Peaceful Living News

Good Earth Garden School...

2010-03-13T16:51:00.002-09:00

Gardening by Asking Mother Nature
GEG Bulletin
March 13, 2010

Dear Eco-Gardeners,

Slugs in your lettuce?

A wasp nest on your deck?

Weeds invading your yard?

Trees to cut down?

Is there is a way you might work with nature?

Yes! Come learn to consult the wise consciousness of nature itself.

Co-Creative Organic Gardening

April 10-11, 2010

Anchorage Alaska

You’ll learn how to

--Select organic fertilizers

--Perfect your composting

--Reduce pests without poisons

--Consult directly with the joyful Devas and Nature Spirits

--Reduce pests without battles or poisons

Saturday –Sunday April 10-11 from 10 am - 6pm

Information and registration: see flyer attached, and please register on line to hold your place at www.goodearthgardenschool.com

I’d love to have you. Please come join the fun!

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

“We farmers and gardeners are responsible for the health of this nation. As growers, we can do more to keep people healthy than all the doctors and hospitals combined. Human health is an agriculture issue.” --John Kempf

Good Earth Garden School...

2010-03-13T16:46:00.001-09:00

Classes,Seminars,Workshops,Films,Training
GEG Bulletin
March 13, 2010

Dear Sustainable Eco-Gardeners,

The sun is scribing an arc ever higher over the horizon. Warm rays stream into our windows. Underfoot, can you feel the sap of cottonwood, birch, willow, and spruce creeping upward? Like the first quiet notes of a symphony that builds to a furor, so do ancient and powerful forces conduct the glorious acceleration into spring. We are riding on a planet that is once again hurling us toward Spring Equinox.

Just as buds will soon swell and burst open, so is my head about to burst open. I am full to popping with exciting news. I don’t mean to overwhelm your INBOX, but wow, I have much to tell you. There is an explosion of opportunities for you to indulge in—new gardening courses, workshops, and conferences!

At last, we feel waves of electric enthusiasm about sustainable agriculture—local food, growing food, community-building, healthy diets, root cellars, and alternative energy systems. So if seed catalogs and spring fever are quickening your heart rate, read on!

In this bulletin:

Co-Creative Organic Gardening Workshop

How to Build Powerhouse Soil Fertility

Terra Bella Eco-Seminars

Terra Bella Wed Night Movies

Food Films in Mat-Su

Local Foods Class

Gardening for Market training

Small Scale Livestock class

Compost Class

Healthy Food Class

Spring Creek Farm classes

Okay, this is the comprehensive list. I’ll be sending out reminders of the individual classes as I am able to.

But check my website for reliable assistance.

Gardening Courses and Films

Opportunities, 2010

Through Good Earth Garden School:

Register through www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Co-Creative Organic Gardening Workshop

With Ellen Vande Visse, Sat-Sun Apr 10 -11-Anchorage

How to Build Powerhouse Soil Fertility - Palmer

With Experts Bob & Christine Greig of Alaska Sea-Agriculture

Two repeat sessions at their warehouse site in Palmer:

Sunday, April 18th, 2-4 p.m. and Thursday, May 6th, 3-5 p.m.

2- Hour Seminars at Terra Bella Café in Anchorage

To register for classes at Terra Bella Café: Go to www.goodearthgardenschool.com and sign up for the courses you would like to take.

Ask Mother Nature: Spiritual Tools for Gardening…Tue March 16 at 10am-noon

Shopping for Food You Can Trust………………Tue March 23 at 4-5:30pm

Grow Your Own Windowsill Greens……………..Tue April 6 at 10am-noon

Grow Your Own Windowsill Greens….Repeated Wed April 7 at 10am-noon

Breaking the Chemical Habit—

How to Choose Organic Fertilizers ……………..Tue, May 11 at 10-11:30am

Wednesday Night Movies —Sustainability, Food, & Health

at Terra Bella Bakery Café

Anchorage on Dimond Next to Bed, Bath, & Beyond

All start at 6pm. Come hungry! When you come, get a free packet of coffee grounds to fertilize your garden and repel slugs! For complete list of titles and descriptions, please go to www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Other Opportunities not to be Missed

Alaska Sea-Ag

Film Showing of “FRESH”…………. Mon Mar 22 -Wasilla

Film Showing of “ Dirt” ………………Tue Mar 23 -Wasilla

Both at 7 - 9 pm at The Alaska Club in Wasilla. For more information call 745-5725.

Also, see above for Bob & Christine Greig’s class “How to Build Powerhouse Soil Fertility” both April 18 and May 6.

Anchorage Gardening Series

Compost and Soil …………….......…….. Wed Mar 31, 7-9pm -Anchorage

Healthy Food ………………………..….…Wed Apr 28, 7-9 pm –Anchorage

Community Planting at the C-St Garden.....Wed June 2 Time TBA-Anchorage

Sponsored by Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Alaska Center for the Environment,

UAF Cooperative Extension Service, and Alaska Women’s Environmental Network http://akcenter.org/sustainable-communities/local-food/gardening-workshops For more information or to register, contact Diana at ACAT at diana@akaction.org 222-7714 or Alli at ACE at alli@akcenter.org 274-3662

Spring Creek Farm

Spring Gardening Series for 2010: Classes and programs in Palmer, including:

Ÿ Seed Starting for Herb Gardens,

Ÿ Home Chicken Flock,

Ÿ Seed Starting for Vegetable Gardens,

Ÿ Apple Tree Grafting Workshop,

Ÿ Planning a Children's Garden

Spring Creek Farm Garden & Art Event Sat June 12 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Come on out and visit the farm. Events for all ages includes: Valley Arts Alliance "Second Saturday" Fireside Books gardening books, Soaring Crane Natural Health Center & many others.

http://www.springcreekfarmak.org/eventannouncements.htm

Call 746-2714 for information & to register.

Mat-Su College Palmer

Organic Gardening………………….……….Agri 138 credit course Fri Mar 19-Apr 17 (Class full)

Gardening-Cultivate & Grow…………………. CED A049 non-credit M-W Mar 15-29

Local Food Sources………………………... CED A049 non-credit M-W Apr 5-19

Small Scale Livestock: Raise & Nurture…CED A049 non-credit M-W May 3-17

Market Gardening: Grow and Sell ………. CED A049 non-credit M-W May 24-June 9

To register for classes go to www.matsu.alaska.edu. Need help? Call 745-9746 or stop by Mat-Su College at Mile 2, Trunk Rd, Palmer, AK.

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

“We farmers and gardeners are responsible for the health of this nation. As growers, we can do more to keep people healthy than all the doctors and hospitals combined. Human health is an agriculture issue.” --John Kempf

Kitchen Cosmetics Blog Party!

2010-01-21T10:44:00.002-09:00

I'm so glad my friend Cindy (Sagescript Institute and Colorado Aromatics) asked me to join in this Blog party. I don't blog often enough, I usually convince myself that I have nothing to say, lol, but subjects like this are near and dear to my heart, as these are the things I love and enjoy! Thanks Cindy for getting me off my butt! :O)

I have always liked the do it yourself approach to most things. I also believe that if you can do it inexpensively and with things you already posses, all the better. I love the natural approach...so with that in mind...open your cupborads & refigerators and get 'beautified" without breaking your bank!

Thyme-to-Wash Cleanser
Reduces puffiness and irritation while gently toning skin.

Ingredients
1/2 Tbsp dried thyme
2 tsp crushed fennel seeds
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 lemon, juiced
Instructions
Stir together thyme and fennel seeds, cover with boiling water. Add lemon juice, let steep 15 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. Use a cotton ball to dab onto face each morning, and rinse.

Citrus Scrubbing Grains
Follow this invigorating scrub with a light natural moisturizer.

Ingredients
1/2 cup dried orange peel
1/2 cup dried lemon peel
1 cup cooked oatmeal
1 cup blanched almonds
Instructions
Place all ingredients in a blender and whirl until reduced to fine powder. Store in an airtight container for future use. Moisten grains in the palm of your hand with a little water, scrub over face in circular motions, rinse with warmish water, pat face dry.

I'll be posting other recipes on my other blog that I also do not spend enough time on :O) http://mountainmarys.blogspot.com/

For more on the Blog Party go here: http://sagescript.blogspot.com/2010/01/kitchen-cosmetics-blog-party.html

Essential Oils for Christmas

2009-12-16T07:35:00.001-09:00

If the aroma of pine is what brings back memories like going out and cutting your own tree, we have a top list of memory-joggers that you are going to love! With nature's essential oils, the aroma of Christmas need not be forgotten. Simply spray the tree with a mixture of 1 cup of water and 6 drops of essential oil of pine, or put a few drops of pine oil on an absorbent material and tuck around the base of the tree. Here are several essential oils that you may use to help re-create your Christmas memories.

Cinnamon (Cinnamoma cassia): Cinnamon comes from the dried bark of trees in the laurel family. Cinnamon has a rich history in Chinese medicine as well as Western herbal medicine. A holiday favorite, this dark scent is often used to accent cookies, cakes and cocoa. Cinnamon tea is not only delightful but helpful for relieving nausea and indigestion. Cinnamon oil is great for colds. Add a few drops of cinnamon oil to boiling water and inhale the steam. Cinnamon oil is also used as a massage oil and has a warming effect on skin.

Clove (Caryophyllum aromaticus): Clove is a hot oil. A holiday favorite, this delicious scent is often used in warming recipes. It can be used in a carrier oil for any infection. It has been used in the dental industry for years to deaden pain. Clove oil can be applied topically with a carrier. It has been used for arousing and fortifying. According to a study at the University of Iowa, compounds in clove oil have shown "strong activity" against bacteria associated with plaque and gum disease.

Pine (Pinus sylvestris) : Pine Needle was used by the ancient Romans and Greeks to treat respiratory problems and muscular aches. A holiday staple, this fantastic scent is often used to accent potpourri and diffused into the air. It promotes a healthy immune and musculoskeletal system. Distilled in Austria from the finest pines, Pine Needle can be diffused to help strengthen the respiratory tract and maintain sinus passages. When massaged into the skin, Pine Needle supports healthy circulation and soothes the discomfort of sore joints and muscles. A true disinfectant, a strong germ killer, excellent for viral infections and for muscular aches, rheumatism and arthritis.

Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica), (Juniperus virginiana) : A holiday favorite, this fragrant scent is often used in accenting closets and cupboards. Cedar is a versatile oil that acts as an astringent and a cleansing agent. Believed to have originated from the famous Lebanon cedars, this essential oil provides an exhilarating tonic for the scalp and face to help the body deal with dandruff and acne. It can also be massaged into the skin for soothing, relaxing muscle rubs. Cedars are thought to offer longevity, and the oil it yields was used for embalming in ancient Egypt, and as an incense by Tibetan monks to aid in meditation.

Neroli (Citrus aurantium) : A holiday favorite, this rich citrus scent is often used in the scenting of perfumes. Neroli oil has a sweet, floral and slightly haunting aroma, the color is pale yellow and the viscosity is watery. This essential oil is also known as 'orange blossom' and it takes about 1000 lbs. of orange blossoms to make 1 lb. of Neroli oil.The name Neroli is said to originate from the Italian princess, Anne-Marie de la Tremoille, Countess of Nerola, who used the oil as a perfume and to scent her bathwater and gloves.The orange petals were used in China in the making of cosmetics and are still an ingredient for making traditional smelling Eau-de-cologne. Orange petals are often associated with marriage, purity and brides who traditionally wore it in their hair.

Sweet Orange (Citrus vulgaris) : The orange in itself is a highlight nutrias fruit containing many vitamins including A, B, and C. Being that essential oils are extracted directly from the peel of the orange, it contains all of these natural nutrients as well. This yellow-orange oil is quite sweet in fragrance and is used in “fruity” fragrance blends. Orange may also be used by itself for a light personal scent. Orange has been used as a beauty oil especially for the neck to help prevent and reduce the appearance of lines. Being that it is a citrus essential oil, it may cause irritation in people with sensitive skin.

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) : Frankincense rejuvenates skin, so it's used on mature and aging complexions and to fade old scars, reduce inflammation, moisturize dry hair, and cure acne. A holiday favorite, this pungent scent is often associated with Christmas and is said to be one of the gifts of the Magi. Its antiseptic properties fight bacterial and fungal skin infections in a salve, lotion, or as a compress. It also treats infection of the lungs, the reproductive organs, and the urinary tract, and it increases the menstrual flow. the oil works in two ways to help the body fight infection and pain. It first numbs nerve endings to reduce the amount of pain sensations that reach the brain. And then it boosts the body's immune system to accelerate the healing process. As an added bonus, the oil's aroma relaxes the brain, which helps bring on sleep.

Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) : Myrrh has been used since Biblical times to treat many ailments. A holiday favorite, this pungent scent is often associated with Christmas and is said to be one of the gifts of the Magi. It is a sap that dries into hard crystals. The sap is used by some for making tinctures. Myrrh is both antiseptic and astringent. It is used today as a mouth wash and used for treatment of mouth ulcers, sore throats and even for the relief of sore gums. To use it as a mouthwash, drop a few drops of the sap into a glass of water.

Peppermint (Mentha piperata) : Peppermint recalls the images of candy canes and sweet treats made from this wonderful oil. Peppermint has the powerful therapeutic ingredient menthol, as well as menthone, menthyl acetate and some 40 other compounds. Peppermint is a naturally occurring hybrid of spearmint (M. spicata) and water mint (M. aquatica). The oil is made by steam-distilling the plant's aromatic leaves and stems. Peppermint oil acts as a muscle relaxant, particularly in the digestive tract, reduces the inflammation of nasal passages and relieve muscle pains. A mixture of peppermint oil, eucalyptus oil and ethanol (ethyl alcohol) on the forehead and temples can reduce headache pain. Peppermint can be take as a tea, capsules or tinctures.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS. L.Ac
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ aromatherapy. htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

Essential Oils for Christmas

2009-12-16T07:33:00.000-09:00

Winter Herbs, Oils & First Aid

2009-10-30T15:31:00.000-08:00

With the first winter chill breezing into town it's time to start thinking about how to keep the sneezes and sniffles away. While there's talk of the value of vitamin C, echinacea and garlic as natural treatments, herbalist claim herbs can prevent colds and flu. There are three main herbs, as well garlic, which are widely used to ward off winter woes. They are Echinacea, andrographis and astrolagus.

Echinacea is effective for the early treatment of colds and flu because it's an immune stimulant but is best taken before a cold sets in, however, it can help shorten the duration of flu if you take it once you've become ill and can assist with treating respiratory infections.

Andrographis and Astrolagus work in much the same way. Andrographis is also used for coughs and sore throats. These herbs are highly effective alone or in conjunction.

The frequent use of Garlic, referred to as nature's antibiotic, puts you well on your way to preventing a winter cold.
And don’t forget your vitamin C. Citrus, grapes and strawberries are high in C, and it doesn’t hurt to add zinc from beans, nuts and whole grains.

You may wish to try this herbal remedy, shared by a friend who swears by it. She hasn’t had a cold/flu in years.
Total Tonic Formula
1 Handful of split Garlic cloves
1 Handful of chopped Onions
1 Handful of chopped Ginger
1 Handful of chopped Horseradish
1/2 handful of chopped Habanero Peppers.

Throw in a blender and chop, then cover with
an inch or two of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Let tincture for a week or two (shake now and then)
and strain, then drink a little of the juice daily,
or twice daily. (It is very HOT)
A small amount in V8 Juice is good and Turmeric can be added for extra benefit.

Winter Herbal Medicine Chest
Several herbs are effective for treating not only the symptoms of too much winter, but also the causes of colds and flu… Impaired immunity to virus/bacteria, maintaining blood circulation and warmth, ensuring vitality of the lungs and reducing the build up of congestion in the body. In addition to the herbs already mentioned, some herbs to keep on hand in your “medicine chest” are:
Ginger, Elderflower, Yarrow, Sage, Rose Hips, Mullein, Thyme, Fenugreek & Marshmallow.

Other beneficial ingredients to your chest would be
Winter Essential Oils
Aromatherapy brings us the aromatic energy of living plants in the form of essential oils. These fragrances are a natural antidote to the emotionally debilitating effects of winter. Winter essential oils cleanse and freshen air in homes closed tight against the cold weather and can be beneficial in treating winter ailments. Some useful winter oils are:
Bergamot, Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Orange, Rosemary & Tea Tree.

