Firefox to offer do-not-track system for on line users.

If you don’t like the idea of online companies watching every move you make on the web, you may want to watch for Mozilla's new Non tracking system for Firefox. Mozilla announced its Web browser will be the first to answer the FTC's request for a do-not-track system. 

There is one thing I would point out though. Don't be fooled into thinking this automatically stops you from being tracked while browsing.  In order for the browser's do-not-track feature to work, tracking companies must first agree to stop monitoring users who have enabled the feature. 

As a user of firefox, I am glad this web browser is considering to offer this service. No other web browsers are offering it. The companies with the biggest Web browsers, Microsoft and Google,  have tons of online ad businesses that uses online tracking.  Firefox doesn’t have its own ad business, but it gets most of its funding from an advertising arrangement with Google. 

It is easy to recognize that browsers with advertisers do not want to create a system that would automatically lock out their advertisers. If they don't want to loose advertisers, their only choice is to offer this suggestion to the advertisers that you do not want to be tracked. We will have to wait and see if it works.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20029284-264.html

Stinging Nettle - Food and medicine

Please note: The information in this blog is general and is not specific medical advice. You should consult your own health care professional before altering or beginning a course of treatment. The writer of this blog will not be responsible for losses, damage or claims that may result from your medical decisions and you are strongly encouraged to do your own research prior to any medical decision you make.

Soon it will be spring. Thoughts of spring cause my mouth to start watering in anticipation of tasty herbal greens waiting to crop up from the earth. You too can enjoy the bounty of spring. Let me introduce you to one of my special friends stinging nettle. Nettle is a weed. Thankfully, weeds are everywhere. Nettle is an edible and medicinal treasure provided freely from our wonderful and nurturing planet. It can be used both as a food as well as a medicine. 

As a food both the roots and the aerial leafy parts can be eaten. Although the roots are fine as soup stock, I mostly eat the tops of the nettles and like the early spring greens best. The most choice part is the top 4-6 inches.

I like to stir fry stinging nettle or cook it in soups and casseroles. I think it tastes like spinach with an attitude. A few words of caution for those of you unacquainted with stinging nettle; treat this plant with utmost care or she will sting you.  Wear gloves when harvesting and processing nettles. I have more than once, been on a hike and been surprised by a patch of nettles. In my overwhelming glee at finding the first spring nettles I have temporarily lost my mind and decided to collect them without gloves. Each time I have nursed my wounds, questioning such a crazy decision. No matter how carefully I harvest, this tasty plant reminds me that she is protecting herself and she is to be respected. Luckily once the plant is cooked the sting disappears and you can savor this delicacy without concern.

Only collect nettles in the spring prior to flowering. Once it flowers, the plant is not safe to consume as a food or as a medicinal tea. After they flower they can be irritating and may inflame the urinary tract.

Where I live outside of Eugene Oregon, the best time to harvest them for food is from the end of February to the end of March. Stinging nettle is beneficial as a spring tonic and rejuvenator. As a medicine it tends to be very stimulating and drying. It has a supportive effect on our immune system, spleen, circulatory system, urinary tract, nervous system, respiratory tract, digestive system and the endocrine system; including the adrenals, thyroid, and the pancreas. It nourishes our entire body as well as nourishing us spiritually by increasing receptivity to the natural energetic flow of our spirit. Nettle’s abundant minerals make it a wonderful addition to our diet.  Nettle is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and silicic acid. The high mineral content may be part of the reason for nettle tea’s ability to reduce the severity and occurrence of leg cramps as well as menstrual cramps and its ability to support strong bones. The high mineral content also benefits anemic, undernourished individuals. I make an overnight infusion of the nettles or if in a hurry a 25 minute decoction (not as tasty –overnight infusion is best) from the tea to extract its minerals. 

Besides the  high calcium and magnesium content of Nettle  assisting in keeping muscles relaxed, they appear to have a second  method that relaxes muscles. Research has shown Nettle may relax muscles via nitric oxide release.

I find long term use of nettle can be beneficial for support of multiple body systems. An example is the lungs. People with hay fever use the tea daily starting a month or more prior to allergy season beginning. They find it decreases their allergy symptoms during the season if they start early and continue throughout the season. People with other recurrent lung issues such as asthma have also found it beneficial when used over time. 

Nettle is also beneficial in excessive menstrual bleeding. It helps supply lost iron as well as helping to decrease the bleeding. Nettle favors elimination of uric acid and is therefore useful in gouty arthritis. It may be used as a diuretic in  some cases of edema. Nettle is best used long term in treating chronic illnesses. Due to its pleasant taste, I usually use it in the form of a tea. If you are using nettle for its mineral content it needs to be eaten as food or drank in the form of a tea. Most tinctures do not contain minerals unless the spent plant has been removed from the tincture, burnt  and the burned matter is returned to the tincture as in the case of spagyric tinctures.

