Two Herbs for HEMORRHOIDS / VARICOSE VEINS / WOMEN (Prenancy/Menses) / URINARY TRACT / KIDNEY STONES

On Sunday my Post offered you a variety of ways to restore balance to the 1^st Root Chakra, which rules the kidneys and bladder.  This Chakra can be improved with regular practice of the standing postures in yoga, eating protein enriched foods and taking herbs that helps restore balance to the two organs of fluid elimination.  Two of the Herbs I suggested to maintain/restore balance of the kidneys and bladder are purple loosestrife and gravel root.  Because they are both VERY EXCELLENT HERBS, I thought you should know a little more about each of them.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

Purple loosestrife offers great potential as a valuable and practically useful medicinal, possessing an admirable balance of astringent and mucilaginous properties. This may seem odd if you think of astringents as being drying and mucilage as being moistening, but remember that astringents do not dehydrate tissues, they tighten and restore tone to them, and in doing they lessen over-secretion.  So purple loosestrife restores tone to tissues while also bathing them in a soothing mucilage, which eases inflammation and ensures lubrication.  People also use purple loosestrife as a tea for diarrhea, intestinal problems, and bacterial infections.   They also use it for swelling and as a drying agent and women use it for menstrual problems.  I find that including more leaves and stems in preparations yields a more astringent medicine, while collecting mostly the flowering spikes increases the presence of mucilage in water based preparations.

Purple loosestrife is sometimes applied directly to the affected area for swollen (varicose) veins, bleeding gums, hemorrhoids and eczema.

Gravel root has many common names to indicate both its botanical appearance and also its medicinal uses. It is called Queen of the meadow because it stands so high and the purple hue of its flowers make it somewhat majestic in appearance. It is called Joe Pye weed because one native American of that name used it extensively in his practice. It is called Gravel root because it has the ability to remove and to a certain degree dissolve kidney stones or gravel. It is a member of the large boneset family of herbs, many of which are well none for their medicinal value. Gravel root is underused in medicine today because most people just think of it for removing kidney stones and overlook its other uses especially in the genito-urinary tract of women.  Gravel should be thought of in all disorders of the urinary tract. It is a very efficient diuretic and is indicated in bed wetting. Gravel root is useful in pregnancy when a cough dispels urine.

I have had excellent success with gravel root for its use in the reproductive disorders of women because of its ability to tone and restore balance to the uterous. It specifically refers to its use in retro version, prolapsus, introversion, etc, all conditions where dysplasia has occurred.  Gravel root is very safe and the dosage can be increased according to the condition. For normal diuretic use the dosage of 15 to 30 drops is usually very helpful. In our experience the dosage in quantity is not the most important aspect of medical application, but the frequency of dosage. The normal dosage of 15 to 30 drops, probably the 30 drops would be minimum for an adult and should be repeated as many as 6 times a day in acute conditions. This will result in a much more active result and hasten the healing. Gravel root has no toxicity so the dosage can be quite large without fear.

Here is one healer's experience with Gravel Root: "This could be a cause of sterility and that condition is what I originally had success in with Gravel root. I combined it with black cohosh and squaw vine in a case of long standing sterility with good success. This is a well documented case where the lady was under the care of an expert midwife and much effort had failed. I personally knew the lady and while contemplating her situation remembered her having a car wreck where she broke her hip among other things. Although the accident was many years removed, when reading about sterility caused by dysplasia and similar conditions, I thought that this might be the cause of sterility in this case, as she was otherwise a very health conscious person who had tried all available means. After taking the Gravel root about a month or two she conceived. The midwife was convinced that it made the difference. Since I have used it in many cases and thus far have always been satisfied.

Join our FREE Monthly HEALING MARKETPLACE every 1st Saturday 

(Healers welcome) and a 1-hr $10 Workshop on the Basics 

of Making Herbal Formulas (see Newsletter for more 

details and location).

You can Sign up for NEWSLETTER here. You can also subscribe to this Blog

~ simply submit your email address above ~ so you can receive every Post

directly to your Inbox. ALSO, don't forget to share your favorite

Posts with your Framily members.

The Most Adorable Parenting Moments . . . .

25 Of The Most Adorable Parenting Moments In The Animal Kingdom

Image credits: David Lazar

There’s no love in this world like the love of a mother or father for a child. It’s beautiful and often times can be seen across species barriers. We’re not the only ones capable of it, and these heartwarming photos of animal parents will show you that for sure.

