bus sign reads 'jour eyes only' - phonetically correct in Suriname
In Suriname New Year’s Eve is called Old Year’s Day. Tradition has it that at noon all businesses close their doors and move outside where they set off rows of firecrackers in front of their shops. Firecrackers, displays, music, dancing, boozing and general partying go throughout the day. By around 8 or 9 p.m. the streets are deserted. People head home for prayer or quiet family time. At midnight the fireworks come out.
Contrast that with our Euro-American tradition of New Year’s Eve where the Old Year doesn’t have a name and is overlooked and all but forgotten before it’s gone. All eyes face front in anticipation of the New Year, (which my spell check only allows in Title Case). Meanwhile the old is already out to pasture, like an old horse.
Our celebration rituals reflect our thinking and we carry this mentality into the associated ritual of New Year’s resolutions. We look with great determination to what we want to do, be and accomplish. As if a tiny New Year’s goblin whispers “Darling, this list will be the new you. Last year was so 5 minutes ago. Start fresh, because this year it will all be different.”
Woa there friend. Not so fast. Let’s really send off that Old Year. The Winter Solstice is past and the days will get longer, but we are still in the dark time of year. This is the time of turning inward, of assessing where we have been and where we want to be. But to complete the inward journey, one more piece is often overlooked. Yes we need to know what we want to bring into the New Year, and we also need clarity and action on what we don’t want to bring with us.
Remember and celebrate your 09 accomplishments. But before you pull out the pencil and start with the proverbial resolves for 10, shed the old and release what held you back from fulfilling your 09 resolutions.
To change your New Year’s resolutions from a laundry list of soon overlooked wishes, become crystal clear on what no longer serves you. Release that – be it an attitude, a suffering, a grudge, a debt owed, a relationship or a belief.
If you were a computer I would suggest you free up space on your hard disc before you install your new program. Since you’re flesh and blood, and only sometimes function like a computer, I’ll say free yourself, put the saddle back on that old horse, get ‘er out of the pasture and ride with the wind at your back!
Categories: Suriname · personal growth · self-help
Tagged: New Year's Eve, New Year's Resolutions, Old Year's Day, personal growth, self-help, Suriname
Doing well in our fast-paced world requires lots of brain power, good memory, and fast response time. We know good diet, fresh air, exercise and rest are essential. We also know that doesn’t always happen. As we grow older, many of us seek ways to keep our brains fresh and our energy strong.
Yet all too often we overlook the basics of long-term health in our search for a quick boost. The popularity of caffeine and sugar-laden drinks, and shelves full of drugs and pharmaceutical products attest to this. Here’s the good news.
Herbs that are Neuroprotective, Cell Protective
You can find enormously protective and effective brain support in nature’s own medicine cabinet — the rainforest. The rainforest herbs in Elephant Elixir are especially effective in protecting brain cells, improving memory, and combating the effects of aging.
Herbs that are Anti-aging
What makes these herbs anti-aging? If you protect brain cells from breaking down and aging, you protect the body as well. This in turn improves memory and supports the immune system to help the body from falling ill. These specialized cell protective qualities keep our minds sharper and help our bodies retain a youthful elasticity.
The Amazon Rainforest Herbs of Elephant Elixir
- Samambaia (Polypodium decumanum): Many types of ferns are found in traditional medicine around the world and most share similarities. Samambaia is typical in that as a medicinal fern it is valued as a tonic, blood cleanser (to detoxify the body), upper respiratory healer and immune system support. It is also used in treating psoriasis. Unique to samambaia and the reason it is the main ingredient inElephant Elixir, is its ability to protect brain cells. In 1997, a U.S. patent was filed on a samambaia leaf and rhizome extract capable of treating brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The patent and several in vivo studies found samambaia protects against brain cell degeneration, promotes repair of damaged brain cells, and has a protective effect on brain cells. Anapsos (brand name) is used now in Europe for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa): Uña de gato, literally cat’s claw, refers to the large claw-like thorns along this large woody vine. Uña de gato has been used medicinally for at least 2,000 years and is prized among herbal remedies. Since the 1970’s cat’s claw has been researched in almost every industrialized country. These studies validate many of the traditional uses and offer hope in treating ailments common to N. Americans. Some of them include chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, lupus, inflammatory conditions, cancer, and intestinal disorders. One reason it is so adaptable is that it is one of a handful of plants that are “adaptogenic,” — in some unknown way these plants are able to restore the normal functions of an organ or a system. Cat’s claw is added to Elephant Elixir because of its cell protective qualities. It also adds a deeply supportive organ tonic and immune support.
- Sarsasparilla (Smilax officinalis): A long woody vine, sarsaparilla, like cat’s claw, is also ‘adaptogenic.’ It is in Elephant Elixir because the sarsaparilla root is highly valued for its cell-protective abilities, and is considered neuroprotective – i.e. it protects brain cells. Sarsasparilla root is also a tonic, and supports additional energy by toning, balancing, and strengthening overall body functions. Sarsasparilla root has also been used for centuries in South America to treat other ailments including rheumatism, digestive problems and hypertension.
- Muira Puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides): A small tree native to the Brazilian rainforest, muira puama is also called potency wood for its longstanding use in treating impotence. Historically muira puama has been used to treat many types of ailments, and many of its indigenous uses have been validated through research. The latest research confirms muira puama’s traditional use as an aid for memory and nervous disorders, which is why it is included in Elephant Elixir. Brazilian researchers reported in 2003 that an alcohol extract of muira puama facilitated memory retrieval in both young and aged mice and noted its potential benefits for Alzheimer’s patients.
- Catuaba (Erythroxlyum catuaba): A small fast growing tree, catuaba is native to the Amazon rainforest of northern Brazil. It is the best known of all Brazilian aphrodisiac plants. It is included in Elephant Elixir because it reduces forgetfulness and improves poor memory. Catuaba is also valued for its tonic abilities and use in general fatigue and exhaustion. It is considered healthy for the central nervous system and its ability to reduce anxiety.
Herbs that Strengthen the Brain
Together, the five herbs in Elephant Elixir are an ideal combination for strengthening the vital functions of the brain as well as supporting the body’s all-important central nervous system and immune system. Our brains are more than the processor of a super-computer. They are also the great balancer of emotions and spirit. By protecting our brain cells we can expect improved health and well being. We can look to high octane performance from our body, mind and spirit.
The Importance of Protecting against Brain Cell Loss
Protecting the brain and the body’s cells is very important. Often our diets and lives today include harmful additives and lack the proper nutrition that can protect our brain cells. This can potentially lead to debilitating conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia later in life.
One of the natural side effects of aging is a loss of brain cells leading to memory loss, a loss of focus as well as difficulties in sharp thinking. The brain is the most complicated organ in our body and the aging process loses brain cells rapidly; like 30,000 to 50,000 each day! Elephant Elixir helps to reduce loss of these all important brain cells and fights against the aging process.
The result is clearer thinking, increased memory and sharper brain function.Protecting our cells from the aging process is important throughout our lives. If you remember Elephant Elixirit will help you remember a clearer and sharper life!
Categories: Uncategorized
Many people are just finding out that there are several herbs found in the rainforest that have positive effects on arthritis and help guard against the pain and the swelling associated with arthritis. When these rainforest herbs are used to treat ailments the body gets the benefits of the whole leaf, bark, root or even the whole plant. The active portion in the herb is surrounded by supplemental components that buffer ill effects and boost active properties.
People throughout history have used plants for medicinal purposes and many cultures continue to use natural methods for healing and health. Herbal remedies offer strong healing and health benefits while avoiding many dangerous and at times life threatening side effects.
The use of rainforest herbs such as the herbs in Leaping Lizard offer many positive benefits including relief from the symptomatic pain of arthritis. Pain, swelling and inflammation as well as stiffness and joint pain can be controlled by using these natural rainforest herbs.
The rainforest herbs that are essential and beneficial to arthritis have been specifically formulated into Leaping Lizard.
- Tayuya: A woody vine found in the Amazon rainforest, Tayuya has been used since pre-historic times to treat pain of many causes.Tayuya was the first recorded herbal drug in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia.
- Iporuru: A shrubby tree that grows in the flood plains of the Amazon River system in Peru. Iporuru bark and leaves have been used for centuries to treat muscle pain, arthritis and rheumatism. Iporuru can be found in markets and pharmacies in Peru as an arthritis remedy.
- Chuchuhuasi: An enormous canopy tree, Chuchuhuasi is native to the tropical rainforest. The bark of the Chuchuhuasi has been used for centuries medicinally. The Peruvian name for Chuchuhuasi means ‘trembling back’ and has been used throughout history for back aches and arthritis pain. Chuchuhuasi also offers a natural energy that natives use on the long treks through the rainforest.
- Cat’s Claw: A large woody vine with claw-like thorn, to which the name is derived, should not be confused with other herbs not from the rainforest that share the name. Rainforest Cat’s Claw has been used for at least 2,000 years in the Peruvian forest to treat many ailments including rheumatism. Cat’s Claw is found to be useful in many applications and is considered to be the ‘opener of the way’.
