Question:

Will the colon cleanse be ok for my husband who has metal plates in his arm and leg?


Answer:

I didn't really know the answer to this question. I had a time, finding someone who did.

Since bentonite clay would be the ingredient in our Detox+ that would pose the potential problem, I contacted the author of Living Clay and asked her opinion and this is what she had to say.

It is perfectly alright. It is in a different form the heavy metals in the body plus clay is not absorbed into the body so never touches the parts. I used it on my ankle all the time where I have a screw to repair a broken bone. The metals used in the body for repairs are non decomposing metals anyway. It is the ones that break down and decompose we have to worry about.

Enjoy your clay experience.

I could find no evidence to support that the rest of the ingredients would or wouldn't be harmful, although, I would suspect that it would be fine.

If the readers have some evidence to support or disprove, please leave your comments and let us know.

April 2007 - I began having severe neck and shoulder pain. Throughout the next 8 weeks I took high doses of narcotic pain killers (darvocet & vicodin) while the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with me. At the end of May it was determined I had a neck injury and needed physical therapy. After two visits with the physical therapist, I was able to stop taking the medications. However, after a life full of antibiotics, painkillers and cold and flu treatments, this three months of medications pushed my body over the top. About three days after I stopped the medications, I began to break out in debilitating hives on a regular basis.


The attacks were severe enough that I had to go to the doctor and the emergency room to be medicated further to alleviate the symptoms just to allow me to function--barely. At one point, every lymph node in my head and neck swelled up hard while the rest of me was covered in horrible whelps (more photos at the end of the article). I had to go the emergency room to get pumped full of something that made me feel like I'd drank about 47 pots of coffee in about 5 minutes—I think it was epinephrine.

After several rounds of prednisone and other steroids given by my regular doctor with no promising results, I was sent to an allergist. This allergist told me that I had something called dermographism—the worst case he’d seen in 45 years of practicing medicine.

Dermographism, by definition, is the ability to write on one's skin (dermo--meaning--skin and graph--meaning--write). The cause is supposedly unknown, but it's a reaction by the histamine cells in the skin (dermal layer) that is triggered by blunt trauma (scratching and abrasion). In the simplest of terms, this condition appears to be an allergy to scratching.

So, now it had a name. This means I could find a cure, right? Wrong! The doctor said that my only recourse was to take antihistamines until the condition healed on it's own or until I died--whichever came first. What a great thing to look forward to.

Over the next two and half years I took the dreaded antihistamines. Meanwhile, I developed Candidasis along with several other problems that are often associated with long term use of pharmaceuticals (insomnia, fatigue, moodiness, hormonal problems, lack of energy, chemical sensitivity, etc.). I had searched around and I found several who shared my symptoms and all said there was no cure—only treatment for symptoms.

After much prayer and way too much time, a friend told me about a cleanse she was doing that was helping her severe digestive and allergenic issues. I did some research on the formulas she was using and decided to give them a try.

I did a 10-day intestinal cleanse and much to my surprise, after 2.5 long years, I was able to quit taking the antihistamines. Over the next couple of months the symptoms were nearly gone but I decided to another ten days on this cleanse. I followed up with strong probiotics to recolonize my poor (but clean) gut. I felt better than I had in months.

A friend also did the cleanse with me the first time and was cured of his life long eczema. He is 34 years old and has never been "itch free". He was also very happy with this cleanse.

After this second cleanse, I was feeling great but still not quite there. I still got hives occasionally and usually as a reaction to some food or another, but the cause was never pinpointed.

I called the boss at Bulk Herb Store and told him about this cleanse. He and the Mrs. were also working on some cleansing, so they came up with a formula that closely matched the one I had used twice previously and called it Detox +.

I still had some straggling symptoms and we needed a good test for this new formula so I did ten days on this one as well. That was it! Apparently, the third time really IS the charm. I’ve been symptom free for months. The really nice thing about it, is the price! Detox + cost 1/2 the price of the original formula I used in my first two cleanses.

Now, the only time I get hives is when I go to the chiropractor and she explained this is probably due to toxins built up that are being released from the muscle as they relax from the adjustment. So after the adjustment she recommended I do a single day of detox. After the last adjustment, I came home and took one dose of Detox + (I had some left over) and a fruit/vegetable smoothie and the next day I felt pretty good. No hives.

After several years of illness, it feels so great to feel great!

After a bit more research on the individual ingredients, I found that this is probably the best thing anyone could do to get started on the road to recovery from just about any illness. The clay and the charcoal in Detox + will cling to and remove so many different metals, pharmaceuticals and environmental toxins from the body. For more information on environmental toxins, see this blog entry.

CAUTION: It should be noted that following the first cleanse, I quit taking my prescription medications and as a result suffered some severe withdrawal. I did this without the supervision of a physician, but would not necessarily recommend that anyone else do this. It was a difficult time for me because the withdrawal from this particular medication caused me to itch, so it was very difficult for me to determine the difference between the original symptoms of my illness and the symptoms of withdrawal.

To help make this determination, I began to take magnesium-rich herbal teas on the recommendation of a friend (see this blog entry for more info). I believe the magnesium helped to calm and heal the nerve endings allowing the withdrawal to pass and to allow my body to heal from the trauma and the cleanse. If you take any types of medications, please consult with your physician before you quit taking them and be aware that this formula will interfere with medications if you take them together. It is recommended that all supplements and medications be taken at least three hours prior to ingestion of the Detox + formula.

Shoshanna has done the Detox+ and has her recommended procedures listed on the Bulk Herb Store product page for doing so. I did mine a little different because I was doing a direct product comparison. So for any that are interested, here are the steps I took.

