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Alternative HealthBe Your Own Herbal Expert, Part 5By Susun S WeedVibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated a lectures are engaging and provocative. Susun is one of America’s best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women’s health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Herbal medicine is the medicine of the people. It is simple, safe, effective, and free. Our ancestors used - and our neighbors around the world still use - plant medicines for healing and health maintenance. It’s easy. You can do it too, and you don’t need a degree or any special training. Ancient memories arise in you when you begin to use herbal medicine - memories which keep you safe and fill you with delight. These lessons are designed to nourish and activate your inner herbalist so you can be your own herbal expert. In our first session, we learned how to “listen” to the messages of plant’s tastes. In session two, we learned about simples and how to make effective water-based herbal remedies. The third session helped us distinguish safe nourishing and tonifying herbs from the more dangerous stimulating and sedating herbs. Our fourth session focused on poisons in herbs and herbal tinctures, which we made and then collected into an Herbal Medicine Chest. In this, our fifth session, we will find out how to help ourselves and our families with herbal vinegars, one of the green blessings of the Wise Woman Way. Why Use Herbal Vinegars? Herbal vinegars are an unstoppable combination: they marry the healing and nutritional properties of apple cider vinegar with the mineral- and antioxidant- richness of health-protective green herbs and wild roots. Herbal vinegars are tasty medicine, enriching and enlivening our food, while building health from the inside out. Herbal vinegars are far better for the bones and the heart than soy beverages. They have a reputation for banishing grey hair and wrinkles. Sprayed in the armpits, herbal vinegars are highly effective deodorants. As a hair rinse (try rosemary or lavender vinegar) they add luster and eliminate split ends. Anything vinegar can do, including clean the kitchen, herbal vinegars can do better. Vinegars Seek Minerals Minerals are important for the health and proper functioning of our bones, our heart and blood vessels, our nerves, our brain (especially memory), our immune system, and our hormonal glands. No wonder lack of minerals can lead to chronic problems and getting more can make a big different in health in a few weeks. One of the best way to get more minerals - besides drinking nourishing herbal infusions and eating well-cooked leafy greens - is to use herbal vinegars. Vinegar and Your Bones It is not true that ingesting vinegar will erode your bones. Adding vinegar to your food actually helps build bones because it frees up minerals from the vegetables you eat and increases the ability of the stomach to digest minerals. Adding a splash of vinegar to cooked greens is a classic trick of old ladies who want to be spry and flexible when they’re ancient old ladies. (Maybe your granny already taught you this?) In fact, a spoonful of vinegar on your broccoli or kale or dandelion greens increases the calcium you get by one-third. All by itself, apple cider vinegar is said to help build bones; when enriched with minerals from herbs, I think of it as better than calcium pills. Vinegar and Candida Some people worry that eating vinegar will upset the balance of gut flora and contribute to an overgrowth of candida yeast in the intestines. Some people have been told to avoid vinegar altogether. My experience has led me to believe that herbal vinegars help health those with candida overgrowth, perhaps because they’re so mineral rich. I’ve worked with women who have suffered for years and kept to a strict “anti-candida” diet with little improvement and seen them get better fast when they add nourishing herbal vinegars (and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, miso, and yogurt) to their diets. Making Herbal Vinegars Fill any size jar with fresh-cut aromatic herbs: leaves, stalks, flowers, fruits, roots, and even nuts can be used. For best results and highest mineral content, be sure the jar is well filled and chop the herb finely. Pour room-temperature vinegar into the jar until it is full. Cover jar: A plastic screw-on lid, several layers of plastic or wax paper held on with a rubber band, or a cork are the best covers. Avoid metal lids - or protect them well with plastic - as vinegar will corrode them. Label the jar with the name of the herb and the date. Put it some place away from direct sunlight, though it doesn’t have to be in the dark, and someplace that isn’t too hot, but not too cold either. A kitchen cupboard is fine, but choose one that you open a lot so you remember to use your vinegar, which will be ready in six weeks. You can decant your vinegar into a beautiful serving container, or use it right from the jar you made it in. Which Vinegar? I use regular pasteurized apple cider vinegar from the supermarket as the menstrum for my herbal vinegars. I avoid white vinegar. Malt vinegar, rice vinegar, and wine vinegar can be used but they are more expensive and may overpower the flavor of the herbs. Apple cider vinegar has been used as a health-giving agent for centuries. Hippocrates, father of medicine, is said to have used only two remedies: honey and apple cider vinegar. Some of the many benefits of apple cider vinegar include: better digestion, reduction of cholesterol, improvements in blood