Archive for herbs

Review of ReVitaPhi: A Masterpiece of Superfoods Offered by Elements for Life

February 8, 2009 at 3:59 am · Filed under herbs, raw food

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by Mike Adams

(NaturalNews) Dr. Jameth Sheridan is probably the best superfood product formulator alive today. That’s no small achievement, either: His products go beyond the world of basic nutrition and embrace the realm of food energetics. There’s a quality about his products that resonates with high-vibration people, and every person I’ve ever watched test his products energetically (through muscle testing, etc.) has been astonished at the positive results. Jameth is best known for his Vitamineral Green product (www.HealthForce.com), but today I wanted to introduce you to a product he has formulated specifically for the Elements for Life company, a superfoods network marketing company that provides raw foods, goji berries, superfoods and other similar products. For the record, I have no financial ties to this company. It is one of just four network marketing companies I currently advocate. I have financial ties to two of them, and no ties to the other two. This is one of the two companies I have no financial ties with, but advocate anyway. The product is called ReVitaPhi, and it’s a super nutrient-dense collection of land vegetables, aquatic vegetables, enzymes, food-based minerals and ancient herbs like Tulsi, Ho Shu Wu, Ashwaganda and even Moringa (which a lot of people are learning about all of a sudden!). First, though, a word of warning: This product is not a toy. It’s not a delicious green drink that kids are likely to enjoy (like Delicious Greens). Instead, this is perhaps the most nutrient-dense superfood I’ve ever experienced, and the taste is complex and somewhat medicinal. It works very well blended into chocolate superfood smoothies, by the way, and hard-core raw foodies just drink it straight, mixed with water. (Wow!) So what’s in it, exactly? You can read about it in more detail and see the ingredients listed in an image on this page: http://www.noblelifeelements.com/pr… An Alkalizing Beauty Blend It’s called an “Alkalizing Beauty Blend,” and there’s no doubt that the combination of ingredients are highly alkalizing. I especially like the seaweeds (Kelp, Dulse, Laver, Bladderwrack), since they contain trace minerals from the ocean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laver_…)). The very high density of superfood ingredients in this formula means you only have to use one spoonful in your smoothie to experience significant benefits (unlike some other superfood products that need multiple scoops to provide similar nutrition). There’s also this to consider: Most superfood products don’t even include the kind of medicinal herbs and superfoods found in this formula. For example, you won’t find Tulsi in many products, nor Ho Shu Wu (Fo-Ti), an herb used extensively in the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The result is that this single product delivers a combination of high-vibration plant-based nutrients you just won’t find anywhere else. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind formulation from one of the best in the industry: Dr. Jameth Sheridan.

For more information or to purchase ReVitaPhi, visit: Elements For Life

http://www.naturalnews.com/025538.html

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Schizandra – The Quintessential Full Spectrum Tonic Herb

January 5, 2009 at 3:00 pm · Filed under herbs


The very name of Schizandra in Chinese, Wu Wei Zi, tells us a great deal about the qualities of this herb. Wu Wei Zi means Fruit of Five Flavors.” Due to the fact that Schizandra possesses all five of the classical “tastes” (sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty) and thus possesses the essence of all five of the elemental energies (wood, fire, earth, metal and water), Schizandra is respected as a health-providing tonic in the same class with Ginseng and Reishi Mushroom.

Schizandra has been used since the dawn of Chinese civilization as a tonic herb. From the beginning it has been revered, and remains one of the elite herbs of the Chinese system of herbalism.

It was first written about in Shen Nong’s Pharmacopoeia (between first and second century A.D.) where it was listed as a Superior herb.

The Taoists especially revered Schizandra. This is because Schizandra tonifies all 3 treasures, enters all 12 meridians and nurtures all 5 elements. Master Park considered it to be the quintessential herbal substance.

Though Schizandra is believed to benefit all the functions of the body, it has traditionally been considered to have the most influence on the Kidney, Lung and Liver functions.

A Famous Beauty Herb

Schizandra is widely used to beautify the skin and to protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun and wind. Due to the astringent quality of Schizandra, the skin tends to hold its moisture and becomes full and beautiful. It has always been veryPopular with the wealthy men and women of China, especially the women of the imperial court, because of its youth preserving and rejuvenating effects. It is said that those who use Schizandra consistently will remain youthful in both appearance and physiology.