Try these Essential Oil remedies in a massage, a bath, infused in the air or in a “sniffy” bottle. In all of them combine the oils listed.
WINTER WARMTH BLEND
10 drops of cedar wood
25 drops of bergamot orange
15 drops of fir needle
30 drops of juniper berry
20 drops of sandalwood
SINUS CONGESTION BLEND
5 drops of Eucalyptus
3 drops of Lavender
2 drops of Tea-Tree
2 drops of Pine.
PICK ME UP BLEND
7 drops of Bergamot
5 drops of Grapefruit
3 drops of Rosemary
SUNSHINE BLEND
5 drops of Lemon
5 drops of Orange
3 drops of Geranium
2 drops of Peppermint

Traditional Herbal Medicine Under Threat

2009-10-28T06:38:00.001-08:00

www.cropwatch.org
THE FIRST TRULY INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG FOR THOSE
WORKING WITH NATURAL AROMATIC MATERIALS
E: info@cropwatch.org T: ++44 (0)7771 872 521
Traditional Herbal Medicine Under Threat.
The purpose of this Cropwatch emergency mailing is primarily to ask
all of you to seriously consider signing the Save Our Herbs petition at
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/support-herbal-medicine.html This
organisation not only campaigns on behalf of the general public, but
also represents a very significant proportion of medical herbalists of
both Eastern and Western traditions, practising in the UK.
Time is very short - if you want to support this very worthy campaign
ensuring the continued availability of safe Herbal Medicinal Products,
the continued free use of a wide range of our safe endemic &
imported Herbs by ordinary people according to our traditions,
preventing the takeover of small Herbal Medicine Suppliers by
pharmaceutical concerns, & opposition to Statutory Regulation of
Herbalists, you will need to sign the petition by 31st October 2009.
The Save Our Herbs campaign’s official website can be found at
http://www.saveourherbs.org.uk/index.html and provides a wealth of
background information to this potential crisis for Herbal Medicine.
Cropwatch strongly recommends you to read through the
comprehensive information to be found there.
Cropwatch’s Own View.
There are a number of inevitable consequences for Traditional Herbal
Medicine as a result of the implementation of the EU Commission’s
Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive 2004/24/EC, which
came into force on 30th April 2004.
§1. Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (THMP’s). All THMP’s
placed on the market post the implementation date of the new EU
2
legislation, must have a national authorisation to be marketed, and
whilst several EU member countries have had national schemes in
place, the UK has previously enjoyed a virtually unregulated market.
In the UK, for products already on the market prior to the introduction
of this legislation, marketing concerns have until 30th April 2011 to
obtain authorisation (from the Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency - MHRA) and to work to GMP. The MHRA’s
Traditional Herbal Registration Scheme, and its relative lack of
uptake – undoubtedly due to the excessive costs involved (as shown
by the low cumulative total of THR registrations) can be viewed at
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Howweregulate/Medicines/Herbalmedicines/
PlacingaherbalmedicineontheUKmarket/TraditionalHerbalMedicinesR
egistrationScheme/index.htm As we have witnessed in other seento-
fail & discriminatory areas of EU legislation (that pertaining to
Biocides regulation for example), unnecessary, over-intrusive and
crippling financial burdens are placed on the SME’s which market
natural products, a situation which plays straight into the hands of the
pharmaceutical / chemical companies. It should also be remembered
that the MHRA themselves have been severely criticised as being too
close to the pharmaceutical industry (e.g. in House of Commons
Health Committee Report (2005) entitled ‘The Influence of the
Pharmaceutical Industry’:
“A House of Commons Health Committee Report from 2005, entitled
‘The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry’ is highly critical of the
MHRA and its close relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. It
states, ‘(t)here are regular interchanges of staff, common policy
objectives, agreed processes, shared perspectives and routine contact
and consultation. Many of the senior staff of the MHRA have previously
worked with the industry …’1 It is therefore doubtful whether the
MHRA can be trusted to serve the best interests of herbal
medicines, herbalists and their patients”.
For a breakdown of expected MHRA fees for THMP’s, please refer to
a document drawn up by Dave Blackwell of Herbs4Healing Ltd. under
Appendix A at the end of this document, and reproduced with his kind
permission.
§2. The Possible Illegality of Actions by Regulatory Officials Meddling
with the Free Availability of Natural Remedies in the UK.
The UK differs from other European Member States, since there has
long been a legal recognition of Herbal Practitioners, dating back to
3
Henry VIII’s Charter, which defines a Herbalist and the right to
practice & minister:
Common Law set down by Henry VIII defines a herbalist '…henceforth it
shall be lawful to every Person being the King's subject. having
Knowledge and Experience of the Nature of Herbs, Roots, and Waters,
or of the Operation of the same, by Speculation or Practice, within any
part of the Realm of England, or within any other the King's Dominions,
to practice, use, and minister in…'
(see Watt 2009: http://www.aromamedical.com/articles/traditionalherbalists.
htm, reproduced by kind permission). Cropwatch
understands this Charter has never been repealed.
It should also be remembered that there is a clause in the Treaty of
Rome of 25th March 1957 which can be interpreted as preventing
interference with the availability of natural remedies: “2. The Union
shall respect fundamental rights, as guaranteed by the European
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms signed in Rome on 4 November 1950 and as they result
from the constitutional traditions common to the Member States, as
general principles of Community law.” Watt (2001) discusses the
validity of the above argument and further protections of natural
remedies afforded by other clauses in the Treaty of Rome at
http://www.aromamedical.com/articles/mlx249.html (scroll down to
“Controls on Natural Remedies.”
The interference with free availability of natural herbs and medicines
also impacts on religious freedom & worship and use of herbs in both
the Islamic and Judaeo-Christian traditions. Cropwatch understands
that representations to Ministers / MP’s by a delegation representing
views of individual members of the Islamic and Christian faiths
respectively, are in progress, in order to avert any possibility of the
prospect of religious or cultural discrimination by the regulatory
authorities.
§3. Statutory Regulation of (the Title & Function of) Herbalists.
A Consultation Document was published by the Department of Health
(DH) of the UK Government on 3rd August 2009: A joint consultation
on the Report to Ministers from the DH Steering Group on the
Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal
Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional
4
Medicine Systems Practised in the UK. The consultation period ends
on 3rd Nov 2009. The Save Our Herbs campaign has produced a
draft response to the consultation at
http://www.saveourherbs.org.uk/files/Download/Response%20To%20
Consultation%20Document.pdf which Cropwatch strongly
recommends you read.
We are told by the Department of Health (DH) that the purpose of
Statutory Regulation (SR) is / was to safeguard public safety but
many herbal practitioners would maintain that this is a nonsense,
since existing self-regulation is already proven adequate. The Pitillo
Report (see below) further states: “Statutory regulation can more
effectively assure the standards of those regulated, protecting the
public from poor or bad practice, because legal sanctions exist to
remove individuals from a register. Statutory regulatory bodies
determine standards of practice and competence.” But as Cropwatch
pointed out in 2008, CAM is not the issue. The UK-based inquiry
started in 2000, decided that the medical practitioner Dr Harold
Shipman allegedly killed up to 250 of his patients, some 218 of whom
have been subsequently identified. Similarly the confidence &
assurance in health officials supposedly assured by regulation did not
help the victims of Nurse Beverly Allit, knicknamed the ‘Angel of
Death’ by the popular press. Health care authorities had to
subsequently carry out heavy modifications to medical practice,
belatedly increasing patient protection. Conversely, we are not aware
that any practicing Herbalist has killed or injured anybody in the UK
(an MHPRA document (July 2008) “Public Health Risks with Herbal
Medicine: An Overview” only identified (only) a single major incident,
in a Belgian slimming clinic, where an irresponsibly prescribed herb of
the Aristolochia spp. resulted in 100 women developing kidney failure
many of whom allegedly went on to develop cancer). Further, in spite
of 22 million annual visits to herbalists in the UK (Thomas et al. 2001
thro’ The Pitillo Report) and with one in three US citizens taking
herbal medicines on a regular basis, no safety assessment of herbal
medicine has ever taken place, either in the UK or at an international
level. Attempts to demonize widely used herbal medicines such as St.
Johns Wort Hypericum perforatum by the pharmaceutical industry,
pale into insignificance when it is realised that the herbal drug has
been found to be as effective as major conventional synthetic antidepressants,
and to have fewer side-effects (Linde et al (2008)
5
Cochrane Database Syst Rev 8 (4)). In conclusion, under the
government's own protocol, before Statutory Regulation can be
established, a risk assessment tool for herbal medicine would have to
be established, and no such assessment tool exists. There is also a
requirement for an established knowledgebase to be in place, and
this is also not established.
On the other hand, with regard to conventional medicine, for some
curious reason we hear relatively little in the media about the
statistics surrounding the failure of MD's working in the National
Health Service (NHS) to correctly diagnose & prescribe the
appropriate treatment for a given patient's ills (a major concern). The
British Medical Journal (BMJ) Evidence Centre at
http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/about/knowledge.jsp reveals
that of around 2500 [commonly used NHS] treatments covered, 13%
are rated as beneficial, 23% likely to be beneficial, 8% as trade off
between benefits and harms, 6% unlikely to be beneficial, 4% likely to
be ineffective or harmful, and 46%, the largest proportion, as
unknown effectiveness.
Further, tens of thousands of patients die or suffer serious sideeffects
from certain prescribed (and by now, notorious)
pharmaceuticals. It has been admitted that in the decade up to the
year 2007, 80,000 patients had died from iatrogenic disease and that
a further £46 million had been spent by the NHS on treating the
survivors. Since that time reports have been issued that this state of
affairs has further deteriorated, in part blaming the increasingly
complex MHRA approved drug regimes employed. By comparison,
those therapies now being attacked with the threat of regulation are
becoming ever increasingly safer! (Information provided by Robert
Scott).
Finally, let us turn to the darkly hilarious but thorough reporting of an
extensive study by the Union of Concerned Scientists to the effect
that embarking on a course of conventional drug treatment appears
to statistically increase the chances of shortening your life. This is
quite aside from the serious chances of dying or losing limbs from
hospital acquired infections, or recent media reports of lack of care &
attention and even cruelty shown towards elderly NHS patients. Yes,
the conventional medical profession / NHS is in serious need of
effective statutory regulation, whereas any need for increased
6
regulation of CAM is, by comparison, not only completely
disproportionate to the degree of health risk posed, but, is essentially,
nothing but a sideshow, and a waste of taxpayers money.
4. The Government Reconsiders the Need for Statutory Regulation.
There are some strong signs that the Government is re-examining
any need for the imposition of Statutory Regulation (SR) of Herbalists
whatsoever (in spite of a House of Lords Select Committee
recommendation and the recommendation of three DH working
groups in favour of SR). At the same time they are apparently
reconsidering any need and the practicality of changes to the 1968
Medicines Act Section 12.1 (bear with us: this is an exemption from
various medicines licensing requirements in the Medicines Act which
allows herbal practitioners to prepare or obtain from a third party,
unlicensed herbal medicines to meet individual patient needs
identified in a consultation). Instead some reports indicate that they
are considering a less severe licensing system, perhaps based more
around self-regulation or self-licensing. This follows the publication of
the Report to Ministers from The Department of Health Steering
Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture,
Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional
Medicine Systems Practised in the UK May 2008 (‘The Pitillo Report’)
which can be accessed by following links from
(www.dh.gov.uk/en/consultations/liveconsultations/DH_103567).
However, one of the recommendations of the above report is that
Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
(TCM) should come under statutory regulation by the Health
Professionals Council (HPC), a body totally unsuited to the task.
It was pointed out by Robert Scott in a letter to the Health Authorities
(seen by Cropwatch), that the proposal to regulate Herbal Medicine
by Mr. Marc Seale, registrar of the HPC, was made after aggressive
lobbying by the chairman (a certain Mr. Michael McIntyre) of the
European Herbal Traditional Practitioners Association (EHTPA) who
sat as one of three stakeholders on the committee chaired by
Professor Pittilo mentioned above. The recommendation to ‘strategy
regulate’ was originally sent by Marc Seale to Alan Johnson in his
role as the previous Secretary of State, although we believe the
matter was handled by Ben Bradshaw a junior Minister of State at the
Department of Health. It appears that both these gentlemen have
7
now been transferred to different departments. But to quote from the
letter mentioned above:
“The chairman of the EHTPA, by his own admission, had a major
influence on the Pittilo report. As he is also closely associated with
the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH), this establishes a
somewhat troublesome incestuous link between these organisations,
which jeopardises the integrity of the final report.
Although the EHTPA likes to put forward that its stance in favour of
statutory regulation is supported by the majority of practising
herbalists, this claim is not supported by their voting record. The
largest body within the EHTPA certainly is NIMH, but only a
ridiculously small amount of its membership actually voted in support
of this move. The vast majority either abstained or voted against.
The membership of the Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners,
another organisation that is a member of the EHTPA, was threatened
with expulsion from their professional register if they voted against
this proposition.
The lack of support for statutory regulation from the membership of
URHP had even been acknowledged in writing by the chairman of the
EHTPA.”
These extracts seen by Cropwatch only touch the tip of the iceberg
regarding the political manoeuvring and ‘behind the scenes’ power
games invisible to the hapless regulatory officials who are only
served up selected titbits by those players who would seek to control
the direction of the regulation of Herbal Medicine. If Cropwatch can
find the time, we may open this can of worms further and dissect the
odious contents a little later on.
As you can gather then, the basis of the HPC’s support for Statutory
Regulation based on the recommendations of the above report is
therefore totally undermined – not only has it failed to take into
consideration the unique character of Traditional Herbal Medicine but
it is also in danger of acting contrary to the principles of the Islamic &
Judaeo-Christian religions (see §2 above).
Thanks to Martin Watt & Robert Scott for kind permission to include
their material.
8
Appendix A – by kind permission of David Blackwell.
CRITIQUE OF THMPD AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE UK
The latest information and detailed explanation on costs are attached.
Dried Herbs and simple Tinctures (Reduced categories I and II)
Many herbal suppliers currently offer a wide range of dried herbs or tinctures for
direct sale to the public (e.g. Baldwins and many internet shops). The fee per
item (£577 - £864 every 3 years) plus other costs such as inspection and
preparation of dossiers will mean that many raw herbs and simple tinctures will
cease to be available to the public. The costs are considerably higher where a
herb has not previously been included in a product which has been granted a MA
or THR, which the vast majority in the western herbal pharmacopoeia have not.
In this case the fees rise to an eye-watering £5,185 per herb/tincture. Each
different preparation requires a THR. This means that if you supply a single herb
as a dried herb (tea), powder, capsules, tinctures of different strengths, alcoholfree
extracts, fluid extracts, infused oils and essential oils, plus the organic
versions if marketed separately, each would require a separate application. For
example Baldwins currently offer in the region of 550 products of which between
10-15% will be considered for the Reduced categories, while the rest will be
Complex i.e new registrations. This adds up to an estimated £2,600,000 initially
then £360,000 every 3 years thereafter.
This is a very unfair system, since the first to apply for a previously unregistered
product will have to pay the full cost (Complex), while subsequent applications
will fall into the Reduced category.
Herbal Remedies (Reduced categories I and II) - usually referred to as
Complexes, but this term is avoided to avoid confusion with the THR category
In theory this applies in a similar manner as for simples (above), but in most
cases will be subject to higher fees if there are more than 3 ingredients, ranging
from £864 for teas to £1,297 for other preparations and £7,7791 for previously
unregistered ingredients. However Herbs Hands Healing have been told that it
will not be possible to register very complex products and to consider issuing
them as kits containing all the ingredients separately. The MHRA Public
Assessment Reports reveal that where a product includes 2 or more active
ingredients genotoxicity data will need to be provided, at least by the time the
registration has to be renewed. EC genotoxicity testing involves expensive in
vitro and in vivo (live animal) procedures. The assumption here is that
combinations of herbs pose a significantly elevated risk and ignores the long
history of herb combining and the lack of evidence to suggest that a potential
problem exists. If we compare hospitalizations and deaths through food
1 Applies to combinations of 2 or more ingredients
9
consumption (e.g. allergic reactions and food poisoning together with the health
risks of long term poor food choices) with that arising from the use of herbs, it is
clear that food is far more dangerous. Yet it is ludicrous to imagine a time when
a simple aubergine bake in tomato sauce with oregano, black pepper, salt and
topped with cheese could be subjected to similar concerns and regulations, but
here it is happening with herbal medicines. Also we are well aware of the
limitations of such testing when it comes to protecting the public from
unforeseen adverse effects, as has happened with many pharmaceuticals.
It is anticipated that most specialist herbal suppliers, which can be classed as
small to medium businesses, will be unable to finance the registration of their
existing range of products and those consulted have come to the conclusion that
they will have to wind up their businesses.
Oriental and other World Herbs
Many products will fall foul of the 15 year rule. This includes complex products
and herbs from traditions such as Ayurveda and Unani-Tibb, which have no longestablished
OTC history in the EC. TCM products are more widely available in the
UK and tend towards traditional i.e. fixed formulations, however it may still be
difficult to establish 15 years use in many instances. Furthermore the “applicant
and registration holder must be established in the Community”, meaning that the
onus falls upon importers to arrange THRs. This means that ethnic communities
and those who show a preference for oriental medicines are likely to be more
disadvantaged by the new rules.
Potential Outcomes
The regulations will undoubtedly change the face of herbal medicine within the
UK. It is anticipated that there will be an upsurge in the marketing of a small
range of commercially viable herbal products; those that have entered the wider
public consciousness and which have gained a reputation as being cures for
certain conditions. Examples would be Black Cohosh for the menopause,
Feverfew for migraines, Valerian for stress, Echinacea for colds etc. Other herbal
ingredients and remedies are likely to disappear from the nation’s shelves or be
drastically reduced in range. There will be a shift in public perception of herbal
medicine towards a more pharmaceutical model where herbs are treated as
drugs for specific conditions rather than to treat individual symptom patterns.
THMPD will also enable mass marketing of products and will usher in a transition
towards supermarkets and chemists as the primary outlets.
Many existing businesses will be severely impacted by the new regulations
(wholesalers, manufacturers and retailers) and it is envisaged that many will
close as a result, either as April 2011 arrives in the following 3-5 years. The
impact of this restructuring of the herbal industry will be felt by herbal
practitioners in 2 ways. Firstly the increased demand for certain ‘popular’ herbs
10
and the buying power of larger corporations will lead to an inevitable price rise
and possible supply problems for these. Secondly, the contraction in demand for
other less popular herbs due to the closure of businesses may see a reduction in
the range stocked by wholesalers. It is impossible to foresee the full
consequences of this, just as no one predicted the sharp rise in world food prices
and shortages caused by biofuel production.
The effects could be devastating. Without wishing to be alarmist, the vast
majority of small to medium UK herbal businesses could rapidly disappear,
leaving many unemployed. Pharmaceutical companies, Chemists and
Supermarkets will gain from increased freedom to market products and will no
doubt increase their market share and profits. It’s somewhat akin to selling
mineral and timber extraction rights in the Amazon; the big conglomerates move
in and extract everything of value, leaving behind cultural and environmental
devastation.
The system is unwieldy, expensive, overly bureaucratic and unnecessary. If
anyone truly believes this will protect the public, they are sadly mistaken. There
is simply no evidence that there is any significant health risk to be protected
from, plus it will be impossible to prevent internet purchases from abroad,
thereby creating an uncontrolled marketplace where before there were
responsible UK companies who were subject to regulation.
MHRA Charges for THMPD Registration, not including site inspections,
stability testing, genotoxicity testing or other miscellaneous costs
CATEGORY
£
FEE
Standard
All products unless Reduced or Complex
3 or fewer existing herbal active ingredients 2,593
More than 3 existing herbal active ingredients 3,890
Reduced
Category I
Herbal teas, excluding ingredients not previously registered*
3 or fewer existing herbal active ingredients 577
More than 3 existing herbal active ingredients 864
Category II
Tinctures, Essential Oils, Oils, or Capsules, excluding ingredients not
previously registered*
3 or fewer existing herbal active ingredients 864
More than 3 existing herbal active ingredients 1,297
Complex*
Applies where an active ingredient has not previously been included in a
11
medicinal product which has been granted a MA or THR
Single new herbal active ingredient 5,185
2 or more new herbal active ingredients 7,779
The definitions for fees categories are as follows:
"Reduced registration application category I" means an application other
than a complex registration application for a traditional herbal registration
relating to a medicinal product which is presented in the form of a herbal tea;
"Reduced registration application category II" means an application, other
than a complex registration application, or a traditional herbal registration where
the application falls within one of the descriptions specified in sub-paragraphs (a)
to (d) as follows -
(a) the application relates to a medicinal product which is presented in the form
of a herbal tincture;
(b) the application relates to a medicinal product which is presented in the form
of an essential oil;
(c) the application relates to a medicinal product which is presented in the form
of a fatty oil; or
(d) the application relates to a medicinal product which contains only herbal
substances in a capsule;
"Standard registration application" means any application for the grant of a
traditional herbal registration which is not a complex registration application, a
reduced application category I, a reduced registration application category II or a
change of ownership application;
"Complex registration application" means an application for a traditional
herbal registration relating to a medicinal product containing an active ingredient
that has not previously been included as an active ingredient in a medicinal
product in respect of which a marketing authorization (other than a product
licence of right) or a traditional herbal registration has previously been granted

Winter Detoxification & Remedies

2009-10-14T15:29:00.002-08:00

Detoxifying is the process of releasing accumulated toxins and waste products that build up throughout our bobies. Every day we are bombarded by toxins, both externally from environmental sources, and internally as our organs give off waste products that accumulate in our bodies. Emotions also take part in polluting our system with excess chemicals such as free radicals, homocysteine and cortisol.
Detoxifying is essentially an easy process. Our bodies do much of the process through urination, defecation and perspiration. As our bodies age and our immune systems weaken, we sometimes need to lend extra help. That is why conscious detoxing is a great way to get back to optimum health.
One of the best ways to start your detoxification is with the body's biggest organ, the SKIN. A detox diet strengthens the organs involved in detoxification and releases stored toxins, expelling them through the organs of elimination: the skin, intestines, liver, lungs, kidneys, and lymphatic system.
TIPS FOR DETOXING
1. Eat a diet with plenty of fresh vegetables & fruits.
2. Eat whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
3. Adopt a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise.
4. Avoid drugs, alcohol & processed foods.
5. Take a high potency multi vitamin and mineral supplement.
6. Take nutritional and herbal supplements to protect and enhance liver function.
7. Go on a three day fast, four times per year.
8. Fasting at the change of the seasons is a good rule to remember.