pressure, prevention/care of osteoporosis, normalization of thyroid/metabolic functioning, possible reduction of cancer risk, and lessening of wrinkles and grey hair. Notes for Herbal Vinegar Makers Collect jars of different sizes for your vinegars. I especially like babyfood jars, mustard jars, olive jars, peanut butter jars and individual juice jars. Look for plastic lids. The wider the mouth of the jar, the easier it will be to remove the plant material when you’re done. Always fill jar to the top with plant material and vinegar; never fill a jar only part way. Really fill the jar. This will take far more herb or root than you would think. How much? With leaves and stems, make a comfortable mattress for a fairy: not too tight; and not too loose. With roots, fill your jar to within a thumb’s width of the top. After decanting your vinegar into a beautiful jar, add a spring of whole herb. Pretty. My Favorite Herbal Vinegar, Pick the needles of white pine on a sunny day. Make herbal vinegar with them. Inhale deeply the scent of the forest. I call this my "homemade balsamic vinegar." Using Your Vinegars Herbal vinegars taste so good, you’ll want to use them frequently. Regular use boosts the nutrient level of your diet with very little effort and virtually no expense. * Pour a spoonful or more on beans and grains as a condiment. * Use them in salad dressings. * Add them to cooked greens. * Season stir-frys with them. * Look for soups that are vinegar friendly, like borscht. * Substitute herbal vinegar for plain vinegar in any recipe. * Put a big spoonful in a glass of water and drink it. Try it sweetened with blackstrap molasses for a real mineral jolt. Many older women swear this "coffee substitute" prevents and eases their arthritic pains. Coming up In our next sessions we will learn more about herbal medicine making, with a focus on oils, explore the difference between fixing disease and promoting health, learn how to apply the three traditions of healing, and how to take charge of our own health care with the six steps of healing. Experiment Number One Test vinegar’s ability to absorb minerals. Put a fresh bone in a jar and completely cover it with vinegar. What happens? Does the bone becomes pliable and rubbery? How long does it take? Will eating vinegar dissolve your bones? Only if you take off your skin and sit in it for weeks! Experiment Number Two Make egg shell vinegar. Fill a jar one-quarter full of vinegar. Drop crushed egg shell into it. What happens? Does the vinegar foam? How long does it take? Egg shells are exceptionally rich in bone-building minerals. Can you taste the calcium in this vinegar? Add some egg shell to your other vinegars if you wish to increase their ability to keep your bones strong. Experiment Number Three Make four or more vinegars with the same plant, using different types of vinegar, including both pasteurized and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. (For the others, use rice vinegar, malt vinegar, wine vinegar, or even white vinegar, but not umeboshi vinegar.) Taste your vinegars daily for a week, then weekly for five more weeks. You may, if you wish, decant some of your vinegars for use after six weeks. But you may also wish to keep observing them as they age (for years, if you wish). I have some vinegars which are more than thirty years old and still in good shape. Note which stay edible the longest, and what happens to those that become inedible. Experiment Number Four Buy a quart or more of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. Use two cups to make several small herbal vinegars: one with roots, one with leaves, and one with flowers. Boil the other two cups. Make one herbal vinegar with the boiling hot vinegar. Make another with the boiled vinegar after it has cooled. Continue as in experiment number three. Further study Redo experiment number two using different kinds of egg shells - white ones and brown ones, store-bought and farm-bought, from caged birds and free-range birds. Can you see any differences? Taste or smell any differences? Make vinegars at different times of the year and compare them. Advanced work Unpasteurized vinegar can form a “mother.” In a jar filled with herb and vinegar, the vinegar mother usually grows across the top of the herb, and looking rather like a damp, thin pancake. Kombucha is a vinegar mother. Does your local health food store sell mothers? kombucha? What is a vinegar mother? Is it harmful? What is an ionic form of a mineral? What is a mineral salt? How do our bodies uptake and utilize minerals Plants for Exceptionally Good-Tasting Herbal Vinegars Apple mint (Mentha sp.) leaves, stalks, Bee balm (Monarda didyma) flowers, leaves, stalks, Bergamot (Monarda sp.) flowers, leaves, stalks, Burdock (Arctium lappa) roots, Catnip (Nepeta cataria) leaves, stalks, Chicory (Cichorium intybus) leaves, roots, Chives and especially chive blossoms, Dandelion (Taraxacum off.) flower buds, leaves, roots, Dill (Anethum graveolens) herb, seeds, Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) herb, seeds, Garlic (Allium sativum) bulbs, greens, flowers, Garlic mustard (Alliaria officinalis) leaves and roots, Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) flowers, Ginger (Zingiber off.) and Wild ginger (Asarum canadensis) roots, Lavender (Lavendula sp.) flowers, leaves, Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) new growth leaves and roots, Orange mint (Mentha sp.) leaves, stalks, Orange peel, organic only, Peppermint (Mentha piperata and etc.) leaves, stalks, Perilla (Shiso) (Agastache) leaves, stalks, Rosemary (Rosmarinus