I used a strong laxative herbal supplement called Intestinal Formula 1 by Dr. Schulze in place of a fiber supplement. I took one of these a day after supper for three days to make sure my bowels were moving. I took approximately a heaping teaspoon of the Detox + every three hours a total of five times each day for ten days. I drank 16 oz of water with each dose (this is very important). Each day, if the bowels were not moving 2-3 times easily, then I took one more of the laxative capsules each day until they were moving again. By the peak of the cleanse, I was taking 10 of these laxative capsules. I continued to take 1-2 laxative capsules per day after I stopped the Detox + to make sure I got everything moved out. I made no changes to my eating habits, except to say that, I ate less because my belly felt full more often with all the bulk and the water.

Between the three cleanses, I tried capsules and powder mixed in juice. Both were equally effective and the juice concoction didn’t taste awful; however, sugar promotes candida, so for the Detox + (round three), I decided to capsulize it myself to help keep so that I could take it with water and avoid the sugar in the juice. You could mix the powder in water, but it was less tasty and I wasn’t willing to drink it this way. If you decide to use capsules, you’ll need 500 of the larger capsules. You’ll take 10 for each dose, 5 times a day for 10 days. It really just depends on what you’re more comfortable with.

If you try using this formula at home, we’d love to hear your success stories. Please send us a note or feel free to comment on this blog to let others know how you fared.

(click to enlarge)

Cha-cha-cha-chia!

That familiar little jingle reminds most of us of those cute little novelties gifts—the little clay animals with sprouts for hair. We call them Chia Pets™. But, did you know that you can eat this lovely little gem—the chia seed?

Chia comes from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, in the family Lamiaceae (the mint family) native to southern Mexico. It’s most notably associated with the Aztecs in ancient history and was considered so valuable by these people that is was often given as a tribute to the rulers.

Chia is trying to make a comeback after centuries of neglect. It was a major crop in central Mexico between 1500 and 900 B.C., but after the Spanish conquest, it was banned because of its close association with Aztec religion. Until recently, chia was produced by only a few small growers, but commercial production has resumed in Latin America, and you can now buy the seeds online and in health food stores.

As a food source, chia is no novelty. Chia seeds are a great source of protein, boron, amylase and antioxidants. They are also one of the richest sources of linoleic acid (LA), an important omega 3 fatty acid that the body cannot produce on it’s own.

Chia can be used in recipes as a sprout or one could grind the seeds (just like flax) and sprinkle a bit of it's nutty flavor on salads, sandwiches or other dishes. In addition to it’s wonderful nutrient content, it’s also a great source of fiber and it’s a great natural appetite suppressant—in the form of bulk in the tummy. The seed will absorb 9 times it’s weight in water in less than 10 minutes and is very simple to prepare.

If you’re not quite, convinced, try leaving spoonful of chia in a glass of water and leaving it for approximately 30 minutes or so. When you return the mixture be an almost solid gelatin. This gel-forming reaction is due to the soluble fiber in the chia. Researchers conclude that this same phenomenon happens in the stomach causing a full tummy and--it’s thought--a physical barrier between carbohydrates and the digestive enzymes that break them down, thus slowing the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar.

Seeds mixed in water, lemon/lime juice and sugar is a mixture known in Mexico and Central America as "chia fresca." Chia seeds may be ground into pinole, a meal that can be used for porridge or baked goods.

Here are some great recipes using chia seeds you can try for yourself. Be sure and let us know how you like them.


Chia Gel

Make chia gel (8-9 parts water to 1 part chia seeds) by soaking chia seeds in water for at least 12 hours. It's best to make small batches. Use clean quart-sized jars filled with three cups water. Stir the water while adding one-third cup chia seeds. Avoid clumping by stirring several times within 10 minutes until chia seeds are well blended and do not separate from the water. Store gel in refrigerator for 12 hours. Chia gel can be added to many foods and drinks. Try using half chia gel and half juice (of any kind). Can also be added to salad dressings, dips, spreads, soups, etc.

The gel should store well in the fridge for up to two weeks. Try adding it to jams, jellies, hot or cold cereals, yogurts, mustard, ketchup, tarter sauce, BBQ sauce or your baking as an egg and/or fat substitute.


Chia Lemonade

1 T. chia seeds
1 c. natural apple juice
2 teas. Lemon juice
Ice

Combine chia seeds and apple juice and let soak 30 minutes until it thickens like jelly. Add lemon and ice for a refreshing slushy drink.


Banana Bread with Chia Seeds

½ c. sugar
5 T. Butter, softened
2 large eggs
1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
2 T. chia seeds
6 oz. vanilla yogurt
¾ c. ripe mashed bananas (about 1-1/2 bananas)
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and ground cloves. Stir in chia seeds. Add flour mixture and yogurt alternately to sugar mixture, beating well and beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in bananas and vanilla. Pour batter into an 8x4 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan and enjoy.


Papaya Salad Dressing

1 Papaya (skinned, seeded, sliced)
½ c. orange juice
1 T. Soaked chia seeds
1 tsp. Lime juice
1 tsp. Chile powder spice
Sea salt to taste

Blend 45-60 seconds or to desired smoothness. Drizzle over favorite salad.


Chia French Toast

Bread
Eggs
Chia seeds

Prepare chia gel.

Beat eggs and mix in 1 or 2 teaspoons of chia gel (per slice of toast) into egg mixture. Prepare French toast as normal.