- Sarsaparilla: A long brambled woody vine, Sarsaparilla should not be confused with the large Sasparilla and Sassafras trees that are used to flavor root beer. Sarsaparilla root has been used for centuries in South America to treat ailments including rheumatism, digestive ailments and hypertension. Additionally Sarsaparilla improves the immune system and stimulates the nerves.
- Amor Seco: A weedy tall herb with bean-like pods, Amor Seco grows in open forests and along the road sides near the rainforest. Amor Seco is called ‘Strong Back’ in Brazil where it is used to treat back aches, pains and inflammation.
These herbs are combined to create Leaping Lizard, which has helped many people find relief from the discomfort of arthritis pain and swelling. The rainforest herbs in Leaping Lizard are bettering the lives of consumers like you.
Herbal Remedy Supports Relief from Pain and Arthritis
Arthritis, the leading cause of disability in people over fifty, is a group of conditions that cause damage to the joints of the body. All forms of arthritis cause pain however the pain patterns vary. Most also cause a degree of stiffness and at times deformity and the inability to perform even simple day-to-day tasks.
There are different types of arthritis and causes of arthritis though most are treated similarly in Western medicine. One recommendation that seems widely accepted is to get regular exercise. Keep moving to lubricate the joints. Beyond that, herbal and allopathic approaches differ. Western medicine uses a number of drugs to help control inflammation and pain. Most prescription drugs are derived from plants but extract out one active component only.
The Importance of the Whole Plant in Healing
Herbal medicine works with the whole plant to provide the same relief, but in a more balanced way. Plants’ healing qualities are supported, balanced and strengthened by the surrounding components. By throwing these out we can negate many positive protections and buffers to protect us from potential harm. Leaping Lizard rainforest herbs combine the right herbs to target the afflictions and joint pain associated with arthritis and protect against harmful side effects.
The only danger with Leaping Lizard is you might find yourself performing activities you haven’t done for a long time making people wonder if you are reliving your youth.
Categories: Uncategorized
Make that 7 months worth of water flowing under that particular bridge. The one everyone talks about in the past tense. Lots and lots of change, growth and water. I just wanted to say I’ve been like really, really busy. And I wanted to say I’m back.
Did get my rainforest book written and published, which is totally cool. It’s even on Amazon — ABC’s of Natural Healing: better health for you and the planet through Amazon rainforest herbs I’m pleased. I’d add stuff in the next addition, but it was good.
I’m almost done with my second book, but that’s for another post. For now I can say my herb business and the herbs themselves have proven their value to my sanity many times over.
Rainforest herbs are finally gaining in recognition, and I say Yay! Maybe, just maybe, if we find value to our own health in preserving the remaining rainforests, well perhaps we might could see our way to preserving them.
Wouldn’t that be a kick!
Categories: Amazon · herbs · rainforest
Tagged: health, herbal remedies, rainforest herbs
Found an op-ed piece in the NYT by Nicholas Kristof on diversity in which he struggles to explain that Wall Street is one of the last greatest male bastions in society and that level of testasterone may be relevant to the high risk behavior that was Wall St’s contribution to our economic mess. His tentativeness stems from fear of attacks on the validity of the scientific studies he mentions.
This is me laughing. 
I’m sorry about science being behind on this. I really don’t give a Darwinian flip whether they’re on board. How about a little native intelligence:
1. Why waste talent. We have a gene pool of XX and XY. If we are excluding half of humanity based on gender we are depriving ourselves of our true creative genius — diversity. ALL of us able to apply ourselves where we can contribute. Duh. But the imperative for diversity goes way beyond the social. Check these out:
2. Genetic make-up. We are genetically destined for diversity. We are omnivores after all, and require a diverse food supply. Our immune system functions by staying diverse — to combat all the little diverse microbes that want us for breakfast.
3. Disease protection. If we only had one breed of cat and it got hit by the DCF — Deadly Cat Flu, barring our finding a cure, the chances of survival for that breed are zip. Same reason mutts are hardier than purebreds. Genetic diversity. Celebrate it. Did we need another reason the KKK and Nazis are dead wrong? Eventually, in any monocrop as in any non-diverse genetic pool disease will kill it off. If you think that gives you anxiety, just ask any banana trying to stare down Panama Disease.
4. Survival of the species Compare our own diverse-prone digestion to the panda. Poor guys. Double trouble through lack of diversity. A limited digestive system that can only digest one food, and a reliance on only one crop (bamboo). Contrast that with your local thieving raccoons. We move into their turf, they eat our garbage. Guess which species has a better chance for survival.
5. It’s not all about sex, either. The argument goes vastly beyond Wall St. and gender. Truth be told, we should be in a BIG hurry to connect our very survival directly to natural diversity in all things, flora, fauna, religion, dirt, and food supply included.
Or perhaps we’d rather figure out how to live only on lots of love and sunshine.
Categories: diversity · genetic diversity · health
Tagged: anxiety, biodiversity, digestion
Once we Americans were citizens first. Now we’re consumers. Some economists are petrified we might start saving just when they want us to spend so we can heal the economy. Like we’ve been doing for the last few decades. Even if they’re right it justs sounds ridiculous. Let’s keep doing what hasn’t worked?
If a spending spree is not the way out of this mess, what else do we have? How’s about change.
I’m amazed that on prime time some of the talking heads are asking us to live more consciously. Now that’s headline news! I heard a panelist actually ask the media to stop referring to us as consumers. We’re citizens first, she said. I like it. I prefer the word steward or Earth citizen, but I think we understand each other.
We elected a president of change, now what about us? Are we willing to take it on? I mean what if we weren’t the toughest kid on the block, or the richest anymore. Then who are we, as individuals and as a nation? Are we willing to reconsider how we as individuals and as a nation tread on this earth and do different?
We and other nations know how to use religion, land, oil, water, and culture as justifications for war. Can we regroup and breathe out life force instead of fire power? Can we turn technology, science and construction green? Can we listen to the rhythms of the Earth and learn its dance?
We’re in a time of Big questions, and even if we don’t come up with the Big answers, we have a moral imperative to keep asking. There has been a sleepiness in our collective soul and our national conscience that is struggling into awareness. If we cut our hand, our bodies leap into healing mode the moment we are wounded. Life seeks healing. Our national invincibility cloak is in tatters. Let that be a good thing, and let the healing begin.
As we heal ourselves we will also heal our planet. That is how we create the collective moment that transforms ‘yes we can’ into a universal yes! so strong and so broad it rebuilds ghettoes and shanty towns and favelas, it draws lines around our rainforests and coral reefs and holds them safe, it criss-crosses borders with ideas and support, with cures and care. And you? ”You may say I’m a dreamer, but…” Let me cut you off right there. Yes I am a dreamer. What else has ever changed the world?
Categories: Barack Obama · dreams · healing · health · life · rainforest
a
The future is now.
Or not. That is the question. First the context — Did you know the group’s name referred to primal scream therapy after John Lennon became Arthur Janov’s patient? Cool bit of trivia, eh. The idea is that neurosis is caused by repressed pain resulting from childhood trauma. Janov believes that when you dive into all that pain and release it you can become a non-neurotic.
I don’t know about your childhood pain, but even to become a super non-neurotic I wouldn’t go swim in that soup again. No way. No how. My point, however is other. Barack Obama makes me cry. I think I’m not the only one. I’ve seen many tears wherever he appears. It’s the weirdest thing. I have two really powerful feelings when I see our 44th president. One is to feel the thrill of seeing a friend you know well and dearly love, and the other is to be reduced ever more rapidly to an emotional cry baby.
I know we all connect Obama with hope. It’s one of the explanations for Obamamania. Our nation is in desperate need of hope. But we are a nation living in incredible angst. As a people, our fears are perhaps greater than ever. We each have our own and we share some collective ones: poverty, global warming, loss of – fill in the blank here — home, job, life style….
And then comes this man with the million dollar smile and all seems well again. The angst melts even quicker than the polar ice caps. We collectively crawl into his lap and he pats us all and we know all will be well in the world.
But wait! That means he’s like the dad and we’re like the kids. Yikes! I want to start this again. I want to say look at Obama as someone who never quit and never settled. He took on his passions and devoted himself heart and soul to them.
Mine, as you know is Gaia. It’s saving the rainforest. Saving the amazing healing plants of these ancient acres forever. It’s saving the ocean and preserving marine mammal life.
What’s yours? Isn’t that what Obama is really asking us all? Isn’t he really smiling sweetly and saying “people, I love you. Now get over yourselves and follow your passion. Every day. Forever.
These tears of mine. Maybe they’re an energetic exchange. Maybe I’m just trading in my fears for tears.
