Welcome to Cypress Natural Medicine! Fall signifies a dramatic transition of seasons with shorter days, cooler temperatures, and an increased occurrence of colds and flus. Just as the seasons change, so does the mind and body. Fall is a time when plants begin to internalize their energy in order to prepare for winter. This is similar to what the body does. Individuals tend to spend far less time being active outdoors and spend more time on introspection. Fall is a time of building – building the immune system, reevaluating and building strategies for the future, and holding on. A sign of good health is the ability to successfully transition as the seasons change. For many individuals, they notice health issues occur at the time of a season change. This issue of our newsletter includes articles on readying your immune system for winter, exploring health savings accounts as an empowered healthcare choice, and upcoming health promoting opportunities. Enjoy!

Special Event
“From Here to Longevity – An evening with Dr. Mitra Ray, PhDâ€�We are excited to announce an amazing health lecture by our good friend and colleague Dr. Mitra Ray. Dr. Ray earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Stanford University and has spent the past several years researching the effect of diet and nutrition on health. Dr. Ray is a passionate speaker with the goal of empowering individuals to take an active role in their health by making educated dietary choices. Dr. Ray effectively dispels the myths around dietary supplements and current dietary fads and provides powerful yet simple solutions in order to achieve optimal health. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by – Join us for a fun and informative evening! The lecture is Thursday, November 2, 2006 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm) at The Crown Plaza Hotel, 1221 Chess Dr., Foster City 94404. Presentation is FREE. Reservations Required – Space is limited. Free parking available. This event is sponsored by Juice Plus+.

Please Contact Dr. Destia Skinner (drdestia@cnmhealth.com)or our wellness coordinator, Joan Dondero, (veggies4you@hotmail.com or 650-464-4184) for reservations.

Pharmacy NewsCypress Natural Medicine offers an extensive line of pharmaceutical grade, high quality prescription and non-prescription supplements and homeopathic remedies at competitive prices. Product quality is of utmost importance to us and many of our products include post-production testing in order to ensure that you are getting exactly what the bottle says. Many of our patients have requested that we make our dispensary available to their friends and family in order to ensure that they are buying high quality, trustworthy products. We have decided to offer all of our non-prescription supplements such as vitamins, minerals, Juice Plus+ products, immune formulations, protein powders, and low potency homeopathic remedies to the public. Please call the clinic at 650-323-7345 or email chris@cnmhealth.comto place your order or if you have questions. Also, for our current patients, please do not hesitate to contact the clinic for refills on your prescription supplements.

Community OutreachWould you like the practitioners at Cypress Natural Medicine to attend your company health fair or give a health lecture? Corporate health fairs and lectures present a powerful opportunity for us to promote natural medicine, prevention, and simple solutions to increasing health and vitality. The health of a company is only as great as the health of its employees. Make your employees happier, healthier, and more empowered today! Please call the clinic at 650-323-7345 or email chris@cnmhealth.comfor details.

Fee Increases We want to thank all of our patients for their overwhelming support over the years and we look forward to helping you achieve all of your health goals in the future. We have been fortunate enough to have been able to keep our patient fees the same since 2002. Many of you already know that we take great efforts in order to keep our fees as low as possible in order to make natural medicine available to everyone – this includes offering all laboratory testing at cost, by offering payment plans for financial hardship, and by competitively pricing our dispensary items. Due to upcoming increases in expenses, we will be increasing our patient fees beginning January 1, 2007. Fee increases will only pertain to Naturopathic and Craniosacral therapy visits. Acupuncture and NAET visit fees will remain unchanged. Below you will find our new fee schedule.

Naturopathic Medicine Fees
Adult First Office Visit (90 minutes) $260
Child First Office Visit (60 minutes) $180
Return Office Visit (45 minutes) $150
Extended Return Office Visit (60 minutes) $180
Food Intolerance Testing $100

Craniosacral Therapy
First Office Visit (60 minutes) $180
Return Office Visit (45 minutes) $135
Extended Return Office Visit (60 minutes) $180

Acupuncture / NAET
First Office Visit (60 minutes) $150
Return Office Visit $90

The greatest compliment you can give us is referring our clinic to your family and friends. Please mention us when people in your life are having health concerns and are looking for a safe, natural, and effective choice in healthcare.

