All Paths Naturopathy

Category: Southern Oregon

  • Fig and Pear Tart

    Fig and Pear Tart

    Today our recipe is for a pear and fig tart. With the crispness which has crept into the morning air I have been reminded of autumn in western New York.  Fall foliage colored in reds, orange and yellow.  The air scented with cider donuts, apples and spices including cinnamon and clove.  It used to be apples that heralded the change of the seasons, but here in southern Oregon, I suspect that it is figs and pears that mark this transition from the growing time to the harvest time.  

         The crust for the tart was sweet and crumbly, and may be my favorite part with the addition of cinnamon, cloves, a dash of nutmeg, or what ever flavors you and your family enjoys.  The crust for this tart is so good I have already made it twice in the past few weeks.  Though each were slightly different, initially being made with pears and topped with a plum- berry sauce.  Most recently with figs and no extra sauce or jam.  The pears were collected locally along with the figs used in this weeks version.  The crust was inspired by this one at My little sweet desire.
    When trying to  limit dietary allergens whether they be anaphylaxis, also referred to as type one hypersensitivity, or delayed type of type four hypersensitivity, it can be frustrating with the lack of choices or feeling that one has to settle for sub par tasting food in an attempts to feel well.  I apologize if nuts are your sensitivity, unfortunately this recipe is not a good choice you.  If you try it with a different flour and have a success, please let me know. It is always helpful to know if multiple flours produce a satisfactory end product.
    Ingredients:
    1/3 cup coconut sugar
    1/4 cup coconut oil
    1 cup almond flour
    1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    1/4 teaspoon ground clove
    2 tablespoons corn flour
    4 small firm pears
    5 small figs
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Ferinheight.  Cream together coconut oil and sugar with a pie cutter or a fork.  When well combined add the remaining dry ingredients.   Press the crust into a greased 8 inch tart pan. The crust can be sticky so having a dish of water to hand to keep your fingers moist can be helpful. Place the pears and fig slices on top of the crust.  At this point they can be dusted again with ground cinnamon and clove. The pears and fig can easily be arranged in a more uniform orientation for a prettier picture.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top edge of the crust is a golden brown.  Let the tart cool on the stove top for 15  minutes before removing the tart base from the side ring and resting on a cooling rack for at least another 15 minutes.
    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
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  • 5 Reasons to include a wellness exam for your child before school starts


    Now that we have arrived the middle of August, and summer is drawing to a close.  Families are planning the seasons last trips to the coast at Brookings in Southern Oregon or Crescent City in Northern California or maybe it is camping along the to the Rogue River.  This is also the beginning of annual preparations for the return to school for many families.  Between purchasing new clothes, shoes, technology, or other staples such as pencils and erasers, scheduling your child for a wellness exam may be neglected.

    Many individuals ask what is the benefit of scheduling an appointment with your child’s  primary care provider if they are not ill.  This is a good time to develop a rapport with your child’s provider, as wellness exams may be given a longer visit length than problem focused visits.

    1) This is a good time to ask questions of your child’s pediatric provider about educational or developmental assessment, if you, your child or their teachers have had concerns.  This is also a good time to initiate new therapies to help ease the transition from summer break to school.  Wellness visits are also time to ask questions or obtain information, below are  5 things you can ask your provider at your child’s next wellness exam include.

    arms,athletes,balls,games,hands,leisure,men,persons,photographs,recreation,soccer,soccer balls,soccer players,sports,sports equipment,teams,uniforms2) Through the course of a wellness exam your child’s fitness for sports participation and relevant forms filled out.  It is important for your child to be healthy to participate in sports.  Additionally, this is time where preventative therapies for injury prevention can be shared to ensure that your child has a healthy and injury free sports season.

    3) Take time to update your child’s family medical history if parents, grandparents or sibling have received new medical diagnoses’ in the past year.  This ensures that your child has the appropriate and relevant screening tests or interventions if there is a predisposition for heritable conditions in your family.

    4)  Vaccinations for school age children. The CDC recommends a booster for measles, mumps rubella.  There is also a 3 dose vaccine gardasil, Hepatitis B for children who did not receive the vaccination series during the first year of life, and a booster for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine.  For resources on the current rates of vaccine preventable diseases in the state of Oregon click on the link.

    5)   Talking about sex and drugs may be difficult to initiate at home.  Your child’s physician can be used as a resource for accurate information about risks associated with these behaviors as well as ways to address concerns if they are present.

