General Info

**Nightmare** · 06-21-2006, 07:00 PM

by Cait Johnson, Assistant Producer Care2 Healthy Living Channels
Cinnamon isn't only a tasty addition to pumpkin pies and sticky buns!
Mentions of the healing properties of this sweet spice go back several
thousand years: the ancient Chinese and Egyptians used it extensively,
and it is mentioned in the Old Testament. Those ancient wise ones
certainly knew a thing or two: cinnamon has many healing and
aromatherapy benefits. Today, we can use cinnamon in many ways to keep
our homes smelling and feeling sweet.
Aromatherapeutic properties:
Cinnamon makes one feel warm, safe, and protected. Wise Ones relied on
the scent of cinnamon to promote contented and uplifted feelings.
For the scientifically-inclined:
Terpenoids are some of the healing compounds in cinnamon. One of these,
cinnamaldehyde, is a potent antifungal and antimicrobial agent. And the
diterpenes in the spice are thought to be anti-allergic.
Here are a few ways you can put cinnamon to use in your home:
Stovetop simmering potpourri. Place a pot of water or cider on the stove
and add 1 to 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon. Simmer, replacing liquid a
necessary. This lovely stovetop potpourri banishes odors and replaces
them with a deliciously homey fragrance.
Dry potpourri booster. Sprinkle a few drops of essential oil of cinnamon
on any dry potpourri and place in a shallow bowl on a radiator, on top
of the fridge, or where there is apt to be some walk-through traffic.
Easiest room freshener. A dish of ground cinnamon will fill the
surrounding area with a sweet scent.
Lightbulb diffuser. Place a drop of essential oil of cinnamon on a cool
lightbulb. When you turn on the lamp, the scent will be gently diffused
throughout the room.
Room spray. Combine a few drops of essential oil of cinnamon with water
or vodka and spritz the mixture in any room to dispel germs and odors.
Kitchen incense. Sprinkle a few grains of ground cinnamon on your
electric stovetop burner. When you turn the burner on, the lovely scent
of burning cinnamon will waft through the kitchen.
Homey trick for candles. Apply a few drops of essential oil of cinnamon
to any beeswax taper or other candle before you burn it.
**WARNING** A word of warning from Akasha! Cinnamon essential oil can be
conbustle when used near flames! PLEASE if you are to use it by adding
it to a candle as stated above (which does indeed smell homey!) add it
"before" you use the candle and let it dry for a few minutes OR burn the
candle, blow it out and then add the Cinnamon essential oil AFTER the
candle wax has hardened. Thanxs!!!
Sweet decoration. Anchor several cinnamon sticks in whole cloves or
dried cranberries in a glass: this makes a pretty and sweet-smelling
decorative element.
Holiday garland. You can string cinnamon sticks with dried cranberries
and bay leaves to make a fragrant and attractive garland that will last
for decades.
Pure and easy incense. Place a mound of ground cinnamon in an ashtray or
other heatproof container. Light with a match.
Moth Repellent Sachets. Break 4 cinnamon sticks and combine with 1/2 cup
of whole cloves and 1/2 cup whole black peppercorns. Fill small squares
of fabric with a tablespoon of this mixture, tie shut, and hang in your
closets.
Bay Rum and Cinnamon Aftershave. Not only does this have a delightful
spicy scent, it also has antibacterial properties, and the cinnamon
helps stop bleeding from little nicks and cuts.
Fill a screw-top jar with dried bay leaves. Add 2 broken cinnamon sticks
and 1 tablespoon of cloves. Pour in enough dark rum to cover the herbs,
and let this mixture steep for 14 days or longer, shaking it daily.
Stain through a sieve and coffee filter, bottle the liquid, and use a
splash of it after shaving.Helpful Hints
We do not recommend the internal use of cinnamon oil, or the application
of it externally: it is far too potent. The dried, powdered spice,
however, can usually be ingested without harm.

**Nightmare** · 06-21-2006, 07:04 PM

If you're a pet owner, you won't find it surprising that pets can
instill a sense of well-being. Studies have shown that pet owners,
particularly the elderly, have lower blood pressure, are less likely
to be depressed and have higher self-esteem than people who don't have
pets. Among the more tangible rewards: A 1999 study in New York,
Missouri and Texas found that medication costs dropped in nursing
homes that allowed pets. In another study, 70 percent of the families
surveyed reported an increase in happiness and fun as a result of
acquiring a pet. In 2000, the American Heart Association's study of
stockbrokers found that those who had the companionship of a dog or
cat experienced a calming of the "stress response" that can contribute
to high blood pressure. After learning the results of the study, many
of the pet-less stockbrokers decided to invest in a pet of their own.
--
Diana Gonzalez

