Wisdom of Healing

Stinging Nettles, Urtica dioica, is considered a noxious weed in many circles, but when it comes to good health, Nettles is an astonishing herbal remedy and a nutritional powerhouse! Native species may be found throughout much of the globe, and the earliest recorded use of this nourishing plant dates back some five thousand years.

Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) considered Nettles a cure-all and used it for dozens of illnesses, In the second century, Galen, the Greek physician, recommended Nettles as “a diuretic and laxative, for dog bites, gangrenous wounds, swellings, nose bleeding, excessive menstruation, spleen-related illness, pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, tinea, and mouth sores.”

Well-known for the pain it can inflict if you accidentally walk or fall into it, Nettles can cause the skin to sting and swell, causing a burning sensation that may last for minutes, hours, and sometimes for days. This is caused by constituents found in the tiny hairs that cover the leaves of the plant called formic acid, histamine and acetylcholine; formic acid is the same compound found in a bee sting. If you get ‘stung’ by Nettles, immediately apply the crumpled leaves of burdock, yellow dock, rosemary, mint or sage, or try rubbing with clay-rich mud to reduce the sting.

Some people actually use this burning sensation for the relief of chronic pain, especially with rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis. Flogging, or whipping oneself with the aerial parts of the plant, is referred to as urtificatiion, and has been practiced since ancient times for arthritic joints, coma, typhus, paralysis, lethargy, circulatory problems and muscle spasms.

Nettles are considered to be the most nutritious land plant on Earth. They’re loaded with the vitamins C, A and B complex, and are very rich Continue Reading »

Red clover, a common perennial herb that grows wild in meadows through much of the world, is in the legume family, just as beans, peas and peanuts are. Its Latin name, Trifolium pretense, means “three leaves, found in the meadow”. Red clover is well-known by organic farmers as a cover crop, ideal for fixing nitrogen to increase soil fertility. Some of its other common names are purple clover, cow clover, meadow clover and wild clover.

There are hundreds of species, and many are grown for feeding livestock, but red clover is believed to be of great medicinal value. The flowering tops, on the one day when they are at the peak of perfection, are harvested for use in tinctures, teas, capsules and body care products. Because red clover, once dried, easily loses its medicinal value, it is important to choose products carefully so that we may enjoy their numerous benefits.

Red clover is considered to be a powerful alterative, meaning that it’s a remedy that restores good health. Well known for its ability to cleanse and purify the blood, red clover is believed to help prevent some of the plaque deposits that can lead to heart attacks or stroke, improving circulation and overall cardiovascular health.

Assisting the liver with the detoxification process, red clover has been reputed as a safe and useful remedy for a variety of health complaints associated with the liver or ‘dirty blood’. Over the last several centuries, one of red clover’s primary uses has been for dermal inflammations, including childhood and adult eczema, psoriasis, dandruff and various rashes. Red clover would often be added to the tea pot for daily consumption and detoxification when symptoms arose. Ointments or salves containing red clover would be applied topically to the affected area. More recently, red clover has been useful for teen, cystic or hormonally-activated acne.

Red clover is considered to be an excellent antispasmodic, meaning that it helps to relieve mild cramping or muscle spasm and it works as an expectorant, helping clear lungs of phlegm and toxins. Traditional health practitioners have used it as part of a program to calm bronchial spasms and coughs associated with the common cold, as well as some serious respiratory problems, including whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia.

Red clover is high in numerous nutrients, including the B vitamins, niacin (B3) and thiamine (B1); vitamin C; and several minerals, including calcium, chromium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Nutritionally, red clover is most well known as a very rich source of isoflavones, a group of compounds found in many plants. These phyto-chemicals, also found in soy, look similar to the female hormone estrogen.

Red clover is often used in herbal formulations to help girls and young women with cramping, moodiness and breast tenderness associated with PMS. Red clover has become popular for helping women with menopause and peri-menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. It is used by women of all ages to help protect the breasts and improve hormonal health.

There is a lot of confusion in the media and on health websites about how phyto-estrogens, such as isoflavones, work. When plant-based chemical compounds are naturally occurring in an herb such as red clover, these hormone-balancing little gems simply fill some of the estrogen receptors within the body. When isoflavones have been chemically isolated away from the complexity of the plant, they lose the checks and balances of the whole, natural, full-spectrum herb. They can then act more like hormone-replacement medications, providing potential results but with greater possibility for side-effects. Red clover in its whole form such as herbal tea or tincture has not been associated with any side effects.

Red clover has been used for cysts, cancerous tumors, and other growths in Europe, Asia and the Americas for centuries. Early test tube research shows that it may stop cancer cell growth or kill cancer cells altogether. Human research shows promising evidence that red clover interferes with the progression of endometrial cancer (the lining of the uterus) and may block enzymes believed to contribute to prostate cancer in men. Another study showed that red clover also may slow the development of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

Red clover has been a key ingredient in traditional remedies used by Ojibway and other native tribal healers. It has been an important part of several detoxifying herbal preparations in the past hundred years, as well. Rene Caisse, a nurse in the 1920’s in Canada, opened a cancer clinic using a formulation containing red clover. A portion of her formula is now marketed as Essiac, and for decades these herbs have been used to help people and their pets  with various types and stages of cancer and other blood disorders.

Also in the early 1900’s, the Hoxsey formula was used in 17 cancer clinics throughout Texas and the US. An excellent book called “When Healing Becomes a Crime” was written by Kenny Ausubel about Harry Hoxsey and his experiences with herbal and alternative cancer protocols.

The Eclectic doctors in the 1800’s used red clover often. A fomentation (hot, moist herbal compress), salve, liniment, infused oil, or poultice made with red clover and other cleansing herbs was applied topically to help reduce growths.

You’ll find several excellent red clover products available in the Wellness department and the tea aisle of your local co-op or health food store. Look for Herb Pharm’s tincture of red clover, as well as their wonderful detoxification formula, Red Clover – Stillingia Compound, for a daily or occassional blood purifying effect. And at least twice a year, we should all participate in a more therapeutic cleansing program, which might include one of my other favorite red clover products, such as:

• the detoxification formula called Flor-Essence Herbal Tea Blend, which is based on the original Ojibway formula passed along to Rene Caisse, offered in liquid or dry herb tea,

• Eclectic Institute’s Blood Support, which combines freeze-dried burdock with red clover, yellow dock, nettles and dandelion root to support liver and blood detoxification,

• Eclectic Institute also has a straight-up freeze-dried red clover. I prefer the combinations above, but this is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a high quality red clover capsule.