We tend to separate animals into two different categories based on how they rear their children. Those are the R and K categories. K categories include animals like cats, elephants, and humans. They have few babies but have longer gestation periods. Their offspring tend to require more care and for much longer time. The R category is more focused on quantity for survival. Here are some great examples of K animals:

Image credits: Laurie Rubin

Image credits: Anton Belovodchenko

Image credits: Tin Man

Image credits: dailymail.co.uk

Image credits: Wolfgang von Vietinghoff

Image credits: Udayan Rao Pawar

Image credits: Daniel Münger

Image credits: dailymail.co.uk

Image credits: Andre Pretorius

Image credits: Anton Belovodchenko

Image credits: Jim Ridley

Image credits: Michael Nichols

Image credits: Edwin Kats

Image credits: Jeanette DiAnda

Image credits: Igor Shpilenok

Image credits: Ric Seet

Image credits: pensivesquirrel.wordpress.com

Image credits: Marco Mattiussi

Image credits: Jan Pelcman

Image credits: Michael Milicia

Image credits: Chuck Babbitt

Image credits: hqwide.com

Image credits: Frederique Olivier/John Downer Productions

Image credits: imgur.com

HEALING OUR EMOTIONS with HERBS and CHAKRA BALANCING

We are like the shining sun, and our sickness, like passing clouds which appear to extinguish the sun’s rays. Our original nature is wholeness: HEALTH. We are perfect, infinite energy.

Then where do our illnesses come from?  All illness of the mind, body or emotions is an effect of our ignorance of this perfect Self, causing us to unwittingly invite our disease by treating our body carelessly and by burdening our mind and nervous system with negative thoughts and emotions, allowing the limiting ego to rule us with its fluctuating anger, greed, and deceit.  We abuse our body with too much of the wrong kinds of food and too little rest and exercise.

The same way the Creator gave us 12 organs and various systems to make sure our bodies function in accord with the Universe to facilitate a harmonious life on this physical plane, S/he also gave us the 7 Energy Centers (chakras or hubs of spinning energy) in our body to connect us to the spiritual and emotional plane.  Each 'chakra' serves a particular purpose for our spiritual growth and physical stability.  Just like energy that flows through our physical body – when it is off, we feel sick, tired or out-of-sorts.  When the 'chakra energy' doesn't flow harmoniously through our bodies, we feel insecure, disconnected and emotionally imbalanced.

Just as you can use exercise and alternative healing methods, herbs and vitamins to heal and restore energy and health to the physical body, you can use chi exercise, meditation and alternative healing methods and crystals to heal and restore energy and health to the spiritual and emotional bodies.

We will begin to share the definitions of each of the chakras, the herbs, yoga postures and crystals for healing the mind, body and emotions. For more complete information on this weeks subject, please visit my website section CHAKRA ENERGY CENTERS, where you will find fuller postings of this week's article on healing the emotions with herbs, crystals and chakra balancing.

The 1^st Chakra: ROOT CHAKRA is the source of our life force and forms the vital foundation for all the higher chakras, and is located at the base of the spine (coccyx).  It rules our physical energies and governs our vigor, heredity, survival, security, passion, money, job and home.  This chakra aids us in our everyday survival, and is actually the basis of both our masculine and feminine energy.

If your root chakra is open and functioning harmoniously, you will experience a deep, personal relationship with Earth and nature. You will be rooted in life and filled with satisfaction, stability and inner strength. If unbalanced or malfunctioning, your thoughts and actions primarily revolve around material possessions and (in)security, as well as your overindulgence in sensual pleasures, such as good (exotic) foods, alcohol, sex, etc. Your inability to let go of these tendencies often manifest themselves in the form of constipation and gaining weight, as in overweight. For you, life on earth is NOT a pleasure.

Standing postures in yoga helps to balance the energy of this Chakra and protein enriched foods are beneficial for attaining this equilibrium; the Water Element (kidneys and bladder) and organs of elimination are connected with this Chakra, and some of the herbs for the kidneys/bladder include juniper berries, parsley, gravel root, plantain, uva ursi, chaparral, burdock, marshmallow, golden seal and purple loosestrife.

The 1st ROOT CHAKRA: located between the anus and the genitals, is connected with the coccyx at the base of the spine and opens downward (“grounding us,” connecting us with the Earth). The color for this chakra is black, sometimes red; red is also the color of anger and/or vitality!

Your current diet may be deficient or over-indulgent of the foods necessary to maintain a healthy balance of the emotions and chakras.  To help ground your root chakra, eat plenty of “root” vegetables: carrots, parsnips, radishes, beets, onions, garlic, etc; protein-rich foods: eggs, beans, soy products, grains: quinoa, kasha, Haritaki and chia seeds, nuts (butters) and the spices: horseradish, hot paprika, chives, cayenne and peppers. Some of the herbs for the kidneys/bladder include juniper berries, parsley, gravel root, lotus root, plantain, uva ursi, chaparral, burdock, marshmallow, golden seal and purple loosestrife.  The crystals that help balance this chakra are Azurite, Bloodstone, Chrysocolla, Hematite, Obsidian, Boji Stone, Golden Topaz, Black Tourmaline, Carnelian, Citrine, Red Jasper, Smoky Quartz.