Apricot Truffles

1 c. almonds, soaked for 12-48 hours and blanched
1 c. dried apricots
½ c. honey dates
1 T. Lemon zest
1 tsp.
½ T. chia seeds

Process the almonds, apricots and dates in a food processor. Add lemon zest, vanilla and chia seeds. Form dough into small balls and chill before serving.


Other ideas you might try:

Sprinkle in with Grape Nuts and/or Trail Mix (about 1 tsp).
Blend in with salad dressing.
Mix into yogurt.
Add to stews and slow-cooker recipes.
Sprinkle into salads, oatmeal, couscous, eggs, muffins, quesadillas, sandwiches or soups.

Question:

I am wondering what you guys know about kefir and if you drink it yourself.


Answer:

I love, love, love kefir. It's so versatile and it's so good for you!


excerpt from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, Ph.D.

Kefir is a cultured and microbial-rich food that helps restore the inner ecology. It contains strains of beneficial yeast and beneficial bacteria (in a symbiotic relationship) that give kefir antibiotic properties. A natural antibiotic--and it's made from milk! The finished product is not unlike that of a drink-style yogurt, but kefir has a more tar, refreshing taste and contains completely different microorganisms...kefir does not feed yeast, and it usually doesn't even bother people who are lactose intolerant. That's because the friendly bacteria and the beneficial yeast growing in the kefir consume most of the lactose and provide very efficient enzymes (lactase) for consuming whatever lactose is till left after the culturing process...kefir is mucous-forming, but...the slightly mucus-forming quality is exactly what makes kefir work for us. The mucus has a "clean" quality to it that coats the lining of the digestive tract, creating a sort of nest where beneficial bacteria can settle and colonize...

Kefir is made from gelatinous white or yellow particles called "grains." The grains contain the bacteria/yeast mixture clumped together with casein (milk proteins) and polysaccharides (complex sugars). They look like pieces or coral or small clumps of cauliflower and rage from the size of a grain of wheat to that of a hazelnut. Some grains have been known to grow in large flat sheets that can be big enough to cover your hand. No other milk culture forms grains...making kefir truly unique. Once the grains ferment the milk by incorporating their friendly organisms into the final product, you remove these grains with a strainer before drinking the kefir. The grains are then added to a new batch of milk, and the process continues indefinitely. Donna Gates The Body Ecology Diet.

Kefir
Make 2 cups

2 cups fresh whole milk, nonhomogenized and preferably raw
1/2 cup good quality cream (optional)
1 tablespoon kefir grains or
1 package kefir powder...

Kefir is thicker than piima milk or buttermilk and has a wonderful tart flavor.

If using kefir grains, place them in a fine strainer and rinse with filtered water. Place milk and optional cream in a clean wide-mouth, quart-size mason jar. If milk is cold, place jar in a a pan of simmering water until milk reaches room temperature. Add kefir grains or powder to milk, stir well and cover loosely with a cloth. Place in a warm place (65 to 76 degrees) for 12 hours to 2 days.

If using the powder, kefir is ready when it thickens, usually within 24 hours.

If using grains, stir vigorously occasionally to redistribute the grains. Every time you stir, taste the kefir. When it achieves a tartness to your liking, the kefir is ready. The kefir may also become thick and effervescent, depending on the temperature, incubation time and the amount of curds you use. Pour the kefir through a strainer into another jar to remove the grains. Store in refrigerator. Use the grains to make another batch of kefir, or prepare them for storage by rinsing them well with water and placing in a small jar with about 1/2 cup filtered water. They may be stored in the refrigerator several weeks or in the freezer for several months. If they are left too long in storage, they will lose their culturing power.

Kefir can be used in place of buttermilk and yogurt in many recipes (buttermilk biscuits! yum!) It's a great beverage. We like to add sweet, fruit and/or vanilla when we consume it as a beverage. Also when you get to a point where you have too many grains, you can add some of the grains to your smoothies for an extra probiotic punch. No waste and you have population control.

I also think that kefir would be a great base for the new herba smoothie blends. If you've tried this, please share your results with us.


Here's a couple of links with tons of info from ladies who make kefir all the time.

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,5403.0.html



Here's 2 links that includes people who are willing to share their grains.

http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,5403.0.html (this link requires membership for trading)
http://www.torontoadvisors.com/Kefir/kefir-list.php

Red seems to be the new 'blond' these days. It's become very popular, I've noticed, over the last few years or so. My own husband seems to appreciate the beauty in the redheaded population and I'm just getting to a point where I'm just happy if my gray hairs don't show. However, after many years of playing with hair color in a bottle, I've suffered from itchy, dry and unhealthy scalp and to be honest, red out of bottle, looks just like that--red out of a BOTTLE.

A friend recently colored her hair red and it suits her, but not her hair. The hair looks brittle, dry and broken and the color is muted and fades within weeks. I've also had the same experience with my hair in the past as well after using reds and auburns from the store rack. My hair colored with henna, on the other hand, looks healthy, shiny, healthy and bright.

Henna is a great herb! It not only colors the hair, but it adds nutrients and shine to the hair and scalp. I've noticed less split ends since I've started using it and the color doesn't fade. The only issue becomes the roots which grow out, but if you like to color your hair, this will always be something you have to deal with. The other nice thing about doing your roots, is you can do the whole head without worry of over treating the previously colored hair, because the henna does not bleach or dry the hair the way the bottle dyes will do.

Now, there is one drawback...it's messy...but I think that can be fun too if you let it.

If you have long hair, you'll probably need about 1 cup of henna powder, less if you have short hair. Put this in a stainless steel or glass bowl as the mix will stain just about anything it touches. Add a couple of tablespoons of vinegar and then add enough boiling water to make a thin paste (think pancake batter). Allow this to sit for 20 minutes or so (or longer) to allow the vinegar to actually pull the color from the herb. Mix again and then you're ready to apply.

