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.

Now grown and used throughout much of Asia, Central & South America, holy basil is beginning to catch on in North America and Europe, as well.

Traditionally used to support the digestive, immune and nervous systems, holy basil is now also recognized for helping the body toward healthy cholesterol levels, increased stamina, and slowing the aging process. According to the research, it is said to possess “potent antioxidant activities”.

Researchers state “Holy basil possesses both anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity” and is “comparable to ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin” for pain relief. Holy basil has also been the subject of numerous studies demonstrating a protective effect on the liver and support of liver detoxification. Because of these reports of safety and effectiveness, Holy basil is often used by people who experience ADD, ADHD, headaches, anxiety, poor sleep, a restless mind or the blues. According to the research, there are no known side effects or known contraindications.

Another powerful benefit involved exposure to radiation. The radio-protective effect of the leaf extract is noted in several studies. They confirmed “Pretreatment resulted in faster recovery”, and almost completely eliminated abnormal cells.

Another study cited “O. sanctum leaf extract blocks or suppresses the events associated with chemical carcinogenesis by inhibiting metabolic activation of the carcinogen”, meaning that it can likely prevent harm to the body when we are exposed to various cancer causing toxins.

My older daughter lived in Brooklyn, went to NYU and worked in Manhattan when the terrible tragedy took place in 2001. Unable to reach her for an excruciatingly long while here in Vermont, I found holy basil calmed my anxiety and fears remarkably well, more than anything I had previously experienced. It has also helped my daughter’s ‘test anxiety’ in school, helping her to receive the good grades she’s capable of but feared she could never achieve.

You will find the entire line of Tulsi Teas, made by Organic India, in the tea aisle of your local co-op or health food store. With delicious flavors such as ‘Sweet Rose Tulsi’, ‘Lemon Ginger Tulsi’ and ‘Red Chai Tulsi’, you may want to try them all. In the Wellness section, look for holy basil tincture from Herb Pharm, New Chapter’s supercritically extracted holy basil in gel caps or their extract in veggie caps. I have found the tincture and extract in veggie caps to work wonders for emotional difficulties, with the supercritical extract in gel caps to be most helpful for my excess inflammation issues.

For more information on Holy Basil, please visit: www.holy-basil.com and click on the “Maimes Report” or check out the book “Tulsi, the Mother Medicine of Nature” by Drs. Narendra Singh and Yamuna Hoette.

A peaceful sigh and a smiling heart to you all.

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

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.

“Not really,” she answered quietly.

“Do you drink soda?”

“Mom didn’t let me have soda. We didn’t ever eat white sugar or anything with corn syrup when she was with us. She used to tell me to drink water all the time. She’d say, ‘It’s gooooooood for youuuuuuu’ with her funny pursed lips!” She paused, deep in thought; then smiled. “I forgot about that… until now. Does water help with headaches?” she asked.

“It sure does!” I answered. “In fact, most headaches are due to either dehydration or excess stress. And water is excellent for both! Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it!” Their eyes widened. I went on, “I know how teens think it’s cool to drink soda, but it can be quite hard on our bodies. Drinking soda can increase dehydration, especially heavily caffeinated ones like cola.”

“Wow. Mom was right!” Sahanna looked directly into Robert’s eyes. “You know, I think I was kind of mad at her for not being here, so I wasn’t going to do what she always told me to do. I kind of stopped drinking water. Dad, I’m sorry; I’ve been drinking soda with my friends, too. I know you and Mom always said it’s bad for me. I’m really, really sorry.”

“That’s ok, Hon,” Robert whispered as he hugged her. “I’m just glad you didn’t stop brushing your teeth, or putting on clean clothes in the morning, too! That would have been bad!”

We talked about the importance of drinking pure, fresh water. They were concerned about sediment and mineral contamination in their well water. I told them about the two superb quality water filtration systems that I sell. Robert was certain that he would invest in one of them, especially when I added that the clean, pure water they’d be drinking would only cost them six to seven cents per gallon and no plastic jugs to pollute our beautiful Earth.

Here are a few of the facts that I shared with them:
Our bodies are composed of 70 to 80% water.
Brain cells are 75-85% water. Drinking clean, fresh water is believed to improve the mind and brain function.
The brain prefers to use electrical energy generated by hydrolysis, rather than by blood sugar (glucose).

“There are other major benefits to drinking enough water when you’re a teen, too.” I said. “You may get less PMS and less bloated and possibly even less acne. And you may feel less sad and blue, too. That’s because water helps to plump up and nourish our cells and wash away the toxins so they don’t build up and make us feel bad.”

“I feel like I’m stressed all the time” Sahanna blurted out. “I have school, and soccer, and piano, and my friends… and way too much homework! My bag’s too heavy when I come home every night. It all feels so stressful sometimes. My stomach feels tied in knots.”

“Yeah, I remember when my daughter, Kaia, felt that way, too.” I responded, and then paused. “There are some great herbs to help us feel calm and feel less stressed and anxious. They make a nice tasting herb tea that you can drink warm or cool.”

“I could use something like that, too,” Robert said. “Could the same herbs work for my stress?”

“I would think so,” I assured him. We decided to walk over to the co-op so I could show them the various possibilities. As we walked, I explained to them that herbs really only work effectively if we use a high quality product. I suggested that they read my articles called “Quality is Everything” and “Seven Steps to a Worry Free Day” when they had a few moments.

We first looked at the Ginger Honey Tonic (also called Ginger Wonder Syrup and Digestion Ginger Honey Tonic; same great product with differing names for different sections of the supplements department) made by New Chapter. I suggested that my daughters and I have found it very helpful whenever stress tied our stomachs in knots or caused us to feel indigestion (reflux). We usually mix it into mineral water or a warm tea, but sometimes we enjoy it directly from the spoon.

We looked at all the new flavors of Tulsi Tea from Organic India.” Tulsi,” I explained “is the Sanskrit name for Holy basil (a cousin of culinary basil), and excellent for assisting us with attention, focus and completion of tasks. It helps to calm the mind, giving us a break from that endless loop tape that plays over and over when we’d prefer to rest, meditate or relax. It’s great for the immune system, for when we feel overwhelmed and over stimulated by light or noise or touch or anything; and it helps to calm a nervous stomach, too. Holy basil tea may be sipped throughout the day to protect against excess stress, and is soothing just before bedtime to support restful sleep.”

“Sounds like the whole world could use that!” Robert piped in.

“I know I could use everything you just mentioned,” Sahanna added.

“Robert, you may prefer the capsules from New Chapter. This product here.” I pointed to the Holy Basil in the 90 v-caps bottle. “New Chapter makes two excellent Holy Basil products, but the one that seems to work best for the stress, anxiousness and irritability is the one in the veggie caps,” I explained. “I pop one when I’m feeling really stressed and in about seven minutes, I feel renewed and revived!”

I suggested that Rhodiola, Bacopa, Ashwagandha or Eleuthero (formerly called Siberian ginseng) may also be helpful. I explained the nuanced differences in the effects I have observed with each of them so that they could make an informed choice.

“I find that I choose Rhodiola if I need to cram for a test, when I need to retain a lot of organized or random information, or if I need to perform some task in a very exact manner. I can be a bit clumsy,” I laughed as I thought about it. I suggested they read “Attention and Focus Go to School with our Kids”. I showed them the Rhodiola Force 100 from New Chapter, and suggested that a capsule emptied and stirred into hot water makes a refreshing pick-me-up. It’s good in tulsi, peppermint, chai or other teas, too.