Categories: Barack Obama · Gaia · anxiety · rainforest · tears for fears
A candid Gaia head shot
Not in the sexual sense. Sexually I think we can assume Gaia is AC/DC. I mean it in the older definition, as in happy, carefree. Wouldn’t that be great? Instead, according to anyone who’s breathing, She’s depressed and moody, and we’re in trouble. Wait, I have to exempt a few folks who I suppose actually breathe oxygen, but it doesn’t seem to make it to the brain.
I’m working on a book about the rainforest and healing herbs (yay!) and one part is about the Gaia Theory. It used to was the Gaia Hypothesis but it has enough validity now to be called a theory. James Lovelock who originated the hypothesis that our planet is alive, was not a hippie, New Ager, or a stoner.
Actually while I’m sure of the first two, I have no proof of the third. But I really don’t think so since he was a NASA researcher at the time, hired to develop experiments for detecting life on Mars. He pissed off his employer pretty seriously because they NASA was really looking for a reason to land a rover on Mars. But Lovelock was convinced there was no life on Mars because it was in a state of ‘dead equilibrium.’ What a cool term. We’re forever trying to get our lives in balance, and what does he say. Too much balance and you’re dead. Maybe we should relax a little. Anyway…
Being inquisitive, he delved into the opposite — Earth, home, imbalance. He was intrigued by the fact that unlike the other planets in our solar system, the atmosphere of our tiny blue marble was in a state of ‘far from equilibrium.’ So maybe it’s okay that we get freaked out since that’s how our atmosphere lives. It was not easily explained. Especially because the atmosphere not only remained constant and supported life, but was in an ‘unlikely’ imbalance. One quick example. Since life started on Earth, the energy provided by the Sun has increased by 25% to 30%. That’s quite a bit, and in spite of it, our surface temperature has remained remarkably constant.
Lovelock posited that a complex process was keeping our planet in this unlikely state of life-supporting imbalance. He called it by the really boring name of ‘Earth Feedback Hypothesis’ until his friend and fellow villager William Golding (Lord of the Flies) suggested Gaia, from the Greek Earth Goddess.
As to the Theory, while it gathered scientific dust for a while, in the past few decades the scientific community sat us and took notice. Since ten there have been global meeting on it and lots of tests and research. It has fared well. The ‘weak’ Theory is supported by virtually the entire scientific community and is directly related to human impacts on our biosphere. The conclusion is that we are putting a severe strain on Gaia’s ability to counter our (thoughtless, shortsighted, stupid and prideful) behavior.
Lovelock turns 90 this year and has lived long enough to witness some of his worst fears begin to materialize. In 2006 he published a book called “The Revenge of Gaia: Why the earth is fighting back – and how we can still save humanity.” He has made dire predictions of late. Not for the planet, which would do very well without us thank you very much, but for us and the many plant and animal species we would take down with us.
Seems like he’s still pissing off some people, which is no big deal. But we are pissing off Gaia, and that is a Very Big Deal indeed.
Categories: Gaia · Gaia Hypothesis · Lovelock · life
Here’s the scoop. The journal Nature published an article on Dec 7th about brain-enhancing drugs The seven authors called for ”the presumption that mentally competent adults should be able to engage in cognitive enhancement using drugs. From assembly line workers to surgeons, many different kinds of employees may benefit from enhancement and want access to it…”
‘While thorny ethical and medical questions must be addressed, pharmaceutical enhancement of inborn mental gifts is a trend to be welcomed,” according to the seven co-authors from Harvard, Stanford and other prestigious institutions. (italics mine)
I saw a video of a doctor responding to the story. He focused on the positives until the interviewer asked, “OK. I get the advantages. But are these drugs safe?” An extremely legitimate question since we are talking ridilan and the like. His answer was equally candid: “Safe? No one’s talking about safe. Where would you get that idea?” According to the doc, these kinds of drugs can cause everything from panic attacks to kidney failure.
But we’re entitled, aren’t we? Let’s just open Pandora’s entitlement-filled box of drugs and pull out a soma pill or a brain enhancer. While we’re at it, let the pharmaceuticals buy or bully the opposition into silence or acquiesence.Meanwhile let fall behind the poor who can’t afford ridilin or the stupid luddites who won’t put that stuff into a healthy body. As for the ‘priviliged’ ones, driven by a long-term sense of entitlement and a short-term view of brain enhancement, they can afford good health insurance. After staying on brain enhancers, they’ll need it, which willl be fine with the pharmaceutical companies. For them at least it’s a win-win, short and long-term.
I’m not going near the ethical considerations. They’re so huge it would take a blog site rather than a blog post. I just want to ask. Where are the voices that say do it naturally and safely or don’t do it at all? Is this where competition and science are leading us, and we’re okay with that?
I can’t be the only one. As someone who believes in harmony with, learning from, and even mimicing Nature this is one pill you couldn’t pay me to swallow. Or to give to the next generation.
May I suggest an alternative? Before popping ridilin take a long-range perspective on your health and the health of the planet. Check outElephant Elixir. Or my August blog post on memory and brain enhancement – naturally. It’s not going to give you that grand ridilin speed rush. All it will do is protect your brain cells and improve memory. And it’s safe enough to take for a lifetime.
Categories: brain support
Tagged: brain enhancement drugs, brain power, brain support
Man these are tough times, and just in time for the holidays. Talk about STRESS! Did you see the story today “What happy people don’t do?” The findings are based on 45,000 Americans over 35 years. I guess some things don’t change.
The conclusion is that TV is a bummer. Who knew? The researchers leave open the chicken/egg issue of I TV and therefore am unhappy or I am miserable, stressed and depressed and therefore I TV. But they were able to connect more TV watching with unemployment.
Uh oh. Looks like we’re going to have millions of us glued to the tube for a while.
Two things will definitely NOT solve our own personal, national or international money crisis. Nothing gets fixed by being sad, depressed, anxious, or worried. Although being human we’re not immune. Nor does anything get better by staring at the tube. Although screens can be a great relief for a while.
What will help: Do your best to stay MORE active than usual, rather than less. Push yourself. Push yourself out the door and go to a coffee house, a friend’s, bundle up and go for a walk, go to the gym. Just get out.
Limit your news intake. I know it’s hard to kick Obamamania. Confession: I found the happy article because it was on the same page as Obama’s Saturday morning radio address. I never cared what any president said on Saturdays! Anyway, do it. The news ain’t good. We know that. Don’t keep rubbing salt on your wounds.
Get realistic about how you and your loved ones are going to survive — and thrive — through the holidays and whatevet lies ahead. Life still goes on, even in the midst of deep crisis. You can trust me on that one. So does love. So too do all the little exciting, delicious and precious moments that make up a day. Find and savor those.
If you feel like you need help, ask for it. That is not the time to be shy.
Nurture yourself and stay healthy. The OnePlanet Herb site is devoted to supporting you do that. Go ahead,take a peek.
Keep up your immune system! I rely on cat’s claw for that. It’s a fabulous immune builder. It won’t change whatever’s coming at you, but it will help you cope with it.Here’s some info on it.
My holiday gift to you for the rest of 08. Link from here to OnePlanet Herbs.com. Type injoi in the coupon code at checkout and you get cat’s claw at a 15% discount.
Do you have tips that have helped you? Let me know and I’ll post them.
Categories: anxiety · health · herbs · immune builder · relaxation · remedies · stress
Tagged: cat's claw
November 13, 2008 · 1 Comment
Today I had one of those days. Everything got on my nerves. Dogs barks sounded louder. People bumped into me in the store. Cars and trucks sounded like they were in high gear. I could hear my thoughts whirling around, and my neck hurt. What the??? This was not typical for me.
So the weather was wierd. Granted. It’s mid-November and here it was in the mid-60’s (that’s about 20 degrees warmer than expected) and winds going between 10 and 30 miles an hour. And all day it went back and forth between fog, sunshine and pouring rain!
Was I reacting to the crazy weather? Or did the weather feel so crazy because I was? Can’t say. All I know is I was so bent out of shape I felt like a pretzel. Then I remembered. Hey, I’m the 21st Century Medicine Woman. I know what to do. I make this stuff. I went and opened myMellow Monkey, slurped some and raced off to an appointment. I actually had a really productive meeting, came home and realized the kitchen was a mess and it was time to get a few things in shape. I cleaned for a while, then went out to take care of the chickens (not a joke. We have six of them). I gave the dog fresh water (one dog). The ducks were fine (three — all girls). They love the rain. That done, I sat down at the computer and as I focused on my work I realized I was feeling good. Sounds were back to normal and I wasn’t getting jangled. We’re talking now more than four hours after I took a dropper full of the Monkey, and I finally remembered I had taken it! I felt solid. If not great, definitely good. It reminded me of many times feeling better after an acupuncture treatment, yet feeling so naturally better I didn’t even relate it to the treatment.
With that I not only remembered that I had taken my own medicine, so to speak. Most importantly I remembered why I made it, why I sell it, why I believe in it.
It’s just there, patiently, mellowly, waiting to help me be better to myself.
