Thursday, February 24, 2011

Kombucha Tea

A must read article about something I like: Kombucha

WHAT IS KOMBUCHA TEA?It is a sweet-sour, fermented, acidic, slightly carbonated beverage, which has been described as either a wine that tastes like a delicious tea or an unusual tea that tastes like a rare wine.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE HEALTH EFFECTS ATTRIBUTED TO KOMBUCHA TEA?*
  • Restores hair color
  • Thickens hair
  • Dissolves gallstones Increases energy
  • Lengthens lifespan
  • Arterioscrosis/softens veins
  • Speeds healing
  • Lowers cholesterol
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Increases blood circulation
  • Eliminates wrinkles/skin humectant
  • Improves menopausal symptoms
  • Strengthens leg muscles
  • Chickenpox /herpes zoster remedy
  • Colitis/improves digestion/ nervous stomach
  • Poultice for wounds/ulcers
  • Cleanses gallbladder
  • Lessens anxiety
  • Levels glucose
  • Protects teeth from cavities
  • Activates glandular system
 AIDS
  • Cancer
  • Prostrate/bladder disorders
  • Dysentery in Infants
  • Constipation
  • Psoriasis
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Stronger fingernails
  • Arthritis
  • Gout
  • Kidney disorders
  • Bronchitis
  • Cataracts
  • Pain in limbs
  • Liver problems
  • Tonsillitis
  • Allergies
  • Candita albicans
  • Obesity/burns fat Impotence
  • Pernicious anemia
  • Insomnia
  • Diarrhea
  • Balding
  • Edemas
  • Diabetes
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Vision acuity
  • Chronic colds
  • Sweaty feet
  • Back pain
  • Chronic headaches
  • Anorexia
  • Cystic fibroid disease
  • Epstein-Barr (Chronic Fatigue Syndome)
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Neurasthenic stomach-liver-kidney disorders
* Claims for Kombucha tea, NOT verified
Only a few of the health claims made for Kombucha tea have a scientific basis, even though some existing studies do suggest potential health benefits.
There is a considerable amount of mis-information available about Kombucha tea. For example, it is often called a mushroom that grows on sweetened tea. Actually, it is a colony of yeast and bacteria, a complex symbiosis of yeasts (simple fungi) and bacteria embedded in a pure cellulose "pancake." When this "pancake" is grown on a blend of black tea and sugar, it transforms the resulting liquid into a refreshingly sweet and sour, lightly sparkling beverage with a fruity fragrance.
Many articles claim that Kombucha tea contains usnic acid, a compound found in certain lichens with strong antibiotic activity. There is no available evidence that Kombucha contains usnic acid!
It is often claimed that Kombucha contains glucuronic acid, a potent detoxifying compound that the liver produces. In actuality, no credible laboratory analysis of Kombucha tea has found glucuronic acid. It does contain gluconic acid, a common food ingredient that is not used by the liver for detoxification.
The microbiology of Kombucha tea is confusing, because most books and articles on Kombucha report names that are considerably outdated. In addition, the exact species of microorganisms may vary slightly depending on the starting culture. For those interested in this aspect, the best place to begin is the paperback book: KOMBUCHA TEA MUSHROOM: MANCHURIAN TEA MUSHROOM: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE by Christopher Hobbs.
Is it really a fountain of youth capable of all the miraculous claims? Can there be any justification for these recurring reports from around the world that have gone on for centuries?Any physician who has practiced effective nutritional medicine has seen many patients achieve some of these so-called miracle cures. Until very recent times there was no refrigeration for preserving fresh foods and most vegetables and fruits were only seasonally available so one can assume that there were wide-spread nutritional deficiencies resulting in various symptoms, infections, diseases, etc.
The tea is known to contain small but probably significant amounts of important nutrients such as the B vitamins, essential amino acids, etc. and could very well have been seen as a miracle food in the past by those who were unknowingly trying to compensate for a very limited diet.
For over twenty years I have taken extensive panels of tests of nutrients, including vitamins and trace minerals. Nearly every patient I saw had laboratory proven multiple deficiencies of both vitamins and trace minerals. Since the mid 1980’s these obvious proven deficiencies have become increasingly rare. I discovered that previously when people felt poorly, they would see their physician and get a drug. As the ineffectiveness and side effects of the expensive, patented chemicals began to be better known, more people went to health food stores, obtaining nutritional supplements. In my patient population it is uncommon to see anyone who is not already on a "healthy" diet and nutritional therapies. In recent years, the frequency of some of these abnormalities decreased to such an extent that I no longer routinely run full panels, particularly when patients report having been on nutritional supplements. Instead, I run specific tests for elements that are most likely to be deficient.
There is a long history of the human use of vinegar (at least 10,000 years) both as a food and as a medicine. Many of the same organisms and biochemical reactions that are involved in making vinegar go into the creation of Kombucha tea. If you leave the Kombucha culture to work on the sweetened mixture too long, vinegar is produced!
In the writings of the Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans they suggested vinegar as an important medicine and, just like the claims for Kombucha, believed it to be an astringent to aid digestion, promote healthy liver and gallbladder function, as well as to refresh one and prevent scurvy.
The Hippocratic writings (and many authors since then) frequently mentioned a blend of vinegar and honey called "oxymel." This sour honey was one of the most widely recommended remedies in the entire materia medica. Apple cider vinegar has been sold in health food stores since the 1950’s and has become quite popular as a home remedy and, like Kombucha, claims are made for everything from arthritis to wounds.
