It's been a while since I've written...

...and  I hope you are all well!

There has been a lot going on (still!) on my end, and I find that I like being busy. But sometimes, do you ever feel the need to just have a few hours to do nothing?

I picked up some new books and hobbies I will be sharing with you here...in case you aren't following my instagram. The list of what I'd like to do, see, and learn is endless.

For the next few weeks, I will be sharing with you some "thinkers" from Suzanne Somer's new book, Tox-Sick. I try to follow up with as many stories as I can ( ;) ) that I have lived through and been through.

Also, this article here has pissed me off:

Australian wellness guru Belle Gibson reportedly built her career around claims she survived several different kinds of cancer with alternative medicine, but this week, she confessed that it was all a lie.

"No. None of it's true," she reportedly told The Australian Women's Weekly magazine in an issue on stands today.

Gibson, 23, claimed to have had blood, brain, liver, spleen and uterus cancers, according toMashable, which published a skeptical piece about the embattled entrepreneur last month. The Whole Pantry writer said she cured herself by shirking traditional medicine, eating whole foodsand using alternative therapies instead, according to Australian Women's Weekly.

"I don't want forgiveness," the Australian Women's Weekly reported her saying. "I just think [speaking out] was the responsible thing to do. Above anything, I would like people to say, 'OK, she's human.'"

ABC News reached out to Gibson through The Whole Pantry App but did not receive a response.

In addition to blogging, Gibson founded The Whole Pantry app, published a recipe book and had hundreds of thousands of social media followers. She appears to have deleted her Instagramposts.

Earlier today, Gibson allegedly tweeted from the Whole Pantry App account, "For the record, I haven't retreated to the United States. and didn't. Media, continue to 'humiliate and condemn' - Belle."

Unfounded claims of having cancer aren't new, but this is different because Gibson was offering unproven advice to a wide audience for profit, NYU Langone bioethicist Arthur Caplan told ABC News. He said the case should serve "as a reminder that there are people out there willing to prey on the desperate and the vulnerable."

"It is beyond despicable that you would give advice to people with terminal diseases like cancer and have them forgo the only therapies that might offer some hope," Caplan said. "I admit that the therapies often are poor, but that's all there is. To talk about alternatives that don't work, claiming that they did work on you is to not only step over the ethical line, it is to throw yourself into ethics 
hell.

"http://abcnews.go.com/Health/cancer-blogger-belle-gibson-now-sick/story?id=30526980

Why it pisses me off:
1- Um, cancer isn't funny. How ridiculous and petty does someone have to be to fake an illness? Who raised her?

2- First of all, eating whole foods and using alternative therapies...given that I don't know which therapies she used because I'd never even heard of here...there is the whole theory of detox that everyone in general needs to obtain optimum health.

3- I always believe in doing my own research. I don't go around believing everything someone says. It would be ridiculous if people did that. I want to learn everything...how to cure my body naturally, how to detox properly, what to eat, how to eat it...there is not one right way for everyone so why should one person have so much influence. I encourage everyone to do more research on health, wellness, and nutrition. If you don't, how will you learn anything?

4- People who fake a disease? I am trying not to judge, but do you want to try any chemo treatments that I've tried? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Educate yourselves, peeps. And have a beauuuuuutiful weekend.

Love me,
the globetrotting gamine

Maitake and Immunity

Obviously, those with a strong immune system are lucky...because others like me, we have to work at it.

A strong immune system helps:

1. helps protect against more serious chronic illnesses
2. helps you fly by cold and flu season
3. identifies and neutralizes harmful stuff like bacteria, viruses and environmental contaminants

I've recently started researching Maitake D-Fraction, which is the mushroom's bioactive extract which activates the innate immune system, strengthens body's bacterias. 

In a 2011 study, it was discovered that it also activates a specfic gene that promotes programmed cell death in breast cancer cells. More studies indicate that it promotes the destruction of cancerous renal cells and bladder cells. 

Ancient lore claims that when the Japanese found the mushrooms in the mountains, they began dancing for joy. So, maitake means "dancing mushroom". 

So, 200 mg twice a day, people. If you take with a dose of Vitamin C, it may enhance the maitake's absorpton!

love love love,

the globetrotting gamine

ADD, ADHD- what I think

As a licensed school counselor, and a mental health counselor...there's a lot of similarities I see in cases where children are incorrectly diagnosed...and sometimes, it starts with their nutrition.

How many of these students are consuming the S.A.D (Standard American Diet) that consists of meats, genetically modified fruits and vegetables, junk food, fast food, processed food, dairy, cold cuts, and all kinds of fake sugars...not to mention vaccinations? No one person has ever studied the effect of all the vaccinations and all these diets together to see what they can result in.

In the same respect, kids will be kids. Some will be quiet, some loud...some running, some sitting...some thoughtful, and some outgoing...this is a fact.

So, why not address the nutrition and activity of our children rather than send them off to get a new prescription for them?

For example, if a child detoxes, Mom or Dad begin juicing organic fruits and vegetables for them, they begin eating an all organic diet...do they wonder what they would change? Or is that more complicated than just going to pick up a prescription and drug their children?

What about adding a supplement like Ginko Biloba...the benefits are endless, including:

1. improves cognition and memory
2. boosts blood flow to brain
3. destroys free radicals (which cause dis-eases like cancer)
4. protects brain cells from premature death
5. improves selective attention
6. long term verbal and non-verbal memory
7. improves antisocial and hyperactive disorder
8. can manage impulsivity and forgetfulness

You should use 60-120 mg, 1 to 2 times daily. DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH BLOOD THINNING DRUGS!