New to the Cypress Natural Medicine Newsletter and CNMhealth.com? We have designed our monthly newsletter and website to be packed with health information to deepen and nourish your health transformation. Our mission is to educate and empower patients and community members in order to promote healthy choices. We are here to assist you in your health goals for 2006 and beyond. New information will be frequently added to the website in order to expand your knowledge and keep you informed of current and emerging health topics – so make sure to bookmark this site, visit regularly, and share it with your friends and loved ones!

Say No to Colds & Flus! – Simple Ways to Strengthen Immunity
Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST

We can see fall everywhere with kids in school, pumpkins scattered about and the leaves falling off the trees. Fall is also the cold/flu season, so many of us wonder what we can do to stay healthy. Here are some good things for you to do to maximize your own immune system functioning:

• Reduce sugar and sweet intake and eliminate all sugared sodas

• Get enough rest/sleep. Inadequate sleep will decrease your immune system’s functioning. Increased levels are needed in times of high stress.

• Whole food concentrates like Juice Plus: This is the best antioxidant/preventative formula that we have found. Research shows that these products greatly enhance white blood cell levels and activity. It its equivalent to the nutrition found in 5-7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. See our website if you want more information on Juice Plus

• Minimize exposure to stress and stressful events. There is no single category that will decrease your immune system more than long term stress. Minimizing stress does not mean not feeling your feelings, but rather to feel your feelings in the moment and releasing them.

• Moderate exercise will increase your body’s ability to get rid of toxins through sweat, lymph movement, and by decreasing stress.

• Maximize your intake of quality proteins, complex carbohydrates and multi-colored vegetables and fruits (Be careful of fruits such as banana with too much sugar)

• Take a good quality B-complex to increase your body’s ability to adapt to stressors and to support your immune system.

• When you first start to feel a cold coming on start taking an immune support formula. Cypress has a lovely general immune formula to assist your health in cold season. Call us to pick up the Cypress Immune Formula before cold and flu season starts.

• Castor Oil packs to your abdomen (one per day for 4 days will increase your white blood cell count) for 40 minutes to one hour. See our website under home remedies for more information.

• Contrast Hydrotherapy: This is a wonderful and inexpensive way to boost the immune system and promote gentle detoxification. See our website under home remedies for more information.

• Liver supportive foods: beets, carrots, onions, dandelion greens, arugula, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, beet greens, watercress. Or take a liver supportive formula to enhance your elimination of fat soluble toxins out of your system.

• Water-filtered or bottled (Alhambra, Aquafina are best)-1/3 to 1/2 ounce per one pound of body weight.

• Digestive system: ensure that your digestive system is working optimally. This is your first line of defense from foreign organisms and any dysfunction can lead to strain on other organs such as the liver and circulatory system. If your digestive system is off, make an appointment with your naturopathic doctor so that we can rebalance and ensure that you are healthy.

• Symptom Based Homeopathy: Many effective homeopathic remedies can be used for the symptoms of colds and flus. It is important though to take the remedy that most accurately covers the specific symptoms you are having. We have put together a helpful symptom table for our patients which you can find HERE.

• Constitutional Homeopathy: If you have yet to have a homeopathic remedy found for your constitution, call to make a homeopathic appointment so that one can be identified for you. Constitutional homeopathics go a LONG way toward boosting your vital force and helps to reduce your risk of illnesses, from contagions or otherwise.

• Eliminate foods that you may be intolerant or allergic to. These foods wear down the immune system so it becomes unable to appropriately respond to “real� invaders. Common foods are wheat, cow dairy, eggs, corn, soy, sugar etc. If you don’t know what you may be sensitive to and are curious, please call the office to make an appointment. This information alone will greatly increase your level of health.

Well, that’s it for now. If you have concerns about your immune system, its strength, or your current level of health please give our office a call at 650-323-7345 to schedule and appointment.

Say No to Colds & Flus! – Simple Ways to Strengthen Immunity
Dr. Destia Skinner, ND, CST

We can see fall everywhere with kids in school, pumpkins scattered about and the leaves falling off the trees. Fall is also the cold/flu season, so many of us wonder what we can do to stay healthy. Here are some good things for you to do to maximize your own immune system functioning:

• Reduce sugar and sweet intake and eliminate all sugared sodas

• Get enough rest/sleep. Inadequate sleep will decrease your immune system’s functioning. Increased levels are needed in times of high stress.