**Nightmare** · 06-21-2006, 07:36 PM

By Chet Day
Anyone who knows diddly about natural health knows
daily exercise is a sensible thing to do.
Well, medical science recently confirmed what us
health nuts have known forever: older and middle-age
people reported sleeping better when they added regular
exercise to their days.
These aging baby boomers fell asleep about 15 minutes
earlier and slept about 45 minutes longer at night.
Since most of us live frenetic lives and are seriously sleep-deprived
anyway, doesn't it make sense to use our feet and legs for something other than
appendages to move us from car to desk to car to home?
Of course it does.
So make a commitment today to exercise at least four
times during the next seven days.
Begin today by brisk walking, swimming, or biking for
at least 20 minutes.
This approach beats the tar out of the drug approach.
Sadly, though they are only 20% of the population, older Americans receive
almost half the medications prescribed by doctors to aid sleep.
And these sorry drugs cause confusion, falls, extended drowsiness, and a
host of other nasty side effects.
Here are some other exercising tips:
A drop in body temperature aids sound sleep. So time
your exercise five to six hours before bedtime.
Make your exercise vigorous enough to make you sweat
a little. Previous studies have shown that non-aerobic
stretching and concentration exercises alone did not
impart sleep.
Stick with it! Participants in this study did not
report improved sleep until they had been exercising
for 16 weeks.
And people sleep better on a healthy bed too. See
the "Healthy Bed Checklist" at
_<http://chetday.com/bedchecklist.html_>

**Nightmare** · 06-21-2006, 07:43 PM

Women's lives are deeply affected by the ebb and flow of our hormones. Like
dwellers on the
seashore, our lives are patterned by the cycles of nature, whether it is the
monthly rhythm of our
menstrual cycle, or the greater divides of puberty and menopause. Our female
hormones make
possible our greatest gifts for only we can bring forth life.
But hormonal lack or imbalance can also be our most consistent enemy,
causing the all too common
miseries of PMS and menopause. Most women are still unaware of the fact that
there is help for
many, if not most, of these problems.
The answer, according to an increasing number of researchers and medical
professionals, lies in
supplementation with natural progesterone. Their studies indicate that this
neglected substance is
beneficial for a wide range of symptoms related to PMS and menopause, and
that progesterone may be
the key factor in understanding, preventing, and even reversing osteoporosis.
Derived from the Mexican wild yam, natural progesterone comes in several
forms, but is best
absorbed into the body in the form of a cream which is rubbed into the skin.
Natural Hormones and Synthetic Hormones, What's The Difference?
First, let me clarify the difference between natural and synthetic
progesterone, a distinction of
which many doctors are not fully aware. Natural progesterone is a plant
extract, so close to what
the body produces that it is easily converted into the identical molecule.
It is considered extremely safe, without harmful side effects of any kind.
Synthetic
progesterones, such as Provera, are called progestins or progestogcns, and
are known to have a
wide range of side effects.
David Steinman, author of Diet for a Poisoned Planet, writes that "In
addition to unpleasant side
effects such as fluid retention and salt buildup, synthetic progesterone is
known to cause some
serious illnesses blood clots and uterine and breast cancers."
Synthetic progesterone causes side effects, says Dr. John R. Lee of
Sebastopol, CA because "It's
not progesterone. The pharmaceutical companies alter the molecular structure
so it no longer fits
into the biochemical machinery of the body."
Hormone Replacement Therapy Help Or Hindrance?
As the mass of baby boomers increasing enters mid-life, increasing attention
has been focused upon
hormone replacement therapy. So far, the emphasis has largely been upon
estrogen, and estrogen
supplementation undoubtedly has benefits for menopausal women. It helps with
hot flashes, it may
confer protection from heart disease, and it can slow the progress of
osteoporosis.
However, the risks may outweigh the benefits because estrogen
supplementation increases one's risk