It's worth a 28-day trial to do all this, rather than have your child take a trial medication!

love love love,

the globetrotting gamine

health stuff: bones and joints

i have been learning so much stuff, that I barely have enough time to slow down. seriously, so much to do-- but i'm not gonna lie. this is what i wanted and i love it.

during this freezing season called winter...in NY... a lot of us are feeling and complaining about our aches and pains. if you've noticed, they lie dormant most of the year until the temperature drops very low.

i know because the surgeries and chemo damaged nerves act up like a mofo. it is not fun, but i'm also not going to let it bother me.

the inner core of our bones produces blood cells and bones also act as a storage tank for most of the calcium in our body.

joints occur where the bones come together-- i've noticed lately, my wrist and legs and elbows, even my back, are cracking much more easily, and loudly! they're usually covered by spongy cartilage. it acts as a shock absorber and should guarantee you to move around easily. wear and tear may cause this sponginess to break down.

a couple of posts ago, i wrote about magnesium...which should definitely be incorporated in all of our supplements. here's some reasons why:

1. helps with bone formation
2. stimulates calcitonin hormone (preserves bone structure by drawing calcium out of the blood and soft tissues back into the bones!)
3. lowers risk of osteoporosis
4. helps bone mineral density in postmenopausal and elderly women
5. will help you deal with stress
6. helps your cells relax
7. less inflammation and better sleep...

and so much more!

you're supposed to take between 400 to 800 mg per day! don't start at 800 though-- you don't want your poop to run away from you when you're not ready for it... lol

i hope this helps your winter stress and bone aches!!

love love love,

the globetrotting gamine

From Louise Hay's All is Well...

(pg.57)

"So what does science tell us about the mind-body connection behind negative thoughts and emotions affecting the organs of the second emotional center?

Studies have found that the rate of infertility and menstrual cycle irregularities is higher in women who have inner conflicts about being a mother and who are worried about changes in their bodies. WHile they feel social pressure to have children, motherhood may not fit in with their long term goals. The emotional stress surrounding this issue increases cortisol and decreases progesterone, which hurts successful implantation of the embryo into the uterus. It also decreases oxy tocin and increases norepinephrine and epinephrine; all of this works together to suppress sex hormones and turn off the mechanism that pulls sperm up into the uterus.

If a man is under a lot of pressure, the anxiety he experiences causes his body to produce antibodies that make sperm "impotent" as they say. "

2015, magnesium and stuff

i wish you all a happy, healthy, magical 2015!!!

i'll post more about my resolutions later ;)

a long time ago, i was told by my naturopath (and also a healer!) that it would be a good idea to incorporate magnesium into my daily vitamin/supplement/herb routine.

the other day, my father in law was told by his naturopath that it would be a good idea that he begin to take magnesium as well, so it sparked the thought...that i should blog about the wonder that is magnesium!

So...

What is magnesium?
- A metallic element whose salts re essential nutrients required for more than 300 enzymatic reactions that are necessary for NORMAL CELL FUNCTION! (this can obviously benefit everyone, especially if you've fallen prey to the S.A.D. --sad, american diet.)

-in a woman, not enough magnesium can cause emotional instability, excessive nervous sensitivity with generalized aches and pains and a lower premenstrual pain threshold or what we have labeled as PMS.

In addition to my everyday life, schedules, etc., I'm an avid reader, and observer of the Universe. I don't enjoy talking out of my *WOOHOO* unless I have something to back it up.

Since I am always pulling my research from everywhere and everything I can get my hands on...here's some information from varied sources:

"Severe magnesium deficiencies are rare. They're more likely in people who:

• Have kidney disease
• Have Crohn's disease or other conditions that affect digestion
• Have parathyroid problems
• Take antibiotics or drugs for diabetes and cancer
• Are older adults
• Abuse alcohol  " (from webmd.com)

"Benefits of Magnesium:

 

1. Better sleep - The sleep regulating hormone melatonin is disturbed when Magnesium is deficient. Furthermore, Magnesium brings balance and controls stress hormones. Stress and tension are often reasons why people suffer from insomnia in the first place.

 

2. Relaxes the nervous system - Serotonin, which relaxes the nervous system and elevates mood, is dependent on Magnesium.

 

3. Bigger, stronger muscles - Magnesium allows the body to produce more Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), which is a major contributor to the growth and strength of muscles. Furthermore, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the cell's energy store, and is created with help from Magnesium.

 

4. Better flexibility - Magnesium loosens tight muscles. Without Magnesium, muscles do not relax properly and cramps occur. Magnesium is important for flexibility, because low Magnesium results in a buildup of lactic acid, causing pain and tightness.

 

5. Bone integrity and strength - Magnesium helps to fix calcium properly. It may blow some people's mind that the calcium supplements they're taking are not only useless, but are actually contributing to osteoporosis! There are actually about eighteen essential nutrients that contribute to bone health; Magnesium is definitely one of the most essential, because it stimulates a particular hormone called calcitonin. And, it also suppresses a hormone called parathyroid that breaks down bone.

 

6. Remineralizes teeth - Magnesium deficiency causes an unhealthy balance of phosphorous and calcium in saliva, which damages teeth.

 

7. Alkalizes the body - Magnesium helps return the body’s pH balance. Magnesium reduces lactic acid, which is partly responsible for post-exercise pain (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).

 

8. Hydrates - Magnesium is a necessary electrolyte essential for proper hydration.

 

9. Helps to relieve constipation - Magnesium can be used to cleanse the bowels of toxins.

 

10. Enzyme function - Enzymes are protein molecules that stimulate every chemical reaction in the body. Magnesium is required to make hundreds of these enzymes work and assists with thousands of others.

 

11. Diabetes - Magnesium enhances insulin secretion, which facilitates sugar metabolism. Without Magnesium, glucose is not able to transfer into cells. Glucose and insulin build up in the blood, causing various types of tissue damage, including the nerves in the eyes.

 

There are many other benefits of Magnesium: It helps prevent stroke, heart disease, period pain, and more."

(http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5473/11-Miraculous-Ways-Magnesium-Heals-Your-Mind-Body.html)

"Sources of Magnesium

Natural sources of magnesium include sea vegetables, leafy vegetables such as spinach, and whole grains that are usually major components of a person’s regular diet. Some other vegetables that can be classified as rich magnesium sources include tomatoes, beet greens, broad beans, lima beans, artichokes, sweet potatoes, buckwheat flour, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, wheat flour, oat bran, barley, cornmeal and chocolate. Also, you can consume dairy products such as milk and yoghurts, as well as non-vegetarian products like fish to acquire magnesium. Whole wheat bread containing bran and germ has twice the magnesium content compared to white bread. Water also has a high magnesium content; hard water has more magnesium than soft water, although hard water is not good for the body, especially the kidneys." 