Besides building strong bodies with her minerals, Nettle also shares her strength with us in the form of strong rope that can be made from the skin of its stalk.

I would also like to mention the use the nettle root and nettle seed, which are both, used medicinally too. The root is often used for BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy), while the seed is used to support kidney and thyroid function. 

Nettle is a bold, strong plant. This prickly herb likes moisture and shade. You will find it growing near creek banks in partially shady areas. Nettle prefers moving water where its roots do not get bogged down in stagnant muck. This plant tends to spread out by sending its roots in all directions. Therefore you find the plant growing in thick patches. If you invite nettle to your home to live provide a semi-shaded spot and give her plenty of liquids and a rich, well-drained soil. If she is grown in poor soil, she will enrich the soil herself. She does love nitrogen. If you give her a rich compost she will grow big and her leaves will be a very dark green. 

Amounts people often use: 

leafy parts: Tea - 2 heaping tablespoons per cup of water infused overnight (best) or simmered for 25 minutes or 30-60 drops of hydroethanolic extract. (tincture). This dose can be consumed 1-4 times per day.

roots: 2 teaspoons per cup of water as a decoction or 1:2 fresh strength liquid extract: 30-60 drops 2-4 times per day.

Seed: ½ - 1 teaspoon three times per day of 1:5 hydroethanolic extract (tincture).

The FDA Wants to Ban Intravenous Vitamin C!

On December 28, 2010, the FDA notified one pharmacy (McGuff) that it will no longer be allowed to manufacture or distribute injectable vitamin C. The FDA claims injectable vitamin C is a misbranded and unapproved new drug.

The acting  director of the Compliance Branch of the FDA told the USA Alliance for Natural Health that any other company unable to show an exemption or prove that it has taken IV C through the drug approval protocols would be subject to a similar order to cease production and distribution.

There have been numerous studies showing the efficacy of intravenous vitamin C against some chronic complex diseases, viruses, and cancers, and can be used for bacterial infections such as staph, strep, and skin infections--including drug-resistant bacteria. It is being used in burn units around the world.

The FDA appears to be gearing up to target other nutrients also.  Here is the list: various formulations of injectable vitamin C, magnesium chloride, and B complex. These are commonly used by alternative physicians for their patients.

You can find details on this at http://www.anh-usa.org/an-important-update-on-iv-vitamin-c/

You can also make a complaint to the FDA at  https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=648

Calcium Supplements: Do they really increase the risk of heart attacks?

According to a recent study, calcium supplements increase the risk of heart disease. The report appeared in the British Journal of Medicine.

This has put the medical community into a tizzy. Some practitioners have already taken patients off calcium supplements, while other practitioners have criticized the research and are cautious about believing it. I don’t feel like there is enough data to say for sure if it is correct or not. However, I do feel it is best to get our nutrients from food and herbs and turn to supplements only when this is not working for us. If we are getting enough calcium in our diets, we not only don't need to take calcium supplements but it may be harmful to do so according to this meta-analysis. It does make sense that calcium supplementation above what our body needs may be harmful.

Lets take a look at this research.

This study was a meta-analysis of other studies. It has been criticized on a variety of levels. The criticisms have been as follows.

• Ingesting calcium carbonate can simulate “heart attack” (This is explained below.)

• In an editorial accompanying the article, Dr John Cleland (Castle Hill Hospital, Kingston upon Hull, UK) and colleagues wonder why calcium supplements should increase cardiovascular risk, as found in this meta-analysis. "Accumulation of calcium in the arterial wall leading to reduced compliance would be expected to take years, but the increased risk of myocardial infarction reported by Bolland and colleagues occurred early after calcium supplementation (median follow-up of 3.6 years)."

• The researchers only examined cases where people were given calcium by itself and not with other vitamins and minerals that are usually given at the same time.

• Dr John Schindler (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA)  pointed out that the real risk of heart attack appeared to be in people who took calcium supplements on top of high levels of dietary calcium. "I think the safest thing to tell your patients right now is if you can get your dietary calcium from good dietary sources, such as yogurt, sardines, and skim milk, that potentially might be all you need to ward off the risk of osteoporosis. Then we don't have to deal with this increased cardiovascular risk."

• Schindler noted the absence in the meta-analysis of the Women's Health Initiative, a large study that looked at the role of calcium supplementation with vitamin D in reducing osteoporotic fracture. "There are a lot of data that show that vitamin D is protective from a cardiovascular standpoint. They excluded studies with vitamin D probably because they are trying to isolate one variable. They didn't want to cloud the picture."

It is not conclusive that calcium taken by itself as a supplement may increase a persons risk of heart attacks. More research needs to be done. However, it does make us question the use of calcium supplements by themselves. There is research showing that calcium in the form of food does not do this. If we assume this meta-analysis is correct, we would then want to know more.

 

For instance:

• Is supplemental calcium only conducive to heart attacks when the diet already provides adequate or even excessive calcium and we are ingesting more calcium than we need in the form of a supplement?

