HERBAL REMEDIES

Brooklyn High-lights: Herbs and life

by Brooke Wagenheim

"When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot be exerted, wealth is useless, and reason is powerless." HEROPHILIES 300 B.C.

Most Americans take a pain reliever for a headache, antacid for indigestion, and harmful antibiotics from doctors who rarely ask the patient to look at his or her entire lifestyle in order to find the source of stress, dietary or otherwise, that has created the problem. The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine, or the slowest form of poison. [Most drugs relieve the outer symptoms, while the food you eat, affects the body more slowly than modern medicine, is safer and more thoroughly removes the causes of illness.
A lot of average lifestyles incorporate many addictions, from sugar to tobacco, caffeine to fast foods. It is crucial to educate yourself on alternatives in order to live a healthy, balanced life. It takes time to heal, just as it takes time to ill. Those packaged, processed, powdered, bleached and sanitized, products that people consider healthy sustenence, are actually poison.
There are other lifestyle options for gradual sustainment, as well as vigorous remedies for advanced ailments. Everyone’s dietary needs are different, which is actually advantageous because there are many options. Informing yourself about these options includes self-awareness and thoroughly researching lifestyle. Reaping the benefits of health consists and relies upon the choices people make every day, hence making these concepts a lifestyle, not just a remedy.
Macrobiotics, which means a large view of life, or "great life," is the Oriental concept that health and vitality can be achieved through harmony with the universe. As a dietary philosophy, it is found inthe traditional food of ancient Japan. Now preserved fully only in Zen Buddhist monasteries, the diet is reputed to alkalinize and detoxify the body and protect from chronic diseases such as cancer. The principles of macro emphasize balancing yin and yang, the opposing yet complimentary forces that exist in nature.
Staples of a macrobiotic diet include whole grains and vegetables, which contain a near perfect balance of yin and yang. Certain cooking methods are used in creating macrobiotic meals. For instance, you do not just chop, dice and slice the vegetables, they are to be cut in certain ways; diagonally cut slices for carrot or daikon, one to two inch pieces for green leafy vegetables and matchstick leeks are just a few examples. Consistency and uniformity are key.
The diet includes a grain, a protein, miso, and three vegetables, one of each from land, sea and earth. Miso is a Japanese soybean paste made from fermenting soy with whole wheat (or grain) and seasalt, for a period of three years. When preparing these foods, no perfume oils, or other scents are to be worn since this may conflict with the necessity of the cook to experience the aroma of the food. Preparation is to be done slowly, consistently, calmly, for divine effectiveness.
No music is to be played to interfere with concentration. The macrobiotic way of life is based on achieving and maintaining a dynamic balance with our environment in nature and the universe, beginning most fundamentally with the proper selection and preparation of our daily foods. In addition to this, the macrobiotic way of life means physical well-being, it incorporates self-esteem, spiritual beliefs, and outlook on life.
Vegetarianism, which is not only healthy and environmental, but practiced for ethical and religious reasons, adheres to the fact that an abundance of scientific data suggests positive relationships between a vegetarian diet and reduced risk for several chronic degenerative diseases and conditions. Vegetarian diets, like all diets, need to be planned appropriately to be nutritionally adequate. The eating patterns of vegetarians vary considerably. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian eating pattern is based on grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds, nuts, dairy products, and eggs, and excludes meat, fish, and fowl. The vegan, or total vegetarian, eating pattern is similar to the lacto-ovo-vegetarian pattern except for the additional exclusion of eggs, dairy, and other animal products, including honey.
Even within these patterns, considerable variation may exist in the extent to which animal products are avoided. Therefore, individual assessment is required to accurately evaluate the nutritional quality of a vegetarian’s dietary intake.