• Whole food concentrates like Juice Plus: This is the best antioxidant/preventative formula that we have found. Research shows that these products greatly enhance white blood cell levels and activity. It its equivalent to the nutrition found in 5-7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. See our website if you want more information on Juice Plus

• Minimize exposure to stress and stressful events. There is no single category that will decrease your immune system more than long term stress. Minimizing stress does not mean not feeling your feelings, but rather to feel your feelings in the moment and releasing them.

• Moderate exercise will increase your body’s ability to get rid of toxins through sweat, lymph movement, and by decreasing stress.

• Maximize your intake of quality proteins, complex carbohydrates and multi-colored vegetables and fruits (Be careful of fruits such as banana with too much sugar)

• Take a good quality B-complex to increase your body’s ability to adapt to stressors and to support your immune system.

• When you first start to feel a cold coming on start taking an immune support formula. Cypress has a lovely general immune formula to assist your health in cold season. Call us to pick up the Cypress Immune Formula before cold and flu season starts.

• Castor Oil packs to your abdomen (one per day for 4 days will increase your white blood cell count) for 40 minutes to one hour. See our website under home remedies for more information.

• Contrast Hydrotherapy: This is a wonderful and inexpensive way to boost the immune system and promote gentle detoxification. See our website under home remedies for more information.

• Liver supportive foods: beets, carrots, onions, dandelion greens, arugula, kale, swiss chard, collard greens, beet greens, watercress. Or take a liver supportive formula to enhance your elimination of fat soluble toxins out of your system.

• Water-filtered or bottled (Alhambra, Aquafina are best)-1/3 to 1/2 ounce per one pound of body weight.

• Digestive system: ensure that your digestive system is working optimally. This is your first line of defense from foreign organisms and any dysfunction can lead to strain on other organs such as the liver and circulatory system. If your digestive system is off, make an appointment with your naturopathic doctor so that we can rebalance and ensure that you are healthy.

• Symptom Based Homeopathy: Many effective homeopathic remedies can be used for the symptoms of colds and flus. It is important though to take the remedy that most accurately covers the specific symptoms you are having. We have put together a helpful symptom table for our patients which you can find HERE.

• Constitutional Homeopathy: If you have yet to have a homeopathic remedy found for your constitution, call to make a homeopathic appointment so that one can be identified for you. Constitutional homeopathics go a LONG way toward boosting your vital force and helps to reduce your risk of illnesses, from contagions or otherwise.

• Eliminate foods that you may be intolerant or allergic to. These foods wear down the immune system so it becomes unable to appropriately respond to “real� invaders. Common foods are wheat, cow dairy, eggs, corn, soy, sugar etc. If you don’t know what you may be sensitive to and are curious, please call the office to make an appointment. This information alone will greatly increase your level of health.

Well, that’s it for now. If you have concerns about your immune system, its strength, or your current level of health please give our office a call at 650-323-7345 to schedule and appointment.

Flu Vaccinations – Is it right for you?
Cypress Natural Medicine believes it is in your best interest to become informed about your health and treatment options before making any decisions about your health. Review the following information to become better prepared to determine if the flu vaccination is the best option for you or family members.

Information on the influenza virus:

? Millions of individuals develop the flu each year and only experience mild
Symptoms.

? There is a two day incubation period before symptoms of fever, cough, chills,
sore throat, body aches, fatigue or headaches appear.

? Influenza virus spreads through coughing and sneezing, direct contact with
contaminated surfaces and objects or unwashed hands.

? Flu symptoms usually subside after two to three days and disappear within a
week.

? Once an individual has had the flu, their body will have produced antibodies that
protect them from the same strain of virus for a prolonged period of time.

? Complications from influenza infection are very rare and may occur in individuals
with an underlying medical condition, those greater than 65 years of age, and
young children that have a predisposition to respiratory infections. Pneumonia is
the primary complication of influenza and can result in hospitalization or death in
those that are at extremely high risk for complications.
Information on the ‘flu’ vaccination

? The ‘flu’ vaccination, more correctly termed the influenza vaccination, is a vaccine
against specific strains of the influenza virus.

? There are over 500 different viruses that can cause flu like symptoms. The
vaccine is formulated from the three most common strains seen in the previous
year. The vaccine is a best guess as to what virus will be most prevalent this year.

? The influenza virus is constantly changing. A flu vaccine is only effective against
the same strain of influenza virus used to develop the vaccine.