of fibrocystic breasts, edema, uterine fibroids, endometrial cancer, and,
most probably, breast
cancer. Most women are very surprised to learn that the benefits they are
seeking from hormone
replacement therapy comes mostly from progesterone, not estrogen! Estrogen
decreases libido,
causes depression, headaches, and fluid retention, increases blood clotting
and body fat, and
impairs thyroid functioning and blood sugar control. Progesterone, protects
against fibrocysts in
breast tissue, restores libido, and helps prevent endometrial and breast
cancer.
It is also a natural diuretic and antidepressant, helps use fat for energy
and assists thyroid
function, normalizes blood clotting and blood sugar levels, and restores
cellular oxygen levels.
Most important, however, is its effect upon osteoporosis.
In the International Clinical Nutrition Review, Dr. Lee reported on his
treatment of 100
postmenopausal women with natural progesterone. Many of the women had lost
height or suffered one
or more fractures; both indications of osteoporosis. Bone density tests were
used to monitor the
effects of the therapy.
Although some women were treated with estrogen as well, Dr. Lee concluded
that "the bone building
benefits of the progesterone therapy were independent of the presence or
absence of supplemental
estrogen.' This is not surprising when we realize that the function of
estrogen pertains to the
osteoclast cells which dissolve old or imperfect bone, while progesterone
mediates the osteoblast
cells which build bone.
Osteoporosis occurs when osteoclast activity exceeds osteoblast activity.
Thus, estrogen can slow
the loss of bone, but only progesterone can help to build it. Dr. Lee
insured adequate mineral
intake for his patients; however, nutritional support cannot account for the
impressive results he
achieved. "It was common to see a 10% increase (in bone density) in the
first 6 to 12 months and
an annual increase of 3% to 5% until stabilizing at the levels of healthy 35
year olds,' Lee says.
"Neither age nor time from menopause was an apparent factor. The faster
increases occurred in
those with the lowest initial bone densities... The occurrence of
osteoporotic fractures dropped
to zero." Dr. Lee's conclusion shakes the premises of current opinion, yet
offers hope to
countless menopausal women: "Osteoporosis would appear to he reversible.
Natural Hormone Help For PMS
Less dangerous than osteoporosis, yet of monthly concern to millions of
women is the problem of
PMS. The cause of this condition has long been a mystery, but it is now
believed that a high
proportion of PMS sufferers have too much estrogen in their bodies in
relation to progesterone.
Neils Lauersen,M.D., coauthor of Premenstrual Syndrome and You and professor
of obstetrics and
gynecology at New York Medical College, claims that more than 90% of
patients in his practice who
have tried natural progesterone have found relief. "men nothing else works,
it is the treatment of
choice in my practice. Hundreds of women who were severely handicapped by
PMS have been
completely symptom free with (natural) progesterone," says Dr. Lauersen.
He adds that synthetic progestogens actually worsen the symptoms of PMS.
Many women have also
found that progesterone both relieves and prevents menstrual cramps.
And it can be of value during the premenopausal period when estrogen
production often continues
unabated and the body is lacking in progesterone, causing various emotional
and physical symptoms
including the rapid growth of uterine fibroids.
Balancing Female Hormones Conclusion
Reading the papers of the progesterone researchers, one almost gets the
feeling that progesterone
is all-beneficent, while estrogen causes nothing but trouble. This cannot be
entirely the case,
since estrogen is essential for a women's fertility. Although the
perspective may appear slanted,
several important points are being made here.
One is that the medical/pharmaceutical cartel is profiting handsomely from
the sale of synthetic
hormones, and is not really interested in a low cost, nontoxic alternative.
Another is that the great benefits of natural progesterone are almost
entirely unknown, due to the
almost universal confusion between progesterone and progestins and the
emphasis upon estrogen.
Once again, it is the uninformed public, in this case women, who suffer the
consequences of
ignorance and greed.
From: "The Herbal Nurse"

