Important Pre-Consultation Information
A Letter from Michael Rossoff, L.Ac.
Dear Friend,
To get the most out of your consultation you need a basic knowledge of macrobiotic food choices, what is included and what is not included. Please read something on macrobiotics before your appointment. You will need a cookbook in order to put your consultation recommendations into practice. If you have already stocked your kitchen with some basic macrobiotic foods and have begun using them as well, this is to your advantage, but not required. Macrobiotic foods include grains, vegetables, beans and bean products, fish, small amounts of sea vegetables, fruits and natural sweeteners. There are also ingredients such as miso and umeboshi which provide both healthful benefits and delicious seasoning. There is ample variety within each category. On a “standard” macrobiotic diet, the following foods are excluded; dairy products, eggs, red meats and poultry, the nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, bell peppers, etc.), foods that are highly processed or contain chemical additives and all foods with refined sugar. Cooking with a gas stove is best; an electric stove is second best and a microwave is discouraged. There are well-founded reasons why the standard groups and range of macrobiotic foods are good for the human body. Many of these reasons pertain to subtle qualities of the foods and their digestibility. In a consultation specific food recommendations and useful special suggestions are targeted for your personal needs, along with key broad food-related recommendations. Please read about a counseling session (select Personal Counseling on the Macrobiotics tab) for more information on the insights and feedback provided in a session. Below are some suggestions for initial reading and studying. These books are available at some natural health food stores and by mail order. Remember that personal counseling and classes—cooking classes, lectures and seminars— will put more macrobiotic information into a contemporary and “livable” context. Macrobiotics can be an exciting and rewarding adventure. We look forward to seeing you. Suggestions for Beginning Reading
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by Verne Varona
by Simon Brown
by Michio Kushi
by Aveline Kushi
by Kristina Turner (not first book for serious illness) |
Helpful Reminder — To Do — Before the Consultation
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• Bring the Personal History Form, or
Follow Up Visit Form with you to your appointment. Complete your part before you arrive. These forms are HERE on this website. • If you have results from recent medical tests you may want to bring these also. I like to have copies of recent blood tests, or a summary of medical examination and diagnosis, if available and when relevant. • Check your directions in advance. Please make sure you are clear on the location. If you have questions call us before the day of your appointment. • If you need to reschedule your appointment, please call us at least two days in advance for Asheville appointments, eight days for DC area clients. We request that you be committed to your appointment date, otherwise there is a cancellation fee. • Please be on time. Please allow enough time in your personal schedule for your counseling session. I do my best to schedule appointments so that I am ready to see you at the scheduled time. Due to needs of other clients, I sometimes run 5 to 15 minutes late. Please be patient and relax. |
• When you arrive for your appointment, make yourself comfortable in the waiting room or lobby. I will come out to get you when I am ready to start your session.
• You are welcome and encouraged to bring a family member or a friend to listen with you and perhaps help by taking notes. Do not bring more than two people with you without prior permission. Do not bring children unless this has been arranged with our office in advance. • You may tape record your session. Bring Smart Phone, or your own tape recorder and tapes and have them completely ready to use when you arrive. • If you have specific questions that are not addressed on the forms, write them on a separate sheet of paper and give to me at the beginning of the session. • Both initial and follow-up consultations are charged according to a time frame. If your session runs excessively over the normal time frame, there can be some additional charge. • Payment is expected at the time of your appointment, with any of the following methods: personal checks, cash, Visa / MasterCard and PayPal. |