I have seen the benefits of this herb with my own eyes hundreds of times in my life. People who start taking Schizandra regularly all change for the better. Their skin virtually glows and becomes clear and fine after several months.

An Excellent Mind Tonic With Double-Direction Regulation on The Central Nervous System

This herb is considered to be one of the premium mind tonics of herbalism. It is used to sharpen concentration, improve memory and increase alertness. Yet, unlike caffeine-like stimulants, Schizandra does not produce nervousness. In fact, some people consider Schizandra mildly “calming” while producing wakefulness and improved focus.

The ability of the dried fruit to increase mental and physical activity in humans was reported in numerous studies conducted in the 1950s. It has been demonstrated that human intellectual activity can be enhanced and work efficiency increased by consuming Schizandra. Various tests have shown that moderate therapeutic doses of Schizandra can improve various activities requiring con-Centration, fine coordination, sensitivity and endurance. The tests in humans confirming Schizandra’s efficacy in these areas range from threading needles to running marathons.

Schizandra has been demonstrated in laboratory animals and in humans to have a stimulant action on the central nervous system.

The herb works directly on the nervous tissue.

Conversely and paradoxically, schizandra also promotes sound sleep when combined with yin herbs or sedative (“Shen stabilizing”) herbs. Schizandra does not make people sleepy, but when it is time to sleep its action on the brain results in deeper, more satisfying sleep.

Many studies now indicate that Schizandra actually has a powerful balancing, or regulating, action on the central nervous system. It can result in accurate and optimal balancing between the excitatory and inhibitory control functions of the cerebral cortex.

Schizandra, The Perfect Liver Herb: Detoxifying, healing, regenerative and protective

Schizandra stands along with Reishi as the primary liver cleansing agents used in tonic programs. Schizandra does not have the side effects that are associated with many of the “medicinal,” or “inferior” liver cleansing herbs. Schizandra, especially alcohol extracts, are widely believed to protect the liver from damage due to poisons, as well as the by-products of living.

Phase I and Phase II of detoxification

Schizandra has been shown to strengthen and protect the liver.

It does this by detoxifying and rejuvenating this critical organ.

There are two critical stages to the process of liver detoxification, known as Phase I and Phase II. In Phase I, a detoxifying agent goes into the liver and binds with toxins, releasing them from the liver and taking them into the bloodstream. Almost always, this newly bound toxic bundle is more toxic than the original toxin.

This increased toxicity is known as bioactivation. It is obvious that this process can be dangerous. It’s similar to the removal of asbestos from an old house. It needs to be safely removed from the walls and from the building without exposing anyone to it again.

Re-exposure to old toxins in their new bioactivated form can make you sick – and much of this material will end up back in the liver again, or stored in other tissues.

During phase II of detoxification, the bioactivated toxins, which may be highly active, are safely cleared out of the body.

This, of course, is the part we all want to happen in quick and efficient order. If the phase II process is weak, faulty or absent, all we’ve done is re-poison ourselves.

Many substances can go into the liver and release old toxins into the bloodstream, but that is all they do, and as a result the person goes through an increased toxic period. The so-called cleansing crisis experienced by many people who go through various types of cleanses, is largely the result of bioactivated toxins wreaking havoc in the body. It is therefore very important that agents which boost phase I activity also have significant effects on enhancing the phase II clearance of the reactive intermediate.

Schizandra appears to be very effective in boosting both Phase I detoxification and Phase II clearance of activated toxins.

Tion, often tested by doctors to evaluate liver damage. In a clinical study conducted in China, more than 5000 people suffering from various types of hepatitis were given Schizandra and the results were very good. The aggregate effective rate was 84-97.9%. SGPT was normalized in about 75% of the cases.

A Powerful SEX Tonic

Schizandra is said to increase the Water Qi in the Kidney. In particular, it is said to vastly increase the “water of the genital organs,” referring to the sexual fluids. Schizandra is said to promote the production of semen. It is famous for its ability to relieve sexual fatigue and for increasing the sexual staying-power in men.

It is thus an ingredient in the vast majority of men’s sexual tonics in Asian herbalism.

