MAY 26-27, 2018 – KEFIR

You may have heard of Kefir, but don't know anything about it. Some have touted that this is the secret to longevity. It originated in an area between Europe and Asia. It was made from camel's milk; however, today in a green market, it can be made from cow's, goat's, or sheep's milk. Kefir grains are a yeast/bacteria mixture held together by milk.

I have tasted Kefir many times. I would describe the taste as slightly sour as well as effervescent like a bubbly champagne. I find its taste superb.

The kefir after the fermentation process can be kept refrigerated for up to one year. You could strain it for a second fermentation if you wish.

I prefer to add fresh berries to mine. There are many recipes you can find.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Until tomorrow...

MAY 25, 2018 – WATER

We all need to drink more water. I believe if you are going to use tap water from your house, it should be filtered. I prefer a Daulton filter. Lately, I have been drinking boxed water for which I have a subscription. Water that is in plastic is not healthy for your body. Additionally, there is too much plastic waste killing the environment.

There are many prices and sizes for filters. You have to pick the one that best suits your household needs as well as your financial budget. I know that many rent in NYC, but I still recommend buying a filter for both the kitchen and shower head. Whichever one you get, I recommend changing it every year and cleaning it weekly.

Until tomorrow...

MAY 24, 2018 – WORMWOOD

Wormwood (Artemesia) is often  associated with its effectiveness in eradicating parasites. It is also associated with its use in a variety of cancers.

It is well written and documented its good use in celebrating Samhain – the Celtic Festival – and the Wiccan Sabvbat. This happens to coincide with Halloween. I have studied Wiccan practices among the Green Men. It is no coincidence that wormwood is used at this time as this is when there is a thin veil between the living and the dead.

Wormwood is one of the major ingredients when questioning the dead. What is used is red ochre, burnt myrrh, the juice of fresh wormwood, evergreen, and flax. It is used when trying to contact the dead along with myrrh and cypress.

To me, wormwood is a magical herb that is used in witchcraft. If you ever have tried wormwood, you better be ready for the bitterness of this herb. I have seen it used as an oil to rid the area of unwanted spirits.

The last piece of witchcraft information on wormwood is this: It can be used interchangeably with two other herbs – mugwort and sagebush – for battle against the demons or dark side.

Until tomorrow...

MAY 23, 2018 – IMPOTENCY

Impotency is a common problem among men. It is well documented and well researched. There are many causes for a man's impotence. It can be medical or psychological. Once your physician identifies the problem, you must find the cause. Once the cause is known, it can be treated. There are many drugs for sexual dysfunction such as Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis. There are no specific drugs for impotence. 

Throughout history, Mayan men have never had impotence. The reason for this is their ingestion of an herb in a tea form. The herb is Corn Silk.

It makes a huge difference in the sexual performance of Mayan men. The amount varies, but most men take 3 glasses of this tea daily. It prevents impotency by being a gentle urinary tract detoxifier and keeping the genitourinary tract clean.

Until tomorrow...

MAY 22, 2018 – BEGONIA

There are more than 150 species of begonia. They show up everywhere. Some streets in NYC have begonias flowing out of pots. It is a hearty plant and grows in almost all places.

Yesterday, I saw a begonia that I have never seen before. It was similar to the white begonias I plant on my terrace except the leaves had dots on them. I couldn't wait to take a photo of this plant. It is appropriately called the Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia maculate var wightii). There were a variety of polka dots on all the leaves making it appear as if the flowers were crying white tears.

I am now in search of seeds. It was just captivating.

Until tomorrow...

MAY 21, 2018 – LOVE PLANTS

There are many plants in the shape of hearts. As an herbalist, I have noticed it more as the years pass by. 

Perhaps love is like a window,
Perhaps an open door,
It invites you to come closer,
It wants to show you more.

There are many shapes in the structures of flowers that can be seen. All orchids look life faces. I have noticed this while I stitch them on a canvas. Sometimes we even see a heart. This is seen in the rope like flowers of the Amarranthus caudatus, or the Love in Puff (Cardiospermum halicacabum).

Perhaps the best example is the Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis). There is always a story of how the bleeding heart was named. It is the heart of the princess that will bleed for the prince for the rest of her days. It is a great story. The Hearts a Burstin (Euonymus Americus) reminds me of the song 'June is Bustin Out all Over' from Oklahoma.

Notice the flowers this summer and find a heart.

Until tomorrow...

MAY 17, 2018 – HELICOBACTER PYLORI

Helicobacter pylori is an organism that has been associated with malignancy of the GI tract. There are studies to indicate that we eradicate too many of the H. pylori organisms. The conventional treatment for H. pylori is a Prepac which is not usually tolerated by most patients.

For this reason there has been another effective treatment which involves a drug called Nitazoxanide (Alinia). I have used Alinia to treat parasites for the last 20 years. This has been largely due to Dr. Kevin Cahill (Parasitologist in New York City). Alinia is involved in a new study regiment using two other antibiotics and an H2 blocker like omeprazole. Most patients do not tolerate this either. I think it is unique to use Alinia as I have always believed it has other properties as anti bacterial and anti viral in addition to its anit parasitic.

For natural treatment of H. pylori, I utilize a berberine containing plant (there are 4 berberine containing plants). The other treatment is Mastica which is a resin from the Mastica tree. Mastica is made from the sap of the tree Pistachia Lentiscus var. chia, which is grown only on the southern coast of Chios. Mastica has been cultivated since ancient times due to its healing properties, unique taste, and the variety of uses.

Until tomorrow...

MAY 15, 2018 – SAW PALMETTO

A common condition in older men – benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) – can cause lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). A longitudinal, prospective, observational, multicenter study called the Quality of Life in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (QUALIPROST) examined the QoL changes and symptom relief in a large cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe LUTS/BPH being managed by therapeutic approaches typically found in real-world clinical practice. The study was conducted in centers throughout Spain from September 2009 to June 2011.

Saw Palmetto showed equal efficacy when compared to conventional drug treatments. I find this not only personally interesting, but a benefit to most men. Some of the medical treatments have side effects, especially hypotension when taking Flomax. It has been shown that Proscar (Finesteride) can have sexual side effects.

This large study showed equal efficacy when looking at quality of life symptoms. More studies need to be done.

Reprinted from the HerbalClips of the American Botanical Council. Join the ABC today.

Until tomorrow...