Raw Herbs - Very Traditional Medicine

So, I have had an interesting balance of getting back into regular exercise, a busy quarter with prepping for my comprehensive exam (next weekend), a little work, and staying on top of crafting.

One of my favorite ways to unwind at home is to cook, and one of the more fascinating yet complicated aspects of my homework is studying and writing formulas. Like recipes, or following a pattern, there are many classics that are memorized for testing purposes. Then clinically, the traditional form is used, and prescribed in a patent (similar to a pharmaceutical) or a customized powder or raw formula is given. Cooking the raw herbs is almost an art form of it's own, since the instructions can be very simple, (place in a cup of hot water and drink like tea) or follow a specific process involving straining, boiling, simmering, stirring, and different times.

For convenience, I typically take patents or powders, and got a chance to practice cooking a raw formula last week and thought I's share a picture of the herbs before cooking. What is interesting, is how natural the medicine looks in this form, and that is does not have the side effects of some other options since it is customized to both nourish and eliminate.

Already December.....

Wow - with my schedule shifting by academic quarter, a hige thing realizing is, I joined etsy a year ago this week (and will be having a special sale this weekend and some specials set up for the holidays) and 4 years ago this week, I registered to check out acupuncture school since I thought it might be interesting.

well, lets see, I had my 25th sale on Etsy this week, and am busy studying for my comprehensive exam (required to graduate) later in the month! Considering my store was something I decided to do for fun, and also am selling to friends, it is a great balance, and very grateful able to knit, create, and get a break and some balance while other days are blur of class, interning, and reviewing everything I've learned over 4 years, and some information from classes still have to finish up over the next year.

It's also very cool to see how much Ive learned, and gained from trying new things, taking risks, and following my interests. Through my etsy teams, California Crafters Coalition on Etsy (CCCOE) Etsy Knitter Team, and Unique Women in Business (UWIB) I've met a lot of great women who also love being creative and entrepreneurial - and have enjoyed this part a lot more then expected. In school, also surprised that am making great friends and am in a pretty supportive and fun environment and through both, while different, have a lot in common. Of course, my other friends just tease me about fact I usually have some sort of needles with me, wherever I go.