Happy cleansing on your path to wellness.

Ginger, Zingiber Officinale, originally from Asia, is well known throughout the world and has been consumed for thousands of years as a food, culinary spice and medicinal herb. The rhizome, or horizontal and branching root, is the part used. The pale brown skin should appear thin and smooth for maximum flavor and benefits. The flesh should be juicy and may be yellow, off-white or pale red.

Ginger is used in a variety of dishes and varies in flavor depending on whether it is cooked a long while or added at the end of preparation. Vegetable or meat marinades may be prepared with fresh or dried ginger to help tenderize and increase digestibility of whatever is marinated. Ginger is well known to help protect us from many food-borne pathogens, including those found in several food scares in recent years, E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella.

Ginger is believed to possess a wide variety of beneficial constituents to improve overall health. It is considered:

• antibacterial (selectively),
• antifungal,
• anti-ulcer,
• pain relieving,
• anti-tumor,
• anti-inflammatory
• and it supports cardiovascular health.

Ginger tea or capsules are often consumed with meals to improve digestion and help relieve digestive distress. New Chapter makes my two favorite products for digestive distressthe overeating associated with the holiday season, pot-luck dinners and party foods. Ginger Honey Tonic (also sometimes called Ginger Wonder Syrup or Digestion Ginger Honey Tonic) is a delicious syrup and Gingerforce is a n easy-to-swallow little capsule, easy to always have on hand for when it’s needed. And ginger in nearly any form has been used for centuries for headaches and hangovers, too.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), ginger is called for in hundreds of conditions from stomachache, diarrhea and flatulence to migraines, arthritis pain and upper respiratory infections. More than half of all TCM patent prescription formulas contain ginger. This is likely due to activities it is believed to possess, including protection of the digestive tract, increasing the efficacy and helping mediate any possible ill effects from other herbs or medicinal ingredients.

There is a growing body of research crediting ginger with helping with the symptoms of motion sickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy-induced nausea. Relief was found by the majority of participants in most of these studies, regardless of circumstances. Ginger is one the highest known sources of proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes, approximately 180 times higher than papaya.

I have used ginger for decades for issues of chronic pain and inflammation from Rheumatoid arthritis, and when I was hit by a car as a pedestrian in a parking lot a few years ago. I found that taking small amounts of a good organic ginger product several times throughout the day greatly reduced my head, neck and back pain, and I was able to get a better night’s sleep.

Another important time that ginger helped my family was when my youngest daughter was eight years old. She had developed acid reflux, causing her immediate gas and bloating after meals or snacks. These attacks were so severe, they sometimes led to vomiting. She didn’t want to worry us, so she kept this to herself for weeks. When we finally realized what she was going through, we immediately took her to the doctor and discovered she had actually developed an ulcer. After the tests, we stopped by our local co-op to purchase my favorite ginger product, New Chapter’s Ginger Honey Tonic, along with a bottle of Gerolsteiner naturally carbonated mineral water.

As soon as we got home, I mixed up a glass of ‘homemade ginger ale’ by combining the mineral water and a teaspoon of ginger syrup. She was apprehensive at first; after all, virtually everything she’d eaten for weeks had upset her stomach. As she took a sip, a smile appeared. “Could it be helping me already?” she asked. “My stomach already feels better, calmer. And this is delicious,” she declared and then emptied the glass.

For the next six months, my daughter sipped the homemade ginger ale or a warm ginger tea made with a teaspoon of Ginger Honey Tonic five times a day, usually about a half hour before her meals and snacks. She also consumed two dishes of unsweetened whole milk yogurt most days, prepared in a variety of ways. She reported to us frequently about how much better her tummy felt and she didn’t experience any more bouts of indigestion.

There are a number of different ways to make a great cup of ginger tea. You can slice the fresh root and simmer or steep for a few minutes. You may use the powdered dried root (also used in ginger tea bags) or the Ginger Honey Tonic. My favorite way, so as to retain the enzymes and other heat sensitive compounds, is to finely grate fresh organic ginger root and squeeze the juice into warm (not hot) water. Ginger tea can be drunk in the evening to help with nighttime indigestion, circulatory concerns or to increase nighttime comfort by helping to release aches, pains and tenderness during sleep.

Contraindications reported include avoidance of use with all concentrated ginger products with gall bladder disease or complaints; and pregnant women should moderate consumption of powdered dried ginger.

You’ll find a wide variety of organic ginger throughout your local co-op or health food store. Be sure to always choose organic ginger if you’re looking for health and wellness benefits, as non-organic ginger is grown with numerous potentially toxic chemicals. Look for fresh ginger in the produce section, dried or candied in the bulk section, in tea bags, chocolates, ginger snap cookies, or pickled in the grocery aisles. And if you’re looking for a great ginger supplement, you’ll find a wide selection in the Wellness section of the store. Ask the knowledgeable sales staff or write to me if you have any questions.

For more information on ginger’s research, uses and numerous health benefits, pick up a copy of the wonderful book, Ginger: Common Spice & Wonder Drug by Paul Schulick.

I have to say, I was very impressed and proud of American parents this morning when I heard on the radio that as many as 2/3 of parents were vowing to NOT allow their children to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine. I hope that pregnant women will join this boycott.

Vaccines are potentially dangerous in numerous ways, due to the quantities of vaccines given and chemical and heavy metal additives used in production and for preserving them. Both of my daughters had severe reactions to being vaccinated more than 20 years ago, causing years of difficulties for both children and parents, and there are so many more vaccines given to our babies and children today. Although there are many reasons for the sharp increases in autism in children, and Alzheimer’s and other dementia in elders, I firmly believe that immunizations, including annual flu shots, (which often contain mercury and other harmful chemicals and heavy metals).