? It takes about two weeks after the flu shot to develop sufficiently high levels of
antibodies to protect you from the influenza virus. These antibodies start to lose
their effectiveness within a few months.

? According to Health Department , the influenza vaccination is recommended for
individuals at high risk for developing serious complications if they were to
contract the influenza virus.

? High risk groups include all people aged 65 years or older, people with serious
long-term health problems, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, immunosuppressive
disorders, children on long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA/
aspirin); as well as, health-care workers, residents / workers / volunteers of
nursing homes, chronic-care facilities and retirement homes and women who will
be more than 3 months pregnant during the influenza season.

? The research from Health Canada suggests that the flu vaccine that closely
matches the current seasonal influenza strains temporarily prevents the flu in
healthy persons less than 65 years old about 70% of the time.

? In individuals over 65 years of age the efficacy rate of the flu vaccine is reported
to be less than 30%.
?
75% of individuals have prolonged (up to 2 days) soreness at the site of the
injection.

? Children are at the greatest risk of side effects including: fever, body aches,
allergic reactions and potentially a severe paralytic illness.

? There is a rare risk of allergic reaction in individuals with an allergy to eggs.
Warning signs include: breathing difficulties, hoarseness, wheezing, hives,
paleness, pronounced weakness, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness.
Reported concerns and contraindications to the flu vaccine.

? According the manufacturer of the vaccines, the flu vaccination should NOT be
given to persons with an acute respiratory infection or with any other active
infection or serious febrile (fever) illness.

? Vaccination is also not recommended for individuals who develop anaphylactic
type reactions (hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing,
hypotension and shock) when they eat eggs. Immunization should be avoided in
patients with an active neurological disorder until they are stabilized.

? The normal immune response following influenza vaccination may not develop
properly in individuals undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. This includes
those taking high doses of systemic steroids.

? Thimerosal, a mercury containing compound, is commonly used as a preservative
in flu vaccines. This is in the process of being taken out of vaccines in California.

? There is a mild risk of a paralytic disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Points to consider before making a decision on flu prevention:

1. If you already have had the influenza virus this year, your body will have developed antibodies to the influenza virus. Antibodies, developed by the body, when one has actually have the flu are more robust than antibodies from the flu vaccine and will protect one for a longer time.

2. The selection of the influenza strains that make up the vaccine is a hypothesis or guess. There is no way of knowing what strains will be the most prevalent in any given season.

3. The flu vaccine only promotes temporary (about 2 months) immunity to the viral strains or closely related viral strains contained in the vaccine.

4. The only way to acquire natural and long term immunity to a strain of the influenza virus is to recover naturally from the flu.

5. The process that is used to destroy the viruses and create the vaccines often uses formaldehyde, heavy metals (mercury) and chemicals. There are concerns and need for more extensive research about the effect that these substances on the human body and the lack of long term safety associated with their use, especially with the potential for increased risks that yearly vaccinations might entail.

6. Vaccinations prevent the body from naturally responding to external pathogens like viruses and bacteria. Individuals, who regularly maintain a strong healthy immune system will protect themselves from any adverse effects of the flu, will build permanent immunity and will decrease the potential for developing unknown side effects from long term exposure to vaccinations.
The flu vaccination was developed by the allopathic (conventional) health care system to decrease the risk of contracting the influenza virus. However, the best way of preventing any flu or complications from any flu is through prevention. The main focus of prevention needs to be on daily healthy habits that ensure an optimum immune system and overall health. A strong immune system is the most effective prevention strategy against the flu or any other virus.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please discuss these with your Naturopathic doctor or other health practitioner. Drs. Destia and Bryan Skinner use homeopathic vaccination program for those who can not or choose not to receive the flu vaccination. Remember that Juice Plus+ is shown to raise your immune system and is a great way to prevent the flu. The best protection from infectious diseases is a robust immune system and daily healthy habits.

From Here to Longevity – An evening with Dr. Mitra Ray, PhD
Featuring: Dr. Mitra Ray, Research Scientist and Author of “From Here to Longevity�

We are excited to invite you all to a fabulous health lecture by our long time friend and colleague Dr. Mitra Ray. She is traveling all the way from London, England to share her passionate message about health and the environment with us. Her past as a Stanford research scientist really allows her to speak powerfully about health and simple things we can do to make sure we live longer and stronger. Dr. Ray is gifted at dispelling the many myths surrounding aging gracefully, optimal health, and wellness.