MAKE YOUR OWN WINTER REMEDIES Seasonal trends-dropping temperatures, fading light, and your body's dipping defenses-invite all manner of ailments: colds and coughs, flues, and the winter blues. But with a few herbal tinctures, simple yet powerful remedies that you can make yourself, you'll be ready to ward off these ailments and, if they do find a foothold, minimize your discomfort and speed up your recovery.
Tinctures, which are concentrated liquid extracts of medicinal plants, are excellent remedies for wintertime ailments because of their sheer potency. Taken by the dropper-full, they work well, and they work fast. Also called herbal extracts, tinctures have been made for thousands of years by soaking fresh or dried herbs in a solvent, such as vodka or brandy, to extract the plants' medicinal properties. While mass manufacturers use more complicated exacting methods, the traditional technique is simple. It requires only easy-to-find ingredients and common kitchen tools, yet makes some of the most effective tinctures available—for pennies per dose.
Medicinal herbs can be tinctured alone or with other compatible herbs. The herb combinations here are among the most trusted, time-tested remedies. Echinacea, goldenseal, and turmeric make up Super Support, for fending off infections. Cold & Fever Buster contains elder, yarrow, and peppermint to help ease colds and fevers. Cough & Throat Relief features soothing, lung-supportive mullein, licorice, and wild cherry bark, plus ginger for a little kick. Garlic, onion, ginger, cayenne, and horseradish give Fire Tonic its warming, infection fighting kick. And Mood Lifter, for easing seasonal depression, includes hawthorn, oat tops, lemon balm, and St. John's Wort
Whether you make one or all of these recipes, keep in mind the two essential principles of herbal medicine making. 1. Quality ingredients make quality products. If you can't grow your own herbs, buy them from reliable growers or distributors. When choosing your solvent, the medium used to extract and deliver the plants' medicine, choose the best. 2. Just as important, intention matters. Native American healers, who used many of the herbs in these formulas, had a deep reverence for the plants' healing powers. When they dug the plants, they did so with respect and prayer, and when they made them into medicine, they also prayed. Without prayer, they said, the plant's medicine, its essence, stayed in the ground. Among people who use "green medicine" today, there is still a deep sense of respect for the plants. Apply this technique as you gather your herbs and brew your tinctures. Herbal remedies made with clear intention and an appreciation for the plants are much more effective.
SIMPLE TINCTURE MAKING
1. Gather the materials. Keep it simple and make small batches, tinctures are highly concentrated and taken in very small doses—a little goes a long way. To make about a pint of tincture, you'll need a clean, dry, quart-sized jar with a tight-fitting lid, enough herbs to fill the jar halfway, and roughly a pint and a half of solvent (the herbs will soak up some solvent). Most of these formulas call for 100-proof brandy or vodka (use what you prefer). If you prefer not to use alcohol, you can substitute vinegar.
2. Prepare the herbs. If you have any fresh herbs, use them. High-quality dried herbs, however, are just as potent, and available year-round. If you are using fresh herbs, rinse them with water to remove any dirt, dry thoroughly, then chop them finely. Pack your jar halfway with herbs. For a strong, effective tincture, be sure the herbs in the jar are packed firmly.
3. Add the solvent. Pour the solvent over the herbs until they're completely covered, then add an additional 2 to 3 inches of solvent. The herbs must be completely submersed to prevent bacteria from growing (this is also why the fresh washed herbs should be dried before adding to the jar). Cover the jar with a tight fitting lid. Herbs may swell as they soak up the solvent, so you may need to add more solvent to keep the herbs covered. Note: If using vinegar, warm it, do not boil it, on a stovetop before pouring it over the herbs; this helps facilitate the release of medicinal properties.
4. Let the tincture sit for 4 weeks. During the process of soaking the herbs in the solvent, the plants soften and break down (a process known as maceration), releasing their medicine. Most Western herbalists recommend letting tinctures macerate for 4-6 weeks. The longer tinctures macerate, the more effective they are, so consider a month your minimum. When starting the maceration process, label and date your jars so that you remember when you started.
5. Shake daily, with intention. Shaking the tinctures while they're soaking facilitates the breakdown of medicinal properties and prevent the herbs from remaining packed at the bottom of the jar. It's also an opportunity to add some magic to the science of herbal medicine. When you shake your tinctures, do so with your best healing intention. Remain focused and visualize the end result, your remedies will be the better for it.
6. Strain the herbs. After at least 4 weeks, your tincture will be ready for use. Line a stainless-steel strainer with cheesecloth or muslin, and place over a large glass jar or measuring cup. Pour the liquid slowly through the strainer. When finished straining, squeeze the herb-filled cheesecloth or muslin to wring out every drop. Reserve the liquid, this is your medicine, and discard or compost the herbs. Pour the finished tincture into a clean, dry glass jar with a tightly fitting lid. Label your tincture with the contents and date.
7. Store the tincture properly. When stored properly, tinctures can last for years. Both light and heat can break down the medicinal properties, so keep your jars of tinctures in a cool, dark place. It's a good idea to keep a small supply of the tincture ready for use in a 1- or 2-ounce amber-colored bottle with a dropper top.
Dosage and Use varies depending on the individual and the herbs being used. For chronic problems and for remedies you're using as a tonic, the general adult dosage is 1/2 to 1 teaspoon three times daily. For acute ailments, small, frequent doses are much more effective: for adults, 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon every hour. Tinctures can be taken directly under the tounge, however some have a strong flavor, so most people prefer to dilute them in a small amount of water and “shoot” them rather than sip them.

SOLVENTS
The solvent is the liquid used to extract the herbs’ medicinal properties. The solvents used in these recipes have different benfits, however can be interchanged to your preference.

Alcohol extracts most plant constituents, including fats, resins, waxes, and most alkaloids (some of the strongest plant compounds). The body rapidly assimilates alcohol tinctures, and their effects are quickly felt. Alcohol makes an excellent preservative, maintaining the integrity of the tincture for many years. Brandy and vodka are perfect for the traditional tincture method . Both can be purchased at 100 proof, which provides an ideal alcohol-to-water ratio. (Water extracts many important constituents, like vitamins and volatile oils.) For preservative properties and extraction purposes, you must use at least 50-proof alcohol.
Vinegar is completely nontoxic, and well tolerated by most people. While it is not as strong or effective a solvent as alcohol (it does not break down as many plant components), it's a good alternative for alcohol-sensitive people and children. You can easily integrate vinegar tinctures into your daily diet, using them in place of vinegar in cold foods (use apple-cider vinegar if possible). Reports state that vinegar tinctures have a short shelf life, however when stored in a cool, dark place, tightly sealed when not in use, they can last for several years.

WINTERTIME FORMULAS
Note: If you have a serious condition, are pregnant, or take medication, consult your health-care provider before using these or any herbal remedies.
Super Support
Take 1/4- 1/2 tsp. per hour at symptom onset.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
2 parts echinaces root, flower and leaf
2 pa1 part turmeric
1 cultivated goldenseal root (Use cultivated goldenseal; this herb has been over-harvested.)
Cold & Fever Buster
Take 1/4-1/2 tsp. per hour at the onset of symptoms.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
1 part elder flower and elder berry
1 part peppermint leaf
1 part yarrow flower and leaf
Cough & Throat Relief
Take 1/4- 1/2 tsp. per hour at the onset of symptoms.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
2 parts mullein leaf
1 part licorice root
1 part wild cherry bark
1/2 part gingerroot
Fire Tonic
Take 1/4- 1/2 tsp. per hour at the onset of a cold, or as a daily warming tonic. Makes a great salad dressing.
Solvent: apple-cider vinegar
1 part garlic
1 part onion
1/2-1 part freshly grated horseradish
1/2 part ginger small pinch cayenne
honey to taste (add to finished product)
Mood Lifter
To prevent or ease the winter blues, take 1/2 -1 tsp. three times daily.
Solvent: 100-proof vodka/brandy
2 parts hawthorn berry, plus flower and leaf if available
2 parts lemon balm
1 part St. John's wort
1 part milky green oat tops

Winter Herbs, Oils & First Aid

2009-10-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

With the first winter chill breezing into town it's time to start thinking about how to keep the sneezes and sniffles away. While there's talk of the value of vitamin C, echinacea and garlic as natural treatments, herbalist claim herbs can prevent colds and flu. There are three main herbs, as well garlic, which are widely used to ward off winter woes. They are Echinacea, andrographis and astrolagus.

Echinacea is effective for the early treatment of colds and flu because it's an immune stimulant but is best taken before a cold sets in, however, it can help shorten the duration of flu if you take it once you've become ill and can assist with treating respiratory infections.
Andrographis and Astrolagus work in much the same way. Andrographis is also used for coughs and sore throats. These herbs are highly effective alone or in conjunction.
The frequent use of Garlic, referred to as nature's antibiotic, puts you well on your way to preventing a winter cold.
And don’t forget your vitamin C. Citrus, grapes and strawberries are high in C, and it doesn’t hurt to add zinc from beans, nuts and whole grains.
You may wish to try this herbal remedy, shared by a friend who swears by it. She hasn’t had a cold/flu in years.

Total Tonic Formula
1 Handful of split Garlic cloves
1 Handful of chopped Onions
1 Handful of chopped Ginger
1 Handful of chopped Horseradish
1/2 handful of chopped Habanero Peppers.

Throw it all in a blender and chop, then cover with
an inch or two of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Let tincture for a week or two (shake now and then)
and strain, then drink a little of the juice daily,
or twice daily. (It is very HOT)
A small amount in V8 Juice is good and Turmeric can be added for extra benefit.

Winter Herbal Medicine Chest
Several herbs are effective for treating not only the symptoms of too much winter, but also the causes of colds and flu… Impaired immunity to virus/bacteria, maintaining blood circulation and warmth, ensuring vitality of the lungs and reducing the build up of congestion in the body. In addition to the herbs already mentioned, some herbs to keep on hand in your “medicine chest” are:
Ginger, Elderflower, Yarrow, Sage, Rose Hips, Mullein, Thyme, Fenugreek & Marshmallow. Other beneficial ingredients to your chest would be
Winter Essential Oils
Aromatherapy brings us the aromatic energy of living plants in the form of essential oils. These fragrances are a natural antidote to the emotionally debilitating effects of winter. Winter essential oils cleanse and freshen air in homes closed tight against the cold weather and can be beneficial in treating winter ailments. Some useful winter oils are:Bergamot, Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Orange, Rosemary & Tea Tree.
Try these Essential Oil remedies in a massage, a bath, infused in the air or in a “sniffy” bottle. In all of them combine the oils listed
WINTER WARMTH BLEND
10 drops of cedar wood
25 drops of bergamot orange
15 drops of fir needle
30 drops of juniper berry
20 drops of sandalwood
SINUS CONGESTION BLEND
5 drops of Eucalyptus
3 drops of Lavender
2 drops of Tea-Tree
2 drops of Pine.
PICK ME UP BLEND
7 drops of Bergamot
5 drops of Grapefruit
3 drops of Rosemary
SUNSHINE BLEND
5 drops of Lemon
5 drops of Orange
3 drops of Geranium
2 drops of Peppermint

The Alaska Local Food Film Festival

2009-09-13T10:30:00.001-08:00

Mark Your Calendars!
Great Movies Oct 2-8th, 2009

Join Alaska Center for the Environment, the Beartooth Theatrepub & Grill, Delicious Dave Catering, AK Root Sellers, NOLS, and Bioneers Alaska for the first Alaska Local Food Film Festival! The festival will take place October 2nd-8th at the Beartooth Theatrepub in Anchorage, and will feature the Alaska debut of Food Inc, as well as the films The Garden, Eating Alaska, FRESH, and The End of the Line. There will be opportunities to eat fresh Alaskan food and discuss the films, as well as to learn more about how you can get involved with the Alaska local food movement.

The Beartooth Grill will be preparing specials made with local ingredients brought in by AK Root Sellers from the Valley. Ellen Frankenstein, filmmaker and feature of Eating Alaska, will be in town to answer questions after screening her film, and Dave Thorne of Delicious Dave Catering along with Kathy Ciarimboli brings you FRESH the movie with an opportunity for discussion after the film. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and learn more about how you can get involved with the Alaska local food movement! Additionally, Bioneers Alaska will host a dessert, coffee, and Q&A opportunity on the last night of the Film Fest, Thursday 10/8th - stay tuned for details!

========Clip and post this film schedule======

10/2 - 5:30 - FOOD, INC.

10/3 - 5:30 - THE GARDEN

10/4 - 5:30 - EATING ALASKA with discussion w/filmmaker Ellen Frankenstein after the film

10/5 - 5:30 - FRESH with discussion after the film

10/5 - 8:00 - END OF THE LINE

10/6 - 5:30 - THE GARDEN

10/7 - 5:30 - END OF THE LINE

10/8 - 5:30 - FOOD, INC.

These are exciting and well worth coming out for!

Thanks to Alaska Center for the Environment for this bulletin and support.

Harvest blessings, and let me know if you want off the list,

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Retirement

2009-07-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

IT'S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONES GOTTA DO IT!

Melon Panzanella

2009-07-10T11:06:00.001-08:00

Makes 6 servings, about 1 cup each

4 ounces whole-grain bread, torn into bite-size pieces (about 2 ½ cups)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 ounce thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into thin strips (about ⅓ cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 cups torn arugula leaves
2 cups cubed firm ripe melon
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1. Preheat oven to 250°F.
2. Spread bread pieces on a baking sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, about 20 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds more. Remove from the heat and stir in vinegar, salt and pepper.
4. Place arugula, melon, basil and the toasted bread in a large bowl. Add the prosciutto mixture and toss to combine. Let the salad stand for about 20 minutes before serving so the bread can absorb some of the dressing.

Cantalope Ice Pops

2009-07-10T10:41:00.001-08:00

Makes eight 2-ounce pops
Equipment: 8 popsicle molds or small (2-ounce) paper cups

1 small cantaloupe
½ cup water
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon finely slivered fresh mint leaves
¼-⅓ cup lemon juice, depending on the sweetness of the melon

1. Cut cantaloupe in half; remove and discard the seeds. Scoop out the flesh and transfer to a food processor. Puree until smooth; measure 1 1/3 cups puree and transfer to a small bowl. (Reserve any remaining puree for another use, such as a smoothie.)
2. Pour water into a small saucepan, add sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in mint and immediately remove from the heat. Let stand for 1 minute.
3. Stir the mint syrup and lemon juice into the cantaloupe puree. Pour the mixture into 8 individual popsicle molds or small (2-ounce) paper cups.
4. Freeze until beginning to set, about 1 hour. Insert frozen-treat sticks and freeze until completely firm. Dip the molds briefly in hot water before unmolding

Dance Like A Duck!

2009-07-03T08:58:00.001-08:00

Daily Love Fest

2009-07-03T07:50:00.003-08:00

Actually, everyone is reasonable.
They just have their own reasons.

And usually it's worth trying to learn what
they are to maximize chances of a full-blown,
60's style, psychedelic lovefest.
Which is always a good thing.

Groovy you,
The Universe
www.tut.com
If each of us strives everyday to understand someone else, someone outside our comfort zones, our friend & family circles, our culture, our race, our neighborhoods....We are one step closer and ever advancing to World Peace, Harmony & Joy! Love your fellow man, even if he is not related to you.
MM

TEA

2009-06-28T17:02:00.001-08:00

When I drink tea
I am conscious of peace
The cool breath of Heaven
rises in my sleeves, and
blows my cares away

Chincese Poet Lotung

Summer Solstice: Seasonal simmers

2009-06-27T09:36:00.002-08:00

Good Morning!
Simmers are a special mixture of herbs and spices, which are combined
into a blend or potion, created to bring the power of aromatherapy
and intention into your life. They are also designed to capture the
attention of those around you.

Based on folk remedies, grandma's recipes and the ingredients
provided by nature, these simmers are recipes used to make your
kitchen smell delightful. They can be used along with a "special
intention" and later, can even be enjoyed as tea!

Summer Simmer

Used for: scenting the kitchen/any room with aromatherapy, inviting
Summer, honoring the Solstice, invoking Summer love, as a cooling
iced tea.

-Blend 2-4 quartz of water with:
-1 lemon, sliced
-1 lime, sliced
-sprig of mint
-1 tsp. vanilla
-4-6 tsp. of two of the following herbs: Jasmine flower, Chamomile
flower, Chrysanthemum flower, Rose petals.

Slowly simmer on the stove. Allow the smell to permeate the room.
Cool and refrigerate for iced tea.

Peppermint Simmer

Used for: scenting any room with aromatherapy, creating a cooling
iced tea or used as a insect repellant.

-Blend 2-4 quartz of water with:
-15 - 20 peppermint or spearmint leaves
-1 orange, sliced
-two drops of peppermint, spearmint or wintergreen essential oil

Slowly simmer on the stove. Allow the smell to permeate the room.
Cool and refrigerate for iced tea.

Special Notes:

With each simmer you can:
-take advantage of their aromatic properties.
-say a positive affirmation, invoking words, a special prayer or give
thanks.
-use them at the start of each season to give honor to yourself and
your intentions for that season.
-as it cools, share, drink, these simmers as a tea.
-the health properties of these ingredients are appropriate for each
season, relate to the internal organs and are associated by taste,
temperature and color.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

2009-06-25T08:07:00.001-08:00

TO: Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com
Therapies for healing mind, body, spirit
For sharing all of his wonderful knowledge so freely!

Summer Crystal Reiki Grids

2009-06-25T07:58:00.001-08:00

Good Morning!
Many Healers are called to facilitate 'distance' energy sessions for
people that do not have access to in-person care. Often, this
includes seriously ill clients/friends/ family that could use Reiki or
healing energy each and every day. Distance energy work in the
same way as sending a 'prayer'. A prayer is energy that transcends
time/space to interact with a situation/person/ event. The
requirement for any distance energy to be effective is a strong,
concentrated intent from the person sending the energy/prayer.
This includes Reiki work and all other forms of 'sending energy'
across a distance.

There are many props that can be used to assist us in 'sending' our
healing energy in a coherent and concentrated manner. First, we
must adequately establish a connection with the receiving person.
Photo's, personal items, or a previous meeting with the receiving
person (ie, someone we already know) are usually the best ways
to connect. Second, many Healers find it very useful to facilitate a
full session on a proxy... like a stuffed animal, with the other items
(if they are available) close by.