Categories: Amazon · anxiety · business · health · herbs · rainforest · relaxation · stress
That’s the historic difference between Obama’s 64 million votes and McCain’s! Or try 365. These are numbers your children and theirs will learn about in school. The drama of President-Elect Barack Obama’s historic win has moved our country and the world. I know I’m not supposed to be talking politics here, but I did mention a while ago that I had devolved into a nail-biting news junkie glued to the election. Come to find out I was oh so not alone in that. A bunch of you were too, and wasn’t it all worth it?
Finally, on election night for a few hours we could all forget blue and red states, we could forget blue, red or inde political party. In this fleeting, stunning moment of history we had a human party. Not only the millions of Americans who spontaneously filled the streets with years and decades of hopes and tears, but the millions around the world who, this time in a happy way, were “all American.” It seemed as though time stopped just long enough to allow the planet to become the Human Party of the United Globe of Earth. Transitory though it was, hope and hearts ruled the world for just a few hours.
I had to say that. It was too big, too beautiful to let pass. Does it relate to OnePlanet Herbs? Does it relate to the rain forests of the world? Well of course I’m going to say yes. I don’t even need a segue because I believe we now have a far better chance of saving the flora and fauna of the world. I believe we may now be able to save the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, we may be able to find alternative fuels and economies and create alternatives to the the slash-and-burn of rainforest destruction.
That said, just like this election, the choice is always individual. Fueled by our personal mythologies and beliefs we will pick our presidents and medicines, lifestyles and policies, religions and causes. Yet some facts are not choices. They are simple truths: more than 20 percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from the Amazon Rainforest. For more than 80 percent of the world’s population herbs are the first line of medical care. Most of our western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest plants.
While it is my hope that supporting rainforest preservation will transcend our individual mythologies, its survival matters beyond any individual belief system. Whether our choice is pharmaceuticals or plants whether we’re living in the rainforest or in a distant city, we — and our children — still need oxygen to breathe, we still need medicines to heal, and we still want to find cures as yet out of reach.
Categories: Amazon · health · herbs · life · rainforest
A dear friend used to say ‘it’s better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick.’ Hard to argue with. But what about the fear of being sick, the fear of being poor? How bad is that? My answer: Extraordinarily.
Right now I’m an absolute news junkie. I’m promising myself to stop after the election, but for now I’m hearing the daily drip of news and just about every word is scary. It’s almost impossible for me, or probably anyone not on Mars or under a rock, to escape the bad economic news. Happily I have Mellow Monkey to soothe my anxiety when I’m thrown off my game. And I’m glad of it. It’s all natural, has other positive effects and is non-addictive. Plus, I make the stuff, so I know how good it is.
But how else are we cope with this current crisis mentality and its attendant fear and anxiety mongering? I wrote an article on this which I’ll put up soon, but here’s the bottom line: It’s never about what your facing, it’s always about how you face it.
Speaking of facing it: where do you think we spend most of our time? IN OUR HEAD! Obviously. Whether it’s sex or work or anything else, it’s not what’s happening around us, but in us that makes the difference. It’s that non-stop inner tape that infuses our feelings and our actions. And therefore our judgment and decisions. Yikes! Talk about scary! Unless we know how to handle our self-talk.
My advice for crisis times: listen in more than you listen out. When your repetetive words are negative, substitute them with positives. If that doesn’t do it, stop. Meditate. Listen to a tape, take a bath, go for a run — whatever recharges you. Take Mellow Monkey (or whatever non-addictive herbal remedy you choose) and tap into your inner strength. It’s there. It’s indominatable. It will carry you until your best is back.
Sure a pound of anxiety can go through you like a poison, but an ounce of inner balance is the best antidote!
Categories: anxiety · fear · health · herbs · relaxation · remedies · sex
Hey — I promised you this blog a while ago. There are the five, but I still maintain it’s the 6th that’s most important. The blog I put up first when I should have put up this one.
You’ve heard about how herbs are powerful and beneficial and you want to know more. Here are the five most important things you need to know about herbs:
1: Parsley and basil are not herbs. Well, parsley and basil are herbs, but they’re not the only herbs. When we talk about herbs and herbal medicine, we’re talking about any plant or part of a plant that can be used to benefit health. Ginger roots, aloe leaves, bark of the huge rainforest tree pau d’arco, and elder berries all can be used for therapeutic purposes and qualify as “herbs.” More than 2,000 herbs are used medicinally today, all over the world.
2: Herbs have been safely used for thousands of years to improve health and heal disease. Through observation and trial and error, cultures all over the world have gathered a vast body of knowledge regarding the power of herbs to create health. Much of this information has been passed down to us through Western Herbalism, Ayurvedic Herbalism, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. About 80 % of the world’s population still use herbal remedies as part or even all of their primary health care. While the properties of herbs have been studied by scientists for hundreds of years, indigenous cultures continue to pass along invaluable herbal knowledge from one generation to the next. It includes which parts of plants are beneficial and how to prepare them; whether to boil, steep, or crush, to access their medicinal properties.
3. Herbs are used to improve almost any area of health. This includes everything from mood swings to blood pressure, from exhaustion to lactation. For example, aloe gel is used to heal sunburn; St. John’s Wort is used to treat minor depression; ginger can reduce pregnancy-related nausea; and chasteberry can reduce menstrual problems. A typical herb book will list hundreds of conditions that herbs can treat.
4. Many of our prescription drugs are based on herbal substances. For example, ephedra is an herb that has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat respiratory problems. Ephedrine is the active ingredient in ephedra, and ephedrine is the basis for many commercial pharmaceutical products medicating asthma and other respiratory problems. In addition, approximately 25% of prescription drugs used today has an herbal component. Many of our cancer, heart and other wonder drugs are originally from herbs, especially rainforest herbs.
5. Herbs are safe. But don’t confuse safe with harmless. Bread, chicken, and mushrooms are also safe—if the bread is not moldy, the chicken is not spoiled, and the mushrooms are not gathered ignorantly off the forest floor. When you take herbal supplements, be sure to know what you’re doing. Talk to your doctor and understand that herbal remedies may interfere with prescription drugs. This doesn’t mean herbs are dangerous—it just means they do in fact, affect your body. Since you’re taking herbs to help you heal , it is good indeed that they impact your body.
This is just a general primer on herbs. If you’re interested in taking herbal supplements, there are many sites available for learning about specific ailments and the herbs that help them. Both alternative and conventional medicine sites can give you information. Just remember: herbs can help you; do your research; and talk to your doctor. Don’t earn herbs a bad rap! When herbs are taken properly for the power they hold, they just may make you feel better than you’ve ever felt in your life.
Categories: health · herbs
A friend recently got The Lion’s Roar and raised the issue of safety. I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. Herbs are powerful agents. That’w why they’ve been used around the world for thousands of years. That’s why they are the basis for many of our western pharmaceuticals. It’s why plants in completely unconnected parts of the world with similar chemical structures are used for the same conditions. They work and they work well.
That should not be confused with their having no drug interactions, nor should it be confused with irresponsible consumerism. So when Kev asked about potential drug interactions with medicines he was taking I was glad. He will double check with his doctor, of course.
Anyway, what struck me about this asthma and upper respiratory remedy was the amazingly high level of safety and overall health benefits.
Bottom line was this: the worst any of these herbs do is strengthen the heart muscle, lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels and thin the blood. Duuh.
Potential drug interaction is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not an area where you want any surprises! If you’re already on high blood pressure medication it might be good to have a natural remedy that has been scientifically proven to do the same thing. To do that, you need to be working in conjunction with your doctor for sure, and perhaps other health care professionals as well. And you personally need to stay informed and act accordingly.
Natural health care, handled properly can sometimes take a village.
Categories: Amazon · health · herbs · rainforest
Tagged: asthma, blood sugar, blood thinner, heart tonic, herbal remedies, high blood pressure, rainforest herbs, upper respiratory
I just wrote an article about the top five things people should know about herbs. I’ll put it up on the web site soon, but since it was kind of generic I went easy. What I really should have said was that there’s one really really important thing to know about herbs. I’ll try to get this into a brief sound byte but that may go up in smoke.
About 5 years ago I was seriously ill. I needed to take allopathic medicine that helped save my life. But in order for the (truly wonderful) medicine (for which I shall always be grateful) to not eat the lining of my stomach, weaken my immune system and make me generally weak and miserable I needed to take a bunch of other stuff. And guess what it was? OK, softball… Of course it was herbal supplements. Not only. I also drank herbal teas. And took amino acids that occur naturally in our bodies. I went to acupuncture and got healing massages. I topped it off with hypnotherapy to heal old mental scars.
So lest you think I only believe in herbs, you see I’m willing to reach across the aisle and use other modalities. As long as they’re natural. And that’s my point. A plant is a living being. It’s in balance with itself and nature. When used properly it offers its wonderful qualities to us — in balance. Not in bit and pieces, not one saponin or alkoloid at a time.
