A Spoonful of Remedy

05/05/2013 04:13 AM

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Repaired Coffee Pot in Spring

Spring has come! Spring I had ever waiting for has been finally here. Gardens are filled with colorful flowers and the air smells earthy. I love to have a cup of coffee or tea in our small but adorable garden in spring. Before doing so, the broken coffee pot needs to be repaired. My coffee pot lid was broken in three pieces when washing it. There are many techniques and ways to repair

A Spoonful of Remedy

03/31/2013 05:02 AM

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Antique Obon Tray

I finally worked on repairing this antique obon tray purchased at the antique market last year in Kyoto. The antique dealer told me that the tray could be more than 100 years old and made of Japanese cypess. This obon is very large with more than 50 cm in diameter. Cypress in general has its outstanding aroma and is known as a tough wood material with high water resistance. A

A Spoonful of Remedy

03/13/2013 08:16 AM

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Hope

Two years have passed quietly and quickly since the devastating earthquake in Japan. There still have been many visible and invisible issues to be solved, so many helps to be asked and so many warm and cozy places to be given. The media keep reporting that countless trash have been still left as they were for two years. As I hear these reports, my heart aches becaus

A Spoonful of Remedy

03/10/2013 04:18 AM

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Fluffy Cotton Picking

Spring has sprung before I noticed its approach. Flowers start blooming in everyone's garden and the ? air includes the smell of flowers.The flower arrangement for welcoming the new year was dried by now, of course. But I was secretly so excited to do something I would enjoy after admiring this arrangement, which is.....cotton picking!I have never done picking up cottons by myself

A Spoonful of Remedy

01/27/2013 04:18 AM

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Stroll in Detail, Treasure Hunting at Antique Market

The first month of this year started with strolling my monthly (well, not monthly, strictly speaking, but almost monthly) visit to antique market called "Kobo Ichi" at Toji Temple in Kyoto. The winter in Kyoto is very severe, not being snowy-cold-winter but being blowing-chilly-breeze-onto-your-cheek winter. This is just an excuse that I didn't bring my heavy c

A Spoonful of Remedy

01/20/2013 04:02 AM

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Stroll in Detail, Treasure Hunting at Antique Market

The first month of this year started with strolling my monthly (well, not monthly, strictly speaking, but almost monthly) visit to antique market called "Kobo Ichi" at Toji Temple in Kyoto. The winter in Kyoto is very severe, not being snowy-cold-winter but being blowing-chilly-breeze-onto-your-cheek winter. This is just an excuse that I didn't bring my heavy c

A Spoonful of Remedy

01/01/2013 08:35 AM

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Wishing You Happy New Year!

May this new year brings you countless smiles and happiness.On the new year's day in 2013, I appreciate all of the people who I have met in the past years, the people who I will be destined to meet in this new year and the people around me. My appreciation can't be limited toward not only people I have met, things I have loved, happy memories I have saved and unforgettable places I have been

A Spoonful of Remedy

12/30/2012 07:02 AM

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Stroll in November, Treasure from Antique Market

The antique market held in Kyoto every month is my destination for the last fewyears. Going there and strolling among antique dealers have been such a treasure to me. In the end of November, I visited the market held in Toji temple but couldn't take a lot of photos this time as I knew I had to find what I wanted which could be very big and heavy for me to carry it ar

A Spoonful of Remedy

12/22/2012 06:01 AM

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Zenzai: Japanese Sweetened Adzuki Beans Dessert Soup

I admit that I had neglected this space (again) for a while and am trying to find good excuses why I did so. But I can't find any except one convenient and fascinating iPhone application, called "Instagram". I have been using Instagram to update some journal by a single line or two with photos, instead of updating my blog. At the end of this year, I have looked back how I neglected this littl

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/07/2012 05:17 AM

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Remedial Tool for Restoration

I bet most of you have experience that you break favorite coffee mugs, tea cups, dinner plates or any breakable things you adore. As my previous post mentioned, I do give broken ceramics a new life instead of throwing them away. I have promised to reveal how to fix them and what to use. As my blog title declares, I fix ceramics and other (like wooden stuff) using eco-friendly n