You may also want to create a grid for the season's solstice. This
grid allows for the purification of the energy around you in your
home, office, meditation space or garden! Creating your own grid
with your crystals is a personal and balancing way of manifesting
good energy for a good season! There are many combinations you can
create! Here is one suggestion:

Evoking the Element of summer, which is fire, make a space that is
for your crystal grid. This should be in the south direction of your
home, garden, meditation space or office. Use a fire stone in the
center of your grid such as garnet, ruby or red spinel. Evoke the
other seasons and directions by placing 4 crystal quartz points
around the center red stone with the points facing away from the
center. in between the 4 quartz points you may put 4 complementary
color to red, which is green (such as jade, aventurine or peridot).
Bless the grid with incenses, herbal sage or sweet grass or simply a
prayer for a bountiful harvest (which is surely a metaphysical
metaphor for our lives) and then allow the grid to do its work.

Working with Reiki Energy

Many Reiki Practitioners and Energy Workers add the
subtle vibrations of stone energy as a complement to their
healing sessions or daily lives. Usually this includes the
laying on of the appropriate colored stones to coordinate
with the Chakra centers, meditating with a particular
stone, or wearing the stones as jewelry when the
inspiration hits. There are, however, even more uses when
stones are set up in a 'Grid' and are properly 'activated'.

A 'Grid' is more simply put, a way to arrange the stones in
a sacred geometric pattern. They are then consciously
'activated' by connecting a 'line of Light' between the
stones so that they radiate an energy field in the immediate
environment in which they are constructed. Those of you
who are sensitive to energy will be able to tell immediately
that there is a shift of energy in the room where you
construct a Grid. Depending on which stones you choose,
there will either be a gentle shift... or a very tangible one.

Creating a Sacred Space:

We live and work in a variety of environments. Many of these
environments have a specific function to fulfill that can be
consciously and energetically supported. The current attention on
Feng Shui and similar 'getting the energy in the room just right'
techniques have shown that we, as a society, are becoming more
aware of how our immediate spaces can either be harmonious or
disharmonious to our goals. Constructing a Crystalline Grid in an
environment that supports the function of the room is yet another
way to contribute to the overall energy flow.

Most people wish to create a Sacred Space in personal rooms;
such as, Healing, Meditation, and even Bedrooms. Healing rooms
should be warm, inviting, supportive, loving, and full of Light
(Selenite, Rose Quartz, Turquoise, Crystal Points, etc.). Meditation
rooms should be soothing with an added emphasis on reaching
high vibrational states of consciousness (Amethyst, Azurite,
Moldavite, Angelite, Celestite, Selenite, Crystal Points). Bedrooms
are the alchemical combination of dreamtime, regeneration, and
(hopefully) intimate bliss (Herkimer Diamond, Rose Quartz,
Garnet, Lapis, Azurite, etc.). These are all examples of rooms one
might wish to support with appropriate Crystalline Grids... but
certainly not the only kind.

There are other spaces that can be supported by a general 'vibe'...
such as living rooms, children's spaces, offices and workspaces,
etc. In a living room, one may wish to add a Grid that supports
harmony of a group or general feelings of Love and Comfort
(Crystal Clusters, Rose Quartz). A Grid in a Child's space might
include nurturing, creative, and joyful energies (Moonstone,
Citrine, Rose Quartz, Kyanite). An office Grid might include
harmony of a group, calmness, grounding, and shielding (Crystal
Clusters, Amethyst, Black Tourmaline, etc.).

There are no right and wrongs.... you choose the space, you
choose the Crystalline Grid to support it the way your intuition
guides you. Familiarizing yourself with the various metaphysical
properties of minerals can be very helpful to you as you make your
choices. You can get a nice list of stones you may want to use and
then use a pendulum to figure out which ones would be the most
effective for you.

The Star of David Pattern

Place quartz crystal points under our massage table in a pattern
called the Star of David layout. For this, place crystals on the
points of an imaginary Star of David: one each below the head and
foot, one each below the shoulders and hips.

This layout creates a very stable and relaxing energy pattern which
seals in the Reiki energy. We also recommend it for meditation.

There are many possible variations to this pattern. Amethyst or
citrine may be used instead of quartz, and the points may be
alternated with stones of another kind (rose quartz for a love grid,
aventurine for healing, aquamarine for creativity, hematite for
psychic protection).

Hands On
Often clients enjoy holding a crystal in one or both hands during the
treatment. You can either let them choose the one(s) to which they
are attracted, or make suggestions, such as:

For grounding issues: hematite, tiger's eye, black tourmaline, red
jasper, smoky quartz

Anxiety/nervousness : amethyst, rhodochrosite, aquamarine

Love issues: rose quartz (for relationship issues); emerald, for
feeling cut off from divine love or one's spirituality

Opening up spirituality: clear quartz, chrysocolla, amethyst

Spiritual Teaching Grid
(suggested by Zoe Lan)

For my grid I use stones which I purchased specifically for the grid.
They happen to be phantom amethyst raw chunks from Africa. I have
this great shallow bowl which I have filled with sand which I
reikied, and then I program each crystal to sit *proxy* for a person
or a situation. I then arrange them in any formation I wish.
Often, I will put a crystal in my grid representing a spiritual
teacher - Sai Baba, the Dalai Lama, Sri Ganapathi - others who I
consider avatars or great teachers who I feel are able to also focus
grace into my grid. For our circle, I begin by washing all the
crystals I have at my disposal. It is quite a ritual for me since I
just enjoy that sort of thing. I often prepare myself by taking a sea
salt and soda bath.

I invite my reiki guides and any other beings who have the permission
of my higher self to come and assist me. I then *ask* the pile of
clean crystal *beings* who would like to sit proxy for so-and-so.
Invariably, one of them speaks up or I perceive a light from them. I
then program that crystal just as one might program a piece of paper
for distancing reiki. I state the name and the request and I place it
in the grid and move on to the next one.

Then program the entire grid itself stating that by the law of
correspondence, whenever I reiki the grid that the people the
crystals are sitting proxy for will receive a complete reiki
treatment. During our circle I spend much more time and individually
connect with each crystal since I put them in an order and know who
is who. But in between circles, I reiki my grid as a whole. I find it
also easy to add crystals as the need arises...more requests in
between etc.

For me, it is sort of a mini-medicine circle or my personal
stonehenge! It is also like walking a labyrinth in a way since I work
my way with the energy step by step.

I top off my grid with a gold-plated pyramid which surrounds the grid
and creates a standing columnar wave...I find it very powerful to
reiki right over the apex and I am also able to perceive that the
sacred geometry shape has an effect as well being over them. I am
also into pyramid energy so have thrown that into the mix because it
works for me!

Healer's Energy Grid
(suggested by Laura Kuaffman)

The first thing to do is develop clear intent of the purpose of your
grid. It is best to start with a grid to help you with your distant
healing, then if you want you can move on to grids for specific
projects or situations.

Do a prayer of intent that you wish to the perfect grid to assist you
in your distant healing work, and be guided to select the right
crystals for it.

It is best to use single terminated quartz or quartz-like for the 6
outer crystals (unless you receive strong guidance to use something
else). They can be any color of quartz or quartz-like i.e. clear,
rose, amethyst points, citrine, etc.

For the central crystal select something "special" i.e. a cluster, a
sphere, a pyramid or just something particularly meaningful to you.

Then you need a crystal that feels powerful and strong to you for
your master crystal. I feel that a crystal that is a blend of
masculine and feminine energies is most powerful for me. i.e. it is
very clear in areas and cloudy and filled with inclusions in other
areas. It will probably be slightly larger than the 6 outer crystals.

Allow a couple hours to create this tool the first time. It deserves
a sacred space in your life and is very worth the time. After it is
created it only takes a few minutes each day to maintain the energy

Preparing the Crystal Grid

-Cleanse the crystals
-Hold them one at a time and put all the Reiki symbols in them,
intending to charge them and asking them to serve as channels for the
Reiki energy. This can take anywhere from 5-15 minutes per crystal
depending on your guidance
-Place them in formation. ( uses a Star of David Pattern with a
cluster or other special crystal in the center.)
Then take your master crystal in your hands and pray to have the full
power of the Reiki energy flow through you as you empower your grid
to heal with love and light. Create an affirmation to do this
something like:

"I empower this grid to heal, to heal, to heal, with love, with love,
with love, with light, with light, with light".

repeat this three times as you connect the grid lines moving counterclockwise around the grid.

To connect the grid lines start by pointing the master crystal toward
the central crystal holding it a few inches above the grid . . . when
you feel the energy flow move the master crystal up to the crystal at
the top of the grid drawing a line of energy, then move diagonally to
the crystal on the left, then back to the center, then retrace the
line you just drew, then move to the next crystal on the left. Go
back to center and then retrace that line you just drew, then
continue around the grid as you say your affirmation.
It actually looks kind of like you are cutting a pie, except you are
retracing each line from the center back out. When you feel that you
are finished come back to the top crystal and then move to the
central crystal . . . let the final burst of Reiki flow into the
central crystal. You can then draw a power symbol over it if you
want, intending that you are increasing the power of the grid.
(connecting the lines and affirming the healing power is done daily
to keep the grid active 24 hours a day)

Next you just need to link the names of the people you want to send
Reiki to or the situations. I have my grid on a table that has a
drawer. The grid is on top and the names are in the drawer. You can
also can put a bowl under a table or simply keep a bowl or basket
with pieces of paper with the people's names on it near the grid and
intend that it is linked to the grid.

For crystal healing in person:
The crystals and stones can be placed:
-Upon the subject in a grid or pattern.
-Be extra careful when placing crystals or stones in particularly
sensitive areas such as eyelids.
-You can use a pre-planned grid or pattern, or place the stones on the
chakras, or use your intuition to access healing information from the
-Divine and use a pattern of your own devising.

Below the subject.
-Again, you can use pre-planned grids or patterns or use your intuition.
-Be careful of accidentally causing stone bruises, and pad the stones
if necessary when placing them under the healee.

Around him or her.
-Near or touching the body in a pattern around the healee can work
well for healing. You can effectively make the healee part of the
pattern in this way.

For long distance healing:
You can use a substitute to stand in for the actual healee who is at
a distance from you. A photograph of the healee is a great
substitute, however, if no photo is available, writing down their
name and using that is good also.

For ritual magick:
After preparing for your magickal ceremony, use the stones to help
focus the energy of your ritual magick, or as specified in the spell
or charm you are working with.

See our Stone and Crystal community files for great Reiki Grids!
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/StonesandC rystals/files/

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ specialties. htm
Alternative medicine and therapies
for healing mind, body & spirit!

Summer Solstice Week: De-Cluttering, Cleansing and Feng Shui

2009-06-24T08:20:00.001-08:00

Good Morning!

1. Cleansing the Body
This is one of three processes that should be done 4 times a year.
Using the seasons as a guide, allows us to work with the "flow of
nature" and change as our bodies change. Consider a healthy detox or
work with the power of an herbal cleanser.
Here is a nice Detoxification Bath to get you started:

Detoxification Bath
2 Cups Sea Salt
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Tbsp. Ginger Powder
Place all ingredients in a hot bath and bathe for 20 Minutes
Drink plenty of water. This bath withdraws impurities from your body
and helps you to feel better. This bath can be done
2 to 3 times in a week or as needed.

Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative and is high in both fiber and
mucilage. Psyllium seeds contain 10-30% mucilage. The laxative
properties of psyllium are due to the swelling of the husk when it
comes in contact with water. This forms a gelatinous mass and keeps
the feces hydrated and soft. The resulting bulk stimulates a reflex
contraction of the walls of the bowel, followed by emptying.

De-cluttering the space around you can make all the difference in the
way you feel. Start small. Try organizing a drawer or desk, your
closet or one room in your house, first. Then move on to a bigger
project. Learn the secrets to de-cluttering and re-organizing your
life with the proponents of Feng Shui

2. Cleansing the Mind
This is the 2nd in the trilogy. Learn how to think in "affirmations"
that are positive! These are statements that you make either aloud or
to yourself. Always approve and accept yourself. You cannot love
yourself unless you first, approve of and accept yourself.

A disciplined mind is a free mind. Gain control over your thoughts
and you maintain control over your life. Retrain your mind and you
regain your freedom. Calming the mind is a behavioral technique used
to interrupt, minimize and eliminate "psychological noise".
Obsessive, repetitive thoughts, anxiety and fears are all apart of
negative, self-destructive patterns that can benefit from the
positive affirmations and mind quieting.

"Love Thy Self"
I am perfect, whole and complete NOW, the way I am.
I deserve all that I require.
I am worthy, loveable and strong.

3. Cleansing the Spirit
This is a life long lesson and third in the trilogy. Utilize the
strength of yoga therapy. What is your belief system ? Does it serve
you well? How about discovering some great meditations !
The Sun Salutation in yoga is a great wakening and cleansing
exercise. This is a flowing combination of some of the asanas in
hatha yoga.

Sun Salutation
Stand in Tadasana, take a deep breath, clasp thumbs in front of you
and raise arms in front of you over head. Arch back from the waist.
Now, fold over at the waist as you exhale, placing palms on the
floor, Uttanasana, step your right leg back into Lunge, step your
left leg back to Plank, come into Bhujangasana, flow into Adho Mukha
Svanasana, step your right foot forward to Lunge, left foot forward
for Uttanasana, inhale up to Tadasana. Repeat, stepping your left leg
back into Lunge.

Sun Salutation can be found at:
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ yoga_therapy. htm

Cleansing Meditation

Breath is life! Exchange of electrons. Flow of energy. Air is the
primary nutrient. Survival without it is measured in minutes. It is
so important that you do it without thinking. Your breathing is the
voice of your spirit. It's depth, smoothness, sound, and rate reflect
your mood. If you become aware of your breath and breathe the way you
do when you are calm you will become calm. Practicing regular,
mindful breathing can be calming and energizing. With the addition of
music and it's rhythm, the "musical breath" can even help stress-
related health problems ranging from panic attacks to digestive
disorders. Fall into the rhythm of the music and breathe. Focus on
your breathing and the music.

Focusing on the breath is one of the most common and fundamental
techniques for accessing the meditative state. Breath is a deep
rhythm of the body that connects us intimately with the world around
us.

Close your eyes, breathe deeply and regularly, and observe your
breath as it flows in and out of your body. Give your full attention
to the breath as it comes in, and full attention to the breath as it
goes out. Whenever you find your attention wandering away from your
breath, gently pull it back to the rising and falling of the breath.
Inhale through your nose slowly and deeply, feeling the lower chest
and abdomen inflate like a balloon. Hold for five seconds. Exhale
deeply, deflating the lower chest and abdomen like a balloon. Hold
for five seconds. Do this three or four times, then allow your
breathing to return to a normal rhythm. You will begin to feel a
change come over your entire body. Gradually you will become less
aware of your breathing, but not captured in your stream of thoughts.
You will become more centered inward. You will just "be there."

Feng Shui for summer can be a great experience. For more Feng Shui
tips:

http://www.peaceful mind.com/ feng_shui. htm

Seasonal Healing is one of the best ways to remind ourselves that it
is time to evaluate our health. Our moods and bodies change as the
seasons change. See more on seasonal healing:

http://www.peaceful mind.com/ seasonal. htm

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

Summer Solstice Week: Summer Essential Oils

2009-06-24T07:46:00.003-08:00

Good Morning!

Summer is a time of full growth, red, hot, joy, spiritual awareness
and traveling. Life is at it's greatest potential in the summer.
Trees, plants, grasses and seeds are now at their full peak offering
up the "fruits of their labor"! Take a minute to enjoy this most Yang
time of energy and production! These essential oils are great for
your first aid kit, as insect repellent, for soothing sunburn,
freshening and cleaning! Enjoy these soothing scents for relaxing and
letting go.

Tea Tree:
antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, antibiotic, antifungal,
expectorant, insecticide, cicatrisant (wound healer), etc.
infections, ringworm, athlete's foot
sunburn
shaving and other cuts
warts, pimples, etc. May irritate sensitive skin.

Lavender:
antiseptic, antibiotic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, diuretic,
analgesic, nervine, immune stimulant, sedative. antiviral,
carminative, decongestant, fungicide
burns and blisters
wounds (cell regenerator, minismizes swelling and scarring)
insect bites. stings
heat exhaustion, Avoid during the first trimester of preganancy

Peppermint:
digestive, carminative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, febrifuge,
nervine, analgesic, astringent, decongestant. expectorant, stomachic,
vermifuge
indigestion, flatulence, halitosis
skin irritations
flu, colds, coughs, fever
headaches, migraines
fatigue, toothache
flea and ant repellant May irritate sensitive skin and mucous
membranes. Avoid during pregnancy and while nursing. May antidote
homeopathic remedies.

Eucalyptus:
vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antibiotic, diuretic,
insecticide, stimulant, analgesic, antiviral, decongestant,
expectorant, febrifuge
coughs, colds
cystitis
sunburn, heat exhaustion
insect repellant Avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
May antidote homeopathic remedies.

Citronella:
antiseptic, antidepressant, deodorant, insecticide, stimulant,
parasiticide
bug repellent (mosquitos, moths, fleas)
to refresh tired and sweaty feet after exercise
germ killer

Chamomile :
antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic,
sedative, anti-allergenic, antidepressant, stomachic, vulnerary,
antiemetic, carminative. digestive, febrifuge, nervine
external inflammations
teething
nervousness, irritability, depression
burns, sunburns
asthma, hayfever
sprains, strains
nausea, fever Avoid during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Clove:
antiemetic, antibacterial, antiseptic, analgesic, carminative,
insecticide, stimulant, stomachic
toothach
digestive problems, nausea
sinusitis Skin irritant. Do not use in massage

Rosemary:
antiseptic. analgesic, antirheumatic. antispasmodic, antidepressant.
astringent. carminnive. cicatrisant. digestive, diuretic. stimulant.
vulnerary, stomachic, nervine, etc.
muscular aches and pains
sprains
fatigue (mental and physical)
headaches, migraines
coughs, flu

Seasonal Healing is one of the best ways to remind ourselves that it
is time to evaluate our health. Our moods and bodies change as the
seasons change. See more on seasonal healing:

http://www.peaceful mind.com/ seasonal. htm

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ oils.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

2009-06-19T06:30:00.001-08:00

GEG Bulletin June 18, 2009
Worm into this Class!

Worm-crazy Ellen will hold forth about

WORMS & WORM COMPOSTING

Definitely try this at home!

O boy O boy!

How can you pass this up?
Even Lowly the Worm will be there

Wriggle into a seat and learn about:
Worm bins purchased or home-made
Setting up your bin
What kind of worms will work?
What to feed them?
What to do if…
How to harvest the compost

Date: Tuesday July 7

Time: 6:30-8:30pm

Place: VCRS (Valley Community for Recycling Solutions) on Palmer-Wasilla Highway

Tuition $10

Instructor: Ellen Vande Visse, Good Earth Garden School
Sign up to reserve a place (seating is limited unless you are very skinny): information@goodearthgardenschool.com or 745 0758

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Here's to Healthy Hummus!