I want to let people of all ages know how they may safely strengthen their immune health so as to help prevent illness, and recover quickly if sickness occurs. These are simple, often inexpensive solutions that are considered safe for people of all ages, unless otherwise noted in the text. If you prefer to have more personalized information, please consider a Wellness Consultation or the Six Months to Wellness Program. I’d be happy to support your wellness education in any way I am able.

First, and possibly most importantly, eating whole milk plain organic yogurt (or kefir) every day may be your best line of defense. Eating whole milk plain organic yogurt is shown in research to be one of the most powerful selective antimicrobials that we have on Earth. Astonishing, right? What this means is that it can help our bodies to fight the bad guys and support our good colonies of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, assisting digestion, immune health, energy levels and a cheerful mood.

Notice I said ‘whole milk’, ‘organic’ and ‘plain’. This is because low fat and fat-free yogurt are no longer whole foods; they’ve had all that good fat removed, and most of the powerful immune boosting nutrients are bound to the fat. That good fat (the cream on the top) also supports good brain, skin, mood, heart and overall health.

I also stipulated that the yogurt should be ‘organic’. This is vital for immune health, as we want to avoid the hormones and antibiotics that are believed to compromise good immune system health. Non-organic yogurt, usually loaded with food additive chemicals, numerous forms of sugar, and ‘dead’ beneficial bacteria, should really be referred to as pudding, not yogurt. And ‘plain’ is implying ‘unsweetened’, as sweeteners also compromise the immune system.

Now, I often hear people say that that they don’t like plain yogurt, that it’s too sour or boring. For the numerous health benefits, we want to taste that sour flavor, but we need not always eat yogurt alone, although you’ll want to avoid fruits and other sweeteners. You may try mixing in some organic cinnamon, a thinly sliced cucumber, or finely chopped red pepper. These are all ways my daughters and I have loved eating plain yogurt over the years. I’ve found even finicky toddlers love these three simple recipes. Try them daily to strengthen your immune health or create your own sweetener-free yogurt snacks.

In my opinion, the most amazing immune strengthening herb is Elderberry. If you haven’t read my recent article about the benefits of Elderberry yet, please do so. Elderberry has been revered throughout much of Europe and with many Native American tribes for centuries for strengthening the immune system, providing the body with the ability to stay healthier, fighting illness and disease. The traditional use of Elderberry for prevention of cold and flu was to consume a small amount beginning just before the flu season begins and each morning and night until spring arrives.

Unlike many herbal immune remedies, Elderberry has been successfully used for prevention, the onset of symptoms and when cold and flu symptoms are full-blown. Traditionally, people experiencing illness would increase the frequency of taking Elderberry tincture, elixir or syrup from between four times a day to as often as every hour, and sometimes as often as every fifteen or twenty minutes. Since virus germs and bad bacteria can multiply every fifteen or twenty minutes, this may help get their numbers down quite quickly.

Raw local honey is another wonderful way to lift the immune system. The traditional use of raw local honey to prevent illness has a rich history going back thousands of years. Very small amounts, usually ¼ to ½ teaspoon each morning and night is believed to help the body fight potential pathogens, improve vitality and increase overall health. One of my favorite ways to use raw local honey is to mix it in a glass of slightly warm water with a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice. Larger amounts of honey, because of the sweetness, may create an opposite effect, so please be sure not to overdo it.

Honey should NOT be given to babies less than one year old. All others, especially folks who suffer with allergies, will likely find a great improvement in immune health with the use of raw honey daily.

Eating more vegetables is well known to improve the immune system’s ability to fight illness, including the flu viruses. Include a wide variety of colorful cooked and raw vegetables in all three of your daily meals, and reach for a snack that includes vegetables when you need a between meal pick-me-up. Please don’t count potatoes as one of your vegetables, however. Their high starch content makes them an immune weakening food.

And you may want to reduce or eliminate the following foods (or food-like substances) to support your immune system:
sugar- white sugar, processed honey, etc.
flour (even whole wheat, soy, rice, and other whole grain flour). This includes most bread, pasta, pastry, rolled and instant oats and packaged cereals.
fried foods are quite harmful to our immune health
junk food
food additive chemicals
margarine, shortening and most vegetable oils, especially soy and canola
fruit juices- drink water or herbal teas instead.
fruits- people are often surprised by this. An apple each day, or an occasional piece of fruit is not bad for us, but the amount of fruit that most Americans eat is potentially damaging to our immune health.

To your health!

Healing: Becoming whole and sound; a return to health.
thefreedictionary.com

I believe that one can truly heal oneself. Each of us possesses an internal healer, that part of ourselves that always guides us to safety, wellness and to make wise choices that support our good health, and rejuvenation from illness and injury. We may call upon others to help us with this process, to guide us as we learn our options and help us make choices that lead to wellness and optimal health. But someone else cannot heal me. Only I can.

This instinctive healer within each of us has the ability to restore health from virtually any disease or condition, regardless of the degree or magnitude, whether the current medical system says there is a cure or not. All we need to do is call upon this part of ourselves, listen to its wisdom, the lessons it bestows and follow its instruction. We hear of self-healing miracles all the time; people who have beaten the odds and come back from the brink of death, either from injury or illness. When you listen to these people describe how they’ve done it, they report a voice or internal wisdom guiding them.

“Just breathe. Pull the air in, deeper. Let it out. Do it again, and again. You’ll be all right,” said a voice to a young man after a near-fatal car crash. The doctors had no idea how he was able to breathe on his own, but much later, he told them of the voice he heard clearly in his ear giving him instructions.

If we still have breath within us, I believe we still have the opportunity to develop the capacity to heal. A client a few years ago came to me in the late stages of Parkinson’s disease. His adoring wife guided him into my classroom for the first time and I saw how far his health had deteriorated, even I had doubts about his ability to heal.

For his benefit I provided that 3-part cleanse series with a special emphasis on detoxifying the nervous system. We spoke often between classes and after the end of the program, fine-tuning their choices of healing foods, using the purest, most beneficial herbal remedies and lifestyle choices to support his wellness. The couple noticed immediately that the progression of his symptoms had seemed to halt. His wife said she saw improvements in his walk, his ability to control his hands and hold onto objects. At first these changes were modest.