A Spoonful of Remedy

09/16/2012 06:08 AM

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Reminiscence Through Blogs

My few years (almost 10 years) of the life up to today were spent in abroad. San Francisco, the Bay Area, California, is a sweet sweet place where I should call my second home. Since starting blogging, I have met wonderful bloggers and found wonderful blogs delivered from the Bay Area. Whenever I visit their blogs where they seem like delivering a fresh air from San Franci

A Spoonful of Remedy

08/31/2012 09:30 AM

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Stroll in August, Noh Exhibition

In the middle of August, my new friend in Kyoto took me to the special exhibition held at the Museum of Kyoto after the class I am taking related to this post.This exhibition was held only for 3 days while Katayama family, one of the most famous and precious families in Noh world, gives their Noh masks an airing in summer, which is called Mushi-boshi. They wear masks when perform No

A Spoonful of Remedy

08/25/2012 07:00 AM

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Savory Summer Eggplants

As a person who always thinks how to survive the real summer with notorious humidity and high temperature, some colorful summer vegetables/fruits are such a therapy to my soul and eyes. One of the most beautiful (color-wise) summer vegetables is an eggplant, to me. Dark purple gorgeously shines under the sun. Straight, sweet and soft inside of an eggplant is just as gentle as the early f

A Spoonful of Remedy

08/16/2012 06:05 AM

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Eco-Friendly Reusables

I adore old stuff, more fancy way to say, antique. I adore things around me that keeps supporting my life. These things come with memories every time I look at or use them. As you can guess, old stuff means things from furniture to kitchen tools. To me, old stuff can't be just old but can be usable anytime even after they broke.I have known some traditional Japanes craft techniques in books, semin

A Spoonful of Remedy

08/05/2012 04:00 AM

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"Letters of Note"

I have been reading Shaun's blog, "Letters of Note". I don't think his blog shouldn't be called a blog because the way he puts the collections of all sorts of letters from all over the world is just brilliant, not as a blog but a book.I appreciate his idea of collecting beautiful letters. Letters he chooses are sometimes touching and leading my tears, inviting my laughs, and making me say, "t

A Spoonful of Remedy

07/28/2012 11:13 PM

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Stroll in June, Atsuta Shrine

It has been quite a while since I last updated the post. I was supposed to up this post before real summer came up but the real one has been here with us! Forgive me to write about the stroll in the end of June. I visited Atsuta Shrine in Aichi, Japan. I hope to catch up with things more up-to-date very soon.It was just after the Golden Week, an official/national-one-week-off bonus holid

A Spoonful of Remedy

05/05/2012 04:31 AM

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Stroll in April, Cherry Blossoms

This is the way I looked up cherry blossoms in the middle to the end of April. May has started already but I wanted to mention about cherry blossoms, the signature spring tree.I was seeing the lane of cherry blossoms every day on the way to work. On a sunny day, they gorgeously bloomed and proudly shined. I thanked my iPhone camera with a high quality function that let me take photo

A Spoonful of Remedy

04/28/2012 05:44 AM

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Versatile Blogger Award-Thank You!

I am very honored and pleased to receive the Versatile Blogger Award from Savvy Sister, one of my dedicated readers, few months back! This was my very first kind of award through blogging and I never dreamed of receiving such a honor from anyone.While surfing on the Internet and exploring attractive blogs, I have happened to know that some bloggers have been so popular and have received inter

A Spoonful of Remedy

04/21/2012 10:56 PM

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Spring is Sour

Spring is now with us. Spring time is such a dreamy season of the year. Flowers bloom and greens look more greener than those in other seasons. But I definitely feel that we have shorter spring and fall as a result of global warming. At least in Japan, we used to have four completely different seasons that make us wear what we are supposed to wear for, say, spring time, and eat what we can get sea

A Spoonful of Remedy

04/08/2012 06:13 AM

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Thank You

I am simply surprised when I opened my computer at this moment. It's been almost 3 weeks since I used my laptop last time to check emails and to update the last blog post.I have been checking my emails with my too-convenient-and-addictive iPhone in my hand.I do apologize that it looked like I abandoned this space for a while. I didn't forget this little space where I write about foo

A Spoonful of Remedy

03/17/2012 12:17 AM

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One Year

My thoughts have been and will be with the people most suffered one year ago.