• Is supplemental calcium taken in conjunction with other supplements conducive to heart attacks or do other minerals and vitamins taken in conjunction with calcium as usually suggested by alternative practitioners act protectively?

• Is one particular type of calcium supplement more problematic than others?

• It appears there may be a difference in how women and men react to supplemental calcium. Is this true?

More research needs to be done. This is definitely not conclusive research but it does make you question the safety of calcium supplements when given alone. It especially questions their safety when our diet is already providing adequate calcium.

It is always best to get our nutrients from food and herbs, which supply a full spectrum of nutrients in just the amount that spirit intended. It is important to note another Swedish investigation with men looking at their dietary calcium consumption showed the top dietary calcium consumers had a 25 percent lower risk of dying from any cause and a 23 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease.

There is a new Swedish research study starting soon that will examine various types of calcium supplements to see how they compare to each other. Perhaps it will shed new light on the subject.  It will be a few years before the research is available.

The most common form of calcium people take is calcium carbonate because it is inexpensive. However, it is not a form that most alternative practitioners that I know usually give to their patients for the following reasons.

• Calcium carbonate ingestion can cause indigestion. Calcium carbonate decreases stomach acid. When people don’t have enough acid in their stomach it leads to poor digestion. (Protein has to have an acidic environment for digestion to start.) With the stomach contents not moving forward appropriately, it can lead to reflux of the stomach contents into the esophagus. (The tube going from mouth to stomach.) Stomach contents are not meant to be in the sensitive esophagus.  Even this lowered amount of acid will burn their esophagus and cause pain. This leads the person to believe they have too much acid when in fact they really don’t have enough in their stomach. Sometimes they will take Tums (calcium carbonate) to lower the acid even more in their stomach, as they don’t understand what is going on. This creates a continual cycle of ill digestion and gastric reflux.

 

There was a note accompanying the meta-analysis in question that relates to this gastric reflux that can happen. Dr John Cleland and colleagues wrote an editorial accompanying the research suggesting that the increased risk of heart attacks may not be a true effect, because the increased risk of heart attacks was not accompanied by an increase in mortality. "Calcium supplements could simply be causing gastrointestinal symptoms that could be misdiagnosed as cardiac chest pain.” Indeed gastric reflux and some other types of digestive symptoms can mimic heart attacks.

•  Calcium carbonate may be poorly absorbed. Here is why. If the stomach produces too little stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), calcium remains insoluble and cannot be ionized, which is necessary for it to be assimilated in the intestines. Remember, calcium carbonate decreases stomach acidity itself, therefore it decreases calcium ionization and absorption. So even though the person is eating calcium, they are decreasing the absorption of it when they take it in the form of calcium carbonate. This is especially true as we get older and have decreased acid production in our stomachs. These people should  consider taking a calcium which is absorbed better such as calcium citrate.

 

It is also important to note that calcium taken for bone growth and to prevent osteoporosis should be taken with other nutrients such as vitamin D3, vitamin K2, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, boron, silica and vitamins B2, B6 and folate.

 

I do believe diet is the best way to get our calcium. Lets look at how we can get calcium in diet and from herbs.

 

You should be able to get enough calcium from your diet if eating lots of dairy or dark green leafy veggies If you are not getting enough and don’t want to take a supplement what can you do? Eat herbs. We know that kale has a lot of calcium in it, but did you know that nettle and red raspberry leaf both have more? These are both herbs that are healthy to eat in our diet. I will put out a blog about stinging nettle soon so you know how to collect and prepare it. It is a very nutritious plant.

Herbs can be mixed in with our meals or taken as teas.

Consider using a variety of herbal teas that are all high in calcium. Simply make sure you infuse them overnight or decoct them 25 minutes. (Infusing overnight gives a more pleasant drink.) In the past I have sent samples of nettle tea decocted with boiling water for 25 minutes compared to nettle tea that has infused overnight to a lab. The results showed they have almost the exact same amount of calcium extracted. Teas to consider are oat straw, nettle, raspberry, and dandelion root. Horsetail also has very high calcium as well as silica but chronic ingestion of it can decrease the level of thiamin due to thiaminase content. Therefore this is an herb you should not take on a continual basis or you should supplement with thiamin or eat thiamin rich foods/herbs if you are. You can find a comparison of some of these herbs with spinach and kale to see how much calcium each contains by clicking on Nutrient Comparison in herbs & food pdf:

Something to know about calcium absorption: A number of factors affect calcium absorption in the gut. Absorption is greatest when the intake of calcium is low and the need is high. Vitamin D levels, an acidic environment in the stomach, age, estrogen levels, and dietary fiber intake all play a role in calcium absorption. Calcium absorption decreases with age, low vitamin D levels, low stomach acid levels, low estrogen levels, and a high-fiber diet.