Eventually, I moved away and we lost touch, but they continued on the program, which is the goal of my teaching. I thought of this loving couple often, and finally called and spoke to them four years later. The wife was excited to hear my voice and she told me that they thanked me every day for the support and guidance I had offered to them when everyone else had written Joe off. She continued, “You told us that it could take awhile to get the toxin load down and to repair the damaged organs and cells. Well, you were right. After about a year and a half, Joe and I noticed that he was nearly symptom free. He’d occasionally have little setbacks, but we continued on with everything you taught us. For the last three years, when Joe meets new people, they have no idea whatsoever that he even has Parkinson’s.” I smiled and felt warmth and gratitude inside for being able to share these simple gifts of healing.

We both took a long deep breath and then she added “We bless the day we met you before each meal and every night before we retire to bed, for all your good work with people like us. The difference you’ve made in our lives…” Her voice trailed off. “We’ve had so many joyful experiences these last few years together.”

“You both did all the work,” I told her.

“But you showed us the way, and guided us to make better choices,” she countered.

I said, “I am very grateful everything has gone so well for you both.” Inside, I felt very emotional, tingling, feeling those blessings were reaching all of my cells. Stories like these are why I continue to do this work.

Healing can come through many actions including general spiritual and lifestyle practices, as well as specific healing strategies and tactics. Sometimes, healing comes through prayer, tending beautiful gardens, a loving partner’s reassurances and always through cleansing the body of accumulated toxins, excess inflammation and chronic pain. We may need to look outside ourselves to find a teacher or health professional to assist us, to lead us to follow a path that fits into our belief system and our busy schedules. But at the end of the day, only I can heal my body, mind and spirit.

In the last one hundred years, we as a society have given over our ability to heal ourselves to doctors and the current medical system. We have lost our capacity to listen to our inner guide, to distinguish the inner voice from the mind chatter that fills most peoples’ heads, leading to feelings of anxiety and doubt.

As a child, I experienced chronic pain virtually every day, mostly in my knees and fingers and always worse just before stormy weather. Doctors implied I was crazy and trying to get attention by imitating some of the elders in my life who had arthritis. Decades later, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is a known medical condition affecting more than 50,000 children in the US. Only alternative doctors, chiropractors, osteopaths and the like recognized JRA as a real medical condition back then.

I had other auto-immune conditions, including Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) by age 7½, and terrible eczema over much of my body by age 8. My teenage years brought migraines, digestive problems and increasing pain syndromes. Doctors offered little compassion and few options. After I began to sprain my ankles every two or three months, the rebel in me decided that I was going to find my own solutions for healing my body and mind forever.

I met a young aspiring herbalist at our local health food store who told me how I could repair my sprained ankle and help prevent the recurrences. It worked; I was onto something! (For the full account of this story, please visit: My Introduction to Healing Herbs) That experience led me to read many books in the early to mid-seventies about healing myself through natural and herbal remedies, and I’ve never turned back. When I took my herbal apprenticeship in the mid-1990’s, it felt as though I had taken the hundreds of fragments of information I’d gathered in the previous decades and stitched them together into a most beautiful and useful quilt. (For guys, the analogy might be taking hundreds of machine parts and building an engine.)

The current medical system is great at diagnostics and for emergency care, but when it comes to chronic conditions, their approach seems to be to throw lots of medications at the problem, often with little success for helping the patient actually feel better. Creating “wellness” is not even in the repertoire of most medical practices.

Drawing out that innate healer from within, providing the tools for reestablishing vital cells and taking good care of our ‘selves’ seems to produce greater results at a lower cost and often with long-term health restored and vitality returned. If you ask me, this is the kind of healthcare reform we really need in the world.

Holy basil (Latin name: Ocimum sanctum), is an Ayurvedic herb originating from the Indian subcontinent. Also known as sacred basil, or by its Sanskrit name, tulsi, holy basil has been revered as the “incomparable one” for thousands of years. For those who consume it regularly, holy basil is believed to strengthen the body and mind, support physical and emotional endurance, and provide a deep sense of calm and well-being.

A cousin of the culinary European and Thai basils, holy basil has been the subject of numerous research studies. It is shown to help reduce stress, anxiety, over stimulation, excess inflammation and hypersensitivity by helping the body to regulate cortisol, a chemical released by the adrenals when we’re upset, deeply stressed, fearful and have repeated negative thoughts. Excess cortisol levels have been linked to conditions such as obesity, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, IBS, arthritis and numerous autoimmune disorders.

A wealth of information is known about this gentle, yet powerful adaptogenic herb. It first appeared in ancient texts on health nearly 8,000 years ago and has been widely consumed on a daily basis ever since. Continue Reading »

With all the interest about the H1 N1 (swine) flu this year, it is more important than ever to do all we can to naturally strengthen our immune systems before this flu season hits. An ideal herb for the job, Elderberry has been revered throughout much of the world for more than a thousand years for boosting immune health to support prevention of colds and viruses, as well as helping the body fight the flu once it has struck.

My introduction to Elderberries was making jam, wine and pies with my elder neighbor as a girl. I have appreciated this nutritious food and valuable herbal remedy ever since. My first sighting of the vibrant, deep purple umbels of berries each late summer brings feelings of euphoria and comfort to my entire being.

Numerous research studies have shown that Elderberry strengthens Continue Reading »

I have raised my children, now young women, with herbs and nutritious organic foods. We have grown, prepared and used herbal preparations for most of our health and wellness needs with terrific results. Few herbs have served our needs more frequently than the golden orange calendula flower.

Calendula Officianalis, or simply calendula (pronounced kə’-lend’-ju-lə), is a garden favorite often referred to as field marigold or pot marigold. Originally native to the Mediterranean region, calendula, a member of the daisy family, has naturalized throughout much of Europe, North America and the world.

Calendula has a rich history of use as food and medicine that goes back to the ancient Romans, Persians and Greeks. Calendula flowers and leaves were added to soups and stews to strengthen and fortify the immune system and to increase feelings of happiness. Throughout Europe, calendula petals were added to butter and cheeses to make a pleasant yellow coloring.

By the mid-1800’s, calendula was commonly used by doctors for major injuries and after limb amputations to help prevent infection and heal the wound. During the Civil War, doctors used dried calendula flowers to speed the healing of soldiers wounded in battle.

