When the tendons and ligaments are sprained, often resulting in a disruption of the blood supply.  Thus, why I always recommend Yuk Jiao, an herbal liquid including over 30 Chinese herbs (available at my office) for any ligament or tendon sprains.  Yuk Jiao brings the blood supply to the injured area, allowing the area to heal faster.

Here are some treatment options for plantar fasciitis.

1.  Chiropractic adjustment to the joints including the foot, knee and hips have proven to provide mobility and skeletal muscle flexibility.

2.  Orthotics come in a wide variety of forms.  For some people, store bought ones may provide relief.  Custom made orthotics may be indicated for more permanent correction.  Orthotics are best used with a combination treatment.

3.  Strassburg sock is a long, soccer-type sock with a fabric sewn onto the toe to stretch the toes upward, thus strethching the bottom of the foot.

4.  Roll the entire foot on a golf ball or a roller focusing on the arch.

4.  Stretching and strengthening exercises are a must.  Writing  the alphabet with your toes without moving the legs and hamstring stretches help a great deal.

Whether one has PF or not, I think these exercises are crucial to the health of the foot.  Our feet take so much daily stress but are mostly neglected.  The most we do for our feet are pedicures.  Prevention is the best medicine!

1 apple cut into chunks and cook in water until soft.  Set it aside with lid closed.

1 cup Bob’s Red Mill Wheat Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free Quick Cooking Oats.  Oatmeal gives me this strange scratchy sensation in my throat, but the gluten free ones are fine.

1 tbs dried cranberries

2 tbs almond slivers

2 tsp grain powder (this gives a great nutty flavor and adds protein).  You can occasionally find it in Korean supermarkets for $30-40.  For your convenience, I have them at my office for $12.  It is a mixture of finely ground black bean, brown rice, barley, pearl barley and sweet rice.

Add water and organic milk (may use all water instead) to above ingredients and cook for 8-10 minutes constantly stirring.  Add sprinkle of cinnamon powder and serve.  Garnish with cooked apples.

This dish is healthy, hearty and tasty.  Enjoy!

The second sign is often in increase in nasal mucus.  As soon as nasal mucus is present, make sure the child is eating clear, bland, cooked, warm foods.  The parents should eliminate any sugar, sweets, raw, chilled, frozen foods or dairy products out of the child’s diet.

If the child is a picky eater, it is especially a good reason to change the diet as quickly as possible.  And of course, this should be done with love and discipline.  Treating the common ailments such as ear infections, tonsillitis, cough and common colds with antibiotics will kill the healthy bacteria in the gut.  Prolonged antibiotic use may lead to perpetual allergic response such as asthma and eczema, eventually exhausting the immune system.  When the body’s immune system gets overwhelmed, it may start attacking itself and cause autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and lupus erythematosus.

1.  According to my private chef friend, all protein must be room temperature before cooking.  It especially makes meat more tender.  Sprinkle sea salt on Onaga.  Organic spelt flour to dust Onaga on all sides.  Set aside.

2.  In a sauce pan, prepare 1 tbs unsalted butter, button mushrooms, 3 minced garlic and 1/4 cup chardonnay.  Bring to boil and place the content in a food processor.  Grind until smooth.  Place the content back in the pan and cook in low heat until it thickens.  May thicken with a dash of whipping cream.  Add sea salt and pepper for taste.  Sauté shitake mushrooms to add on top of the mushroom sauce.

3.  Sauté yellow button squash and sweet baby broccoli in a pan.  Either with water or butter.  Add sea salt and pepper to taste.

4.  Cook Onaga in butter.  One minute on each side depending on the thickness.  Onaga cooks fast, so be sure not to overcook.  Flour makes it crispy outside but flaky and juicy inside.  Mushroom sauce on top with shitake mushrooms and voila, dinner is ready!

1.  Cook spaghtti al dante and set it aside.

2.  Sauté chicken breast in a sliver of butter and sea salt.  Set it aside.  You may choose to go completely vegetarian or use other types of protein.

3.  Cut Shitake mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in qurters.

4.  Cut white asparagus in one inch length.

5.  Cut yellow summer squash in chunks.

6.  Sautee all vegetables together in a sliver of butter and minced garlic.  Cook only a few minutes so they are still crunchy.  There is nothing worse than overcooked, mushy and soggy vegetables.

7.  Mix all the ingredients in medium heat with sun dried tomatoes, minced fresh Italian parsley, sea salt to taste and extra virgin olive oil for 1-2 minutes.  Garnish with grated parmesan cheese.

Dinner is ready in minutes and that’s the way I like to cook!

