Julie Silver

The perfect winter meal: Big Batch soup

January 4, 2019 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

This recipe from epicurious.com is one of our favorite winter soups – so much so that we often double it. We partially puree it with an immersion blender and freeze the leftovers.INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups chopped onions or thinly sliced leeks (whites only)

1 cup thinly sliced celery

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Coarse salt and ground pepper

3 (14.5 ounce) cans reduced-sodium vegetable or chicken broth

1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice

1 tablespoon tomato paste

8 cups mixed fresh vegetables, such as carrots, corn, green beans, lima beans, peas, potatoes and zucchini (cut larger vegetables into smaller pieces)

PREPARATION

Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add onions or leeks, celery and Italian seasoning; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, 5 to 8 minutes.

Add broth, tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste and 3 cups water; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered 20 minutes.

Add vegetables and return to a simmer. Cook uncovered until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

Pour remaining soup in small batches into bowl of a food processor; carefully puree until smooth and return to saucepan. Stir in cream; season with salt and pepper. Garnish with the reserved mushrooms, and serve hot. Yields 8 servings.

Self Care for the New Year

January 3, 2019 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

The holiday season came quick this year. Most of us welcome the diversion of holiday television commercials, Christmas lights and enjoy indulging at holiday and work parties. However, the residual effects of the holiday’s can play havoc with our physical and emotional health and well-being! While we are having fun and falling into indulgence mode, it is important to set into place tools that will help create a healthy foundation after the holiday’s are over!

Here are a couple tips to get started:

Full Spectrum Lighting. This season we have seen many days without sun! Many people find themselves struggling with the effect of limited natural light. We get up and it is dark and when we get out of work, it is often dark as well.

We may find ourselves feeling fatigued, a bit blue wanting to sleep more than normal. Many people turn to full spectrum lighting to help them get that natural light that is often only replicated by sunlight. sunshine [Read more…]

Eating Right For The Season

October 31, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Most of us eat foods because they are pleasurable and we enjoy their smell, taste and textures.
Eating is a very personal experience as it is both a source of nutrition as well as a tool for social gathering. Most of us are also well aware of the
nutritional value of food. Eating whole grains (vs. enriched white flours), fresh (vs. canned) vegetables and healthy fats (vs. trans fats) are
cornerstones of many diets. It is also valuable to look at our bodies, the importance of the temperatures and flavors of foods, and the best season to eat them
in. [Read more…]

Acupuncture’s most Frequently Asked Questions

October 2, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

When I tell someone I am an Acupuncturist, they respond with curiosity and questions! Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions in our clinic~

What is the goal of Acupuncture?

The goal of Acupuncture is to restore balance in our body by working with our body’s own Qi Energy. Acupuncture uses very thin, solid, sterile stainless steel needles to “activate” specific acupuncture points throughout the body, restoring balance and order to the Qi energy.

What is Qi? (pronounced chee)

Qi is a life force or energy that is in our body and in the universe. It is an invisible force known by its effect. We cannot see Qi. Qi underlies organic life in our body. Qi is the source of all movement in the body. Qi protects the body. Qi travels throughout the body via pathways called meridians. [Read more…]

How does acupuncture work?

October 1, 2018 By Julie Silver 1 Comment

It is hard to make sense of something that is difficult to make sense of! Most people who come for acupuncture come without knowing much about “how it works”. We take time in our initial session to explain the premise behind acupuncture. In explaining it – it makes so much sense!

Acupuncture is based on the belief that our body has the ability to promote its own healing. What underlies our body’s ability to heal is an energy called Qi. We cannot see qi. It is an invisible force that is known by its effect. [Read more…]

Summer Fire and Healing Heart Energy

July 21, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season is represented by one of the elements of nature (such as wind, cold, damp or heat). The element associated with summer is heat or FIRE!

Fire energy is considered YANG Energy. Yang is big, yang is expansion yang is excess. As you know, summer is all about expansion. The flowers are in full bloom, the days are long, we spend lots of time outside doing physical activity.

In TCM, every element is also associated with an organ. The organ associated with Fire is the Heart.

When we think about the summer and taking good care of our “heart” we should be thinking about the following.

The Heart Energy (qi energy) is thought to rule our spirit. We call this the shen. The shen oversees cognitive function and mental activity. The shen also oversees the seven main emotions (joy, anger, sadness, grief, fright, apprehension, worry). Oftentimes, emotional imbalances are associated with the Heart. [Read more…]

Acupuncture for Arthritis

July 10, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

Julie Silver, MSW, R.Ac.

Holistic Medicine Can Help Reduce Symptoms

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese Medicine that has been used for thousands of years. It is based on the theory that our body has its own ability to promote healing through balancing an energy in our body called “qi”.

