A person randomly messaged me recently and asked me, “…and what do your herbs cure?” WOW! That’s a loaded question! You see, in the U.S., the word “cure” is a no-no for those who not medical doctors. Even medical doctors are somewhat reluctant to use the word when it comes to certain situations. Given that I did not know with whom I was chatting, I answered with the long version. I informed the prospective customer that I do not practice medicine (which I don’t); that using the words “cure, treat, diagnose” and a few others may be misconstrued as the practice of medicine in the United States and therefore I do not use them…EVER! I went on to explain how herbs, supplements, etc feed the body various nutrients and phytochemicals it could be lacking. Through this “nourishment” the body may be able to restore its own balance and achieve homeostasis. I further went on to explain how I use an assortment of traditional assessment techniques to form an idea of where each of my client’s stand and offer up advice in a “what I would do if I were you,” kind of way to my clients. It is completely the choice of each individual if they would like to try it out or not and I ALWAYS advise he/she to double check everything with a pharmacist if on medications and to be sure to share their products with their medical practitioners.

 

This is all very true. For those who would like to learn more about natural health modalities throughout the world, I encourage you to look up research at www.pubmed.gov. This website is sponsored by the United States’ Federal Government’s office on NCAM. I AM allowed to point to various studies and cite them as examples of the successful use of a natural remedy. For those in Ohio, please look into supporting the Ohio Sunshine Freedom Coalition (http://www.ohiohealthfreedom.info/). This organization is working hard to enact protection laws in the state of Ohio that would allow consultants, such as myself, to practice without fear with informed consent from the client.

Be strong out there, people….do not allow your rights to be lost! Be informed!

 

You know the person: “So-n-so Bitchypants” who just can’t stop being the voice of negativity in the world. this person has spread the seed of vile anger across the countryside and cannot, no matter the effort, get over the negative vibe he (or she) seems to be enveloped within! UGH! How can someone have so much doom and gloom and negative emotions in one’s life? Right?

 

Well…I did a video about dealing with all of those negative emotions, naturally. Please enjoy 🙂

 

-Lori

Those of you who actively follow the “latest and greatest” may have heard some about a supplement called Berberine. This bright yellow supplement is bitter and is often found in capsules alone.

The shrub known as Indian berberry or Tree Turmeric
The shrub known as Indian barberry or Tree Turmeric

 

Berberine is a bright yellow supplement.
Berberine is a bright yellow supplement.

Nature’s Sunshine also has a berberine supplement. While berberine is found in many yellow root herbs ( like Oregan grape and golden seal – both very bitter tasting yellow roots), NSP gets theirs from Indian barberry.

Known in ayurveda for its uses as an antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-fungal and antioxidant, barberry is sometimes referred to as Tree Turmeric. The bark contains many alkoloids, including berberine, and the plant has been studied in India as a possible treatment of the urinary damage that can be caused by the chemotherapy drug called cisplatin. The studies show the nephrotoxicity caused by the cisplatin was reversed by a decoction of root bark of Berberis aristata (Indian berberry).

In traditional herbalism, it is a bitter herb. This usually means it has the ability to flush bile from the liver. This is highly beneficial for those seeking to use it during cleanses.  Bitter herbs aid in digestion, too.

It is now becoming popular in the US for its anti-diabetic uses. It seems use of berberine is associated with maintaining healthy blood glucose levels. This is one point being addressed in many weight loss programs. It seems when the body is supplied with proper glucose balance, a person is not nearly as hungry and does not crave as many simple sugars. In one study, berberine was found to be as effective in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels as the drug metformin.

And that is not all. Berberine is being looked at for an aid in all areas of what is commonly referred to “metabolic syndrome.” This includes high blood sugar levels, high cholesterol, and obesity. Berberine seems to have a healthy effect on the cholesterol and triglyceride levels of a person, as well. This, along with the research pointing to its ability to help reduce fat (even fatty liver), makes it a wonderful resource for those fighting the triple threat of metabolic syndrome.

