by Tamara McIntee (Chartered Herbalist)
The most fiery herb of them all is cayenne pepper, one of the best stimulants in the herbal kingdom. The word cayenne comes from a Greek word that means ‘to bite’. The Latin name for this herb is Capsicum frutescens, commonly known as chili pepper or Tabasco pepper. Cayenne pepper grows well locally in a greenhouse with rich soil. Harvest fruits throughout the late summer until mid-fall.
Cayenne pepper’s active constituent is capsaicin. This substance produces a heat sensation that is used to treat pain. It works by desensitizing the neurons that transmit pain. This herb is loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, C and G. Cayenne is also rich in potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. This herb has been used freely for over a quarter of a century.
Native people in the West Indies have used Cayenne pepper to treat fevers by soaking the pods in water; then adding the extract to the juice of sour oranges, sweetening the brew, and then sweating it out. Capsicum can improve circulation. Taken internally, it increases the heart action without increasing blood pressure. Externally, cayenne can be sprinkled into shoes or applied as a salve to warm feet. Be very careful to wash your hands thoroughly after handling cayenne, and keep out of reach of children. If any residue is rubbed into the eyes, it is very painful. Should this happen, immediately flush the eye repeatedly with cold water.
Osho Rebalancing is a dynamic hands-on approach to integrating and energizing the whole person. With our understanding of the body as both a creation of what the mind believes and what the heart feels, Rebalancing releases muscular and psychological holding patterns and brings about a more co-ordinated harmony between body and mind.
There is an intimate, interdependent correlation among the three aspects of our being ( A: Body, B: mind, C: Heart ). It is a very sensitive equilibrium, easily disturbed; if only one out of these three aspects becomes unbalanced, the other two will be affected, distorting the overall harmony.
The core of Rebalancing is the emphasis on body awareness as a first step towards a “tuning-in”, a reorientation of our awareness towards an space of emptiness and silence in our innermost being. From this point of view, this form of bodywork is a preparation for a profound transformational process, towards a state of meditation, an inner alertness. It’s a process of becoming dis-identified from all the three peripheral aspects of our reality.
Rebalancing works with a unique synthesis of individual body analysis, deep-tissue work and joint-release techniques. As the body softens and lets go of muscular rigidity, energy is released and, with it, old emotional holding patterns and psychological attitudes emerge. This freed-up energy is creatively worked with to give you more understanding and insight into your own potential and your ability to relax into your being, allowing you to respond to your life in an increasingly spontaneous and meaningful way.
A loving, skilful touch is the essence of Rebalancing. It treats the body as a gift of tremendous value, not as a mechanism to be put right. In this way, Rebalancing emphasises the sensitivity to tune into the uniqueness of each person – the beauty and indestructibility of one’s individuality. Read more »
Fresh on my brain is the topic is the chicken pox. My son first came down with it a week after he recovered, both daughters broke out with the dread spots, giving me ample opportunity to try out herbal remedies.
Caused by the herpes zoster virus chicken pox incubates two to three weeks but is infectious from five days before spots appear until all scabs have formed and spots are no longer oozing. At first, only a few small red spots appear on the body’s trunk. Next comes the fever, as many more spots appear. Once the spots become blisters filled with white fluid, they drain, scab over and finally fall off. The process lasts five days to a week. By Day Five, encourage yourself that the child has just acquired immunity from chicken pox, hopefully for life. Read more »
by Doreen Bonin
Western medical science is now beginning to consider ancient Far Eastern traditions that focus healing and good health on the life-force energy which flows in channels through all living forms. Acupuncture and associated therapies are being increasingly used by western practitioners to invigorate the life-force energy flow to restore health to unhealthy organs. The Chinese refer to this energy as Chi, the vital life force energy of the Universe, present within every living thing.
In Eastern Medicine, doctors see illness, pain and other incapacity as signs of overall imbalance in the body, not simply in one organ, muscle or limb. They look for weaknesses and blockages in Chi. When Chi is blocked or diverted, doctors seek to relieve the blockage as a means of creating balance. It is believed that once the body is in balance it may be able to heal itself, and prevent disease from happening.
The practice of Qi(Chi)gong including Tai Chi, encompasses a broad range of exercise systems for developing one’s chi. The three basic elements of these forms are (1) adjusting and preparing posture, (2) adjusting and regulating breath, and (3) adjusting or calming the mind. The movements have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system, calming the body and leading to the regeneration of vitality and the recovery of health.
Ancient Oriental medicine has now been combined with modern technology to provide a new way of accessing and moving Chi. The Chi Machine is the culmination of 38 years of research by Japanese medical doctor Shizuo Inoue.
by Kevin E. Abrams
Colloidal silver is comprised of electrically charged particles of pure silver in a distilled water solution. Rather than an anti-biotic,” colloidal silver is described in common literature as anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral. Unlike antibiotics, colloidal silver, an anti-microbial, does not destroy positive intestinal flora, and historically has been shown to be non-toxic except to single cell pathogens.
Colloidal silver has been used successfully against over 650 causes of dis-ease, including parasites in their single cell stage. Silver impregnated bandages have long been used to prevent infection and accelerate healing in burn victims.
Botanically speaking, a tablespoon of CS will also destroy bacteria, which causes stem rot, thus measurably extending the life of cut flowers. It can be given safely to animals in their drinking water. CS has been used successfully against everything from cancer to eye and ear infections, and works because of its capacity to destroy the enzyme, which makes it possible for single cell pathogens to metabolize oxygen.
Through the use of CS, dis-ease-causing pathogens are suffocated. Best of all, with the persistence of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms, pathogens do not develop a tolerance for CS. CS can be used either for health maintenance or as a remedy. It can by obtained from a variety of sources, or it can be made in the home or even while on vacation. In fact, colloidal silver should be an article in every person’s travel kit.
For more information about colloidal silver, its uses, availability and application, please contact Kevin E. Abrams at, 604-485-4778 or email abrams32@telus.net