(https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-magnesium.html)

"Magnesium is farmed out of the soil much more than calcium," Dr. Dean explains. "A hundred years ago, we would get maybe 500 milligrams of magnesium in an ordinary diet. Now we're lucky to get 200 milligrams. People do need to supplement with magnesium." (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/12/08/magnesium-health-benefits.aspx)

~My magnesium education began when I started on the path of removing my amalgam teeth fillings (i had so many :( ) As I was detoxing a LOT to go through the safe removal, I found that I had stopped going to the bathroom ( #2!! ) as much as I used to. I spoke to a beautiful friend of mine, and she mentioned, MAGNESIUM needed to be added to my protocol! It kind of has those enzymatic reactions swish everything about and cause you to go go go! It's a wonderful thing <3

Hope this helped you guys!

Much LOVE and light and Happy, squishy feelings,

the globetrotting gamine

Spirit Earth Holistics

You have to check this brand out!

http://spiritearthholistics.ca/

There are so many wonderful things they produce: hair care, body care, muscle balm, natural deodorant, soaps, bath salts...

all eco-friendly, no parabens, fair trade, First Nations authentically hand crafted!

I really can't wait for my birthday shopping spree...

I found about them at the Shinnecock Pow Wow and hope you love them!



Love love love,
globetrotting gamine

Fluoridation (eew)

"Fluoridation (p.116)

Fluoride, a compound that protects against tooth decay, was added to many municipal was added to many municipal water systems beginning in 1945. At present, an estimated 2/3 of the American people live in communities with fluoridated water. While fluoridation has reduced cavities, rates of other orders have increased, including damage to the bones, thyroid gland, and immune function. As a result, several European countries, icluding Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Germany and Belgium have discontinued treating water with fluoride. France and Norway never started it. In the U.S. Kansas, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Hawaii have recently rejected proposals for fluoridization, and in 1998 voters in Santa Cruz refused to allocate money for fluoridation following a mandatory law passed by the California legislature.

Fluoride, a compound of calcium and fluoride that occurs naturally, is used in Oriental medicine as a tranquilizer. Prozac, the modern anti-depressant drug, utilizes fluoride as an active ingredient. In food, fluorine naturally occurs in rice, rye, parsley, cabbage, sea vegetables, and bancha twig tea."

Alleged Attacks By Fluoride:

• damages bones
• linked to a lower IQ
• produces Alzheimer like symptoms
• it's a byproduct of the A-bomb 

wow.

that's why it sucks.

what do you think?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

sitting vs. squatting

(notes taken from here)

A Clinical Study of Sitting versus Squatting In April, 2002, an Iranian radiologist, Dr. Saeed Rad, published a study which compared the effectiveness of sitting versus squatting for evacuation.²⁴    One of his conclusions relates to the cause of a type of hernia known as "rectocele," which is a bulge of the front wall of the rectum into the vagina.
Thirty subjects participated in the study – 21 male, 9 female – ranging in age from 11 to 75 years. Each patient received a barium enema so the internal mechanics of evacuation could be recorded on an X-Ray image. Each patient was studied in both the squatting and the sitting positions.
Using these images, Dr. Rad measured the angle where the end of the rectum joins the anal canal. At this junction point, the puborectalis muscle creates a kink to prevent incontinence. Dr. Rad found that when the subjects used sitting toilets the average angle of this bend was 92 degrees, forcing the subjects to strain. When they used squat toilets, the angle opened to an average of 132 degrees. At times it reached 180 degrees, making the pathway perfectly straight.
Using squat toilets, all the subjects reported "complete" evacuation. "Puborectalis relaxation occurred easily and straightening of the rectum and anal canal facilitated evacuation. The anal canal became wide open and no folding was noticed in the terminal rectum."
In the sitting position, "a remarkable folding was created in the terminal rectum predisposing it to rectocele formation, and puborectalis relaxation was incomplete." All the subjects reported that elimination felt "incomplete" in the sitting position.
Dr. Rad also measured the distance from the pelvic floor to the perineum. In the sitting position he found that the pelvic floor was pushed downwards to a significant degree. (A detailed discussion of the connection between sitting toilets and pelvic organ prolapse – including rectoceles – can be found in thegynecological disorders section.)
Dr. Rad concluded that the use of the squat toilet "is a more comfortable and efficient method of bowel evacuation" than the sitting toilet.

 
Different types of squat toilets


note:: i've never used squat toilets before and don't think i have the coordination to do so- but would do it if there was a shower nearby! lol

love me,
the globetrotting gamine 

appendicitis

information from here
Appendicitis In the diagram of the colon, please locate the cecum, the appendix and the ileocecal valve. The left side of the diagram corresponds to the right side of the body.
The cecum is a small pouch where the colon begins, in the lower right section of the abdomen. Wastes from the small intestine flow into the cecum through the ileocecal valve (theoretically a one-way valve.) The appendix is a narrow tube attached to the cecum, with a channel opening into the cecum.
Waste matter can get lodged in this channel, causing the appendix to become infected and inflamed. Immediate surgery must be performed to remove the appendix before it bursts. Otherwise, the result is usually fatal.
Why does the appendix get blocked with fecal matter? Did nature make a blunder in its design?
One clue comes from the field of epidemiology. Appendicitis is a disease of westernized countries, virtually unknown in the developing world.^19,31     The reason is that the cecum was designed to be squeezed empty by the right thigh, in the squatting position. On a sitting toilet, it is physically impossible to compress the cecum.
Instead, one pushes downwards with the diaphragm, while holding one's breath. This maneuver inflates and pressurizes the cecum. It is analogous to squeezing a tube of toothpaste in the middle and causing the bottom of the tube to inflate. The pressure can easily force wastes into the appendix, with disastrous consequences.
The back-pressure can also overwhelm the ileocecal valve, whose purpose is to protect the small intestine from fecal contamination. Barium enema exams and intestinal surgeries routinely show the leakage of wastes into the small intestine.Crohn's Disease develops in the area soiled by this toxic backwash.
Despite all the straining, the cecum never gets evacuated. Residual wastes adhere to the colon wall, increasing the risk of cancer and inflammation (including appendicitis.)
By contrast, in the squatting posture, the right thigh squeezes the cecum from its base. Its contents are thoroughly expelled into the ascending colon, where peristalsis carries them away. There is no need to hold one's breath or push downwards, since the posture generates the pressure automatically.
The force is all directed upwards, so the appendix stays clean and the ileocecal valve stays closed. These organs were not "poorly designed" – as is currently taught in medical schools. Like the rest of the colon, they were designed with squatting in mind.