Women benefit from the same capacity to increase Water Qi of the Kidney. Schizandra is said to increase circulation and sensitivity in the female genitals. Many women claim increased genital warmth and sensation after using Schizandra for a period of time. The Chinese sexual classics claim that continuous use by a woman will increase the amount of “female elixir,” a euphemism for vaginal secretions, during intercourse. On the other hand, Schizandra is used clinically to help counteract excessive vaginal discharge.

For both men and women, Schizandra is considered to have “aphrodisiac” qualities, especially when combined with other Kidney tonifying herbs like Lycium, Cistanche, deer antler, Epimedium, etc. Furthermore, Schizandra is one of the most important astringent herbs used in Chinese herbalism. An astringent herb conserves fluids, and in the case of Schizandra, it tends to contain sexual fluids until the appropriate time of release. Thus, consuming Schizandra for a period of time, one tends to build up sexual fluids. Schizandra is used in sexual formulations to prevent premature ejaculation and to help promote incredible endurance.

Article submitted by Brandon Gilbert, Owner of Jing Masters, a tonic bar based out of Louisville, KY specializing in delicious elixiers using adaptogenic and tonic herbs of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Ayurveda, and South American systems, superfoods, and raw, organic chocolate. Visit the Jing Masters at: www.jingmasters.com

Schizandra is one of my favorite tonic herbs. I have experienced first hand its benefits and tonifying effects.

Schizandra, when taken on a regular basis, is most definately a beautifying herb. My skin has become more clear as a result of taking schizandra. My skin no longer has dry patches – it has become smooth and my complection even.

When I need a lift, but do not want to be overstimulated (as can happen easily if I consume caffiene), I take some schizandra tincture. It gives me focus and sustained energy without making me jittery or agitated.

As a yin jing tonic, Schizandra has an amazing feminine energy – which is why I recommend it to all women. Because of its ability to increase sexual fluids in females and retain moisture in the skin, I recommend that all women experiencing any stage of menopause take Schizandra daily. Men can benefit greatly from this herb too, as it increases semen production and sexual function.

Schizandra is the quintessential herb. It tonifies all 3 treasures (jing, chi, and shen), enters all 12 meridians and nurtures all 5 elements. Schizandra is known as the Five Flavor Fruit as it contains all 5 tastes – sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty.

To purchase an amazing Schizandra-Goji Berry tincture, visit: Jing Masters Shop

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Why Take Tonic Herbs?

January 4, 2009 at 5:02 am · Filed under herbs

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The Failing U.S. Economy is Not a Financial Problem, It’s a Health Problem

December 18, 2008 at 9:34 pm · Filed under environment, health, herbs


by: Mike Adams, NaturalNews Editor
Thursday, December 18, 2008

(NaturalNews) The shutdown of the American economy has begun. Today Chrysler announced it would shutter 100% of its factories for one month as it seeks bailout money from the Federal Reserve. The Fed, meanwhile, slashes its interest rates to zero, even while promising to print unlimited trillions of new dollars in order to “save” the U.S. economy.

Meanwhile, the state of California has announced it would halt all infrastructure projects (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/us/18…), meaning that the construction and maintenance of bridges, roads and schools will be abandoned until new money can be found.

On the same day, the U.S. dollar plummeted to a 13-year low against the Yen. Investors around the world are realizing the dollar is doomed, and they’re increasingly betting against it. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=…)
Earlier this week, an important international meeting of heads of state was held in Latin America. The most notable fact about this meeting is that the USA was not invited.

The power and influence of the United States of America is rapidly plummeting, and the closing down of Chrysler’s factories is a major warning sign that the U.S. economy, which has long operated on financial vapor, has begun an unprecedented reconfiguration that could mean the end of the dollar as a world currency and the final gutting of America’s long-doomed manufacturing industry.

Why the health of the People determines the fate of the economy

In other countries, workers are willing to work for less money, executives are aggressive and well educated, and companies aren’t burdened with out-of-control health care costs that have been enforced by the Big Pharma / FDA conspiracy that seeks to keep Americans diseased and medicated.