And there’s even more! Berberine may even help with the following:

Depression, perhaps due to increases in nor-adrenaline and serotonin

Cancer: Berberine may help suppress tumor growth and spread

Infections, including anti-viral effects against the flu

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),as it helps reduce fat build up in your liver

With the majority of berberine research available on PubMed being done in the last five years, this “newcomer” shows major promise!

 

Berberine from Indian barberry is the ingredient in many berberine supplements.

 

When life gets bumpy…we get TIRED!

Not what you were expecting me to say? LOL! But it is true! People get tired! There is only so much a person can do or so much stress one can endure before the body says, “ENOUGH!”

ENOUGH…is enough

The body’s adrenal glands are about the size of the palm of a hand. The bigger the person, the bigger the adrenal gland. They’re kind of triangle shaped and they sit on top of the kidneys (ad-renal means above the kidney). They can be referred to as suprarenal glands, but this is not the usual accepted name. These glands are the ones responsible for the “fight or flight” response to stresses. I go into quite some detail in my book BURNT! (links available under the Books & Such tab, here on herbchickonline.com). These glands can fire off hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, in response to stresses like a poor evaluation at work or an impending school deadline the same as if you were being chased by a hungry, angry bear. The adrenals do not know the difference. A perceived threat is a threat all the same, therefore requiring the same responses. This can leave you tired, immuno-depressed, emotionally depressed and in need of some kind of recuperation.

Getting past those speed-bumps

What can we do manage these speed-bumps in our lives? You know the ones: the tax deadlines; the gas bill that’s over due; the raging boss wanting paperwork turned in; and one and on. How do we get our adrenals to just “deal”?

Mentally

Meditation has been shown to reduce the body’s adrenal reaction to stress. It calms the brain, which in turn calms our reactions. Just 20 minutes of peace and quiet spent in meditation can make a huge difference. Try it. Set aside a small time each day to clear the mind. Mentally see yourself wiping the items triggering your stress off a giant chalk board. Investigate meditation avenues. It really does make a difference.

Feed those adrenals

While there are extremely severe deficiencies of the adrenal glands like Addison’s and Cushing’s, there is a sub-clinical phase of adrenal exhaustion which some doctors aare just now beginning to recognize. As an herbalist and natural health consultant, I have been dealing with adrenal fatigue for some time, both in my own life and in that of my clients. Adrenal fatigue is one reason why my mother took me to my first herbal nutrition consultant in 1991. I live this issue every single day and I will tell you, you must feed your adrenals to get them back online.

Vitamin C is a crucial component of the adrenal glands. When they are dried, they are found to be made up of crystallized vitamin C. So consume vitamin C!

Minerals like potassium and natural sodium are important nutritional components. Coincidentally they are found in electrolytes. Is it merely a coincidence the adrenals are responsible for secreting hormones to tell the kidneys how much fluid and electrolyte minerals to keep back? Hmmmm. Makes you think, right?

One herb I love to include in an adrenal building program is Ashwaghanda! Ashwaghanda is considered an adaptogen. This means it is an herb which is considered to be beneficial in helping the body cope with stress. It is often times referred to as Indian ginseng (even though it and ginseng are not even close to being related). This shrub is actually a member of the tomato family. If you ever see the little seed pods, you know where the relation is. The seed pods look like little tomatillos. It is native to the dry climates of India and the middle east. Today it can be cultivated in some milder regions of the Americas, too. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an herb to increase energy and reduce negative impacts of stress.

