Dr. Jen Kralowetz’s Passion Acupuncture in Chinese Medicine When Dr. Jen Kralowetz was growing up, she was surrounded by a health- conscious environment. Her mother was a nurse, so taking care of herself was an important part of Dr. Jen’s daily life, even from a young age. That interest that grew stronger and stronger the more she learned. Dr. Jen was interested in holistic medicine when she entered college at Boston University. She began studying anthropology, and that was when she took a class on acupuncture in Chinese medicine, which helped focus her interests into a single point. “I was moved by the idea of our bodies being subject to the laws of nature, as opposed to being this separate and unique system. Looking at healing in that different perspective was fascinating.”
Minty Carrot Top Pesto
Inspired by YupItsVegan.com
It wasn’t only education that encouraged Dr. Jen’s interest to grow. She’d been experiencing a few health problems herself, and it was only after she started receiving treatment through acupuncture that she began to feel relief. Dr. Jen remembers her first acupuncture treatment: “It’s such an old tradition — it’s been around for at least 3,000 years, so I knew there was something to it. I was very excited to try it out for myself.” She continues, “One of my favorite things about my acupuncture treatment was that it helped me pay attention to the sensations to my body in a different way. I noticed connections in my body I had never noticed before. An acupuncturist could put a needle in my foot and I’d feel relief in another part of my body. It was fascinating to learn how everything is connected in this way that’s a little different than we understand on the surface.” As she began pursuing this career, Dr. Jen realized that it gives people hope. “It was the biggest thing that struck me about Chinese medicine through my own experience and others,” she says. “So many people live with pain and chronic ailments, and Western medicine only helps manage it. But when people get acupuncture, there’s true relief there. Being someone who can provide that hope where people realize there’s a way out of this — it’s such an amazing gift to share with people.”
Pesto may sound like a fancy ingredient on restaurant menus, but you can make it at home in minutes! This vegan recipe is a great way to use spare carrots tops, and it tastes delicious as a pasta sauce (thinned with water) or a cracker spread.
Ingredients
• 1 large bunch carrot tops • 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint • 4 chives, chopped
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • Salt and pepper to taste • 3 tbsp olive oil
Directions
1. To blanch the carrot tops, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare a large bowl of ice water. Remove the stems from the carrot tops and add the greens to the water. Boil for 3 minutes, then drain the water and dunk the tops in ice water. When they’re cool, wring out the extra liquid.
2. Use a food processor to blend the carrot tops and all other ingredients except olive
oil. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil at a time to the food processor and blend until the pesto is smooth. Taste and serve!
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