The upshot is that, in many ways, America can no longer compete on the world stage, and it is now suffering the predictable effects of an economy built on mass consumer poisoning and the continuation of disease…

To read the rest of “The Failing U.S. Economy is Not a Financial Problem, It’s a Health Problem”, please visit: http://www.naturalnews.com/025120.html

Commentary by Erin Brennan

Thank you, Mike Adams, for another provocative and thrilling article. While I agree with many points that Adams makes in this article, I think that he is forgetting one key point, which I will discuss a little later. I agree that the pharmaceutical industry’s reign needs to come to an end. We live in an over-medicated society, and the FDA is more than willing to push through even the most deadly drugs without proper testing (see my article “Avoiding Animal Cloning” for a great example). I agree that as a society, we are purposely kept diseased. Keeping the masses sick and medicated is a genius way for doctors and pharmaceutical companies to ensure a constant revenue flow. I also agree that healthy workers will be much more productive in the workplace and will cost companies far less in healthcare costs and sick days. I agree that more money would be available in our unstable economy if the rates of cancer and chronic disease in this country went down.

The part of this that I do not agree with however, is Adams’ suggestion of how to go about making changes in the overall health of our society. I think that education is key here – along with ending the corruption of the FDA and the pharmeceudical industry. However, we can NOT force people to make healthier food choices. We can make healthier food choices more available and more affordable. We can NOT make people stop taking pharmeceutical drugs and over the counter medications. We can make alternative, holistic care and natural medicine more widely accepteded and supported, by our govenment and insurance companies alike. History has proven that you cannot take away the right of the people to choose to injest substances that are harmful to their health and well-being. Just look at the prohibition of alcohol at the turn of the last century and the current “War on Drugs” that has cost billions upon billions of dollars; Dollars which could have been spent ensuring that all Americans have access to nutritious and healthy food choices rather than soft drinks, french fries, and burgers. People seems to always resist what is forced onto them, whether it is in their own best interest or not.

We cannot expect our govenment to make an about face and suddenly start pushing natural and healthly choices in the faces of Americans, just as they have for many years with the pharmeceutical industy and modern medical care. We cannot expect that, in a short period of time, grocery stores will just rearrange their shelves, with healthy items on display and not-so-healthy items at the bottoms of the shelves. Grocery stores will begin to do so when natural, healthy food items start selling as well as oreos and cheetoes. That means that is up to us to become educated consumers. I always tell people to vote with their dollar. The dollar always seems to win in the end, and as long as Americans continue to buy into the advertisements from the junk food and pharmaceutical industries, that is what will continue to be made available.

I think that a major part of the problem is that many people operate under the misconception that eating healthier and/or taking herbs and supplements is more expensive that eating the way they currently do. Maybe this is true when you only look at the short-term cost. It costs less right now, in this moment, to buy junk food and processed food items, but when you factor in the long term costs of health care for diet and lifestyle related disease, it becomes very apparent that is not, in fact, more expensive to lead a healthier lifestyle.

I have to admit, though, even though I am a strong supporter of freedom of speech and think that everyone has the duty to educate him or herself enough to make wise decisions regarding health, etc. – I think that advertising junk foods and medications during children’s programs and allowing junk and soda machines in schools is outrageous and needs to stop. Children are very influential and may not necessarily understand why, physiologically, junk food and sodas can harm them. Adults should care enough about themselves and their children to make healthy decisions, but I think that it is safe to say that no one wants to live in a world where they are forced to eat health food. Healthier food choices should be made more affordable and available, but dramatically changing from one extreme of junk food and pharmaceutical drugs to another of naturopathic medicine and health food is not likely. The FDA has done its best to ensure that Americans believe that herbs and natural supplements are either unsafe or will not make them any healthier, despite research done in other parts of the world to the contrary. Gradual change made through education, awareness, and making better food choices available is more likely to work.

While I am hopeful, like Adams, that our government will begin to support more natural health initiatives, sadly, I lost faith long ago. I am fearful that the corruption of the FDA, the pharmaceutical corporations, and our government run so deep that the only way to recover from their virtual monopoly on “healthcare” is for the system to completely crumble before being rebuilt anew. They own the healthcare system in this country and they are not going to go down without a fight.