There it is. And here’s the sound byte, the sixth most important thing about herbs that should really be first: Plants are good for you. They heal, they work, they bring back balance.
P.S. to the sound byte: There is a place for western medicine. It’s just that the place is not everywhere and all the time.
Categories: health · herbs
Tagged: health, herbal medicine, herbs, medicine, plant medicine, plants
September 7, 2008 · 1 Comment
Yes, weight control without dieting! No diets at all? How is that possible! Well, have you tried dieting? If you’ve tried one diet you’ve probably tried many diets. Perhaps you’ve tried other means of weight control. If you’re like most of us who want to lose weight, you’ve probably tried workouts, fads, supplements and diets over and over and still the weight keeps coming back. If that’s your story it puts you in the 98 percent tile of people who have tried diets. Once you get that diets won’t work because they don’t get to the root of the problem you can begin to find alternatives to diets. Learn alternatives to dieting and you can find easy ways to keep the weight off now, tomorrow and forever.
Let’s start with five simple things you can do:
1. STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP. Stop it right now. Every time you look in the mirror and tell yourself: “My belly is disgusting,” or “OMG, that’s a triple chin!” you reinforce exactly that image of yourself. It’s like feeding a monster. With each meal of negative self-talk it gets stronger.
2. MAKE NICE. Use self-talk to your advantage. You know you talk to yourself anyway. Change the words to ones that make you feel good instead of bad. Every time that voice creeps in override it with the opposite. “My belly is round and soft.” “I love my face!”
3. TRUST IN REPETITION. Use repetition to help you meet your goals. You may find yourself doubting your ‘opposite speak’ technique. That’s not because it’s false, it’s because it’s new. How many times did you use the nasty stuff? Keep at it over and over until it feels right. Because eventually it must — that’s the power of repetition.
4. IMAGINE YOUR GOALS IN DETAIL. In place of negative self-talk use positive images over and over to clarify, crystallize and reinforce your weight goals. Imagine little details. Imagine them with each of your senses. Allow yourself to get excited. Actually force yourself to get excited! That’s how you you make it real to yourself.
5. ENJOY WHAT YOU EAT. Wow. Point 5 and I’m finally mentioning food. But only to encourage you to allow yourself to thoroughly savor every bite. Fact is, if you’ve dieted you already know what’s good for you and what isn’t. Now sit comfortably, eat slowly, chew well, and enjoy, knowing what you’re doing is good for you. You probably haven’t done that in a long, long time.
For more tips on health, check out www.OnePlanetHerbs.com
Categories: Uncategorized
It just occurs to me, so many months into my business – OnePlanet Herbs (www.OnePlanetHerbs.com) — that I never mentioned how it started. It came to me as a dream in the middle of the night. I had been struggling to put all the pieces of my interests, knowledge and experience together into something I’d want to do forever. In waking time all I was getting was frustrated.
Then this idea hit. It brought together my love of plants, of herbs, of the rainforest, my years of trial and error and of study, my work in sustainability, and my business and writing experience. I went to sleep wondering, jeeezzz, what next; woke up one complete person with a plan, a company-to-be, and ready to roll! I woke with images of baby boomers and younger It brought together my love of plants, of herbs, of the rainforest, my years of trial and error and of study, and my business and writing experience. There I was, one complete person ready to roll.
When I woke I had images of baby boomers and other discovering brand new and powerful herbs. Of helping people cope with pain from sore joints and arthritis in a natural way. What became Leaping Lizard was a way to help my sister who I had watched swallow pills and suffer with arthritic pain for years. That was a very personal search for me.
And so many of my friends telling me they were tired and needed more energy — that became Sloth-No-More. Or totally stressed out and couldn’t sleep … yay for Mellow Monkey.
And so it went. After months of uncertainty, it just rolled itself out in front of me. After months of uncertainty, it just rolled itself out in front of me. I felt so lucky. Then I remembered how much went into that moment and my buddy Joe’s favorite quote floated up: “The harder you work, the luckier you get!”
Categories: business · health · herbs · life · rainforest · relaxation
It’s often said that misery loves company. But if you have ever experienced anxiety, stress, sleep problems or insomnia, you’ve probably noticed only the misery and felt no company at all. In which case it might surprise you to learn that millions of people suffer from anxiety, sleep problems and insomnia. Anti-anxiety medications and sleeping agents are among the leading prescriptions in industrialized nations around the world. These prescriptions don’t come alone. They come with serious warnings about possible side effects and the potential for addiction.
Although many people rely on them to relieve stress, anxiety, sleep problems and insomnia, others are seeking alternative solutions. No prescription or herbal remedy substitutes for good diet, exercise and stress-free living. That said, we all need help sometimes! That’s why more and more people like you are turning to natural ways to relieve stress-related problems.
Dynamic well-balanced formula to support stress-free relaxation
Mellow Monkey has been specially formulated to target the physiology of stress and combat it in a healthy, balanced way. Mellow Monkey helps with stress, anxiety, sleep problems and insomnia. It promotes relaxation, rest, deep sleep and well-being.
Some of the plants included in Mellow Monkey have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities. This additional benefit is intentional. We are sometimes nervous or unable to take proper relaxation or sleep because of generalized discomfort or pain, yet don’t recognize it for what it is. When our bodies are relaxed and comfortable our minds have the opportunity to let go of the stresses and tensions of daily life.
Mellow Monkey combines well-documented rainforest herbs with both a long history of indigenous use and much research from western science.
Mellow Monkey supports relaxation, combats nervousness and anxiety and promotes a natural peaceful sleep: all the benefits without harmful side effects or risk of dependency. With OnePlanet Herb’s special blend of rainforest herbs, stress and anxiety can bre smoothed away helping you feel focused and good again.
The Importance of Reducing Anxiety, Stress, Sleep Problems and Insomnia
It is not uncommon for these conditions to travel together and become a package deal of unpleasantness. Over time this can wreak havoc on our physical, emotional and mental states.
Many people find that even small life-style changes can lead to big changes. Sometimes just a little more fresh air and a little less of stressful situations can add up to big changes. Mellow Monkey is a support in making change big and small. We all deserve the opportunity to fully enjoy life. Mellow Monkey is a great way to turn things around – get the company without the misery.
Categories: anxiety · fear · health · herbs · rainforest · relaxation · sleep · stress
Tagged: anxiety
Herbal remedy relieves asthma and upper respiratory conditions
Ever tried to breathe through a straw? If you are one of the lucky ones who has never experienced an asthma attack or serious upper respiratory problem you probably haven’t even thought about it. I’ve spoken to enough sufferers to know how bad it is. Witnessing my young child having an asthmatic reaction to an allergen ranks high on the list of things not to experience if you have any choice in the matter. When it comes to those we love we rarely have the luxury to choose.
Asthma statistics according to the experts (you may want to skip this if you get upset easily)
Perhaps, like me, you already know asthma affects way too many people. Additionally it is on the rise and is supported by poor indoor quality, air pollution, poverty and inadequate health care. But according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (http://www.aafa.org) the stats are staggering:
- Asthma affects an estimated 20 million people
- A full 50% of asthma cases are “allergic-asthma.”
- Since the early ‘80s the number of asthma sufferers has been on the increase across every age, sex and racial group.
- Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S. each year — 2 million.
- It also accounts for more than 10 million outpatient visits and 500,000 hospitalizations
- Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children. It accounts for more lost school days than any other single reason.
- The annual cost of asthma is estimated to be nearly $18 billion.
If you have asthma make sure you consult a physician… and then
Need I state that anyone with asthma should consult a medical doctor and follow their doctor’s recommendations? That much is obvious. But what if you are looking for more natural support?
I would like to offer a solution for additional symptomatic relief that is helping many asthma sufferers. The Lion’s Roar is an herbal blend of rainforest herbs that have a long tradition of use to diminish the symptoms of asthma. The herbs support the upper respiratory system both in the short and long-term.
Scientific validation of asthma relief
One of the merits of rainforest herbs is the amount of scientific research on them. Western pharmaceutical companies devote a great deal of time and money to understand rainforest plants and isolate important components. One such herb is amor seco.
As an aside, some years ago I had a strong allergic reaction to a wasp sting and didn’t realize it for a while. Don’t ask. Anyway, I was on the verge of anaphylactic shock before the doc slapped my arm enough to be able to shoot medicine into my fast disappearing vein. All’s well that ends well, but it was of personal interest to me that amor seco studies also reported anti-anaphylactic activity against many known allergy-causing substances.
I said it was of interest – not a substitute for proper medical care. DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH ALLERGIES AND POSSIBLE ANAPHYLAXIS. As a total believer in herbs I say loud and clear: Dial 911 immediately if you have an allergic reaction.
The herbs in The Lion’s Roar combine to provide relief from upper respiratory and bronchial problems including asthma.
These wonderful and beneficial herbs have conveniently been formulated into one ideal product – The Lion’s Roar. Offering a natural support for asthma and other respiratory problems, The Lion’s Roar makes a great addition to nature’s medicine chest. (pardon the pun).