    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
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  • Safety in this time of smoke and fire

     Here in Southern Oregon the air quality has been hazardous as a result of forest fires burning throughout Josephine and Douglas counties.  In total, nearly 40,000 acres have burned. Fortunately, the temperatures have cooled and the atmospheric conditions contributing to the poor air quality have actually been beneficial to fighting the fires.  The daily Oregon Department of Forestry Reports are available at their blog.  There is an associated blog Oregon Smoke Information, where individuals can find current air quality conditions.  With the current conditions being very unhealthy, many individuals should consider wearing a mask to lessen inhalation of particulate.  The Department of Forestry has recommended the N95 and NOISH respirators.

    Model 8210 N95 Mask3M N95 Respirator Surgical Masks 1860 - 5 photos
    Those individuals with facial hair may need to trim to ensure that the mask fits the face securely over the face, if it does not then maximal protection can not be achieved.  If you have never worn a respirator before, it can be difficult to breath through initially, but if you relax and breath slowly you will be less likely to hyperventilate.  This is most important for those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions, however even for healthy individuals, it may feel claustrophobic.

    It is recommended that individuals should limit time out of doors and stay in air conditioned locations.  Additionally, it is important for the air conditioner to recirculate the air rather than draw in air from the out side.

    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
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  • Flax Pesto Potato Salad

    Here in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, as well as in other parts of the country the CSA boxes as of late have been brimming with beautiful vegetables. So much so that beets, and cucumbers went into a quinoa tabbouleh, flax pesto with fingerling potato salad, and the salad greens were again the soup though this time they were paired with miso and ginger rather than vegetable bullion.   The weather has been so hot in the evenings that there has been smaller than usual appetites and a bit less desire to turn on the oven.  Fortunately on Sunday I had a day of divine inspiration in the kitchen.  Having a bowl full of flax pesto sitting in the fridge just asking to be combined with fingerling potatoes in a mayonnaise less potato salad.

    Flax Pesto:

    1/4 cup flax – freshly ground
    1 + 1/2 cup fresh basil
    1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
    3 cloves of garlic peeled
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    zest from 1 lemon
    juice 1/2 lemon

    Combine all ingredients into a blender or food processor.  Blitz until thoroughly combined.

    For the Potato Salad

    1 pound of fingerling potatos cut into 1 inch pieces
    1/2 cup cooked quinoa
    1/8 cup sour cream or tofutti
    1/4 cup flax pesto
    1/4 cup cottage cheese ( can be omitted)
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon pepper
    greens from 3 scallions

    Boil the potatoes until fork tender.  Pour off the water and reserve for soup stocks.  Let the potatoes come to room temperature and combine the rest of the ingredients into a large bowel.  Stir to ensure that the potato pieces are well incorporated.  Enjoy right away or chilled for 60 + minutes.

                                               

    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
    Naturopathic Physician at All Paths Naturopathy & Midwifery LLC
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  • Current rates of vaccine preventable diseases

    This is not a piece about whether or not families should choose to vaccinate or not. Instead, it is a review of the current rates of diseases that vaccines are designed to protect against.  From a public health stand point, vaccines are designed to protect individuals through a direct immune response to the viruses and bacterium contained within the inoculation,  but also via herd immunity.  The theory that through high rates of vaccination, those who are unable to be vaccinated due to age, being immune compromised, or previous adverse reaction are also protected from the wild type viruses and bacteria.

    In a number of communities including Ashland here in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, families are choosing no or significantly less vaccines.  Leading to less protection for vulnerable individuals because the herd immunity is not as effective, but also there is the risk that non-vaccinated individuals are also at risk for developing a vaccine preventable disease.  As a result, it is useful to know what communicable diseases are occurring in the Southern Oregon and surrounding regions so families can make informed choices that protect themselves as well as others from exposure to or illness resulting from a vaccine preventable diseases.

     According to the Oregon Health Authorities A Monthly Communicable Disease Surveillance Report for May 2013, there have been 154 cases of pertussis also referred to as whooping cough in the state with 4 of those cases occurring in Jackson County.  Additionally, there has been 1 case of tetanus reported as well.
    Farther from the Rogue Valley, in Seattle, there have been 2 confirmed cases of measles reported by Public Health- Seattle & King County in Washington state.  For individuals who may have been in Seattle or the surrounding areas July 9-10 visit Public Health website for Seattle & King County for more information.