2009-05-27T11:05:00.004-08:00

Lately I have been in a hummus mood. I love hummus! There are so many variations of herbs & spices that can be added to make it palatable to everyone. So what's the big deal about hummus you ask? Well, I wondered "what exactly are the health benefits of eating hummus?"
Let's take a look at the health benefits of some of the ingredients in a basic hummus recipe(following);garbanzo beans(chick peas),tahini(sesame seed paste),olive oil. lemon zest/juice & cayenne.

Chickpeas contain healthy nutrients including protein, manganese, folate, tryptophan, copper, phosphorus and iron. Plus, they're an excellent source of fiber, which is known to help lower cholesterol, fight heart disease and stabilize blood sugar levels.

Tahini (Sesame seeds) contain beneficial fibers called sesamin and sesamolin, both of which belong to the lignan group. These substances help lower cholesterol and have been found to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E in animals. Sesamin also protects the liver from oxidative damage. Sesame seeds are also rich in manganese, copper, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin B1and zinc.

Cayenne contains a pungent resin-like substance known as capsaicin. This chemical, the active ingredient of pepper spray or mace, relieves pain and itching by affecting sensory nerves. Capsaicin temporarily causes various neurotransmitters to release from these nerves, leading to their depletion. Without the neurotransmitters, pain signals can no longer be sent.

Olives contain healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that have been found to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and increase HDL (good) cholesterol.Olives and olive oil also contain antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids and vitamin E. This combination has been found to help fight colon cancer and heart disease, as well as reduce inflammation.Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 2 tbsp.(23g)of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin B6, iron and potassium, and a very good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. They also contain calcium, copper, folic acid, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. Aside from their many nutrients, lemons are rich in bioflavonoids, which protect against damage from free radicals, act as natural antibiotics and may help prevent heart disease and cancer. Lemon pulp and skin contains pectin, a compound that may lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels in diabetics.

Some other ingredients to try in your own recipe include;
Mint, aside from being a good source of manganese, vitamin C and vitamin A, the peppermint oil in fresh mint leaves is soothing for the stomach -- it's been found to relieve irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, colonic muscle spasms and more. It also contains potent phytonutrients that have been found to protect against cancer, neutralize free radicals, and benefit asthma and allergies.

Cumin is rich in iron, which is excellent for energy and keeping the immune system healthy. It is also known to benefit the digestive system, as cumin may stimulate the secretion of pancreatic enzymes that help with digestion and nutrient assimilation. Cumin may also have cancer-fighting properties.

Turmeric is a nutrition powerhouse. Most notably, it contains curcumin, which gives it not only its color but also many of its health benefits. Turmeric has potent anti-inflammatory properties and has been found to be helpful in fighting inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. It may also provide cardiovascular and liver protection.

Here is a basic recipe to try and enjoy, it only takes a few minutes to make your own fresh hummus.

In a processor or blender pulse together until well blended;
1 can garbanzo beans (you can add more or less to your thickness preference)
2 Tablespoons tahini and
3(adjust to taste)garlic cloves (blanched for 3 minutes in boiling water)

Add and pulse again, until blended;
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon zest(finely grated peel)
3 Tablespoons lemon juice
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon hungarian paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt or sea salt (optional)

Lastly add 2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro and pulse just enough to distribute.

My favorite ways to eat hummus are as the "stick it together" in a veggie sandwich, on crackers, as a celery stuffing and on slices of red bell pepper (yum!). If you don't care for the flavor of garbanzo beans, try substituting white or navy beans.
Peaceful Enjoyment!
Mountain Mary

Challenges & Dreams

2009-04-27T07:01:00.002-08:00

In life there will always be challenges that have manifested, and dreams that haven't. But they'll always pale in comparison to the number of dreams that have manifested, and challenges that haven't.

Just look around you.

You are my dream come true,
The Universe

Feldenkrais Women's Weekend Retreat

2009-04-19T13:57:00.007-08:00

Jon Van Zyle's "Homer by the Bay"

Women’s Weekend Retreat
Yukon Island- in Kachemak Bay
August 28-30, 2009

Relax…
Revive….
Restore...
Recreate…

Move Freely Without Pain!
Beat Osteoporosis!
FELDENKRAIS® & Bones for Life®

☼ 2 Nights Lodging
☼ All Meals & Snacks-Friday Dinner thru Sunday Lunch
☼ 6 FELDENKRAIS or Bones for Life Group Movement Explorations
☼ Water Taxi-Homer to Yukon Island
☼ Wood-fired Sauna
☼ 45 Private Acres, 2 Beaches, Berry Picking-in season, Walking Trails, Beautiful Views!
☼ Individual FELDENKRAIS Sessions-for add’l fee

Contact Shari Lee at Movement Options LLC
907-274-3539 www.FeldenkraisJourneys.com
FELDENKRAIS® is a registered service mark of the FELDENKRAIS GUILD® of North America.

*Cancellation Policy: All payments are non-refundable!
(In the unlikely event of cancellation by Movement Options LLC, your payments to Movement Options LLC will be fully refunded.) We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation/travel insurance in case of any unexpected events. For your convenience, you may go to www.travelexinsurance.com or call 1-800-228-9272 (M-F, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT) to review their TraveLite and Travel Plus travel protection plans. Please use location number 02-0018 when enrolling.

You will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk and Waiver of Liability Form prior to the retreat.

Universal "do-over"s

2009-04-16T07:02:00.004-08:00

I forgot to tell you...

You get as many "do-overs" as you like. Of course, you never know you're living a "do-over" until it's over.

There are lots of reasons for wanting a "do-over." Most of all, people want another chance to do things they were afraid to do the first time, and to say things they were afraid to say. Oddly enough, it's not their mistakes they want to rework, but their "unused" minutes.

Yeah, pretty nifty, but you should know that it isn't any easier the next time, and because no two ever go exactly the same, the gifts, opportunities, and loves of one, never appear the same way again. Never.

So all in all, it's better to live as if there are no "do-overs," so that you won't need one. But I thought I'd share this with you anyway, to work in the bits about fear, mistakes, and how precious today's opportunities really and truly are.

Crafty as a fox,
The Universe

borrowed from TUT's Adventurers Club

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T12:44:00.001-08:00

Spring Healing: Creativity In Your Life

2009-04-11T15:48:00.002-08:00

Living is an act of creativity. Not just being an artist, writer,
painter but the sheer act of living is a creative force that we often
do not acknowledge. Living consciously and with awareness is an act
of even deeper creativity. On many levels, creativity is an inner
process: what you dream, imagine, and then give physical form to as
an outer process.

Starting a Creativity Journal can help unblock the artist in you and
unleash your creative genius. Creativity Journal exercises are
designed to help you get to know yourself through means such as
drawing and doodling, color and images, and creative writing. Keeping
a Creativity Journal can be fun and can help you in many ways!
Creating one can be as different and as diverse as you are. All you
need is a book to write in.

The Sacral/Spleen Chakra is where the spark of creativity initiates.
Here it is about the manipulation of the senses and the world in
relation to them. This chakra represents the movement of the spark
upwards to the Throat Chakra in order to be expressed on the outside.

The Throat Chakra is about creative expression. Using your "voice",
be it physical or through your fine art, paintings, body as with a
dancer or actor or even writing. Any form of creative expression is
released from the Throat Chakra.

Aura stimulation: Etheric template: The energy field of communication
and creative expression. This is the level where sound creates
matter. It is at this level that "sound" in healing is the most
effective. Use a blue crystal for this layer, which coordinates with
the throat chakra. Visualize a blue orb of light at this point
saturating and balancing this center in your body. Utilize the power
of music when healing this layer. Bring your focus on the music you
may have put on at the start of your healing session. Music soothes
the soul and calms the spirit layers. "I can express my deepest
truth gracefully, respectfully and confidently. "

The Free Flow of Qi

Qi, often referred to as "life force", or "energy" is that which
flows through all things. Qi is containing, activating, transporting,
protecting and warming. Qi is something that cannot be seen or
recorded but yet, inevitably, is upon and within all things. "Qi is
the thread connecting all beings. Qi is the common denominator of all
things-from minerals to human. Qi is the fundamental quality of being
and becoming."

Crystals for Creativity

Amazonite
Assists in courage of personal expression, giving us the power to say the words we're afraid to speak. Creativity may be a process of co-creation with others. Green stone instrumental in distilling the raw information used for personal expression. Good for anyone involved in the arts.

Aquamarine
Helps us to access our souls' wisdom, and on the deepest level to the wisdom of universal consciousness. Tranquilizing, uplifting, openness, innocence, lightheartedness, creativity, communication, self-awareness, confidence, purpose. Filters out unnecessary information to the brain. Has an affinity with sensitive and mystical people. Increases creativity and sharpens intuition.

Blue Lace Agate
When we need to be clear and yet peaceful in our verbal expression, this is a helpful stone. Agates are grounding stones. They help obtain a better physical and emotional balance. They work to raise consciousness. Builds self-confidence. Blue Lace Agate helps to focus on the inner source of love within you that transforms and heals all wounds. Contains the qualities of flight, air, movement, and grace.
Highly inspirational when working with the inner self. Works well with
manifested growth.

Chrysocolla
Calms us so that our thoughts flow freely. This is a good stone for those who find their thinking processes to be intellectually sound, but lacking emotional quality. Excellent for Heart Chakra;
flushes and heals heart blocks (loss, hurt, guilt, fear...) for allowing, flexibility, self-forgiveness, peace of heart, patience. Keeps one in light, love, and healing daily. On Throat, expressing feelings, verbal and artistic creativity. Helps one feel more comfortable speaking the truth. Helps develop personal confidence. Historically used by musicians, perhaps because of its reputation for having healing properties for throat and lungs.

Turquoise
This is valuable for clarifying our desires and expressing them to others who can help us manifest them. Speech enhancer for communication. It opens the Throat Chakra, for open communication, creativity, serenity, spiritual bonding, and uplifting. Opens the Heart Chakra for giving/receiving. Strengthens and aligns all meridians, chakras, and energy fields.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://www.peaceful mind.com/ creativity. htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

A New Book!

2009-03-28T16:23:00.003-08:00

If you have a chance you've got to check out my friend Ellen's book "Ask Mother Nature, A Conscious Gardener's Guide. For more information on Ellen,her book and Good Earth Garden School, go to http://www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Movie "Cancer, Nutrition, and Healing"

2009-03-18T07:25:00.001-08:00

Well, Dear Eco-Gardeners,
we all know loved ones who are dealing with cancer. Here is an inspiring way to learn and to help.

Please join us in Anchorage on Saturday from 4pm to 6pm.

Free Movie! Saturday Matinee

Come watch and then discuss the film, Cancer, Nutrition, and Healing.

Seven years ago, eco-consultant Jerry Brunetti received word that without aggressive chemotherapy treatment he would be dead in as little as six months from an aggressive form of lymphoma. He opted not to travel that route, and instead embarked on his own journey seeking advice, treatments, alternative protocols and hands-on care from a wide variety of sources. The result has been depth of understanding that is almost beyond compare, steady improvement in his own overall health, and a return to normalcy of the affected lymph nodes. Oh, and he’s very much alive.

Learn about: strengthening immunity, holistic treatment protocols, health-boosting recipes, supplements and detoxification, supplementing conventional therapies, foods to eat, and foods to avoid.

When: Saturday March 21 Time: 4 – 6 pm. Cost: free!

More Information: Linda at 562-2259
and www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Location:
Terra Bella Bakery Café
601 E. Dimond, Anchorage
Next to Bed, Bath and Beyond, across from Dimond Mall

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Creating Better intention

2009-03-06T08:49:00.005-09:00

Good Morning!

Creating Better Intention and Essential Oils

Finding focus is a welcomed clarity in order to bring awareness to
our lives. How many people do you know who lead an almost incomplete
and unexamined life? Art of any kind is the ability to tune in and
make it your own. The attaining of your goal through intention is one
of the most rewarding and self gratifying accomplishments we can do
for ourselves. And guess what? You deserve every single bit of it!

Tuning in to any energy is the ability to quiet the mind, allowing
your inner self, or intention, to perceive truth. By practicing this
art, we develop a sensitivity toward inner information and the
ability to condition our mind to listen on a much more subtle level.
This developing can give us the ability to sense energy and actually
perceive our intention on an even more subconscious plane.

Techniques are vast and varied, all of which, can be used in calming
and clearing the mind, therefore, achieving clearer perception.
Include some of the following:

1. Clear intention is a result of meditation: Meditation is a time-
honored technique that can take you into infinite dimensions of
consciousness. It is a simple effort that becomes effortless as we do
it more and more. One major principle to meditation is the ability to
completely quiet your mind. By quieting our mind, it can allow us a
clearer picture of what we really intend.

2. Become more mindful: Mindfulness is the act of being fully aware
of what happens in each moment. Try living in the NOW. Be present.
Honor each moment you are given. Acknowledge each task you take.

3. Energy follows thought. As you think of your intention, you are
made aware of it. As you are made aware of it, you are able to bring
it to fruition by asserting your energy. When you program thought to
be positive, your intention will be positive. The outcome is
inevitable. Especially when you see it as such.

4. Moving is the action to your motivation!: There is a mountain of
proof that movement is the best thing for mind, body and spirit.
Moving helps with depression, increases our cardiovascular system,
moves energy (Qi) and blood, stimulates the brain, increases hormone
production and takes us from one place to the next. Use movement as a
tool to move intention forward.

5. Intention reverberates. When we throw a stone in a calm lake, we
can see how the ripples start at the center point, where we dropped
the stone (our intention) and move outward from that point. When we
specify our intention, it moves out through the Universe as do the
ripples in the lake.

6. Intention is a reflection of many values. Our values are a direct
reflection of our beliefs. When we have strong, sensible values, your
beliefs reflect it. These same beliefs are an expression of our
experiences. Most often, people who have relatively good or tolerable
experiences have a better outlook on their beliefs.

7. Make Room for Change: Make it a nourishing, self respecting place
for change to take place in your mind. In the same way, create a life
affirming, positive path to reach your goal. Make no excuses.
Procrastination is the bi-product of feeling unworthy. Self worth
leads us in the right direction.

8. A lack of awareness + not being grounded + being unfamiliar =
FEAR: Become familiar with what your intention is. Once you are
familiar with the reasons why your intention is important and
familiar with the information you did not know or understand about
reaching your goal, this takes the fear out of it! Take initiative
and responsibility in seeing your true goal through to completion.
This all begins with the intent. Once you are familiar, there is less
fear and you become more grounded in your approach.

9. Make Every Effort: to do something each day that brings your
intentions closer to your goal. You will do this now, because you
understand why you want to reach this goal, what it means to you and
the fear behind it is gone. You will make the effort now because your
are aware of the fact that you love and respect yourself more and
deserve to make the effort.

10. The Honoring of Ourselves: This is something we tend to lose
sight of, especially as we grow older. "Excuse instead of action"
seems to be the norm, instead of the exception. Honoring everyone
else first (husband, wife, children, family, friends, colleagues) is
the path we so often go down first, before we take care of our own
needs. If you are not in tip top (mind, body, spirit) shape, how can
you effectively care for others?

Essential Oils for Intention

The power of our senses can be harnessed as an unbelievable tool that
you can use to your life's advantage! Diffusing essential oils
stimulate our olfactory nerve. These essence can restore balance and
harmony to your body and to your life. The energy of a scent can
invigorate your intention. Here are some of the most interesting oils
below:

Basil: This oil is wonderful for poor concentration, nervous tension,
digestive problems and insomnia. Basil is used to support the process
of deep change. Rich, sweet and pungent, use this oil to evoke
intention.

Bergamot: Uplifting, refreshing and encouraging. It can help relieve
anxiety and depression, ease grief and sadness and increase mental
alertness.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon bark was first recorded in Chinese formularies as
early as 2700 B.C. The herb has been used as a healing aid for
stomach upset and gas, diarrhea, rheumatism, kidney ailments, and
abdominal pain. Cinnamon bark contains the essential oils of cinnamon
and can stimulate concentration focus and memory.

Frankincense: Sedative, elevating, warming, used for anxiety,
apprehension, fears, nervous tension and stress-related conditions.
It slows down and deepens the breath, which makes it helpful for
meditation. This oil is helpful for bringing about clarity in
decisions.

Lavender: Balancing, stimulating, strengthening, good oil for mind
clearing and focus.

Peppermint: Refreshing, increases concentration, increases memory,
strengthens the nervous system and is used for fainting, headache,
mental fatigue, migraines and stress. Peppermint oil is used to
pinpoint intention and stimulate action.

Rosemary: Stimulates the adrenal cortex, used for nervous and
emotional exhaustion, apathy, depression and stress. Clears the head,
improves memory and concentration, reduces mental fatigue, combats
headaches.

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac
http://peacefulmind.com/intention.htm
Therapies for healing mind, body, spirit

2009-03-05T14:56:00.001-09:00

Taking Time for Yourself

2009-03-05T14:53:00.001-09:00

Modern life compels us to rush. Because we feel pressured to make the most of our time each day, the activities that sustain us, rejuvenate us, and help us evolve are often the first to be sacrificed when we are in a hurry or faced with a new obligation. It is important we remember that there is more to life than achieving success, making money, and even caring for others. Your spiritual needs should occupy an important spot on your list of priorities. Each task you undertake and each relationship you nurture draws from the wellspring of your spiritual vitality. Taking the time to engage in spiritually fulfilling activities replenishes that well and readies you to face another day. Making time for the activities that contribute to your spiritual growth has little to do with being selfish and everything to do with your well-being. Regularly taking the time to focus on your soul’s needs ensures that you are able to nurture yourself, spend time with your thoughts, experience ! tranquility, and expand your spiritual boundaries.

It is easy to avoid using our free moments for spiritual enrichment. There is always something seemingly more pressing that needs to be done. Many people feel guilty when they use their free time to engage in pursuits where they are focusing on themselves because they feel as if they are neglecting their family or their work. To make time for yourself, it may be necessary to say no to people’s requests or refuse to take on extra responsibilities. Scheduling fifteen or thirty minutes of time each day for your spiritual needs can make you feel tranquil, give you more energy and allows you to feel more in touch with the universe. Writing in a journal, meditating, studying the words of wise women and men, and engaging in other spiritual practices can help you make the most of this time.

Making time to nurture your spirit may require that you sacrifice other, less vital activities. The more time you commit to soul-nurturing activities, the happier and more relaxed you will become. The time you devote to enriching your spirit will rejuvenate you and help you create a more restful life.

www.dailyom.com

CHOCOLATE!

2009-03-02T10:46:00.001-09:00

If you love chocolate!
You will love this site!

http://www.xocoatl.org/history.htm

Agave--Healthy??