Like Kombucha, recent scientific studies of the health effects of consuming vinegar are rare. However (like Kombucha) it is very likely that the acidic nature is helpful for digestion and is antibacterial, as well as having many other "unproven" advantages. It may, for example, have a beneficial influence on the intestinal flora and/or on the body acid-base balance with immense effects.
We are told by highly paid experts that we should dismiss the thousands of years of healthful reputation of vinegar and Kombucha. Instead, we should wait until we are sick so we can have the benefit of expensive, patented chemicals, foreign to the body, that are "proven" by "scientific" double-blind studies paid for by benevolent multinational corporations.
A nationally syndicated writer, Dr. Peter Gott, warned his readers to avoid Kombucha because of a death in Iowa. The woman was a diabetic in her 60s, with several other health problems, who drank large amounts of the tea. One possible documented death in a thousand years is cause for such alarm? In a later column, Dr. Gott advised his readers with diabetes that NutraSweet® (Equal®, aspartame) was "safe." "I am unaware of any significant side effects from the use of this product."
Yet research by H.J. Roberts, MD, (a diabetes specialist, member of the American Diabetes Association, and authority on artificial sweeteners) shows that aspartame leads to the precipitation of clinical diabetes, causes poorer diabetic control in diabetics on insulin or oral drugs, leads to the aggravation of diabetic complications such as retinopathy, cataracts, neuropathy, and can cause convulsions. Perhaps Dr. Gott received his information from the American Dietetic Association, which in January 1993 received a $75,000.00 grant from the NutraSweet® Company. The American Dietetic Association has stated that The NutraSweet® Company writes their "facts" sheets. The American Diabetes Association received a large amount of money from NutraSweet® , including money to run a cooking school in Chicago. A researcher in New England who pointed out the dangers of aspartame in the past is now a Monsanto consultant. I have seen many, many patients who suffered with severe headaches, incapacitating memory problems, emotional problems, etc. that disappeared when aspartame (Equal®, NutraSweet® ) was eliminated from their diets! The FDA and Center for Disease Control has received over 7,000 complaints about aspartame. Guess who paid for the "double-blind" studies to get aspartame approved by the FDA?
In a planet ruled by greed and deceit, who is there to promote a simple, inexpensive, (and for some people healthy) food whose main ingredient is tea?Quoting Dr. John Coleman ("The Committee of 300"), "Remember the British East India Company? Officially, its business was trading tea! The London Times never dared tell the British people that it was impossible to make VAST PROFITS from tea, nor did that illustrious paper ever hint at a trade in opium being plied by those who spent their time in London’s fashionable clubs or playing a chukka of polo at the Royal Windsor Club, or that the gentlemen officers who went out to India in the service of the Empire were finance SOLELY by the enormous income derived from the misery of the millions of Chinese coolies addicted to opium." Is it likely that the tea industry will promote Kombucha?
What are our choices?You can choose between the "unscientific" claims and testimonials of thousands of people from nearly every culture and nation for many hundreds of years or wait for "scientific" double-blind studies paid for by multinational drug companies who hire brilliant scientists to study such matters. (Of course, keep in mind that these scientists are certainly smart enough to realize that if their studies reach the "wrong" conclusion, that they may never get another research grant and they will be unable to support their families.) It may be a long wait. The lucrative drug trade is one of the worst examples of making money out of human misery, the other being the legal drug trade run by the multinational drug companies – fully backed by the American Medical Association. Would it be in their financial best interest to discover that some of these claims are justified?
Is it Safe to Drink Kombucha Tea?There is probably no food that is safe for everybody! The Kombucha tea beverage can be a delightful, healthful food for many and a low grade poison for others. Remember the ancient but very valid observation of Lucretus, "ONE MAN’S MEAT IS ANOTHER MAN’S POISON."
Kombucha tea, if taken in excess, like any substance, can be harmful. For most adults, about four ounces of Kombucha tea twice or three times a day is probably the maximum amount of the tea that should be ingested. To go much beyond this amount one runs the risk of the reverse effect. (See the outstanding book THE REVERSE EFFECT written by NOHA member Walter Heiby at: http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/reverse-effect). It is extremely important to emphasize that excessive amounts can indeed be hazardous over a period of time. Many people erroneously assume that if a little is good, more is better. They, and anyone who works with nutrition, would be well advised to read the above book which has 4,281 scientific references showing the reverse effect of dosage of the various nutrients.
We have measured with both biofeedback instruments and kinesiology and have found a few very large individuals who may do well on five or even six ounces, but this is unusual. Kombucha tea tastes good and is refreshing for many people. Therefore it is easy to rationalize and overdose oneself. This is probably the greatest risk of the "Kombucha craze."
In the 1970’s we were using Lactated Ringer’s solution as a vehicle for intravenous nutrients. Repeatedly, we had individuals who would become panic stricken very shortly after the IV was started. This bizarre phenomenon was finally explained when I saw an article is an obscure medical journal that demonstrated that lactic acid could precipitate a panic attack in individuals who had this vulnerability. We have never used Lactated Ringer’s solution since then. From this experience we learned to make up homeopathic dilutions of lactic acid that can alleviate patient’s panic attacks until the underlying cause can be identified and treated. Since Kombucha tea contains lactic acid, anyone who is prone to panic attacks would be wise to place a few drops of the tea under their tongue and wait a few minutes before trying a larger amount.