off.) leaves, stalks, Spearmint (Mentha spicata) leaves, stalks, Thyme (Thymus sp.) leaves, stalks, White pine (Pinus strobus) needles, Yarrow (Achilllea millifolium) flowers and leaves. Weedy Herbal Calcium Supplement Use one or more of the following plants to make an herbal vinegar that can reverse and counter osteoporosis. (2-4 tablespoons daily): Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus) leaves, Cabbage leaves, Chickweed (Stellaria media) whole herb, Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis) leaves, Cronewort/Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) young leaves, Dandelion (Taraxacum off.) leaves and root, Kale leaves, Lambsquarter (Chenopodium album) leaves, Mallow (Malva neglecta) leaves, Mint leaves of all sorts - especially sage, motherwort, lemon balm, lavender, peppermint, Nettle (Urtica dioica) leaves, Parsley (Petroselinum sativum) leaves, Plantain (Plantago majus) leaves, Raspberry (Rubus species) leaves, Red clover (Trifolium pratense) blossoms, Violet (Viola odorata) leaves, Yellow dock (Rumex crispus and other species) roots Herbal Vinegars Where You Eat the Pickled Plants, too Burdock, Chicory, Dandelion, Purslane, Yellow Dock, Rosehips, Raspberries/blackberries Study with Susun Weed in the convenience of your home! Choose from three Correspondence Courses: Green Allies, Spirit & Practice of the Wise Woman Tradition, and Green Witch - includes audio/video tapes, books, assignments, special mailings, plus personal time. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com or write to: Susun Weed, PO Box 64, Woodstock, NY 12498. For permission to reprint this article, write to: susunweed@hvc.rr.com.
1988 Discovery Leads To Promising Psoriasis TreatmentThe introduction of Aura Soothe’Psoriasis Lotion is leaving many in the medical community scratching their heads. In age of multi billion dollar research projects, the research “team” that developed this new product consists of one person, Harry Berg, a sprightly, humorous, mechanical engineer who recently celebrated his 75th birthday. Psoriasis is a painful skin condition that affects millions of people. Berg has had it all his life. “Just imagine itching, pain, constant discomfort, unsightly open wounds and you begin to get an idea of what we suffer with every day of our lives,” said Berg. “All my life, I waited for an answer. Polio was tackled, mumps, measles and even small pox was eliminated. I thought it was just a matter of time before psoriasis would be conquered too. Boy was I wrong.” Berg went to all the best doctors and spent a small fortune looking for an answer. “The best thing that happened was that the treatments didn’t kill me,” he said. “The side effects of some of the things prescribed were so bad, that I just gave up.” After studying the effects of natural healing agents from around the world, Berg became convinced that something was being overlooked. “It seemed to me enough research had been done on natural healing agents, that eventually I could put something together to treat myself.” Berg began his research in an old airplane hanger he partially converted into a laboratory and testing facility. For 15 years, he spent countless hours combining different materials in every conceivable way. Nothing worked. “I got frustrated,” said Berg, “but I had to go on because nobody else was doing anything.” In 1988 in a discount store some interesting products caught his eye. He bought those products and went back to work. This time there was something different about the formula he put together. Says Berg, “It felt different, smelled different. Sure enough, when I got home that night and applied it, my itch was gone almost at once. You have no idea how I felt. All those years, all that time. I kept using the formula and the symptoms vanished in about five weeks. I was surprised.” Berg continued to apply the “treatment” and the symptoms vanished completely. “The only negative thing was that if I stopped using the treatment for a few weeks, the symptoms came back. I knew I didn’t invent a cure, but a treatment for myself that worked.” It never occurred to Harry Berg that his treatment might prove to be of benefit to others. For almost 14 years, he used the treatment himself, and occasionally made small batches for friends of his. Berg never charged a dime for the hundreds of bottles of his remedy he gave to others. In 2002, Bob Steele, an 84 year old businessman, suggested that Berg meet Mike Lombardo, who had also suffered from psoriasis all his life. Lombardo had experience in starting up companies. But Lombardo declined the invitation to meet with Berg when he found out that it had something to do with a treatment for psoriasis. “There have been too many disappointments, too much money down the drain when it comes to dealing with psoriasis. I have psoriasis, I accept it, there’s no cure and that’s all there is to it.” But Steele was insistent and finally Lombardo agreed to set up a meeting with Berg. “That was a very strange day,” recalls Lombardo. “I wasn’t really in a great mood and was not interested in meeting Harry. The first thing out of my mouth when we did meet was ‘show me your scars’, referring to the scaring that is typical of the skin of those who suffer from psoriasis. Berg showed him and Lombardo was both amazed and skeptical. “How in the world did this guy come up with something that has eluded modern science for so long?” thought Lombardo. “I took the sample he offered me, but put it on the shelf in my bathroom with all the other products that did not work.” Steele convinced him to try it if only tell