A woman with a mission… Dr. Ray wants each of us to live the longest, healthiest life possible. She believes that we have to take full responsibility for our health and explains the simple things we can do to make a difference for our health and for the health of our loved ones. Her insights, based on extensive published research, are…enlightening and exciting. Seats are limited so please call us to reserve your seat. This invaluable lecture will create simplicity and excitement around the possibility of optimal health.

Thursday, November 2, 2006
7:00pm – 8:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm)

The Crown Plaza Hotel
1221 Chess Dr., Foster City 94404

Presentation is FREE.
Reservations Required. Free parking available.

Contact Dr. Destia Skinner (drdestia@cnmhealth.com)
or Joan Dondero (veggies4you@hotmail.com) or at 650-464-4184 for reservations.

This event is sponsored by Juice Plus+

Control your Emotions, Control your Reality
Dr. Cynthia Sholes, PhD, MdH

Be Aware
(unknown author)

Watch your thoughts
They become your words

Watch your words
They become your actions

Watch your actions
They become your habits

Watch your habits
They become your Character

Watch your Character
It becomes your Destiny

This poem has always spoken to me about the power of thoughts to create our reality, but there have been so many times in my life that my thoughts were so negative that I felt ashamed of the reality that they must be creating. This shame brought guilt which would invariably bring on more negative thoughts and more shame and often depression and hopelessness. This downward spiral seemed inescapable at times until I learned the missing piece of the puzzle, emotions. Our thoughts often arise from our emotions, so the poem should begin with:

Watch your emotions
They become your thoughts

Emotions, though, are difficult to control because they arise from the subconscious mind and, very often, seem to be dependent upon external factors. The idea of controlling your emotions can also bring about a sense of helplessness if you don’t know how to change your emotions. Over the years and through my training, I have learned many ways to change your emotions from techniques such as hypnosis, positive affirmations, guided imagery, Emotional Freedom Technique and Neuro-Emotional Technique. Some of them are more effective than others depending on what your initial emotions might have been. But none of them worked in all circumstances as a self-help technique.

I have recently discovered the teachings of Abraham from Ester and Jerry Hicks and have learned a new way of looking at emotions. Abraham teaches that all emotions are good because they are indicators of our feeling states and the way we are occurring in our world. Taking emotions as indicators we can begin to learn how to use them to improve our state of mind instead of making ourselves wrong for having negative emotions or thoughts.

Knowing your Emotional Guidance Scale and Shifting your Emotions and Thoughts to Create you Reality.

Ester and Jerry Hicks have developed the Emotional Guidance Scale. Using this scale you can begin to familiarize your self with your emotional states and begin the change it to a more positive state, one step at a time. By moving your emotional state up the Emotional Guidance Scale you can begin to move your thoughts into a positive state and begin to create a positive reality for yourself.

Emotional Guidance Scale
(Copied from Ask and It Is Given, by Ester and Jerry Hicks)

Emotional States:
1. Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/Love/Appreciation
2. Passion
3. Enthusiasm/Eagerness/Happiness
4. Positive Expectation/Belief
5. Optimism
6. Hopefulness
7. Contentment
8. Boredom
9. Pessimism
10. Frustration/Irritation/Impatience
11. Overwhelm
12. Disappointment
13. Doubt
14. Worry
15. Blame
16. Discouragement
17. Anger
18. Revenge
19. Hatred/Rage
20. Jealousy
21. Insecurity/Guilt/Unworthiness
22. Fear/Grief/Depression/Despair/Powerlessness

How to shift your emotional state to a more positive one using the Emotional Guidance Scale.

Creating your dreams, passions and desires requires you to be in an emotional state between (1) Joy/Knowledge/Empowerment/Freedom/love/Appreciation and (5) Optimism. If your emotional state is lower than this, your thoughts will not be consistent with the creation of your most positive desires.

Although you may have tried to move your emotional state directly from a low emotional state such as anger to a higher one like joy or even hopefulness, and you may have, at times, been successful, it is very difficult to do this without first moving through most of the emotions in between. This is why so many of the self help techniques such as positive affirmations and self hypnosis aren’t always effective. You can’t begin to use them if your emotional state is too low. You must first bring your emotional state up to at least (8) boredom or (9) pessimism, before these techniques can work well.