While you're waiting for your henna to 'cook', prepare any working surfaces by covering them with towels, rags or drop cloths. I have been known to do this over the bathroom sink but after many a mess, I've just started kneeling over the tub. It's much easier and less mess after. The henna doesn't stain my porcelain tub.

Get some plastic gloves to keep from staining your hands. If you do it gloveless, the color will stain your skin and nails, but it will wash after several days.

Next, you need to prepare your skin. Henna will stain your face as well. You need to get a thick oil for this. I've used, eden salve, hair conditioner, olive oil, castor oil, vaseline, mineral oil and just about any other oil you can think up and they all work. Carefully oil your face all along the scalp line. Oil up the ears and neck as well. This is going to prevent staining. You might get some, but it will be minimal enough, it will generally fade after 1 or 2 washings.

You'll need some extra towels and rags for drips and cleanup and you'll need saran wrap or plastic shopping bags and towels to wrap around your head. And wear old clothes, because they will get stained as well. I keep a set of clothes just for this and use them over and over.

Put on your gloves and lean over the tub or the sink and begin to part your hair with your fingers. Grab a handful of 'mud' and work it into the hair beginning at the scalp and down the hair a few inches. Do the whole head this way in small sections until you have your scalp hair thoroughly saturated. Make sure to work more 'mud' along the hair line all the way around your head. For now, don't worry about the drips.

Once you've got the scalp and hairline done, start taking what's left in the bowl in small handfuls and begin working it through the bottom of the hair starting from where you left off at the scalp until you have all the hair saturated. This is not like washing your hair. You shouldn't rub, scrub, twist or stir the hair in any way, or you'll have a tangled mess when you're done. You want to push the mud into the hair in much the same fashion as if you were trying to wring water from your hair.

Add any remaining henna into the hair, just for good measure. If you find you're finished and you have areas left uncovered, you can try to work some down from the top or you can mix up some more if need be. This isn't real convenient, but if you're quick about it, you shouldn't have any problems with timing or color differences.

Wrap the length of your hair around your head like a crown and mush it down. It should stay pretty well. After all, it's now full of mud. Now, you should have your bags (I've used WalMart bags before.) or your saran wrap handy. Wrap the plastic around the hair and scalp to contain the warmth and wetness. You do NOT want this to dry up in your hair. It will dry your scalp a bit AND you won't get the same color effect from a dry herb. Now wrap the towel around the plastic to help preserve the warmth. The effect is actually better and faster if you can keep warmed towels on your head, but I'm too lazy to mess with this, so I usually don't bother with it.

For maximum color effect and the least amount of drying to the scalp, I leave it on for three hours. The experts say you can leave it on for as little as 45 minutes and I've left it on for as many as 5 hours because the city had a leak and turned our water off. The shorter time span gave too little color change to suit me and the five hours made my head itch furiously for days after I washed it out. Use your own best judgment.

Next, time for the shower. Remove the towel and plastic and jump in. Now the easiest way to get this stuff out is to use over-the-counter cheap (Suave) hair conditioner. Pour gobs of it into your hair and work it through with your fingers or a large toothed comb and then rinse. This will mess up the inside of your shower, but don't worry, when you're done, it will clean up easily enough. You don't have to use the conditioner but it does make the task much easier. I've also rinsed it with nothing but water. Once the bulk of the herbs are out of my hair, I proceed to wash as normal. I've used shampoo and soap and find that neither will change the color treatment, but I only use soap these days because of the detergents in the shampoo. I've found that the vinegar rinse I use on my hair also doesn't cause any problems.

Do not be surprised if you lose a few loose hairs. I always do on the day I dye, but the hair loss doesn't seem to be an ongoing problem, just a cleaning of the closet, so to speak. It usually only lasts a day or two and I'm thinking it's more from the movement of the hair rather than any chemical damage. I lost alot more hair on a regular basis when I used shampoo and bottle dyes on a regular basis.

Also, don't be surprised if you feel a bit of grit left in your scalp after your hair dries. I always have this. It's usually less if I used the conditioner to wash, but it's always there and I think it's actually a good thing, because you actually get a bit more coloring action until the next time you wash. After the next couple of combings and one or two washings, the grit is usually gone.

If you're not sure or confident enough to just dive right in, you can color test your henna first. You can get a wad of your hair from your hairbrush and dye it first using the steps above. See what color it turns before you decide.

Henna will NOT dye everyone's hair the same color. It depends on the color of the hair you already have. Henna does not bleach the underlying color. It blends with your natural color. This is why it looks so much more natural than bottled dyes. Since, the average person has many colors in their hair, you will still have this when you're done. The henna will mix differently with every different color you already have to give natural looking streaks and highlights.

You can dye bleached and/or colored hair as well, but the results, again, will vary. If you're a blond, the result from Red Henna, will give a warm orange/red color. If you're darker headed, you'll get a darker red. Brunettes, will get a black red or dark auburn effect.

If you try this at home, be sure and leave a comment and let us know how you liked it. I've been using this on my hair for some years and I'll probably be a redhead 'til I dye. *wink*

Here's a pretty good video I found that will give you a visual of everything you've just read. The only difference I can see is that she makes her mix a bit dryer. I've done this before, and I really believe the wetter consistency works better especially if you want drastic color change. She also lets her mix sit over night, which I've never done before, but I might have to try it next time and see if there is a difference.

We've had enough illness in the house, that everyone is getting tired of the same ol' mullein tea mix, so yesterday, I decided to whoop up another recipe.