Only the Calendula officinalis with deep orange flowers is used to make herbal and medicinal remedies. The sticky, bright flowers should be harvested on dry days after the dew has fully evaporated. They may be used fresh or dried for making tea, and wilted or dried for most other herbal preparations. If you’re not a gardener or need some today, look in the bulk herb section of your local co-op or herb shop. Garden varieties of Calendula, in many shades of yellow, orange and red, are often planted around the periphery of the garden to ward off potentially harmful pests.

Today, calendula is used primarily in topical formulas to help the body to heal external wounds and lacerations. You will find a variety of fine herbal first aid and skin healing products with calendula as one of their primary ingredients in the Wellness dept. of your local co-op or health food store.

Moms may find it helpful to keep a calendula salve or a tube of gel in their purse or diaper bag for applying to cuts, scrapes, minor burns, bug bites, diaper rash or cradle cap. Weleda offers several baby care products containing soothing calendula.

Try Boiron Calendula Lotion the next time you spend too long in the hot sun and your skin appears cooked like a Maine lobster. I bet you’ll feel cooler and more comfortable in no time.

Calendula lotion is wonderful for those of us who are prone to rashes, hives or other skin irritations. Immediately soothing, calendula calms the itch and helps with the redness and inflammation. Calendula may also be quite helpful for areas prone to chaffing or bedsores.

Internally, calendula has been use for lymphatic system stagnation and to support immune system function. A common sign of lymphatic stagnation is swollen glands; try a cup of calendula tea or a dropper of tincture the next time you feel your glands swelling or a cold coming on. Or float one flower, fresh or dried, in your favorite tea every day to help keep the doctor away. Remember to steep your herbal teas with a tight fitting lid so as to retain the medicinal properties. Uncovered, much of the medicinal benefits will go up in the steam and you will be sipping warm flavored water. When steeping your tea in a mug, you may use a saucer or plate as the lid.

Historically, Calendula has also been used as a cough and cold remedy, used either internally or try rubbing calendula oil on the upper back or chest.

It is especially helpful when the person is feeling very weak and tired, with a rattling chest cough. And calendula was a choice herb used for exhaustion during and after a long or severe illness or infection.

So it is time to restore this valuable orange flower to a place of honor in the herb cupboard. Choose it often as autumn begins to set in and maybe you will find that cold and flu season will go more smoothly next winter.

Immune Strengthening Autumn Miso Soup with Calendula Flowers
Makes 6 servings
3 cups vegetable stock, filtered or spring water
1 onion, chopped
1 medium sweet potato, thinly sliced
1 medium daikon radish, cut to half moons
1/8 to 1/4 oz organic kelp or dulse, soaked and chopped finely
2 TBSP calendula flowers, dried and chopped finely
1 4-6” pc astragalus (cooked, not eaten)
1 cup kale, chopped finely
1 cup more cold vegetable stock, filtered or spring water
6 – 12 tsp miso, white, red or brown

Combine all ingredients (except miso and 1 cup of liquid) in a soup pot. Bring to a boil, turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from heat. Add last cup of cold water or stock. Stir briefly. Place miso paste in a soup bowl; add a ladle of soup broth; stir in completely with a fork or whisk. Add miso mixture to the pot of soup. Stir again. Serve and enjoy.

Commonly referred to as the ‘village pharmacy’, various parts of the neem tree have provided a wide range of valuable remedies for more than 5,000 years, supporting the health of people, pets, livestock, gardens, the environment and our planet. The majestic neem tree, a deciduous evergreen native to the Indian subcontinent, is one of the world’s most effective and widely used herbs, yet it is virtually unknown in the US. Not for long… I’d bet on it.

Both the neem seeds and leaves are pressed for their valuable oils; neem seed oil is widely used for pest control in the home, garden, commercial farms and industrial food storage warehouses. Neem seed oil is approved for organic gardening, and when properly diluted, it is considered safe for children, pets, birds, butterflies, and has even been shown to help increase earthworm populations. Please check out the Thera Neem brand organic Neem Oil for the Garden, produced in Florida by Organix South, found in the flower or natural health department of your local co-op or health market.

Neem extracts were tested by the Malaria Institute and found to keep mosquitoes from biting for up to twelve hours. According to John Conrick, author of the book, Neem: The Ultimate Herb, it is also helpful for defending against ticks, fleas and biting flies. The lemongrass scented

Thera Neem Herbal Outdoor Spray is regarded as safe for the entire family, including babies. I have used this product, as well as the straight neem oil, with my family, friends and dogs for years to fend off bugs with very good results.

The neem leaf oil is used extensively in body care products and many cosmetics. Numerous studies confirm what the Indian people have known for centuries; neem is very helpful for improving and maintaining beautiful skin and overall good health. Straight neem leaf oil is used to prevent infection in wounds and for bacterial and fungal infections including impetigo, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, yeast infections (candida), jock itch and ringworm. Neem leaf oil has also been used for cold sores and herpes outbreaks for decades.

Neem cream or lotion is wonderful for diaper rash, bug bites, acne, skin irritations, ulcerations and rashes. Two separate studies have shown neem cream to significantly reduce symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and extremely dry or cracking skin for months. Try applying after swimming in a chlorinated pool or when you’ve gotten too much sun. It’s wonderfully cooling and nourishing! You’ll find Thera Neem Leaf and Oil Cream or their Neem Leaf and Oil Lotion to really feel like it’s helping your body calm, sooth and heal your damaged skin.

Neem shampoo and coconut-scented conditioner can help provide relief for an itchy, irritated scalp, and are widely believed to help prevent or rid us of dandruff and head lice. I’ve known teachers, day care workers and nurses who swear by these products. For more serious results, you may want to add a few drops of the pure neem leaf oil to your shampoo in your hand to help loosen nits. It is generally suggested when one is known to have lice to leave the shampoo and oil mixture on the scalp (wrapped in a towel) for 30 minutes before rinsing.

Both modern research and ancient writings show neem bark powder to support a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. It is high in beneficial antioxidants and leaves the mouth feeling fresh and lively. TheraNeem Herbal Toothpaste and Herbal Mouthrinse are formulated with organic neem to refresh the mouth and support the digestive tract, (which is often the real cause of bad breath, rotting teeth and receding gums.)