berg that didn’t work after six weeks and his psoriasis symptoms vanished. Lombardo was elated. In early 2003, Lombardo convinced Berg that it was time to make the lotion available to everyone who suffers from psoriasis. Berg appointed Lombardo a Senior Consultant to the company, initially called Psorsoothe Industries. Lombardo put a business and finance team together and located the company in Canoga Park, California. The company changed its name nine months ago to AuraSoothe Life-Healing Sciences, LLC, and introduced AuraSoothe’Psoriasis Lotion in February 2004, as well as a concentrated aloe gel that the company calls AuraSoothe Super Aloe Concentrate. “I’m just finishing work on a companion product to the psoriasis lotion, which will be a psoriasis shampoo,” said Berg. “We also will be coming out with other products later in the year. Initially, we will not be distributing our products on a retail basis, but only through our web-site, www.aurasooth.com. We are looking for a good international stocking distributor, however.” When asked about the future prospects for AuraSoothe, Berg’s eyes twinkled. “If the treatment is half as effective for everyone who suffers from this terrible condition as it has been for me, Mike and all the people that we have tested it on, everything I have been through will have been worth it. It’s hard to imagine how much pain and suffering can be lifted from the world with one product.”
Vegan-Organics, The Basic PrinciplesVegan organic horticulture is a method of growing plants without the use of chemical fertilizers, sprays etc., and without using any animal products (except those obtained from humans). It is a system of caring for the soil in a sustainable way to ensure it retains its fertility for future generations. It is a method of growing plants that works in harmony with nature, encouraging a wide diversity of plant and animal life to share the land with us. This is a brief guide to the basic principles of vegan organics. A list of suggested reading is given at the end should you want to find more specific information. Principle #1: wherever possible do not dig the soil. There are many reasons for this: There are many creatures and organisms living in the soil, helping to create drainage and build up fertility. Digging the soil will kill many of these creatures and break up the natural drainage they have created. By digging the soil you will encourage much more rapid breakdown of organic matter. Thus, if you wish to maintain the soil fertility, you will become locked into a vicious circle of having to obtain more organic matter to feed the soil whilst putting in lots of effort through your digging i order to destroy that organic matter. Digging the soil exposes it to erosion from rain and wind. It also increases the leaching of nitrogen and other water-soluble nutrients from the soil. Digging soil will bring weed seeds to the surface where they will quickly germinate and grow.Thus digging actually increases the need to weed. Rather than being healthy exercise, digging is actually a great strain in the back and often leads to damage. So, what are the alternatives? Mulching If your soil is fairly weed-free, it is possible to simply apply an annual mulch, preferably in late winter or early spring, of some organic matter such as compost. Apply this about 5cm deep all over the ground. If your soil is lacking in humus then you will find that this dressing of organic matter will rapidly be drawn into the soil in the course of the year. Apply another mulch each succeeding year, to make a total depth of about 5cm. As the fertility of the soil is built up, you will notice that less mulch material is required because more is left over from the previous dressing. This method of gardening does require large initial inputs of organic matter - see item 2 below for details of obtaining this. Mulching weed-infested sites Most organic gardeners, when confronted by a heavily weed-infested site, will reach immediately for the fork or spade and spend many hours laboriously digging out as many weeds as they can. Not only is this exceedingly hard work, but it is often far less than successful. Many of the weeds, such as couch grass or thistles, will soon regrow with renewed vigour if even small parts of the roots are left in the ground. There will also usually be an explosion of germination from literally millions of seeds that have been given ideal germination conditions. The newly-dug ground will very soon be covered in weeds again. The alternative, once more, is to mulch. But this time there must be some barrier placed below the mulch to prevent all the weeds from growing through. We have found that cardboard boxes are an ideal barrier to use. They are usually freely available in quantity from local shops etc, will form an excellent barrier for a year or so, in which time most of the persistent weeds will have died, and then will rot down nicely to add their own organic matter to the fertility of the soil. Other materials that can also be used include newspapers (but try to avoid too many with colour printing and do not use colour supplements on land where you intend to grow food) and carpets (but only those made of natural materials such as hessian - avoid foam-backed carpets). It is very important to ensure that you apply a sufficient thickness of barrier mulch, otherwise the more vital weeds such as thistles and docks will push their way through it. A carpet that is not too worn is usually sufficient, cardboard boxes folded flat but not opened out are generally enough, and newspapers about 15 sheets thick are