This one is relatively simple

1/4 cup Very Berry Tea (not currently available)
1/4 cup mullein
2-4 T stevia leaf
1/4 cup oatstraw
1 gallon of water

Boil about 4 cups of the gallon of water. Add the herbs and allow to boil for 1 minute (the directions on the Very Berry Tea suggest cooking on low for 10 minutes just up to, but not boiling to pull more of the goodies out. Steep for 15 minutes or more. Strain WELL. Add back in the rest of the water and serve cold (Hot would probably work as well, but it made a nice glass of iced tea.)

If you're coughing, the last thing you want in your tea is mullein hairs. They will get stuck in the back the throat and cause irritation, hacking, choking, etc.

I recommend you strain your herbs more than once. What I did was reach my hand into the herb pot and grabbed handfuls of herbs and wrung them out much like a dishcloth and disposed of the herbs as I was finished with each handful. Then I ran what was left through a metal strainer to get the rest of the "chunks". Then I ran it through a double thickness of flour-sack dishtowel (a t-shirt would work well) to filter the finer fragments (hairs).

My last recipe was a dandy, but the sinus and bronchial inflammation was severe enough this go around, that I decided to add some more herbs to give the tea a better bang for the buck. The elderberries in the Very Berry Tea Mix have strong immune building properties. The elderberries and red raspberry leaf also contain anti-inflammatory properties and the bilberry is a vasoconstrictor, which helped to shrink the blood vessels in the nose and bronchial airways to allow a better flow of air and loosen congestion.

This recipe is pretty tasty too. One of my kids who usually doesn't like tea, took to this one, so I guess it's a hit and it's a great recipe for the creeping "yuck".

Now, unfortunately, the Very Berry Tea mix is no longer available, but Shoshanna has been kind enough to give me permission to share the recipe with you, so that you can make your own.


Also, we do now carry the Very Berry Tincture mix and it is very similar to the Very Berry Tea mix listed above. Although, I've not yet tried it, I'm sure you could use this mixture as a substitute for the other. The only concern would be straining the powders. This will be a bit more tedious than straining leaves, but I find that a quick strain through the metal strainer to get the bulk of the herbs out and then a run through a flour sack (my cloth of choice) works very well. If you're using mullein, this isn't an extra step, you should be doing it anyway.

More on my favorite herb. As I mentioned in previous entries, garlic is amazingly effective at fighting all types of symptoms and illnesses. Garlic infused oil is another method that can be used in lieu of ingestion and is quite effective at soothing an infected eardrum, swollen glands, or alleviating sinus inflammation.

You'll need some more fresh, raw cloves of garlic (peeled), olive oil, a small "finger" bowl or small coffee cup (aprox 4-8 oz capacity is best), a larger water-tight container and some hot water (hot tap water is generally sufficient).

1. Fill the larger container with the hot water to a level below the top of the finger bowl. (You don't want the water to overflow into the finger bowl.)
2. Crush 2-3 cloves of garlic.
3. Place the crushed pieces of garlic into the finger bowl and spread them evenly across.
4. Pour enough oil to just cover the garlic.
5. Carefully, place the finger bowl inside the container full of water.
6. Allow this to sit for 10 minutes. (Any longer, and the garlic may lose it's potency and any less and you just won't get the maximum effect.)
7. Strain the oil and apply.
8. Rub the extra on the rest of the body or use it to season a salad. (Although, it won't hurt to store and use it later, the oil is just generally not as potent after 20 minutes or so.)

--For ear pain, use a dropper to put this warm infusion directly into the ear and insert a half a cotton ball just inside the ear canal to help keep the oil inside the ear up close to the problem. The garlic will start working on the problem and the warm oil will sooth and protect the eardrum from the cold and the wind.

--For sinus congestion, apply the oil directly to the sinus cavities. This can sting a bit, especially if your face is irritated from excessive nose blowing. If the skin begins to redden or blister, wash the oil off immediately, else let it sit for at least 20 minutes and take a nice steamy shower and inhale deeply. This can go a long way to help alleviate congestion and rid you of the nasty little buggies that caused the problem in the first place.

--For any other pain or ailment, attempt to apply the oil as close to the area as possible. Expect a bit of a sting no matter where you put it, but any redness or blistering is a sign that the skin is burning and the oil should be washed away immediately with warm water and soap. If irritation is not a problem, leave oil to soak on the skin for at least 20 minutes before wiping away.

Try adding other herbs like mullein, plantain or goldenrod can be infused with the garlic for a more potent and/or different effect.

see also: Garlic: Nature's Best Medicine (part 1) and How to Make & Use a Garlic Poultice (part 2)

Question:

I had a question about the detoxing/colon cleanse that I purchased from you. I am currently on diethylpropion er, acarbose and alli for weight loss. I was wondering if I could just go ahead and do the cleanse program or will it be harmful in some way? That meds that I am on is for weight loss and I will be on it for 2 more months. I have been on them for 1 month already. I wish I would have seen your program first, I am thinking it will help in my problem with my weight, which seems to be stuck/glued onto me!


Answer:

I'm not familiar with these medications you mentioned and cannot give you a direct answer to your question; however, I can tell you that:

1) The charcoal and the bentonite clay in the detox + can absorb and steal supplements and pharmaceuticals right along with the toxins you're trying to pull. If taking medications while on this type of cleanse, it is generally wisest to make sure and take them at least three hours prior to your detox mixtures.

2) This type of cleanse can also steal your minerals and vitamins--which over a short period of time, may make little difference, so long as you're eating good healthy, balanced meals; however, if you're already suppressing your appetite, thereby, decreasing your nutrition intake in order to lose weight, you risk malnutrition and a lowered immune response for healing.