“Bacopa helps us to become ‘complete’ with those things that can drain our energy. This can help us get into the deeper REM sleep, the restorative sleep that is so important for good health. It was very helpful for me after a traumatic experience a few months ago,” I shared. “It helped me let go of the fear and return to being a good, deep sleeper.

“Ashwagandha and Eleuthero, both adaptogens, help to restore the deep well that most of us have long ago let run dry. Ashwagandha is a very popular Ayurvedic herb that helps us deal with physical, mental and emotional stress, and it supports immune and nervous system health. Most people take it during the day, which also helps us sleep more deeply at night.

“Eleuthero, formerly known as Siberian ginseng but not truly in the Panax ginseng family, is well known the world over to be helpful for stress, too. Research shows it to help folks with headaches, sleep problems, clear thinking, inflammation and strenuous physical performance.

“Organix South makes a great product that I find helpful called Day Stress Formula. It contains Ashwagandha and another cool herb called Shatavari. Their Night Stress Formula is mostly Bacopa,” I explained.

They picked up a couple bottles of the Ginger Honey Tonic and several bottles of mineral water. Robert thought that he could use both the Day and the Night Stress Formulas. He also figured he should have some of the New Chapter Holy Basil (in the v-caps) on hand for when they needed it.

Sahanna liked the idea of the Tulsi Tea a lot. She chose three flavors; Chai, Pomegranate and Honey Chamomile. I mentioned to them that when we make a medicinal herbal tea, we must put a lid on the tea cup (or pot) while the tea steeps, if we want the full benefits. She also wanted to have a bottle of Rhodiola Force 100 on hand for exam time, to take some of the pressure off.

“The Omega 3 essential fatty acids are shown to be an essential part of good brain and nerve health, too,” I continued. “We must consume the Omega 3 fats; we cannot produce them in our bodies. Found in fish, hemp seed, flax and algae, my favorite source for consuming Omega 3 fatty acids is organic hemp seed. It’s delicious! Hemp seeds are a rich source of many important nutrients, including complete protein, one of the only vegetarian sources; a perfect balance of the essential fats and they’re rich in several important minerals such as magnesium, iron, manganese and potassium. Magnesium’s great for helping with stress, too. You can sprinkle the seeds on salads, veggies, toast, soup, in smoothies, anything, even ice cream!” I showed them the organic hemp seeds from Nutiva, and pointed out the hemp oil and protein powder, too. Robert tossed two bags of the whole seeds and a bottle of the oil into the cart. “Is it better than flax?” he asked.

“Organic Hemp Oil provides the ideal ratio of the Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, helpful for virtually all cells in the body. It is easier to digest and more shelf stable than flax, and we don’t need to worry about heavy metals like we do with fish. And hemp protein powder is not very processed, high in fiber and has no added sugar. It’s great in smoothies or baked into muffins.” We walked over to the café and sat down to sip some tea.

“There is a wealth of research showing that the practice of meditation is helpful for reducing excess stress. Quieting the mind for just twenty minutes a day, whether walking in the woods, jogging along the river or sitting peacefully with closed eyes, is found to relax the body and reduce inflammation and pain.” I sat back and took a deep breath. I sighed, smiling, as I exhaled.

“It all sounds so easy! We can do this!” Sahanna exclaimed. “Dad, this’ll be fun! We can help each other, right?” They hugged one another. I’m sure I was smiling ear to ear; and I’m pretty sure a felt one tear leap from my right eye as I watched them.

A week later, Robert, Sahanna and I did a private whole foods cooking class. I taught them how to make a basic miso vegetable soup, sautéed garlic and greens and my famous rice-quinoa salad. They enjoyed learning these basics and worked quite well together in the kitchen.

Three months later, I spoke to Robert and Sahanna. She had had only one more headache, and she told me that when she felt it coming on, she filled a large glass with the delicious filtered water that now flows from their tap, drank most of it and a few minutes later she realized that her headache was gone! “And no more soda for me,” she added proudly.

More than 600,000 people experience a stroke in the US every year. A stroke, when the blood to the brain is interrupted, can cause a wide variety of symptoms with mild to debilitating side effects for survivors. Mild symptoms after a stroke might include numbness, muscle weakness, either a partial or totally altered sense of smell, taste, hearing, or vision, drooping of the eyelid or weakness of the eye muscles. Serious symptoms can involve the ability to speak, understand language or walk; frequent confusion, poor memory recollection and equilibrium problems.

Rehabilitation can take months or years, and a full recovery may never be complete. Physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy may be necessary for the individual’s recuperation process. Since nearly half of post stroke patients are believed to experience depression, antidepressant medications are often indicated. The road to wellness can be a long and arduous road for the patient and their family members. But, with a little help from nature, we may be able to speed recovery and feel better sooner.

Eating fish high in the omega 3 fatty acids is believed to help prevent heart disease and stroke. It may also be helpful for recovery after a stroke, as well, but the focus of most of the research has been on the reducing risk of stroke. There are a significant number of studies supporting the use of fish oils for cardiovascular health. Researchers at Northwestern University have reported that omega-3 fatty acids may help to prevent stroke by lowering blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.

There are several excellent herbs and supplements that are believed to support an acceleration of the healing process after a mild or even a serious stroke. Centuries of use for sustaining or regaining brain and nerve health, they may be helpful for recovering after a stroke has occurred.

St. John’s Wort has received considerable attention for its ability to support those with mild to moderate depression. Over the past twelve hundred years or so, St John’s wort has been used to support nerve health and repair damage, including some of the types of symptoms one might experience after a stroke. Rubbing St. John’s Wort Oil onto the affected regions of the body, such as the face, hands, feet, etc could help to speed recovery.

For St John’s wort taken orally, only an organic product should be chosen for optimal results. Some of the best forms used over the centuries are:
Tea (be sure to place a lid over the cup while it steeps for a full 15 min. Traditional use of tea for medicinal use usually called for 4 cups sipped throughout the day.)
Tincture (Herb Pharm, Gaia Herbs and Avena Botanicals are excellent brands.)
Gaia produces a superb St. Johns Wort extract in capsule form. Potent and very convenient.
Dried herb is considered milder in action than a good extract, but more recently has been used in capsule and tablet form.

Several years ago, a woman named Carla came to me for help for her husband. He was in his mid-30’s when he had a stroke and four years later, his right side still had issues of neuralgia, and the right side of his face still drooped considerably. This caused slurred speech and blurred vision. Her husband had become somewhat of a recluse, as he did not like dropping things, needing so much assistance, the stares as he limped and the constant repeating of words and phrases when folks couldn’t understand him. As a result, he hadn’t left their home in more than two years.

We spoke of nutritional foods to support his weakened body. We also thought that he would be wise to do a cleanse when he felt strong enough, since he had needed numerous medications during his recovery. To support nerve health, I taught Carla about the history of use of St John’s wort. She thought that her husband would enjoy taking a tea, but would likely reject the tincture or capsules. She decided to add the tincture to his tea.