---

Historical Background of Appendicitis Most people assume that appendicitis has always been with us. But in fact, it emerged quite recently, coinciding with the introduction of sitting toilets toward the end of the 19th century.²² According to the Medical Journal of Australia,

The epidemiology of appendicitis poses many unanswered questions. Almost unknown before the 18th century, there was a striking increase in its prevalence from the end of the 19th century, with features suggesting it is a side effect of modern Western life.³⁰

In 1886, Reginald Heber Fitz, a Harvard Professor of Pathological Anatomy, became the first doctor to recognize and name the disease. He was also the first one to propose treating it by removing the appendix.¹⁸
The conservative British medical establishment resisted the novel appendectomy procedure until after the turn of the century, when it was used to save the new king's life. In 1901, the Prince of Wales, Albert Edward, underwent an emergency appendectomy, just two weeks before his scheduled coronation as King Edward VII. His successful recovery finally convinced British surgeons that this operation was the only way to save the victims of this "mysterious" new disease.²⁰
Currently, 7% of the U.S. population will contract appendicitis at some point in their lifetime (according to www.emedicine.com). The figure would be even higher, except that 40,000 "incidental appendectomies" are performed each year (according to Harper's Index, Feb, 2002.) "Incidental" means there was nothing wrong with the appendix, but the surgeon happened to be operating on another organ nearby – in most cases performing a hysterectomy.
Appendicitis is the most common reason for a child to need emergency abdominal surgery. Young people between the ages of 11 and 20 are most often affected (according to www.KidsHealth.org).
Modern medicine recognizes that appendicitis is primarily a disease of the Western World.³¹    They attribute this to the (allegedly) greater amount of fiber in the diet of the Third World. However, the fiber theory has never been substantiated, as evidenced by this quote from www.KidsHealth.org:

There are no medically proven ways to prevent appendicitis. Although appendicitis is rare in countries where people eat a high-fiber diet, experts have not yet shown that a high-fiber diet definitely prevents appendicitis.

Many residents of the developing world, not wanting to appear "backward", feel obliged to adopt western toilets. This trend is causing health problems that were previously unknown among squatting populations. Appendicitis is one example, as reported by webhealthcentre.com, a health care portal based in India:

The Indian type of toilet is more conducive to complete evacuation than the Western toilet. With the western style closets becoming popular in India, there is a risk of increased incidence of appendicitis.

Unfortunately, western doctors have never made the connection between toilet posture and appendicitis. Their understanding of this disease has advanced little in the century since Dr. Frederick Treves performed his famous appendectomy (mentioned above) on the Prince of Wales.
Ironically, Sir Frederick (knighted for saving the king's life) lost his own daughter to appendicitis.²⁷   Despite being highly skilled at surgery, he had no idea what causes the disease, or how to prevent it.
Now his successors have a chance to redeem their profession. By informing their patients (and their children) about the health hazards of the modern toilet, they can prevent a great deal of needless suffering.

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for the love of broccoli

"Broccoli (p.43)

As a cruciferous vegetable, the protective effects  against heart disease and cancer have been well documented. In traditional Oriental medicine, broccoli is especially good for the lungs and large intestine.

Broccoli Reduces Cancer Risk:
In a review of seven cohort studies and 87 case-control studies around the world, researchers in the Netherlands reported that 67% of the studies found that the consumption of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower lowered the risk of lung cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Anticancer Nutrient Identified:
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reported that they had identified the ingredient  in broccoli that worked as a powerful anticancer compound in laboratory experiments. The chemical, sulforaphane, boosts the production of an important enzyme known to neutralize carcinogens before the trigger tumor growth. In addition to broccoli, sulforaphane is found in bok choy, ginger, scallions, and other vegetables.
In subsequent experiments, the Johns Hopkins scientists reported that broccoli inhibited induced breast cancer in animal tests. They particularly recommended saga broccoli, grown organically in Maine for the experiments."

Brocc it up!!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

about BGH in your food

we all know hormones in our foods (meats, chicken, dairy) really sucks. an excerpt from "let food be thy medicine" by Alex Jack tells us a little about the Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH).

"Bovine Growth Hormone (p.37)

BGH is a genetically engineered hormone fed to dairy cows to boost milk production. WHile the FDA approved its use in 1995, health and consumer groups have expressed concerns about its safety and demanded that it be labelled.

Monsanto, the manufacturer, has sued natural foods stores and companies that label its product BGH free, claiming that such labels unfairly parage a legal product. A compromise on the issue of labeling was reached for the first time in 1998 when organic food companies in Illinois and Ben & Kerry's ice cream settled a lawsuit against the state in which natural foods suppliers won the right to explain to consumers that they oppose recombinant BGH and would not use it on their products, though the FDA has found no significant difference between BGH-treated and untreated cos.

About 25% of the milk sold in the U.S. is made from cows treated with BGH."

It goes on to say that in regards to being related to cancer..."In a review of the evidence linking dairy and breast cancer, researchers with the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine contend that the FDA's approval of BHG, genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, was based on faulty assumptions and studies. WHile the FDA concluded that it did not differ chemically from natural BGH, studies indicate that BGH differs by 1 to 9 amino acids. The FDA also assumed that BGH is not orally active in humans and that its activity is destroyed during pasteurization, both of which have been contradicted by subsequent studies."

Ick.

Almond Milk all the way <3

cashew, and hemp, too!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

the correct use of herbs, part 4

(i love that)

on with the conclusion of the herb summary in Jude's Herbal Home Remedies!