Ashwaghanda is a shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers
Ashwaghanda is a shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers

ashwagandha-plant

 

Usually the root and the berries are used in the herbal preparations. The fruits are tiny red berries which sometimes look like red raisins by the time you buy them. The Chopra Center recommends adding 600 to 1000 mg of Ashwaghanda to your diet daily. I like to blend chromium, Korean ginseng root extract, rhodiola root extract, eleuthero root, gynostemma whole plant extract, ashwagandha root, schizandra fruit, suma bark, alfalfa aerial parts, astragalus root, kelp leaves and stems, reishi mushroom mycelia, rosemary leaves extract, ginkgo leaves extract, broccoli flowers, carrot root, red beet root, rosemary leaves, tomato fruit, turmeric root, cabbage leaf, grapefruit bioflavonoid, hesperidin and orange bioflavonoid.. While I realize this is a lot of supplements, sometimes you can find them altogether in a blend. Together these herbs help the body cope with a variety of stressful conditions, including stress on the immune system, fatigue and aging. They fight oxidative cellular damage, energize the body, support positive mood and stimulate the immune system. It is one of my main “go to” formulas to fight adrenal fatigue.

You can learn much more about Adrenal Fatigue and natural ways to cope in my book BURNT!

 

 


“The longing for sweets is really a yearning for love or “sweetness.”
― Marion Woodman

This quote from Marion Woodman, a Jungian psychologist, gives insight to how food cravings may work for some people. Since psychology was one of my majors in college, I am fascinated with how it inter-plays with human biology. I am firmly entrenched in the belief that our thoughts effect our bodies and our bodies effect our minds and thoughts. Just think, if every thought…every emotion which occurs inside of a person is a chemical signal, and that body must process each and every one, then why would this not be true? In my mind, it must be. Therefore, we must pay attention to our thoughts, our subsequent actions, and how they work together to develop patterns. These could be health building patterns, or health destroying patterns, but patterns nonetheless.

 

There are those who believe long term, chronic illness may be the result of long term negative thoughts. These people propose constantly participating in negative “self-talk” can activate illness or illness like conditions. While I do not suggest anyone forgo the consult and/or treatment of a medical doctor (as explained in earlier posts, etc), what does it hurt to incorporate looking at something like this? Nothing. It is always healthy to examine one’s own psyche in order to further one’s own development. And so….let’s look at the longing for sweets.

 

Losing the sweetness of life

How do we lose our sweetness of life? For one woman, it was the realization the fairy tale life in her dreams was not going to happen in real life. She had wanted to attend college; have some kids; be in a loving marriage; have a house in the country…all those things she had read about her icons doing and having. She ignored her inability to be flexible. She had no “go-with-the-flow” about her. When other males rejected her, she settled for the first one that would take her. He was a controlling, manipulative man who quickly turned the relationship into a dysfunctional passive-aggressive wasteland. Soon, she realized her dreams would never come true in this environment. Of course, by the time she realized it, she weighed 250 pounds (at 5 foot 3 inches tall); had blood sugar levels high enough to be classified as “pre-diabetic”; was consuming three to six sodas per day; and would not dare to sacrifice her king sized Reese cup each day. After all, chocolate is a great antioxidant, right?

Life had become a struggle. A struggle to be “allowed” to follow her heart; struggle to keep in contact with friends; struggle to get the housework done; and so forth and so on. She would describe this as, “feeling as though I must fight the heaviest tides, head-on, with the weight of the world strapped to my back.” The thought of trying to go back to a time where things seemed “sweet” or easy or had a feeling of potential, meant work. Work meant fighting against all those forces, including self-doubt; confidence in the face of condemnation; perseverance; and trusting others to be good people not intentionally causing harm to her.

A good….long…hard look at her life was in order. How many Reese cups did it take for her to feel as if her life were sweet enough? How many times did a bucket of ice cream substitute hugs? How many Hershey bars counteracted the sting of insults? You see, even though those negatives were always coming from those around her, her own self was telling her…reinforcing to her…she was nothing but a washed up fake. She may as well seek comfort in the one thing that has never failed her: SWEETS!

The results were half finished and now neglected projects; a closet full of too tight clothes; and even more sadness and grief. High blood pressure, low stamina and energy, headaches, exhaustion, and more physical ailments, all combined, just compounded the emotions. How does one recover from all of that?

 

Rediscovering the sweetness of balance

Even though the woman above is fictional, this type of thing happens every single day. Stories very similar, sometimes even more tragic, come across my desk. Individuals such as this, need help…assistance…coaching to get back up and get their lives back in order to find appreciation for those sweet things which make life what it is.