Tea is a known allergen. Kombucha tea might be a problem for tea sensitive people since a tiny amount of the tea might not by converted by the "pancake" culture.
Can someone who is sensitive to molds or has a Candida overgrowth use Kombucha tea?Thus far we have seen no adverse effects even in mold sensitive people. Again, I emphasize trust your own body’s reaction to the tea or any other food. I have seen many yeast sensitive individuals who made themselves miserable because they had read that brewer’s yeast was good for them. They continued to ingest the yeast despite the fact that it made them feel terrible. Be suspicious of those who would have you believe that you are merely "detoxifying" or having a "health crisis," as some of these people were told.
Is the alcohol in Kombucha a potential problem?We have no experience or observations in regard to alcohol. It is known that Kombucha tea has about 0.5% to 1% alcohol as do some fruit juices such as apple juice. Harold Tietze in his book KOMBUCHA, THE MIRACLE FUNGUS observes that Muslims and Buddhists drink it without concern. "Recovered alcoholics do not have to fear the small amounts of alcohol." The Salvation Army is using Kombucha to help alcoholics.
So if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) suddenly starts shooting machine guns through your roof and door and pumping "noninflammable" tear gas into your home, call Harold and tell him he was in error.
How does one make Kombucha tea?The simple detailed step-by-step procedure is clearly written and documented with photographs in numerous readily available books such as THE BOOK of KOMBUCHA by Beth Ann Petro, KOMBUCHA, THE MIRACLE FUNGUS by Harold Tietze and many others. Rather than repeat what is available in these inexpensive paperback books, I will share with you some of my observations and experiences.
It is not generally known that nicotine has definite anti-fungal activity. Over the years I have frequently observed that smokers who had extreme difficulty in withdrawing from tobacco often have an overgrowth of Candida. When they attempt to stop smoking, the withdrawal of the nicotine allows the Candida to flourish and they develop an exacerbation of all their symptoms. If they are first adequately treated for their Candida overgrowth, they are then able to conquer their addiction with considerably less distress. It was therefore no surprise to me when I read that it was difficult or impossible to culture Kombucha in a home where there was a smoker. Apparently the nicotine in the smoke interferes with the Kombucha culture.
Most authors state that you have to use refined sugar in making Kombucha. Since Kombucha tea has been cultured for thousands of years and refined sugar has only been available for about a century, this is an absurd statement. It has been noted that you can use honey to make the tea, but it must be kept at a temperature of about 85 degrees F, which is for most of us impractical. Since nearly all the sugar is transformed, white refined sugar is almost always used to make Kombucha tea.
My tea has always been better when I used a very large four quart Pyrex glass bowel. The culture needs exposure to air and the narrower glass or lead free ceramics took longer. Commercial producers and those who have limited space may need to use a container with a narrower opening. This solution becomes very acidic. Be absolutely sure that the container you use is lead free. Metal is entirely unsuitable as are many plastic bowls, which may contaminate the tea with plasticizers, etc.
When I first started culturing Kombucha, I wanted it to be perfect, so I used a small dipstick type electronic pH meter to determine when it was time to harvest the tea. This proved inaccurate in the acid range, so I then used a laboratory grade pH meter accurate to 0.001 pH for several batches. Since then, I have replaced the pH meter with an extremely versatile, easily accessed, highly sensitive instrument called a taste bud. If you are also of the anxious or obsessive type, you can obtain a vial of 100 pH dipstick strips from a scientific supplier or from A.F. Distributions for about $10. This will allow you to have a more consistent tasting tea. On the other hand, you will miss the opportunity of experiencing everything from sweet-sour tea to vinegar!
Nearly everyone has everything they need (except the "pancake" culture) to make Kombucha tea. Run up and down the streets in your neighborhood shouting "KOMBUCHA" and someone will certainly offer you one of their newly formed baby cultures or at least a taste of their tea. If you are the shy type, I have included a list of suppliers at the end of the article that will provide anything you may require.
Use ordinary measures of cleanliness as you would in preparing similar foods. There is no need for extreme measures of sterility that some hysterical or phobic writers suggest. The organisms in Kombucha tea are the same as reported from traditional fermented foods used by millions of people over hundreds, if not thousands of years without any reports of ill effects that are available in the world literature. Vinegar manufacturers make vinegar on a large scale all over the world without any costly sterility controls. Nor do they ordinarily use pure cultures. Pathogenic bacteria would find it extremely difficult to survive in the acid environment. Contamination with a mold is possible but very unlikely using the black tea mixture. If you see weird colors or a very unpleasant odor, etc. throw it out as you would with any possibly spoiled food, and start over.
If you cannot make an uncontaminated batch of yogurt or sauerkraut, then don’t culture your own Kombucha. The making of Kombucha has been handed down from generation to generation for over two thousand years without any sterile laboratory techniques. In other words, wash your hands, use clean utensils and common sense!
If you should experience dramatic relief of symptoms, or a miraculous cure of something or other, don’t tell anyone! This potentially threatens the profits of the multinational corporations. Then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sure will discover a contaminated batch of tea and forbid the further distribution and sale of tea!http://americannutritionassociation.org/newsletter/kombucha-tea