Fasting is the most powerful tool to cleanse the body, and when done correctly, can heal ailments, strengthen the immune system and prevent sickness, is a highly advocated realm of ridding the body of toxins that have accumulated as fecal matter, lining the walls of the colon, since childhood. Bodies accumulate toxins from excessive eating, poorly combined food choices, pesticides, lead, arsenic, nicotine and other drugs, and have a limited capacity to eliminate this toxic load. Fasting employs an almost endless list of benefits, but is only effective and safe if it is done correctly, intelligently, and with the supervision of an appropriate guide.
Live foods eliminate toxins in the body, providing energy with enzymes and nourishment. When planning a water fast, one must first improve his or her health by eating live foods, organically grown raw fruits and vegetables, seeds, sprouts and grasses, for several months. Doing a fast wrong can kill you! Autotoxemia, self-poisoning , happens when the body rids too quickly the mucous and chemicals it imbibes. In this case, enemas or professionaly administered colonics are in order. Most people don't like enemas. I don't either, but when faced with reabsorbtion of toxic wastes and poison, the enema becomes more acceptable. Bowel movements are infrequent or altogether absent during fasting.
Think of a cars radiator, breaking loose of all the dirt and rust within, when it’s given a flush. Life seems to be full of unpleasant things made necessary by the neglect of things that should have been done in the first place.
Fruitarianism, the only cuisine that is karmaless, as all other food involves killing, whether it be of animals, plants or seed, helps human beings advance much further in esoteric studies and spiritual life. Fruit is the easiest food to digest, and the least mucous-forming. It is offered from the tree, which remains alive, when ripened by the sun. Plucked by the wind, it is laid, as an offering, to humans and animals.
To be a healthy fruitarian up north without eventually suffering some undesirable consequences is difficult, if not impossible; a total mucousless diet, unless rich in chlorphyll or green sprout juice, is just as dangerous.
Herbs are a key component in any one of these constituents, as they prevent illness and alleviate symptoms without polluting our bodies and the environment with chemicals. Incorporating them into your life is not only mindful, but imperative, considering they have served humanity since the dawn of time as food, and promoting good health.
The use of herbs to promote and support human well-being, dates back thousands of years. Every civilization has documented its use of herbs in ancient manuscripts.
Many contemporary medicines are still derived from plants or are synthetic copies of substances originally identified in nature. After centuries of use, herbs continue to play a vital role in promoting health in the modern consumer. Herbs must be used appropriately. Many herbs are extremely potent. Use and overuse of certain herbs can be deadly! It is also important to note that since herbs contain active ingredients, be aware that some elements may interact negatively with prescribed medications. Therefore, your healthcare professional must be notified if you have any questions about safety. As a general rule: most of the bitter tasting herbs are medicinal herbs and the pleasant tasting herbs are less toxic and can be used more often. Also, some herbs in any form, should not be taken for more than seven days at a time. Others herbs are more beneficial with time. You have to remember that some herbal remedies, just like the drugs patterned after them, have to be taken on a regular basis in order to be effective. You can take parsley from time to time for water retention, but a friend who suffers from depression has to take St. John's Wort every day.
All of these options are very beneficial but must be thoroughly understood and practiced to reap health, rejuvenation and vitality. Of course, in addition to vital nutrients, health and adequate protection from pollution and environmental hazards is difficult to achieve without fresh air, pure water, sunshine, exercise and a positive mental outlook.
Breaking addictions and adhering to healthy lifestyles can be treacherous and frustrating. It is a gradual process that involves a lot of knowledge, patience and dedication. Knowing your body is not only a hackneyed phrase, but a sacred priveledge and a sought after reward. Ethically abiding to a nourishing and rejuvenating lifestyle is the secret to health, happiness and freedom. These factors are necessary in making the transition from a chaotic and disorderly modern diet to a more balanced one. A conscious meat eater, in effect, would probably be more vibrant and nourished than a potato chip and candy bar chomping vegetarian. Misinformation occurs when products are labeled "Natural" or "Enriched;" advertisments stray from the truth and dead doctors don't tell lies.