generally enough. Make sure that the edges of boxes, paper or whatever overlap by at least 8cm, otherwise the weeds will soon find their way to the surface. Late winter is the ideal time to mulch weed-infested beds, though it can be done at any time of the year so long as the soil is not dry (as well as helping to retain moisture in the soil, a mulch can also prevent moisture from reaching the soil, so a mulched dry soil will remain dry until there has been sufficient rain to soak the mulch and then penetrate into the soil). It is possible to plant into this mulched bed within three months of mulching. You simply use a trowel to make a hole into the cardboard and then plant into this hole. You may find that some weeds will start to grow out of this planting hole, but these are easily controlled by hand weeding. By using this method, it is actually possible to produce a semi-mature bed from weed-infested land by the middle of the first summer. No-digging methods Once you have applied a good surface mulch to your ground, how do you go about planting and sowing seeds in it? Assuming that the organic matter you have used is fairly fine (such as well-rotted compost) then you just treat this as the surface of your soil, sowing and planting directly into it. If you used a coarser material such as shredded bark or leaf mould, then seed sowing will not be very successful unless using larger seeds such as peas and beans. It is possible to grow potatoes, however, and also to plant out pot- grown plants. Principle #2: Add as much organic matter to the soil as you can. It is essential, if you want to maintain or increase the natural fertility of the soil, to make sure that you apply sufficient organic matter. Obtaining sufficient organic matter is often the most difficult aspect of organic gardening. There are several potential sources. Garden compost Do not waste a single scrap of organic matter in the garden or the house. Everything that once lived will rot down to provide nutrients for the soil and plants growing in the soil. There is almost never any reason to burn organic matter, the only exceptions to this being when plant matter is diseased and this disease will not or might not be destroyed in the composting process. Canker of apple trees is one example, wood infested with honey fungus is another. If you cannot obtain sufficient organic matter from your garden (and few of us can) then there are plenty of other sources to look for. Many other gardeners, for example, regularly throw out large quantities of garden waste and will be only too happy for you to collect it. Greengrocers will often let you have all the organic matter that they throw out. When activating your compost heap, consider using urine. This is an absolutely free commodity and a very valuable source of fertility that is all too often wasted. If urine does not appeal, then the heap will still rot down of its own accord, though it will take longer. You can speed it up by adding layers of nitrogen-rich material such as nettles, seaweed or young grass mowings, or you can use QR herbal activator, though this can contain honey. Much of the natural fertility of the land is washed out to sea. Heavy rain, for example, will wash away soil and nutrients into the rivers and hence to the sea. Most of us regularly use flush toilets and send valuable consignments of fertility on their way to a watery grave. It therefore seems sensible to return some of this fertility to the land by using seaweed. If you live near the coast then you could collect it yourself, otherwise you can buy seaweed meal from most garden centers. Do not use calcified seaweed, see below for the reasons. If you live near a brewery then you might be lucky enough to pick up large quantities of this material free. It is an excellent soil conditioner, but if possible use it in conjunction with seaweed meal or compost to improve the mineral content. Another excellent soil conditioner, it is often possible to obtain large quantities of leaves in the autumn from street trees. You might even get the work of collecting them done for you, if you have a sympathetic council or a local road-sweeper who is willing to drop off some sacks to you.Some caution is advised, however. If the leaves come from trees growing close to busy roads then they are likely to contain quite a lot of lead pollution from car exhausts. Many organic gardeners grow a bed of comfrey. As well as providing a bulk of material for the compost heap, comfrey can be used as a mulch around plants, or can be placed in trenches before planting potatoes or sowing peas, beans etc. It is possible to harvest top growth several times a year, with the first harvest being available in April. Make sure you leave it in the sun for a few hours to wilt, just to make sure it does not root and become a nuisance. There are special forms of comfrey that do not set seed and so cannot become a problem in the garden. Try to obtain Bocking 14, which is available from many good organic garden suppliers. Many councils now have recycling centers where garden waste is shredded and then composted. It is then equal in quality to most home-made composts. This material is often then bagged up and sold as a soil conditioner under various commercial names. If you are very lucky, you might find that you will be able to collect the unbagged material free, or for a very small charge, direct from the recycling centre. There are many plants that can be grown in order to increase the fertility of the soil. Basically you sow the seed and allow the plant to grow for some weeks before cutting it