Where to begin?

The best place to begin is with the obvious. Physically, the hypothetical woman in the above tale, needs to address her physical symptoms of obesity and blood sugar balance. It is incredibly difficult to get up and move again after a sedentary life! Physical aids may help to give the mental aspect a boost in the proper direction.

If it were me, in this scenario, I would begin by directly lending support to my body’s ability to balance blood sugar. This may help to even out the energy supply, so to speak. I love using blends of herbs.

Blends are great for supplying all your needs, without sinking a large amount of money into individual products. They are premixed to deliver a cost efficient product.

I would look for a blend containing chromium, vanadium, cinnamon bark extract, fenugreek seeds, bitter melon fruit, gymnema leaves extract, nopal leaves and banaba leaf. Chromium and vanadium are two minerals shown to have positive effects on maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Vanadium may have actions mimicking insulin and chromium is needed to get insulin into the body’s cells. The herbs I listed work in the following ways:

-Banaba, gynema, and bitter melon have been historically used to support glandular functioning. Research now supports this, and possibly points to a more specific target of action: the pancreas.

Multiple approaches

 

Then I would, personally, add a flower essence called to vent the grief in my life.There are flower essences out there which may lend emotional support to those feeling as if they are helpless to make change, therefore losing the “sweetness” from their lives. Most are formulated using the same methods set forth by Dr. Bach when he began making flower essences.

Smell the sweetness

 

I would also use various citrus essential oils to brighten and boost the mood. My two favorites for this are Pink Grapefruit and Blood Orange. Do not use oils derived synthetically nor diluted with synthetics. I like to use one of those citrus oils with blends containing other oils like Atlas cedar, Spruce, Ho Leaf, Blue Tansy, Frankincense, Chamomile. Or, at times,  I just use their various blends that already have pink grapefruit included. Since these are blends I like to have diffused throughout my home, I use them in diffusers, plug in “aroma balls,” in a small necklace pendent designed to carry essential oils, and I have even added them to lightweight, non-greasy oils like almond oil or sunflower oil, to massage onto my skin.

 

Talk yourself into finding the sweetness

If negative self-talk got you to this point, positive self-talk may help to bring you back away from this point. Affirmations to boost the ability to feel the sweetness include:

-The universe loves and supports me!

-I am surrounded by sweet love and tenderness!

 

All of these may have a positive impact on your mental outlook and you physical ability to find your sweetness in life!

Life really is sweet….enjoy it!

Essential oils have gone mainstream! It’s all the rage. But, did you know the practice if Aromatherapy has been around a very, very long time? I’m not going to go into a drawn out story of a French gentleman by the name of Gattafosse (excuse me, I know I missed an accent in there; French is not my native tongue). Nor will I ramble about how he plunged his hand into a vat of pure lavender oil after it burned in a perfumery lab accident. I will tell you, he became amazed at the wonderful healing of his wounds and coined the term aromatherapy….and hence, the modern era craze began.

Essential oils are all the craze
Essential oils are all the craze

 

Essential oils have been around for as long as plants have been around (translation: long darn time). There are historical accounts of using essential oils in ancient Egypt. They are mentioned throughout the Bible and other religious texts of the world. Essential oils are an essential part of history and they are back in a huge way!

 

About 16 years ago, I had the pleasure of going to Utah for a week of classes. It was a week of intensive holistic education. I learned about different types of administration of remedies, classification of herbs, and so much more…including essential oils and aromatherapy. I consider myself lucky for having been able to attend such an intensive.

 

I learned a lot about essential oils. I learned about balancing blends; which oils are traditionally used for which complaints; how to dilute oils; and more. One thing I learned, which I think is very important to point out, is that there is no certification body for the “grading” of essential oils in the USA today. What that means is that, at this very moment as I type this, there is no independent certification body serving to grade essential oils as “pure” or “therapeutic” grade or “perfume” grade or whatever other classification you hear a company claiming. There are companies out there that can document and prove to you that their oils are authentic. They are using the word “authentic” to mean that their oils are not cut or diluted down with any synthetic and/or natural substance. This is a good thing. These companies can also tell you exactly from where their oils are derived. This is also a very good thing.