I personally, would NOT recommend taking these things together. I would make sure I stopped dieting before I started cleansing.

If you need further clarification, I would recommend that you check with the physician that prescribed you the medications or the pharmacist from which you purchased it.

As I mentioned in a previous article, garlic is a potent antidote for many a thing that ails the body. One of the quickest ways to get the "goodies" right to the source of the problem is a poultice, a really quick and easy way to utilize this wonderful herb when ingestion is not an option (nausea, vomiting, reluctance to taste).

You'll need some fresh raw garlic cloves from your local grocer or health food store, a paper towel, coffee filter or a thin piece of cloth about the same size, a time piece able to count the seconds, and a cup of hot (not boiling) water--about 130 degrees is generally sufficient.

1. Take a couple cloves of garlic and peel away the papery skin.
2. Take the garlic and place on a flat surface and bruise/crush the cloves until the skin is broken in several spots to allow the goodies from the inside to come out.
3. Wrap the broken cloves into the paper towel, coffee filter, or cloth.
4. Take the poultice and dip it into the cup of hot water and drain the excess water.
5. Place the now heated poultice directly on the skin anywhere on the body that is most comfortable for no more than 90 seconds. (Sometimes the closer to the symptomatic body part is the most effective, but any spot should do.)

NOTE: In cases where nausea is a problem, the feet are often a preferred spot because they are the furthest from the nose. Any more than 90 seconds on any one spot on the body could cause skin irritations and/or burns.

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 several times, each time being careful to move to a new location on the skin and remove after no more than 90 seconds.

You're done! This is one of the easiest things to do and yet it's so powerful. I've seen fevers reduced and tummy upsets disappear within minutes with no other added treatments. It also works well in conjunction with most other treatments without worry of harmful interactions.

Watch Shoshanna make a garlic poultice in this preview of "Making Herbs Simple".



If you watched the video, you'll notice that Shoshanna's method was a bit different than what I posted above, but the premise and the effects are generally the same. If you're just not sure which one will work better, try both methods and see which one you like best!

see also: Garlic: Nature's Best Medicine (part 1) and How to Make & Use Garlic Oil Infusions (part 3)

Garlic, I've found is reputed among the most treasured of herbs and it's one of my personal favorites. This little gem from the garden is not only a yummy addition to many dishes, but it's just chocked full of little goodies that are reputed to cleanse the blood of many impurities, lower blood pressure, kill pathogens, lower fevers and even help to prevent cancer. It contains significant amounts of magnesium, selenium, vitamin A, thiamine, and zinc. Also listed in it's nutritional profile are calcium, chromium, fiber, fat, iron, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, protein, riboflavin, and vitamin C.

The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook by James A. Duke, Ph.D.

Allicin is the most often-cited phytomedicinal in garlic, but the bulb actually contains some 70 active ingredients with a broad range of therapeutic capabilities that have been explored and demonstrated in more than 2,000 studies. The stinky herb is probably our premier plant for virtually any heart or circulatory condition. It lowers blood pressure (the systolic reading by 20 to 30 points and the diastolic reading by to 10 to 20 points, according to some studies done on people with hypertension). It cuts low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by some 10 to 12 percent and triglycerides by about 15 percent, and it markedly impedes LDL's oxidation into artery-clogging atherosclerotic plaque. Nine separate substances also thin the blood and deter its tendency to clot.

Garlic lowers the incidence of cancer, particularly in the gastrointestinal system (allicin interferes with the creation of carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach) and fortifies the body's natural defenses, notably by doubling the activity of natural killer cells in the blood stream. As first noted by the nineteenth-century scientist Loius Pasteur, garlic juice kills a variety of bacteria. We now know that allicin and other sulfur compounds also destroy many parasites, fungi, and viruses, including Helicobacter pylori (which causes peptic ulcers), staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. coli, salmonella, Candida albicans, herpes, and influenza.

Scientists and physicians are just now coming to the realization how powerful this "food" can be. Studies show that garlic is the most effective weapon against the newest "superbug"--Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-24405.html
MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) now causes an estimated 2,000 deaths in UK hospitals each year mainly through secondary infection of surgical wounds. Though MRSA organisms can live harmlessly in humans and are carried in the nasal passages and on the skin, they can cause fatal infection in immune-suppressed patients, the elderly, the young and those with surgical implants.

Doctors have become increasingly alarmed over the past few months by the emergence in UK hospitals of new generations of resistant strains of MRSA known as VISAs, and GISAs (Vancomycin or Glycopeptide resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA has also become endemic in many hospitals, especially in London and the South-East, prompting the NHS to review its hygiene procedures.

Dr Cutler, recently proved that allicin destroys the MRSA microbe in laboratory trials, has now teamed up with a new company, Allicin International, to develop topical treatments to prevent MRSA infection. The group have developed a nasal cream, oral capsules and soaps that have proved effective against both MRSA and GISA.

History show us time and time again how powerful, resourceful and depended on this little plant was. Many cultures have garlic listed among their greatest of resources for medical needs including the ancient Greeks, Moslems, Romans and the Isrealites.

Nutritional Herbology by Mark Pedersen

Hippocrates (460 B.C.), known as the father of medicine, used garlic for a variety of infections and intestinal disorders as well as for wounds, toothaches, leprosy, epilepsy and chest pains.

Aristotle (384 B.C.) said of garlic, "It is a cure for hydrophobia and tonic, is hot, laxative but bad for the eyes."