Four days after our meeting, I received a call from Carla. Her husband loved the tea and had been drinking about six cups each day. She had added only a small amount of tincture to each cup. I could hear elation in her voice. She blurted out, “Cindy, I can’t believe it! He’s all better!” She went on, “I finally told him this morning that I had met with you and that you had told me about the tea. He said that he wants to drink St John’s wort tea every morning forever! Is that safe?”
“Yes, yes.” I replied. “I think so! I am so glad to hear he is better. It’s great to hear!”
“I think I will continue with the tincture until the bottle is gone. Will that be OK?” she asked.
“I bet it will. Please stay in touch, and let me know if he continues to feel ‘ back to normal’,” I requested.

You will never hear me suggest a ‘standardized extract’, the herbal products produced and promoted by the pharmaceutical industry as having specific quantities of the phytonutrients that some chemists believe to be the ‘active’ ingredients. These products are nearly always extracted with chemical solvents, leaving a small amount of those solvents behind in the herbs. I’m fairly certain that we don’t need a bit of dry cleaning fluid, nail polish remover or other chemical solvents in the herbal products we choose to help heal ourselves.

Lion’s Mane is a powerful medicinal fungus that recent research has shown may help regenerate seriously damaged brain and/or nervous system cells. This early research shows that even when cells are considered dead or permanently damaged, Lion’s mane may indeed work to restore the integrity of the cell by stimulating the production of Nerve Growth Factor. For a high quality product, please check out Fungi Perfecti.

Mental Clarity from New Chapter’s Mycomedicinals line, is formulated by the world renowned mycologist, Paul Stamets. Made predominantly from certified organic Lion’s mane, it also has Cordyceps, Reishi and other mushrooms to support nerve and brain health.

Hawthorn leaf, flower and berry support the entire cardiovascular system. Traditional uses of hawthorn include high or low blood pressure, arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), angina (heart pain), blood circulation and heart failure.

Flora has produced a fantastic Hawthorn Heart Formula, a delicious liquid that supports the entire cardiovascular system. If you prefer capsules, Gaia makes a potent organic product called Hawthorn Supreme/a>. Gaia also produces a Hawthorn Berry Solid Extract, easily added to warm water for a tasty beverage.

Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10, ubiquinone, ubidecarenone, is a substance similar to a vitamin and is present in all human cells. It is responsible for the production of energy within each human cell. It is estimated that 95% of all our body’s energy requirements (ATP) is converted by the mitochondria with the aid of CoQ10. This means that organs that require a significant amount of energy such as the heart, lungs and liverNew Chapter CoQ10+ Food Complex have the highest concentrations of CoQ10.

The only CoQ10 supplement on the market that contains real, complex whole food is the New Chapter CoQ10+ Food Complex. A leading antioxidant researcher has found the CoQ10+ Food Complex to be 20 times (that’s 2000%!) greater antioxidant activity than other CoQ10 products on the market. Another testimony to the power and wisdom of nature. I would only use this superb product rather than a synthetic form or a chemically isolated form, which is what we get in every other product on the market, regardless of the delivery system that they use or marketing concepts used in their advertising.

Reishi is a mushroom used for good health, vitality and longevity for more than four thousand years. Composed primarily of polysaccharides, triterpeniods, proteins and amino acids, researchers have found Reishi to have anti-tumor, immune and blood pressure modulating effects. Look for potent, certified organic Reishi in liquid or capsules from New Chapter or Fungi Perfecti.

It can be a long road to recovery for both the person who suffered a stroke, as well as their family and support team. With a little help from Earth Mother, maybe that road can be a little easier.

There is real help for allergies found throughout the globe and brought to us by Mother Nature to aid with these numerous discomforts. Mother Nature’s remedies often help us even when medications have been of little use. Some of these herbs and supplements support temporary relief; while others can actually help the body begin to reverse the overreaction to common substances, such as the pollen falling from trees.

Ads throughout the media lure allergy sufferers, desperate to find a solution to their discomforts, by promising bright, happy, colorful days filled with flowers, trees, pets and blissful contentment. Several over-the-counter medications, however, when taken for as little as two or three days, can cause a rebound effect; meaning that they actually worsen the original symptoms that a person took the medication for. Unwitting allergy sufferers take more medication, symptoms get worse, more medicine; with no end in sight.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications for allergies are making pharmaceutical companies billions of dollars every year. But the risks associated with many of these medications are very serious. Here are some of the side effects related with the most commonly used allergy medications:

Rash
Heartburn
Fever
Cough
Headaches
Drowsiness
Insomnia
Diabetes
Irritability
Weight gain
Cataracts
Elevated blood pressure
Osteoporosis
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Loss of libido
Gastritis
Vomiting
Depression
Disturbed coordination
Mood disorders
Tremors
Excessive bleeding
Seizures
Death

These side effects are nothing to sneeze at! Thirty years ago, few people suffered allergies long-term. Forty or fifty years ago, allergies were quite rare. According to the National Institutes of Health, the proportion of children diagnosed by a MD general practitioner with hay fever or allergic rhinitis tripled between the early 1970s and early 1990s. Today in some cities, the number of children suffering with allergies and asthma can be as high as 90% in homes where one person already has asthma.

What’s changed? Why do so many of us now suffer with allergies? And why does it seem that once a person has developed one allergy, they increase in numbers over the years?

In short, our immune system health as a nation is plummeting. There are other various theories as to the answers to these and other questions regarding allergies. But for the moment, let us agree that the problem seems to be as out of control as the immune system is when the allergies occur.

For now, we’ll focus on how someone might prevent the necessity for medication that may cause mild, moderate or even very serious side effects.

Natra Bio’s line of homeopathic remedies that are formulated for various allergy concerns is called BioAllers. One of those products, Homeopathic Tree Pollen is available in a liquid form, and is specifically produced with very minute amounts of the very tree flowers that may be bothering our sinuses in the springtime. This is the same theory as immunizations, but without any known side effects.

Considered harmless enough for infants and even used with newborns, they’re likely safer, since they aren’t preserved with mercury and other potentially toxic heavy metals. Instead, they’re simple drops that may go in water or under the tongue. They have little or no flavor. In Germany and much of Europe, doctors prescribe homeopathic remedies for many chronic conditions such as allergies. Far fewer people there risk the potentially harmful side effects of the pharmaceutical preparations because so many folks find the homeopathic remedies very helpful in providing immediate temporary comfort.

Elder flower, the same bush that provides us with the elderberry in summer, has been used to help the body with inflammations of the skin, lungs, stomach and the sinuses for more than 2,500 years. I have witnessed the elder flower in helping with severe allergy symptoms, even when medications and other home remedies were of little or no use.

An example of this was a 73 year old man who came to me in Boston and stated that he didn’t believe in ‘any of this natural stuff’, but his allergies were so bad and nothing seemed to help. He had not had three days in a row where he was free of allergy symptoms in almost seven years, and just couldn’t take it much longer.

His friend suggested that he visit my office, and just follow what I might suggest, even though he did not believe in it. He told me that he would take only one product, so I suggested that, if it were me only taking one product, I would choose my most favorite elder syrup; Flora’s Sambu (or their newer version, Sambu Guard). These delicious syrups combine elder flower with elderberry, and Sambu has been on the European market for nearly 100 years. He jokingly asked if the reason I thought of this product was because he was an elder man. I told him that it as because he was a wise enough elder to ask me for my opinion!

He called a few days later to report that he was ‘marginally hopeful’; that he had not had any symptoms of his nasal allergies since about four hours after his visit to my office. I had taught him that when we suffer an acute situation, ancient herbal wisdom suggests taking a small amount of the herb as often as every hour or even every half hour.