    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
    Naturopathic Physician at All Paths Naturopathy & Midwifery LLC
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  • Lettuce pea soup

    The pictures of the soup do not bring out its beautiful green color, and I am sure that a few more peas would have not hurt either.  Yet, I had been pining for pea soup and had bags of lettuce sitting in the fridge and no desire to eat salad or much of anything, for that matter while the temperature had been in the upper 90’s.  With inspiration from a recipe I had seen on my search for a chilled pea soup, this little number came into being.  It was a perfect number now that the temperature has finally dropped to a more seasonable 80 degrees here in Southern Oregon, following the veritable heat wave.  It had been so hot, that the mere thought of even turning on the stove top was just unbearable so there would be no fresh made chicken stock for this soup base and we do not usually have boxed stock in the pantry hence, the use of the bullion cubes instead. The meal was also inspired by all of the beautiful summer small plates being served here in Ashland at some of our favorite establishments.

    Ingredients: 
    1 tablespoon butter or butter substitute of your choice
    1 cup onion diced
    1 /2 lb salad mix or torn head lettuce
    1 lb sugar peas shelled or whole with strings removed
    1.5 squares of low sodium vegetable bullion
    um vegetable bullion
    4 cups water, boiling
    Warm the onion with butter until the onions take on a golden hue in a sauce pan approximately 7 minutes.  Melt in the bullion cubes as the onions are cooking.  Add 4 cups of boiling water to the sauce pan.  Add the peas and simmer for 1 minute.  Turn off the heat and add the lettuce to the pan, stir gently until the lettuce is wilted.   Carefully transfer a portion of the mixture to a blender and blitz to incorporate.  Continue in this fashion until all of the soup has been blitzed and transferred to a storage container.  At this point you can either enjoy the soup now.  This soup is also good chilled or at room temperature.  To help chill the soup faster, I transferred portions to their serving bowls which were then placed in the fridge for 30 minutes.

    Fresh pea soup with lettuce after it has been chilled in the refrigerator.

    This soup paired beautifully with tomatoes filled with baba ganush and cucumber-turnip salad.

    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
    Naturopathic Physician at All Paths Naturopathy & Midwifery LLC
    Photo

  • Hepatitis A outbreak update.

    In an update from last weeks post regarding the Hepatitis A outbreak associated with Townsend frozen berries purchased at Costco stores.  It has been recently announced in the Oregon Live that Evo’s Coffee Lounge here in Ashland was until recently serving smoothies produced from the potentially contaminated Townsend Berries.  The Department of Health located at  1005 E. Main St., in Medford, and is open from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. For information, call the Department of Health offices at 541-774-8045.  Hepatitis A vaccines today may also be available at local pharmacies or for free at Costco for members.

    In Health,
    Dr Amanda Hochman
    Naturopathic Physician at All Paths Naturopathy & Midwifery LLC
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  • The Sun Shines On

    The sun shines on,
    Even in the darkest of times.
    Lighting the path,
    Illuminating the shadows
    We wait for you,
    We welcome you,
    We are blessed that you choose us.
    I open my heart to the possibility of you,
    That spark of potential nestled into the dark, quiet recesses of my being.
    Waiting and growing.
    Trying not to think of not seeing you soon.  Meeting the spirits who have chosen us,
    even after all these long years of waiting.  We have learned and made changes.
    So that we can do even better by you.
    No longer will our meetings be only in dreams.
    Soon my arms will be filled with your writhing, screaming perfect little body.
    At my breast you will be nourished as I share my very being with you.
    We come together to worship the fertile soil, the Mati Zera Zymlia from which we are nourished.
    As the fertile soil is renewed in the spring.  As flowers and fruits
    begin to proliferate, so too does the womb in which you grow.
    The living blood in my veins, used not just by one, but which now sustains us all for a time.
    That secret time between us.
    The space when you are unknown even to me.
    The time when others begin to notice,
    To start to wonder who you are.
    So many names you already have; inspired, teacher.
    Trial maker, for what we have been through in the waiting time is nothing compared to what is yet to come.  And with a love filled heart, we look forward to all the experiences and lessons you offer.
    You are loved and always have been.
    During the days when my heart felt ripped from its cage and crushed
    With the seemingly over whelming, all consuming pain at having lost you again.
    The realization that you were only visiting, not here to stay.
    Through the nights when we cried together, mourning you.
    There will be other times even after we meet, when tears of sadness are shed,
     yet there will also be the joy filled tears.
    Watching your adventures and explorations.
    The light illuminates even the darkest of spaces.
    Slowly the pieces shift, that which appeared to be and was immovable is never truly permanent.
    Not always with the desired speed, the transformation occurs.
    There is a crack in the glacier
    And urgent movements, the weight of sorrow falls
    Revealing vulnerable new surfaces.
    Not marred with pain and loss
    Free to feel love, joy
    To know the divine bliss completely.
    In healing,
    Amanda Hochman, N.D. 

