The Wonders of Ginger

Since ancient times, the ginger plant has been used as a medicine in Indian, Asian, and Arabic healing treatments. Some of its most common uses involve treating nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea, as well as colic, heart conditions, and arthritis. Ginger is valued around the world for its medicinal and cooking uses, and is an important cooking spice believed to cure the common cold and heavy menstrual periods in many cultures. Ginger grows in the moist, fertile soil in its native Asia, where its use as a culinary spice goes back nearly 5,000 years.
Though a powerful, multi-functional herb, ginger is widely used as a digestive aid for mild stomach pain to serious nausea, associated with motion sickness, pregnancy, and the flu.
Most pregnant women will experience bouts of nausea and vomiting - particularly in the first trimester. Multiple studies have concluded that ginger is more effective than a placebo in relieving vomiting and nausea associated with pregnancy. "Ginger is effective for relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy," concluded researchers at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. "Twenty-eight of 32 in the ginger group had improved in nausea symptoms compared with 10 of 35 in the placebo group. Further, no adverse effect of ginger on pregnancy outcome was detected." Ginger is a safe and effective treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. Ingesting as little as 1 gram of ginger root every day for four days will significantly reduce feelings of nausea and incidences of vomiting in pregnant women.
A study in the United Kingdom demonstrated ginger's effectiveness in easing nausea and vomiting in women recovering from serious gynecological surgery: "The effectiveness of ginger (Zingiber officinale) as an antiemetric agent was compared with placebo and metoclopramide in 60 women who had major gynecological surgery in a double-blind, randomized study. There were statistically significantly fewer recorded incidences of nausea in the group that received ginger root compared with the placebo."
In another study, ingesting 11 grams of ginger root before surgery reduces nausea as effectively as a leading medication. In the same study, women who received ginger also required fewer nausea-relieving medications following surgery. This is true for men as well, as when Jordan had major surgery two years ago. The hospital was a teaching hospital and allowed me to use our herbal products and reflexology, as I was using Jordan as a case study for my Masters thesis.
I call cayenne and ginger the ‘dynamic duo’ for cleaning out the arteries and for the whole circulatory system. Ginger warms from the far extremities inward, while cayenne warms from the inward out.
Ginger products are made from dried or fresh ginger root - other tinctures are derived from steam distillation of the oil found in the root. This powerful herb is available in capsules, tinctures, extracts, and oils. Fresh ginger root is widely-available, and can be brewed into a tea.

How To Find Affordable Local Organic Produce

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a wonderful way to have access to organic food from local farmers. Becoming a member allows you to have seasonal produce each week, either delivered to your home or picked up at either a drop point or the farm itself.

You are actually buying a share of the farm’s crops and are guaranteed the freshest organic fruits, vegetables and sometimes meat and dairy products. Depending on what part of the country you are from, an average 5-6 months. The season is May-Oct for our region of the country. You can pay up front, but most allow monthly payments as well. For us it is less than the price I would pay for our family of four in the grocery stores. Whatever else we need, I supplement with what I can pick up at the local farmer’s market.

Many of the farms are family based and have u-pick times for members first before the community along with spring, summer and/or fall events such as a hayride, potluck, etc. Besides being a big improvement for the health of your family, it is a great way to support small farmers in your area, as well as cutting down on the resources it takes to get organic produce shipped across the country.

It really has enabled me to experience a wider variety-what a culinary adventure!!
Here are some links for you to find your own local farms, CSA’s, and farmers markets;

http://www.realpeopleeatlocal.com/
www.localharvest.org
http://www.eatwellguide.org/

Five Reasons to Get a Massage

As a reflexologist, it is always good to see positive publicity on massage. I see first hand the benefits of massage and acupressure to the reflex zones. CNN just ran a story on the benefits of massage (see link below).

Massage offers real health benefits, so much so that some conventional hospitals are making them a standard therapy for surgery patients and others.

This interesting CNN article details many of these benefits (including some that may surprise you). Along with promoting relaxation and improving our sense of well-being, getting a massage has been shown to:

• Relieve pain (from migraines, labor, fibromyalgia and even cancer).