2009-02-27T07:15:00.002-09:00

From RealAge.com (for the record...I'm a Stevia fan myself :O)

True or False: Agave’s the Healthiest Sweetener Out There
Could it be true? Is there really an all-natural, low-calorie sweetener -- with no aftertaste -- that doesn’t send your blood sugar into the stratosphere? Fans say agave (ah-GAH-vay) nectar fits that description. And to judge by the flood of agave-sweetened foods and drinks on supermarket shelves -- hundreds have been introduced in the last 2 years -- the new sweet stuff has a lot of believers. It’s even showing up in cocktails at trendy bars. So, is it true? Or too good to be?

T or F: Agave is super sweet.
True indeed! It’s four times sweeter than white sugar. Just 1/4 teaspoon of agave nectar/syrup approximates the sweetness of 1 teaspoon of sugar, costing you just 4 calories instead of 16.

T or F: Agave is all natural.
True, sort of. But “all natural” doesn’t mean “not processed.” Agave comes from the desert-dwelling succulent Agave tequilana, which is also the source of tequila. However, turning the plant’s juicy sap into a syrupy nectar you can drizzle on yogurt or stir into tea takes some doing. Some manufacturers heat the sap; others use enzymes to convert it into table-ready syrup.

T or F: Agave has no flavor.
True and false. It depends on whether the syrup is light or dark. The lightest types are virtually flavorless, but darker varieties have a maple- or caramel-like taste that you may take to . . . or not.

T or F: Agave has a low glycemic index (GI).
True. Because agave nectar is mostly fructose, it makes a pit stop for processing in the liver, which lowers its glycemic index (GI) -- a measurement of how quickly a food makes blood sugar rise. Table sugar is about half glucose, which goes straight to the bloodstream and sends blood sugar zooming in minutes.

T or F: Agave is a healthy sweetener.
More false than true. The major health benefit is that you may use less agave than sugar to get the same sweetness. But that’s about where the health-buck stops. People who’ve heard all the bad press about high-fructose corn syrup -- and avoid it like the plague -- need to realize that agave nectar is a high-fructose syrup (at least 75% fructose). Many health experts believe high-fructose foods are not good for you. “Perhaps most worrisome is that excessive fructose may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes,” says Richard Johnson, MD, author of The Sugar Fix: The High-Fructose Fallout That is Making You Fat and Sick (2008). It also triggers a combination of unhealthy effects that can eventually lead to a host of troubles, including heart disease and stroke, according to Johnson and others.

Bottom line: If you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, a little agave syrup now and then may help you control calories and blood sugar spikes. But that’s as far as it goes -- and the trade-offs aren’t great. Sorry about that.

IN YOUR GARDEN (Meditation)

2009-02-26T10:28:00.003-09:00

Meditation channeled on the 7th January, `2008 by the group Lazarus.
This is a guided meditation for the beginning of a circle, or just
for a reprieve to ground yourself after a stressful day.

Sit comfortably, feet on the floor and hands resting gently on your
lap. Take three deep and cleansing breathes and centre yourself.

Now with eyes closed, let your subconscious bring into your vision a
gate! Let it come as it will and take gentle note of it, what it is made of, the height, width and structure.

Approach the gate and although you may see a lock on it, know that
it will open for you.This is your own boundary, one you have put there; no-one else can get in except you. Now the gate will open and you will walk in to YOUR garden.
Take a moment and turn around to look at the rest of your boundary, see what the gate is attached to, or not as the case may be. Just take gentle note, then turn around and face your garden.

Here there is perfect peace, here you can see all there is to see.
Look around and take note. No-one else can come here and the only living beings will be animals, so if you see them take a note, and then explore where you are.

Please do not have any perceptions of what you will see, allow the
higher guide (your sub-conscious)to show you what is you, a meadow, a lakeside, a beach or a mountain side, it depends on you.

Take a few minutes to look and relax, and when you are ready, sit
down and breathe in the air.Just relax with yourself knowing that you cannot be disturbed, and when you are ready to come back look at your feet.

When you look at your feet, you will see a beam of white light
touching them.On looking up at the beam you will see that it stretches in the far
horizon and is without end.Watch as the beam gentle moves over you and completely encompassesyou within its light.As the light enfolds you, you are surrounded by protection, by love
and by the divine healing that is your right.

The light will transport you back to your chair, safely and with
gentleness, and when you are ready,you will open your eyes and be back again.

Footnote:

The garden represents you, the inner you. On reflection of what you
have been shown, a great deal of where and why things are as they are should/could be made easier to understand.

Please remember that you and only you are the only one allowed in
the garden.If another being is there, even a guide, then there is a problem
with your control.You are allowing others to control you and even when it is with
love, it is truly in my opinion, not the best state of affairs.

Walk in light
Rose
www.onebigcircle. org

Woman

2009-02-23T15:06:00.000-09:00

Organic gardening Class

2009-02-18T06:54:00.001-09:00

Learn How to Garden— Organically!

5 Friday evenings + a Saturday field trip.
Starts this Friday Evening 6 to 8:30 pm
Come join the fun—You’ll learn how to:

Control slugs, aphids, and other pests without poisons

Make fantastic compost (a hands-on lab experience)

Optimize soil for great flowers, fruits, and vegetables

Protect plants from the cold

Go home with an arm-load of:

information, catalogs & expert help

What: 1 credit, Pass/No Pass. Lab fee: $15

Where: Mat-Su College, Snodgrass Hall, Room 117

Dates: Feb 20, 27, March 6, 20, 27, and field trip on Saturday, March 28

Instructor: Ellen Vande Visse
TO REGISTER: Call 745-9746 for information or register on line at www.uaa.alaska.edu and follow Wolf Link for Organic Gardening,

Agri 138, Spring 2009

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

Herbs for Love, Passion & Healthy Heart

2009-02-14T13:51:00.002-09:00

February is the month of the heart, for love, lovers and passion. Throughout history herbs and oils have been used in ritual, magic & everyday potions to invoke passion and attract, strengthen and keep love, and to strengthen the hearts ability to sustain life. Love and passion do not necessarily mean physical love or sexual attraction, but rather bringing into your life the things that you are passionate about …a cause, a job, a new goal. Try the following ideas to attract, renew or strengthen your passions, your love & your heart.

Love
If you love spiced wine as much as I do, you will enjoy this unusual variation. And don’t worry; if you are not a drinker, you can substitute grape juice or cider. LOVE WINE: combine 3t cinnamon, 3t ginger, 1 one-inch piece of vanilla bean, scored along it’s length, 2 cups of red wine and 2t rhubarb juice (if available). Try substituting lemon juice for the rhubarb. Store for 3 days before drinking. The recipe can also be gently heated, served warm and enjoyed immediately. Don’t forget to share with a friend!

Passion
Anoint yourself, or use in ritual, a combination of 3 drops ginger oil, 2 drops rosemary oil, 1 drop of clove oil and 1 drop of petitgrain to invoke the powers of fire…energy, courage, strength, love, passion & will power. Add the same to salts or an oil base of your choice and add to your bath water, soak in it 15-20 minutes while visualizing the desired effects. The herbs can also be burned as incense or simmered in a pot to achieve the same effects. Some other useful herbs/oils: Basil, Bay, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Coriander, Frankincense, Galangal, Juniper, Lime, nutmeg, Orange, Peppermint, Rose Geranium & Tangerine.

Healthy Heart
Protecting, maintaining and optimizing your hearts health will insure you will be able to enjoy your loves and passions. The most researched herbal remedies for reducing blood fats and for obtaining other cardiovascular benefits include, garlic, hawthorne, ginger, horse chestnut, bilberry, reishi mushroom and guggul. Other herbs, like mineral rich, alfalfa, horsetail, nettle & pau d’arco, calming black cohosh, oat straw, passionflower, valerian root, skullcap, and strengthening hawthorne berries, motherwort, ginger root, and ginkgo biloba, can all help strengthen, regulate & protect your hearts function.

And don’t forget the antioxidant properties of green tea!

The opinions and ideas of the author and this publication are in no way intended to be taken as sound medical advice. When using herbs, oils or any new product; “natural” or not…educate yourself, about the use of herbs and possible drug interactions, and when necessary consult a medical professional, before deciding whether or not to use them.

Inspiring Herbal Creations

2009-02-13T08:03:00.001-09:00

At this time each year with Winter coming to a close and Spring not quite here there is a yearning for something new, something different, something that will inspire and satisfy the need to create. Try these projects, inspired and created by natural gifts around you. You can add your own personal touch and energy to make the projects even more powerful in their intent.

WARM A HOUSE with an herbal gift inside a fresh bell pepper. Choose any color bell pepper, slice off the stem end and clean out the seeds and membranes. Line a plate or shallow basket with herb sprigs (or greenery) and colorful whole spices (or berries). Place the clean pepper in the middle and fill with a variety of fresh herb sprigs. This heartwarming and thoughtful gift may “inspire” the recipient to cook “creatively”! Try using a squash, pumpkin or other fruit or vegetable.

SEND A NOTE or make a set of note cards made of herbal paper. Place a 2 foot wide piece of waxed paper on a non-porous work surface. Scatter (aprox 1-2 tablespoons) flower petals, leaves, herbs, spices or similar material all over the waxed paper. Separate enough facial tissues into single ply to cover the petals, overlapping ¼”. In a spray bottle, combine ½ c white glue and ½ cup water. Spray the top of the tissue, covering the entire area. You may not use all of the mixture. Gently dab glue mixture on any tiny areas not covered. Let dry for 24 hours. Loosen any part that may have stuck to the work surface with a kitchen knife. Cover the wax paper side with light cotton fabric and iron on medium heat. Press each area for only a few seconds to avoid scorching. This assures all areas will adhere. Cut your paper the size you want the outside of the card to be, and fold it in half. Use decorative scissors around the edges if desired. Next, cut a piece of card stock paper, in any color, ½” smaller than the flower paper. Fold it in half and glue it to the inside. Now your paper is ready to share.

Make ANGELS FROM THE GARDEN to bless a beloved home with warm tidings of love. This angel may last for years if handled gently. Use fresh herbs, if possible, for a heavenly scent as the herbs dry. Or use dried herbs and spray with scent(s) to match the herbs. Attach an 8” piece of ¼” dowel across a long stemmed poppy pod, wrapping with raffia in a crisscross fashion, knot tightly. Cover the dowel with lavender stems, burlap, grasses or cornhusks. Wrap with raffia ½” from the ends (to form hands) and crisscross across the center (bodice). Trim hand ends. Create a small bouquet of herbs, flowers, leaves, etc and secure with a rubber band. Attach with raffia just under the arms. Cover the bodice area, across and over with colorful leaves. Secure the back ends with raffia or hot glue. Tuck a few more leaves under the front leaves to form an apron. Tightly wrap raffia around the midsection, forming a waist. Knot tightly. Hot glue 2 leaves to the back for wings & Spanish moss for hair. Add tiny bits of herbs, flowers etc to the waistband for decoration. Glue or tie a raffia loop on back for hanging. Fill in any blank spots as needed. Bless a loved one.

Boost your creativity with the inspirational herbs lavender, rosemary, chamomile, fennel, feverfew, calendula, vervain & mugwort.

I'm not sure anymore where I found these projects, but remember the Angel came from Herb Companion, so the others likely did as well. Enjoy! Mary

Eco-Seminars

2009-02-12T19:39:00.001-09:00

To Register for all classes:
www.goodearthgardenschool.com
and sign up for the courses you would
like to take.

When you come, get a free packet of
coffee grounds to fertilize your garden
and repel slugs!

More Information:
Linda at 562-2259
www.terrabellacoffee.com

Location:
Terra Bella Bakery Café
601 E. Dimond, Anchorage
Next to Bed Bath and Beyond,
across from Dimond Mall

Make & Take an Indoor Greens Garden
Grow Your Very Own Baby Greens(Babies due in April!) Yum!
Create and take home a window sill garden with proper seed mix for flavor and color.
Become the first kid on the block to savor your own succulent baby greens—before the snow melts outdoors! Learn about soil nutrition as well.

When: Tuesday, February 17 and Wednesday, February 18
10 am–Noon
Two identical, repeated classes.
Room for 10 participants each.
$25 for materials and instruction.
Register early.

Free Movie!
Saturday Matinee
Come watch and then discuss the film: Cancer, Nutrition, and Healing
More than 7 years ago, eco-consultant Jerry Brunetti received word that
without aggressive chemotherapy treatment he would be dead in as little as
six months from an aggressive form of lymphoma. He opted not to travel that
route, and instead embarked on his own journey seeking advice, treatments,
alternative protocols and hands-on care from a wide variety of sources. The
result has been depth of understanding that is almost beyond compare, steady improvement in his own overall health, and a return to normalcy of the affected lymph nodes. Oh, and he’s very much alive.

Learn about: strengthening immunity, holistic treatment protocols,
health-boosting recipes, supplements and detoxification, supplementing
conventional therapies, foods to eat, and foods to avoid.

When: Saturday, March 21
Time: 4 – 6 pm.
Cost: free!

Shopping for Foods You Can Trust
Join us to sample fruits and vegetables grown both chemically and organically. Taste ‘em. Compare ‘em. Hear their childhood stories.

Find out…
*when to choose organic and when it is not so crucial
*how to shop for the highest nutritional density for the cost
*how to take control of your diet, nourishment, and health

Go home feeling empowered, no matter what your grocery budget.

When: Wed, February 25. Time: 4-6pm (come hungry)
Cost: $16 or $12 ea for 3 or more signing up together.

Good Earth Garden School Schedule of Classes
Feb-Mar 2009

Tue Feb 17 - Grow Your own Windowsill Greens
Terra Bella, Anchorage

Wed Feb 18 - Grow Your own Windowsill Greens
(Repeated Class) Terra Bella, Anchorage

Fri Feb 20 - Organic Gardening
Agri 138 credit course starts
Mat-Su College

Wed Feb 25 - Sampling Foods You Can Trust
Terra Bella, Anchorage

Sat-Sun Feb 28 & Mar 1
Co-Creative Organic Gardening, Palmer

Sat-Sun March 7 & 8
Co-Creative Organic Gardening, Anchorage

Sat March 14
Advanced Co-Creative Organic Gardening, Palmer

Sat March 21
Free Movie Matinee at Terra Bella, Anchorage
Terra Bella Bakery•Café Announces

Eco-Seminars, 2009
With Ellen Vande Visse, sustainable agriculture instructor, Good Earth Garden School
and author of Ask Mother Nature, a Conscious Gardener’s Guide

Reiki Training/Certification

2009-02-11T15:25:00.002-09:00

REIKI I and II Training and Certification
This is an intensive class designed to provide you with the initiations, training, and practical experience for Reiki I and II certification. Upon completion, students are eligible to join a number of national and international Reiki practitioner associations for further recognition and fellowship. Students may also elect to move into mastership and teacher training. The book “Essential Reiki: A Complete guide To An Ancient Healing Art”, by Diane Stein is recommended. Other information and training materials are provided with the class. Advanced registration required; limited class size.

Elizabeth Wallmann-Filley PhD; C.Ht; RMT
907) 275-3397
Sunday, March 22, 2009 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM $240.

REIKI Master/ Teacher Certification
The Reiki Master/ Teacher certification program involves a commitment of instruction and training through six months, with 4 in person classes and outside classroom homework. The first class is an intensive and all day. The subsequent three classes will be schedules after the first meeting. Reiki I and II certification are prerequisites. Students will be exposed to a variety of teaching and initiation techniques and well as develop and fine tune there Reiki practice to the master level. The book “Essential Reiki: A Complete guide To An Ancient Healing Art”, by Diane Stein is recommended. Other information and training materials are provided with the class. Advanced registration required; limited class size.

Elizabeth Wallmann-Filley PhD; C.Ht; RMT
(907) 275-3397
1st class: Sunday, April 26, 2009 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Three additional classes TBA $490.

Heaven Smiles

2009-02-11T15:22:00.000-09:00

The Pure Energy & Vital Force of Plant Healing

2009-02-09T15:14:00.003-09:00

AROMATHERAPY & ESSENTIAL OILS

What is Aromatherapy? An ancient healing art that has been around since the pyramids, aromatherapy heals and revitalizes the body and mind. Aromatherapy is a holistic approach to health and well being by means of aromas derived from the plant kingdom, is the science and art of using the volatile, non-oily essences of plants in healing. The power of fragrance is used to influence and alter our emotional moods. Aromas assist in balancing, stimulating, relaxing, invigorating and rejuvenating the body. Medicinal aromatherapy brings about healing on 3 planes; physical, mental and spiritual.

What are Essential oils? They are therapeutic grade oils distilled from plants, shrubs, flowers, trees, roots and seeds. They are oxygenated to help carry transport nutrients to the cells of the body. Essential oils are among the strongest antimicrobial agents; eliminating toxins in the body and fighting infection. Essential oils are also used to open and heighten spiritual awareness. They contain numerous therapeutic properties, and have the ability to donate or receive electrons. The recognized healing effect is believed to be carried out mainly through tissue stimulation. Essential oils have an analgesic neutralizing effect on chemicals carried by the sensory nerve endings.

How are essential oils used? There are many ways essential oils can be incorporated into our daily lives. Bathing, Massage, massage therapy, compresses, inhalation, steam inhalation & spray mist air treatments, as well as pet, garden & houseplant care and house cleaning are some of the most common well-known methods.

Energize Body Mind & Soul with a therapeutic blend of rosemary, orange, melissa (lemon balm), and jasmine. Combine 3 drops of each oil in a diffuser and breath the aroma as it fills the room. For a stimulating, sensual bath, stir the same amount of oils in your bath and soak for 20 minutes.

Sedating scents of geranium, jasmine, lemon balm, Roman chamomile and rose will help sweep you off to dreamland. Combine 3-5 drops of each (or use just one) in a diffuser in your bedroom. (If you use a candle powered diffuser, diffuse in the air prior and blow out the flame just before climbing in)

Bathe away the blues by soaking in a tub of clove tea. To do it: simmer 1 ½ teaspoons of whole clove in a nonreactive pan of 3 quarts water for 25 minutes. Strain and add the decoction to your bath water and soak for 20 minutes.

Bring the healing, rejuvenating qualities of solar energy into your home by using orange oil as an all-purpose household cleaner. Not only will orange oil cut grease and grime on surfaces, remove stains from carpets, fabric and clothing, its bright and cheerful aroma will lift your spirits even on the darkest day.

A few Essential Oils and their uses:

Basil-ease mental fatigue
Bergamot-open your heart to love and life
Cedar wood-enhance one’s connection to Spirit
Clary Sage-tranquility and balance
Cypress-peace, comfort and strength
Geranium-balance body, mind and emotions
Juniper-promote well being and inner strength
Patchouli-feel comfortable, safe and grounded
Rosewood-enhances meditation, eases anxiety, depression and moodiness
Sandalwood-opening and centering
Vetiver-promotes security and stability, “the oil of tranquillity

Beat the Winter Blues

2009-02-09T15:02:00.001-09:00

Now that the holidays are over, with nothing to occupy our minds and spirits but the regular daily humdrum the “winter blues” tend to set in. For some of us winter brings low spirits as well shorter days. We may experience changes in moods and behavior, feelings of exhaustion, and most of all depression from the lack of sunlight. The “winter blues” come with a bummed-out feeling resulting from unrealistic expectations, unpleasant holiday memories, being without family or friends, or the confinement of cold weather. Herbal tinctures and teas can be very helpful in alleviating “the blues”. The calming ritual of making and enjoying a hot cup of tea in itself is very therapeutic. Herbal tea’s can be made with the following herbs, alone or in conjunction. St. John’s wort, valerian root, damiana, ginseng, blacK cohosh, ginkgo, kava and lavender.