**Nightmare** · 06-21-2006, 08:02 PM

In 1989, a physician from Florida wrote to Walter Mertz, M.D., then
director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Human Nutrition
Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland:
"Enclosed is a sample of a 'weed.' A diabetic patient of mine brought it
back from the island of Trinidad. She has adult-onset diabetes and was
taking insulin until she began using this plant. Now she reports that
she adds the weed to vermouth and takes small sips of the mixture twice
a day.
This has resulted in normalization of her blood sugars over the past six
months. I am hoping you will be able to identify the plant and to
determine its effective ingredient."
Knowing of my interest in herbal medicine, Dr. Mertz sent me the letter
and the specimen, which I identified as jackass bitters (Neurolaena
lobata), a tall perennial weed vaguely resembling American ragweed.
Its tincture is a time-honored Creole-Caribbean treatment for diabetes
and several other ailments, among them colds, fever, malaria and
menstrual cramps.
I'm not sure whether this herb really helps with all those other
complaints, but there is good research to show that jackass bitters
helps regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. So it really does help
manage diabetes.
In several studies using experimental animals, a tincture of the plant
has been shown to be anti-hyperglycemic,
which is the "medical term" for anything, including insulin, that lowers
blood sugar.
It is high blood sugar that is responsible for the serious complications
in people who have diabetes.
If the animal dose can be applied to humans, a 150-pound person would
have to consume about an ounce of the herb to gain significant
anti-hyperglycemic benefits. But based on the letter to Dr. Mertz,
apparently some people gain real benefits from taking considerably less.
While the herb is difficult to find in the United States, some health
food stores and mail-order companies do carry it.
Problems with Fuel Supply
More than 2,000 years ago, the ancients noticed that some people
produced copious amounts of strangely sweet-tasting urine that attracted
ants. (Tasting urine was a diagnostic tool in many cultures.) They named
the condition diabetes mellitus, from the Greek for "fountain" and the
Latin for "honey."
Diabetes occurs either when the pancreas stops producing the hormone
insulin or the body becomes unable to use the insulin it produces
(insulin resistance).
Glucose, the body's major fuel, cannot enter our cells unless insulin
is present and working.
Without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and eventually
turns up in the urine, causing the sweet taste that the ancients
noticed.
The resulting sugar "imbalance" also leads to increased urination and
thirst.
Diabetes also causes narrowing of the small blood vessels throughout the
body.
It seems that the higher the blood sugar level, the more the small
blood vessels narrow.
As this happens, the blood vessels carry less blood, and circulation is
impaired.
Poor circulation in turn leads to the complications of poorly
controlled diabetes: kidney disease, poor wound healing and foot and eye
problems.
Diabetic limb problems are the cause of about half of all U.S.
amputations not caused by injury.
Diabetes also alters "fat metabolism", increasing the risk that
cholesterol-laden plaque will "build up" in the large blood vessels.
This means that people who have diabetes are at considerable risk for
cardiovascular disease.
Two Conditions, Two Approaches
There are actually two kinds of diabetes --
Type I (insulin-dependent) and Type II (non-insulin-dependent).
People who have Type I diabetes inject themselves with insulin daily to
control their blood sugar. People with Type II produce their own
insulin, but their cells don't "respond" to it properly.
Type II is by far the more prevalent form of diabetes, accounting for 85
to 90 percent of cases. It is typically associated with obesity. People
with Type II diabetes can usually control their blood sugar through
exercise,weight loss and diet, sometimes in combination with oral
medication that attempts to boost the effect of their own insulin.
It is often possible for people with Type II diabetes to avoid taking
drugs, and I favor this approach whenever possible.
My review of the literature tells me that "dietary approaches" are
cheaper, more effective and more pleasant than most of the
"pharmaceutical" alternatives.
Moderators Note: And with NO SIDE EFFECTS, I might add!!
Some six million Americans are under treatment for diabetes. Almost as
many have it and don't know it. Like heart disease and many cancers,
diabetes is strongly associated with Western culture and diet.
As members of non-Western cultures, notably American Indians and
Australian aborigines, have switched from their traditional diets to a
more Westernized diet, their "rates" of diabetes have 'soared'.
Natural Tactics to Beat Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious condition. If you have this disease, you should
definitely be under a physician's care. But there's a great deal that
you can do to help manage the condition.
Because obesity is so strongly associated with Type II diabetes, weight
control is an important element of diabetes self-care. A low-fat diet
and regular moderate exercise is the way to go. I'd suggest gradually
working up to the point where you can walk briskly for an hour every
day. You already know how to walk, and you don't have to buy any special
equipment or join a health club.
If you've never been physically active, don't despair. Walking and other
moderate exercise programs produce the greatest benefits in those who
have been the least active.
There's also good evidence that supplementation can help prevent some
diabetic complications. I suggest that you ask your doctor for a
referral to a clinical nutritionist who can help you design the
supplementation program that's right for you.
Supplements that may help include vitamins B6, C and E, chromium
picolinate, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc, plus omega-3 and
omega-6 fatty acids (black currant, borage and evening primrose oils).
Green Pharmacy for Diabetes
In addition to exercising and taking supplements, you can try many herbs
to help normalize blood sugar levels. The first, jackass bitters, I've
already described. Here are the others in the lineup.
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum).
About half of fenugreek seed (by weight) is a soluble fiber called
"mucilage'. It contains six compounds that help "regulate" blood sugar
levels.
Fenugreek also increases blood levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol while