The acupuncture process involves the placement of very thin needles into acupuncture points along energy pathways (called meridians) that run throughout the body. This process restores the flow of qi to allow healing and to improve health.

How Does Acupuncture Provide Arthritis Relief?

The root of arthritis is inflammation. Arthro = joint and itis = inflammation. Joint pain and swelling are among the most common symptoms of arthritis. Inflammation can occur in many parts of our body. It is well known that Acupuncture helps to reduce inflammation. According to the Health Medicine Institute, Acupuncture successfully down regulates a pro inflammatory biochemical which results in anti-inflammatory responses and acupuncture signaling stimulates anti-inflammatory effects.

Should I Try Acupuncture for Arthritis?

One of our skilled acupuncturists can help. Most professionals recommend starting with bi weekly treatments for the first couple weeks, until patients begin to experience benefits. Once there is an improvement, you can decrease visit frequency.

Acupuncture is often chosen by patients who have tried other conventional methods without success. You do not need to wait until you exhaust other avenues. If you are experiencing new pain or symptoms, or have had chronic pain, consider visiting an acupuncturist to help relieve your symptoms. Many patients have reported arthritis relief. Contact Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan for an appointment today.

Ask the practitioner

February 21, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

What’s Your Favorite Wintertime Activity?

There’s still time to take advantage of the winter season before the cold, snow and ice is gone for good. Not a fan? Take heart: Spring begins on March 20!

Winter is a time for me to “hunker down” and enjoy the beauty of freshly fallen snow and sit by a fireplace. I find that calming yet lifting for my psyche. I also try to nourish my soul by visiting family and friends in warm climates. I come back to Michigan once again appreciative of the quiet beauty of winter.

Karen Siegel Propis, Acupuncturist

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of winter. However, I realize the importance of each season and the benefit of each in terms of my body and the rhythm of the life force (qi) energy. I stay warm with warming soups and stews, bundle up, get extra light from my full-spectrum lighting lamp and get adequate sleep! This said, I did buy a new pair of snowshoes last season that I have truly enjoyed using!

Julie Silver, Acupuncturist

My favorite wintertime activity generally involves hot chocolate. It starts with a short outdoor activity such as sledding or ice skating or hiking — just enough to get my blood pumping and to enjoy being outdoors in the beauty of winter. Then I like to come inside, light a fire, and drink some hot chocolate with coconut milk, turmeric and cinnamon to keep it as healthy as possible.

Monica Mae Leibson, Acupuncturist

I love to walk outdoors on sunny, relatively warm winter days. With the right amount of warm clothing, I love the smell of winter and the reminder that nature is still alive even though it feels so frozen and dormant. It also helps to keep my “cabin fever” at bay!

Julie Shindler-Cohen, Acupuncturist

Flower Essences: Natures Remedy

February 20, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

A number of years ago, while I was living in Chicago, I was going through a difficult and stressful time. I was in school for acupuncture, working full time and trying to manage the various aspects of my life. I was overwhelmed! It was during this time that a massage therapist told me about flower essences. I had not heard of them and went to a local health and healing store to find out more.

What I learned is that flower essences are liquid infusions (remedies) made from the flowering part of a plant. Interestingly enough, there is no physical part of the flower that is included in the remedy. The flowers are soaked in water and it is this infusion that is and made into a tincture.

Much like acupuncture, flower essences promote our own body’s ability to move toward healing – in this case emotional healing.

Flower essences are specifically designed to address emotional health and wellbeing. Flower essences do not address specific physical ailments; rather, they address emotional issues as well as the underlying emotional issues that accompany health issues. [Read more…]

Ask a Practitioner: How do you self-care after the hectic holiday season?

January 3, 2018 By Julie Silver Leave a Comment

My self-care begins with creating a balanced schedule at work and at home. I keep up the activities that keep me healthy – exercise, acupuncture, healthy eating, sleep. I try not to deviate much from my regular self-care so that returning to them is no big deal. I don’t make many New Year’s resolutions – though I reflect on the past year and the year ahead. Finally, I work on being grateful and thankful!

Julie Silver, Acupuncturist

I schedule some time to reflect on the past year and create a new vision for the future. This is my favorite form of self-care. I often journal regarding what I’ve learned from the year, be it through my own personal experiences or from the more global shifts. I then choose a few key words and ideas to be the “theme” of the next year, so that I’m able to see life through the lens of that ideology. In the past I’ve chosen words like “Joy,” “Serenity” and “Transformation.” It is an honor and a privilege to be able to create the context of our lives and shift how we view situations. Every year during this time I enjoy newly creating my goals for myself and for the world at large.

Monica Mae Leibson, Acupuncturist

[Read more…]