SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2021 VACCINATION

Did you get vaccinated ? Regardless whether you get vaccinated or not there is still a chance you can get COVID From my clinical experience those vaccinated with Pfizer can get COVID within 6 months of their vaccination and those that have Moderna within 8 months. The Israeli study has shown that those vaccinated with Pfizer have gotten COVID infections

This is how the CDC defines a vaccine breakthrough case:

“… a vaccine breakthrough infection is defined as the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or antigen in a respiratory specimen collected from a person ≥14 days after they have completed all recommended doses of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.”

The CDC is always changing definitions of breakthrough. The unvaccinated in get COVID have a longer course and more sick than those that have been vaccinated. COVID is not going away anytime soon.

But, since the COVID-19 vaccines are not designed to stop infection but, rather, to only lessen the degree of infection, it becomes obvious that the new definitions by the CDC was created to cover the COVID vaccines.

Regardless it is your choice whether to be vaccinated. There are about 30 % of my patients who do not want the vaccination for many different reasons. Many of my patients have had the vaccination. Last year at the beginning of the pandemic we unfortunately lost more than 20 patients from this virus.

Now the decision for those that are vaccinated is whether he/she should get the booster. This is another discussion

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE

While you are driving to Upstate New York or the Northeast you cannot help notice the meadow field dotted with pink reddish puffed flowerheads. The flowers hold pre drops of nectar. It is great to gather the red clover. Red clover is one of those herbs we regard as weeds, but I would not This herb has medicinal properties that I use readily as do other herbalists.

This herb goes well mixed with other herbs as marshmallow, rosehips, alfalfa, and pineapple weed. This herb has many medicinal uses. It is great detoxifier for the liver as well as swollen lymph glands. It contains many vitamins and minerals. I use it as a tea . I love it as a tea for coughs and flus.

It is used for females as it has high phytoestrogen content

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 CRANESBILL

You might not know the name Cranesbill but you know the common name of Wild Germanium. The flowers vary in color from white to magenta, and I urge you to crush some of their leaves and smell the fragrance. You can find a wild germanium deep in a damp forest of higher elevation

There is a medicinal use for wild germanium It is great for a foot soak and I have seen herbalists write about using it for postpartum hemorrhoids.

The roots have astringent properties which I have used for insect bites and can be useful for bouts of diarrhea. I have seen herbalists infuse the roots into oil for applications. For those that do not know- an astringent herbs helps tonify and tighten tissues.

I love the foot soaks.

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 WEEDS

I love books. I love hard cover books. I am not a fan of paperback as I enjoy the feel of a hard covered book. Therefore I love to collect books of different topics. Since I love plants I collect books about botanists, herbalists, and various plants. On the shelf I found a book called WEEEDS which i bought more than 10 years ago. As a gardener I am always plucking, and pulling weeds from my gardens.

Whether it is dandelion to crabgrass - it is a weed . An invasive, pervasive and readily despised nuisance to my garden. Yet maybe these weeds have a purpose. In the same why in which Michael Pollan writes in “ Botany of Desire “ - Richard Mabey has a flare for writing.

I started to read again , WEEDS In Defense of Nature’s Most Unloved Plants by Richard Mabey. He intertwines authors and botanists as he discusses the various weeds throughout the history of the world.

I handle ‘ weeds’ differently now since re reading this book. I have a respect for these plants as each serves a purpose. Did you ever wonder why we associates veteran’s Day with the poppy ? How did poppies sprang up in battlefields after World Wars? You must read this book. It is still in print. Enrich your life by reading about plants

“ What is a weed ? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered .” _ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 BACH REMEDIES

This weekend I had time to ponder and think. I looked at my bookshelf in the Connecticut Office and saw a series of books on .Bach remedies. The books by Dr Edward Bach and his devoted assistant/helper Nora Weeks are engaging and educational. I studied Bach remedies over 10 years ago and have used them on many patients. I haven’t used them recently and this past weekend gave me the opportunity to be reintroduced. For me , every day is a new learning experience.