down. Many gardeners will then dig this into the soil, though it is also possible to either let it break down in situ or to remove it and compost it. A number of green manure crops, in particular the peas and beans, will enrich the soil with nitrogen as well as providing organic matter. Green manures have many benefits and can be grown as catch-crops in land that would otherwise be empty. Species to consider include buckwheat, rye, winter tares, clovers, sunflowers and alfalfa. Sources of organic matter not recommended There has been a lot of publicity about peat bogs being destroyed in order to provide peat for composts, mulching etc. Please try to avoid this material if possible. Although it is an excellent fertilizer and soil conditioner, especially for acid soils, it is obtained from the temperate ocean equivalent of coral reefs, and is being harvested in an unsustainable way. Just in case you were not aware of it, this material is usually made from animal manures, especially horse manure. It is also heavily polluted with all the chemicals they use in growing mushrooms. This is being used in increasing quantities as a peat replacement. We feel that, although this is an excellent soil conditioner, it should be left in the countries where it grew in order to improve the fertility of their soils. Principle #3; Liquid feeds. Most, if not all, plants benefit from being given concentrated feeds during the growing season. Annuals, especially, benefit because they do not have the established root system of perennials. It is possible to buy vegan liquid feeds or you can make your own. The process is simple. You fill a container, perhaps a dustbin, with plant material, pushing it in tightly to get as much in as possible. You then fill the container with water (and you will be surprised how much water will fit in) and leave it for a week or two. It will by then be very smelly, and you dilute it by perhaps 10 - 1 with water and then pour it on the soil around the plants. Alternatively, you can spray it over the leaves of plants, preferably in the evening or on cloudy days. Some possible materials to use include: Seaweed. You can either collect the seaweed from the beach, or buy liquid seaweed from garden centers. Very rich in a wide range of minerals, it is an excellent general feed. Comfrey. A very good source of potassium, it is especially good for potatoes and tomatoes. Nettles. Rich in most minerals, and also providing some nitrogen, it is a good general feed. Weeds. Just using a mixture of garden weeds will provide a good general-purpose feed. Principle #4: Pests and diseases. There are many organic sprays available for treating pests and diseases in plants. In general, we feel that these should be weapons of last resort since they will also kill other creatures, many of which are very beneficial in the garden. If you feel it is essential to use such materials, then you will need to read up on which material is best to use. A read of a good catalogue from an organic supplier will often be sufficient guide. There are also various sprays that can be made from plants growing in the garden. In general, you have to be very knowledgeable before using these, since they are often more harmful to wildlife than the sprays you can buy. If you want to consider alternatives to spraying, then the following are some options. Add a crushed garlic clove and a small handful of camomile flowers to half a litre of water that has just been boiled. Cover and leave to soak for 12 hours. This will make an excellent tonic for plants that will help them to fight pests and diseases. Pests and diseases spread much more easily when lots of plants the same species are growing together try to mix your - you will find that this also help produce higher overall yields from ground by planting aromatic amongst other incidence pests fall camomile garlic many mediterranean herbs very useful here. There are many creatures who would love to be able to share your garden with you, and who would repay you by eating many of the pests in your garden. Put in a pond, for example, and any frogs who live in it will eat up lots of slugs. Hedgehogs and slow worms will also eat their fair share of slugs and snails. Thrushes are also useful here, though they will also want to share your fruit with you. There are now many companies who supply parasitic creatures that you can introduce into your garden or greenhouse to control pests. I do have some reluctance to use these, especially if they are not native species. However, these parasites are very specific to the pest they are intended to control, and are therefore much safer in the environment than organic sprays. There are many little tricks you can use in order to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. Leaving the main carrot sowing until early June, for example, will reduce the risk of rootfly. Laying rhubarb leaves on the ground will attract slugs to shelter there - it is then a simple matter to collect the slugs up and move them on to wherever you want to move them. Any good book on organic gardening will include many of these techniques. It is very important to try and be as tidy as possible in the garden. Leaving things lying around, for example, will give slugs a place to shelter. Great if you are prepared to check all these places each day - but not if you have just been lazy and are not prepared to check. If you do get a disease in the garden, then try to treat it as soon as possible. Remove the diseased material, burning it if absolutely necessary. Principle #5: Encourage the wildlife. We have already mentioned