Other herbs to try: lemon balm, ginger, licorice root, oat straw, peppermint and Siberian ginseng. You may also wish to try some aromatherapy. Essential oils can be used in candles, diffusers, or in your bath & body products to help combat “the blues”. Benzoin, bergamot, jasmine, litsea cubeba, neroli, rose otto and ylang ylang are considered by some to be the most effective. However these may also work for you: carnation, chamomile roman, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, linden blossom, Melissa, patchouli, petitgrain, rose maroc, sandalwood or any citrus oils.

Herbs for Love, Passion & Healthy Heart

February is the month of the heart, for love, lovers and passion. Throughout history herbs and oils have been used in ritual, magic & everyday potions to invoke passion and attract, strengthen and keep love, and to strengthen the hearts ability to sustain life. Love and passion do not necessarily mean physical love or sexual attraction, but rather bringing into your life the things that you are passionate about …a cause, a job, a new goal. Try the following ideas to attract, renew or strengthen your passions, your love & your heart.

Love
If you love spiced wine as much as I do, you will enjoy this unusual variation. And don’t worry; if you are not a drinker, you can substitute grape juice or cider. LOVE WINE: combine 3t cinnamon, 3t ginger, 1 one-inch piece of vanilla bean, scored along it’s length, 2 cups of red wine and 2t rhubarb juice (if available). Try substituting lemon juice for the rhubarb. Store for 3 days before drinking. The recipe can also be gently heated, served warm and enjoyed immediately. Don’t forget to share with a friend!

Passion
Anoint yourself, or use in ritual, a combination of 3 drops ginger oil, 2 drops rosemary oil, 1 drop of clove oil and 1 drop of petitgrain to invoke the powers of fire…energy, courage, strength, love, passion & will power. Add the same to salts or an oil base of your choice and add to your bath water, soak in it 15-20 minutes while visualizing the desired effects. The herbs can also be burned as incense or simmered in a pot to achieve the same effects. Some other useful herbs/oils: Basil, Bay, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Coriander, Frankincense, Galangal, Juniper, Lime, nutmeg, Orange, Peppermint, Rose Geranium & Tangerine.

Healthy Heart
Protecting, maintaining and optimizing your hearts health will insure you will be able to enjoy your loves and passions. The most researched herbal remedies for reducing blood fats and for obtaining other cardiovascular benefits include, garlic, hawthorne, ginger, horse chestnut, bilberry, reishi mushroom and guggul. Other herbs, like mineral rich, alfalfa, horsetail, nettle & pau d’arco, calming black cohosh, oat straw, passionflower, valerian root, skullcap, and strengthening hawthorne berries, motherwort, ginger root, and ginkgo biloba, can all help strengthen, regulate & protect your hearts function.
And don’t forget the antioxidant properties of green tea!

The opinions and ideas of the author and this publication are in no way intended to be taken as sound medical advice. When using herbs, oils or any new product; “natural” or not…educate yourself, about the use of herbs and possible drug interactions, and when necessary consult a medical professional, before deciding whether or not to use them.

Winter Herbs, Oils & First-aid

2009-02-06T14:56:00.001-09:00

(a little late but useful information)
With the first winter chill breezing into town it's time to start thinking about how to keep the sneezes and sniffles away. While there's talk of the value of vitamin C, echinacea and garlic as natural treatments, herbalist claim herbs can prevent colds and flu. There are three main herbs, as well garlic, which are widely used to ward off winter woes. They are Echinacea, andrographis and astrolagus.

Echinacea is effective for the early treatment of colds and flu because it's an immune stimulant but is best taken before a cold sets in, however, it can help shorten the duration of flu if you take it once you've become ill and can assist with treating respiratory infections.

Andrographis and Astrolagus work in much the same way. Andrographis is also used for coughs and sore throats. These herbs are highly effective alone or in conjunction.
The frequent use of Garlic, referred to as nature's antibiotic, puts you well on your way to preventing a winter cold.

And don’t forget your vitamin C. Citrus, grapes and strawberries are high in C, and it doesn’t hurt to add zinc from beans, nuts and whole grains.
You may wish to try this herbal remedy, shared by a friend who swears by it. She hasn’t had a cold/flu in years.

Total Tonic Formula
1 Handful of split Garlic cloves
1 Handful of chopped Onions
1 Handful of chopped Ginger
1 Handful of chopped Horseradish
1/2 handful of chopped Habanero Peppers.

Throw in a blender and chop, then cover with
an inch or two of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar.
Let tincture for a week or two (shake now and then)
and strain, then drink a little of the juice daily,
or twice daily. (It is very HOT)
A small amount in V8 Juice is good and Turmeric can be added for extra benefit.

Winter Herbal Medicine Chest
Several herbs are effective for treating not only the symptoms of too much winter, but also the causes of colds and flu… Impaired immunity to virus/bacteria, maintaining blood circulation and warmth, ensuring vitality of the lungs and reducing the build up of congestion in the body.

In addition to the herbs already mentioned, some herbs to keep on hand in your “medicine chest” are: Ginger, Elderflower, Yarrow, Sage, Rose Hips, Mullein, Thyme, Fenugreek & Marshmallow.

Other beneficial ingredients to your chest would be Winter Essential Oils
Aromatherapy brings us the aromatic energy of living plants in the form of essential oils. These fragrances are a natural antidote to the emotionally debilitating effects of winter. Winter essential oils cleanse and freshen air in homes closed tight against the cold weather and can be beneficial in treating winter ailments.

Some useful winter oils are: Bergamot, Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Orange, Rosemary & Tea Tree.

Try these Essential Oil remedies in a massage, a bath, infused in the air or in a “sniffy” bottle. In all of them combine the oils listed.

WINTER WARMTH BLEND
10 drops of cedar wood
25 drops of bergamot orange
15 drops of fir needle
30 drops of juniper berry
20 drops of sandalwood

SINUS CONGESTION BLEND
5 drops of Eucalyptus
3 drops of Lavender
2 drops of Tea-Tree
2 drops of Pine.
PICK ME UP BLEND
7 drops of Bergamot
5 drops of Grapefruit
3 drops of Rosemary

SUNSHINE BLEND
5 drops of Lemon
5 drops of Orange
3 drops of Geranium
2 drops of Peppermint

A Handy Herb Glossary

2009-02-06T14:51:00.000-09:00

Today herbal remedies, supplements and therapies are everywhere. Some offer little or no understanding, for the layperson, of how the herb(s) should be used or how they work. With our ever-increasing mindfulness of what is “good for us” and “healthy”, when choosing to use a natural or herbal approach to our health and wellness, it is important to know what herbs might DO to you, in you or for you. It is important to know WHY you are choosing an herb and not enough to know that the herb was listed on your favorite message board, or that it “worked for my friend”.

In order to help you understand how you might use herbs, following is a glossary of common terms, what they mean, and some herbs that each term applies to.
ADAPTOGEN
These herbs have immune system enhancers which help the body adjust to change, regulate stress and restore natural immune resistance. Herbs that are used for this purpose include Echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, goldenseal, pau d'arco and suma
ALTERNATIVE
Alternatives are considered useful in altering body chemistry gradually. Herbs with alterative properties stimulate gradual changes in metabolism and tissue function in acute and chronic conditions and increase overall health, energy, vigor and strength. Alternatives are similar to tonics, which help both the overall systems as well as organs, tissues and cells. Alterative herbs, include aloe vera, black cohosh, blue cohosh, blue vervain, capsicum, cascara sagrada, chamomile, damiana, dandelion, echnicacea, elecampane, fenugreek, garlic, gentian, ginger, gingo biloba, goldenseal, hawthorn, horsetail, milk thistle, red clover, red raspberry, schizandra, suma, yarro and yellow dock root.
ANALGESIC
Analgesic herbs are used to relieve pain without loss of consciousness. Some of the herbs commonly used as analgesics include feverfew, lobelia, mullein, pau d'acro, skullcap, willow bark and wood betony.
ANESTHETIC
Anesthetics are used for their ability to cause physical insensitivity. Examples of herbs with this property are caraway, kava and tea tree.
ANODYNE
Herbs with this property have the ability to soothe and reduce the intensity of pain. Herbs with this ability include anise, chamomile, cloves, juniper, pleurisy root and rosemary.
ANORECTIC
Anorectic herbs help to reduce appetite. Herbs with this asset include chickweed, ephedra, fellel, garcinia and guarana.
ANTACID
An antacid is used to neutralize acids in the stomach and intestinal tract. Herbs used for this include dandelion, fennel, ginger, kelp, Iceland moss and slippery elm.
ANTHELMINTIC
Herbs with anathematic agents either expel or destroy worms in the body. Other similar terms to describe such agents include vermifuge, mermicide and taeniacide. Herbs with these fighting abilities include black cohosh, blue walnut, gentian, goldenseal, mandrake, prickly ash, pumpkin seed and senna.
ANTI-ASTHMATIC
Anti-asthmatics are used to help relieve the symptoms associated with asthma. Some of the anti-asthmatic herbs are elecampane, ephedra, gotu kola, lobelia, prickly ash, wild cherry and yerba santa.
ANTIBACTERIAL
Antibacterial herbs are those that fight and destroy bacteria and include alfalfa, basil, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, parsley, peppermint, rhubarb, turmeric, uva ursi and yucca.
ANTIBIOTIC
Herbs that work as natural antibiotics help the body's immune system destroy growths of microorganisms. Some herbs commonly used as natural antibiotics include buchu, chaparral, echinacea, garlic, goldenseal, myrrh, red clover and yellow dock.
ANTICATARRHAL
These are herbs that help dissolve and eliminate, as well prevent the formation of mucus and inflammation of the mucus membrane. Herbs that are considered to be ant catarrhal include comfrey, elecampane, ephedra, fenugreek, licorice, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein and wild cherry.
ANTICOAGULANT
Anticoagulant herbs help the body prevent clotting of the blood. Herbs with this constituent include garlic, turmeric and yellow maillot.
ANTIEMETIC
Antiemetics prevent vomiting, and herbs with this ability include clove, Iceland moss, raspberry and spearmint.
ANTIFUNGAL
Antifungal agents act against and destroy various fungi. Herbs in this category include alfalfa, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, kava kava, kombucha, parsley, St. John's wort, skullcap, thyme and turmeric.
ANTIGALACTAGOGUE
Herbs with this property work opposite to herbs with galactagogue properties. Sage and black walnut are examples of herbs in this category.
ANTIHYDROTIC
Antihydrodics reduce levels of perspiration. Herbs with this ability include astragalus and sage.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Herbs with this ability reduce inflammation in the body without acting directly on the cause of the inflammation. Herbs in this category include birth, chicory, cranberry, elder flowers, eucalyptus, fennel, feverfew, ginger, licorice, marshmallow, papaya, passion flower, peppermint, pine tree bark, queen of the meadow, rhubarb, rosemary, safflower, turmeric, wild yam and witch hazel.
ANTILITHIC
Antilithic herbs work to prevent the formation of stones in the gall bladder and kidney, as well as aiding the expulsion of those already formed. Antilithics are similar to lithotriptics. Some herbs used for this purpose are buchu leaves, hydrangea and uva ursi leaves.
ANTIMICROBIAL
Antimicrobials helps the body destroy microbes by affecting their growth and multiplication, Herbs with this ability include fennel, feverfew, myrrh, pau d'arco, rhubarb, tea tree and uva ursi.
ANTINEOPLASTIC
Herbs with this quality destroy, inhibit and prevent tumors. Herbs in this category include aloe vera, black walnut, burdock, cat's claw, chickweed, flaxseed, garlic, hops, horsetail, ho-sho-wu, irish moss, mistletoe, pau d'arco, periwinkle, pine tree bark, rhubarb, saffron, St. John's wort, slippery elm and turmeric.
ANTIOXIDANT
Antioxidant herbs counteract the negative effects of oxidation on body tissues. Included in this category are barley, billberry, cat's claw, chaparral, gingo biloba, milk thistle, pine tree, rosemary, sage and turmeric
ANTIPERIODIC
This constituent counteracts the effects of periodic diseases (intermittent) like malaria. Herbs in this category include angelica, blue vervain, boneset, chinchone, eucalyptus, golden seal and willow.
ANTITUSSIVE
Herbs with antitussive agents are cough suppressants. Herbs in this category include coltsfoot, comfrey, horehound, mullein and wild cherry bark
ANTIVENOMOUS
Ant venomous agents counteract venom, as from snakebite. Herbs with this quality include pennyroyal and plantain
ANTIVIRAL
Antiviral agents act to destroy viruses in the body. Herbs with antiviral qualities include aloe vera, astragalus, barley, boneset, calendula, echinacea, ho-shouwu, licorice, maitake, reishi, pau d'arco, red raspberry and turmeric
APHRODISIAC
An aphrodisiac is used to help restore normal sexual potency and function and improve sexual desire. Some herbs used as aphrodisiacs include astragalus, damiana, false unicorn, fenugreek, ginseng, kava kava and saw palmetto
ASTRINGENT
An astringent acts to contract and tighten, similar to styptic. This constricting action can help eliminate secretions and hemorrhaging. Some herbs with astringent actions are amaranth, blackberry root, black walnut, capsicum, elecampane, ephedra, fenugreek, horsetail, hydrangea, mullein, oak bark, queen of the meadow, St. John wort, slippery elm and witch hazel
BITTER
This is an agent that acts on the mucous membranes in the mouth to promote appetite and encourage digestion. Herbs in this category include alfalfa, blackberry, blessed thistle, bugleweed, chaparral, chinchona, eyebright, feverfew, gentian, licorice, quassia, watercress, wild cherry and wild lettuce
BLOOD PURIFIER
Agents that clean and remove impurities from the blood, similar to depurative. Examples of blood purifiers include birch, buckthorn, calendula, centaury, couch grass, dandelion, plantain and watercress
CARMINATIVE
Herbs that can help eliminate gas from the stomach and intestine are considered carminatives. Some of the herbs commonly used are angelica root, capsicum, caraway seeds, catnip, chamomile flowers, echinacea, fennel, ginger, hops, lemon balm, parsley root, peppermint, saffron and valerian
CHOLAGOGUE
This herb property increases the flow of bile which aids digestion, as well as acting as a mild laxative. Herbs which are used for this purpose are aloe vera, barberry, culvers root, dandelion, goldenseal, hops, licorice, Oregon grape root and wild yam
DECONGESTANT
Agents that relieves congestion in the upper respiratory tract. Herbs with decongestant properties include ephedra, lobelia, pennyroyal, valerian and yerba santa
DEMULCENT
These herbs work internally to help soothe and protect the mucous membranes in the body. Some herbs with this property are aloe vera, burdock, chickweed, comfrey, echinacea, fenugreek, flaxseed, Irish moss, kelp, licorice, marshmallow, mullein, oatstraw and psyllium
DIAPHORETIC
Diaphoretic herbs help the body produce perspiration to help the skin eliminate toxins, similar to sudorific. Herbs with diaphoretic properties include angelica, blue vervain, boneset, borage, butchers broom, capsicum, catnip, chamomile, elder flowers, elecampane, ephedra, garlic, hyssop, lemon balm leaves and yarrow.
DIGESTIVE
Digestives promote or aid in the digestion process. Such herbs include anise, capsicum, centaury, echinacea, garlic, horseradish, mustard, papaya, safflower and sage
DIURETIC
A diuretic is used to increase the flow of urine to relieve water retention. Some herbs used for this purpose are alfalfa, blue cohosh, buchu leaves, burdock, butchers broom, damiana, dandelion, devils claw, false unicorn, fennel, hawthorn, horsetail, hydrangea, juniper berries, lily-of-the-valley, marshmallow, parsley, queen of the meadow, saw palmetto and uva ursi
EMETIC
An emetic is used to induce vomiting. Emetic herbs include bayberry, boneset, buckthorn, culver, false unicorn, lobelia, mandrake, mistletoe, mustard seed, pleurisy, quassia, rue and senega
EMMENAGOGUE
Herbs with emmenagogue properties promote menstrual flow. Some herbs that help with this situation are angelica, aloe vera, black cohosh, blue cohosh, gentian, ginger, goldenseal, horsetail, juniper berries, mistletoe, myrrh, pennyroyal and saffron
ESTROGENIC
Estrogenic herbs promote or produce estrus. Herbs with estrogenic properties include blue cohosh, dong quai, false unicorn, fennel and licorice
EXPECTORANT
Expectorants help the body expel mucus from the lungs, nose and throat. Herbs used for this purpose include anise seed, blue cohosh, blue vervain, comfrey root, elder flowers, elecampane root, ephedra, flaxseed, fennel, fenugreek, garlic, horehound, hyssop, Irish moss, licorice, lobelia, marshmallow, mullein leaves, slippery elm, wild cherry bark and yerba santa leaves
FEBRIFUGE
Herbs with this property help reduce fevers, similar to refrigerant and antipyretic. Some febrifuges are bilberry, boneset, borage, buckthorn, catnip, chamomile, elder flowers, fenugreek, garlic, gentian, ginger, hyssop, pleurisy root, sarsaparilla, white willow bark and wormwood
GALACTAGOGUE
Herbs with these properties stimulate lactation in women. Herbs in this category include anise, basil, blessed thistle, borage, fenugreek, horsetail and vervain
GERMICIDE
Germicides are known for their ability to destroy germs and other microorganisms. Herbs in this category include cloves, eucalyptus and tea tree
HEPATIC
These herbs help to strengthen, tone, and increase bile flow to promote normal liver function. Some herbs with hepatic properties are barberry bark, cascara sagrada, dandelion root, gentian, goldenseal, horseradish, mandrake root, milk thistle, olive oil, Oregon grape, parsley, queen of the meadow and rhubarb
HEMOSTATIC
Hemostatics stop blood flow by acting as antihemorrhagic agents. Herbs in this category include bistort, blackberry, bugleweed, calendula, nettle, periwinkle, shepherds purse and witch hazel
IMMUNOSTIMULANTS
Immunostimulants enhance or boost the body's natural defense against illness and disease. Herbs with this ability include astragalus, barley, dong quai, kombucha, maitake, queen of the meadow, reishi and shiitake
INSECTICIDE
Insecticides are used to kill insects. An example of an herb with this ability is bayberry
LITHOTRIPTIC
These are herbs that help dissolve and eliminate urinary stones from the body. They include buchu leaves butchers broom, cascara sagrada, cornsilk, dandelion devils claw, horsetail, marshmallow, parsley, queen of the meadow, uva ursi and white oak bark
MUCILANT
Herbs that are considered mucilants have mucilage properties that have a soothing and demulcent effect. They coat and protect mucous membranes from irritations. Mucilants have a wide variety of applications including coughs, sore throats, and irritated stomach bowels, bladder and kidneys. They can also be used for laxatives, cream and ointments because of their soothing effects. Mucilant herbs include aloe vera, chickweed coltsfoot, comfrey, flaxseed, Iceland moss, marshmallow plantain, psyllium seed and slippery elm
NARCOTIC
Herbs with narcotic agents can be used to soothe intractable pain or to induce anesthesia. Herbs with these agents should be used carefully. They include bugleweed, guarana and wild lettuce. Herbs that can be used to counteract narcotic effects include alfalfa (for addiction) and marjoram and mustard (for poisoning)
NEPHRITIC
These are used in healing kidney problems. Herbs with nephritic properties include buchu leaves, couch grass root, goldenseal, horsetail, hydrangea, juniper berries, Oregon grape and queen of the meadow root
NERVINE
Nervine herbs help soothe, calm and nourish the nervous system. Some of the nervine herbs are black cohosh, blue vervain, boneset, catnip, chamomile, cramp bark. damiana, gotu kola, hops, lady's slipper, lemon balm, lobelia, oatraw, passion flower, skullcap, valerian root and wood betony.
NUTRITIVE
Nutritive agents nourish the body. Herbs with nutritive properties include alfalfa, amaranth, barley, bee pollen, chickweed, comfrey, guarana, Iceland moss, Irish moss, kelp, marshmallow, nettle, oatstraw, papaya, pumpkin, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, suma, watercress and yellow dock.
OXYTOCIC
These are herbs that help stimulate uterine contractions to assist and induce a safe labor and delivery. Herbs with oxytocic properties are black cohosh, blue cohosh, pennyroyal and red raspberry.
PARASITICIDE
Parasiticides are those that destroy parasites in the body. Herbs with parasticide agents include chaparral, feverfew, figwort, horseradish, mandrake, papaya, parsley, peach, pennyroyal, plantain, pumpkin, rhubarb, sage, thyme, vervain, wild cherry and wood betony.
PECTORAL
Pectoral agents give relief and remedy pulmonary and other respiratory conditions. Examples of pectorals are chickweed, coltsfoot, couch grass, hyssop, Iceland moss and wild cherry.
PURGATIVE
A cathartic or purgative herbs used for purging and stimulating the action of evacuating the bowels. This action may be mild or strong depending on the need. Purgatives and cathartics are similar to aperients and laxatives, which are mild purgative used to relieve constipation. Herbs considered to be purgative include aloe vera, barberry bark, boneset, buckthorn bark, cascara sagrada, elder flowers, goldenseal, mandrake, Oregon grape root, psyllium, rhubarb root and senna leaves.
RUBEFACIENT
Herbs with rubefacient properties are reddening agents that help to increase the flow of the blood to the surface of the skin to aid in healing in cases such as sprains and muscle soreness. Some herbs used for this purpose include camphor, capsicum, cloves, eucalyptus, garlic, ginger, horseradish, mustard seed, peppermint oil, pine oil, stinging nettle and thyme oil.
SEDATIVE
Sedative herbs are used to relieve irritability and promote calm and tranquil feelings. Some are catnip, chamomile, cramp bark, dong quai, hawthorn, hops, kava kava, lady's slipper, lobelia, passionflower, red clovers, St. John's wort, schizandra, skullcap, valerian and wood betony.
SIALOGUGE
Herbs with this property help to promote the flow and secretion of saliva to aid in the digestion of starches. Some herbs include bayberry, capsicum, echinacea, gentian, ginger, horseradish, hydrangea, licorice, prickly ash, rhubarb and yerba santa.
STIMULANT
These herbs help to increase the function of the body energy levels, circulation, and help eliminate toxins. Herbs with stimulant properties are angelica, boneset, capsicum, damiana, devil's claw, echinacea, elder flowers, elecampane, ephedra, false unicorn, garlic, gentian, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, ho-shou-wu, milk thistle, prickley ash bark, saffron, sarsaparilla root and suma.
STOMACHIC
Stomachic strengthen and tone the stomach. Herbs in the stomachic category included agrimony, anise, barberry, basil, caraway, celery, chinchina, cloves, dandelion, gentian, ginseng, gymnema, hops, horseradish, papaya, peach, pennyroyal, quassia, rhubarb, rosehips and watercress.
VASOCONSTRICTOR
Herbs with vasodilating agents expand the blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Herbs in this category included fever few, hawthorn and ho-shou-wu.
VULNERARY
Herbs with vulnerary properties are used to help promote the healing of wounds, cuts and abrasions. Some used are aloe vera, black walnut, burdock, capsicum, fenugreek, flaxseed, garlic, gentian, goldenseal, hops, horsetail, mullein, oatstraw and plantain leaves.

