Dr. Bobi Farrow ND, DAC

My favorite anti-ageing herb is He Shou Wu. This herb is used in traditional Chinese medicine to promote longevity and fertility. It keeps the hair dark and full. It also is a great herb to support energy and might help with inflammation and reducing blood sugar. Have you ever heard of this herb? Would you be willing to try it?

How to Become a Pro-Ager How we talk and think about growing old can significantly affect our ability to maintain our health as we age. Here's why.

With September being healthy ageing month this week I will be sharing some of my favorite ways to age gracefully and ways to promote longevity. People always tell me getting old sucks, but it doesn't and shouldn't have to, and plus the alternative to ageing is worse. How do you feel about ageing?

Happy . With labor day being the unofficial end to summer I wanted to talk about a misconception I see with the way we treat fall. We think about fall as a time of slowing down, but fall is about the harvest. Ask the farmers if their work is over yet. All the work we have been doing since the beginning of the year is just now starting to pay off. Which feels like it means it should be time to slow down and celebrate. But now is when the work begins. We have to bring in the harvest and prep for next year. The harvest wont reap itself. It is simply not time to relax and rest yet. Time is limited. This is why in summer we are supposed to have fun during the long days and short nights. If you haven't taken time for fun these past months you are probably feeling burnt out and at your wits ends. And unfortunately the work isn't over. So take today off, have some fun, acknowledge how much labor you have already put in. Re-energize and get ready for the change of seasons. The cold will come, the days will grow short and the nights long again. Rest is coming after the celebrations that come with the end of harvest. Keep working. Don't give up now. Look back at the last 6 months and how things have changed. What goals did you set that have come to fruition? What goals do you still need to work on? It's not over. You can still achieve your goals. Remember to work with the seasons and not against them. I am wishing you a fun day filled with joy and gathering. And I am wishing you a successful harvest these coming months.

Welcome September. We are excited for fall. It's a time of transition and time for a change. Earth season. Lots to do. Harvest and get ready for the coming cold. Time for coziness and warm tea.

My September bucket list:
Chop fire wood
Hunt fall mushrooms
Pick fall squash and pumpkins
Harvest Indian corn
Make apple cider
Can bone broth

PART TWO. Lets dive into a few more of the TCM organs today. Today we include the pericardium and san jiao which don't really have a true equivalent in western medicine and the San Jiao is by far the hardest to understand. I always thought about it as the lymphatics system but it does more then just that. What surprised you today? Do you want to learn more about TCM theory?

Have you ever wondered why when I talk about digestive issues I mention the spleen? Isn't that an organ that does something with blood cells? What does it have to do with digestion? Well lots of the organs in TCM do different functions then what we are taught in anatomy and physiology classes. Here is part one of 2 on the TCM organs functions and what they might look like when they are malfunctioning. What surprised you most? Let me know below and be sure to check out tomorrows post for the remaining organs.

If you saw my post yesterday you might now know that I ask a lot about digestion. Often when I do people tell me everything is fine and don't share details so I have to dig deeper. Once we get talking it will come out that in fact their digestion is not great and they have several important symptoms of improper digestion. People think its normal to get tired after they have lunch, or burp a lot. Many have even been told by their doctors that going to the bathroom only 2x weekly is totally normal. Are you having some of these digestive symptoms that you thought were normal? If so its time to schedule an appt with me.

I promise you there is no TMI when it comes to taking about your p**p with your acupuncturist. We are honestly weirdly obsessed with the details. It helps us better understand what is going on internally and come up with a treatment plan. So don't be shy and expect me to ask you all the details.

I am lucky enough to still be picking some of my cucumbers from the garden. We have been doing lots of cucumber salads and refrigerator pickles this year, what about you?

It’s the summer of cucumber salad. Try these 4 recipes at home Cucumbers are almost out of season. Make a refreshing cucumber salad.

I get asked a lot how often someone needs acupuncture. Just like any natural treatment its not a one and done deal. Acupuncture builds on itself and multiple treatments are necessary to get full results. The amount of treatments and how often depend a lot on what is going on. Generally I recommend people start with one time weekly for 3-4 weeks then reassess and go down to every other week and eventually monthly tune ups. If the condition is more complicated or more chronic more treatments are needed and 2 a week might be necessary. I even have a few protocols that require 3x weekly for a week. What questions do you have about scheduling acupuncture? Drop them below or send me a direct message so I can answer.

“This is not a Good Vibes Only class” -Nichole during last Fridays Yoga Class

At Monarch, our goal is to create a space that supports healing and growth. Sometimes, you need yoga/massage/acupuncture/meditation when you aren’t in a “good vibes” headspace and that’s ok!

We are committed to delivering a meaningful and effective experience, whether it be Yoga with Nichole, Massage with Nina, or Acupuncture with Dr. Bobi. Our approach is deeply rooted in authenticity and we invite you to join us in experiences that will hopefully be transformative and meaningful. 💜

Now that school is back into full swing do you feel like you have more time to take care of yourself? Or are you just busier then ever? Either way it is important to prioritizes self care and find ways to support your mental and physical health. Come in for an acupuncture tune up or schedule a free 15 minute consult to discuss cosmetic Mei Zen Acupuncture. You can find me Monarch Integrative Care and schedule online @ https://MonarchIntegrative.as.me/

Hello to all my new followers. I figured it was time to re-introduce myself. I am Dr. Bobi. I have duel doctorates in naturopathic medicine and acupuncture and I work with both of these in the great state of Nebraska. My goal is to help people find who they are again in health and happiness. So if you haven't been feeling like yourself, whether it has been months or years, I am here to help! I help figure out the root cause of your symptoms and work holistically to create a treatment plan that works for and with you so you can reach your goals. If you are ready to work with me you can schedule online @ https://MonarchIntegrative.as.me/ or reach out if you have more questions on what I do. Hope to see you soon!