Although the directions for the Sambu that he chose to use states to take one to two tablespoons, we discussed how our ancestors would more likely have used a half to one teaspoon frequently, and once the acute situation was past, they may have taken one to two teaspoons morning and night for prevention. They would have continued this preventive practice for about one month for each year that they had experienced the condition; in this gentleman’s situation, he took it for seven months. He called me again after nearly four months to say that I had made a true believer out of him. He said, “I guess this proves that you really can teach an old dog new tricks!”

Mrs. M. Grieve, author of A Modern Herbal, writes, “The flowers were used by our forefathers in bronchial and pulmonary affections, and in scarlet fever, measles and other eruptive diseases. An infusion of the dried flowers, Elder Flower Tea, is said to promote expectoration in pleurisy; … and is considered excellent for inducing free perspiration. It is a good old fashioned remedy for colds and throat trouble, taken hot on going to bed. An almost infallible cure for an attack of influenza in its first stage…”

We want to be sure to choose organically grown herbs, as many of the chemicals used in commercial farming are themselves allergens. To achieve immediate relief, we’ll need to moderate excess inflammation. Turmeric root, especially in a supercritical extract form found in two excellent products from Thera Veda called Ajay Aller Support and Pavan Respiratory Support and New Chapter’s Turmericforce will help the body to detoxify allergens from the liver and blood as it helps the body modulate the excess inflammation. Other excellent blood purifiers that may also provide detoxification support include red clover, burdock, yellow dock and dandelion root.

Nasal Support, organically grown, freeze-dried herbs in a vegetarian capsule, is produced by Eclectic Institute. This is my other most favorite herbal product (along with the Sambu) for any sort of sinus discomfort. Nasal Support contains nettles, eyebright, elder flower and horseradish. As you’ll see, this is a premier formulation in a high quality product.

Nettles, sometimes called stinging nettles, has been used in a variety of ways for inflammation associated with allergies and skin irritations for centuries. Nettles helps to purify the blood and balance the Ph, facilitating a release of the assumed toxin causing an excessive immune response called an allergy. Nettles may be used in tincture, tea, freeze-dried capsules, fresh and, my favorite, in pesto! (To make nettles pesto, use equal parts of nettles and basil, or nettles and cilantro.)

Nettles was researched for allergies and rhinitis and found to relieve all or most symptoms in most of the patients (58%). Now, they took the herbs at specific times, rather than the way our ancestors would have used them; as needed. There are not side effects associated with nettles. The side benefits are numerous, however, from glowing clear skin, healthy bones and good blood pressure rates, just to name a few.

My favorite ways to use nettles in supplemental form are the freeze-dried capsules and tincture. Just as our ancestors may have done when symptoms were acute, mentioned above with elder flower, a capsule or dropperful of tincture could have been taken every hour (or half hour in very acute situations), then morning and night (or morning, noon and night) for prevention once the acute symptoms had subsided.

Enzymes, specifically protein digesting enzymes called protease, can support the body with a reduction of allergy symptoms by digesting the proteins that cause excess inflammation. There are several excellent books on the market that explain the details and effectiveness of using enzyme therapy, but the short story is that there are always excess proteins present in the regions of the body where excess inflammation occurs, such as the sinuses or the skin of a person with allergies.

Having had arthritis since I was a child, I have experimented for decades with natural ways to deal with excess inflammation. In the early 1980’s a naturopathic doctor suggested I try enzyme therapy to reduce my pain. He suggested I take ten of the very best digestive enzyme capsules on the market at a time, between meals (at least two hours after a meal and thirty minutes before the next meal), five times per day for five days.

Because I had very significant hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), I usually ate five to six small meals every day. I bought the 250 capsules of the best digestive enzymes, and took the handful of ten at a time, over the course of seven or eight days’ time. My hand and knee pain was gone by the end of the first day. It did not return for several months. I did a follow-up enzyme therapy program every three months or so for three or four days for several years, keeping the arthritis pain at bay.

Sinus inflammation associated with allergies has been very responsive to enzyme therapy in several young people I’ve known to try it out over the years. I once knew a young man who was told by his alternative practitioner to use Renew Life’s Digest More enzymes, six at a time, before breakfast, before lunch, before dinner and before bed for eight days. He shared with me that he felt relief on the second day and didn’t have any allergy symptoms for several weeks.

Probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that reside in the intestinal tract, support our digestion and immune system in numerous ways. It is important to have a wide variety of these beneficial bacteria in the gut. There are trillions of probiotics in a healthy digestive tract. When they have been damaged or wiped out by antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills, excess stress, sugar, radiation, chemotherapy and a thousand other things, opportunistic microorganisms such as candida, harmful bacteria and parasites move in and wreck havoc.

When these potentially pathogenic microorganisms are in the majority, immune health suffers. It may become sluggish or reactive to normally occurring things, such as flower pollen (tree, grass, ragweed, etc) dust, pet dander, mold spores, etc. See the connection?

Remember, there are very few truly excellent probiotics on the market. The three brands I find most effective are Bio-K Plus, Natren and New Chapter.

Cellfood is an amazing product, formulated with 78 ionic minerals, 34 enzymes, 17 amino acids, electrolytes and dissolved oxygen. Helping to deliver oxygen to every cell in the body, Cellfood can support the lungs, heart, lymphatic, immune and digestive systems. Many people report increased energy, vitality, deeper sleep and a brighter outlook on life when they use Cellfood regularly. This may be due to the detoxification properties, the nutrient support, the nascent oxygen or all of the above.

Cellfood is easy to use. Simply drip eight drops into a glass of water three times daily and drink. Its lemony flavor is pleasant as it helps to balance our pH. I once had a friend who moved to Boston from the Midwest. Ginny’s allergies immediately went wild. She began to use her prescription medication frequently throughout the day. She got jittery, agitated and began losing sleep.

Not comfortable with this, she researched some herbs and supplements that might help her. Ginny asked me what I thought about Cellfood. I shared that I used it nearly every day and she smiled. A few minutes later, she returned with the small bottle of Cellfood she had purchased earlier in the day, dropping the first eight drops into her water bottle.

A few days later, she let me know that she only needed her medication one more time after that first use of Cellfood. Four years later, we were talking about the amazing benefits of Cellfood and Ginny shared with me that she had only ever used her medication three more times and that she still kept it on hand for emergencies, but she felt that she’d never be without her Cellfood again.

Eyebright is a small common weed found throughout much of the temperate regions of the world. People have used eyebright for allergies, sinusitis and the common cold. Eyebright help the body reduce mucus secretion, assisting in the relief of sinus irritation. For centuries, eyebright was the herb of choice when the eyes, and the face in general, appeared cloudy, dull and puffy; hence the need for brightening the eyes; eyebright!

A word or two about bee pollen. If you’re at all familiar with holistic remedies, you’ve probably heard that bee pollen provides effective relief for sinus issues. But we’re experiencing a national crisis with our bees. Bees, especially honey bees, some of the most important pollinators, are dying at record levels. And most recently a mystery has also been occurring; bees are simply disappearing. Hives are being found with no sign of life. The ‘experts’ say that they can’t understand what’s causing this massive problem.