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Holy Basil: The Incomparable One

December 18, 2008 at 7:14 am · Filed under herbs

Holy Basil, the sacred herb…

Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is sacred and a principle herb in the Indian system of Ayurvedic medicine. In the ancient scriptures the Padma purana and the Tulsi Kavacham, Tulsi is described as a protector of life (1). Tulsi is also called “The Queen of Herbs” in India.

Holy Basil is held in such high esteem in Ayurveda that everyday use is encouraged. The ancient rishis integrated the use of Tulsi into daily life by incorporating it in religious rituals (1). The holy basil plant is sacred in India and is venerated daily by Hindus who usually have a potted plant in the home.

From ancient teaching to modern science…

Holy Basil is said to balance the chakras, or the energy vortexes of the body. The chakra system of Ayurveda, an idea similar to the meridian system of Tradtional Chinese Medicine, can become unbalanced or contain blockages which prevent the flow of energy from chakra to chakra. When blockages exist, mental, physical, and spiritual health is diminished. Tulsi is also said to calm the mind and body(1).

Scientific research is proving what the ancients knew to be true about this amazing herb. Holy Basil is classified as an adaptogen. “An adaptogen is an herb that is used to increase the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue,” (2). Holy Basil, and other adaptogens, are “nontoxic in normal doses, produce a general defensive response against stress, and have a normalizing influence on the body. Adaptogens balance the systems of the body (maintain homeostasis),” (2). Just as the ancients recongnized the ability of Tulsi to balance the charkas, scientists are now recognizing the ability of the herb to balance the systems of the body represented by the chakras.

Holy Basil has been shown to reduce cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone. Elevated cortisol levels result from stress, whether physical or mental in nature as the body does not physiologically differentiate stress. Just as the ancients knew that Tulsi calms the mind and body, scientists now know that by lowering cortisol levels in the body, that Holy Basil can help to relieve stress and anxiety.

The Incomparable One…

Holy Basil is a cure-all of sorts in Ayurveda. Tulsi is used to treat everything from colds and flu to digestive upset and bloating (3). The plant is cleansing to the respiratory tract and protects cells from radiation. The oil of the plant has antiseptic qualities and protects against disease caused by bacteria, fungi, and parasites (3).

I agree that Holy Basil is the incomparable one. Of all of the herbs used in Ayurveda, Tulsi is my favorite. I drink Tulsi tea on a daily basis and take a holy basil tincture when I am under great stress. I notice a calming, normalizing effect on my physical body and over my emotions. Holy basil makes me feel balanced and uplifted in the face of stress and anxiety. I recommend dinking holy basil tea daily. Organic India makes a wonderful line of Tulsi teas. They are all organic and come in many delicious flavors. I also recommend taking a high quality tincture. Two excellent formulas containing holy basil are Shen Formula and Ganges Dream, both by Jing Masters.

1. “Holy Basil”, http://www.organicindia.com/tulsi-holy-basil.php
2. “Lost Secrets of the Ancients: Adaptogens”, Brennan, Erin, http://erinbrennan.blogspot.com/2008/12/lost-secret-of-ancients-adaptogens.html
3. “Tulsi (Holy Basil)”, http://www.chopra.com/tulsi

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Addendum: Diet or Dogma?

December 12, 2008 at 9:34 am · Filed under health, herbs, plant-based diet, raw food


“Diet or Dogma?” is an impressively honest article recently written by blogger Brandon Gilbert, herbalist and co-owner of Jing Masters. This is my follow up and response to the issues addressed in “Diet or Dogma?” To read the article and Brandon’s other thoughtful and provacative works, visit his blog.

I used to proudly wear the title vegetarian or vegan like a badge. I, like many others, defined myself in part by my diet. It was part of my identity, what separated me from all of the unsympathetic meat-eaters out there. It was not until I inadvertently submersed myself in the world of raw foods that I realized how dogmatic and impractical adhering to a strictly regimented attitude about diet is.

The more I opened myself up and the more I learned, the more I began to shed my formerly strongly held beliefs and ideals. I began to look at my way of eating not as a diet, but as a lifestyle. In a sense, not only do the foods I eat affect my health and well-being, the belief systems I hold myself to have a very real and lasting affect on my mental, spiritual, social, and physical health. Additionally, I began to realize that clinging so desperately to a belief system with rules and values defined by someone other than me was actually counter productive to creating my own health and vitality. I understood that in order to live the healthiest lifestyle for me, I myself had to learn to define what is best for me.