Categories: asthma · upper respiratory
Tagged: asthma, asthma and herbs, children with asthma, herbal remedies for asthma, upper respiratory system
Try putting sugar in a gas tank and what happens? Your engine pops, belches and ultimately can ruin your engine. It’s like bad health — disappointing, disruptive and expensive. Our physiological gas tanks – our digestive systems – are more sophisticated and can handle a lot more abuse. But ultimately they too can spiral out of control and really ruin our day.
Too often we neglect the all-important fuel we put into our bodies. We may be too busy, too tired, too stressed, or too hungry to bother with a good meal. While there’s no substitute for good nutrition, sometimes we just don’t get there. That’s when it makes sense to support our systems with the next best thing – natural, well-balanced herbs to support our digestion. Tiger Tummy helps our body maximize energy and nutrition, and helps with the common symptoms of tummy trouble — acid reflux and poor digestion.
The secret is a blend of herbs that work simply and effectively by supporting the key organs important to digestion: The liver and gallbladder so they produce bile. The stomach so digestive juices are strong. Protection against acid reflux, maximizing the breakdown of food in the stomach, supporting the intestinal tract and helping things move efficiently and quickly. Our bodies are designed to keep what we need for the best possible nutritional results. Tiger Tummy supports that process. By doing so it turns regular into super so our digestive engine works at maximum capacity.
The Herbs in Tiger Tummy
Tiger Tummy blends together well-known and well-researched rainforest herbs to stimulate healthy digestion — carqueja, artichoke, fedegoso, quinine, gervâo, and picão preto.
Improved Digestion with Rainforest Herbs
Tiger Tummy is nature’s digestive aid, helping the body break down food for proper absorption. The herbs help prevent acid reflux, contain bitters to aid absorption and protect the digestive tract and organs. Many health professionals believe good digestion is the key to better health. We know how much better we feel when our digestion works well!
Tiger Tummy’s natural herbs aid the body’s digestive process, strengthens the liver to filter toxins. This helps guard against the many afflictions that can be caused by poor digestion. Our body is our most important asset and fueling it properly as well as aiding digestion and nutrient absorption helps ensure our bodies serve us well. Unlike the skyrocketing price of gas for our cars, Tiger Tummy remains affordable!
Natural Digestive Support for Better Health
Digestive remedies and antacids account for some of the biggest pharmaceutical sales in America. Yet too often drugs bring their own problems. Imagine Tiger Tummy. Here in the combined power of natural plants is a remedy that improves digestion and relieves pain while it protects, tones, and supports your body’s digestive organs and improves your health.
Put Tiger Tummy in your digestive engine today and turn regular to super!
Categories: Amazon · health · herbs · rainforest
Tagged: acid reflux, constipation, digestion, dyspepsia, poor digestion, stimulate healthy digestion, stomach, ulcer
It’s often said that misery loves company. But if you have ever experienced anxiety, stress, sleep problems or insomnia, you’ve probably noticed only the misery and felt no company at all. In which case it might surprise you to learn that millions of people suffer from anxiety, sleep problems and insomnia. Anti-anxiety medications and sleeping agents are among the leading prescriptions in industrialized nations around the world. These prescriptions don’t come alone. They come with serious warnings about possible side effects and the potential for addiction.
Although many people rely on them to relieve stress, anxiety, sleep problems and insomnia, others are seeking alternative solutions. No prescription or herbal remedy substitutes for good diet, exercise and stress-free living. That said, we all need help sometimes! That’s why more and more people like you are turning to natural ways to relieve stress-related problems.
Dynamic well-balanced formula to support stress-free relaxation
Mellow Monkey has been specially formulated to target the physiology of stress and combat it in a healthy, balanced way. Mellow Monkey helps with stress, anxiety, sleep problems and insomnia. It promotes relaxation, rest, deep sleep and well-being.
Some of the plants included in Mellow Monkey have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving qualities. This additional benefit is intentional. We are sometimes nervous or unable to take proper relaxation or sleep because of generalized discomfort or pain, yet don’t recognize it for what it is. When our bodies are relaxed and comfortable our minds have the opportunity to let go of the stresses and tensions of daily life.
Mellow Monkey combines well-documented rainforest herbs with both a long history of indigenous use and much research from western science.
Mellow Monkey supports relaxation, combats nervousness and anxiety and promotes a natural peaceful sleep: all the benefits without harmful side effects or risk of dependency. With OnePlanet Herb’s special blend of rainforest herbs, stress and anxiety are smoothed away helping you feel focused and good again.
The Importance of Reducing Anxiety, Stress, Sleep Problems and Insomnia
It is not uncommon for these conditions to travel together and become a package deal of unpleasantness. Over time this can wreak havoc on our physical, emotional and mental states.
Many people find that even small life-style changes can lead to big changes. Sometimes just a little more fresh air and a little less of stressful situations can add up to big changes. Mellow Monkey is a time-honored support in making change big and small. We all deserve the opportunity to fully enjoy life. Mellow Monkey is a great way to turn things around – get the company without the misery.
Categories: Amazon · health · herbs · rainforest · relaxation
Tagged: anti-depressant, anxiety, calm agitation, combat nervousness, insomnia, promote natural sleep, relieve stress, sleep problems, stress, support relaxation
The hectic pace of our modern lifestyles lead many of us to search for more energy and stress relief. Both are found in the rainforest. Rainforest herbs offer energy and are full of components that provide relief from the physical and mental stresses of daily life. The whole body benefits from using nature’s own remedies and many chemicals and synthetic pharmaceuticals can be avoided by relying instead on nature’s own secrets.
Throughout human history people have relied on plants for medicinal purposes. Many cultures around the world continue to use these natural ways of healing both for specific ailments and for better health in general. Many of us find that rainforest herbs offer strong healing support and health benefits while helping avoid dangerous side effects. Why? Often a pharmaceutical is one component from a plant that is synthesized out for a specific purpose. Herbal remedies are different. Herbal remedies use the whole leaf, or bark or roots, or even the whole plant. Such herbal remedies come to you in balance and help you keep a healthy balance as well.
Rainforest herbs are great companions that can help reduce the stress of every day living and provide a long-lasting, comfortable energy. The abundant energy support in Sloth-No-More is constant and constitutional. No caffeine buzz followed by the caffeine crash. Additionally the body benefits at many levels from the nutrients in rainforest herbs.
Rainforest Herbal Remedy
The rainforest herbs that target and benefit stress relief and energy include jatobá, chuchuhuasi, uña de gato (cat’s claw), sarsaparilla, catuaba and samambaia. These are all in Sloth-No-More. These herbs have been used for centuries to treat ailments including stress and anxiety. Together, they offer an alternative to the highs and lows of the caffeine roller coaster: comfortable, supportive energy that is fully natural and long-lasting.
These wonderful and beneficial herbs have conveniently been formulated into one ideal product — Sloth-No-More. Offering a deep level of energy that does not drop you the way caffeine will, Sloth-No-More offers stress relief and long lasting healthiness.
Why should we deal with stress anyway?
Stress is a serious condition with many potential physical, mental and emotional impacts. It is connected not only with poor overall body function, but disturbed sleep and insomnia, low energy, depression, and other physical ailments.
Sloth-No-More rainforest herbs combine the right herbs to target stress relief and provide natural constitutional energy while protecting against harmful side effects. Our body’s fight or flight response certainly helps us, but sometimes we can’t do either one. We’re just stuck in the middle of everyday living! Support from Sloth-No-More offers ongoing protection for your system and helps provide you with the feelings of long-lasting energy and well-being you deserve.
Categories: fatigue
Tagged: fatigue, herbs for energy, herbs for fatigue, herbs when tired, listlessnes, tired
Doing well in our fast-paced world requires lots of brain power, good memory, and fast response time. We know good diet, fresh air, exercise and rest are essential. We also know that doesn’t always happen. As we grow older, many of us seek ways to keep our brains fresh and our energy strong.
Yet all too often we overlook the basics of long-term health in our search for a quick boost. The popularity of caffeine and sugar-laden drinks, and shelves full of drugs and pharmaceutical products attest to this. Here’s the good news.
Herbs that are Neuroprotective, Cell Protective
You can find enormously protective and effective brain support in nature’s own medicine cabinet — the rainforest. The rainforest herbs in Elephant Elixir are especially effective in protecting brain cells, improving memory, and combating the effects of aging.
Herbs that are Anti-aging
What makes these herbs anti-aging? If you protect brain cells from breaking down and aging, you protect the body as well. This in turn improves memory and supports the immune system to help the body from falling ill. These specialized cell protective qualities keep our minds sharper and help our bodies retain a youthful elasticity.