The actual meta-analysis is here:

http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c3691.full

New research shows calcium in food might do more to protect bones than supplemental calcium in pill form.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060605194723.htm

Getting a bit more calcium in your diet could help you live longer, new research suggests.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62A5G120100312

Say No New GMOs!

The USDA is currently accepting public comments on whether to approve Monsanto's GMO alfalfa. This is the first time - because they were ordered to by the courts - that the USDA is considering what impact GMO crops have on organic varieties that could get contaminated with Franken-genes. Please take action today. To learn more can go to this website:

http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/issues/alert/?alertid=14469696

To take action you can also go to that website where you will find a link called  "take action" or go here:

 http://capwiz.com/grassrootsnetroots/mailapp/

They make it really easy and quick to send a letter by email to the USDA. 

Echinacea - Does it quit working when used long term?

A reader inquired as follows: "Is it true that a person should take echinacea for 1-2 weeks and then lay off for a week then retake it?" She wanted to know if echinacea looses its ability to work long term and if she needed to take breaks from it so it would work better. This is an idea that has been floating around the herbal community and I often have new students ask this question.

She went on to say, "Does it really teach the body to work on its own? A few weeks ago a friend advised me to take all herbs for only awhile and then lay off so they can work right. Is this true?”

It has not been my experience that taking breaks from any herb including Echinacea, makes the herb work better when taking it long term. If I notice a person is getting worse or does not improve when taking an herb long term, I either need to increase the dose, the frequency or need to use a different treatment. Stopping and starting the herb again does not usually benefit the person from what I have seen with patients or personally.

Long term studies have shown echinacea to be beneficial without taking breaks. An 8-week double-blind study in 1989 showed echinacea was useful in prevention of respiratory infections. Another study using oral echinacea for 10 weeks showed prevention of recurrent bouts of vaginal candidiasis. These studies do show echinacea working with continuous use of the herb.

I know people who have recurrent infections such as herpes simplex, recurrent vaginal candidiasis, frequent viral infections etc that have used Echinacea as a preventative and used it over long periods finding it decreases their outbreaks when nothing else had helped. Now, I want to stipulate that these people usually have other underlying problems that could be addressed to help solve their problem, but this is how they solved it for themselves. Usually, they were coming to me to address those underlying problems and it is how I heard their stories about echinacea.

It has been thought by some people who use herbs that Echinacea should only be used short term because its effects stop after a period of 1-3 weeks.  However, there is no research that I have seen showing that long-term use of echinacea causes it to loose its effectiveness. I have not noticed that myself in using it personally or with patients.  While I don't usually recommend its long-term use, I don't think taking echinacea regularly is going to be problematic for most individuals. That being said, I would not rule out that it could be problematic for some specific individuals and indeed there have been cases of people having problems when taking echinacea long term. There are also cases of people taking echinacea short term who have had reactions. Over the 13 years of owning an herbal manufacturing company I spoke with many of our physician customers about patients who had reactions to a variety of herbs. When you serve thousands of practitioners as a provider of herbs you hear many more stories than you would ever collect as an individual physician in practice. Even the most benign herbs can cause reactions in some people and in rare cases they can be serious. So while I don’t think it is necessary to stop taking Echinacea every few weeks for it to work correctly, I also would not give it continually to a patient unless there was a good reason for it. I don’t continually give any herb to someone unless it is absolutely necessary. Indeed in some situations it is. Even when I give herbs to provide nutrients I usually like to change them around a bit for variety.

Echinacea is a wonderful herb. I have used it both internally and externally in a variety of situations with great results. I would not be without it. Although I usually use it in short term conditions, there are instances where I have used it long term with good results.

The second question about herbs teaching the body to work on its own is more complicated to answer. As with many things in life, it really depends on the individual situation. Sometimes an herb can help our bodies regain their normal healthy function and we can quit using the herb. Other times we need to continue some type of herbal support long term. 

Usually an herb is taken until the body regains healthy function. In these cases, the person can certainly stop taking the herb once they are doing better.  In some cases the person is not able to stop taking the herbs. This can be due to a variety of situations. Below are a few examples, but this is certainly not an exhaustive list.

• Perhaps the person is unable to get the correct phyto-nutrients for their bodies cells and organs to work right from their daily diet. If they can't get them from their diet they may need herbs to help support their body with vital nutrients. In this case it is necessary to take an herb or group of herbs long term.

• Living or working in a toxic environment is another situation where a person may need long term support from herbs. As toxins increase, there comes a point where our bodies become overloaded. We use up key building blocks necessary to transform toxins into less harmful chemicals that can be excreted. Using herbs can support the natural body defenses that help us to remove these toxins. In these cases the person needs to take the herb or herbs until they are out of the toxic environment.

• If the body is damaged irreparably, no amount of gentle or even vigorous support from an herb is going to get it working correctly on its own. In this situation, an herb or herbs may need to be taken on a long term basis. 

Luckily many problems will disappear when we attend to our bodies basic needs. When they don't it is good to have herbs to help us achieve a healthier state of being. If we need to use them long term, so be it.