I am not suggesting that you discard the teachings of those at the forefront of the fields of raw food and health and nutrition. Rather, I am urging you to listen to the information they provide and the advice they give, process it, analyze it, and decide how it can best be utilized in your life. I urge you to listen to the way the experts are presenting the information to you. If they are offering nothing but fear and dogma and prescription, you might want to look elsewhere for advice. Someone who is truly in it for the common good, to educate and inspire, will offer information objectively and honestly without attachment.

This leads me back to the idea of diet and dogma. In my work as a raw chef and wellness coach, I have come across many people who, although well meaning, are preventing themselves from advancing to states of higher health and vibration because of dogmatic beliefs regarding what their diet should be. These people get so wrapped up in what they cannot eat, that they forget to enjoy eating at all. What they eat becomes all about what they read in books and what they hear from gurus rather than what their body needs at that moment in their transition. Granted, there is a huge learning curve when it comes to eating raw, but as a community we need to be encouraging and inspiring to one another rather than perpetuating this cycle of competition and guilt and shame. We need to help one another learn to listen to our bodies and eat what we need, rather than worry about maintaining a certain raw percentage or breaking from our raw diet. Everyone will move at a different pace and 100% raw is not best or even reasonable for some.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the raw food lifestyle that, in my opinion, comes from the subtle percentage-related raw food competition. Many people feel pressured to be “all raw” or 100% raw before they are ready physically or emotionally. Transitioning from a junk-food vegan diet to raw can be difficult, but transitioning from SAD (Standard American Diet) to raw can be utterly overwhelming to some. Many people get lost in the mix, lose hope, or give up because they have fallen off the wagon. They are discouraged because they are lead to believe that in order to be healthy they have to conform to a 75% or 90% or 100% raw diet. All the while, the stress that these people feel to live up to this standard is flooding their bodies with cortisol and the guilt that they feel over their cooked food “slip-ups” is leaving them unable to feel the joy that eating pure, natural food can bring.

I have heard many ridiculously stringent things from people regarding what is and is not acceptable when it comes to raw foods. Many times, I have heard people say that they cannot or will not drink tea because it is not raw. In order to clear this one up, let me point out that many herbs are much more beneficial when steeped or even decocted or boiled than when raw. You cannot eat dried roots or a tea bag and expect to get much out of either. Herbal teas can be a very important part of a transition diet as they can provide nutritional support and aid in detoxification. They also make an amazing base for superfood smoothies. Just ask raw food guru and nutrition expert David Wolfe! He does not shy from making hot teas just because they are “not raw.”

Another shockingly ridiculous idea that I have come across is that you can never have warm soups. I have talked to many people who felt that, due to the discouragement of others, they were faltering on their raw journey because they had eaten some warmed soup. Some simply gave up on eating raw as they could not stay warm in the winter. They had been led to believe that eating a strict raw food diet was more important than their comfort, happiness, or peace of mind.

I believe that we, as a community, need to be more mindful of accepting everyone, regardless of where they are in their journey. No matter how far each of us has come, there is always more work to be done. Clinging to a title and pushing it in others’ faces does less to improve one’s health than learning acceptance and appreciation. I am not saying this to down anyone. Rather, I am speaking from experience. Often times, we mean well, but are misinformed. Yet, due to dogmatic belief systems, we refuse to allow ourselves to partake in something which may actually be of benefit. For many years, I refused to eat honey and I discouraged everyone I knew from doing so. This was truly out of the goodness of my heart because I was worried about the bees. Honey bees are disappearing from many parts of the country due to pesticides, disease, and the gassing of bees by inhumane companies that seek to profit from stealing their honey. It was also partly because I considered myself vegan, and was proud that I did not consume any animal (or insect) products. Little did I know that I could get delicious local raw honey from beekeepers who love and care for their bees. Little did I know that buy consuming local honey I was contributing to the local ecosystem by supporting the pollination of plants. By consuming local, raw honey, now one of my favorite foods, I was also inoculating myself against pollen, the very thing which caused me the most seasonal allergies. Looking back, I realize how silly it was that I let someone else define for me what it meant to be vegan, or that I was even concerned with a title.