Rose Hips
Rosemary
Sage
Sassafras
Sheep Sorrel
Shepherd's Purse
Skullcap
Slippery Elm
Solomon's Seal
Spearmint
Sweet Woodruff
Tag Adler

the correct use of herbs, part 3

(took this from here )



from Jude's Herbal Home Remedies:


Licorice

• use the root
• has estrogen properties so use during and after change of life
• use for all blood and bronchial problems

Marsh Mallow

• use the root
• soothes inflammations and irritations of the urinary and alimentary systems
• will dispense throat tickle.

Mullein

• flowers and leaves are used
• used for bronchial problems, inhibits bacteria growth, antibiotic properties

Nettle

• use leaves and upper part of plant
• used to relieve arthritis pains

Nutmeg

• use in small doses to help stomach disorders and digestion
• use in a small dose ONLY

Pansy

• whole herb
• mild expectorant, for colds and asthma
• good tonic for the heart

Pennyroyal

• use leaves
• relieves stomach
• stimulates uterine muscles

Peppermint

• leaves and flowering tops are used
• removes hardened mucus from alimentary and bronchial systems
• used for stomahc discomfort

Plantain

• roots and leaves are used
• antiseptic properties
• removes toxins from system

Pokeweed

• early shoots, roots and berries are used
• the chemotherapy of the herbs, strong purge
• duplicates effects of cortisone which stimulates entire glandular system
• violent laxative and diuretic to clean the whole system

(this is ironic because chemo doesn't make you poop. it keeps it all in.)

Prickly Lettuce

• leaves and gum are used
• strong sedative to treat insomnia
• removes hardened excretions from the bronchial system

Purslane

• use the herb above the ground
• good cleanser for kidneys

Raspberry

• leaves and fruit are used
• stimulates kidneys and soothes uterine muscles, known as a woman's herb
• roots are known for astringent properties

Red Clover

• flowering tops are used
• great blood purifier and tonic
• skin disorders caused by impurities of the blood so take the tea on a regular basis if you are not allergic

the juice chronicles

this was one of my 

favorite juices to create.

i had no idea it would come out

teenage mutant ninja GREEN

but i should have figured!!

-golden beet

-melon

-lemon

-green apples

- ginger

-celery

and it was DELISH!!

what yummy juice did you create today?

love me,

the globetrotting gamine

the correct use of herbs, part 2

part to from Jude's Herbal Home Remedies!

Calendula

• use flowers
• tea is used internally and externally 
• has been used to stop bleeding, is antibiotic and heals wounds
• treats chest ailments and craps, flu, stomach problems and to induce swelling to bring down fever

Catnip

• leaves and flowering tops
• treat colic or flatulence

Celery

• tea made from celery eases the tummy
• used as a sedative
• always use fresh celery

Chamomile

• flowers and the upper hald of the plant are used
• calmative and sedative
• treats headaches, cramps and other gastrointestinal disorders

Chicory

• flowers
• used as sedative and general tonic
• used as a diuretic

Clary Sage

• leaves and seeds are used
• used for eye disorders, clears sediments from liver and kidneys
• good for nausea and colic treatment

Cleavers

• the entire herb
• strong diuretic, used to dissolve deposits in the kidneys

Coltsfoot

• use the leaves
• this herb binds to toxins in the system and helps to eliminate them, great expectorant

Corn Silk

• great diuretic, used to clean the urinary system and as a tonic for the whole system

Dandelion

• use roots and leaves
• use as a general tonic, as well as for liver and bladder complaints

Elder

• use leaves, fruits and flowers
• elder flower tea is an excellent diuretic, use for feverish colds

Eyebright

• use seeds if you have a tendency toward kidney stones
• use in a rinse for eyes

Fennel

• use all parts
• aids digestion and helps calm nervous stomach, increases milk production

Fenugreek

• use seeds
• soothes lining of stomachs and intestines

Ginseng

• use the root
• considered a near cure-all.
• used as a tonic for all systems of the body and as an aphrodisiac

Goldenseal

• use the root
• helps in ailments of both the stomach and liver

Horehound

• use flowering tops and leaves
• use for bronchial and stomach disorders, good for sore throats and colds, an expectorant

Hollyhock

• use roots and leaves
• leaves can be used uncookes in salads or cooked as a side dish
• an emollient
• good to use during colds, or if prone to kidney stones

Irish Moss

• use dried plant
• bronchial disorders, kidney problems
• use in cough syrups

Kelp

• contains iodine
• use to purify blood as well as for goiters

Kidney Beans

• tea made from the beans and pods is considered to be of a diuretic nature
• helps to clean kidneys and ureters of gravel

Lavender

• use the flowers for a pleasant, sedative tea
• use for releasing tension and headaches

Lemon Balm

• use the leaves
• make a tea with a sedative action
• use to induce sweating to reduce fevers
• regulates menstruation

what i want: the welles step

Seven Advantages of Squatting

1. Makes elimination faster, easier and more complete. This helps prevent "fecal stagnation," a prime factor in colon cancer, appendicitis andinflammatory bowel disease.
2. Protects the nerves that control the prostate, bladder and uterus from becoming stretched and damaged.
3. Securely seals the ileocecal valve, between the colon and the small intestine. In the conventional sitting position, this valve is unsupported and often leaks during evacuation, contaminating the small intestine.
4. Relaxes the puborectalis muscle which normally chokes the rectum in order to maintain continence.
5. Uses the thighs to support the colon and prevent straining. Chronic straining on the toilet can cause hernias, diverticulosis, and pelvic organ prolapse.
6. A highly effective, non-invasive treatment for hemorrhoids, as shown by published clinical research.
7. For pregnant women, squatting avoids pressure on the uterus when using the toilet. Daily squatting helps prepare one for a more natural delivery.

navel expo

what a great time my friends and i had at the navel expo!
it's really sparked a bigger passion in me on my pursuit of everything health and wellness.

i have so much to tell you about it...

like how i sipped bentonite clay (not a good idea! just gulp it down!)

like how i met interesting people...

how many more items are on my to-buy list is crazy!!
(like a vitamix, please!!!!)

hope to see you there next year!

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

to detox!

what would detoxify your liver and why!

• taurine: "

Taurine is the amino acid of anxiety control and stress management because it will lower cortisol and helps people be less anxious. The benefits of taurine don’t stop there. It also improves athletic performance and reaction time, making it useful for athletes.