Out of balance, this chakra can manifest various physical ailments such as interruptions in the cycle, frigidity, impotence or tumor related diseases, or as migraine headaches or frequent bladder trouble. As you surround yourself with crystals, adjust your diet to 'feed your spirit' and focus your daily thoughts and actions, you will find that the negative qualities of the Root Chakra (impatience, fear of annihilation, death wish, violence, anger, over-sexed or impotent, vengeful, hyperactive, impulsive and manipulative) will subside as your meditations and daily thought processes are directed by your Spirit and you will instead become based in security, sense of one's own power, spontaneous leadership, active and independent. These small and gradual changes in our daily lives can help break bad eating habits, behavior, thoughts and relationship patterns.

Join our FREE Monthly HEALING MARKETPLACE every 1st Saturday 

(Healers welcome) and a 1-hr $10 Workshop on the Basics 

of Making Herbal Formulas (see Newsletter for more 

details and location).

You can Sign up for NEWSLETTER here. You can also subscribe to this Blog

~ simply submit your email address above ~ so you can receive every Post

directly to your Inbox. ALSO, don't forget to share your favorite

Posts with your Framily members.

SCHIZANDRA BERRY TEA ~ Replace Morning Caffeine and Take Before Bed to SLEEP BETTER

The system in our body that regulates metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep and our moods, is known as the Endocrine System.  It is made up of 7 Glands, which are directly connected to our 7 Chakras.  The glands produce hormones that are secreted directly into the bloodstream and influence all the functions of the body. 

Stress is at that heart of many of our health conditions. When the body is stressed, your capacity to adapt is reduced, which can wreak havoc on the immune, nervous and inflammatory response systems (the endocrine glands).  Inflammation occurs when tissues are injured by bacteria, trauma, toxins, heat, or any other cause.  The damaged cells release chemicals that cause blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, causing swelling: inflammation.  This helps isolate the foreign substance from further contact with body tissues.

Herbs that help the body manage this “stress,” and are called “adaptogenic herbs.”  Some herbs that do this are: ashwagandha root, astragalus, schizandra, wild oats and American ginseng (which also supports normal levels of stamina and endurance).

My personal favorite that I take regularly is schizandra. Instead of starting your day with a cup of coffee, try schizandra berry tea to stimulate your mind or at night if you are too high strung to sleep.  That seems contradictory, doesn’t it?  Well, unlike caffeine, schizandra stimulates the nervous system without creating an excitatory effect, as it provides a mental boost without the jitteriness.

SCHIZANDRA is known for preventing early aging, increasing lifespan, normalizing blood sugar and blood pressure.  As an adoptogen, it increases resistance to disease and stress, as it increases physical performance, endurance and raises energy (even at the cellular level); counteracting the effects of sugar and improving the health of the adrenal glands.

It is very powerful protecting the liver from poisons and treating hepatitis and various liver diseases.  It also stimulates the immune system and speeds up recovery after surgery (of any kind).

Join our FREE Monthly HEALING MARKETPLACE every 1st Saturday 

(Healers welcome) and a 1-hr $10 Workshop on the Basics 

of Making Herbal Formulas (see Newsletter for more 

details and location).

You can Sign up for NEWSLETTER here. You can also subscribe to this Blog

~ simply submit your email address above ~ so you can receive every Post

directly to your Inbox. ALSO, don't forget to share your favorite

Posts with your Framily members.

Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan - R.I.P.

Crystal Healing for the Emotions, Spirit and Body - SPRING WORKSHOP

When I decided to start this Blog in February of 2014, I wanted to launch it with some information that would be critical to your health, and clearly something you could benefit from and learn and implement into your daily living.  And my first article was on this very subject.  So, going full circle, I also decided this month to offer a  workshop in healing our emotions and Spirit.  I hope you can join us on April 18th.  Here's  a bit more on understanding the chakras and our endocrine system.

Few people truly understand that the Creator provided us with an inherent system in our bodies to help us heal our emotions and balance our Spirit.  That system is the 7 Chakra System.  In Her wisdom, the Creator also endowed us with a system of glands that influence and control our body's rate and quality of maturity, metabolism of nutrients (from the foods we eat) and how well our body actually functions: the Endocrine (7) System.

Each of the seven chakras is located at specific points along the spine, connected through a series of nerve plexes to major organs such as the heart, throat, and the crown of the head. When you look at a chakra chart, you don’t see the underlying network of glands (and their nearby organs) governed and influenced by the chakra system . . . BUT THEY ARE WHAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO MANAGE OUR STRESS, DISEASE AND Y\OUR EMOTIONS.  It's just that no one every taught us that we had those resources built right into our bodies!

I will be teaching a 3-hour workshop 

on this very subject next Saturday, April 18th.  