The rapidly growing neem tree has been planted along thousands of avenues in tropical cities around the globe for shade, beauty and firewood. It has also been planted throughout many of the world’s deserts and arid regions, helping to restore a more diverse ecology. Used for malaria, diabetes, viral and bacterial infections, and so much more, the neem tree could be the most valuable tree for the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

For more information, please read

Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems, compiled by the U.S. Office of International Affairs and Neem: The Ultimate Herb by John Conrick.

People have practiced simple, gentle cleansing of the body’s internal organs, tissues and cells throughout the world for all of recorded history. In the last 115 years, with the developments in western allopathic medicine, our culture has moved away from using foods, herbs, breath/prayer and other natural practices to maintain good health and a sense of wellbeing.

Here is a partial list of symptoms, conditions and degenerative diseases that have been shown to be helped over the centuries through safe, natural periodic cleansing and simple daily detoxification practices:

o Acne
o Allergies; sinus, tactile, digestive, hives, etc
o Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia syndromes
o Anxiety
o Arthritis
o Asthma attacks
o ADD /HD (attention deficit)
o Autism spectrum
o Body odor (foul)
o Brittle nails
o Chemical sensitivity
o Chronic constipation
o Chronic digestive disorders
o CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)
o Chronic infections
o Chronic respiratory issues
o Chronic weakness
o Cirrhosis of the liver
o Crohn’s disease
o Depression
o Drug /food addiction
o Eczema
o Fibromyalgia
o Gallstones
o Gout
o Gum disease
o Hair loss
o Halitosis (bad breath)
o Headaches
o Hot flashes and night sweats
o Immune disorders
o Insomnia
o Irritability
o IBS (irritable bowel disorder)
o Kidney disease
o Kidney stones
o Low blood sugar
o Memory loss
o Migraines
o Mood swings
o Multiple sclerosis
o Muscle aches / pain
o Obesity
o PMS
o Parkinson’s disease
o Psoriasis
o Rashes, itching (chronic discomfort under skin)
o Sinus pain (drip, irritation, sinus headache, etc)
o Ulcerative colitis
o Ulcers
o Weak bones
o Weight gain (excess)
o Weight loss (excess)

Accumulating toxins may affect just about any region of the body or mind as the incomplete list above shows. Properly cleansing the debris from the body’s organs, tissues and cells allows the body to find its center, restart nutrient utilization and resume a better working order. Rejuvenated organs and cells offer us more energy and vitality as well as a sense of inner peace and calm. This can lead to more restful sleep, a lift in spirits and a release from chronic pain and discomfort.

Here are my top 10 favorite general cleansing herbs and foods. It is not good enough to purchase one or more, however, unless you pay close attention to the quality of the product you choose. Please buy organic/ local whenever possible.
For more info, read my article “Quality is Everything” .

Turmeric
Ginger
Holy basil (tulsi)
Red clover
Burdock
Hempseeds
Sea vegetables
Blessed thistle
Dark leafy green vegetables
Sprouts

More than twenty years ago, I got a call from a coworker. Anita had two daughters, ages six and ten. Shayna, the ten year old, had broken her arm in a roller skating accident five weeks before and it had not begun to heal. It was a clean break just above the wrist. The doctor was talking about doing exploratory surgery if the arm wasn’t on the mend by the following Friday and Anita was concerned. Why wasn’t it healing on its own? What could they do in a week’s time to help Shayna’s body begin to mend the bone? She was filled with questions and concerns.

Anita came by for tea the next morning and we spoke about some of the possibilities. I’m a big fan of using nutritious foods for helping the body heal itself. I suggested she should learn more about eating sea vegetables for their amazing healing capabilities. They are considered to be some of the most nutritious foods on Earth. She could buy kelp or dulse granules or flakes in the bulk section of our local co-op and put it in a grated cheese shaker. “Just shake a bit on everything Shayna eats, except maybe ice cream”, I suggested. “Because sea vegetables taste salty, they’re great on popcorn, rice, mashed potato, veggies, salads and sandwiches. You can cook with them too. Give a good shake or two into whatever you prepare for dinner each night.”

“That sounds doable”, Anita responded. “What other foods could help?” Continue Reading »

Nearly everyone who has reached or passed puberty has experienced acne. For some, however, acne on the face or body clutches its agonizing grip on us for months and sometimes several years. Medical treatments can be dangerous, causing side effects and leaving us with auto-immune disorders for the rest of our lives. Luckily, there are many healthful and nutritional avenues you may choose in order to experience clear, healthy and beautiful skin again.

Acne, from a holistic viewpoint, is caused by toxins accumulating in the blood, liver, colon, lymphatic system and other organs of elimination. Proper cleansing of the organs and blood can have a dramatic effect with all types; teen, adult and cystic acne. Eating the right foods is essential during the time of detoxification, as well as afterwards during the nourishing and strengthening period. For those of us that experience extended episodes of acne, cystic acne or other chronic skin conditions, scheduling a cleanse for 7 to 15 days each spring and fall, or for a few days during each of the four seasons, will help the body with the toxin overload that is believed to lead to breakouts on the skin.

Acne is related to candida overgrowth; a symptom of candida, so to speak. When we address candida thoroughly, using detoxification and nutritional support, skin problems are alleviated or eliminated. Candida is a naturally occurring fungus within the intestinal tract, but when we use antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills, chlorinated water, etc; an overgrowth of one (or several) of the more than 70 species of candida can cause harm to our health in a variety of ways.

The liver and colon are nearly always congested whenever a skin imbalance occurs; whether we suffer with oily, dry or combination skin problems. Continue Reading »

Many parents these days have been snookered into thinking that giving their kids plenty of fruit juice is good for their health. Advertisements everywhere tell us it’s so. Sure, it’s better than soda pop and the chemically colored and flavored sugar water they used to call juice that many of us grew up on. But drinking bottled juices is not health promoting for a variety of reasons.

And all these newfangled expensive fancy bottled ‘water’ like products on the market are all hype (and sugar and chemicals) with clever names, as if they’re somehow benefiting our bodies or minds. They are, in reality, benefiting the bottom lines of the manufacturers; often able to be produced for pennies then sold for much, much more.

