Tag Archives: Health

10 Natural Painkillers That Work As Good As Pharmaceuticals

Painkillers are one of the biggest and most expensive over-the-counter commodities. You need them for everything, from your little brother’s earache to your grandmother’s rheumatoid arthritis.

And while these medications are effective, they can leave your pockets feeling a little emptier and your health feeling a little strung out. What I mean by this, is that conventional painkillers can be destructive to other parts of the body while healing or soothing the ill part.

So what’s the solution to this? Dr. James A. Duke, author of the Green Pharmacy Guide to Healing Foods says that we can almost always find a plant that has the same healing effects as a pharmaceutical without any of the risk.

Take a look at these ten all-natural pain-relieving substances.

1. Birch Leaf: The leaves from the Birch tree act much like a prescription drug called cortisone. Cortisone is used to treat endocrine disorders, arthritis, lupus, skin disease, autoimmune disorders, and more.

One of the main compounds found in Birch leaves is methyl salicylate, similar to salicylic acid used in aspirin. It is anti-spasmodic, analgesic, astringent, antifungal, diuretic, detoxifier, and it reduces damage to skin as well as enhances circulation. It is truly one of the first powerful pain relievers ever used.

2. Cherries: The presence of compounds called anthocyanins (same nutrients that give cherries their rich red color) gives cherries their pain fighting power. Continue reading

How to Connect Your Root Chakra With Your Partners

This morning, I find myself contemplating some really big concepts and trying to wrestle and wrangle how things are supposed to fit together properly…

yinyangIt only makes sense that our supreme form beyond the physical is both a combination of Male and Female energy, in complete union with each other, able to ebb and flow freely with each other in a dance of cosmic light.

And while this concept may seem airy fairy, let me bring it down to the earth and make it physical.

I see relationships failing everywhere I look. It has got to the point where I am truly coming to recognition with the state of the world, there are not many lasting relationship that happen beyond the borders of “Partner and Lover”, that realm of intimacy where two souls collide and become one.

Typically, the most stable relationships that are formed are in the realms of the casual:  “Brother, Sister, Mother, Father, Daughter and Son”. When I say those, I mean them more as descriptions of the energy. Two best friends could have a real brotherly energy without needing to be brothers. Sometimes you might find a mentor and the two of you have a healthy parent-sibling relationship without actually being genetically related.

So when two come together to be partners and they do cross into that realm of intimacy, it seems to me like there is a chaotic struggle that happens in the root chakra at some point.  You see, this is a shared intimacy with another being that is shared at the root: The base foundational level of existence.

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9 Activities Linked to a Longer Life

UCLA biologists have found a gene that can slow the aging process in the entire body when activated in specific organ systems.  While working with fruit flies, these scientists activated a gene known as AMPK that is an important energy sensor in cells; which gets activated when cellular energy levels are getting low.

dna_2759155b“AMP-activated protein kinase—an energy sensor that regulates all aspects of cell function. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of energy status that maintains cellular energy homeostasis.” – D. Grahame Hardie

In the study scientists found that increasing the amount of AMPK in fruit flies’ intestines increased their lifespans by about 30 percent.  This puts them living around 8 weeks instead of the average 6 weeks.

This is like the average person who lives to be almost 80 to around 104 years.   What is also interesting is that not only do the fruit flies live longer but they were healthier as well.

Now imagine if we applied this genetic technique to someone who is already supposed to live to be over 100 years old?

There is a whole group of people, known as Centenarians, that have lived to be over 100 years old. We have found a short documentary about two Supercentenarians, from the Spice Mountains of South Western India who have lived to be over 110!  Check it out below!

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If you found that interesting there are rumors that a man in China lived to be around 250 years old! Li Ching Yuen was an herbalist who practiced Qigong and said his secret to long life was to possess the following traits in your life:

  • Tranquil mind
  • Sit like a tortoise
  • Walk sprightly like a pigeon
  • Sleep like a dog

In addition to that list here are 9 Activities that are linked to a longer life!

© Copyright 2010 CorbisCorporation1. Being Spiritual–  Having some sort of spiritual practice or belief has been linked to longer lives.  You don’t have to be a specific religion or even believe in God to qualify for this category.  Having a reverence for life and believing in something more than yourself is enough to enjoy the benefits of a longer life.