The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010: What it Means for Cosmetics Companies

Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 20, 2010, the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (H.R.5786) aimed to ensure that all personal care products are safe by establishing a system to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and to phase out the most harmful substances that are highly suspected of causing cancer, reproductive harm or other serious health issues.
Now that the 111th Congress has come to a close, the bill will need to be reintroduced in the new 112th Congress.
By shifting away from the toxic chemistry and polluting technologies of the past, American companies will lead the way in a global marketplace where consumers are demanding the next generation of safer, non-toxic products.
Understandably, cosmetics manufacturers have questions about how safe cosmetics legislation will affect their businesses. Based on our interpretation of the bill language of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, we've answered some of the most common questions below. Manufacturers, if you don't see the answers to your questions here, please contact us.


Frequently Asked Questions
Please note that this information is based on the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (H.R.5786), which is no longer active. A version of the bill will need to be reintroduced in the new Congress.

More follow the link
http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=695#co-requirements

Sea buckthorn oil

Rich in anti-inflammatory, free radical-fighting beta-carotene and vitamin E, plus nourishing fatty acids, the oil from the green shrub and berries native to Europe and Asia has been used to heal wounds for centuries, says Elizabeth Trattner, acupuncture physician and doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. Recent research with women between the ages of 50 and 70 showed sea buckthorn oil also possesses antiaging properties. Applying a cream with sea buckthorn oil twice daily for three months significantly improved the subjects’ skin hydration and overall skin elasticity. And the treatment resulted in increased thickness, suggesting improved collagen synthesis.
http://newhope360.com/aging/what-secret-ageless-skin?page=5

Sea Buckthorn Oil Profile

Botanical Name- Hippophae rhamnoides
Origin- China or Russia
Extraction- Cold Pressed
Part Extracted- Seed and Berry
Shelf life- 6 months
Kosher Certified- No
Notes- The Sea Buckthorn Oil offered by Mountain Rose Herbs was processed by the cold press method of the entire berry including seed and fruit.
This particular oil will solidify if exposed to low temperatures, and it is best left at room temperature.
The oil of Sea Buckthorn in its undiluted and concentrated form will stain skin, surfaces and clothing. Use caution, spread evenly and dilute.
No additives, preservatives, or other foreign agents have been used or included in the manufacturing of this oil. Suitable for food and cosmetic use.
Specifications
Color- Deep amber/red
Odor- Fatty/Characteristic
Acid Value- 3.6%
Heavy Metals- None Detected
Iodine Value- 86
Pesticides- None Detected
Peroxide Value- <1.4
Saponification Value- 191.7
Specific Gravity- 0.915
pH- 3.43
Fatty Acids and Constituents
Beta Carotene- 254 I.U./100 g
Vitamin E- 123 mg/100g
Lycopene- <1%
Linoleic- 8.4%
Oleic- 28.1%
Palmitic- 30%
Palmitoleic- 27.7%
Stearic- 1.3%
A Short Introduction
Sea Buckthorn oil is produced by the cold pressing of the entire fruiting body that this small shrub produces. A small layer of oil is isolated within a vat of pressed material which is then vacuumed off and separated as "pure oil". This helps to explain the requirement of upwards to 10 pounds of berries to produce 1 pound of oil.
This marvelous oil has copious amounts of Phytosterol, Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Anti-Oxidants, and Carotenoid which helps to substantiate its relatively high success rate as a skin repairing and conditioning oil.
Sea Buckthorn has been traditionally used for a wide range of skin ailments for its revered nourishing, regenerative, and restorative actions. Sea Buckthorn oil is used superficially to assist in healing skin injuries, burns, wounds, eczema, lesions, sun damaged skin, and abrasions. Current studies are being performed on its ability to combat wrinkles, acute dryness and other symptoms of prematurely aged skin.
This deep colored oil is obtained from the whole berries of the scrubby brush Hippophae Rhamnoides which is a native to Russia, and northern parts of China and Mongolia, and produces a thick, red/orange oil with the consistency and viscosity of syrup.
Medicinal Use
Because of its overwhelming popularity as a skin treatment, recent findings and further studies have substantiated its success rate when used internally.
As an internal dietary supplement It has shown to help promote healthy blood circulation, the rudimentary treatment of colitis, stomach ulcers, and as soothing agent for the gastro-intestinal tract.
The general consensus in the alternative health care industry agrees upon using 1 tablespoon or four to five 500 mg capsules daily.
Constituents
Vitamin C, Vitamins A, B1, B2, E, and other mixed Tocopherols and Phytosterols, Flavonoids and numerous other essential fatty acids.

What is the secret to ageless skin?

What products do you employ to turn back the hands of time? Although the beauty-from-within trend continues to grow, a recent survey showed that most shoppers still opt for topical skin products to achieve healthy skin. Be wise beyond your years by choosing these five ingredients, which research shows help fight free radical damage and increase collagen production to keep skin healthy and vibrant.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)

Topical niacinamide fights acne and rosacea thanks to anti-inflammatory properties, and new research proves its antiaging prowess, too. A 2010 study in Journal of Drugs in Dermatology showed niacinamide increased dermal collagen production, resulting in noticeably firmer skin. Plus, it reversed sun damage, according to another recent study published in the same journal that showed subjects had thicker skin after 12 weeks of applying a B3 derivative daily. “Thickening of any skin layer is important because the thinning of skin is typical of aging,” says D.J. Verret, MD, of Plano, Texas. The study also showed niacinamide helped increase the sloughing rate of dead, dull cells.
More.... use the linkhttp://newhope360.com/aging/what-secret-ageless-skin?page=1