• It supports insulin health, can prevent diabetes, and elevates energy production. Taurine is a potent brain nutrient, lowers blood pressure, protects the heart, helps with detoxification, and fights inflammation. Sounds like we could all use a little extra!
  It’s best to lay the building blocks for success before you start taking taurine because this amino acid is an excellent addition to a protein-rich diet and supplement plan that ensures you aren’t deficient in any of the essential nutrients. For example, be sure your omega-3 to -6 fat ratio is balanced because this will help taurine work its magic.
  
  This article will focus on the ten best benefits of taurine for a lean body composition and excellent health. Taurine can give you that extra boost by improving your mood, motivation, and helping you feel all around better.
  
  1)    Take Taurine For Less Stress
  Stress will kill you. And make you fat and unhappy. Even the most serene individuals often say they’d like to have less stress in their lives. Taurine can help us get there.
  
  Taurine is an amino acid that calms the nervous system by facilitating the production of the neurotransmitter GABA, which stands for gamma-aminobutyric acid. By helping to raise GABA levels, taurine will allow your body to manage anxiety so that your thoughts don’t go spiraling out of control and you don’t get the associated cortisol and adrenaline spikes that go with anxiety and stress.
  
  Research shows that taurine supplementation can lower anxiety in stress-producing situations, thereby allowing for greater work output and performance. One study in Advances in Experimental Medicines and Biology found that giving rats a taurine treatment prior to an anxiety-inducing exercise maze resulted in less anxious behavior and better speed through the maze a rat group that were given a placebo.
  
  A second study in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior found similar results in that taurine lowered anxiety and increased performance on a test that combined cognitive and physical elements. In this study, also performed on rats, found that those that received the taurine demonstrated greater social interaction, which as an indicator or less stress and anxiety.
  
   If you have low taurine, your nervous system will be over-responsive to stress. A chronically excited nervous system means persistently high cortisol, and naturally, fat gain. If you have any experience with fat loss, you know that the body is most agreeable about giving up its fat stores when it is calm and not stressed or overly stimulated. The simple stress-lowering effect of supplementing with taurine will help you improve body composition and lose weight.
  
  2)    Eat Meat For Best Results With Taurine
  Taurine is an organic acid that is derived from the amino acid cysteine. There is some debate as to whether taurine should be classified as an amino acid because it does not contain a carboxyl group in its molecular structure. In fact, taurine behaves more like a neurotransmitter because of how it calms the nervous system, and the key point is that getting an adequate amount will make you healthier.
  
  Taurine can be synthesized in the pancreas if sufficient cysteine is available. For best results you should get taurine in the diet and take a supplement. Resistance trainees and athletes will deplete this nutrient since it is involved in fat use for energy production and stress management. For example, baseball pitchers and track throwers tend to be deficient in taurine and magnesium due to all the high velocity throws they perform.
  
  Foods that are natural sources of taurine are meat and animal products such as seafood, meat, milk, and eggs. Vegetarians and vegans are known to be chronically deficient in taurine. One of the worst things about nutrient deficiencies associated with the vegan diet is that their lack of taurine will them very anxious. With the added stress and over-stimulated nervous system that goes with taurine deficiency, vegans are in for a rough time.
  
  A supplement will help non meat eaters, but including organic grass-fed and wild meats and animal products is suggested because this will also provide a nice dose of DHA and EPA omega-3s. Plus, you’ll get extra carnitine (essential for fat burning and works synergistically with taurine),  creatine (great for body composition and performance), and conjugated linoleic acid (helps prevent prostate and breast cancer).
  
  Doses of up to six grams a day of taurine have proven to be very effective in protecting heart function. Smaller doses are typically used to improve brain function and prevent epilepsy.  Two to three grams a day is a safe place to start, and you can increase intake up to six grams. There’s no evidence of negative health effects from supplementing with taurine.
  
  3)    Take Taurine to Burn Fat
  Taurine is stored in the gallbladder in bile, and it helps the body digest food, particularly fats. Taurine helps the body metabolize fat, making it essential for energy production and a lean physique. But, it’s also necessary for many aspects of health because “good” fats play a role in the health of every cell in the body.
  
  The value of taking taurine to support fat burning and lose weight is apparent with a recent study in the Journal of Biomedical Science that compared the anti-obesity effects of taurine and lotus leaf extract in rats who were fed a high-fat diet. Researchers measured triglycerides, cholesterol, and body weight gain in rats after six weeks in which they were fed either a normal diet, a high fat diet, a high fat diet with lotus leaf (a plant that is known to have fat burning benefits), or a high fat diet with lotus leaf and taurine.
  
  The group what received the taurine in addition to the lotus leaf showed the most favorable cholesterol levels and blood lipid profiles of all groups. The taurine and lotus leaf were most effective at minimizing fat gain, especially visceral belly fat fain. The group that received just lotus leaf also gained less fat than the rats that only received the high-fat diet and no supplement, but researchers point to the added taurine as the best way to facilitate fat metabolism in the body.
  
  The nutrient carnitine is responsible for the transport of fats into the cells to be used for energy in the body. By raising the level of muscle carnitine, you support the fat burning process, but you also must have adequate taurine for this to happen.  Taurine plays a role in the initial phase of fat metabolism, while carnitine takes the fat into the cell to let your body burn it up!
  
  4)    Take Taurine for Insulin Health
  Taurine is a well known supplement for preventing diabetes and improving insulin sensitivity. Taurine makes the cells more sensitive to insulin binding and glucose uptake by multiple mechanisms. First, taurine has what is called an “anorexigenic” effect on the hypothalamus gland, meaning that it minimizes feelings of hunger by improving energy production and metabolism.  A recent study in the journal Amino Acids found that the anorexigenic action of taurine enhances the role of insulin in the control of food intake and helps stall body fat gain.
  
  Taurine doesn’t just improve an already functioning metabolism. It has an antioxidant effect and has been found to lower chronic inflammation in the hypothalamus that results in greater insulin production by the pancreas, which in turn produces higher insulin levels and obesity. A related means by which taurine improves metabolism is by neutralizing free radicals in pancreatic cells called “beta cells.” Healthy beta cells are essential for gradual and modulated insulin secretion, and they help with glucose injection into cells for energy use.
  