For a more detailed look at Echinacea in pdf format: http://www.herbaltransitions.com/herbalresources.html

Fish oil capsules are being encased in a capsule made from farmed fish!

Fish oil from wild fish is a healthy oil to consume but I am concerned about the capsules many fish oils are starting to be encased in. One such capsule is called OceanCaps.  The capsugel (A leading manufacture of capsules.) website lists them as being made from farmed fish. I am sure you realize that farmed fish is not healthy for you plus farmed fish are an environmental concern. Farmed fish, on average, showed a level of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, about seven times higher than that of wild fish. The average dioxin level in farm-raised salmon was 11 times higher than in wild salmon. This difference appears to be in what the fish eat. What they eat is also the reason farmed salmon meat is grey rather than reddish orange in color before they are artificially colored to look like wild salmon. The fish industry can change the fish food and in fact is planning to but guess what they plan to change it to. They plan to use genetically modified canola or soybean oils to include more omega-3 fatty acids and use that to replace at least some of the fish oil in the pellets fed to farmed fish. 

All I can say is you won't see me eating farmed fish or fish gelatin capsules made from farmed fish.

Although the "fish gelatin" used for these capsules has not been studied for contaminants that I know of, I am steering clear from any farmed fish product unless they really start feeding them healthy food. I suggest you don't get your fish oil in a capsule or gel cap anyway. It is more likely to be rancid.  Get your fish oil in a refrigerated bottled liquid form. It is best refrigerated to keep it from going rancid. Molecular distillation should be used on any fish oil you purchase to ensure it hase had impurities such as heavy metals, dioxides etc removed from the oil. (Even wild fish have pollutants. They are just in much less quantity than farmed fish. See below for links with more data.) Molecular distillation is a low heat method and should be done in a vacuum to further reduce the heat processing requirement so your oil does not go rancid due to the distillation processing. A couple companies I know of that use this process is Nordic Naturals and Carlson. I have no affiliation with either company.

I am working on a blog that compares capsule types to encase herbal and nutritional supplements and hope to have it to you soon.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/155971_salmon09.html

http://www.suite101.com/content/the-dangers-of-fish-farms-a145175

http://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/FAQ%27s/FAQs/389

http://www.carlsonlabs.com/s-22-fish-oil-liquids.aspx

http://www.capsugel.com/products/oceancaps.php 

A SPIRITUAL CONSPIRACY

A friend just sent this to me and of course I had to share it with you.


A SPIRITUAL CONSPIRACY

On the surface of the world right now there is
war and violence and things seem dark.
But calmly and quietly, at the same time,
something else is happening underground
An inner revolution is taking place
and certain individuals are being called to a higher light.
It is a silent revolution.
From the inside out. From the ground up.
This is a Global operation.
A Spiritual Conspiracy.
There are sleeper cells in every nation on the planet.
You won't see us on the T.V.
You won't read about us in the newspaper
You won't hear about us on the radio
We don't seek any glory
We don't wear any uniform
We come in all shapes and sizes, colors and styles
Most of us work anonymously
We are quietly working behind the scenes
in every country and culture of the world
Cities big and small, mountains and valleys,
in farms and villages, tribes and remote islands
You could pass by one of us on the street
and not even notice
We go undercover
We remain behind the scenes
It is of no concern to us who takes the final credit
But simply that the work gets done
Occasionally we spot each other in the street
We give a quiet nod and continue on our way
During the day many of us pretend we have normal jobs
But behind the false storefront at night
is where the real work takes a place
Some call us the Conscious Army
We are slowly creating a new world
with the power of our minds and hearts
We follow, with passion and joy
Our orders come from the Central Spiritual Intelligence
We are dropping soft, secret love bombs when no one is looking
Poems ~ Hugs ~ Music ~ Photography ~ Movies ~ Kind words ~
Smiles ~ Meditation and prayer ~ Dance ~ Social activism ~ Websites
Blogs ~ Random acts of kindness...
We each express ourselves in our own unique ways
with our own unique gifts and talents
Be the change you want to see in the world
That is the motto that fills our hearts
We know it is the only way real transformation takes place
We know that quietly and humbly we have the
power of all the oceans combined
Our work is slow and meticulous
Like the formation of mountains
It is not even visible at first glance
And yet with it entire tectonic plates
shall be moved in the centuries to come
Love is the new religion of the 21st century
You don't have to be a highly educated person
Or have any exceptional knowledge to understand it
It comes from the intelligence of the heart
Embedded in the timeless evolutionary pulse of all human beings
Be the change you want to see in the world
Nobody else can do it for you
We are now recruiting
Perhaps you will join us
Or already have.
All are welcome
The door is open
~ author unknown

The Immune System

The blog on prevention and treatment of flu brought in requests for more information on the immune system in general. It is good for you to know a little about your immune system and methods to support it. With the current socio-political situation that has birthed our environmental sorrows we are smart to support our bodies protective systems. Don't let anyone fool you into thinking drugs are better than the food and herbs that spirit gave us to promote health. Drugs do not promote health and do not get to the root cause of the symptoms a person is experiencing. Drugs may be able to counter symptoms you are presenting with but they bring their own side effect symptoms to the picture that you then have to additionally deal with. Get to know your herbs and eat nutritious foods. This will lay the ground work to support your immune system.