Friday, February 18, 2011

God’s Pharmacy! Amazing!

http://www.turnbacktogod.com/gods-pharmacy/ God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish… all before making a human. He made and provided what we’d need before we were born.
These are best & more powerful when eaten raw.  We’re such slow learners…
God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God’s Pharmacy! Amazing!
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Carrot
Carrot
A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye… and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
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Tomato
Tomato
A Tomato has four chambers and is red.. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.
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Grapes
Grapes
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
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Walnut
Walnut
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums.  Even t he wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
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Kidney Beans
Kidney Beans
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
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Celery
Celery
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
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Avocadoes
Avocadoes
Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this?  It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
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Figs
Figs
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
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Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
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Olives
Olives
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
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Oranges
Oranges
Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
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Onions
Onions
Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.


Read more at God’s Pharmacy

Non-Toxic Home Cleaning

This is a great site.
 http://eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm


My best cleaning recipe:
3-4 Teaspoons of 100% pure Tea Tree Oil
1/2 gallon of lukewarm water
1/2 cup of white vinegar
1/4 cup of baking soda.

You can also add your favorite essential oil like lavender, eucalyptus etc if you like.


From the link:


1. Homemade Substitutions

There are many inexpensive, easy-to-use natural alternatives which can safely be used in place of commercial household products. Here is a list of common, environmentally safe products which can be used alone or in combination for a wealth of household applications.
Baking Soda - cleans, deodorizes, softens water, scours.
Soap - unscented soap in liquid form, flakes, powders or bars is biodegradable and will clean just about anything. Avoid using soaps which contain petroleum distillates.
Lemon - one of the strongest food-acids, effective against most household bacteria.
Borax - (sodium borate) cleans, deodorizes, disinfects, softens water, cleans wallpaper, painted walls and floors.
White Vinegar - cuts grease, removes mildew, odors, some stains and wax build-up.
Washing Soda - or SAL Soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate, a mineral. Washing soda cuts grease, removes stains, softens water, cleans wall, tiles, sinks and tubs. Use care, as washing soda can irritate mucous membranes. Do not use on aluminum.
Isopropyl Alcohol - is an excellent disinfectant. (It has been suggested to replace this with ethanol or 100 proof alcohol in solution with water. There is some indication that isopropyl alcohol buildup contributes to illness in the body. See http://drclark.ch/g)
Cornstarch - can be used to clean windows, polish furniture, shampoo carpets and rugs.
Citrus Solvent - cleans paint brushes, oil and grease, some stains. (Citrus solvent may cause skin, lung or eye irritations for people with multiple chemical sensitivities.)

For more information visit the link

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Milk Thistle

http://www.milkthistle.com/Milk thistle is a thorny pink flowering plant that has been revered for its beneficial properties for thousands of years. First grown in the Mediterranean region, it now flourishes, too, in the Eastern United States and in California. Originally valued as a supplement to encourage production of breast milk in new mothers, for menstrual problems, depression, and even to ease the symptoms of varicose veins, its current popularity stems from its use in the treatment and prevention of liver disease. The human liver can become damaged by disease, environmental toxins or from the effects of personal choices, such as overuse of alcohol or drugs. Milk thistle may help to ameliorate this liver damage.

The benefits of milk thistle are nothing short of amazing. Researchers call it a smart herb because it seems to know when to produce new cells as well as when to halt the production of bad cells, such as cancer cells. How this herb knows when to help regenerate cells and when to keep them from regenerating is still a matter for research, but the benefits to the liver are undeniable.

Liver damaging toxins are everywhere, and we take them in on a daily basis-from the air
we breathe to the food we eat. The core ingredient of milk thistle is silymarin, a known antioxidant that can aid the body in a variety of ways.

Milk thistle may aid in the following:
•  Liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis C
•  Treatment and prevention of gallstones
•  Mushroom toxicity
•  High cholesterol
•  Cancer
With so many uses and benefits you may want to add milk thistle to your health routine today. So come learn about how to use milk thistle, what it is, and where it comes from.
Your liver will thank you!

Honey and Cinnamon

http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/honey-and-cinnamon.html

The combination of honey and cinnamon has been used in both oriental and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices known to mankind and honey’s popularity has continued throughout history. The two ingredients with unique healing abilities have a long history as a home remedy. Cinnamon’s essential oils and honey's enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide qualify the two “anti-microbial” foods with the ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi. Both are used not just as a beverage flavoring and medicine, but also as an embalming agent and are used as alternatives to traditional food preservatives due to their effective antimicrobial properties. People have claimed that the mixture is a natural cure for many diseases and a formula for many health benefits:
1) HEART DISEASES: Apply honey and cinnamon powder on bread instead of using jam or butter and eat it regularly for breakfast.
2) ARTHRITIS: Apply a paste made of the two ingredients on the affected part of the body and massage slowly.
3) HAIR LOSS: Apply a paste of hot olive oil, a tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath, leave it for 15 min and wash.
4) BLADDER INFECTIONS: Mix cinnamon powder and honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink.
5) TOOTHACHE: Apply a paste of cinnamon powder and honey and on the aching tooth.
6) CHOLESTEROL: Add honey to cinnamon powder mixed in boiled water or green tea and drink.
7) COLDS: Make a glass of lukewarm honey water mixed with cinnamon powder to help boost your immune system during the cold season. It may also help to clear your sinuses.
8) INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on a spoonful of honey taken before food relieves acidity.

