[Rafflesia]

Thank Bruce for the recommendation. That will be the next book I buy. I am almost finished with the Macrobiotc Way (my second amcro book in less than a week), and recently ordered Kristina Turner's cook book.

I tied ayurvedic cooking for a while, which has similar vegetarian principles, but I am not so sure about the balancing the dosha thing. Not that I doubt experiecned practioners so much, but can get so many differnt assessments for my dosha depending on the day and my mood. Deepak Chopra's "Perfect Health" was the first book I read about alternative health. I was hoping to do a ceritification program for yoga until my eye issues wiped out my savings.

I like the principles of macrobiotics, which seem easier to comprehend, is an extension of my searhc for holistic remdies. I have a lot of emotional junk going on right now, and have noticed that straying from a vegetarian life style (I didn't want to do, but it's hard not to offend people who aren't use to vegetarians let alone vegan life styles) has made it more difficult for me to rein in the feelings to make better decisions or to keep things in perspective at times.

I have heard much about macrobiotics ability to heal, but I always thought of it more in terms of cancer, diabetes, or arthritis, and never related it to my needs. Also, why I purchased the Macrobiotic Way rather than Kushi's healing book. After I made that purchasing decision, I looked at the table of contents, and I was surprised at the pages devoted to eyes.

Right now I am living in Asheboro, NC. The closest "city" is Greensboro, but having previously lived in London (mostly for grad schoool but a little for work) and Washington DC, I am not finding many dietary resources in Greensboro. Although I did just locate a grocery store that sells some orangic produce; like daikon. I had to do a google image search to see what I was looking for!!! I woud love to be in the Boston area, because of the yoga schools and the macrobiotic information. I did my undergrad in Western MA (South Hadley). I wish I knew about macrobiotics then, when I closer to the Kushi Institute. Now, I can't imagine myself ever being able to afford classes there. I have heard that there was a burgeoning community in Asheville, NC, but have not located any sort of macrobiotic institute there.

Salt has not been too much of an issue for me. I run middle distance and use to practice Bikram yoga regularly (no studio here) so I had a phobia about being dehydrated. I use organic seassalt, when the need arose. Garlic, on the other hand is a bit more of a weekness for me. In general though, when I meant herbs, I thought more in the line of drinking herbal teas, than adding herbs to food. Dandleion, burdock, licorice, oregon grape, marshmallow root, echinacea, ginger, peppermint, nettles, red cover are the main ones that Vukovic recommends, depending on the system or ailment.