Titles are like clothing. We wear them not only to protect ourselves physically and emotionally, but also to dress ourselves up – to make us look more impressive to others. If we are constantly concerning ourselves with what we are wearing, rather than what we truly are on the inside, then it will be difficult to move toward healthier and happier states of being. But if we can begin to love ourselves for who we are, if we can begin to move past the need to define ourselves by arbitrary titles like vegetarian, vegan, raw foodist, Christian, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, American, “foreign,” black, white, and begin to see ourselves as human, we will inevitably be more happy, open, and accepting of peace, love, and radiant health.

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Lost Secret of the Ancients – Adaptogens

December 8, 2008 at 6:07 am · Filed under herbs


An adaptogen is an herb that is used to increase the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue. The concept of adaptogens dates back thousands of years to ancient India and China, but modern study of this amazing class of herbs did not begin until the late 1940s. In 1947, adaptogens were defined as agents that allow the body to counter adverse physical, chemical, or biological stressors by raising nonspecific resistance toward such stress. This nonspecific response in the body allows the organism to “adapt” to stressful circumstances. Adaptogens are nontoxic in normal doses, produce a general defensive response against stress, and have a normalizing influence on the body. Adaptogens balance the systems of the body (maintain homeostasis), irrespective of the direction of change from physiological norms caused by the stressor.

In addition to protecting the body from the harmful effects of stress, adaptogens can help to decrease the feeling of being stressed-out and increase the feeling of well-being. Adaptogens can increase stamina and strength, and also help to shorten recovery period after physical exertion. One might notice an increased level of concentration and work capacity resulting from taking adaptogenic herbs. Due to the antioxidant content, adaptogens are anti-inflammatory, and improve circulation. Adaptogens can even increase sexual potency!

Adaptogens used in Traditional Chinese Medicine include: Cordyceps, Reishi, Gynostemma, Goji berries, and Schizandra Berries. Those used in the Ayurveda Medical System of India include Holy Basil and Ashwaghanda. Gotu kola has been used for thousands of years in both systems. Other adaptogenic substances include Siberian ginseng, also known as eleuthero, rhodiola, and maca, a South American root vegetable. The list of herbs with adaptogenic qualities is incredible. This is just a small sampling of the most widely used and studied adaptogens available.

Goji berries are not only adaptogenic, but also incredibly delicious, and an amazing longevity food. Gojis are loaded with nutrients and powerful Antioxidants. Goji berries are 13 % protein and contain 18 Amino Acids. They contain more Beta Carotene than carrots and more Iron than spinach. Goji berries contain 21 trace minerals essential to human health and contain 500 times more Vitamin C by weight than oranges. They are also loaded with Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and Vitamin E.

Maca is a root vegetable similar to a radish that has a long history of use in South America. As an adaptogen, maca improves the user’s sense of physical and emotional well being. Maca provides increased physical energy, and stamina without being over-stimulating and continued use increases mental clarity and focus. This superfood balances hormones by supporting the endocrine system and has been shown to aid in the treatment of symptoms associated with menopause. Maca is known to provide nutritional support for healthy fertility and can even increase libido and sexual functioning in both men and women.

Cordyceps mushrooms are a prized tonic herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine used for increasing longevity and improving endurance, stamina, and reducing fatigue. Taking cordyceps can strengthen the immune system, increase cellular energy, and increase nutrient absorption. Cordyceps can strengthen and tonify the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of the body. Taking codyceps can increase cellular detoxification, improve memory, and even increase libido and sexual performance.