A Spoonful of Remedy

03/04/2012 03:16 AM

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Pickled Red Radish: For Keeping Warmth, Swelling, Filling Yang Qi, Cough

March, the new month, has started without notice. March in Japan generally is still filled with chilly air but no more snow, at least in my area. The calendar suggests us a real spring would come in the end of February; however, this lower temperature doesn't make us believe so. But the REAL spring will bloom very very soon and I can't wait for it.As for ingredients between winter and spring, ador

A Spoonful of Remedy

02/12/2012 01:55 AM

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Stroll in January, Amanohashidate

Winter is my season but I didn’t expect this much snow these days, up to the middle of my calf. As I said, I like colder climate and snow but what is going on with it? The train has stuck at the station because of snow and commuters were also stuck for long long time. I was one of them and am ended up being little bit down with a cold. Anyway, the recent snowy image makes my brain links to the str

A Spoonful of Remedy

02/05/2012 04:49 AM

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Winterly Fat Green Onions

My grandfather, now 86, has been a well-known farmer in the neighborhood when he was young. He had built his own business after the war and has done farming in his spare time as a hobby. As he gets older, he has less time spent in his field but I do still remember his produce were gorgeously fresh and fabulously delicious.He grew various kinds of produces from daily vegetables to seasonal fruits.

A Spoonful of Remedy

01/27/2012 11:40 PM

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Winter is Salty

I am a winter girl, born in February, love to endlessly watch snow falling and being able to tolerate with cold. In other words, I have believed this way: I like winter with crispy blue sky because I was born in winter. It’s funny but I believe that we associate with the nature and characteristics of the season we are born. Winter gives me energy, somehow. While the breath is white every time we

A Spoonful of Remedy

01/21/2012 11:36 PM

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Belated Happy New Year

The very first post in the new year was not supposed to be late like this. Though I replied to some of you in the comment saying that I was not able to update my blog since the end of last December (due to unknown computer problem or blog system error), this particular problem was distressing. Anyway, Belated Happy New Year to you all! I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday time spending with

A Spoonful of Remedy

12/23/2011 02:28 AM

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Quiet Holiday Spirit with a Handmade Wreath

This year, the holiday season has come quietly with silence, despair, belief, strength, and hope in Japan. Holiday lights are blinking discreetly with consideration for victims and ongoing restless issues of the disaster in March, 2011.Since the evacuees from the most affected areas have still been suffering from the aftermath of the earthquake and the tsunami, the people refrain voluntarily from

A Spoonful of Remedy

12/18/2011 02:23 AM

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Blissful Rosy Apples

Chilly air means that my cheeks turned to be rosy like an apple when I was a kid. I didn’t really like it especially when friends made fun of my rosy cheeks. My memory instantly came back when I saw two kids in the park, getting on a swing and playing with fallen leaves. Although I was uncomfortable with being labeled as a girl with rosy apple cheeks, I never hate apples. There must be some kind o

A Spoonful of Remedy

12/11/2011 08:29 AM

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Stroll in December, Leftover Fall Foliage in Kyoto

The recent weeks have been a bit hectic like a merry-go-round. I thought I needed to take a break. To me, when mentioning about a break or day trip, a destination could be more than likely any part of Kyoto which is closer than going to Tokyo where I like but don't think as a destination to relax.When strolled in November under the fall foliage in the neighborhood, I discovered plentiful of colorf

A Spoonful of Remedy

12/03/2011 07:53 PM

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Get Flexible Oats Every Day

I remember so well that my vegetarian grandmother used to add oats and various kinds of millets into a rice cooker. The cooked rice looked yellowish but was so delicious with an earthy flavor. I never hated texture of oats and a mild smell of creaminess. Oats have been close to me in terms of selecting ingredients in my life; however, before residing in the U.S., I guess I used oats only for meals

A Spoonful of Remedy

11/28/2011 09:30 PM

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Vegetables & Oats Porridge with Egg: For Soothing Mind, Keeping Warmth, Cough, Poor Circulation, Filling Yang Qi (Positive Energy)

Thoughts and feeling sometimes get tangled up like threads and that makes me feel like I never get out a spiral. Yesterday was one of those days. Although I like chilly weather that completely wakes me up and my mind becomes sharp enough to dream about everything pops up in my mind, it didn’t happen to me yesterday. I just felt that I have to be away from this melancholic feeling. Every time gloo

