Greetings

Happy Summer from the staff at the Four Winds Natural Healing Center.  We have lots of exciting new information and classes to share with you.  With the heat and agitation of Summer, it is the most important season to be cool.  We have provided some helpful tips.  Most of you know I love Nebraska and the outdoors both.  I have included my top five picks for best cheap vacations in the state.  Our entire new class list also appears at the end of this newsletter.  Wishing you all the best of health this Summer!

Summer Wisdom

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Summer relates to the Fire Element.  The Fire Element controls the heart, small intestine, pericardium and triple burner/san jiao.  The emotions are paranoia, excessive joy, obsession and addiction.  The Summer is about giving and expressing love.  Some people can give love, others can receive it.  Few people can find a balance of both.  It is a great time of year to forgive someone from your past.  There are also many chi kung and meditation techniques that can help balance the heart both physically and spiritually. 
The taste of Summer is bitter.  Try to incorporate bitter and local foods.  Rutabagas, beets, bitter greens, wild greens, collard greens, mustard greens, endives, radicchio, goat milk, goat cheese and green juices are all naturally bitter.  In addition to balancing the body with the season, they also help cool body temperature.  This is the season when a lighter diet with more of a vegetarian emphasis and raw foods is best.

Mo Horner, Now Certified Herbalist

Mo Horner is our newest Herbalist at Four Winds.  She has recently graduated from the East West School of Herbology in Santa Cruz, CA..  She is now a Certified Herbalist and will soon be able to apply for professional membership in the American Herbalists Guild.  Mo brings to the Four Winds a B.A. in Psychology from Creighton University and her extensive training and apprenticeship in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Herbalism and Planetary Herbology.  Mo is now seeing clients with a range of chronic and acute health challenges, especially women’s health issues, fibromyalgia, menopause and preventive health.  She was also recently named the East West Student of the Month by her school.  We are very proud of her.

New Formulas, Cheaper Costs

You have always received the highest quality herbs and herbal formulas available in the world when you visit the Four Winds. Now, we are making some changes that ensure that quality remains high. Your formulas may change from those tiny teapills to capsule form with your next order or refill. The new formulations allow for higher concentration, more convenience, lower dosage and cheaper cost.  They are manufactured by a reputable company that meets all GMP requirements for safety and heavy metal testing.  They have also met the same FDA requirements and inspections as drug companies.  We will indicate your new dosage when you pick up your order, or simply ask to speak with Angie or Mo for details.

Facebook Page

For those of you new to the digital age, we are focusing more attention on our Facebook page.  You can be a friend of the clinic.  We are putting up weekly articles, weekly discussion topics, new classes, new exciting herb research and other community events.  It is much simpler and quicker for us to update than our website.  To become a fan, simply go to our website and click on the Facebook icon.  This wonderful format allows us to stay in better contact with the community.  We encourage everyone to post any questions you may have.  I will be posting updated pictures of my hiking trip to the Chadron area later this week too! 

September brings Master Chen to Omaha

Master Chen from China returns to Omaha for a variety of seminars from Sept. 10th through the 13th.  Classes include the following:  Women’s Sacred Spirituality, Gong Fu Tea Ceremony, Eagle Chi Kung, Primordial Chi Kung, Meditation and much more.  Classes will be held at the OM Center.  Master Chen is an inspiring teacher and comes from Wu Dang Mountain, as featured in the recent Karate Kid movie.  Within the next week registration will be set up at the OM Center and a class list posted on their website.  Call OM Center at 345-5078 to register.  Class space is limited.  We will have a detailed list of all his classes posted soon

Apprenticeship Available at Four Winds!

Is herbal and natural medicine a newfound or lifelong passion for you? Are you looking for a way into the alternative healing profession that offers one-of-a-kind training in a busy professional herbal clinic? We’re now accepting applications for a unique Herb Apprentice position. Experience in an office setting working closely with patients is preferred.  Applicants must be professional and willing to do a partial work study program.  Call the office to inquire.

Take Nebraska Trip

Economy got you down and not wanting to travel? Take a trip in Nebraska!  Here are a few of my favorite outdoor trips in Nebraska.  Most of these trips are less than three hours away and super cheap. 

My favorites:

• Hiking at Ponca State Park – Beautiful trails and cabins to stay in.  A botanist’s dream, many woodland plants found on the East coast thrive in the shade.  Take a little detour to Iona, to visit the sacred Pawnee altar at the Iona Volcano.  Both prairie and woodlands to hike.  A nice pool for the kids too.
• Indian Cave State Parks – Over 21 miles of beautiful trails and mountain biking in this wonderful park.  Great secluded camping spots too.  One of the prettiest places in Fall.
• Canoe the Calamus River – Don’t want to drive all the way to the Niobrara River?  Calamus River in Burwell Nebraska is only a three hour drive.  Calamus Outfitters has canoe trips for families, cabins to stay at and horseback riding.  The beautiful white sand beaches of Lake Calamus are great for swimming.  Don’t go during the Nebraska Rodeo though.  This is my favorite place in all Nebraska.
• Canoe the Niobrara – Valentine is a little further drive, but worth it.  A six hour drive from Omaha.  Most people don’t realize that the Niobrara is one of the most ecologically important areas in all the US.  It is the exact point where over six climate and plant zones meet.  It is the only place where many rare plants occur in one area.  You can stay at cabins on the river or in modern hotels in town.  Many places to see, hike and explore while staying in a nice motel.  Husbands, take note of this!  Sunnybrook Outfitters is the oldest and most reliable family related outfitter.
• Broken Arrow Wilderness – Visit Fullerton Nebraska, one the hotbeds of ancient Pawnee Culture.  This wilderness resort is less than a two hour drive.  It has cabins to stay in, hiking trails, horseback riding, ATV riding and you can canoe the Cedar River or Loup Rivers.  Very, very economical.  Don’t like cabins? There is a very nice hotel in town.
• Canoe the Dismal River – Feeling adventurous,? Canoe the Dismal.  The Dismal River is Nebraska’s untamed river.  It is the most difficult of all our rivers to canoe.  Glidden Outfitters has nice hotel and will put you on either the Cedar River for less or brave or the Dismal River.
• Swim at Lewis and Clark Lake – On the South Dakota border, this huge lake is great for swimming and hiking.  You can rent boats and nice houses on the lake.  The South Dakota side on Yankton is much better developed and has nicer camping parks.  Hint, hint husbands, you can rent a nice hotel room in Yankton and your family can shop . . . . . while you go fishing.
• Hike Chadron State Park & Fort Robinson State Park – Nebraska’s most absolutely beautiful area.  Unfortunately is a longer drive, but worth it.  The best remote hiking through Nebraska National Forest.  Camp at Chadron State Parks for less crowds.  Much more for the family to do at Fort Robinson State Park.  I recommend the family kayaking trip on the White River, which is a small creek.  Looking to get away?  Hike the remote Soldier Creek Wilderness like I did last week.  The most remote and beautiful spot to get away in Nebraska.  Watch out for rattlesnakes in Summer.

Parting Wisdom

Sincerely,
Nicholas, Angie, Mo and Deanna