For more iformation about the honey visit the site


Looking for honey in the bible? The word is mentioned 61 times there (New International Version).

"My son, eat honey because it is good, And the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste." (Proverbs 24:13)

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones". Proverbs 16:24

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Consumer Update — FDA admits inability to ensure the safety of personal care products

List of Companies that signed The Compact for Safe Cosmetics

http://www.safecosmetics.org/downloads/Compact_Signers_12.15.pdf


It is an extensive list (great!) and I personally use and love products from these companies:


Alba
Aubrey Organics
Avalon Natural Products : Full Member Status
California Baby: Full Member Status
Burt’s Bees
The body Shop
Coastal Classic Creations : Full Member Status
Dr Bronner’s Magic Soaps:  Full Member Status
EO Products : Full Member Status
Jane Iredale: Full Member Status
Jason Natural Products
Hugo Naturals
L’Occitane
Mercola :Full Member Status
Weleda
Yes to Carrots  :  I love YES TO CUCUMBERS SOOTHING EYE GEL;  YES TO CUCUMBERS CONDITIONER

Enviromental Working Group

Sunscreens Exposed: 9 surprising truths

Best Beach & Sport Sunscreens

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

The Story of Cosmetics

I am a fan of the storyofstuff. org movies!
http://storyofstuff.org/cosmetics/

Monday, February 14, 2011

Great site: Alternative Medicine Digest

http://www.alternative-medicine-digest.com/site-map.html

Site Map

Disclaimer
Please click the link above and read this explanation that this site is for information only and cannot be used as medical advice, since it is written by a writer, not a medical professional.
Once you've looked at the page specific to your condition, it's time to go to the Search page to see if there is information useful to you on other pages. Enter into the search box the shortest search term possible. For example, if your interest is migraine headaches, enter "migraine."
Addiction Treatments
Allergy Treatments
Alzheimer's Treatment
Arrythmias: Heart Arrythmias
Artemisinin Find out about this future "smart bomb" for cancer that is making waves now.
Barrett's Esophagus Treatments
Cancer: Alternative Cancer Treatments
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatments
Chia Seeds
Constipation Relief
Dry Facial Skin Check out this cream that eliminated my dry facial skin and reduced my wrinkles a lot.
Fibromyalgia Treatments
Gout Treatments
H. Pylori Treatments
Insomnia Treatments
Itchy Ears
Macular Degeneration
Magnesium: Health Benefits of Magnesium
Medical Diagnosis
Miscellaneous Health Tips Here is where I stash short bits of cutting edge info that are too short for a full page. You'll find some important surprises here.
Multiple Sclerosis
Natural Sweeteners
Pain Relief Click here for summaries of all articles on alternative treatments related to pain relief and pain management.

Parkinson's Disease Treatments
Pinched Nerve Treatment
Prostate Cancer: HIFU--High Intensity Focused Ultrasound
Restless Legs Syndrome
Sleep Apnea Treatments
Stroke Treatments
Oral Thrush
Tinnitus
General information about tinnitus, also known as tintinitus or tinntinitus, which is most commonly associated with ringing in the ears.

Tinnitus Treatments
Find out about natural tinnitus treatments from alternative medicine and alternative health sources.

Tiredness, Fatigue, Exhaustion, Need More Energy
Toenail Fungus Treatments
Ulcers: Stomach, Gastric, Peptic, Duodenal
Vertigo Treatments
Vitamin D: Benefits of Vitamin D
Whey Protein
Privacy Policy



The content of Alternative Medicine Digest is presented for general informational purposes only, and you should review it with your doctor before taking any action with regard to your health care. The information on alternative medicine at this site is not presented as advice or recommendation, nor is it intended to treat or cure any disease or disorder, nor to substitute for consultation, diagnosis or treatment by your M.D. or other medical professional. See our Medical Disclaimer.

Online Health Resourses

Health Benefits Of Magnesium

The crucial health benefits of magnesium include solving or preventing osteoporosis, heart attacks, hypertenstion, constipation, migraines, leg cramps, kidney stones, gallstones and more. Magnesium is an essential part of the alternative health approaches of alternative medicine.

Magnesium for Bones
One of the health benefits of magnesium is strong bones. A study on magnesium for bones, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, focused on teen girls whose daily dietary intake of magnesium was less than 220 milligrams. Half of them got a placebo; the other half got 300 milligrams of magnesium oxide for a year. At the end of the study, the girls who took magnesium had significantly higher bone mineral content, especially in the hips, than at the beginning of the study.
Source: "A Randomized Controlled Study of Effects of Dietary Magnesium Oxide Supplementation on Bone Mineral Content in Healthy Girls," The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2006; 91(12): 4,866-4,872

Always check with your doctor before trying anything you read here. Everyone is different, and what might be good for some people might be bad for you, considering your medical history and medications.
Health professionals are trying to educate the public about the health benefits of magnesium. According to Dr. Nan Kathryn Fuchs, who publishes the Women's Health Letter newsletter, it's not more calcium you need for stong bones; it's magnesium. Although the government has raised the RDA for calcium from 500 milligrams to 1,000 milligrams a day, and U.S. women have one of the highest levels of calcium intake in the world, osteoporosis has gone up instead of down. Fuchs (no relation to this writer) says that the problem isn't too little calcium but too much. In order to be absorbed, she says, calcium must be taken with magnesium, yet experts estimate that most American women are deficient in magnesium.
What happens to that unabsorbed calcium? It gets stuck in your muscles, where it can cause cramps and even fibromyalgia; it gets stuck in your joints, where it can cause arthritis; it gets stuck in your kidneys, where it can form kidney stones; it gets stuck in your arteries, where it causes the plaque that contributes to heart disease.