2. Health or Healing knowledge– As you heard in the video above both of our Supercentenarians were known for their knowledge and ability to heal others.  Perhaps the knowledge of healing isn’t only for ourselves.  Perhaps science will find a spark of longevity in those who take the time to ease the suffering of others. Continue reading

The Best ENERGY Drink of Your Life

Article shared with permission from Author Jenna Barrington.

I had the urge to write about this daily habit that takes 10 minutes or less, but can have an incredible influence on you and your family’s health!

green

Right now in our world there are a lot of people who would love to feel better about their bodies. Studies show that a good portion of both men and women are unsatisfied with themselves or struggle with self-confidence. This is no secret, and it is apparent that as a society we are searching for better answers than painful dieting and hours in the gym. 

I was first introduced to the idea of green smoothies by Robyn Openshaw when I was a teenager.  I struggled a lot with body image during adolescence, and more than wanting to feel beautiful I also wanted to feel healthy. So I was always looking for the secrets to having a body I felt confident walking around in!

The idea is you find the right blend of fruitsveggies, and greens to throw into a blender that make a delicious smoothie and a powerhouse nutrient-rich boost for your body! The possible and proven benefits to drinking a green drink on a daily basis are awesome!

  • green3Weight loss
  • Mood enhancement
  • Natural detox and cleanse
  • Immune support/boost
  • Huge percentage of daily need for vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
  • ENERGY increase that lasts
  • Fiber that you don’t get from juice
  • You feel ‘light’ verses ‘heavy’
  • Happy cells!!

Green smoothies are great at anytime during the day, but are particularly excellent for breakfast. Our body goes through natural cycles  throughout a day where it focuses respectively on these three processes: Elimination, Appropriation, and Assimilation. In the morning we are typically in elimination mode and our body is focusing on releasing toxins and cleansing. 

imagesEating a heavy breakfast that is cooked can often be counter-productive to this cycle. Think of how it feels if you’re trying to clean the kitchen and before you’re done someone comes in and starts pulling out  food to make a big meal.  It would definitely slow you down or maybe even stop you from cleaning completely. Our body is the same way.

Our body responds the best to living and easily digestible foods in the morning. Living food means it is raw (uncooked) and is thus still full of enzymes and nutrients that aid digestion and fuel your body.

Convinced to give smoothies a try? Let’s address some common hesitations for those that need a push!

Tastes nasty?

The first time I made a green smoothie it was disgusting. I didn’t blend it well so it was chunky and I was a little too ambitious on the percentage of greens that I added.  In general we are used to overly-sweet food, and starting off your smoothie habit with too many veggies can cause you (and your family victims) to tank before finishing the first glass. Luckily our taste buds adapt over time. Try starting with 20% veggies and 80% fruit. Then slowly change it until you’re eventually drinking 50/50. Baby steps!

cat[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”5111573″]Can’t get over looks and texture?

 
I would recommend getting a good blender.  For example try a Blendtec. They are FANTASTIC. Your smoothies will feel like Jamba Juice.  But let’s be real, a good portion of us don’t have that kind of money to throw around just yet.  But don’t let that stop you from changing you life.  Any blender will do the job. Putting the veggies in and blending them for a bit first can help to get rid of chunks making them easier to drink. 
 
Bored?

Now that I’ve got a spouse to please, I’ve put a lot more energy into VARIETY. Don’t get stuck on one recipe. Try new things! Mix new colors! If you make your family drink something that tastes too weedy one day, make a really delicious one the next day. Find your favorites and have fun getting creative.

University Professor Discovers The Secret Life of Plants

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Did you know that some plants communicate through signals in their roots? And some plants have co-dependant relationships with other plants?  Some even signal to one another when danger is around.

Even crazier, some plants actually call in the predators of the bugs that are eating them.  You know, the “enemies of my enemies are my friends” style.

When we think about plants, we don’t often associate a term like “behavior” with them, but experimental plant ecologist JC Cahill wants to change that. What Plants Talk About teaches us all that plants are smarter and much more interactive than we thought! – PBS

The University of Alberta professor maintains that plants do behave and lead anything but solitary and sedentary lives.  This is a brilliant documentary that was shared with me recently by a friend i met in Denver, CO! A must watch video, share it with everyone! If you want to learn more, here’s an article on Huffington Post all about how plants think and communicate with each other! Now, all of these sources are just the tip of the iceburg.

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