Pullman Community Update
City of Pullman Pullman Chamber of Commerce Pullman Regional Hospital Pullman School District Washington State University Vol. 23 No. 1 • January 2017
Pullman Regional Hospital
Liz Lee—Chinese Herbs
Medicinal Chinese herbs have been used for many centuries in Asia to help support and maintain good health, as well as heal from illness and disease. Many of you are already consuming these medicinal herbs, such as ginger, cinnamon and mint, in culinary context, perhaps not realizing that they are used for purposes other than to boost flavor in of cinnamon can damage the liver and should not be used by those with your stir-fry, pie or tea. inflammatory liver conditions. Fresh ginger root, a highly spicy Finally, mint is a cooling herb and warm rhizome, benefits digestion used to release the heat in the body. and neutralizes food poison. It is no In Chinese medicine, mint not only wonder that a side of pickled ginger helps with fever, headache and cough, usually accompanies sushi and other raw fish dishes in Japanese restaurants. but also clears the eyes and benefits the throat. It can also vent rashes due Many pregnant women and people to its ability to disperse heat in the going through chemotherapy find exterior. Nursing moms, however, ginger to be soothing for nausea should be cautious when using mint and vomiting. Ginger also ventilates as it can lead to insufficient lactation. the lungs, helps stop coughing and warms circulation to the limbs. As As Americans we spend billions our weather turn colder (more yin) in of dollars a year on herbs and winter, your body may appreciate the supplement with purported claims warming (yang) nature of this herb. to help us feel better. Unfortunately You may enjoy using ginger in your these herbs, like drugs, are not onecooking by adding to soups or stirsize-fits-all. Traditionally, Chinese fries. You can also benefit from it in herbs were rarely used on its own, the tea form, as long as it is not too but used in combination of other warm for your constitution. herbs or cooked with food to create a Cinnamon, also a warming herb, is said to invigorate circulation and harmonize the energy of the upper and lower body, especially when the upper body is warm but the lower body is cold. This herb is sometimes used for infertility when the womb is thought to be cold or for endometriosis when lack of circulation in the womb needs to be addressed. Because of its ability to increase circulation and warm the body, which helps with flow of qi(energy) and blood, cinnamon may also be useful with the type of arthritis which benefits from application of heat. Large amounts
balanced presentation which reduces undesirable side effects.
For more information on how to incorporate Chinese herbs into your diet or your medicine cabinet, please come to my talk where I will talk in more detail about some of the more commonly used Chinese herbs, their benefits and contraindications. Friday, January 27, noon to 1pm at Pullman Regional Hospital. Liz Lee is an East Asian Medicine Practitioner, licensed to practice acupuncture and Chinese herbs. She also teaches Qigong through Pullman Parks and Rec.
Highfill named Director of Pullman Regional Hospital’s Center for Learning & Innovation Becky Highfill was recently named the Director of the Center for Learning & Innovation at Pullman Regional Hospital. Highfill has been working as the Grants Manager at the Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation since 2013. Highfill will direct the activities of the Center for Learning & Innovation while continuing to administer the hospital’s grant program. The Center for Learning & Innovation was created to explore alternative models of care delivery, specifically to improve the patient experience, lower costs, and improve population health. In this new role, Highfill will lead the development and execution of Pullman Regional Hospital’s strategic plan to integrate innovation with healthcare delivery. The Center for Learning & Innovation will also coordinate learning and leadership activities, such as coaching, personality and communications assessments, the role of Generosity in health and wellbeing, and effective leadership. Highfill will work with Chief Medical & Innovation Officer Dr. Gerald Early, hospital leaders and physician practices to address identified health needs of populations in the region through delivery models, such as care coordination, telemedicine, and ongoing development of an electronic medical record. Highfill said partnering with entities, such as the Whitman County Health Network and Washington State University, will be critical in accomplishing a comprehensive approach to achieving community health objectives and doing it in an innovative manner. “Pullman Regional Hospital has taken an innovative approach to healthcare for years. The Center for Learning & Innovation is a focused
effort to take innovative healthcare to a whole new level,” said Highfill. “I am honored to support these efforts, expand partnerships, and help implement a vision to provide even better healthcare for our region.” For more information on the Center for Learning & Innovation go to www. pullmanregional.org.
In This Issue… Pullman Regional Hospital................... 1-3 Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse.5 Gladish Community & Cultural Center.. 6 Spokane Falls Community Colleges...... 7 Washington State University................ 9 Pullman School District........................ 10-11 Community Calendar........................... 12 Whitman County Humane Society....... 13 Rural Resources.................................... 13 Palouse Discovery Science Center......... 15 Pullman Chamber of Commerce........... 16-17 City of Pullman..................................... 20-21 Community Action Center.................... 22
ccooperpullman@gmail.com