lowering total cholesterol, so it can help prevent cardiovascular
disease, a particular hazard for people with diabetes.
Onion (Allium cepa).
Onions have a long folk history of use as a dietary supplement to treat
diabetes in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. I'm not surprised.
Onions--especially the skins--are one of our best sources of the
compound "quercetin", which has been shown to help with eye problems
that are often associated with diabetes, such as diabetic retinopathy.
Unprocessed Beans (Phaseolus, various species).
Many studies demonstrate that eating foods that are high in soluble
fiber, notably dried beans, reduces the rise in blood sugar after meals
and delays the drop in blood sugar later on, thus helping to "maintain"
blood sugar at close to desired levels.
If I had diabetes, I would eat lots of unprocessed beans and bean soups.
(For the benefits of both beans and onions, try my recipe for Dia-Beanie
Soup.)
Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia).
Also known as "balsam pear", this herb has attracted considerable
interest for its ability to regulate blood sugar.
The research was first published in India in the 1960s, and since then
several studies have shown that bitter gourd can help control diabetes.
In one trial, five grams (about two teaspoons) of powdered bitter gourd
a day decreased blood sugar by 54 percent. In another, taking 50
milliliters (about a quarter-cup) of bitter gourd extract reduced high
blood sugar by some 20 percent.
If you'd rather not fiddle with extracts, it's okay to just eat bitter
gourd as a side dish, according to Melvyn Werbach, M.D., assistant
clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California,
Los Angeles, School of Medicine,
and Michael Murray, N.D.,
co-authors of "Botanical Influences on Illness".
You could also try juicing it. Or make a decoction by gently boiling
four ounces of chopped fresh bitter gourd in a pint of water until about
half the liquid has boiled off. Take it once a day.
Dia-beanie Soup
Beans contain a type of fiber that is particularly useful for
controlling blood sugar levels, and onion skin is particularly rich in
the beneficial compound quercetin, which serves the same purpose.
Leaving the onion skin on while the soup cooks means that more of the
compound will end up in the soup bowl, where you want it.
2 cups pure spring water
1 unpeeled onion, quartered
1 can (16 ounces) kidney beans, rinsed
and drained
1 small carrot, diced
1/2 cup organic peanuts
1/4 cup fenugreek sprouts or 1/2 teaspoon
fenugreek seeds
2 bay leaves
4 cloves garlic, chopped
Dash of ground cinnamon
Dash of ground cloves
Dash of turmeric
In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring the water and onions to a
boil. Add the beans, carrots, peanuts, fenugreek sprouts or seeds, bay
leaves, garlic, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric.
Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 30 minutes, or until the onions
are very tender. Remove the onion pieces with a slotted spoon; peel off
and discard the skins.
Lightly mash the onions with a fork and return to the saucepan. Remove
and discard the bay leaves.
Makes 4 servings
Garlic (Allium sativum). Like onions, garlic has a significant ability
to control blood sugar levels.
Eat more garlic--raw, if possible, or lightly cooked in food.
Macadamia nut (Macadamia, various species). Since 1986, dietary
recommendations for people with Type II diabetes have called for a diet
with 15 to 20 percent of calories from protein, less than 35 percent
from fat and 55 to 60 percent from carbohydrates.
More recent studies show that substituting certain healthy
oils--monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)--for refined carbohydrates can
improve blood sugar control while not increasing cholesterol levels.
Extra Virgin Olive oil is the most noted source of MUFAs. But if you
don't like olive oil or simply want to expand your MUFA horizons, try
macadamia nuts.
They are up to 59 percent MUFAs. Other good sources of MUFAs include
avocados, unsalted pistachio nuts, cashews, organic peanuts and Brazil
nuts.
Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis). Marsh mallow root is very high in a
soluble plant fiber known as "pectin" (35 percent on a dry-weight
basis).
Taking pectin is an effective way to keep blood sugar levels down.
I'd steep the rather fibrous roots in pure water overnight, or better
yet, buy a commercial product.
Other good sources of "pectin" include white-flowered gourd, carrots,
rosehips, apples and figs.
Organic Peanut (Arachis hypogaea). Like beans, peanuts have the ability
to keep blood sugar levels down. They are criticized for being high in
fat, but I love them, munch them frequently and like to spread the news
of their value.
Moderators Note: Peanuts are genetically modified. For this reason it is
important to ensure that your peanuts are unprocessed raw organic ones!
Tea (Camellia sinensis). Indian researchers have shown anti-diabetic
activity for black tea.
In studies, extracts of black tea significantly reduced blood sugar
levels in laboratory animals.
If I had diabetes, I'd drink lots of tea. You might add stevia and
blood-sugar-lowering spices to the tea for a little extra help. In fact,
give my Insulinade a try.
Bay (Laurus nobilis) and other spices. My former USDA colleague, Richard
Anderson, Ph.D., has demonstrated that bay leaves help the body use
insulin more efficiently at levels as low as 500 milligrams (about a
half-teaspoon). The leaves have been shown to lower blood sugar levels
in experimental animals. I include a few bay leaves in my Dia-Beanie
Soup as well as cinnamon, clove and turmeric, which are good at
controlling blood sugar levels.
Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre).
There have been at least four Indian studies on this herb, an Indian
folk favorite for treating diabetes. The tea seems to "boost" 'insulin
production'.
There is also some intriguing evidence that it may actually "increase"
the number of islets of Langerhans, the cells in the pancreas that
produce insulin.
A few forward-looking herbal dealers are already marketing this herb in
the United States.
Insulinade
There are a number of spices that research shows can help the body use
insulin more efficiently.
These include bay leaf, chinese cinnamon, cloves and turmeric.
I'd simply add a pinch or two of each of them to a pot of black tea and
steep for ten minutes, then ice the tea. I might also add a pinch of
coriander and cumin. The research is not as strong on these two spices,
but in animal studies, both have been shown to lower blood sugar
somewhat. Those who like fenugreek might add a pinch of that as well.