Recommended reading: Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress by David Winston and Steven Maimes

For more information on maca, goji berries, and cordyceps, visit: Elements For Life

For more information regarding Chinese traditional Medicine, Ayurveda, and tonic and/or adaptogenic herbs, visit: http://www.jingmasters.com/

Erin Brennan is a Raw Foods Chef and the owner of Living Bliss, a company based out of Louisville, KY providing fresh and delicious raw and living whole foods, event catering, uncooking classes and workshops, nutritional consultations, wellness coaching, and yoga instruction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Brennan

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Tonic Herbs For Immune Defense

December 8, 2008 at 6:04 am · Filed under herbs


Although the doctors of modern western medicine would have you believe that herbs cannot have any healing effects on you (read “Media Censorship at Olympics in China Mirrors FDA Censorship of Health Product Claims in America” by Mike Adams of NaturalNews.com), in other parts of the world, herbs are highly revered. Western herbs do have some healing qualities, but the herbs I am referring to are the tonic herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Ayurvedic system, and the healing traditions of some South American countries. Tonic herbs do exactly what their name implies. They tonify the systems of the body. Tonic herbs are an elite class of herbs which can and should be taken on a daily basis, with little to no risk, and no side effects.

Reishi: Ganoderma Lucidum, commonly known as reishi, is considered a “superior” tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has been sought after for thousands of years, and to find it in the wild is truly rare. It is known as “The Mushroom of Immortality” and “The herb of spiritually potency.” Reishi is antiviral, antifungal, anti-parasitic, and anti-inflammatory. Reishi has many bioactive polysaccharides, which are long-chain carbohydrates with medicinal qualities. It possesses anti-tumor qualities due to these polysaccharides. The extract of this amazing mushroom is hailed for effectively regressing tumors. Reishi can also help to lessen or negate the harmful and unpleasant side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy. For this reason, it is widely given to cancer victims in China. Reishi also possesses immunomodulating qualities. It strengthens the immune system with double ended action: it raises (or lowers) the immune defense to the proper levels without overstimulating the immune system thereby preventing autoimmune dis-eases. Autoimmune dis-eases result when the immune system can no longer distinguish its own cells from invading harmful cells and begins to attack itself. HIV/AIDS is a severe autoimmune dis-ease, but the very allergies which most of us suffer from are the result of autoimmune dysfunction as well. Reishi is adaptogenic, meaning it assists the body in adapting to internal and external stressors, thereby balancing bodily systems and maintaining homeostasis (balance).

I take reishi everyday. It has enhanced my life in so many ways, most notably, the way I interact with the world around me. There are less stressors and agitations, and I have more of a spiritual understanding of my place and purpose. Since I began taking reishi, I have not suffered from the severe seasonal allergies which plagued me my entire life. I encourage you to do your own internet research on reishi. There is so much information available about this that I simply cannot condense it any further for you…but it is out there. It works.

Agaricus: Agaricus, known as “God’s mushroom” is another amazing medicinal mushroom. It too has immunomodulting effects, and is extremely potent. It is the richest known source of the polysaccharide-proteins known as Beta-Glucans (Beta-1,6-D-glucan and Beta-1,3-D-glucan). These polysaccharides are macrophage activators. Macrophages are the first line of immune defense in our bodies, the cells which seek out and destroy harmful foreign substances like viruses, fungi, yeast, and even heavy metals and pollutants. Anytime the viral load of the human body reaches a level which is no longer maintainable by macrophage activity, dis-ease results. Agaricus can be taken safely, everyday, without side effects, and like reishi, will not over stimulate the immune system. These tonic herbs are intelligent, and once you begin taking them, you will understand how they work with your individual chemical-molecular make up.

Holy Basil: Holy basil, also known as Tulsi, is one of the most highly revered herbs in the Auyurvedic Medical system of India. Traditionally, it is said that Tulsi balances the chakras (wheels or energy centers within the body), thereby balancing the flow of energy to all the systems of the body. Like reishi, holy basil is an adaptogen, and assists the body in lowering stress and fatigue levels. Holy basil has been scientifically proven to reduce the level of cortisol (a stress causing hormore) in the body. It can help to calm the body and the mind and reduces anxiety levels. It has also been shown to protect the cells from the harmful effects of radiation exposure. Holy basil has many health enhancing qualities and can be taken daily.

For more information or to purchase Tonic Herbs, visit: http://www.jingmasters.com/

To read “Media Censorship at Olympics in China Mirrors FDA Censorship of Health Product Claims in America,” visit: http://www.naturalnews.com/023779.html

Erin Brennan is a Raw Foods Chef and the owner of Living Bliss, a company based out of Louisville, KY providing fresh and delicious raw and living whole foods, event catering, uncooking classes and workshops, nutritional consultations, and wellness coaching.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Erin_Brennan

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