Interestingly, all vulnerable human body parts are in the front.  Subtly, people protect those parts by tightening the belly, chest forward, groin retract and head forward as if they are going into a fetal position.  In my clinical opinion, when people find comfort in sleeping on their stomach it has more to do with their protective nature than habit.  One can clearly see this example in animals.  My dog, Atlas, would never expose his stomach unless he felt safe in his surroundings.  Which is why, many of my patients often saw him sleeping on his back in my office.  He knew it was safe.  This example may even be seen in martial arts.  One is taught to protect the front of the body by bringing the arms across the chest.

Chiropractically speaking, when the head sits in front of the shoulders, T1-T3 (upper back) vertebrae are almost always subluxated (misalignment resulting in nerve compression).  These nerves are connected to the thyroid, heart and lungs, and one will experience nerve interference to these organs.  Slouching and slumping posture doesn’t only result in neck and shoulder pain but other more serious issues such as respiration.  If the groin muscle tightening goes beyond the legs, the diaphragms become off balanced, therefore, affecting one’s breathing.

This is why I teach SLT Posture Technique to my patients, and I am always stressing “posture, posture, posture.”

1.  Clean shiso leaves (sesame seed leaves) and endives.

2.  Cut up cucumbers.  Korean cucumbers are tastiest of all.  Crunchy, sweet and juicy but the water content is contained all within the cucumber unlike the American cucumbers.

3.  Furikake season:  Break up Nori (seaweed) into small pieces.  Mix roasted sesame seeds.

4.  Heat up the pan medium, place the Ahi Tuna on sesame seed oil and cook all sides slightly.  Sprinkle Furikake seasoning so all surfaces are covered and cook all sides one more time.

5.  Place half-piece Nori, shiso, sweet brown rice on a plate.  Add endives, cucumbers and Ahi dipped in a soysauce with wasabi.

6.  Roll it up and enjoy the bite bursting with flavor!

Seaweed contains calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iodine, iron and zinc as well as vitamin A, B1,, B2, B6, Niacin, vitamin C, Pantothenic acid, folic acid and traces of B12, which is found only in animal sources.  It enriches the blood stream, regulates hormones, assist in metabolism and promote youthful skin and healthy hair.  Ideally, seaweed should be consumed minimum once a week.

Cut up fresh mangoes and white peaches.  Whip fresh heavy whipping cream.  You may add a little bit of honey with cream for sweetness.  Never use a ready made whipping cream in a container or a pump.  Next time, look at the ingredients, and you will know why.  Whipping cream should contain only cream, no other chemicals, additives or preservatives.

Add a blueberry on top.  Kids and adults, they all love it!

Because nuts and seeds are great source of protein and good fats, I always like to include them in my breakfast.  So what is all that stuff in my breakfast?

1.  Homemade whole organic yogurt (yes, I make my own yogurt and it’s so easy)

2.  Fresh mangoes, peaches, blueberries and strawberries (always use FRESH fruits in season, preferably organic and local, and never more than 1 cup per meal)

3.  Raw pumpkin seeds, pine nuts and walnuts (use any raw nuts and seeds).  Nuts and seed are rich in fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium.  They are also high in plant sterols and Omega-3 fats which have all been shown to lower LDL cholesterol and decrease heart disease.

Voila!  What a great way to start the day with a great breakfast!

Take a moment to take Dr. Gillian’s Food Intelligence Test.

Answer Yes or No to the following Questions:

1.  Do you eat at least one piece of raw fruit each day?

2.  Do you eat at least five servings of vegetables each day?

3.  Do you eat rice, quinoa, millet, oats or other grains at least three times a week?

4.  Do you eat a serving of raw vegetables each day?

5.  Do you eat raw seeds at least three times a week?

6.  Do you use seaweed in your cooking?

7.  Do you include fish in your diet at least twice a week?

8.  Do you chew your food thoroughly until it’s liquefied?

9.  Do you go out of your way to avoid foods containing preservatives, additives, colorings or E numbers?

10.  Do you avoid foods that contain sugar or added sugar?

11.  If you are stressed do you wait until the feeling has passed before eating?

12.  Were you breast-fed as a child?

13.  Do you always make sure that you take time to eat properly, even if you feel tired or busy?

14.  Do you eat breakfast every day?

15.   Do you drink bottled spring water every day?

16.  Do you drink at least eight glasses of filtered, spring or mineral water every day?

17.  Do you avoid beer/alcohol/soda when eating?

18.  Do you drink water approximately 25 minutes before eating your main meals, instead of drinking water with meals?

19.  Do you eat a varied diet instead of eating the same foods every day?

20.  Do you make raw vegetables juices at least once a week?

Your Score:  Add up the number of Yes answers.

17-20:  Excellent-Top of the class

12-16:  Not bad-Could try harder

11 or Less:  You’re flunking out!