For the person who asked about herbs increasing white blood cells, I would recommend you look at the following herbs: Echinacea, Ceanothus, Panax, Astragalus. There are others, but start studying these herbs. Depending on the situation will depend on which herbs are most useful.  Use the materia medica link I included below for specific details on the herbs. I would also like to point out that herbs are given to an individual to fit a specific picture that a person presents with.  They are not generally given an herb to "increase white blood cells".  

See below for some general immune system information taken from a lecture I gave quite a few years ago followed by immune system herbs and links including a pdf on Echincaea to get even more data.



SUPPORTING OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

Components of the immune system

Immune system proper

The immune system consists of lymphatic vessels and organs (tonsils, thymus, lymph nodes, appendix, spleen), white blood cells (lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils etc.), specialized white blood cells which are in tissue rather than the lymph or blood stream (macrophages, mast cells etc.), as well as special serum factors. The immune system is most closely related to the 1st chakra energy center which grounds us to the earth and the earths etheric network. This is where we file our belief systems, and our connection with socio-politcal happenings. This area is related to our feeling of safety in the physical world. It is the area that supports us and is connected to the physical world through our legs we stand on. This area effects the legs and hips as well as the base of the spine and shares some area with the 2nd chakra on the pelvic region. This is the area where we ground ourselves and materialize our dreams into reality through nurturing them and being physically committed to them. When we feel fearful for our safety and/or feel insecure in a situation and do not feel physically protected it tends to weaken the immune system.

Other organs affecting the immune system

The immune system can be influenced by other bodily processes. Blood brings nourishment to all the cells of the body. The blood vessels also act as a channel for movement of white blood cells. The blood and lymph vessels both carry cellular waste products away. The lymph system carries metabolic cellular waste away from the tissues and also acts as a freeway for travel of white blood cells. The immune system depends on the excretory organs to clear the body of foreign invaders or waste products. The kidneys, liver, skin, lungs and intestines are all excretory organs involved in this process. The liver is an important gate keeper for foreign invaders as well as metabolizing harmful agents into useful material or into a form which can be excreted from the body. The liver metabolizes steroids, ammonia and other compounds into substances which can be excreted. The liver transfers some of these substances into the intestines via the bile. In the colon these products are transported out of the body in the feces. Other substances are made water soluble and go to the kidneys. The kidneys excrete and secrete a large proportion of soluble waste from the blood. The lung breathes out gases which have been dissolved in the blood. The skin also excretes soluble substances in the sweat.

Additionally our emotions play a large part in how our immune system works. Our emotions affect our nervous system and endocrine system which in turn effects most bodily functions. Strong emotions of a stressful nature can depress the immune systems activity. Emotions of happiness and contentment can support the immune system.

Function of immune system:

The immune system is the gate keeper between our body and the environment. It protects the body from infections, parasites, cancer and basically anything which it views as other than the body it serves. The immune system can be divided into two categories scientifically.

1. Non-specific immunity: This type of immunity reacts to broad groups of insults to the body. Barriers such as the skin, cilia in the lungs, lysozymes in the tears would all be included in this category. Non-specific immunity also involves specialized cells in the blood and other tissues which attack alien invaders in general. Usually the method of attack is phagocytosis. In phagocytosis, the cell eats the invader and dissolves the invader with enzymes which digest the foreign agent.

2. Specific or acquired immunity: This type of immunity recognizes and reacts to specific foreign agents rather than all foreign agents.  This is the part of the immune system which involves antibodies.

The immune system depends on multiple

 factors for its smooth function.

General factors which can affect immune system response are:

Age

Nutritional Status

Genetics

Medications

Environment

Radiation

Stress

Chronic wasting diseases such as cancer and TB

The  immune system needs nourishment from the food we take in. Our immune system can be affected by our emotional states and our environment. It is dependent on a healthy lifestyle for optimum functionality. Specific factors which can affect our immune system in a negative way are pesticides, herbicides, food additives, preservatives, artificial flavors, high fat, simple sugar, low nutrient, refined food diets, antibiotics and hormones in food, contaminated water, prescription drugs, recreational drugs (including coffee and chocolate), heavy metals, radiation, repetitive infections or parasites, and mental stress. These factors must be recognized and removed from a persons life.

Agents or actions which specifically increase susceptibility to fungal infections

• antibiotics (especially repeated use)

• Diabetes (increased sugar feeds fungus and inhibits phagocytosis)

• High sugar and low micronutrients diet

• Hormones such as birth control pills

• Pregnancy

• Wet and warm environments

Healthy food, a safe environment, sunshine, clean air, healthy water, exercise, prayer and a fulfilling life are necessary for optimum immune system function. Nutritional products and herbs can be used to support the normal function of the immune system.