Disocorides, who lived in the first century A.D. and was a surgeon and physician in the Roman armies...from The Gr eek Herbal of Disocor ides, translated by J. Berendes:

If eaten, garlic helps eliminate the tapeworm, it drives out the urine. It is good against snake bite with wine, or when crushed in wine. It is good against the bite of rabid dog. It makes the voice clear, soothes continuous coughing, when eaten raw or boiled. Boiled with oregano it kills lice and bed bugs. It clears the arteries. Burnt and mixed with honey, it heals white skin spots, herpetic eruptions, liver spots, leprosy and scurvy. Boiled with pine wood and incense, it soothes toothache when solution is kept in the mouth...boiling the umbrel flower is good for a sitzbath to help the coming of menstruation and placenta. It is helpful for dropsy.

The Roman author and poet, Virgil (70-19 B.C.), knew that garlic was "essential to maintain the strength of harvester" and garlic was valued as a tonic for the endurance of extreme temperatures while working in the fields.

Galen (131-200 A.D.), called garlic Poor Man's Treacle or Heal All. Pliny, the Roman Naturalist, listed 61 diseases for which garlic was an effective treatment.

Garlic can be used and applied in so many different ways, the most obvious would be ingestion. Using garlic on your food is a great way to spice it up and get a little extra bit of this herb in your daily diet. Garlic is always strongest when ingested raw. Some like the taste and don't mind savoring the burn, but many are not quite so brave (like me) and prefer to swallow it without having to chew. I generally cut my cloves into pill size pieces and pop them like vitamins with a big glass of water to wash them down. This is quite effective as a preventative when exposed to illness and can really help to shorten and alleviate already existing symptoms (fever, sinus and bronchial congestion, skin infections, etc.).

Although, this is probably my least favorite way to use it, some have suggested that teas made with garlic and other lovelies (herbs, honey, etc.) can alleviate many symptoms almost immediately.

Sometimes waiting for the food to make it through the digestive tract and finally into the bloodstream just doesn't take action quickly enough to suit and sometimes nausea becomes a factor and either the tummy or the nose just won't cooperate with either of these particular methods. In these cases, I would personally choose a more direct route--through the skin. When applied to the skin via poultice or infused oil, garlic can penetrate and infiltrate the bloodstream very rapidly helping to take it's bounty directly to the problem site and in most cases, will not further exacerbate any tummy upset.

No matter how you slice it or use it, garlic is a cheap, easy and effective way to kill germs, viruses and help your body to a speedy recovery. I am never without a few cloves of this precious herb in my kitchen and/or my travel bag.

Stay tuned for the next couple of articles in which I'll elaborate on how to implement some of these applications yourself.


see also: How to Make & Use a Garlic Poultice (part 2) and How to Make & Use Garlic Oil Infusions (part 3)

With the threat of swine flu, respiratory flu and the general "yuck" that settles in the chest making their rounds, a people are finding more occasions to rid themselves of the dry cough, congestion and tightness in the chest that always accompanies an illness like this. Even if you go the conventional route with antibiotics and over-the-counter decongestants, you may find that these symptoms may persist and linger long after the germs have "left the building".

One of the more effective remedies I've found is a mustard plaster. I've used these on both myself and my children for various types of bronchial distress. Many suggest that this remedy may create soothing heat, draw toxins and/or provide nutrients to the immune system. To be honest, I don't really know "why" it works, but I've seen the results and I know it does.

You'll need, a small hand towel or a couple of wash cloths, a couple of paper towels (optional), some dried ground mustard (even the cheap stuff works), some flour (cheap white stuff works for this as well...you're not going to eat it), an egg (white) , some water, a bowl and something to mix with.

• 3 T flour
• 2 T ground mustard
• 1 egg white
• 1-4 T warm water

1. 1. Mix the flour, mustard and egg white in the bowl.
2. 2. Add water slowly until mixture is a thick, but fluid paste.
3. 3. Spread the mixture on a paper towel. It should be spread out into a section about the size of the chest you will apply it to (for maximum surface area contact)--on a standard wash cloth, you might spread it out to the edges leaving about 1-2 inches on every edge.

NOTE: The mixture can be spread directly onto the towel or wash cloth, but the paper towel serves as a throw-away liner to prevent extra cleanup when you're through.

1. 4. Lay the second paper towel over the spread mixture.
2. 5. Lay the "sandwich" on the towel and fold the towel over or place on the first wash cloth and lay the second wash cloth on top.

NOTE: The towels are to protect the skin from burns and offer a sturdier base for the plaster to lie in.

1. 6. Lay down somewhere comfortable and place the plaster over the chest for at least 10 minutes and no more than 20 minutes, lest you cause burns to the skin.

NOTE: Children usually have more tender skin, watch them closely for redness or irritation to the skin. If these signs appear or if they voice discomfort, remove the plaster.

I've heard that applying heat to the top of the plaster can actually intensify the effect, but I've personally never tried this and I've still had great results.

I found a "how to" video out there for those of you who are "visual learners". You'll notice this woman doesn't use the egg white as I've mentioned above, but after some research I found that this was added to help prevent skin burns and so I've decided to keep this as a part of my recipe.



Hope this helps. Get healthy and wealthy with "wise".

My family (and me) have all had the congested yuckies. That's scientific for lots and lots of mucous in the face and chest. The coughs have not been very productive with normal remedies, so I decided to make a tea with alot of decongestant kick. I don't have the medicinal results back, but the taste is good and considering the amount of mullein I threw in, it should do the trick.