Want to upgrade your coffee? Here are a few things you can add to your favorite morning beverage for added health benefits. Look back a few weeks to see all about mushrooms and their health benefits. Right now I am adding a dropperful of reishi tincture to my morning brew and its great because you don't even taste it. I also add heavy cream for the added fat content to keep from crashing. Some people do coconut oil or butter thought for a type of 'bullet proof' coffee. If you add a fat source you can also add vitamin D drops to get in your supplemental vitamin D, but if you are drinking it black skip this because vitamin D is fat soluble so you need fat to absorbed it. Flower essences are a energetic medicine that can treat variety of different concerns and are best know to help with mental health. Typically you take these throughout the day and adding them to whatever you are drinking is an option to make sure you get them in 4+ times. A few other coffee upgrades include spices and protein or collagen powder. In the winter I love to add cinnamon for the added warmth but spices are a great way to get in mini doses of medicines.

States lead the way to make menstrual products safer Roughly half of the U.S. population menstruates, and anyone who does will use on average 10,000 menstrual products during their lifetime. These products aren’t luxuries, they’re essential – but studies show they sometimes contain harmful chemicals.

Why do I love tea? This is a great quote that explains it. There are so many different teas and herbs you can use that all have their own place. Tea is there for everything and everyone. What is your favorite tea?

Since we played this or that yesterday I wanted to compare some of the benefits of both coffee and tea. They both have their place and have their upsides. What else would you add to this chart?

Dr Bobi has a few appointments open for tomorrow. Snag them before someone else does!

For those on team tea

7 Hot and Cold Tea Recipes Different cultures have various ways of enjoying this age-old beverage. Try one of these recipes to make teatime more delicious.

Are you team coffee of are you team tea? If I could only have one of these drinks for the rest of my life I am not sure which I would pick. I love coffee so much but there are so many options when it comes to teas and variety is key. Let me know in the comments which team you are on.

Tell me what is your favorite drink? I drink a lot of water but I also have my morning coffee and love sun tea or hot herbal teas. What are your favorite beverages? Let me know and look out in the next few days as I share more facts and ideas about top drinks.

Since we have been talking lately about healthy eating I wanted to ask how you reduce your food waste? Here are a few ways to help reduce your food waste. 1. shop more daily for exactly what you need and nothing more. 2. Only cook what you are going to eat. 3. Use food services like Misfit market. 4. Share your left overs/ extras. 5. Feed your kitchen scraps to backyard chickens. 6. Have a compost bin in your backyard.
What do you do to help reduce your carbon footprint when it comes to kitchen waste?

During summer we have a tendency to not want to cook. Its hot, you don't want to heat up the house, and you would rather have a salad or something to cool you down. Plus we are all just so busy its easier to throw together a salad or drink a protein shake on the go then spend 30 minutes cooking. But why might this not be a great idea? Well in traditional Chinese medicine the organ of the spleen hates cold and raw foods. The spleen helps to digest and absorb your food, but its also important for holding our blood in the vessels, storing intent, maintaining/ nourishing the limbs and transforming dampness. So eating cold foods can upset all of these different functions which can show up as symptoms like heavy or painful me**es, leg cramps, difficulty concentrating or studying, as well as digestive issues like diarrhea or bloating. So be sure to either pair your cold raw foods with energetically warm herbs, have a hot tea, or eat some cooked meals. Are you a culprit of a cold spleen? If so it can be fixed, come see me for acupuncture or naturopathic care where we can talk about diet and herbs to warm your digestion back up.

Are you enjoying some yummy seasonal desserts this summer? Some of my favorite cool desserts for summer time are: Avocado ice cream, watermelon, chia seed pudding, fresh berries with heavy cream, chocolate covered fruit. Which of these are you trying?

Tell me your pick of favorite relaxation activity in the comments section below. My pick is actually massage. Have you had a session with yet? She is great! I have a hard time relaxing myself during acupuncture because I am always thinking about what is being done and how I would do it, or I am doing it to myself which just isn't relaxing at all. I love yoga but find it more of an exercise then a relaxation most of the time. And with meditations I have to use guided recording to keep myself on track. Make sure you take some time today to work on your relaxation. It is literally a skill to keep sharp and some people have to work harder at it then others. Be kind to yourself if you struggle with this skill.

I think I will pick up some mushrooms from either the farmers market or super market this week. What are you doing to add variety to your diet? Is there a new food you have been wanting to try? Let me know

What does a balanced diet mean to you? To me it means having a wide variety of foods and eating all the major food groups with your meals. It also means that you get to treat yourself and have deserts and 'junk food' from time to time. I like to say that a food is still healthy even if it is just for your mental health or your soul. You can't deprive yourself of things you love when making det changes, otherwise you are setting yourself up for failure. If you are making changes and taking something out of your diet, you need to be adding something else in. I also preach that any fad diet that totally eliminates a food group is not good! Stay away from those traps. When it comes to variety that means not eating the same things week in and week out. Its ok to have taco Tuesday and fish Friday but mix up what your protein source is or change the sides, or mix up the herbs and spices you are using to get different micronutrients. Variety also comes season to season. Eat what is available to you now. So if your tomatoes are loaded and you love them go ahead and eat them now as much as you want. But later this year switch that with fall squash or something else that is available and ready in your area. Try new exotic fruits or international foods from time to time just don't rely on foods that are shipped in. Is anything I shared surprising for you? Let me know in the comments.