A Spoonful of Remedy

11/23/2011 01:56 AM

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Persimmons, the Orange Beauty

November carries bunch of nature’s harvest. Munching plentiful fall color ingredients is the best thing to do. While Japan doesn't have Thanksgiving traditions, I still love it, almost one of my favorite events of the year as Thanksgiving involves with food and everything comes with food.Thanksgiving season is just around the corner. These orange-colored beautiful persimmons reminded me of t

A Spoonful of Remedy

11/19/2011 03:46 AM

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Stroll in November, Fall Foliage

Without notice, November has half passed. The temperature gets dropped down yesterday and the air makes us feel the real fall has come. Before my most favorite season of the year completely passes by, I explore to find the beauty of fall foliage in my neighborhood.Fall is a relief, especially after notoriously famous humid summer in Japan. I long for fall. My last month's visit to Kyoto found that

A Spoonful of Remedy

11/15/2011 07:58 AM

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Kuri-Kinton, Chestnut Delicacy Limited in Fall

I have noticed that there are wild chestnuts falling from the trees in the park, even in the urban area. The chestnuts and golden leaves make a beautiful carpet. Though I assume these chestnuts in the park are not edible, just looking at them reminds me of the particular delicacy in this season of the year, called “kuri-kinton.”Kuri-kinton, the Chestnut delicacy, I believe, is the most popular des

A Spoonful of Remedy

11/06/2011 02:14 AM

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Daigaku-Imo, Glazed Sweet Potatoes: For Constipation, Loss of Appetite, Filling Yang Qi (Positive Energy)

The last two posts talk about sweet potatoes (here and there), and today’s post is, as a matter of fact, dedicated to friendly purple sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes can be transformed into savory or sweet. This recipe of daigaku-imo is very popular among all generation including my foreign friends. Daigaku-imo is usually deep-fried and coated sweet potatoes with sugar, in other words, glazed sweet

A Spoonful of Remedy

11/01/2011 03:13 AM

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Flourless Sweet Potato Cake: For Swelling, Loss of Appetite, Filling Yang Qi (Positive Energy)

My blanket from the closet was pulled out and layered with my soft and light futon. Fall jackets, medium-light sweaters, boots, and scarves are ready for colder temperature. But the weather seems stable here lately, although the air is chilly in the morning and the evening. Fall and winter are my favorite seasons and my heart waits. Well, I don’t need all these things, yet. While waiting for

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/27/2011 01:09 AM

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Friendly Purple Sweet Potatoes

I remembered that steamed sweet potatoes were our snack as a kid. My vegetarian grandmother who was very careful about what to feed to her grandchildren used to steam them right before we came back from school. Sweet potatoes that are steamed with a sprinkle of little salt on the skin enhance sweetness and are divine. You can just taste what a sweet potato really is. However, as I get gr

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/25/2011 08:29 AM

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Aromatic Shiso Leaves

Trees changes colors from green to reddish yellow in fall. I love that the mixed color makes leaves golden. Street trees are decorated beautifully with fall colors; on the other hand, spicy green leaves are rare at markets in fall.Shiso leaves can be one of seasonal green leafy vegetables in fall. Shiso leaves are in season from August to the end of October. Very short life. Aromatic shiso that is

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/25/2011 08:25 AM

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Fall is Spicy

The air gets calmer. The sky is very high. The clouds show different shapes. The atmosphere is spicy. Yes, fall has finally come.I felt that summer this year was longer than I expected. It maybe because of the climate changes all over the world or I was just waiting for fall so long which made me felt like fall was out of reach for a long time.As for food, fall is known as the season of sufficient

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/21/2011 09:05 AM

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Stroll in October, Rainy Kyoto

One fine day in the beginning of October turned out to be a rainy day on the way to Kyoto. On that day, I had some errands to do in one part of Kyoto, near the Kyoto Station. The errands finished quick and I decided to stroll for few hours until my train comes. Toji Temple was my destination this time. Since I was already near the station for my errands and didn’t have enough time to go up to th