You should take twice as much magnesium as calcium, says Dr. Fuchs, because the health benefits of magnesium include:

Reversing osteoporosis, slowing down and even reversing bone loss. In one study, gynecologist Guy Abraham gave a reversed calcium to magnesium formula to several hundred older women, resulting in increasing their bone density by an average of 11 percent.

Preventing heart attacks, because it keeps calcium from building up in your arteries and it helps maintain a regular heartbeat. While too much calcium causes the heart muscles to contract too much, which may cause heart attack, magnesium causes muscles to relax. That's why the prescription drugs known as calcium channel blockers are so popular; they prevent calcium from entering your heart. The American Heart Journal calls magnesium "nature's calcium channel blocker."

Relieving migraines, insomnia and depression. Health benefits of magnesium also include relief of PMS, high blood pressure, backache, constipation, kidney stones and chronic fatigue, says Fuchs. It even fights some food cravings, such as the PMS symptom of chocolate craving. Seems PMS is caused by low levels of magnesium, and cocoa is rich in magnesium.


Magnesium for Constipation
Easing constipation is one of the health benefits of magnesium. If your body has too little calcium and magnesium, you may have inadequate peristalsis, which is that automatic pushing you feel, those automatic contractions that happen during a bowel movement. Peristalsis moves food through the large intestine, so if you are deficient in calcium and magnesium, this function may slow or stop, causing constipation.
Source: Bottom Line's Daily Health News, March 5, 2007

