan Mead

UNLIMITED LIVE ESSENTRICS for your January Jumpstart + Discover Essentrics Workshop December 28th 9-11 AM First,  January Jumpstart–Two  instructors, 22 classes, one location: Sundance Studio (and a  complimentary copy of my book, Take Back Your Body) Cost for 22 Essentrics classes in January: $85  (Less than $4/class!)          …

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Fall into Winter with Soups and Stews

By Susan Mead

I love this time of year.  Fall and Thanksgiving quickly recede as we start getting snow and colder weather–and the change can be abrupt here in Steamboat Springs. My husband and I just returned from Mexico where I went for the week-long Essentrics Symosium (sign up for my newsletter if…

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Common Sense Health Tips

By Susan Mead

I just reposted “20  nutrition facts that should be common sense – but aren’t”  on Facebook. One of my favorites is that eggs are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. I have very good friends who are bright and educated, yet order an egg white omelet which is…

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‘Tis the Season…To Take it Up a Notch

By Susan Mead

It all starts with Halloween–or in my case, October 15th with birthday celebrations.  And if we don’t consciously choose otherwise, the slippery slope through U.S. Thanksgiving, Hannakuh, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Kwanza can pack on the weight, leaving us feeling packed into our clothes, fatigued and often sick more…

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New Class, New Focus, New Studio!

By Susan Mead
Essencircs Classes

Shoulders and knees and pain–oh my! I’m excited to offer a 6-class series called ESSENTRICS™ Rebalance & Restore for Winter Sports 10-11 AM Tuesdays and Thursdays at Yoga Lila  (1955 Bridge Lane) on 11/3, 11/8, 11/10, 11/15, 11/17 and 11/22 with a Bonus Class on Thanksgiving Day if we have…

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Immune-Supporting Herbs

By Susan Mead

My last post included the Three Musketeers for immune function from a food point of view;  let’s focus today on two herbs well known for immune support.  One you may be unfamiliar with is astragalus root (astragalus propinquus) which looks like a tongue depressor when you buy it at the…

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