Well, let’s consider this. For more than a half century, we’ve been harvesting everything that the bee produces to keep their communities healthy. We take their food, the honey; their medicine, the propolis; etc. In return, we give them some sugar water; SUGAR WATER! Anyone reading this blog has got to understand that refined white sugar is very, very bad for us. Who can’t figure out that if, for decades we steal the bees’ nourishment and protection, an opportunistic pest will come along and do damage. In this case, it’s a mite; a small bug that attaches itself to the bee’s back and literally sucks the life out of it. We need to change things here.

If you feel you must use honey, pollen, propolis, etc., please buy certified organic products. Unlike the unhealthy harvesting practices of commercial beekeepers, certified organic bee products are harvested much more ethically, leaving plenty of nourishment and propolis to protect the hive from danger. About the only organic bee products I really trust, available at most real health food stores are produced by Y.S. Organic Bee Farms.

Since there are so many high quality herbal products that are easily available in most regions and on the web, there is no longer a reason to suffer this spring; don’t you agree?

One of the best selling pharmaceutical drugs on the market, prescribed for high cholesterol concerns, tells us in their ads that bad cholesterol comes from two sources; our family and our food. This is not entirely correct, however.

Genetics is not shown to pass along high cholesterol. In fact, until the 1930’s and ’40’s, high cholesterol is believed to not have actually existed. Research shows that people did not get high ‘bad’ cholesterol and low ‘good’ cholesterol before the 1930’s. And we know that our American and North European ancestors before that time consumed plenty of butter, milk, cream, meats (all locally raised), lard and other foods we’ve been told for decades to stay away from.

By the late 1940’s, cardiovascular disease had become the number one cause of death in the US. What changed? What can we do to prevent cholesterol problems and heart disease today without risking the serious side effects associated with cholesterol drugs?

Genetics do show that a propensity for cholesterol concerns may indeed run in the family in more recent generations. But the real problem may actually be that poor eating and lifestyle habits tend to run in families. When a person with the genetic propensity for heart disease and cholesterol concerns makes changes to their dietary and lifestyle patterns, their health follows suit.

The food that we consume certainly plays a roll in all issues regarding our health. The information that we have been given in the past several decades about which foods contribute to high cholesterol is far from correct and truthful, however. One of the largest studies in medical history, the Framingham Heart Study, has been conducted from 1948 to the present, and was designed to see which biologic and environmental factors might help prevent the rapidly growing problem of heart disease. The researchers found that there was a relationship between high levels of serum cholesterol and heart attacks.

Since foods like butter, eggs, steak and heavy cream were shown to contain significant amounts of cholesterol; they were immediately targeted as the culprits. But the Framingham Study showed quite a different correlation.

The study unequivocally showed that those participants that ate more of those foods; butter, cheeses and eggs, etc, actually had lower LDL, the ‘bad’ cholesterol and higher HDL, the ‘good’ cholesterol, and those who ate more margarine, refined vegetable oils, etc. had exactly the opposite!

It was then believed that it may not actually be the amount of cholesterol found in the foods that is our problem, since we’ve learned that the liver produces the majority of cholesterol in the body (about 4 times more than we eat); but the level of saturated fat that the foods contained. Saturated fat became the bad guy to stay away from. But, as the results of various studies came in, this wasn’t adding up, either.

A great example of this is shown in those people from tropical regions who consume high amounts of coconut or palm oil, both highly saturated fats. There has been little or no cholesterol issue for people in most of these regions until refined vegetable oils are introduced. Recent research has shown that some of the Caribbean countries where many refined foods including vegetable oils are now consumed have similar cholesterol problems as in the US.

Dr. Mary G. Enig, author of Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol, states that “… a study in 1981 showed that islanders with high intakes of coconut oil showed ‘no evidence of the high saturated fat intake having a harmful effect in these populations’. When these groups migrated to New Zealand, however, and lowered their intake of coconut oil, their total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol increased, and their HDL cholesterol decreased.”

Once again, it seems that the real culprit is highly refined ‘junk’ food. When man alters nature to increase profits, in this case through providing longer shelf life so that we may purchase cases of packaged foods or gallons of liquids, etc at a time, and leave it on a shelf for months or years, our health suffers as those profits soar.

Twelve million Americans currently take cholesterol lowering prescription medications, and the drug companies claim that there should be 23 million more taking these expensive drugs. The way many cholesterol medications, called statins, work is by blocking the body’s cholesterol production in the liver.

Statin drugs have a significant list of potential side effects, including the following:

weakening and damaging muscles (and what is the muscle we are attempting to protect- the heart!),
disrupt and reduce our energy production,
exhaust the adrenal glands,
interrupt the body’s ability to synthesize vitamin D,
damage to the kidneys,
provoke cardiomyopathy, (where the heart muscle becomes inflamed, reducing function),
block co-enzyme Q10 production (necessary for all cells, and most important to heart cells),
increased risk of various forms of cancer, and
numerous interactions with various other drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription.

Other less common potential side effects include:

suicide,
depression, and
brain damage.

Although the drug companies say that there is a very low chance of experiencing any of these side effects, I have met dozens of people who have had one or more serious health concerns related to statin drugs. One gentleman who came to the herbal pharmacy where I was an herbalist on staff was no longer able to grip a pen to sign a check or credit card receipt. He reported that his doctor had determined that it was due to the statin drugs that he had taken for several years. Why would we jeopardize our heart muscle in this way?

Diet and exercise are always recommended to be used in conjunction with cholesterol medication. The funny thing is that proper diet and daily exercise is almost always enough to keep cholesterol levels in a healthy range (unless we are overweight). The problem may indeed be that few people know how to eat properly and how much exercise to get anymore. There is so much confusion about what’s really healthy and what’s not.

Too many people with weight concerns still have heart issues even when their cholesterol levels are modified with medication. We need to get off the couch and exercise every day. Not once a week, not two or three times a week; but every single day. Every aspect of health is optimized with daily exercise, and probably none more than heart health. And those of us who are overweight, need to lose that excess weight to be truly healthy!

Have you heard…? Cholesterol is no longer considered a good indicator for heart disease. Statistics show that about 50% of all people who have high cholesterol and lower it to the normal range will still have a cardiovascular episode. And, approximately 50% of all people who have a cardiovascular episode didn’t have a high cholesterol problem.

What recent research shows is that excess inflammation of the circulatory system is present in virtually 100% of those who experience heart disease and a cardiovascular event. The test for measuring this excess inflammation is called the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test. Excess inflammation is believed to be the most reliable measurement for predicting heart disease or a cardiovascular episode. More doctors need to focus on these very important facts to protect our heart health.

Now I’m sure I have read more than 100 articles about the importance of reducing cholesterol in the past twenty years, but there’s one thing I’ve never seen any of those articles mention that seems to be very important for all of us to understand. Cholesterol is crucial for optimal health.

The body needs cholesterol for dozens of functions including:

Converting our exposure to sunlight into vitamin D,
Energy production,
The brain uses cholesterol for optimal functioning,
The nervous system and spinal cord use plenty of cholesterol when working optimally,
Every cell in the healthy body contains and uses cholesterol,
Bile salts, used to properly break down fats for use in the cells, are produced with cholesterol, and
Sex organs need cholesterol for proper performance.

Why would we choose to stop the liver from producing such an important substance for the body’s optimal health and performance?