the value of wildlife in the garden for helping to control pests and diseases. It is also important that we all try and provide suitable conditions for native creatures in order to counteract to some extent all the habitat destruction that is or has taken place in this country. There is a very large area of land taken up by gardens and allotments and these can provide a wonderful habitat for a wide range of creatures. Encouraging wildlife is not about putting out scraps of food each day for the birds, or putting out a bag of peanuts on a bird table. Whilst it might be lovely to watch the tits feeding, what you are actually doing is making the creatures dependent on you for their food. If you should stop feeding, perhaps because you move house, then these creatures will have lost their food source and might die. It is better to provide a more permanent and natural source of food by planting appropriate plants. There are many fruit-producing trees and shrubs, for example, that will supply food for the birds and various other creatures. Many other plants will provide nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies. A pond will attract a very wide range of insects, amphibians and other creatures. Grow a wildflower meadow and you will be surprised at just how many butterflies and moths will come along to say thank you - and you will also probably be treated to the sight of swallows swooping low over the grass to catch some of the insects that will abound there. Wherever possible, choose native species for wild-life plantings, though there are many non-natives such as buddleia and cotoneasters that would also be very useful. Principle #6: Grow perennial species where possible. The gardening world, especially when it comes to growing food, has become besotted with annual crops.These are much harder work to grow simply because you have to be preparing seed beds, sowing seeds, weeding etc every year if you want your crops. There are plenty of alternative perennial food crops available. These are much easier to grow - once established they will come back of their own accord year after year. They can also be much more productive - especially if grown in mixed plantings of complimentary plants. Further Reading. There are many good books on organic gardening - here are just a few to choose from. L. Hills. Grow your own Fruit and Vegetables M. E. Bruce. Commonsense Compost Making. Faber. 0-571-09990-4 J. Larkcom.Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyns Comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants. L. Woodward. Green manures. Elm Farm Green manure crops for temperate areas. P. Allardice. A - Z of Companion Planting Cassell, 0-304-34324-2
Be True To Yourself - You Deserve ItBy Roopa Chari, MD. # Depak ChariHello dear friends. For this issue, we thought we would write an article on Nutrition of the Soul. As vital as physical detoxification is, emotional healing and cleansing is perhaps even more important. At this current time, many people have witnessed powerful enlightening and simultaneously tumultuous events. In the overall scheme of things a shift in consciousness is taking place at evolutionary speeds, the like of which perhaps has never been seen on this planet. This is causing great upheaval amongst many as only that which is true is being supported and the rest is being released for everyone’s highest good. You may have witnessed business or personal partnerships uniting in greater strength or perhaps being released as personal truths are being revealed. Many people feel anxiety due to the dramatic tide of events taking place in their personal and professional lives along with the global shifts taking place on our planet. We have seen many of our clients beginning to truly follow their hearts. Some are selling their businesses, moving to other locations and even choosing a different career. What seems to be occurring is that the truth of what one is desiring from their soul is coming to the surface and is overpowering their fears and resistance of change. More people are listening to and acting on their heartfelt desires and following their intuition. We are realizing the importance of questioning everything around us. This includes truly asking oneself what it is that you truly desire in this life in terms of the quality of relationships both personal and professional, place of residence, career and truly exploring one’s creative self. This is a revolutionary time as collectively we are beginning to realize the importance of looking after Self. Just as important is to release emotions such as guilt that may be present for acknowledging your needs. We may feel uncomfortable honoring our needs as the collective consciousness has associated and programmed guilt along with looking after oneself. However when we do not take care of self that actually creates inner turmoil, agitation and frustration. The ego we feel is not the villain. It is simply a protective mechanism to look after us in this 3rd dimensional “reality”. The more we embrace all aspects of Self, both “light” and “dark”, the more we can truly fall in love with ourselves, and ultimately what we resist persists. Some simple but powerful steps that we have taken to assist us in this process of honoring Self are the following: 1.) Speak your truth. This is extremely important as we need to acknowledge and validate our feelings. This way you release pent up emotions which otherwise harbor in the physical body. Lester Levinson said that at any given moment in time we are either suppressing or releasing emotions. In global society we are taught to suppress and sacrifice our needs for the sake of others and this has led to many unfulfilled desires for too many people due to not validating your needs and feelings. Express yourself in a manner that feels comfortable for you. Many times the way to begin this is to say no to others and yes to yourself. Avoid making promises to others when it does not feel right or if it will adversely affect you in terms of your time or energy. 