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/21/2011 01:11 AM

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Stroll in July, Kyoto

I know this blog is supposed to be the food blog; however, as much as I do love food, my heart goes for travel. Well, I guess I want to call it a stroll. Let's give the regular blog a break. While being away from home, you would see places and things, meet new people, and ultimately, encounter great food (sometimes besides medicinal food). Somewhere where you have never been to or have been t

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/11/2011 10:16 PM

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Juicy Pears in Golden Yellow

The color of fall vegetables and fruits reflect golden leaves as if they are sisters. In these days, most of fresh vegetables and fruits can be available and seen in any season as they are grown in greenhouses. But I think pears are one of few ingredients that have limited availability at markets. This means that pears can make us realize that they are completely in season when we see them at mark

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/11/2011 10:16 PM

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Warm Hugs with Love: "Handmade Scarves for Japan Project"

The air is crispy in fall. I welcome this season with my greatest appreciation as if I hug every moment in fall. And it’s been over 6 months since the earthquake hit in the northern part of Japan. It was the beginning of spring and fall has been here by now.Reminiscence is one of the things I would do in this season. Spicy and sentimental are the words for fall to me. Every single thing from happi

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/11/2011 10:13 PM

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Five Functions & Five Tastes-Yakuzen/Medicinal Food

If you kindly visit here, have you noticed that each post includes “function” and “taste” at the end of each post? I guess most of you who have noticed these terms would wonder what these mean. Here are what they represent.As the list of five elements in the Go-Gyo List, otherwise known as yakuzen/medicinal food theory suggests, every single thing (food, season, emotion, organ, function, etc) exis

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/03/2011 11:51 PM

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Bitter Gourd & Eggplant Nimono: For Strong Heart & Stomach, Remove the Body Heat, Cleanse Stomach & Blood

Some food, some smell, some music, some view, someone, some thing. These are easily connected to our memories. As for me, some food frequently does it. When I taste it, I am instantly drawn into the past and start reminiscing every moment of it.This dish, bitter gourd & eggplant nimono, reminds me of my grandmother. She used to make this dish almost every other day in summer. As a kid, I was h

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/03/2011 11:48 PM

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Bitter, Bitterness, Bitter Gourds

According to the yakuzen/medicinal food theory, taking bitterness is encouraged in summer, not from medicine but from anything edible that can work for our health and beauty as an adjuster to maintain our balance.Which ingredients do you think of when you are asked to picture any bitter ingredients? I would think of kale, mulukhiya (Jew’s mallow), green peppers, and bitter gourds. Bitter gourds? Y

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/03/2011 11:46 PM

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Summerly Sour Umeboshi (Pickled Plums)

Have you ever experienced to taste something invisible without actually tasting it? Well, I have with something sour and acidy, like lemons, grapefruits, oranges... In most cases, these citrus fruits make me feel like I actually taste them even when I am just thinking about them. When I think or imagine of, let's say, lemons, the saliva gradually spreads in the mouth. I guess the eyes send th

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/03/2011 11:45 PM

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Edamame, the King of Beans

What do you associate with summer? Me? Shaved ice, gelato, ocean, jet contrail, summer vacation, iced herbal tea, twinkling stars, and beer. Although I am not a big fan of the taste of beers and am a light drinker (in other words, I don't think I can retain good amount of alcohol in my body system), summer reminds me of a cold beer.Of course, you would grab a bite to eat with some beer (if y

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/03/2011 11:44 PM

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Summer is Bitter

Summer has come! Any exciting plans? I have been busy with doing multiple things at the same time which I tend to be. Try new recipes, go for shopping on sale, stroll neighborhood, do work, read, take photos, etc. Well, in summer, how do you feel? Do you find that your body react differently towards a hot weather and high temperature? As for me, before practicing medicinal food living, I used to f

A Spoonful of Remedy

10/03/2011 11:43 PM

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Harmonize with Seasons

My country has full four seasons in a year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Some of your countries might have longer winter and shorter spring, or vice versa.In terms of seasons, medicinal food living suggests, "as we are the part of nature, we should harmonize with seasonal changes and appreciate its grateful harvest in season." This idea is the most basic in medicial food living.Seasonal food

	A Spoonful of Remedy
	Yakuzen/Medicinal Food Adviser & Gerontologist. Not only eating but cherishing anything edible. Think, eat, and be healthy.

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