**Nightmare** · 06-21-2006, 08:10 PM

Acorns
Get your acorns in the fall! Soak them in water for a few days, then boil
for one hour. Strain them out of the dye bath. Put your fabric in & hold
water just under a boil for 1/2 to 3/4 of an hour.
Apple Bark
Can be used dried or fresh. You need to break the dried up into small pieces
& soak overnight. Boil either for 1-2 hours and strain. Keep your fabric
in the bath for an hour. (yellow-golds obtained)
Calamint, Southern Mountain Mint
Use the stalks, leaves and flower heads either dried or fresh. Break up the
plant and boil for about 20 minutes then strain. July & August give the
best plants.
Dandelion Root
Use the roots fresh only. With an alum mordant you're going to get a
red-violet.
Hollyhock
Using the flower heads will give you a nice red; one pound of flower heads
with an alum mordant. The leaves produce a yellow-green.
Larkspur
This wonderful plant found along roadsides gives a very nice blue. The
'juice' from the petals, with alum, is a method/recipes from the original
days of dyeing.
Leaves
A full bucket of any leaves, boiled hard for about an hour, will give you
colors from pinky-tan to yellow-gold.
Marigolds
The garden variety kind, fresh or dried will give you from pale yellow to
rich orange - depending on the mordant. Use between one quart to 1/2 bushel
of flower heads. The more you use, the deeper the color. Cook about 15
minutes; strain and add your fabric. Simmer until the color you want is
achieved.
Red Oak
Use the bark and roots to discover a good shade of 'chocolate' brown.
Soak and boil as with other bark, before adding your fabric.
Ragweed
Besides causing us to sneeze, we can secure a good green from all the
mordants, by adding some copperas. It almost makes the sneezing worth-while!
St. John's Wort
Used after its been dried, produced a warm orange shade. As popular as it's
become, you might have a difficult time finding the plant itself though.
Wandering Jew
Used with a Tin mordant, the purple backed plant gives us an incredible deep
sea green!
Zinnia
You can use the flower heads fresh or dried. Alum helps produce a light
yellow and chrome a much darker shade with almost a greenish cast! Use
about one pound of flower heads to one pound of fabric.

**Nightmare** · 09-09-2006, 09:01 PM

By Marilynn Marchione
AP
(Aug. 9) - Americans have sipped and slurped their way to fatness by
drinking far more soda and other sugary drinks over the last four decades, a new
scientific review concludes.
An extra can of soda a day can pile on 15 pounds in a single year, and the
"weight of evidence" strongly suggests that this sort of increased consumption
is a key reason that more people have gained weight, the researchers say.
"We tried to look at the big picture rather than individual studies," and it
clearly justifies public health efforts to limit sugar-sweetened beverages,
said Dr. Frank Hu, who led the report published Tuesday in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
He and others at the Harvard School of Public Health reviewed 40 years of
nutrition studies that met strict standards for relevance and scientific
muster. The work was funded by ongoing grants to his lab from the federal
government and the American Heart Association.
Soft drink trends have marched lock-step with the growing obesity epidemic,
but industry groups have long fought efforts to say one directly caused the
other. Not all studies conclude that beverages are at fault, and the new
analysis ignored some that would have discounted such a link, the American
Beverage Association said in a statement issued in response to the study.
"Blaming one specific product or ingredient as the root cause of obesity
defies common sense. Instead, there are many contributing factors, including
regular physical activity," says a statement from the group's senior science
consultant, Richard Adamson.
However, Dr. David Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children's
Hospital in Boston and a longtime advocate of curbs on soda, said blaming other
factors misses the point.
"Could you imagine somebody saying we should ignore the contribution of
hypertension to heart attack because there are many causes? It's ludicrous. Yet
this argument resurfaces with regard to obesity," Ludwig said.
When it comes to beverage trends and obesity, "it's like documenting the
force of gravity," he said. "There's an overwhelmingly strong case to be made
for a causal relationship."
About one-third of all carbohydrate calories in the American diet come from
added sweeteners, and beverages account for about half of this amount, the
new report says.
The main sweetener in beverages -- high-fructose corn syrup -- contains
slightly more fructose than ordinary table sugar. Some studies suggest that pure
fructose fails to spur production of insulin, which is needed to "process"
calories, or leptin, a substance that helps regulate appetite.
Industry scientists say this small difference in fructose content does not
justify some nutrition experts' arguments that sweetened beverages are less
satisfying.
Regardless of this debate, a single 12-ounce can of soda provides the
equivalent of 10 teaspoons of table sugar, the Harvard review says.
The 30 studies included in the new review are of different types --
experiments where beverages were curtailed or modified, studies of cross-sections of
the population. While all do not show harm, they collectively suggest that
soda and sugary drinks "should be discouraged," the authors write.
Federal dietary guidelines recommend beverages without added sugars, and the
World Health Organization advises that added sugars should provide no more
than 10 percent of total calories.
Increasingly, sugary drinks are being restricted in schools. In May, top
beverage distributors agreed to stop selling non-diet sodas in certain schools
and restricted sales in certain settings where young children buy them.