2.) Nurture your Self. Set aside fun time for yourself whether by going shopping, seeing a movie, going to a spa, etc. Simply indulge yourself! Please take time out just for you to truly let go and have fun! Consider a dance or art class. Then take the step to actually do it! Always know at any given moment in time you can find another fun adventure. As you do this, your world and life will expand in ways that are truly miraculous!! 3.Avoid those people or situations that from your soul create pain or trauma. Even though this may not be the easiest thing to do, it is important to truly be honest with yourself and take steps to avoid abusive people or situations that are not nurturing. This may include leaving either personal or business relationships that are painful and destructive. 4.Take quiet time for yourself. This can be done in many ways as meditation takes infinite forms, and is extremely personal. By quieting your mind and tuning into your inner guidance, your intuition is enhanced. Most importantly also trust your inner guidance and intuition. As you take these simple but very powerful steps your life will continue to expand in infinite ways! Always know that Universal Love is supporting you at all times. The Chari Center of Health is in Del Mar, CA. Please visit their website at www.charicenter.com. Dr. Roopa Chari is a Board Certified physician in Internal Medicine and is certified in Thought Field Therapy, Guided Imagery, Pranic Healing and the EPFX. Deepak Chari has a Master of Science Degree in Engineering and is a Certified Biofeedback Therapist. Mr. Chari is also certified with the EPFX, Hypnosis and Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP). The Chari’s combine their experience and talents in the fields of Science and the Healing Arts with nutrition, remarkable mind/body techniques and the latest healing technologies in Quantum physics. The Chari's were recently featured on "The Learning Channel." Dr. Chari can be reached at (619) 275-8073 for appointments or please visit their website at www.charicenter.com
Healthy Indian Vegetarian CookingBy Mani ChariSpinach is very nutritious and healthy for you. It is exceptionally rich in carotenoids, including beta-carotene and lutein, and also contains quercetin, a phytochemical with antioxidant properties. Spinach is rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly folate (folic acid), magnesium, manganese, iron and vitamin K. It also contains more protein than most vegetables. Raw spinach is a healthy addition to salads, but to get the most benefit from this leafy green, eat it cooked at least some of the time. Cooking spinach makes the antioxidant carotenoids easier for the body to absorb. Whole moong dal are small yellowish green beans commonly used in India. “Dal” is the Indian name for any member of the legume family, although lentil is the most commonly eaten legume. Dals are prepared daily in Indian homes and are high in protein. They are used in salads or stir fries with lemon juice or vinaigrette. Moong dal (Whole or split) are used to make delicious dals and curries. The dal may be cooked with a variety of spices and other vegetables. Moong dal in particular is very easy to digest and cook. Dals take on seasonings and spices very well and are a very comforting food. Spinach and Moong Dal Ingredients Recipe 1. Heat the olive oil, then add chopped garlic and cumin seeds. 2. When the cumin seeds start to pop, add chopped onion. Saute until the onions are golden brown, then add chopped green pepper. 3. In a separate pan, cook the Moong dal in two and a half cups of water on medium heat. When the moong dal is halfway cooked, add chopped spinach. Mix and let it cook for another fifteen minutes. Add salt and turmeric and mix. 4. Add cooked onions to the cooked spinach and moong dal. If it is too thick then add more water. Spinach Soup Ingredients Same ingredients as above with the addition of: One large tomato (cut into small pieces) Recipe 1. Heat one Tablespoon of olive oil, and add one teaspoon of mustards seeds and one teaspoon of cumin seeds. 2. When mustard seeds start to pop, add chopped garlic and chopped onions and sauté until onions are light brown. 3. Add tomato pieces and let it cook for fifteen minutes. 4. In a separate pan, cook Moong dal in three and a half cups of water on medium heat. When the moong dal is halfway cooked, add chopped spinach. Mix and let it cook for another fifteen 4. Add the cooked tomato to the cooked spinach and moong dal. Mix well. 5. If it is too thick, add water to your desired consistency. Both recipes (Spinach Moong Dal and Spinach Soup) can be eaten plain or with rice or bread. Mrs. Mani Chari is a professional Indian Classical dancer and musician. She introduced Indian vegetarian cooking at a University in Ohio and has taught cooking classes in San Diego and Los Angeles. She offers cooking classes where she teaches the cooking techniques and explains the health benefits of the spices and nutritional benefits of the dishes. Mrs. Chari can be reached at (619) 275-8073 or please visit their website at www.charicenter.com
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