Magnesium for Kidney Stones
It has long been known (Harvard research, decades ago) that taking magnesium along with vitamin B6 significantly reduces the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Jonathan Wright, M.D., recommends 300 milligrams of magnesium citrate and 100 milligrams of vitamin B6, daily.
Source: Nutrition & Healing Health E-Tips February 1, 2007, from Jonathan Wright, M.D.
Magnesium For Preventing Gallstones
A study of 42,000 men found that magnesium may help prevent gallstones. The study subjects who got at least 453 milligrams of magnesium a day had a 30 percent lower risk of developing gallstones than those in the study who got only 262 mg of magnesium.
Source: Health & Healing newsletter, May 2008, by Julian Whitaker, M.D.
Magnesium as Treatment for Heart Attack
Intravenous magnesium, when given as soon as possible after a heart attack, decreases death rate, says Julian Whitaker, M.D. In a British study, 2000 heart attack victims had either IV magnesium sulfate or a saline solution within 24 hours of a heart attack. Patients who got the magnesium had 24 percent fewer deaths. One to five years later, the cardiovascular death rate was 21 percent lower in those who had the IV magnesium.
Source: Health & Healing newsletter, August 2009, by Julian Whitaker, M.D.
Magnesium for Migraine Headaches
Health benefits of magnesium include relieving migraines. To stop a migraine headache, take a relatively rapid intravenous injection of magnesium and vitamin B6. Find a doctor who offers this treatment by contacting ACAM at 800-532-3688 or at their Web site, acam.org. Supplementation with magnesium (200 milligrams daily) and Vitamin B6 (200 milligrams daily) also helps.
Source: Nutrition & Healing Health E-Tips, November 23, 2006
Magnesium for Asthma Treatment
Health benefits of magnesium include relaxing the airways, acting as a bronchodilator for asthma. Even if epinephrine and steroids don't work, intravenous magnesium can work. The majority of emergency room doctors know about the research supporting IV magnesium for asthma attacks, but a 2006 survey showed only 2.5 percent of patients seen for acute attacks were given IV magnesium.
Source: Health & Healing newsletter, August 2009, by Julian Whitaker, M.D.
Diabetes Research on Magnesium
Diabetes education on the health benefits of magnesium often neglect to include it in diabetes information. Here is what you should know about diabetes and magnesium: Swedish scientists reviewed studies on magnesium and risk of diabetes and found that for every 100 milligrams of increase in magnesium daily intake, there was a 15 percent decrease in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If you already have diabetes, you probably know that high blood sugar increases urination, which can result in urinating way vital vitamins and minerals, including magnesium. Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency makes controlling blood sugar more difficult and also increases risk of diabetic complications. Studies show that individuals with magnesium deficiency are the most likely to have severe diabetic retinopathy.
Source: Health & Healing newsletter, August 2009, by Julian Whitaker, M.D.
Magnesium for Leg Cramps
A combination of magnesium, calcium, potassium and vitamin E can stop leg cramps. You can find a doctor who offers medical advice on this by contacting ACAM at 800-532-3688 or at their Web site, acam.org.
Source: Nutrition & Healing Health E-Tips, November 10, 2006
Magnesium for Strong Muscles
Health benefits of magnesium include strong muscles as well as strong bones. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that magnesium helps keep muscles strong. The study, done at the University of Palermo in Italy, investigated the connection between sarcopenia, which is loss of muscle mass, and magnesium deficiency. The researches measured serum levels of magnesium in the 1,138 volunteers and did tests on muscle strength and function. The result? A strong link between magnesium levels and muscle strength. The volunteers with higher levels of magnesium had stronger handgrips, more power in their lower legs, and were able to extend their knees and ankles with more force.
Sources: "Low magnesium may mean weaker muscles," Reuters Health news, 9/1/06 "Magnesium and muscle performance in older persons: the InCHIANTI study," Am J Clin Nutr 2006; 84(2): 419-426 as seen in Nutrition & Healing E-Tips, October 11, 2006
Magnesium for High Blood Pressure and Hypertension
Among the health benefits of magnesium may be the regulation of blood pressure. Most hypertension is caused by mineral deficiencies, according to Robert J. Rowen, M.D. He recommends potassium and magnesium aspartate, about 100 milligrams each, one to three times daily. (NOT for people with kidney disease, he says.) Rowen cites a study of 104 subjects with mild to moderate hypertension. Half the group received 30 mmol/day of postassium aspartate orally, while the control group received nothing. In the control group, there was no change. In the potassium aspartate group, there were significant reductions in blood pressure.
Rowen also says that magnesium may be important to regulating blood pressure. He refers to the DASH study (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), a human clinical trial. Results indicated that high blood pressure can be significantly reduced by increasing fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods in the diet. Eating more of these foods would increase magnesium, potassium and calcim in the diet, while lowering sodium and fat.
In another study of 30,000 U.S. male health professionals, results showed a lower risk of hypertension with an increase in foods that provide magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber.
Sources Franzoni F., G. Santoro, et al. "Antihypertensive Effect of Oral Potassium Aspartate Supplementation in Mild to Moderate Arterial Hypertension," Biomed Pharmacother, 2005;59:25-29, as seen in Health Dispatches and Late-Breaking Cures. by Robert Rowen, M.D.
One of the reasons that magnesium lowers blood pressure, says Julian Whitaker, M.D., is that it relaxes the smoothe muscles that dilate the arteries. A 2009 Korean study found that those in the study who took 300 milligrams of magnesium a day for three months had significant reduction in blood pressure readings compared to those who took a placebo. Systolic/diastolic pressures fell 17.1/6.7 mmHg for those who took magnesium and only 3.4/0.8 in the placebo group. Whitaker also says that a "meta-analysis" of 20 clinical trials showed that for each 240 milligrams of magnesium taken, subjects blood pressure dropeed by an average of 4.3/2.3 mmHg.
Source: Health and Healing newsletter, August 2009, by Julian Whitaker, M.D.
Magnesium For Urinary Urge Incontinence
Here's a surprising revelation among the health benefits of magnesium: Women with urinary urge incontinence (also called overactive bladder) may benefit from taking magnesium supplements. In a study reported in Family Practice News (February 1, 2003), 60 women with overactive bladder were divided into two groups, one receiving a placebo and the other group receiving 350 milligrams of magnesium hydroxide daily for one month. Twelve of the 30 in the magnesium group reported improvement in their overactive bladder in one month, along with significantly fewer incidents of urge incontinence, less frequency of urination, and fewer times of being waked at night to urinate. As relatively small amounts of supplemental magnesium effectively relieved urge incontinence in the new study, it is likely that suboptimal dietary magnesium intake is one of the causes of this disorder.
Foods High in Magnesium
To enjoy the health benefits of magnesium, consume good dietary sources of magnesium, which include nuts (especially almonds), whole grains, wheat germ, fish, and green leafy vegetables. Approximately 80% of the magnesium is lost when whole grains are refined to white flour. Processed foods typically are low in this mineral, and as many as three-quarters of Americans consume less than the Recommended Dietary Allowance for magnesium.
Too Much of a Good Thing?
There are more health benefits of magnesium, and I will be adding them to this page. Magnesium is inexpensive and generally safe, although people with kidney failure should be closely monitored by their doctors while taking magnesium supplements.
Magnesium has hundreds of known functions in the body and is absolutely essential to good health. In doses too large for your body, however, it does have the side effect of pushing the contents of your intestines through your body faster than normal, which can result in loose stools or even diarrhea. So, you could be taking magnesium for its good effects but fail to absorb it because it's moving through too quickly for absorption. Most people can tolerate 200 to 600 milligrams of magnesium daily. If you start having the bowel problems described, cut back.
Source: Nutrition & Healing Health E-Tips, October 25, 2006
Magnesium Deficiency Accelerates Aging
Here's another reason to focus on the health benefits of magnesium: A study released in April 2008 indicates that magnesium deficiency accelerates aging. Magnesium is essential for healthy muscles, nerves, bones and normal heart rhythm. Lack of magnesium increases risk of cardiovascular problems, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and some cancers.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that more than half the U.S. population is magnesium deficient, due to poor diet.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Oakland Reserarch Institute in California found that with magnesium deficiency, cells age quicker and this may contribute to "long-term chronic disease." It's possible that magnesium deficient cells reserve their energy for essential life functions at the expense of long-term functions.
The researchers lament that there is no easy way to tell if you are lacking magnesium. "You could be moderately deficient for a long time and not know it," said one of the researchers.
More information on health benefits of magnesium and possible supplementation is given above. And be sure to include foods rich in magnesium, which include nuts (especially almonds), whole grains, beans, spinach, and other green vegetables.
Note: If you want to try intravenous magnesium for any of its applications listed above and can't get it locally, contact the Whitaker Wellness Institute at (800) 488-1500.