General ground rules for using essential oils

-always dilute your oils

Although distributors of some oils say theirs are different, no one knows how you and your body are going to react to an oil until you use it. It is best to start with a low concentration. You can add more, but you cannot take away.

-do not ingest straight oils

There are companies out there with distributors insisting their oils are safe to ingest. While some essential oils are derived from plant foods and spices, I do not suggest just throwing them your mouth willy nilly! The only oils I’ve ever done this with are peppermint and wintergreen oils. I only did it for myself, and have never recommended anyone else do this. Essential oils can burn. They can burn the skin and the tongue and mouth tissues, too. Caution should be used. Extreme dilution of oils without chemical additives can be done with the proper education and experience. However, I would not suggest jumping right in to something like that!

 

-do not apply just any straight oil

Some oils are what is referred to as “hot” oils. Oregano, cinnamon, etc are examples of “hot” oils. These may burn the skin and should be applied neat (the term used a straight, undiluted application to the skin). Olive oil, almond oil, sunflower oil and safflower oil are my personal favorite carrier oils for skin application.

 

-use oils that smell good to you

This is not rocket science. If you think an oil stinks, it probably is not the oil for you.

 

Please remember that essential oils are extremely concentrated. I’ll leave you with this video showing how a steam extracted oil can be produced. Keep a close eye on the amount of raw materials and the tiny amount of oil. Then, you will understand the cost and the concentration.

 

 

Earlier, I wrote about metabolic age as an important measurement of your body’s functionality. It is a newer measurement than resting metabolic rate or your basal metabolic rate. Both of these terms refer to the amount of calories a person burns while the body is at rest (not involved in exercise). This is sometimes referred to as your BMR.

BMR Calculations

For women:

BMR = 655 + (4.35 x weight in pounds) + (4.7 x height in inches) – (4.7 x age in years)

For men:

BMR = 666 + (6.23 x weight in pounds) + (12.7 x height in inches ) – (6.8 x age in years)

Once you have your BMR, you can then compare to other in your same age bracket.

Your metabolic age is simply the age at which your body is functioning.

So, if you are 5 foot 4 inches, female and have the same BMI as a 16 year old female of that height and weight, your metabolic age is 16. You can find many charts and calculator tools online.

Another option is to use various scales that measure your metabolic age.

As a trained IN.form coach, I use a biotracker. This is a fancy name for  a scale that takes various measurements. I input the sex, age, height, and activity level. It then does the calculations for weight, body fat, daily caloric intake, hydration levels, visceral fat, bmi, bone mass and metabolic age. Not a single one of these measurements is an end-all and be-all. The idea is that the weight, visceral fat, metabolic age, bmi, and body fat all come down, while the other numbers go up. These measurements are merely tools to give visual confirmation and feedback to confirm we are doing the right things for our bodies. It can be a huge motivation to see those numbers change. I know it was for me. Especially when my initial reading was 92! (Completely, not kidding….it was a whopping 92!! I was functioning. metabolically as a 92 year old woman….at 40!)

How do we increase our metabolism?

-Exercise

Move your body! Just get up and move. It does not matter what kind of exercise you choose to do. Just pick one. The best kind of exercise for you is one you will do!

-Supplements

Some synergystic blends of supplements may help speed

-Proper Sleep

This is an area where I lag behind. I tend to burn the midnight oil. Not getting adequate rest can work against weight management efforts. Most experts agree that an adult should get between seven to 10 hours of sleep a night. Eight hours is a nice middle ground.