To do this first, find language to express your current emotions about the issue at hand. Listen to your thoughts they will give you the language. From this language, determine your emotional point at this moment. Now, chose the emotion that is just up the scale from your current emotion and create a new language, new thoughts that express your issue with this emotional content. It should feel better.
For example, if you are feeling angry about and issue, moving into feelings of discouragement about it will make you feel better and is a relatively easy jump to make. All you need to do to make this jump is to change the wording of your thoughts about the issue slightly. When you have done that then you are ready to move up the emotional guidance scale further by changing your thoughts to match another more positive emotion. You can continue doing this until you are where you want to be on the emotional scale. Some days you may be satisfied with contentment and others you may want to achieve joy or elation.

I had heard of the emotional guidance scale many times before but it didn’t click into my life until I was able to recognize the negative emotional pattern that I was in and why. When I considered my own emotions I would lump all of the negative emotions (11) overwhelm to (22) despair all together as equally “bad� and undesirable. For example if I would find myself in anger, I would immediately go to shame for having this negative emotions making myself feel worse. If I would want to blame someone else for the object of my anger and then I make myself wrong for blaming others and not taking responsibility myself. This caused more feelings of shame and guilt and moved me down on the scale rather than up. When I learned that blame could be used as a stepping stone to move me up on the emotional guidance scale, I quit making myself wrong and began to move myself up and out of the negative emotional pattern that I had created. I also realized that if I was in frustration, blame would move me down on the emotional guidance scale, in the opposite direction than I would like to go. But, pessimism would move me in the right direction. Learning the scale and learning to distinguish my own emotions gave me a great deal of control and power over them. I still have negative emotions but now I languish in my negative emotions for a much shorter time.

Use the scale to recognize your own negative emotion patterns and learn how to shift them in a positive direction by taking small steps and knowing that no matter where you are that is the right place to begin.

Creating your Dreams

Once you have moved your emotions into a positive state, then let your thoughts begin to create your reality. What are your dreams, your passions? Identify them and begin to flesh them out in your mind in detail. Be as specific and detailed as you can. Relax and put yourself in a state of self hypnosis and begin to visualize, imagine your dreams are really true. Smell them, feel them, see them, and hear them. By doing this you will begin to set them in motion. As your subconscious mind aligns with them so will your emotions and thoughts and from your thoughts come your words, and your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your character, and your character becomes your destiny. And, least you forget, it all begins with BEING AWARE.

To learn how you can manage your emotions and create a life that you love call Dr. Cynthia Sholes for an appointment 650-704-1252.

Cypress Recipes
Healthy, whole foods recipes will be included within every newsletter. The recipes will range from food intolerance and allergy free recipes to those that will introduce lesser known healthful ingredients. If you have a healthful recipe which you would like to share with our community, please email us the details at info@cnmhealth.com.

Peanut Sauce with Tofu & Mustard Greens
Serves 2
3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
2 to 4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 to 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
1 tablespoon molasses (or maple syrup)
2 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon shoyu or tamari
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 chili pepper, minced or pinch pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Approximately 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock or water to blend
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 to 5 fresh tomatoes, cored and chopped into quarters
1 pound firm tofu, drained cut into small cubes
1/2 to 1 bunch fresh mustard greens, coarsely chopped

In a blender, mix all ingredients except olive oil, tomatoes, tofu and greens. Adjust seasoning and/or stock as necessary; set aside.
In large fry pan, sauté tomatoes in oil until softened. Add peanut sauce and tofu. Cover and cook over low heat, 7 to 10 minutes. Add greens a minute before serving. Serve over brown rice or rice noodles.

Red Cabbage and Soba Noodles
Serves 4
1 package Soba noodles, cooked
1 tablespoon toasted Sesame Oil
1 tablespoon Umeboshi Paste
2 tablespoons Brown Rice Vinegar
1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1/2 cup fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced thin
1 tablespoon black Sesame Seeds for garnish
1 tablespoon Barley Malt

Cooking Time: 30 minutes – one hour

Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute cabbage and salt in toasted Sesame Oil until slightly tender, about 3-5 minutes. Add Umeboshi Paste and shitake mushrooms and continue cooking until very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in vinegar and Barley Malt and simmer 5 minutes more. Serve over noodles and sprinkle with Sesame Seeds.