  • Spring


    Spring is in the air on this, the day to recognize the spring equinox.  For some, spring has been making an early appearance for a few weeks. For others, spring may still feel weeks away as the ground is covered in many inches of snow. Here in Southern Oregon, crocuses, daffodils, forsythia and more are showing off their blooms.  There have been days interspersed with weather warm enough for pregnant women to show off their creations and new babies to be introduced to the warmer weathers.
    In spite of all of the splendor which surrounds, there may still be an ache.  A feeling of guilt that we do not feel as joyous as we would like at the announcement of pregnancies in our family and communities.  There may be a sadness when seeing the beautiful little babies who have blessed others.

    In these tumultuous days of spring, it as though mother nature empathizes with the pain which at times may feel encompassing and all consuming.  Maybe you feel that a physical affliction would be easier as at least then people can see what is wrong.  With the pains that we carry in our hearts such as the loss of babies too early to hold or see fully grown, we have to be brave and open in order to share.  The words may not come easy.  Even thoughts of sharing may lead to a throat lump, which can only mean that tears are not far behind.           For those who struggle with becoming or staying pregnant, particularly when it has spanned years of time, thousands of dollars and countless other sacrifices, it can be hard to always find the blessing and good in life.
    Work may be improving, living situations continue to be pleasant, yet it does not fill the void of laughing children in your family. It is however, important to step back from the pain so as to honor and recognize what is going successfully.  This can help you from identifying yourself only by your struggles with conception and pregnancy.

    It can be helpful during the transition time from struggling to achieving and maintaining pregnancy to connect with nature in a way that is nourishing and fulfilling. One option is beginning the garden indoors as they foretell of future food for your family.  Nurture them as they are also your children.  See them grow and connect to the energy of the growing things.  Let your tears water the growing seedlings as your suffering is released.  Allow nature to transform the heartache, the longing to feel the babe quickening in your womb; or to experience the right of passage which is labor and delivery and meeting your baby.  Put all of this into the garden.  Let the pain be transformed into something beneficial rather than be consumed with it.

    For more information please visit www.all-paths.com

  • Stress in pregnancy, bad news for moms and babies

    Pregnant woman being held from behind by a man
    Two new studies have been recently published investigating stress and its effects on pregnancy.  One study, published in Clinical Psychological Science by Hahn-Holbrook and colleagues investigated the effect of stress on the hormone placental corticotropin releasing hormone and risk for developing postpartum depression.  They found that women with more social support from family had the lowest concentrations of placental corticotropin releasing hormone and were also less at risk for developing postpartum depression.  Hahn-Holbrook and her team also noted that women who had less support, had higher levels of placental corticotropin releasing hormone in their third trimester and were at increased risk of developing postpartum depression.  

    In research performed by Tracey Bale and colleagues, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences used a mouse model to investigate the effects of O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) on the development of the fetal brain.  This enzyme was chosen because it is active both in mice and humans, is present in differing amounts in the the placentas of male and female babies and is affected by maternal stresses.  Through their work with mice who synthesized half the normal amount of OGT, they discovered aberrant behavior in more than 300 genes within the developing hypothalamus.  In addition, the placentas of boy babies, whose mothers experienced the most stress had the lowest concentrations of OGT.  Through maternal support, it may be possible to increase levels of OGT to protect developing brains.   


    From what this new research  suggests, and pregnant women and mothers have known intuitively, they need support in order to decrease stress during pregnancy.  To help decrease stress in pregnancy, consider participating in a group with other mothers.  If you, like many families, live far away from relatives, consider participating in a CenteringPregnancy® program.   This program utilizes a model of care which includes prenatal visits both privately and in a group format to facilitate support and education.   In Southern Oregon, the CenteringPregnancy® program can be found at La Clinica,  In addition, it is important to share how you are feeling with your pregnancy provider.  If you feel that they are not hearing you, or are not offering the care you are looking for, consider a change in provider or provider type.  There are alternatives to brief prenatal appointments, with options including Naturopathic Midwives, licensed midwives and nurse midwives.  Keep the lines of communication open between you and your partner so that each of you can feel cared for and that each partner feels that their needs are being met.  This may mean a change in responsibility at work or home or simply more time spent with empathetic and caring individuals going through similar experiences.  There is no need to suffer alone.