Looking at cholesterol concerns from a holistic point of view is very different from the way modern allopathic medicine does. Liver and colon health are extremely important for healthy cholesterol numbers. The liver produces much of the cholesterol found in the blood, and the liver is responsible for slating excess cholesterol to be eliminated from the body. Excess cholesterol is sent to the intestinal tract for elimination, but since most Americans have poor digestion, suffering from either constipation or an issue with Irritable Bowel (IBS), elimination of this excess cholesterol is compromised. Through the leaky gut condition (which usually accompanies constipation and IBS), the cholesterol becomes reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

Detoxification (and repair of the leaky gut) is an important step in eliminating these concerns and maintaining healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Supportive herbs and supplements for daily detoxification can help the liver and colon function more efficiently. Please read: Daily Detoxification, posted to this site on January 31, 2007.

Turmeric, a spicy herb from the Indian subcontinent, has gotten significant praise in the last few years for its effect on excess inflammation and detoxification of the liver, blood and cells. According to the very excellent University of Maryland Medical Center website:

”Early studies suggest that turmeric may prove helpful in preventing the build up of atherosclerosis (blockage of arteries that can eventually cause a heart attack or stroke) in one of two ways. First, in animal studies an extract of turmeric lowered cholesterol levels and inhibited the oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Oxidized LDL deposits in the walls of blood vessels and contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. Turmeric may also prevent platelet build up along the walls of an injured blood vessel. Platelets collecting at the site of a damaged blood vessel cause blood clots to form and blockage of the artery as well. Studies of the use of turmeric to prevent or treat heart disease in people would be interesting in terms of determining if these mechanisms discovered in animals apply to people at risk for this condition.”

As I always remind readers, quality is of utmost importance. When it comes to Turmeric, most of the products on the US market are extracted with potentially harmful chemical solvents. The clue to this is on the back panel. If a Turmeric product says that it contains 95% curcumin (or curcuminoids), it’s a chemical extract every time. This is because the Turmeric root usually contains 5-7% mixed curcuminoids, and it may naturally be up to 11% or so when grown organically or biodynamically). Some of the best Turmeric products include Turmericforce from New Chapter and tinctures from Gaia Herbs or Herb Pharm. Another potent product produced by Thera Veda, and formulated by a fourth generation Ayurvedic doctor to support cardiovascular health is called Narsimha Heart/Cholesterol Support. This Ayurvedic herbal formula combines Turmeric, Guggul, Amrita and Fenugreek to assist the body with digestion, liver and circulatory health.

Cinnamon research for healthy cholesterol numbers is getting a lot of attention recently. Consuming just one gram (one half teaspoon) of cinnamon daily is shown to support the body in lowering the bad LDL cholesterol (7-27%), and total cholesterol (12-26%) levels. Now, don’t think that old, tired cinnamon that’s been sitting in your cupboard for the past ten years is going to provide you with the same sorts of results. If you’re interested in health benefits, please go buy some fresher, organic cinnamon and add it to your oatmeal, apple juice, or pumpkin soup. If you prefer a capsule, you may want to try Oregon’s Wild Harvest or Cinnamonforce by New Chapter.

Garlic is the most well researched herb on Earth. Garlic is highly regarded for its ability to support heart health, detoxify the blood, help the body to achieve healthy cholesterol numbers and improve the immune system’s ability to ward off pathogens. If you prefer to eat your garlic to support your cholesterol numbers and heart health, buy organic (of course) and be sure to whack it with the side of the knife. This activates the allicins, the part found to be medicinal. Research has shown that simply chopping or putting it through the garlic press does not thoroughly activate those allicins, so whack it first and then chop or press it for best results! Whether cooked or raw, we receive much of the health benefits from garlic.

Now, most of the garlic products on the US market are called ‘deodorized’ or ‘odor free’ or the like. It is estimated by those who research garlic that as much as 95% of the medicinal value of garlic is in the stinky oils. And, even when odorless, garlic is shown in research to provide some health benefits, so imagine how much more we are likely to get when we use a broad spectrum product with all those allicins activated! Try the Garlicforce by New Chapter for what is likely to be the most potent garlic in capsule form anywhere on Earth.

Cayenne, Burdock root, Dandelion root, Yellow dock and Red clover are some of the other herbs known to support healthy cholesterol numbers. What do all of these herbs have in common? They’re all powerful herbs to help the body cleanse and purify the liver and blood. Makes sense, right? As always, be sure to purchase certified organic herbal products from a reputable company.

For a detailed report on cholesterol written by a brilliant and well researched medical doctor, please visit: Cholesterol is NOT the Cause of Heart Disease.

Obesity, linked with heart disease and cardiovascular related complications, is at an all time high. Why do 60 million of us have high blood pressure when there are so many well researched herbs and supplements for supporting heart health?

For decades we’ve been told to reduce our fat intake to prevent obesity and heart disease. No distinction was made between the ‘good fats’ and the ‘bad fats’. For a long while, all fat was grouped into one category as harmful for our health. Thank goodness that in the past decade, ‘good fats’ have become one of the hottest selling categories in the natural supplements industry.

It is true that it is of utmost importance to steer clear of the manmade trans fats when we desire a healthy heart. But the fatty acids needed by each and every cell within the human body are quite another story. Many of the necessary fats are manufactured within the human body. There are two types of fatty acids that must be consumed because the body is unable to manufacture them. These essential fatty acids (EFA’s) include the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Although the cardiovascular system uses several fatty acids, research shows that it is the omega 3 fats that are the most beneficial for supporting heart health.

The omega 3 fatty acids are found in cold water fish such as salmon, tuna (the dark meat) and swordfish, nuts and seeds, especially flax and hempseed. They have been recognized in recent years for their profound ability to help prevent heart disease and to support a person’s recovery after a cardiac event.

There are more than 6,000 scientific and clinical studies having been performed with omega 3 fats. They have been found to help the body reduce excess inflammation, a major component in heart disease. This is reflected in numerous studies which have shown that the omega 3 fatty acids support reduced triglyceride levels, help to inhibit aggressive platelet aggregation and reduce fibrinogen (which leads to plaque). Omega 3 fats have also been shown to support lower LDL, the ‘bad cholesterol’ and higher HDL, the ‘good cholesterol’, levels. More than sixty double blind clinical studies show that omega 3 fats help the body to normalize both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels.

And here, once again, I’ll mention that it is of utmost importance to choose high quality foods and supplements for optimal nutritional value. Wild salmon is very high in omega 3 fats. But these days, most of the salmon on the market is factory farmed. These farmed fish are found to be low in omega 3 fats, and they are dyed red (to make the flesh salmon pink) because they are like a white fish when they’re filleted. High quality fish oil supplements support the heart, brain, nervous system and liver. But poor quality products have been known to be rancid or contaminated with heavy metals. Don’t be fooled by that low price tag!

And a brief word on flax. If you want to support cardiovascular (and digestive) health, and you choose to eat flax, please buy organic to prevent consuming GMO’s, and buy whole flax seeds, either golden or brown, and grind them to order. A coffee bean grinder works perfectly, and is quite inexpensive to purchase. (Don’t use the same one that you grind your coffee with, though.) Flax, high in the omega 3’s, tends to go rancid very, very quickly, usually in 15-30 minutes. The ground flax meal found in stores usually contains rancid oils, which the body cannot use properly and they may even impede optimal health.