• Boost your level of alertness and attention


• Increase your body's natural killer cells, which help your immune system to defend against illness


• Reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and ease insomnia


• Decrease symptoms of PMS

If you've never had a professional massage before, it will likely only take you one visit to understand why they're becoming so popular: they feel great! This is because massage/reflexology affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural 'feel good' chemicals.

Massage/reflexology is one of the oldest and simplest forms of medical care used to ease pain and anxiety, and massages have profound health benefits. Massages can be an excellent addition to your healthy lifestyle.

Endorphins help induce relaxation and a sense of well-being, relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline--reversing the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

Stronger massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense and knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility.

Massage is said to increase activity of the vagus nerve, one of 10 cranial nerves, that affects the secretion of food absorption, hormones, heart rate and respiration. It has proven to be an effective therapy for a variety of health conditions--particularly stress-related tension, which experts believe accounts for as much as 80 percent to 90 percent of disease.

Dr. Mercola M.D., also states added benefits of massage can:

• Stimulate the lymph system, the body's natural defense, against toxic invaders.


• Relax and soften injured and overused muscles, reducing spasms and cramping.

Provide arthritis relief by increasing joint flexibility.

• Reduce recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminate subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.


• Reduce post-surgery adhesions and edema and reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred.


• Contribute to shorter labor and reduce tearing for expectant mothers.

So if you lived near, you'd be welcome to come see me for a reflexology session...but consider adding this form of healing to your regime!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/03/08/healthmag.massage/index.html?eref=yahoo

Sinus Flush

Last week, I was physically pulled by many events in my life. While excited to be helping so many people, it took a toll on my health. For the first time this year, I lost my voice and found I was fighting a sinus infection. Welcome summertime!

Along with our 'Fire juice', echinacea, vitamin C, and our cold and flu formula with plenty of water, a sinus flush is an excellent way to stop any germs wreaking havoc with your sinus'.

Fill a hot water bottle with warm water. Add a teaspoon of salt to turn it into a saline solution. Put the plastic tube in it and the water regulator, which is provided, on the tube. Lower your head parallel with the sink with your mouth open, breathing rapidly. This closes the glottis, preventing water from dripping down the throat.
Cut the tube at an angle and gently insert it into your nostril, slowly letting the water go into the sinus cavity, flushing out all the filth that has been living right behind your nose and eyes.
Do this 3 times a day. You’ll feel completely revitalized and refreshed. You’ll notice the swelling around your eyes disappear as the air circulates through your newly cleaned, clear passages. It feels wonderful. Infections from bronchitis to pneumonia start from the sinuses and drip down the back of the throat. As the viral and bacteria-laden mucus is trapped, it works its mischief on your bronchial tubes and lungs, causing throat and lung infections. The sinus flush prevents this from occurring.

When and if I can catch it before it becomes a problem, I take Dr. Christopher's eye wash into the shower with me and use 5 drops in an eye cup to cleanse both eyes, followed by 5 drops in the palm of my hand. With my hand cupped, I mix enough water in to fill my palm and while holding one nostril closed, breath up deeply, washing the entire sinus cavity. Repeat on other side. This is so easy to do in the shower, after retaining it for a minute or so, simply blowing gently will eliminate any mucus.

A Peppery Little Green

Arugula (Eruca vesicaria) is also known as rocket, roquette, Italian cress and roka. Arugula is native to the Mediterranean region, where it grows so wild and abundantly, it only recently became cultivated. Arugula is a member of the Brassicaceae (Mustard) Family and relative of watercress. It is gaining popularity as a salad green. Arugula is pungent, warm and highly alkaline. It stimulates the liver and lungs.
Arugula contains dithiolthiones, which are antioxidant and anti-cancer compounds, as well as beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and sulfur. Arugula is antiseptic (antibiotic and antiviral properties). It is recommended as a preventative food by the American Cancer Society and has been used to treat scurvy. Use young green leaves, as older leaves become bitter and intense. It is best when added to a salad containing other greens

Summer Deck Options

In the last house we lived in, my husband put in a new wrap around deck. To match the pre-existing wood, we happily went to the local home improvement center and bought all the wood. I remember being alarmed at the warnings listed on the wood, of not to touch with bare hands etc. I was told that this was a necessity and quickly forgot my worries as the new deck neared completion.