-Stress management

This is where I REALLY fall behind. My stress management, at this time, sucks! As a wholistic consultant and IN.form coach, I know I should probably serve as an example. However, let’s face it. I am human just like all of you. My stress levels have been through the roof, at times! That’s when I find myself eating and grabbing the chocolate. I also know that certain adrenal hormones, produced as a reaction to stress, block weight loss attempts!

Whatever you do, know that there is always a tomorrow.

So your readings one day aren’t that great. Oh well. The world did not quit spinning. You try again. And again. The idea is to keep up the effort. Everyday you make another small change for the better. You then become better and better until you are the best you there is to be!

 

It’s the new year! All thew champagne is gone. All the party poppers have been sprung. You are now left with a brand new year. What are YOU going to do with it? Do you really want an “all new you”? I’m hoping to just improve and refine the “me” I already am!

I recently did a periscope broadcast on just this very topic (you can find me on periscope and twitter under @herbchick1, by the way). I urge you to share. What are your resolutions for 2016? I’ve got mine! I’m aiming to do my belly dance drills daily; become more avid in the use of my kettle bell (hopefully pushing along the loss of my baby apron); reduce my metabolic age (more coming on this very, very soon); and revamp my diet. In the spirit of that last one, please check out the video below. Just changing one thing at a time, like reducing your wheat consumption, can make a world of difference!

Enjoy! And hit me with those resolutions, people! They mean more when you put them in writing!

It’s cold and flu season in the Great Lakes region. That means pain and suffering for many folks. Usually, the common cold and influenza are caused by viruses. This means the antibiotics that are sometimes prescribed by doctors really does nothing but kill off beneficial bacteria in the gut. This can leave a person even more immuno-compromised than before they sought aid from the doctor.

 

An answer worth its weight in Silver

According to some historians, Alexander the Great drank water from silver vessels. Little did he know, the silver was acting as an antimicrobial agent to kill off harmful “bugs” that may have been living in the water. Silver has been assigned all kinds of magical and mysterious properties throughout time. It can slay werewolves and vampires and all kinds of, now referred to as, zombies.

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Stress can be detrimental to a person’s health on all levels. Each and every bodily system seems to be effected on so many levels. The connection between the heart and cardiovascular system and stress has been well documented and, now, is widely known to the general public. But what about the connection between stress and the digestive system? How much do we know about it?

We know that stress can cause the esophagus to spasm. IMAG0094_1_2 That same stress that can cause the esophageal spasm can shut down the mill action of the stomach, in turn, causing nausea. The stomach lining is filled with nerve endings which are constantly sending information back and forth from the brain. It has been found that some neurotransmitters are present in a higher concentration in the digestive system than anywhere else! This nervous system network, now referred to as the enteric nervous system, has its own nerve plexi and sends reflexive information to and receives it from the brain, independently of the divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

Knowing this, and doing things to prevent the effects of stress from ravaging one’s digestive tract, can be quite different matters. For example, I have had trouble swallowing for as long as I can remember. As a kid, food would get stuck in my throat routinely. During periods of high stress and anxiety, it would become worse. Dinners where arguments ensued would just produce pain. In fact, just a couple short months ago, I found myself in a position where I suffered the consequences of not “practicing what I preach.” I was at my “real world job,” and I ended up working alone. I was hoping to stay ahead of the game by working and eating at the same time. However, upon my first bite of chicken, I found myself choking. After a brief flash of my life before my eyes, the real panic set in. You see, I am the emergency responder on my shift. I am supposed to give aid to others in a situation such as this. What in the world was I supposed to do for myself?

I threw myself over the back of a chair. This moved the bite of chicken, but it became lodged in my throat. Therefore, no water, food, etc could get down and the chicken would not come back up, either. I finished my shift, in pain, went home to see my children off to school and then drove myself to my doctor’s office. MY family doctor, even though he knew I did not want to go, sent me on to the emergency room of the local hospital. There, they could not offer any more aid. A surgeon had to be called in. Three hours later, I was the recipient of an esophageal dilation. While I realize the necessity of the procedure, I do not suggest anyone signing up for it unless absolutely needed.

What’s going on here? Read More