The Amazon Rainforest Herbs of Elephant Elixir
Herbs that Strengthen the Brain
Together, the five herbs in Elephant Elixir are an ideal combination for strengthening the vital functions of the brain as well as supporting the body’s all-important central nervous system and immune system. Our brains are more than the processor of a super-computer. They are also the great balancer of emotions and spirit. By protecting our brain cells we can expect improved health and well being. We can look to high octane performance from our body, mind and spirit.
The Importance of Protecting against Brain Cell Loss
Protecting the brain and the body’s cells is very important. Often our diets and lives today include harmful additives and lack the proper nutrition that can protect our brain cells. This can potentially lead to debilitating conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia later in life.
One of the natural side effects of aging is a loss of brain cells leading to memory loss, a loss of focus as well as difficulties in sharp thinking. The brain is the most complicated organ in our body and the aging process loses brain cells rapidly; like 30,000 to 50,000 each day! Elephant Elixir helps to reduce loss of these all important brain cells and fights against the aging process.
The result is clearer thinking, increased memory and sharper brain function. Protecting our cells from the aging process is important throughout our lives. If you remember Elephant Elixir it will help you remember a clearer and sharper life!
Categories: brain support · health · herbs
Tagged: aging, Alzheimer's, anti-aging herbs, brain support, combat aging, dementia, good memory, protect brain power
Many people are just finding out that there are several herbs found in the rainforest that have positive effects on arthritis and help guard against the pain and the swelling associated with arthritis. When these rainforest herbs are used to treat ailments the body gets the benefits of the whole leaf, bark, root or even the whole plant. The active portion in the herb is surrounded by supplemental components that buffer ill effects and boost active properties.
People throughout history have used plants for medicinal purposes and many cultures continue to use natural methods for healing and health. Herbal remedies offer strong healing and health benefits while avoiding many dangerous and at times life threatening side effects.
The rainforest herbs in Leaping Lizard offer many positive benefits. These include relief from the symptomatic pain of arthritis, general pain, swelling and inflammation, stiffness and joint pain. For centuries people have found relief using the same herbs that are brought to you now in one effective remedy: Leaping Lizard.
The rainforest herbs that are essential and beneficial to general pain, swelling, and the symptoms of arthritis have been carefully chosen and specifically formulated into Leaping Lizard.
Herbal Remedy Supports Relief from Pain and Arthritis
Arthritis, the leading cause of disability in people over fifty, is a group of conditions that cause damage to the joints of the body. All forms of arthritis cause pain however the pain patterns vary. Most also cause a degree of stiffness and at times deformity and the inability to perform even simple day-to-day tasks.
There are different types of arthritis and causes of arthritis though most are treated similarly in Western medicine. One recommendation that seems widely accepted is to get regular exercise. Keep moving to lubricate the joints. Beyond that, herbal and allopathic approaches differ. Western medicine uses a number of drugs to help control inflammation and pain. Most prescription drugs are derived from plants but extract out one active component only.
The Importance of the Whole Plant in Healing
Herbal medicine works with the whole plant to provide the same relief, but in a more balanced way. Plants’ healing qualities are supported, balanced and strengthened by the surrounding components. By throwing these out we can negate many positive protections and buffers to protect us from potential harm. Leaping Lizard rainforest herbs combine the right herbs to target the afflictions and joint pain associated with arthritis and protect against harmful side effects.
The only danger with Leaping Lizard is you might find yourself performing activities you haven’t done for a long time making people wonder if you are reliving your youth.
Categories: Amazon · arthritis · health · herbs
Tagged: pain of arthritis
I’m reading Nicole Maxwell’s book Witch Doctor’s Apprentice — from 1962. One tough white girl! So far my favorit part is where she took a fall in waist-high mud and to save her camera wrenched her shoulder. Out of defensive pride she immediately got up and kept going, despite excruciating pain. A squeeky sound she couldn’t identify kept bothering her. It wasn’t until she realized she wasn’t walking anymore, but had collapsed on the ground and was being helped up that she realized it was her own outbreath. Her native guide helped her. This is a woman who spent her life working on the identification of healing herbs. While the pharmaceutical industry jerked her around and gave her no support, the world was waitingl. So she lived out her life recognized for the great pathfinder she was.
Categories: Uncategorized
Today was the last day of shaking my first batch of herbs. Perfect that it is a deep, still and dark night. It is as if all the herbal brews of all the women helpers and healers are resting in the hidden and unseen corners of this moonless night. Waiting to grow again, to flourish. And as of tomorrow the herbs will lie undisturbed a few days and as the moon grows they will transmute and combine to become tinctures. My first batch of alchemical transformations.
At the more mundane level I still am running the obstacle course with the Dept of Ag and dealing with the hurdles of starting. Inertia is powerful, but my will is stronger and my joy is greater.
I must say it is, at best, exhausting to spend, spend, spend with nothing coming in. At worst, it’s terrifying. Of course it’s all taking longer, there’s more to do and more money is flowing outward than anticipated. But when I saw the Market on opening day this Saturday I knew this would go well. It feels like a lifetime ago that I made so many mistakes in my last retail endeavor. Learning can be a bitch. But learned I have. There’s anoher huge difference.
This project springs from the deepest parts of me and I feel a gentle support and guidance on this path. More than that, I feel like it was a part of me before it ever began being born. It lay hidden, like the dreams and spirits of healers on a dark new moon night.
Categories: business · herbs · starting a business
Wow! I made my first tinctures, after calling on all to support and guide me in a wonderful blessing ceremony for my new undertaking. That night I dreamed of being ushered into the back room of an herbalists’s store, where the remedies were made. It was magical and I was like a kid in a candy store. It was a room as huge as it was old. Work stations were everywhere with broths cooking, pots boiling, steam rising and the deep dark aroma of herb mixtures. The owner talked with me and then said I could look around and ask questions. I wanted to know the secrets. I remember so strongly wanting to know that. It was the strength of the wanting that woke me.
The next night I was in a discussion with some someones — which herb should be the mother tonic? Which the mother sedative? We went back and forth and opinions flew. I remember none of it, but when I woke I knew which would be each.
Then last night, or rather in the early hours of the morning I dreamed of the wee people. The faery folk. Never had I had a sleeping dream of them. What roused me was the plight of a faery, a man. Somehow he wasn’t an elf, he was a faery, though without wings. He was dressed neatly in a suit and tie, but some idiot had put him in a bottle and then left. His plight was that he had to pee and couldn’t get out. Of course I helped him, but was astounded that anyone could be so thoughtless. I was also surprised at just how tiny he was. I knew they were small, but seeing it up close was still a surprise.
Dreams of business and the business of dreams merge seamlessly as my body, mind, spirit mend. It’s all part of the same healing, the yummy goody I have craved.
Categories: Amazon · business · dreams · health · herbs · rainforest
It’s taking shape. Each day brings new insights. Today for example I realized how much I don’t know. I realized how I can look at things as challenges, hurdles, or exits. For example. I really hate forms, bureaucracy, red tape of all kinds. Even rather harmless ones. I hate to admit it, but I actually lost a lot of scholarship money in college because I procrastinated looking at the forms until the deadline had passed. Even that didn’t teach me to be like Nike — and just do it.
Nevertheless, driven by a need to know and desire to succeed today I overcame my tendency to postpone this until approximately the year 2050. I ventured into the quintessential beaurocracy — the County Health Department. I needed to know what would come at me if I were to sell herbs at the local farmer’s market. Herbs. Big gray area. Instead of dealing with the County’s beaurocracy, bad enough… I get to deal with the state dept. of ag. Must be karma for missing the damn deadlines.
Anyway, I heard the familiar refrain in my head. The old song and dance. I can’t do this. It’s going to cost too much, they’re going to want things I won’t know, knowledge I can’t provide and yada yada yada.
Then another refrain popped in and actually booted the old familiar one out. I can do this. Others have done it and survived. People who barely speak English managed it. People who brought a lot less to the table have done it. More than that. I realized this wasn’t meant to put me out of business before I even started. It was meant to set guidelines. And that would be okay. I’d manage. Hell, I might even get some support out of it.
I think my business partner worked his magic because I realized I was bigger than the sum of my fears and procrastinations. So, like I said the same event can be felt and interpreted in so many ways. This time the challenge transformed into a small step; the hurdle was a little puddle I could jump, and the exit well tha exit became an entrance. What made the difference was my passion. Everything else crumbled in the face of it. It was powerful enough to carry me with all my baggage over the threshhold and right through the door.
Categories: bureaucracy · business
I’m building on so many levels that I’m often at loose ends. Today I was given a powerful image of protection — Jaguar. It’s happened befor
e when I really needed it. Now as I seek to build my herb business I’m reaching again into the unseen realms for support. Below are excerpts from an Aztec Tarot deck that just happened to select Jaguar as a sample. Serendipity at it again.
I‘ve noticed I do a lot of work at night, in my sleep when things are on my mind. Sometimes it feels really busy in there: ” there is great power at work on a subliminal or subconscious level. Your conscious mind is often unaware of the workings of your deep mind, but trust that there is a hurricane brewing under the surface and that all the courage and power you need are yours.” Cool.