Methods to support a healthy immune system include:
•    Avoid allergens or food sensitivities.
•    Eat a nourishing diet of whole organic or biodynamic foods with healthy oils and fats, adequate   protein, high-fiber, and complex carbohydrates. Eat plenty of fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables.
•    Eliminate chemical sensitivities in your environment.
•    Nourish, tonify, and enhance organ systems that are depleted or not functioning properly.
•    Discontinue recreational drug use.
•    Decrease prescription drug use as much as possible under the guidance of your physician.
•    Get adequate exercise.
•    Rest and meditation.
•    Drink 6-8 glasses of clean water each day.
•    Drinking fresh squeezed lemon juice helps maintain the body’s internal ph.
•    Breath clean air.
•    Get sunshine.
•    Enjoy the benefits of massage and hydrotherapy.
•    Include joyful activities in your day.

Some of the more popular herbs are listed below. If you want detailed descriptions on any of these herbs you can get them at this link:http://www.herbaltransitions.com/MateriaMedica.html

Immunomodulator: Enhances the body’s natural defense system to assist in infectious conditions or other situations which tax the immune system, like invasive tumors.
Examples:
•    Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera)
•    Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata)
•    Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)
•    Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
•    Cedar (Thuja spp.)
•    Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) - pdf on Echinacea at:  http://www.herbaltransitions.com/herbalresources.html

•    Elecampane (Inula helenium)
•    Flag (Iris versicolor)
•    Garlic - fresh (Allium sativa)
•    Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
•    Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
•    Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
•    Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum)
•    Oregon grape root (Mahonia spp.)
•    Osha (Ligusticum porteri)
•    Paracress (Spilanthes acmella)
•    Poke root (Phytolacca americana)
•    Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum clava-herculis)
•    Propolis
•    Red root (Ceanothus americanus)
•    Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum)
•    Wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria )
•    Wu wei zi (Schisandra chinensis)
 

Lymphagogue: Supports the lymphatic organs or stimulates activity of the lymph system.
Examples:
•    Burdock (Arctium lappa)
•    Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
•    Cleavers (Galium aparine)
•    Flag (Iris versicolor)
•    Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
•    Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)
•    Poke root (Phytolacca decandra)
•    Queen’s root (Stillingia sylvatica)
•    Red clover (Trifolium pratense)
•    Wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
 

For details on each of the above herbs, go to:  

http://www.herbaltransitions.com/MateriaMedica.html

Each herb can be looked up here under either it's common or latin name. The information is completely free.

Wild Herbs which are nutritious foods and immune-supportive: Plantain greens, Cleavers greens, Chickweed, Burdock root, Stinging nettles greens in spring (cooked only): many of these herbs can be used in stir fries, soups, or juiced. The Stinging nettles should be cooked due to the possibility of being stung otherwise. The Chickweed is great in salad. These vibrant green wild foods support our bodies via their vitamins, minerals, enzymes and ways we yet have to discover.

For a pdf on Echinacea, click here: 

http://www.herbaltransitions.com/herbalresources.html

 

Learning skills for a beautiful world

It is in our hands. We can do it one step at a time. Below is a short description of our main socio-political problem and how we are and can continue creating a beautiful world.

I was asked recently what my number one environmental concern was. I found it impossible to come up with one most important environmental concern.  We should be living in a paradise but there is so much to be improved in our world. Our air, water and food are tainted. We are indoctrinated as little children to accept our tainted planet and society as it is. We are taught to become good little worker bees. We learn to take our place in society. However, recently many more of us worker bees have been waking up and realizing there are some serious problems in our world. Problems created from the types of activities all of us worker bees are undertaking at the command of some not so nice Queen bees (Those in charge of mega-corporations).  These Queen bees and our acceptance as their worker bees are the root of many of our environmental problems.

When we wake up we notice that the entire environment, the environment within us and the environment outside of us is struggling to survive while hoping for a better future. There is much that needs to be done. Education is paramount. More people need to be educated as to the large-scale socio-political concerns that affect the planet. We need to understand there are people who like to collect power/money who use their power and money to gain control over food, water, medicine, energy sources etc. Their aim is to continually gain more power and more money. In their plan we all remain their worker bees by whatever means is necessary.  These misaligned Queen bees have infected our society. We have to stop working for and feeding the Queen bees. We need to support only healthy aspects of our society.

As we educate each other, more and more people are waking out of their stupor and realizing they are automatons for these greedy Queen Bees. The Queen Bees have been able to control the worker bees as they have made the worlds population think they are all dependent on the Queen bees for their survival. People are no longer taught to be independent in thought or action. People lack the daily survival skills necessary to create their shelters, grow their own food, to take charge of their own health care. These are things we once knew how to do. These skills are easy to gain again and some worker bees have continued to pass the wisdom on to others.