Feldenkrais® - Bones for Life®

2009-02-02T06:59:00.000-09:00

Hola!
Take a look at our schedule for Daytime February & March Feldenkrais classes and enter them on your calendar NOW! Space is at a premium, so reserve your space and learn to feel your best with little or no effort! Surprise yourself at how freely, easily & comfortably you can move!

Hands-on Feldenkrais individual sessions are available at 2 medical offices in Anchorage (Eastside & Midtown) where you can use your health insurance. Contact me for more info, or contact the office directly to schedule your session with me at either location.

I continue to offer the lower cost convenience of self-pay at Movement Options. Call or email me to schedule your app't here at Movement Options studio.
Shari

Feldenkrais Classes

February/March Schedule

ALL Gain….NO Pain…The Feldenkrais Way!
Tu/Th 11:15-Noon Feb. 24, 26 & Mar. 3, 5 4 days $65 or Drop-in $18/class
Tu/Th 11:15-Noon Mar. 10, 12, 17, 19 4 days $65 or Drop-in $18/class
Tu/Th 11:15-Noon Mar. 24, 26, 31 3 days $50 or Drop-in $18/class

Individual Feldenkrais Sessions

● Insurance Billing at Natural Health Center 561-2330

3330 Eagle St.

Known to many of you as “Hope Wing & Rick Abbott’s Clinic”. Choose a Naturopath or Chiropractor to initiate your Feldenkrais treatment plan of neuromuscular re-education. Use your health insurance to pay for your Feldenkrais sessions.

My schedule here: Monday afternoons & Thursday mornings.

Medicare patients: *IF you have secondary insurance coverage from a group policy that covers you to see a Naturopath, you MAY be able to use your secondary insurance to cover your sessions with me for neuromuscular re-education. *Be sure to check with your secondary insurance carrier to confirm this!

● Insurance Billing at Alliance Chiropractic 337-6770

Dr. Rich Tieszen 4316 Kingston Drive

Bill your insurance directly for sessions at Alliance, just pay your deductible & co-pay out of pocket. My schedule here: Tuesday & Thursday afternoons.

● ***Self-pay at Movement Options Studio 274-3539

Schedule your sessions at Movement Options and make payment in full. Receipts are available upon request if you wish to submit them to your health insurance carrier, or use pre-tax dollars from your health care reimbursement account.

My schedule here: Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri mornings, & Wed & Fri afternoons.

***Total cost of sessions with Shari at Movement Options Studio is substantially less than the price of sessions at the above medical offices. Out of pocket expenses at Movement Options may be higher or lower than at one of the clinics, depending on your health insurance coverage.

Shari Lee
Certified Feldenkrais® Practitioner
Certified Bones for Life® Teacher & Trainer
Movement Options LLC
907-274-3539
feldenlee1@aol.com
www.FeldenkraisJourneys.com

Feldenkrais® is a registered service mark of the Feldenkrais® Guild of North America.

Winter

2009-01-27T06:20:00.001-09:00

"There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you. In spring, summer, and fall people sort of have an open season on each other; only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches when you can savor belonging to yourself."
-Ruth Stout, 1955

2009-01-26T11:25:00.000-09:00

(from Daily Om)

Self-Body Scan
Blessing Our Bodies
As the living vehicles for our spirits, our bodies deserve loving attention and care. We can positively affect our health, prevent illness, and heal injuries by regularly focusing our mental and spiritual energy on the workings of our bodies. This can be done by performing a body scan on yourself.

Begin by lying in a comfortable position and taking three deep cleansing breaths. Imagine, if you will, a sunbeam entering the top of your head. Feel this light slowly scanning each part of your internal body. Allow it to scan every cell in your body and keep breathing. Every time you exhale, blow out negative energy you may feel. Notice any changes in your body. Sensations may vary from person to person. You may feel a shift in body temperature, see a color or flash of light, or hear a voice offering you guidance. If you feel a block in a certain area of your body, sit with that block and feel into it. Ask your body why that block is there and what you need to do to release it. Try not to judge or analyze the wisdom that comes to you. Often, we experience energy blocks in our body because our body is trying to tell us something. You may want to breathe into that area until you feel the block dissolving. When you have finished your scan, take one last deep breath and exhal! e any energetic residue that you are ready to release.

The body doesn’t lie, and it has much wisdom to share with us. Any injuries or blocks that exist in our bodies are there so that we can learn from having them in our bodies. An existing injury can teach us to slow down or help us recognize that something is out of balance in our bodies. The more you scan your body, the better you will become at it. If you sense that something is not right in your body, you may want to visit a doctor and tell them about your experience. When you have finished your scan, don’t forget to thank your wonderful, amazing body.

Poem - Seasonal Jewels

2009-01-26T10:05:00.006-09:00

This is a little late seasonaly, however worth a posting :O)
Lyn, amongst other things, is a talented poet who's work I always enjoy!
Thank's Lyn!

Seasonal Jewels
Lyn E. Ayre 25Nov08

Tiny little diamonds
hanging on a branch
Wind just tickles gently
causing them to dance

Pokey spiky fractals
repeating in the air
Chickadee a’ chirping
all without a care

Fall is right upon us
thundering with the sound
Leaves are turning colour
dropping to the ground

Cold and frosty mornings
complete with ruddy dawn
Icicles from rooftops
slippery on the lawn

Ozone smell tells me
snow is coming soon
Songs of joyful carols
whistling happy tunes

All is as it should be
in the world today
Cycles seasons pass us
inviting us to play

Play within each moment
notice what’s around
Never let the weather
ever get you down

Eco-Gardening

2009-01-23T07:20:00.002-09:00

Dear Eco-Gardeners,

Boy-o-boy, we have an exciting line-up of courses for you—long & short!

Co-Creative Gardening workshops based on my book, Ask Mother Nature

Free movie, make-&-take your own greens tray, and finding nutrient-dense food

Intensive university training: growing by the organic method

Check out all the details and registration at www.goodearthgardenschool.com

(See below for overall schedule)

YES, you can garden cooperatively with nature.

Slugs in your lettuce?

A wasp nest on your deck?

Weeds invading your yard?

Trees to cut down?

Is there is a way you might work with nature?

Yes! Come learn to consult the wise consciousness of nature itself. I am teaching courses based on my book, Ask Mother Nature, a Conscious Gardener’s Guide.

You’ll learn methods to talk directly to the wise consciousness of slugs, wasps, weeds, and trees themselves. Learn how to obtain the guidance from these Devas and Nature Spirits. Discover ways to reduce pests without battles, poisons, or force; and cut down a tree without trauma. (This focus is non-religious.) You’ll come away with new skills to heal the Earth—from the convenience of your own backyard! Choose the Co-Creative Gardening class in Anchorage or Palmer. Also advanced class. Please see attached flyers and schedule below.

YES, you have very sweet 2-hour options.

Get your hands in the soil-come plant a windowsill greens garden,

Watch and discuss a free movie,

Hear (and taste) how to select safe, good food you can trust.

All at Terra Bella Café & Bakery in Anchorage. See: schedule below, attachments, & website.

YES, there is still room for you in the Organic Gardening intensive.

Ready to produce more backyard food bonanza? Come join the fun, as we actually build a compost pile, learn what organic fertilizers to apply, and map strategies to ward off pests without poisons. All this in 5 evenings at Mat-Su College, plus a Saturday field trip! Personally tour actual greenhouse, vegetable, and fruit tree growing operations. Please see details in attachment and website.

Starts Friday Feb 20th at 6pm. Mat-Su College: Register now by calling 745-9746 for information or register on line at www.uaa.alaska.edu and follow Wolf Link for Agri 138,

Organic Gardening. (Potential for Thursday night section.)

Class Schedule for Feb-Mar 09

Tue Feb 17 ----identical & -----Grow Your own Windowsill Greens, Terra Bella, Anchorage

Wed Feb 18 ---repeated class-- Grow Your own Windowsill Greens, Terra Bella, Anchorage

Fri Feb 20------------------------Organic Gardening Agri 138 credit course starts, Mat-Su College

Wed Feb 25---------------------Sampling Foods You Can Trust, Terra Bella, Anchorage

Sat-Sun Feb 28 & Mar 1st -----------------Co-Creative Organic Gardening, Palmer

Sat-Sun March 7 & 8------repeated---------Co-Creative Organic Gardening, Anchorage

Sat March 14-------------------Advanced Co-Creative Organic Gardening, Palmer

Sat March 21--------------------------------Free Movie Matinee at Terra Bella, Anchorage

Gardening makes us feel rich and connected to our bounteous planet. I would love to see you in one or more of these opportunities. So come jump into the fun.

Ellen

As always, let me know if you want off this list.

Ellen Vande Visse
Good Earth Garden School
www.goodearthgardenschool.com

2009-01-20T15:18:00.002-09:00

6 Reasons to Drink Green Tea

2009-01-18T13:44:00.005-09:00

this information from www.realage.com

The steady stream of good news about green tea is getting so hard to ignore, that even java junkies are beginning to sip mugs of the deceptively delicate brew. You'd think the daily dose of disease-fighting, inflammation-squelching antioxidants -- long linked with heart protection -- would be enough incentive. But wait . . . there's more! Lots more.

1. Cut Your Cancer Risk Several polyphenols -- the potent antioxidants that green tea is famous for -- seem to help keep cancer cells from gaining a foothold in the body by discouraging growth and then suppressing the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to thrive. Study after study has found that regularly drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast, stomach, esophagus, colon, and prostate cancer.

2. Soothe Your Skin Got a cut, scrape, or bite, and a little leftover green tea? Soak a cotton ball in it. The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling. Try it on inflamed blemishes, sunburns, or puffy eyelids. But that's not all. Green tea has been shown to help block sun-triggered skin cancer, whether you drink it or apply it directly to the skin -- which is why you're seeing green tea in more and more sunscreens and moisturizers.

3. Steady Your Blood Pressure Having healthy blood pressure -- meaning below 120/80 -- is one thing. Keeping it that way is quite another. But people who sip just half a cup of green tea a day are almost 50% less likely to wind up with hypertension than nondrinkers. Credit goes to the polyphenols again (especially one known as ECGC); they help keep blood vessels from contracting and raising blood pressure.

4 . Protect Your -- or Your Mom’s -- Memory Green tea may also keep the brain from turning fuzzy. Getting-up-there adults who drink at least two cups a day are half as likely to develop cognitive problems as those who drink less. Why? It appears that the tea's big dose of antioxidants fights the free-radical damage to brain nerves seen in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

5. Stay Young The younger and healthier your arteries are, the younger and healthier you are. So fight plaque buildup in your blood vessels; the sticky stuff increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, adds years to your RealAge, and saps your energy. How much green tea does this vital job take? About 10 ounces a day, which also deters your body from absorbing artery-clogging fat and cholesterol.

6 . Lose Weight Oh yeah, one more thing. Turns out that green tea speeds up your body's calorie-burning process. In the every-little-bit-counts department, that’s good news!

2009-01-12T10:39:00.003-09:00

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Balancing the Imbalances

It is my belief that we become ill due to an imbalance in the body. These imbalances come about through:1. A diet lacking in the daily intake of nutrients and phyto-nutrientsWe need a variety of fresh, live foods and herbs every day. Allow yourself a sweet treat once a week and thoroughly embrace and enjoy it with no guilt.2. Lack of physical movementTake yourself out for a walk every day for at least 20-30 minutes. The benefits of this one act are amazing and I hope that, at the end of a month, you’ll be able to tell me all about it. Do one better for yourself and go dancing on a regular basis.3. Not enough waterWe need at least 2 quarts of water daily to nourish our cells and clear out waste products. Tea, coffee, soda, and juice do not do this. Juice is good if it is fresh but don’t count it as part of your water intake, and it is very high in sugar.4. Not enough rest and sleepBeing able to stretch out and relax is one of the most important blessings to our overall well-being. Retiring at a time that will ensure we get seven to eight hours of sleep each night is a key to healthy living. If an opportunity presents itself to have a nap, take it and enjoy the luxury of being peaceful with your self. It seems so simple but it is vital to your life.5. Improper breathingMost people ‘shoulder breathe’ and the breath may make it only to the breast bone; we need to take our breath down into our power centre about an inch below the navel.6. Limited evacuation of waste matterEach day we need to sit in the washroom at around the same time and relax each muscle involved in the process of elimination. We can say prayers, read spiritual literature, chant OM, or whatever it takes to relax our bowels and allow free-flow of that energy.7. Feelings of being disconnected from ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbours, our planet, our Spiritual Being. Make a connection to someone you love every day. Ensure you have a good uplifting or funny story to tell them to make their spirits soar with laughter and joy. You will feel wonderful when you do this – like you are ‘a part of’ the life around you. You will attract great people and keep the friends you already have.8. Enormous amounts of stressWe live in a 24/7 world and we all feel like we are the most important one and that things cannot get along without us. As well as putting your e-connections to bed by a reasonable hour, so you can watch a good movie, take yourself out of the game one day a week. Do something for your self – shop, lunch with a friend, personal grooming, drive in the country – whatever it is that will nourish you on all four levels of being: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.9. Lack of tools to deal with stressTake a course in meditation, Reiki, balancing your Chakras. There are lots to choose from, such as: Tai Ch’i, Reflexology, Sound Healing, Crystals, etc…Continue, develop, and/or explore the topic of hobbies. Make a list of those that interest you and begin your research, finding ones that really resonate with you and feed your Inner Child.10. Irregular clearing and balancing of the energy fieldDevelop a relationship with an Energy Worker and see that person regularly. It is suggested to go twice a week for two weeks then every two weeks for two times, then once a month for maintenance. This protocol (these six sessions) will generally clear up those daily, bothersome, and chronic situations, and regular sessions will keep your energy system clear and strong.As individuals, there is a lot we can do for ourselves. When we do for ourselves, we empower our life with hope, gratitude, peace, and joy. We begin to harmonize the dense energies that have been created through unbalanced living. Life still happens; devastating illness, which had been already set in motion through years of unhealthy choices, may still come to us. By following these simple remedies for healthier living, we will better be able to ‘survive and thrive’ through most of what life has to offer in a serene and grateful manner. Taking a regular inventory of our wonderful and attractive qualities is a good daily practice, as is doing a ‘gratitude list’ for that which we receive each day and hold dear to our hearts: our family, friends, home, food & water, overcoming a fault, doing something a better way… there is always a lot for which to be grateful.
Author: Lyn E. Ayre, www.LynAyre.com
Posted by Lyn.Ayre at 6:43 PM 0 comments
Labels: My Thoughts-by Lyn Ayre
Wednesday, July 9, 2008