I’m sometimes considered too brash, and actually was described as a bull dog only yesterday. Still, I feel I need confidence in ways I haven’t in the past: “Authority emanates from your very soul, and those around you can feel its pulse. The outward manifestation of this authority may take some time to develop. It will be felt before it is seen, but others will react to its invisible presence just the same.” Hepful.
And ultimately, a cornerstone of this business is for me to manifest myself fully as who I am: “…those who sincerely want the best for you will appreciate your newfound power in a favorable and supportive way, offering encouragement and respect.” That’s important. Meanwhile: “Those who have low self-esteem or low self-worth will tend to feel threatened by this inner power of yours and might find reasons to avoid you or may deliberately act against you in surreptitious ways.” Sadly this does ring bells, unpleasant ones at that.
I’ve always had the ridiculous tendency to believe what people say. Duh. Can’t count the number of times that’s gotten me in trouble. Here’s what Jaguar says about that: “…learn to become more sensitive to the unspoken language of others. Pay attention to how others conduct themselves with body language, facial expression, and tone of voice in addition to noting what they say and what they don’t say. Bingo.
This was a boon, as business, business, business is on my mind: “Jaguar’s presence not only evidences inner power, but it is an extremely auspicious sign for external success. His close affiliation with the Sun promises a 
favorable outcome in the issues that have been in your thoughts of late. Jaguar is Nature’s most successful hunter, literally at the top of the food chain, and offers the same degree of accomplishment for you.” Yum!
And since there’s no such thing as a free lunch, even from Jaguar: ”The accompanying requirement is that you must claim it as your own and use this power with integrity and grace, applying it with the focus of your mind and the sincerity of your heart to access your true self, your highest goals, and your best resolve.” And so may it be.
Categories: Amazon · business · jaguar · rainforest
Here’s a few did you knows. Did you know that spelt is the grandmother of wheat? Been around for thousands of years. It’s much higher in protein than commercial wheat — like 10 – 25 % higher.
Did you know kamut is also about 6,000 years old, and carries the Egyptian name for wheat. It’s kin to durham wheat. Much higher in protein than regular wheat, like 20 – 40 % and other goodies too like a lot more amino acids and vitamins.
Did you know that most people have sensitivities to commercial wheat? Not surprising. It has been hybridized for commercial purposes. Topping the list of modifications is that it can sit on the shelf without going bad. I suppose that’s good.What’s bad? It does the same thing in our stomachs.
It resists our digestive juices. Result. Poor absorption of whatever nutrients are there — at best. Generally though there’s the extra added attraction of bloating, gas and intestinal discomfort. Appetizing. Yummy.
Have you heard of xylitol? It’s not sugar, it’s a sugar alcohol. Vive la difference! A lot less calories, zero carbs, safe for diabetics, and seems to prevent tooth decay.
Oh, one other did-ya-know. Flour left for more than 24 hours before it is baked loses 90 (that’s 90) percent of its nutritional value.
So here’s my point. We got a grinder it’s expensive – but not necessary if you live near a good store where you can grind your own. We got a bread machine. Cheap. For a high-protein delicious bread I combine kamut/2 C, spelt 1 1/4 C and 3/4 C rye (for a nice kick). If I’m around I set the bread machine to dough, shape it let it rise 30 min and bake it in the oven 30 min. I generally add pumpkin or sunflower seeds, sometimes nuts. You can put anything in that suits your fancy.
Result? You know what you’re eating, it’s delicious and it’s good for you. Then there’s the sex. Oh that’s right. This was about bread. Bummer.
Categories: baking · bread · grains · health · sex
It’s tough. Think clearly, dream big. Go for it, be cautious. Act. Research. It’s like trying to figure out what’s healthy to eat. No two sources say the same thing and some are downright contradictory.
Here’s what I know. I have a purpose and a passion. I want to save our planet. I don’t have too much normal about me and that would include viewing our earth as Gaia, a living being filled with creatures of the Goddess and the Gods. Even filled with multiple realms. From deep in my soul I am called to merge magic and medicine, elemental power and joy, living on the earth and giving back to the earth.
Sometimes I feel it makes me ill-prepared to cope with the regularities of life-as-we-know-it. Things like keeping a schedule, staying organized, earning money, interacting with ‘normal’ folks. But out of my sense of loyalty to the air I breathe, the water I drink, and the earth that gives sustanance I am determined to spread the herb word.
Of course there’s also solar. Can I dream two businesses at once?
Categories: business · herbs
Saw Juno tonight. How can anyone not 16 capture the essence of the child/woman, boy/man of that age in life? Tender sprouts searching for their own way to the sun. Struggling through the forest of bigger trees and leaves too many to count. Blocks perhaps to the light they need to grow true and strong. The real dangers are in the trees that may look like any other, but are dead inside. One day they will blow over in a storm, taking with it anything in the path of their fall. Their dead weight can crush a tender sapling. Or if it survives the damaged sapling’s course can turn to narrow twists and stunted growth, never reaching the light it was meant to feel. Some day in an undreamt of future brought on by the endless turns of the wheel, they in turn become the danger.
It was all in that simple tale.
Categories: Uncategorized
During a trip to Brazil I was taken to one of Rio’s fabulous restaurants. When my host learned I hadn’t had tasted maracuja (you may know it in Spanish as maracuya?) he ordered one of the best tasting desserts I had that trip. Actually, like the vine that it is, it climbed right up there with the best evers. I knew it went by the romantic-sounding English name of Passionflower. Hmmmm. Yummm. What I was savoring was the delicious fruit-o-the-vine.
And as you can see, the flower is a real knockout as well. Makes you want to suck on it. Don’t do that though.
As to the romantic English name … sadly the passion refers to that of Christ. Some religious conquistadores (aka missionaries) thought it resembled something from that torture-murder. Sigh.
The penny that didn’t drop was to connect it all with the passion flower I knew to be a super effective herbal remedy for sleeplessness, nervousness, and anxiety. It’s in just about every herbal sleep formula. Go figure.
The Pflower is no shrinking violet and can reach 10 meters in its native tropical to semi-tropical habitat. Which by the way extends throughout South and into N America — and includes a mere 200 varieties! What a helpful, successful species. What we use are the vines, leaves and stems, actually mostly leaves. The most prevalent species in the Amazon are Passiflora edulis and P. incarnata. The pic is incarnata.
For the wonks amongst us, the following is courtesy Rainforest Inc’s awesome plant data base. Which in turn was taken from The Healing Power of Rainforest Herbs by Leslie Taylor, copyrighted © 2005
Main Uses:
- for mood disorders (depression, anxiety, stress)
- for insomnia and sleep disorders
- for headaches, migraines and general pain
- for stomach problems (colic, nervous stomach, indigestion, etc.)
- to relieve menstrual cramps and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Properties/Actions Documented by Research:
analgesic (pain-reliever), anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, cough suppressant, aphrodisiac, cough suppressant, central nervous system depressant, diuretic, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), sedative
Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use:
anticonvulsant, antidepressant, astringent, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), disinfectant, nervine (balances/calms nerves), neurasthenic (reduces nerve pain), tranquilizer, vermifuge (expels worms)
Categories: Amazon · health · herbs · rainforest · relaxation · remedies
Like other young couples wildly in lust, when my not-yet husband and I got together we made love anywhere and everywhere. I guess the worst of it was the time we couldn’t wait to get home from our bike ride along the Donau near Vienna and we both ended up filled with mosquito bites. Or perhaps it was that time on the tram. Oh well, that’s not the point. My point is that we baked bread. Hand grinder, pounding the dough and all that. It was Vienna 1979 and I’m not sure we ever managed to make a loaf without getting all over each other.
Here we are 28 years of marriage later, and again baking bread. This time with an electric grinder and a bread machine. Life is a lot easier. But that’s not my point either. What I want to say is it isn’t any different. Sometimes I’ll put the machine on dough setting and then bake it in the oven so it doesn’t have that wierd boxey shape from the machine. Hey, that’s even when my husband isn’t around. It’s aesthetics. Really.
But when he is around, all those years melt away. (Horrah! Not — repeat not — complaining.) Just a bit puzzled. Does anyone know what it is about the smell of bread dough that’s so effin sexy? You’d think it would conger up cozy family images, mom, dad, kids around a warm fire in December. Nope. Lust. Sex. Gobs of fun. I may not figure it out, but I’ll enjoy trying. And the bread tastes good too. If anyone has thoughts, I’m all ears… so to speak.
Categories: baking · bread · life · sex
i have now jumped into the stratosphere of the blogosphere. Old Chinese medicine ways say my small intestine is having a fit! So many choices my poor little prime minister doesn’t know which way to send the information.
Meanwhile life here in Walla Walla (aka Walla2) continues at the glacial pace of wine-loving, hick town offset by hip college town America. I’m trying to cool my head with gentlifying herbs as I figure out which part of town I belong in.
Categories: Uncategorized
