Anti-Aging & Longevity Super Foods

We need look no further than our fridge for some of the best age-defying, all-natural treatments out there. And all we have to do is add them to our diet. 
Amanda Lewis, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, will share these secrets to the fountain of youth according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

Sweet Success: Understanding the Pros and Cons of Sugar

Most everyone loves a little sweetness in their diet. In Chinese Medicine, the sweet flavor has many beneficial properties: it strengthens and harmonizes, lubricates tissues, tends to be warming, and directs energy higher and outward in the body. But it's also true that too much sweet injures digestion. The same is true of all flavors: a little usually strengthens the body, but a lot can be damaging. 
In this class, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, Amanda Lewis L.Ac., will discuss the nature of the sweet flavor according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. She'll cover various types of foods considered “sweet”- comparing their qualities, benefits, and risks ­ and the relationship between blood sugar, inflammation, and weight management. Food samples will be be included.

Relish the Taste! The Six Flavors: How They Affect the Mind and Body

The moment anything touches the tongue, the first experience is “taste.” Every substance­--whether it’s a food, medicine, or herb­--is composed of a unique combination of the Five Elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space), and this blend is what determines the resulting flavor. Both Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic Medicine distinguish six flavors: (1) sweet, (2) sour, (3) salty, (4) pungent, (5) bitter, and (6) astringent. 

In this class, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Amanda Lewis will discuss the distinct affect each flavor distinctly has on the body and the mind. The class will also include a special tasting of each of these flavors so that everyone can directly experience and compare their effects!

What is Qi (chi)? Understanding Your Body’s Natural Vitality

As most everyone knows, staying healthy requires paying attention to things like good nutrition and balanced activity level. In addition to these, we have to be mindful of the strength of our natural life force, or “Qi" (Chi). This may sound mysterious to some, but in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is considered one of the most essential factors in the regulation of our health. 

In this class, licensed acupuncturist and certified herbal medicine practitioner, Amanda Lewis, L.Ac., will discuss: (1) the different types of Qi that everyone has, (2) the sources of Qi, (3) how we can recognize if our Qi is weak or out of balance, and (4) ways we can better regulate and increase our Qi.  

The Best Medicine: Foods That Heal, Part 5

Fruits, Sweets, and Sweeteners

A Free Five-Part Discussion Series

Wednesday, July 16, 2014
6 - 7: 30 PM    
Greenstar Co-op, Ithaca NY    
A healthy diet is invaluable for the vitality of all bodily systems. Healing that results from proper eating is not coincidental. Similar to herbal medicine, food has specific therapeutic properties. If diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment, other medicines are required much less frequently if at all. 

Licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Amanda Lewis will discuss the nutritional and medicinal uses of fruits, sweets and sweeteners, drawing on insights from traditional Chinese medicine as well as current Western knowledge.

The Best Medicine: Foods That Heal, Part 4

Legumes, Nuts, and Seeds

A Free Five-Part Discussion Series

Wednesday, June 4, 6-7:30 PM
Greenstar Co-op, Ithaca NY

A healthy diet is invaluable for the vitality of all bodily systems. Healing that results from proper eating is not coincidental. Similar to herbal medicine, food has specific therapeutic properties. If diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment, other medicines are required much less frequently ­ if at all.

Licensed acupuncturist and herbalist Amanda Lewis will discuss the the nutritional and medicinal uses of legumes (beans, peas, and lentils), nuts, and seeds, drawing on insights from traditional Chinese medicine as well as current Western knowledge.

This class is free and open to the public and will be held in the Classrooms@GreenStar (former Enterprise Building), 700 W. Buffalo Street. Registration is required -  sign up at GreenStar's Customer Service Desk or call 273-9392.

The Best Medicine: Foods That Heal, Part 3

Fats, Oils, and Dairy

A Free Five-Part Discussion Series

Thursday, May 15, 5:30-7 PM
Greenstar Co-op, Ithaca NY

A healthy diet is invaluable for the vitality of all bodily systems. Healing that results from proper eating is not coincidental. Similar to herbal medicine, food has specific therapeutic properties. If diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment, other medicines are required much less frequently — if at all.

In this five-part series, Amanda Lewis, licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, will discuss the health benefits of five major food groups, drawing on insights from traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, as well as current Western knowledge.

This class will focus on the nutritional and medicinal uses of fats, oils, and dairy. Amanda will pass around samples for visual identification of the less common foods, as well as some for tasting! All classes are free and open to the public and will be held in the Classrooms@GreenStar (former Enterprise Building), 700 W. Buffalo Street. Registration is required - sign up at GreenStar's Customer Service Desk or call 273-9392.