**Nightmare** · 04-01-2007, 09:06 AM

Looking at the variety of candles available today - from sophisticated dining room tapers to multi-colored candles of all shapes and sizes, it is hard to imagine that candles are believed to have been first used by the Ancient Egyptians around 3000 years BC. At that time, however, they bore little resemblance to the candles that we are familiar with. These early candles were more like flaming torches, made of reed and tallow - a substance similar to suet.

Although the Romans did use tallow torches, they are also given credit for developing the first wick candles. Primarily, these were found in temples and other places of worship, but richer households were also able to obtain them for domestic use.

The word candle itself actually derives from the Latin 'Candere', meaning to flicker or glitter. And flicker they most certainly did! Tallow was smoky and acrid and burned poorly, so when the first beeswax candles were introduced during the Middle Ages, it was a major advance. Beeswax candles burn steadily and do not give off unpleasant
aromas. Unfortunately, during their early years, they were very labor-intensive to produce, making them too expensive for any but the richest people to afford.

It took until the nineteenth century for major steps to be taken in the development of candle making. In 1825, a Frenchman called Cambacers produced a braided wick that finally solved the problem of erratic burning. With one thread tighter than the others, a braided wick gradually trims itself to the correct length as it burns. Prior to this, candles had a single wick which often burned unevenly, making it necessary for them to be snuffed regularly - sometimes as often as every 30 minutes.

Although this new form of wick meant that candles produced were now far more efficient, candle makers were still limited in the number of candles they could produce. Each candle had to be made by hand - a time consuming process. Yet, as with so many traditional crafts in the 19th century, candle making was transformed with the industrial revolution. In 1834, Joseph Morgan invented a machine that could
produce molded candles at a rate of around 1,500 an hour. This mass production of candles meant that for the first time, they became a common household commodity.

Perhaps the greatest development however, was the introduction of paraffin wax - a by-product of crude petroleum, as an alternative to beeswax. Like beeswax, the blue tinged white paraffin wax burns cleanly and without any unpleasant aroma. Paraffin wax has on major advantage over beeswax - it is considerably cheaper to produce and
buy.

Inevitably, with the coming of electricity, the requirement for candles as a household necessity began to diminish. Although more remote regions may still rely on candles as their promary source of light, those in the developed world would generally view candles as attractive accessories, used mainly for ornamental or relaxation aids.
Having said that, there can be few households, even in today's electricity- dependent societies without a few candles tucked away in case of power cuts!

With candles playing such an important role through life, it is little wonder that there are numerous references to them in literature. Shakespeare often utilised candle metaphors, and one particularly famous example appears in Macbeth, where the burning down of the candle represents the brief passage of time.

Source Unknown

**Nightmare** · 04-01-2007, 09:39 AM

Herb Products Co. Ð <http://www.herbproducts.com>

A large variety of bulk herbs sold here at reasonable
prices, as are bamboo strainers and glass bottles.

Stony Mountain Botanicals Ð
<http://www.stonymountainbotanicals.com>

Stony Mountain Botanical's store is a family-operated
business located in Ohio. They offer over 350
varieties of bulk herbs and spices, essential oils,
and herbal accessories.

**Nightmare** · 06-23-2007, 11:02 PM

Kyphi is a compound incense that was used in ancient Egypt for
religious and medical purposes. The term "kyphi" is Greek and a
transcription of the ancient Egyptian term kp.t.

Historical References

The earliest reference to kyphi is found in the Pyramid Texts: it is
listed among the goods that the king will enjoy in the afterlife.
Papyrus Harris I records the donation and delivery of herbs and resins
for its manufacture in the temples under Ramses III. Instructions for
the preparation of kyphi and lists of ingredients are found among the
wall inscriptions at the temples of Edfu and Dendera in upper Egypt.
The Egyptian priest Manetho is known to have written a treatise called
Preparation of Kyphi-Recipes, but no copy of this work survives.

Greek physicians studying the Egyptian pharmacopia took interest in
kyphi's reputation as a medicine. Dioscorides set forth the
preparation of kyphi in his Materia Medica and this is thought to be
the first Greek description of the material. Galen preserves a medical
poem about kyphi from Damocrates, who in turn credits Rufus of Ephesus
for the formula.