  A more concrete action of taurine on body composition is its ability to improve resting energy expenditure. Another new study in Amino Acids  found that increasing taurine levels in rats increased fat burning during rest by activating two pathways (taurine improved them by as much as 70 percent) that play a role in insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal.
  
  The benefits go on with data showing that taurine can protect cardiac tissue from oxidative stress, in part because of its antioxidant effect and partly because taurine increases the enzyme that sends the message to allow glucose to enter the cell for energy use. As mentioned above in number 1, taurine supplementation has been shown to activate the GABA hormonal system, which has the ability to protect brain tissue from damage due to a stroke.  Another Amino Acids study showed that taurine helped minimize oxidative stress and protect the brain via GABA’s inhibitory action in calming the nervous system.
  
  5)    Take Taurine To Raise Testosterone
  Taurine has been proven to raise testosterone production in males, while not raising the concentration of estradiol, an estrogenic hormone. A study in Amino Acids measured the effect of taurine on testosterone and related sex hormones in rats and in test tubes. In both studies, results showed that taurine stimulated testosterone production, but only if the amount of taurine administered, which was administered in drinking water, was below 400 microgram/ml—above 400 micrograms/ml testosterone production was blunted.
  
  The ideal dose in rats appears to be 10 microgram/ml of taurine.  In the test tube study, when taurine was not administered, testosterone production went down, indicating that for normal testosterone production,  taurine is necessary. A suggested dose based on studies ranges from 3 to 5 grams of taurine a day for an 85 kg man.
  
  More support for taking taurine for reproductive health is a study that showed taurine supplementation can prevent testicular oxidative stress and cell death, which leads to decreased sperm production, testicular toxicity, and reduced testicular weights. In this study, researchers treated rats with a toxin that is known to cause oxidative stress and abnormalities in the testes. Taurine treatment prevented nearly all of the abnormalities that were caused by the toxin and helped maintain normal reproductive health in the rats. The protective mechanism appears to be taurine's antioxidant effect in the body, and as shown in the first study mentioned above, it may play an intrinsic role in male testosterone production.
  
  Obviously, having adequate testosterone levels is essential for the ideal male body composition because testosterone improves lean mass development and fights fat gain. Plus, it’s well known low testosterone in men is linked with poor health, particularly bad metabolism and the development of diabetes. Taurine is one nutrient among many that should be attended to for adequate reproductive health in both men and women (don’t worry ladies, taking taurine won’t raise testosterone production or make you big, but the research shows it can support metabolism and lower stress levels in women as well as men). Along with taurine, carnitine, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin D are all essential for health and body composition.
  
  6)    Take Taurine and Fight Oxidative Stress
  Taurine is an awesome, if lesser known, antioxidant. Its ability to abolish free radicals and keep cells alive and healthy is partly due to how it helps maintain homeostasis and balance in the body. Taurine can aid the detoxification process, while also minimizing the stress and insulin response.
  
  The antioxidant action of taurine in the body makes it a treatment for various types of inflammation, including those already mentioned  (from insulin resistance and high triglycerides, from exposure to toxins, from high cortisol levels), but it’s also been shown to counter the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that is due to a disordered metabolism. Research shows taurine reduces fat gain in the liver and minimizes liver inflammation and injury.
  
  The integrated benefits of omega-3s and taurine in the body were demonstrated in a new study published in theInternational Journal of Molecular Medicine that measured the inflammatory status  of fat tissue in response to a diet that included supplemental sardine protein. Sardines contain some of the highest concentrations of EPA and DHA omega-3s of all fish, making them an excellent dietary addition, and they also contain taurine and vitamin E, another potent antioxidant.
  
  This study found that giving rats sardine protein along with a diet that was high in fructose (a carbohydrate source that is known to negatively alter metabolism) minimized fat gain, improved glucose uptake into cells, lowered oxidative stress markers, and improved inflammatory status. This research calls our attention to the need for a combined integrative approach when using taurine—adequate omega-3 fats are helpful, and other antioxidants and essential nutrients make everything work better in the body.
  
  7)    Take Taurine To Perform Better and Recover Faster From Training
  Taurine supplementation will increase force production, improve endurance and performance in both aerobic and anaerobic system sports, and speed recovery from intense training. One recent study showed that intense exercise significantly lowers muscle taurine levels, but that administering taurine during the exercise session counters the loss of taurine and helps improve work capacity.
  
  In this study, rats that were given taurine during a run to exhaustion test had better physical endurance than those that didn’t receive the supplement. Plus, following the exercise tests, urinary loss of creatine and other biomarkers were reduced. This means that taurine administration improved recovery and reduced the effects of muscle fatigue making it a useful performance enhancer.
  
  One reason taurine improves performance and time to exhaustion is its ability to improve fat burning. One study showed taurine ingestion prior to a prolonged cycling time trial resulted in better performance and a 16 percent increase in total fat oxidation compared to a control group.  Taurine also helps the fast-twitch muscles produce peak force by supporting the contractile properties and countering fatigue. It’s likely a combination of better energy production and the ability of taurine to maintain homeostasis in the body that play a role in increasing force in type 2 muscle fibers.
  
  The antioxidant effect of taurine will also improve recovery from intense training. A study in the journal Cell Biochemistry and Function found that giving rats taurine for 15 days prior to an intense downhill run that involved repeated eccentric muscle actions significantly lowered evidence of muscle damage and oxidative stress. Researchers suggest that raising muscle taurine levels can improve recovery by minimizing the buildup of byproducts that cause muscle fatigue and damage during very intense training.
  
  8)    Raise Muscle Taurine Levels For Cardiovascular Health 
  Taurine will protect the heart and lower blood pressure, and raising muscular levels has been shown to improve the exercise capacity of patients with heart failure. A recent study in the Journal of Cardiology compared the effects of 500 mg of taurine three times a day with a placebo on patients with left ventricular heart failure. The patients who received the taurine significantly increased exercise distance, and they improved their functional mobility over a two-week period, while the placebo group demonstrated no changes. Researchers suggest taurine improves calcium homeostasis, which aids cardiovascular function, and has “an overall beneficial effect on the macrovascular system.”
  