An important factor in the body’s ability to properly utilize the essential fatty acids is how well we are able to digest. If we tend toward poor digestion, experience acid reflux, constipation, IBS or have liver or gall bladder issues, we may not be able to properly break down, absorb and utilize those essential fats on a cellular level. This would indicate the necessity for the digestive enzyme, called lipase, which the body uses to break down fats in our intestines. Research has shown that, when we consume fish, flax or supplements with lipase, we may actually utilize three (or possibly four or even five) times more of the essential fatty acids within our cells. The two companies that use a significant amount of lipase in their digestive enzymes are Renew Life and Enzymedica. Renew Life also produces a line of essential fatty acid supplements containing the lipase right with the oils. Oil Smart and Fish Smart are two of these excellent products.

Another factor that determines whether or not we are able to properly utilize the essential fatty acids that we consume is whether we use commercial or ‘natural’ cleaning products on our dishes, clothes and within our home. There is research that shows that the solvents and ‘grease fighters’ in dishwashing and laundry detergents, both machine and hand washing, can be taken into our bodies in trace amounts through foods and our skin. When this happens, these chemicals can ‘strip’ some of the good fats and inhibit our ability to properly process and assimilate (utilize) the good fats within our cells.

For optimal health, we need to switch to natural cleaning products. Many work as well as their commercial counterparts, but they’re gentler on our bodies and the environment. Look for brands such as Seventh Generation, Life Tree, Citra-Solv or Ecos. We can also easily make our own very effective cleaning products at home. We’ve been told in media advertising for decades that if we’re not using those leading brands, our clothes and homes will look dingy and grey. This is completely untrue. It’s time for us to reject those slick marketing campaigns, and protect ourselves, our families and our planet.

Besides improving cardiovascular health, research shows that consuming high quality essential fatty acids also supports eye, brain and nervous system health. EFA’s are linked with positive effects in mood, excess stress and brain fog. Numerous studies have also provided information about improvements in serious health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PMS, menopause, ADD, ADHD, arthritis, and so much more. More on several of these benefits will be posted here very soon. Stay tuned.

Wintertime, indoor and year-round allergies can contribute to loss of sleep, irritability, high stress levels, lack of energy and vitality, and interrupt our ability to think clearly. Medications can make us feel wired, drowsy or have other side effects, including increased risk of heart attacks. What we’re really searching for is long-term relief without the discomforts and potentially life-threatening side-effects the medicines offer.

Well, there’s good news! Choosing the right herbal program, learning effective breathing exercises and making prudent lifestyle changes can provide that much needed relief to help balance and harmonize the immune system, so that allergy triggers may no longer be a problem for you!

Indoor air quality can be much more harmful for us than outdoor air. Indoor air is estimated to be an average of seven times worse than the outdoor air that gets most of the attention. When we live in the city, the air in our homes, offices and schools can be significantly more harmful, in part because the outdoor air circulating into the building is of poor quality to begin with. The fact that most of us spend as much as 7/8 of our life indoors and about 1/3 of our day in the bedroom, it is easy to understand why indoor air would have such an impact on our health.

There are several triggers, or allergy activators, throughout our homes that may be adjusted or eliminated to improve the health of our families, so as to help prevent allergies and other respiratory concerns. Some of the top triggers include: mold, mildew, dust (mites), pet dander, and the off-gassing of hundreds of items throughout your home, school, and workplace. We may become sensitive to any of these triggers at any age. We will address food triggers and chemical sensitivities later.

We’ll first very briefly address mold. Mold is believed to be the cause of some very serious health concerns for many of us, directly or indirectly. Many homes and buildings have mold growing in the basement, carpet, bathroom walls and vents. It may grow seasonally or year-round, appear odorous or unnoticeable. Regardless, mold can have a very significant impact on our overall health and specifically on our respiratory and immune systems. Some of the black molds can even be life-threatening. Inhaling mold spores hour after hour, day after day, may also do to damage our mucosal tissue, the tissue that lines our lungs and respiratory system, digestive tract and the urinary region.

Dust alone is not usually a trigger; but rather it is the mites, or small bugs, that live within the dust that can activate our over-reactive immune systems. Dust mites can also damage our mucosal tissue when inhaled over long periods of time or in great quantities. Pet dander has a similar effect within the body.

The heating and air conditioning systems inside our homes and the buildings we frequent can circulate these airborne allergens throughout every region of the indoors. Our desire to save energy and conserve heat has created very airtight buildings, so there is less circulation of fresh air. The respiratory tract needs fresh air (from the outdoors) circulating indoors to keep healthy and functioning optimally.

The basement is a harbinger of potentially toxic chemicals, molds and dust mites. The mold found in the basement, when left unattended, can spread via the insides of walls, along pipes and in other out-of-site areas. When there has been a mold problem caused by a flood or chronic dampness, it is crucial that everything affected be removed completely.

Anything porous will take the mold in, so it will need to be removed and disposed of. Fabrics may be salvaged by washing or dry-cleaning, but carpets, particle board cabinets or furniture, sheetrock and wallboard need to be thrown away. (Please do not put carpet and sheetrock in a basement, regardless of whether it is considered to be dry. If it is a basement, there will be some dampness, and this will impact your family’s health.) There are some excellent companies and organizations that provide removal of mold and affected fixtures, but there are also many scammers out there, so be certain that any company you choose to work with is fully insured and has a good reputation in your community.

We’re all exposed to tens of thousands of chemical compounds in our modern-day lives. In commercially prepared clothing, appliances, walls, carpeting and furniture; practically everything in life contains chemicals and/or emits off-gassing. Glues, resins, chemicals and components in furniture, cabinetry, new cars, electronics and new construction can be detected by the average nose for a few days or months, but are believed to actually off-gas for an average of three years. This will likely have an effect on an already compromised immune system.

We are exposed to our clothing and bedding virtually every minute of the day. The chemicals in commercial laundry detergents and fabric softeners are believed by some experts contribute to the toxin overload that may lead to the immune system’s breakdown and subsequent overreactions to what we call common allergens. Television commercials lead us to believe that we’ll look dingy and grey if we don’t use the leading brands, but real research indicates that simpler, more natural cleaners do a comparable or better job. So try a natural laundry detergent and household spray for a few weeks and see how you feel!

Providing your family with these health-promoting changes may significantly improve their health, energy levels and prevention of symptoms. We’ll address food, herbs, chemical exposure and more prevention in future posts.

There are hundreds of detoxification programs and thousands of products on the market that are made to assist our bodies in better eliminating the tens of thousands of toxins that we are exposed to in our lifetimes. It is essential that we choose to use the very best herbs and supplements, and eat the purest, most nourishing foods during any detoxification program to achieve optimal results. A cleanse may be customized to address our bodies’ specific needs or of a general nature.

Many of the toxins that we’re exposed to daily are well-known to accumulate within our liver, blood, organs, tissues and cells. It is important to free the body of these and other toxic accumulations to provide the body the greatest opportunity to prevent illness, disease, pain and discomfort.

Detoxification has been a regular part of every healthy culture of people on Earth for all of recorded history. Once, twice or even several times each year, people would use roots, herbs, berries, exercise and meditation or prayer to help clear the body of the accumulation of toxins from the preceding months. In some regions, even children would participate. In our American culture, we produce and are exposed to thousands of chemical compounds (with 700 or more new chemical compounds receive approval from the FDA each year,) and we almost never detoxify our bodies.