We can provide for ourselves in a much healthier manner than the misaligned Queen bees can. The shelters they provide are built with toxins and are expensive. The health care provided is really sick care and is not affordable. It does not actually keep people healthy. Even the food provided is laced with chemicals and now is genetically modified. Science has shown the dangers of the toxic chemicals and genetic modification of the food. However this data is kept under wraps by the people who benefit from selling toxic seeds and food (AKA Queen Bees). It is easy for them to buy silence and easy for them to use massive advertising to control the minds of the worker bees as long as the worker bees stay in their stupor.

Once we are awakened from this hold the Queen Bees have had on us, it is through gaining self-sufficiency skills and learning to be independent from the Queen bees mega corporations that we will be able to say goodbye to their control. We need interdependence with others of like mind rather than dependence on ill intentioned Queen Bees.  Learning to reconnect and depend on people in our communities is necessary and brings great joy and a feeling of greater purpose to individuals in the community. It is imperative that we learn the skills necessary to live on this planet in a harmonious way with each other and all planetary beings.

The process of learning physical skills is necessary, fun, self-empowering and will change our society. All of us need to learn as many life skills as possible. Touch the Earth: Start a garden if you don’t have one. Community gardens exist in most cities. If there are not enough community garden spaces, find out what needs to be done to get more city land available for gardeners.  Knowing how to grow your own food is not only important for survival; it will enhance your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth. Take the time to learn other self-sufficiency skills you have an interest in. You can never have too many life skills.

Learn to preserve the food you grow by drying, canning, fermenting, freezing and salting. Grow and preserve herbs so you can provide your own medicine.  Chickens are easy to raise and many cities allow hens. Some cities allow goats in the yard under certain conditions. If your city does not allow chickens and or goats, get the laws changed. Goats can provide milk and it is easy to make cheese. Most people don’t realize fresh goat milk tastes great. Goats are easy to care for once you understand them. Learn to use your hands to create a beautiful living environment. Learn how you can become less dependent on the electrical grid and all aspects of our out of control socio-political system.

We need to change things quickly. The fastest way to change society is to work from an energetic level. Each and every one of us on this planet, including the planet is all a twitch in the mind of Spirit whom we are intricately connected to through the breath of life. It is through the spiritual realization that we are all one that true change takes place. The more people realize this, the faster change will take place. It is necessary for us to realize we are all interconnected to understand what affects one, affects all. If you understand this, you know the most important thing that any of us can know. Help others to understand this. When we understand this important fact, it is impossible to have ill will toward others.

The spiritual level is where change can take place the quickest. Many people realize that they co-create reality with others. The place where this creation begins to take place is on the energetic level. We have to be responsible for what emotions and thoughts we will support and nourish into reality. We and all that exists in our environment are made up of the emotions and thoughts that we allowed to become reality in the past. We need to nourish our current thoughts and emotions that will lead us into beautiful dreams of the future for our planet. To do this we need to stay in the moment and pay attention to our emotions, and our thoughts. We need to nurture those emotions and thoughts that will create beauty and harmony in our lives.  We must all take responsibility for our current creation and work towards the changes necessary for us all to live a beautiful life. It is possible and it is already taking place around and within us!

Things to Remember & Do:

Government is not in control of our socio-polictical rules and regulations. A group of large private banks and large corporations are in control. They manipulate us through the central banks and government as well as financial markets. (Read my blog on the Federal Reserve that is coming soon.)

Voting for governmental office may not change much but voting with how we spend our money changes everything. Pay attention to where you invest all your energy including your money. Don’t support the large private banks and corporations. Giving them our money, gives them power.

We can take back the power we have given the mega-corporations. We have the power to transform our society by withdrawing our money from those who engage in destructive behavior and by channeling our money to those who are engaged in positive behavior. We have the power to refuse to work for them. Choose to only work for people who are doing good in the world. Start your own business to compete with them if you can’t find anyone in your line of business who is promoting a safe and beautiful world. If you have a good idea for a business that needs to be created but are unsure how to do it or do not have the capital, start talking to others about it. Spend your time learning what needs to be done.  Spirit will send you the information, the people and the capital you need to proceed if you are committed to the project.

Learn about alternative currency, community currency, and barter systems.

Invest locally, invest with people you trust.

Get down to the nitty gritty: Where do you deposit your money. Is the bank, credit union etc. local? Does it focus on lending locally and giving money back to the local community? Where do you purchase your groceries and other things you need? Is the money staying in the local community or does it have a headquarters that is outside of your community? Where do these businesses invest their money? Is it in your local community?

This is an exciting time to be alive. We are creating a beautiful world. Our dreams lead to ideas, our ideas lead to actions and our actions lead to the materialization of our beautiful world. We will dream carefully, and choose our ideas for their goodness and beauty they create. Then we take action and are blessed by what we have created.