Alternative Wood for Decking
Instead of the predominant pressure-treated CCA lumber (chromium copper arsenate)-which has been soaked with arsenic and chromium, there is an alternative called ACQ (alkaline copper quat) that uses no arsenic or chromium. The best choice is naturally rot-resistant wood, such as cedar and redwood. Today both are renewable resources, as millions of seedlings are replanted every year. Cedar can be forested more easily and quickly than reduced.
For redwood decking, the best choice is “kiln-dried deck heart” or “deck common”. Less durable (but still acceptable) for decks are “clear heart”, “clear”, “B heart”, and “B grade redwood”. For the longest lasting cedar deck, choose “dear all- heart cedar”. Less reliable- but still an okay low-cost alternative for dry climates- is “grade No. 1 select tight knot (STK)”.

Sealing
Sealing your deck is a required maintenance which prevents water form entering and damaging the wood. The aforesaid deck had me using my medical skills when husband, and two oldest sons were sealing the deck. First I have to say, they were not wearing protective eyewear, and second, they were using a solvent-based sealant.
Look for water-based rather than solvent-based sealants. Apply when deck is built and reapply every 2 years.
The sun’s UV rays break down the cells of the wood, causing that gray color. To restore, apply a deck or wood “brightener” to remove dirt, stains and gray wood fibers. Skip the ones that contain chlorine bleach. Instead, shop for a cleaner that contains a no bleach whitener (such as sodium per carbonate) or peroxide. Sealing your deck won’t require a repeat waterproofing treatment for about 3 years.

Stains
You can also keep away the “gray” by applying an exterior stain that will keep your deck bright and waterproof for about 4 years. Just remember to always choose deck stains that are based on water rather than solvents.

Cold Sores

Some of my clients have had re-occuring cold sores, brought out especially during times of sun exposure. Here is an article by Mackawiak ED, PhK, U.S. Pharmacist Dec. 2003 "Prevention and Treatment of Cold sores"
Get rid of cold sores in two days or less.
If you suffer from cold sores, you know how painful and unsightly these lesions are. Unfortunately, there's no way to completely stop cold sores. That's because they're caused by a virus, the herpes simplex virus HSV-1. And you probably know you can't eradicate any virus (you can only keep it in remission). But I've got great news for you... I've found an easy way to reduce the painful, blistering effects of a cold sore. And this remedy can do so in just one or two days. Since it usually takes 7 to 10 days for cold sores to run their course, that's a huge improvement.
HSV-1, which is related to Epstein-Barr and cytomegaloviruse (CMV), is not a benign virus that just causes cold sores. It can also lead to serious eye infections. And while it's different from genital herpes (HSV-2), these two viruses are so closely related that one can actually trigger the other. So if you are able to prevent cold sores, or even shorten their duration, you could be preventing more dangerous viral infections.
Most doctors will tell you Acyclovir (Zovirax) or a number of popular pharmaceutical topical anti-virals can treat herpes. They may reduce its pain and itching, and promote healing. However, they don't prevent cold sores.
But my favorite natural remedy does. I'm talking about the extract of Melissa officinalis, also known as the herb lemon balm. Researchers tested this herb in a 1999 study. They found it effectively reduced the duration of cold sores when applied topically four times a day as soon as they appeared. I use it at the first sign of a prodrome, that little tingling that precedes a blister.

A good source for quality herbs is Mountain Rose Herbs.

Want even more protection? The amino acid l-lysine is anti-viral and often prevents cold sores when you take 500 mg every day. Then, at the first sign of an outbreak, increase the dosage to 1,000 mg (1 gram) three times a day in between meals.

"Prevention and treatment of cold sores," U.S. Pharmacist, Dec 2003. *****************************************************