But if you want to provide real healthy choices for your children, please consider offering them lots of fresh, pure filtered water (contact me for more information) and lots of herbal teas.

Now, there are several keys to success with making herb teas for children so that they’ll drink them and enjoy the experience. Continue Reading »

At a pot luck gathering for an organization promoting environmental activism, I found myself setting my plateful of colorful foods at the table where I didn’t know anybody, just to get to meet someone new. Nearly everyone was chatting with one another. I found an empty spot beside a young lady of about fifteen years. Her long, blond hair flowed in loose pigtails across her shoulders and down her back within inches of her waist. She smiled shyly as I greeted her.

As we sat quietly, I sipped broccoli soup and ate a delicious couscous – chick pea salad. After several minutes, we began to speak, first about the weather and the adorable small children playing nearby, and then about how nourishing the food felt that we were enjoying. And then Sahanna winced. “Are you ok?” I asked her.

“I’m getting another bad headache. It feels like a vise tightening across my temples and the sides of my head. I’ve been getting these a lot lately,” she told me. She paused. “My Dad’s had me at the doctor’s office and the hospital for all sorts of tests, but so far, nothing.”

Sahanna’s dad, Robert, approached from behind and fluffed her hair as he sat down in the chair that someone had just vacated on her other side. “Hey, Dad! We were just talking about you! I was just telling her that you can’t resist dragging me to every doctor in Boston to see what’s causing my headaches!”

Robert’s soft smile transformed immediately to concern. “Got another one?” he asked.

“Yeah. But don’t worry, Dad, it’s not that bad.” Sahanna got up, tickling one of the toddlers as she passed by them.

“Raising a daughter alone is a full-time job… and then some,” Robert offered as he began to sip his soup.

“Yeah; I have two daughters. I know what you mean.” There was a moment of silence as we ate. “Hey, I don’t want to butt in,” I said to Robert as he nibbled at his fried rice, “but I may have some insights I could share with you about chronic headaches, if you’re interested. I’m an herbalist and I’ve worked with several young people with various health concerns, including chronic headaches.”

“You’re an herbalist? I just got a card from Gina… Is this you?” He pulled a flowery business card from his pocket.

“That’s me!” I said.

“I was going to call you later to make an appointment for Sahanna and me to discuss her health and what might help her headaches. Gina said you may be able to help her with the teenage acne, too!” Robert and I planned a consultation for the next morning.

After asking several questions, then hearing Sahanna’s story of enduring her mother’s almost two year struggle with breast cancer, promising to always be good for Daddy, then watching her pass while she and her Dad held her Mom’s hands, tears dropping from their cheeks, I was beginning to get a sense that this sweet, soft, gentle young lady was tied in knots inside.

“You’ve both been through a lot. When did your wife pass?” I asked, looking toward Robert.

“It’s been almost two years ago now.” He reached over and held his daughter’s hand. “Sahanna’s headaches started about six months later. Nothing serious at first, but then she had a bad reaction to baby aspirin and was hospitalized for four days! That just about did me in! I couldn’t leave her side. I don’t think I even used the restroom the first day! I couldn’t move or even look away for a second.” He slowed and took a deep breath. We all sat and breathed long, slow deep breaths for a few moments.

“Sahanna, do you drink much water?” I asked.
Continue Reading »

Here is a list of several of my most favorite health and cookbooks. Most of them accurately reflect my views and what you’ve read in other posts here on my site. However, some of the cookbooks, while containing lots of great recipes, also contain an occasional ingredient that I wouldn’t necessarily use or suggest for optimal health, such as soy milk. (Please read: The Great Soy Debate if you haven’t already.) A simple substitution of almond milk, or the like, will work in these cases.

General Health and Wellness

Nourishing Traditions Fallon (adv), (also a cookbook)
Healing With Whole Foods Pitchford (adv)
Food and Healing Colbin
The Life Bridge Sarnat, Schulick & Newmark
Anatomy of an Illness Cousins
Beyond Aspirin Newmark & Schulick
Lick the Sugar Habit Appleton
Your Body Knows Best Gittleman
French Women Don’t Get Fat Guiliano
The Web That Has No Weaver Kaptchuk (adv)
Your Body’s Many Cries for Water Batmanghelidj

Specialized Health and Wellness

Renew Your Life Watson
Gut Solutions: Natural Solutions To Your Digestive Problems Watson, Smith, Holt & Stockton
Foundations of Health Hobbs
Nourishing Wisdom David
Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill Erasmus (adv)
Probiotics: Nature’s Internal Healers Trenev
The Body Ecology Diet Gates (also a cookbook)
Food and Our Bones Colbin
Healthy Bones Appleton
The Cure for All Diseases Clark
The Cure for All Cancers Clark
Stopping Inflammation Appleton

Herbals

New Holistic Herbal Hoffman
Medical Herbalism Hoffman (adv)
The Book of Herbal Wisdom Wood (adv)
Sacred Plant Medicine Buhner
Indian Herbology of North America Hutchens (adv)
Family Herbal Gladstar
Herbal Antibiotics Buhner
Nature’s Children Levy
Herbal Healing for Women Gladstar
New Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way Weed
A Woman’s Book of Herbs Soule
Sastun Arvigo
Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms Stamets (adv)
Medicinal Mushrooms Hobbs
MycoMedicinals Stamets (adv)
Tibetan Ayurveda Sachs (adv)
Flower Remedy Book Shapiro
Flower Essence Repertory Kaminski
The Rhodiola Revolution Brown, Gerbarg, Graham
Dandelion Medicine Mars