Edward Bach believed and gained the knowledge that out physical health depends upon our way of thinking, our feelings and emotions. He writes that “ Good health is harmony, rhythm when WE think positively, constructively and happily. This makes total sense

I feel the life of Dr Bach tells you a lot about the patient. He was a well trained doctor at University College Hospital and Public Health degree at Cambridge. He was a unique medical student. He cared about the patient’s emotions rather than their diseases.

His development of the flower remedies took time , patience and dedication He gave up his work at that time and went to live in the country. He associated each flower with negative thoughts. This way he developed 38 flowers to cover 38 negative states of mind which mankind can suffer. This was genius

the book The Twelve Healers and Other remedies which still is in print describes the negative state of mind for each flower

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 10-12, 2021 THE IRIS

The genus Iris is named for the obedient and glittering messenger goddess of Greek and Roman Poetry. Iris is the winged daughter of a Titan and a sea nymph. She used the rainbow to run from heaven and Earth

There re more than 300 different species of Irises. To identify an Iris species, the genus was divided into sections according to differences in roots , leaf and even floral characteristics. The Iris shows much color variations as you can see when buying different species seeds. In Fact, some Iris flowers produce colors that you cannot find in white light refracted by raindrop prisms. Red and orange irises are rare in the species.

There is even a species of Irises pollinated by the hummingbird. There are 1800 different species worldwide. There is even an ancient association between Native Iris plants and the most complex civilizations of the Mediterranean basin . The blossoms of the purple and bluish irises were associated with the early art and religious beliefs of the Greece, Egyptian dynasties and the Minoan Crete

There is so much to learn about a single flower or plant. There was even a whitener for teeth in the fourth century written in Greek which was dried iris flowers, rock salt, mint and black pepper.

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 TUMERIC

You know what they say, sometimes the best things in life can be found in the kitchen. THERE ARE MANY KITCHEN HERBS YOU USE EVERY DAY THAT CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH IN MANY POSITIVE WAYS.

There are many studies going on exploring the humble spice cabinet and what it has to offer as far as health. Curcuma longa, also known as Tumeric is one of those kitchen herbs/spices that has many health benefits

It has been shown to support individuals with diabetes as well as losing weight

Tumeric has anti inflammatory effects. It reduces damage caused by alcohol and smoking. It is great as a mouthwash for your teeth and reducing gum inflammation. I have used it to treat bronchitis and the flu. The studies on this herb for heart disease has also been beneficial by reducing heart attacks. It can prevent eye degeneration. I use it with all trace minerals for macular degeneration. It eases the symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. I prefer to give Tumeric in capsule form where each capsules is 500mg to 1000mg. Ingesting Tumeric powder can be beneficial but it can also irritate the gastrointestinal tract.

Call Botanical Bounty 646 723 1823 for your bottle of Tumeric today One of the best tumeric products on the market is Turiva. There was a head to head study with Meriva done with Orthomolecular and the Meriva products.

Until tomorrow…

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 MAPLE AND CIDER VINEGAR WINTER SQUASH

I had squash spaghetti this weekend. It was delicious. This is for a different type of squash recipe

You will need

1. winter squash, acorn or butternut

2. olive oil

3. Cider vinegar

4. Maple Syrup

5. garlic minced or peeled, 1 clove /pound of squash

6. fresh parsley

   Cut the squash in half Scoop out the seeds . Remove skin with vegetable peeler. Cut into 1/2 inch thick chunks

   Over medium high heat add enough oil to coat bottom of the pan When oil ripples add the squash Cook till first side of squash is starting to brown

   Sprinkle the squash with garlic , a splash of the vinegar and a drizzle of maple syrup ( maybe two drizzles) Stir constantly for one minute Remove squash to a plate and sprinkle with fresh parsley Continue to do the following above steps till all squash is done

   Serve at room temperature

   Delicious

   Thanks to Leda Meredith Recipe from her book, Botrany , Ballet and Dinner from Scratch

   Until tomorrow…