When we eat foods denatured by decades of poor farming practices, enriched with questionable forms of chemically purified isolated nutrients and loaded with artificial colors, flavors, fillers, preservatives and rancid oils, it’s just a matter of time before the body (and/or mind) begins to break down. Add to this the excess stress and the fast paced lives that most of us live these days, the lack of daily exercise and the worry and fear that is so prevalent in the media and in our thoughts, it is easy to see why detoxification on a regular basis is so essential to good health.

Sometimes, with the best of intentions, we attempt to detoxify our bodies, but instead we stir things up and release those potentially carcinogenic toxic materials from the regions where they were more safely stored. When we’re not able to actually rid them completely from the body, these toxins can become even more harmful to our health and well-being. Not the intentions we had when we decided that a cleanse would be a good idea!

Ideally, a good detoxification program should happen on all levels, to cleanse not only the body, but the mind and soul as well. It seems it is not enough to detoxify only the body from some of the well-known carcinogenic toxins that may be accumulating within us. If we cleanse our bodies, but continue to think toxic thoughts, we are still likely to live with sickness and imbalances of the mind, and likely the body, too.

Cleanses usually last for one, three, five, seven or ten days. Longer detoxification programs should only be practiced with the guidance of a qualified practitioner by those who require more advanced detoxification. Detoxification programs may take place annually in the spring or fall; bi-annually, usually in the spring and the fall; and more rarely, three or four times a year, usually with the change of seasons.

It is important to enter into a cleanse gradually, usually over the course of three days. After a cleanse, we would ease back into regular eating over two or three days, as well. Cleansing the body can feel challenging for the first three days for some, but others begin to feel energized right away. By the fourth day, most people find that they experience more lightness, freedom from pain, increased energy and vitality, at least for awhile.

When choosing to begin a cleanse, it is ideal to determine a period of time that will work best for you for relaxing and doing all that is necessary for the complete release of toxins. By this I am suggesting that you would plan the first three days (for a cleanse that shall last for three or more days) fall when you don’t have to work, or you have a reduced work load. If you have children living at home, you may want to send them off to their favorite aunt or friend’s house, if possible, for as much of these first three days as you can. Be sure those around you know that you are detoxifying, because some of the symptoms of the release of toxic overload from the cells, organs and entire body can be irritability, blotchy red skin, acne, slight nausea, flu-like symptoms, etc.

Many holistic healthcare providers have claimed that these and many more uncomfortable symptoms are a necessary part of the detoxification process, but over the years, I have grown to disagree with this idea fairly wholeheartedly. My most effective cleanses have been relatively symptom free. The cleanses where I experienced the most uncomfortable symptoms, I believe that I was just redistributing those previously stored toxins because I did not eliminate fully as I cleansed, and therefore, I got far less long-term benefits from the detox.

To learn more about detoxification, I suggest you read The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates and Renew Your Life by Brenda Watson.

Please stay tuned. I’ll be addressing the details of effective detoxification, and the whole foods, herbs and nutritional products to support a pure, strong, vibrant, healthy body, mind and spirit.

Far too many people are finding themselves suffering with chronic, often debilitating, pain. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has stated that an estimated 20 million Americans suffer with various forms of arthritis. Add to this those who experience fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, lupus, stress, anxiety, depression, nerve damage or the latest mysterious condition their doctor can’t figure out, and it is easy to see that we have an epidemic of chronic pain on our hands. The pain is there as a warning sign, and if we find health promoting ways to correct the imbalances that lead to our discomforts, we may certainly feel a great deal better and prevent more serious health threats in the process.

Inflammation has become quite the buzz word, being found to be associated with virtually all painful conditions. Inflammation has now been linked to everything from Alzheimer’s and type 2 diabetes to cardiovascular disease and many types of cancer. Inflammation is also believed to contribute to headaches, allergies, asthma, PMS, menopause, IBS and bowel diseases. It seems that at least one of these challenging conditions, many considered uncommon just a generation ago, is affecting just about everyone these days, including many children.

If you or a loved one experience chronic pain, you may want to speak to a knowledgeable holistic healthcare provider about herbs, healthy foods, nutritional supplements and regular, gentle exercises to reduce the inflammation and help you reclaim optimal health. There is a wealth of recent research to support what our ancestors knew about using foods and herbs for the prevention of joint and muscle pain and to keep the internal organs functioning properly. In the coming weeks and months, we will discuss dozens of sensible approaches to calming the fires of inflammation and regaining a healthy mind, body and soul with healing foods, herbs and lifestyle choices.

The media has reported frequently on the dangers of anti-inflammatory drugs since the end of September, 2004 when Vioxx was pulled from the market due to concerns about a significantly higher risk of heart attack with the users of this and other similar medications. Many folks have been at a loss as to how to manage their pain without these pharmaceutical drugs.

Here’s the good news! There are many safe and effective products and practices you can do right now to successfully deal with pain, and many of them help the body over time to actually prevent inflammation and pain from recurring. Some of the best herbal choices, according to a wealth of research, do not mask the pain as the medications usually do but instead seem to work right along with the body in a number of non-select ways, to support its ability to respond most favorably to the pain and inflammation, as well as their underlying causes. Some of these well researched herbs include ginger, oregano, turmeric, rosemary, holy basil, green tea, Baikal skullcap (the Chinese scutellaria) and boswellia.

The three most important things to remember when choosing an herb, food or nutritional supplement if you want positive results are:
Quality, Quality, Quality.

Look for organically grown, purely extracted herbal preparations from reliable companies. Did you know that many herbal products in the US are actually extracted with hexane, acetone and dry cleaning fluid? Frightening as this is, the FDA does not even require this information to be printed on the label. So as you can imagine, it gets pretty confusing trying to determine what a superior product might be from the array of choices. Poor quality herbs, foods and supplements are at best unsupportive of vibrant health and well-being, and at worst may contribute to our further toxicity and discomfort. Please read: Quality Is Everything!, posted to this site August 28, 2006.

There are really very few companies on the market whose products I highly recommend. A few of the bigger companies offering superior products that you may want to check out include:

New Chapter,
Flora- Floradix, Bija, Udo’s Choice and Dr. Dunner,
Organix South- Thera Neem and Thera Veda
Gaia Herbs,
Pure Planet
Renew Life,
Eclectic Institute, (most of their product line)
Avena Botanicals,
Nordic Naturals,
Herb Pharm,
Megafood

These companies have an unequivocal commitment to quality and purity that is unsurpassed in our industry. You may find many of the herbs mentioned previously that are used to support and comfort a body in pain within these product lines. My most beloved herbal product for relieving the chronic pain I’ve had for most of my life is called Zyflamend (by New Chapter), and this phenomenal product combines most of those herbs in a safe, easy-to-use softgel (or liquid for vegetarians). The research supporting this product has been done at highly regarded centers such as Columbia University, The Cleveland Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center. There will be much more detailed information on these and other helpful herbs and supplements in the coming posts. Stay tuned…

Note: Please discuss the addition of any therapeutic herbal product or program with your healthcare provider, so that s/he is aware of what you using, and may assist you most effectively if you need her/his further guidance.

There are many health promoting solutions to the pain and discomfort associated with the health concerns that are plaguing many of us and in this stressed out, fast-paced, over-achieving world community. For additional information about what you can do right now to help reduce inflammation and regain your vibrant health, please read: Safe Alternatives for Inflammation Relief, posted to this site on September 1, 2006, and begin to feel better today!

This is my submission for the How-To Writing Project at Problogger.