For 1 gallon of tea:

1 gallon Berkey filtered water
10 Tablespoons Mullein
6 Tablespoons Dr. Cinnamon Mix
4 Tablespoons Oatstraw
4 Tablespoons Stevia Leaf (not extract)

Boil about 4 cups of the gallon of water. Add the herbs and allow to boil for 1 minute (directions on the Dr. Cinnamon bag). Steep for 10 minutes or more (I think I forgot mine for about an hour. LOL) Strain WELL. Add back in the rest of the water and serve cold (Hot would probably work as well, but it made a nice glass of iced tea.)

If you're coughing, the last thing you want in your tea is mullein hairs. They will get stuck in the back the throat and cause irritation, hacking, choking, etc.

I recommend you strain your herbs more than once. What I did was reach my hand into the herb pot and grabbed handfuls of herbs and wrung them out much like a dishcloth and disposed of the herbs as I was finished with each handful. Then I ran what was left through a metal strainer to get the rest of the "chunks". Then I ran it through a double thickness of flour-sack dishtowel (a t-shirt would work well) to filter the finer fragments (hairs). (I tried a coffee filter before the dishtowel, but it sprung a leak - LOL.)

The result was a very rich, full bodied, yummy, sweet tasting tea that will hopefully help to break up the congestion.

Question #1:

I am interested in purchasing the bentonite clay or the Detox+. I noticed the advice to use fiber while taking the clay but wondered if it is necessary to take extra fiber with the Detox+ since it seems to have fiber in it? I apologize if this question is answered somewhere on the site, I looked and could not find the answer.

Also, is this safe for children to take as well? I've never done this so I"m not sure what to "expect". Symptoms as I'm purging, etc. Thanks so much for all your wonderful herbs and support.

Question #2:

I recently purchased some items from you store. My family is suffering from a similar situation as yours did with a house infested with black mold and possibly lead paint. It has been a year since we moved, but my youngest son is two and showing signs of autism or PDD-NOS. He makes drastic improvement with diet change and nutritional supplements. My question is regarding detox for a little fellow so young. I have seen warnings online about detox in children so young. Do you have any advice for a little guy with the detox+ and Bentonite Clay baths.


Answer:

Yes, extra fiber, along with lots of fluids (at least 50-80 oz per day) is very important when taking either the bentonite clay or the detox+ internally. The included fiber in the detox+ formula will most likely not be adequate to keep the bowels moving once the clay and/or charcoal are introduced. You should be visiting the bathroom 1-3 times per day. If you're not, then toxins will most likely be trapped in the digestive system and cause more distress to your body than when you started.

Symptoms could be a wide range of things depending on what ails you. You might have few symptoms, or you could suffer from exaggerated versions of the symptoms you already have or others including but not limited to: headaches, nausea, body and muscle aches, depression, fatigue, sore throat, sore or swollen glands, sinus inflammation, etc. These symptoms in most cases of a strong detox could come on strong, but will generally be short lived (10-48 hrs) from onset. To ensure the symptoms pass quickly, again I urge you to keep the fiber and the liquids up to keep the kidneys and the bowels moving the toxins out as quickly as possible. If you begin to experience any severe symptoms, be sure and get plenty of rest as well.

I've done a couple of cleanses like this and I had some itching and some irritability, but it was well worth the effort. I'm much healthier and happier because of it.

About the kids:

To my knowledge, there is nothing in the detox that is "toxic" to children; however, I'd be reluctant to use clay internally on a child. It is difficult (and usually not wise) to force a child to eat and drink. If you give the detox or clay internally and the child doesn't take the adequate water and fiber, the bowels could easily become impacted, and the results could be severe (toxic reactions, ruptures, etc.).

If I suspected my child had autism and/or needed cleansing from something very toxic, I wouldn't be adverse to using bentonite clay baths. You also need to be careful with this as clay can pull necessary nutrients from the body. Be sure not to bathe too long and be sure to replenish nutrients, minerals, electrolytes, etc so that you don't cause malnutrition on top of the problem you're trying to correct.

Mastering Clay and Mud Baths

A friend of mine has also used the detox+ formula as a bath/poultice and had great success with it as well.

Deciding whether to use strong and/or controversial treatments on your little ones is truly something, you, as a parent are going to have to decide for yourself. You'll have to weigh the risks of the illness vs the risks of the treatment. If the treatment becomes more harmful than the illness, then it's time to seek an alternative treatment.

Question:

Could you recommend something for a liver cleanse?


Answer:

That really depends on the results you want and the method you want.

There are several herbs that are hepatonic (liver supportive) including milk thistle, dandelion, nettle, plantain, fennel, barberry, henna, lemonbalm (and other mints), licorice, rosemary, turmeric, valerian, yarrow, yellow dock, buckthorn, boswellia, astragalus, etc.

These can clean and support the liver over a period of time using decoctions, tinctures or capsules. Milk thistle, dandelion, and nettles are probably the most popular for this particular use.

If you're looking for something pre-fab, Dr. Schulze has a liver cleanse formula kit.

https://web4.herbdoc.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=38


If you're looking for something intensive and to help remove liver and gallstones, there are liver flushes.

http://curezone.com/cleanse/liver/
http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,940.msg1317.html#msg1317


Coffee enemas are also known to stimulate the flow of gall(bile) and help to flush the liver.

http://www.diagnose-me.com/treat/T98568.html
http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,13446.0.html
http://www.welltellme.com/discuss/index.php/topic,2376.0.html

If you'd like to do a general detox that will also cleanse and pull toxins from the liver, you might consider bentonite clay baths and/or Bulk Herb Store's new detox formula.
http://www.bulkherbstore.com/DPM-2

The remedies can all be done multiple and/or repeated times, but none of the remedies (except herbs/teas) should be used long term.