  The cardiovascular benefits of taurine are abundant and convincing. Multiple studies have shown taurine will lower blood pressure (it is particularly effective at preventing hypertension that is linked to insulin resistance and poor metabolic health), and a recent study in the Journal of Biomedical Science found that taurine and magnesium levels along with body mass index and total cholesterol were most directly related to the lowest cardiovascular risk in a population of healthy Japanese.  Researchers suggest the combination of elevated taurine and magnesium stores support heart health in this population, and that the Japanese have higher levels of these nutrients due to the presence of fish in the diet.
  
  One research group writes that taking taurine to prevent heart disease “may be of great public importance,” while another suggests that it is essential for “good health and longevity,” and that individuals should attend to both their magnesium and taurine levels for best results.   
  
  9)    Sleep Better With Magnesium and Taurine
  Take taurine for better sleep, but make sure you are getting a magnesium supplement that your body can absorb as well. Together these nutrients are the answer to abolish stress, calm the nervous system, and help you sleep better. You’ll also have a better overall mood. People who are deficient in either magnesium or taurine are at greater risk for depression and poor motivation.
  
  Magnesium is well known to calm the nervous system, while countering fatigue. Similarly, taurine raises GABA levels, calming the nervous system and lowering anxiety and stress hormones that hinder rest.
  
  10)    Take Taurine For Better Brain Function
  Take taurine for better brain function. Taurine can delay the cognitive decline that comes with aging.  It can improve learning and retention in older individuals and will aid the development of cognitive function in children.
  
  Interestingly, research shows taurine will improve reaction time and minimize sleepiness in sleep-deprived individuals when paired with caffeine. A new study in the British Journal of Surgery tested the  effects of a placebo, caffeine, or caffeine with taurine on surgery performance in sleep-deprived novice surgeons. The caffeine plus taurine reversed the negative effects of reaction time due to fatigue and minimized feelings of sleepiness, although not to baseline levels.
  
  Researchers suggest that the combination is ideal because caffeine provides the stimulus, while taurine has a calming affect that functions as an anti-fatiguer. Green tea paired with taurine and carnitine can be very effective when in a sleep-deprived state because this mixture helps to manage anxiety and improve energy and focus."

the above was taken from the website: http://www.poliquingroup.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/782/Ten_Benefits_of_Taurine.aspx

• dandelion: Digestive Aid – Dandelion acts as a mild laxative that promotes digestion, stimulates appetite, and balances the natural and beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Kidney – This weed-like superfood is a diuretic that helps the kidneys clear out waste, salt, and excess water. This inhibits microbial growth in the urinary system too. Liver – Dandelion has been shown to improve liver function by removing toxins and reestablishing hydration and electrolyte balance. Antioxidants – Every part of the dandelion plant is rich in antioxidants that prevent free-radical damage to cells and DNA, slowing down the aging process in our cells. Cancer – Dandelion acts against cancer to slow its growth and prevent its spread. The leaves are especially rich in the antioxidants and phytonutrients that combat cancer. Diabetes – Recent animal studies show promise that dandelion helps regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. High Blood Pressure – As a diuretic dandelion increases urination which then lowers blood pressure. The fiber and potassium in dandelion also regulate blood pressure. Cholesterol – Animal studies have shown that dandelion lowers and control cholesterol levels. Gallbladder – Dandelion increases bile production and reduces inflammation to help with gallbladder problems and blockages. Inflammation – Dandelion contains essential fatty acids and phytonutrients that reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can relieve pain and swelling. Immune System – Animal studies also show that dandelion boosts immune function and fights off microbes and fungi. Dandelion leaves, flowers, and roots are all edible. They have a slightly bitter flavor that can be minimized by harvesting them in the fall or spring. Cooking cuts the bitter flavor as well though the leaves make a great addition to raw salads. Dandelion is generally considered safe in food and medicinal levels. Some people may have allergic reactions to dandelion. Anyone with an allergy to ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, chamomile, yarrow, or daisy should avoid dandelion and anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding something new to their diet. - "
• See more at: http://www.sunwarrior.com/news/11-health-benefits-of-dandelion-and-dandelion-root/#sthash.Ux4W4zJH.dpuf 

• milk thistle: "Milk thistle was approved in 1986 as a treatment for liver disease and it is widely used to treat alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver poisening and viral hepatitis. It has also been shown to protect the liver against medications such as acetaminophen, a non-aspirin pain reliever.
  The active ingredient, or liver-protecting compound in milk thistle is known as silymarin. This substance, which actually consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances by stimulating protein synthesis. By changing the outside layer of liver cells, it also prevents certain toxins from getting inside. Silymarin also seems to encourage liver cell growth. It can reduce inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has potent antioxidant effects. Antioxidants are thought to protect body cells from damage caused by a chemical process called oxidation. Our Milk Thistle is not standardized to an exact amount (as it is made from pure dried natural herbs. Milk Thistle naturally contains about 70 - 80% Silymarin (and many other constituents thought to work in harmony).
  This herb benefits adrenal disorders and inflammatory bowel syndrome, and is used to treat psoriasis (increases bile flow).
  Milk thistle has some estrogen-like effects that may stimulate the flow of breast milk in women who are breast-feeding infants. It may also be used to start late menstrual periods. Milk thistle's estrogen-like effect may also have some usefulness for men with prostate cancer."   

The above information about milk thistle was taken from http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-milk-thistle.html

• globe artichoke : Globe Artichoke for Healthy Liver and Gall bladder Function
  "The artichoke plant is a member of the thistle family, and like the popular milk thistle, it greatly benefits the liver, protecting against toxins and infection. A Mediterranean homemade recipe uses fresh artichoke leaf juice mixed with wine or water as a liver tonic. Globe Artichoke may protect and regenerate the Liver – similar to Milk Thistle (due to Cynarin)
  Globe Artichoke increases the contractive power of the Bile Duct, thereby improving the flow of Bile from the Liver to the Gallbladder via the Duct"

The above information is from http://thenaturalresponse.org/globe-artichoke-loves-your-liver-loves-your-pancreas-and-so-much-more/

WHEW!

That's a lot of information!

You GOTTA love your liver <3

LOVE,

The Globetrotting Gamine