Who knows and who can treat your body better than you?
Flu Shot? Let Plants Protect You!
by Anne Salazar Dunbar, Master Herbalist
"With all the [recent] hysteria over flu shots, I stand in wonder over our complete dependency on the medical community for something as common as the flu. Everyone is all stirred up and frightened that somehow, if they don’t get this shot, they will be completely vulnerable to any and all infection. What happened to our self-reliance and our own ability to stand in our power and solidify our own strengths? Of course, if someone is excessively vulnerable to immune disorders, then perhaps the shot is the answer. But for everyone else there are many other options...
"Plants have been our protectors, teachers, and healers for time immemorial. If we just take the time to honor them and learn from them, we can stay strong and allow our bodies to do their work -- staying healthy and capable of recovery when necessary. This is not a fad or a trend; plants have been used very successfully for as long as humans have been on this planet. From where do you think modern medicine originated?
"That being understood, let me share some plants that have been proven to be effective in protecting us from external invasion and that assist us in fighting infection once it has set in. When the season changes and the temperatures drop, there is more damp in the air. We must adjust our behavior to these changes. This may include adding some protective, tonic herbs to our diets, as well as changing some of our eating habits from cool foods (for summer heat) to warming foods (for winter cold). This is about creating homeostasis, or balance. This is our job, to keep ourselves in balance..."
Herbal Alteratives
by John Finch
"Most natural healers agree that when the blood is pure, no disease can reside in our bodies. Blood purifiers get rid of toxicity by stimulating the release of toxins, mostly via the skin, kidneys and colon. The liver is also an integral part of the elimination process. So herbs that stimulate these organs to exercise their elimination functions can help the person with pimples, as well as someone with cancer.
"Besides eruptive skin conditions and eruptive anger, physical symptoms indicating the need for blood purification include dark circles under the eyes (weak liver function), bags under the eyes (weak kidney function), nervous disorders, digestive disturbances, loss of hair, eyesight and hearing, stiff joints, low vitality and frequent infections. A familiar picture?
"Actually, the modern world we live in is quite a challenge for our processes of elimination. Besides the natural toxins that are byproducts of our own metabolism, we ingest a load from our Standard American Diet. Junk foods and even processed 'health foods' contribute to the problem. The air and water [can be] loaded with toxic materials. When we get so toxified, we lose our natural ability to manage pathogens in our system and we get an infection, which generally makes us feel sick. Much of the awful experience of being sick is from the incredible amount of toxic material produced by an overrun of pathogenic microorganisms in our system in an infection...
"Herbal blood purifiers don't release blood, but clean it up (recycle it). The herb preference would depend on which part or parts of your elimination process needed help. An herb like dandelion would be great for almost anyone. It helps digestion, stimulates both the liver and kidneys, and helps alkalinize the system.
"To stimulate elimination through the sweat, diaphoretic herbs such as elder and sassafras are normally taken in hot teas. For eruptive sties and boils, burdock is recommended. Red clover is of great benefit in the process of assimilation. Its usefulness in cancer has found it a place in all the modern cancer teas with the exception of Essiac.
"Other common Western blood purifiers include alfalfa, mallow, nettles, plantain and echinacea. When taking blood purifiers, remember that when releasing toxins a "cleansing cycle" sometimes occurs, producing symptoms resembling the flu. Skin rashes may even temporarily become aggravated. The more toxic a person is, the more slowly the elimination must proceed.
"Those with serious health concerns should consult a health professional before endeavoring to cleanse."
Added in Sept. 05:
"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. This especially includes your health care."
by Anne Salazar Dunbar, Master Herbalist
"With all the [recent] hysteria over flu shots, I stand in wonder over our complete dependency on the medical community for something as common as the flu. Everyone is all stirred up and frightened that somehow, if they don’t get this shot, they will be completely vulnerable to any and all infection. What happened to our self-reliance and our own ability to stand in our power and solidify our own strengths? Of course, if someone is excessively vulnerable to immune disorders, then perhaps the shot is the answer. But for everyone else there are many other options...
"Plants have been our protectors, teachers, and healers for time immemorial. If we just take the time to honor them and learn from them, we can stay strong and allow our bodies to do their work -- staying healthy and capable of recovery when necessary. This is not a fad or a trend; plants have been used very successfully for as long as humans have been on this planet. From where do you think modern medicine originated?
"That being understood, let me share some plants that have been proven to be effective in protecting us from external invasion and that assist us in fighting infection once it has set in. When the season changes and the temperatures drop, there is more damp in the air. We must adjust our behavior to these changes. This may include adding some protective, tonic herbs to our diets, as well as changing some of our eating habits from cool foods (for summer heat) to warming foods (for winter cold). This is about creating homeostasis, or balance. This is our job, to keep ourselves in balance..."
Herbal Alteratives
by John Finch
"Most natural healers agree that when the blood is pure, no disease can reside in our bodies. Blood purifiers get rid of toxicity by stimulating the release of toxins, mostly via the skin, kidneys and colon. The liver is also an integral part of the elimination process. So herbs that stimulate these organs to exercise their elimination functions can help the person with pimples, as well as someone with cancer.
"Besides eruptive skin conditions and eruptive anger, physical symptoms indicating the need for blood purification include dark circles under the eyes (weak liver function), bags under the eyes (weak kidney function), nervous disorders, digestive disturbances, loss of hair, eyesight and hearing, stiff joints, low vitality and frequent infections. A familiar picture?
"Actually, the modern world we live in is quite a challenge for our processes of elimination. Besides the natural toxins that are byproducts of our own metabolism, we ingest a load from our Standard American Diet. Junk foods and even processed 'health foods' contribute to the problem. The air and water [can be] loaded with toxic materials. When we get so toxified, we lose our natural ability to manage pathogens in our system and we get an infection, which generally makes us feel sick. Much of the awful experience of being sick is from the incredible amount of toxic material produced by an overrun of pathogenic microorganisms in our system in an infection...
"Herbal blood purifiers don't release blood, but clean it up (recycle it). The herb preference would depend on which part or parts of your elimination process needed help. An herb like dandelion would be great for almost anyone. It helps digestion, stimulates both the liver and kidneys, and helps alkalinize the system.
"To stimulate elimination through the sweat, diaphoretic herbs such as elder and sassafras are normally taken in hot teas. For eruptive sties and boils, burdock is recommended. Red clover is of great benefit in the process of assimilation. Its usefulness in cancer has found it a place in all the modern cancer teas with the exception of Essiac.
"Other common Western blood purifiers include alfalfa, mallow, nettles, plantain and echinacea. When taking blood purifiers, remember that when releasing toxins a "cleansing cycle" sometimes occurs, producing symptoms resembling the flu. Skin rashes may even temporarily become aggravated. The more toxic a person is, the more slowly the elimination must proceed.
"Those with serious health concerns should consult a health professional before endeavoring to cleanse."
Added in Sept. 05:
"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. This especially includes your health care."
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