Cookbooks

The Book of Whole Meals Colbin
Wild Fermentation Katz
Meals That Heal Turner
The Healthy Kitchen Weil & Daley
Fields of Greens Somerville
Greens Glorious Greens Albi & Walthers
Not Milk, Nut Milks! Cole
Natural Gourmet Colbin
Book of Miso Shurtleff (now out of print)
Sea Vegetable Celebration Erhart & Cerier
Recipes from an Ecological Kitchen Sass
Roots Mayes & Gottfried
Low-Carb Cooking With Stevia Kirkland
365 Ways to Cook Vegetarian Morse
Whole Meals Weber
Amazing Grains Saltzman
Asian Vegetables Brown
The Sacred Kitchen Robertson & Robertson
The Crockery Cook Hoffman
The Schwarzbein Principle Cookbook Schwarzbein
Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing Lad & Lad
The Self Healing Cookbook Turner
All Moosewood Cookbooks Katzen
The Sprouting Book Wigmore
Almost Vegetarian Shaw
The Joy of Pickling Ziedrich
Hot Vegetables Carpenter
The Kripalu Cookbook Levitt
New Laurel’s Kitchen Robertson
The Nutritional Yeast Cookbook Stepaniak
Recipes from the Moon Beardsworth
Peaceful Palate Raymond
Stonyfield Farm Yogurt Cookbook Hirshberg
The Tempeh Cookbook Bates
Curries Without Worries Koul
Round-The-World Cooking at the Natural Gourmet Stark
Herbal Soups Bass
Olives Table English, Sampson, Tremblay
The Wild Food Gourmet Gardon
New Vegetarian Baby Yntema
Vegetarian Children Yntema

Uplifting

The Man Who Planted Trees Giono
The Alchemist Coelho
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Carlson
Peace Is Every Step Hahn (and all his other books, too)
The Good Heart H.H. the Dalai Lama (and all his other books, too)
The Bioneers Ausubel
Son-Rise Kaufman
Son Rise: The Miracle Continues Kaufman

Children

The Dandelion Seed Anthony
Dear Children Of The Earth Schimmel
All I See Is Part of Me Curtis
Fun Is a Feeling Curtis
A Kid’s Herb Book Tierra

Political Regarding Health, Herbs & Foods

Fast Food Nation Schlosser
Food Politics Nestle
Food Fight: The Inside Story of the Food Industry Brownell
Mad Cowboy Lyman
Our Stolen Future: How We Are Threatening Our Fertility, Intelligence and Survival Colburn
Against the Grain: Biotechnology and the Corporate Takeover of Your Food Lappe/Bailey

Several years ago, an elder gentleman named Martin called me for an appointment for a Wellness Consultation. He told me over the phone that he was 74 years old and had had a sinus infection for more than twelve years without any significant relief. It developed shortly after minor surgery and he had not had three days in a row when he was free of sinus pain and constant post nasal drip during those twelve years. He said that he had been to all of the top ear, nose and throat specialists in the country and had tried everything that they could recommend. He sounded exasperated as he told me about how the prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications either didn’t work or nearly killed him, and that he didn’t know what else to do.

“My friend, Shelley, suggested I call you. She said you helped her and her daughter learn how to stop getting chronic sinus infections, and you could probably help me, too,” he exclaimed. And then, in a timid voice, he asked me if he had to believe in these herbs and natural things, ‘cause he didn’t really think he did. I told him that I thought they would probably be able to help him, even if he didn’t believe in them yet. After all, he was willing to meet with me and purchase the herbs at our local co-op, so it seemed he did have a bit of faith.

“No,” he said. “I really don’t. I’m only doing this because Shelley won’t stop talking about you and how much better she feels. I just want to be able to talk about other things, and she doesn’t want to see me suffering all the time. I’m just doing it for her.”

We met that afternoon, and at the end of our session, he told me that he was only willing to take one thing; one product. This was a challenge, since I have found that herbal and nutritional programs seem to help more than the ‘one thing at a time’ method. But I understood that so many folks have had bad experiences with medications and such in the past, and need to feel comfortable with their herbal plan. I suggested that, in my opinion, the best products, if only one was going to be chosen, would probably be one the following:

Sambu Elderberry Concentrate (or Sambu Guard) by Flora
Elder Flower Glycerite by Avena Botanicals, and
Nasal Support by Eclectic Institute.

He decided to purchase the Sambu. We talked about the simplicity of the formula and the special qualities of the three ingredients; Elder flower, Elderberry and honey. Elder flower tincture or syrup helps to calm and restore the nervous system. It is a powerful herb for helping to settle the sinuses when they feel inflamed and over-reactive. It’s very high in bioflavonoids, including quercetin, helping to alkalize the sinus region.

Elderberry is an ancient remedy for cold and flu, and the latest research shows those vibrant purple berries that the birds love so much to be a powerful tool against viruses and for optimizing the entire immune system.

Honey has been used since the earliest recordings as a remedy for numerous ailments. Folk medicine has hailed honey a cure-all for centuries. Soothing and nurturing, Flora uses only the highest quality honey and the finest herbal ingredients in all of their superb products.

“In your grandmother’s time,” I said, “they would have offered someone with a chronic sinus problem just a teaspoon or so of their homemade Elderberry and flower syrup every time the pain and discomfort began to return.” And then I was sure to tell him that I couldn’t actually suggest that he do this and disregard the instructions required to be printed on the label. “It is not legal for me to do,” I explained.

Three days later, I got a call from Martin. He called to say that he was
“… guardedly optimistic about his sinuses.” He told me that this was the first time he had had three consecutive days where he was not in nearly constant discomfort. He had just visited the co-op for his second bottle of Sambu.

I heard from this sweet elder gentleman three more times. About seven and a half months after his first (and only) Wellness Consultation, Martin called me to say that he was finally a true believer in the herbs and in holistic healing! He hadn’t had a ‘bad day’ in those seven months! He told me that he once visited the co-op for his Sambu and they were out of it. He panicked! The girl there had told him that they couldn’t get it for him for at least a week. He said he drove almost an hour away to buy a bottle so he wouldn’t run out, and that from that day on, he would be buying them three at a time!

I asked Martin if he was ready to take the next step in helping his body to restore its overall health, integrity and harmony. His response surprised me. He told me that he loved taking the delicious Sambu Elderberry Concentrate every morning and evening. He said he had come to rely on it as his ‘vitality tonic’, reporting that the feeling he got from it was similar to when his Mom and Dad took Geritol [for the younger generation: this was an over-the-counter supplement advertised on early television for the relief of ‘iron poor blood’] when they were in their latter years! He said that “… if it’s not broken, why call the repairman. I don’t know how long I have on this Earth; years I hope! I think I’ll just stick with the Sambu.” He paused. “And if anything else ever breaks down in this old body, I think I’ll call you first!” We both chuckled.