In Isis and Osiris the historian Plutarch comments that Egyptian
priests burned incense three times a day: frankincense at dawn, myrrh
at mid-day, and kyphi at dusk. He reports that kyphi had sixteen
ingredients and adds "These are compounded, not at random, but while
the sacred writings are being read to the perfumers as they mix the
ingredients." Plutarch further notes that the mixture was used as "a
potion and a salve". The seventh century physician Paul of Aegina
records a "lunar" kyphi of twenty-eight ingredients and a "solar"
kyphi of thirty-six.

Composition and manufacture

All recipes for kyphi mention wine, honey and raisins. Other
identifiable ingredients include

* cinnamon and cassia bark,
* the aromatic rhizomes of cyperus and sweet flag,
* cedar,
* juniper berry, and
* resins and gums such as frankincense, myrrh, benzoin resin and
mastic.

Some ingredients remain obscure. Greek and Aramaic recipes mention
aspalathos, which Pliny describes as the root of a thorny shrub.
Scholars do not agree on the identity of this shrub: Alhagi maurorum,
Convolvulus scoparius, Calicotome villosa, Genista acanthoclada and
most recently Capparis spinosa have been suggested. The Egyptian
recipes similarly list several ingredients whose botanical identity is
uncertain.

The manufacture of kyphi as given in the Edfu text involves blending
and aging of sixteen ingredients in sequence. The result was rolled
into balls and placed on hot coals to release a perfumed smoke.

Modern availability and use

As with other facets of Ancient Egypt, kyphi has attracted commercial,
religious and academic interest. Simplified recipes for kyphi have
been published for ceremonial use by neoPagans and therapeutic use by
practitioners of aromatherapy. Several firms offer commercial versions
of kyphi for use as incense or perfume.

**Nightmare** · 06-28-2007, 02:39 PM

Research from a British university suggests that sodium benzoate, a common
preservative found in many soft drinks, has the ability to switch off vital
parts of DNA. This could eventually lead to diseases such as cirrhosis of the
liver and Parkinson's. When a UK professor of molecular biology and biotechnology
tested the impact of sodium benzoate on living yeast cells, he discovered that
it was damaging important DNA in the cells' mitochondria. Mitochondria serve
as the "power stations" for cells, and damage to them can lead to serious cell
malfunctions associated with aging and age-related disease. The damage caused
by sodium benzoate was great enough to cause the mitochondria to stop
functioning. Sodium benzoate occurs naturally in berries in small amounts, but is used
in large quantities to prevent mold in soft drinks such as Sprite, Diet
Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Dr Pepper. It is also added to pickles and sauces.

The Independent May 27, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comment: I am still shocked every time I reflect on the fact
that the number one source of calories in America comes from soda. To me it is an
absolutely mind- boggling fact. Of course, all I have to do to knock my senses
back to reality is go to a standard grocery store on a busy weekend and see
what people are stuffing in their shopping carts. We clearly have a long way to
go to share even the most fundamental, basic nutrition concepts to the typical
highly deceived and manipulated consumer. This new danger from sodium
benzoate is simply one among many, as sodas are among the worst possible "foods" you
can consume. Professor Peter Piper, the UK expert who discovered the problem,
says that the soft drink preservative can "totally inactivate" and "knock out"
cells' mitochondria. The end result is an increased risk of a slew of
diseases. Sodium benzoate has previously also come under fire because, when combined
with the vitamin C in many soft drinks, it forms benzene, a cancer-causing
chemical linked to leukemia. In one study, at least five brands of soft drinks were
found to contain excessive benzene levels.

Sodium benzoate is used freely in the United States and the UK. Fortunately,
you can protect your health from this dangerous substance by not drinking soda
(and not allowing your kids to either).This is one of the easiest -- and most
significant -- things you can do for your health; and aside from the good
news that you won't have to worry about damaging your DNA, giving up soda (if you
drink it) can reduce your risk of diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

Deficiencies in Children: One Soda a Day Increases Diabetes Risk 85 Percent
Additional details here:
Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health - Independent Online Edition > Health

NightFaery · 07-30-2007, 02:42 AM

St. John's Wort

Hypericum perforatum
Principal Proposed Uses
• Mild to Moderate Depression

Other Proposed Uses
• Anxiety, Diabetic Neuropathy and Other Forms of Neuropathy , Eczema (Topical Cream) , Insomnia, Menopause, PMS, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Probably Ineffective Uses
• Viral Infections

St. John's wort is a common perennial herb of many branches and bright yellow flowers that grows wild in much of the world. Its name derives from the herb's tendency to flower around the feast of St. John. (A "wort" is simply a plant in Old English.) The species name perforatum derives from the watermarking of translucent dots that can be seen when the leaf is held up to the sun.
St. John's wort has a long history of use in treating emotional disorders. During the Middle Ages, St. John's wort was popular for "casting out demons," conceivably an archaic description of curing mental illness. In the 1800s, the herb was classified as a "nervine," o