DON'T MISS IT.

The function of the chakras are very intricate inthat they are an energy system that communicates with the body via biological systems, such as the endocrine glands and nervous system, to keep it balanced and healthy.

Overall, this network of glands is incharge of producing, regulating and distributing hormones throughout the body.  Released intothe bloodstream, hormones play a pivotal role in the body's aiblitiy to mature, metabolize nutrients, and function.

Each of the chakras in the body is paired with an endocrine gland and governs its function:

·         Root chakra (1st) — Reproductive glands (testes in men; ovaries in women); controls sexual development and secretes sex hormones.

·         Sacral chakra (2nd) — Adrenal glands; regulates the immune system and metabolism.

·         Solar Plexus chakra (3rd) — Pancreas; regulates metabolism.

·         Heart chakra (4th) — Thymus gland; regulates the immune system.

·         Throat chakra (5th) — Thyroid gland; regulates body temperature and metabolism.

·         Third Eye chakra (6th) — Pituitary gland; produces hormones and governs the function of the previous five glands; sometimes, the pineal gland is linked to the third eye chakra as well as to the crown chakra.

·         Crown chakra (7th) — Pineal gland; regulates biological cycles, including sleep.

Disturbances in the subtle energy of the chakras translate into physical manifestation and symptoms which are associated with the corresponding glands and organs. The Chakras are considered energy centers that influence our being at many levels, including the physical and biological levels.

DON'T MISS MY APRIL 18th WORKSHOP

Join our FREE Monthly HEALING MARKETPLACE every 1st Saturday 

(Healers welcome) and a 1-hr $10 Workshop on the Basics 

of Making Herbal Formulas (see Newsletter for more 

details and location).

You can Sign up for NEWSLETTER here. You can also subscribe to this Blog

~ simply submit your email address above ~ so you can receive every Post

directly to your Inbox. ALSO, don't forget to share your favorite

Posts with your Framily members.

8 Natural Ways to Get Rid of House Flies

Shoo, fly! Don’t bother me! When they manage to make their way into your home, house flies are unpleasant and annoying to have around, with their incessant movement and relentless buzzing. Much worse than that, though, is the fact that the common house fly can carry dangerous diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever, tuberculosis, salmonella, and dysentery, as well as spreading the larvae of parasitic worms. And since they love to land on any exposed food (ingesting it and vomiting it up to break it down for digestion — eeww!), they can easily pass these illnesses on to you. Here are 8 natural home remedies to get rid of these insect pests.

• Get rid of their source. If you notice an unusually large number of flies buzzing through your home, check whether you can see where they are coming from … your outdoor compost pile or the carcass of a wild animal, for example.
• Screen openings. Put up screens on your windows and door, and be sure to keep them closed. If you do not want to invest a lot of money in purpose-built window screens, buy inexpensive wire mesh by the yard at your hardware store. Tack it up in the window frames to control flies and other insects.
• Keep your house clean. Impeccable housecleaning is advisable, especially in the kitchen and the bathroom. Close all indoor garbage cans and compost bins and take care to empty them frequently. Cut off the flies’ food supply; avoid leaving leftovers — including pet food — out uncovered.
• Use common scents. Buy a bottle of natural eucalyptus oil. Flies are repelled by the strong scent of eucalyptus., especially lemon eucalyptus. (They prefer the perfume of rotting garbage.) Put the eucalyptus in a heat diffuser or dab a few drops of diluted oil directly on your skin. Camphor is an alternative, which may also be dispersed with a heat diffuser. The only problem is that humans as well as house flies tend to dislike its odor. Citronella, in the form of candles (use these outside only) or applied to the skin or clothing, will ward off both flies and mosquitos.
• Plant herbs. Basil, mint, and rosemary are easy to grow indoors or out. What’s more, these plants are pleasant-smelling to us humans, but objectionable to flies. The best herb of all for house fly control seems to be lavender, which is extremely versatile and may also be used to relieve a number of physical and emotional woes, in addition to adding flavor to your cooking.
• Spice up the ambiance. The fragrance of cinnamon and cloves, once again, is considered quite pleasing to most people, so much so that these spices are used to scent the kitchens of houses for sale; however flies tend to disagree.
• Boil up a pot of malt vinegar. This won’t add curb appeal to your home sweet home but it will discourage house fly infestation. Just don’t allow it to scorch or you could end up with a stench that you’ll find as unbearable as the flies do.
• Darken your rooms. Flies have an innate tendency to head towards the light — what we’d consider a romantic or relaxing shadowy atmosphere does nothing for them. So if you’re sitting down for a quiet supper or conversation with friends, consider dimming your bulbs. A fringe benefit is that the lower wattage will save you electricity as well as giving the cold shoulder to unwelcome insect “guests.”

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-house-flies.html#ixzz3WvDL3u3R