Posted on 02/09/2009 12:36:11 AM PST by nw_arizona_granny
State life-support for dinosaur banks should not and must not impede the formation of new banks by the private sector.
Of course this piece comes from a conservative think tank, so the Obama crowd will avoid it like the plague.
I've been thinking the only way to fix the banking problem is to start new banks. The new banks would not have any toxic loans on their books. They could buy loans one by one from the existing banks after a thorough audit of the loans they want to buy. The remaining loans could be restructured along the lines of Ferguson's suggestions. The new banks could decide whether to buy the restructured loans, or not.
The banks should pay for insurance that covers their loans and also form a consortium to sell the mortgages to. The consortium would be privately held by the member banks, so it would be up to them to police its policies and audit its loans regularly. The banks could figure out policies to collect or foreclose on loans that have gone bad.
This crisis was caused by the PC policies of the government in the first place!
My bet is that one of our great grandparents could have told us this. <<<
Or a couple hundred years ago, one of the Englishmen, or some native in any or several countries.
OK, so I am nosy and I like history.
They had loofah at the Fresno Fair last year as an experimental crop.<<<
I find the experimental crops interesting, the make a big stir about something that the natives grew 400 years ago, or is now being grown in many countries.
I like the Loofa as a plant and as a scrubber.
It is a lovely vine and I grew it in the house here, but in Wellton, it grew out doors.
No, I stay far from Monsanto and am proud to say that I have never used roundup.
I told her “I know, neither do I. But we have to adapt because this is our reality now”.<<<
A good Freeper tagline for someone.
FerFal is so correct and all the posts are interesting, thanks for posting them here.
Not a pretty thought to face, but it is here and now.
Our crime rate is sky high and getting higher every day.
Not the same thing:
>>>>IF THALIDOMIDE IS TAKEN DURING PREGNANCY,
<<<<<<<<<
I saw a headline about the thalidomide being back some place last week and forgot to read the article.
I know it made Mike’s life hell and he was such a special person, the women here are a dopey as most of the men and it will take a special woman to deal with his situation.
He and his buddy, reached the point that Saturday nights they would come to Laughlin and we would all go to dinner after I got off work.
Said they would rather talk mining with granny, than sniff coke with the average Kingman woman they met in the singles scene.
His birth destroyed his mother.
With all the chemicals they feed our kids and us, it is no wonder there are so many mental problems in the world today.
I wonder if the MSM will cover these up? <<<
Yes they will cover them up, I listen to several towns and also to Denver and Las Vegas and hear many things and it is never in the news.
In San Diego, last year, I listened to a couple hours of cops chasing a man or two, they tried to run over a cop and it was a powerful chase, with dogs and the helicopter and many cops.
They finally trapped them in a canyon and got them.
The news had a small article, said something like “ Police arrested 2 men in a canyon that ran from a traffic stop”.
I hear many things that will never make it in the news, like the explosions on a gas pipeline, or the Captain asking who found the grenade, when the officer was named, he then called the officer and asked where he found it and did he have it?
“Yes, sir I have it, it was in the hole under the pipeline.”
I heard them talking about several explosions, that night.
The gang and other terrorists are following the jihadi manuals and doing as the instructions teach them.
Thanks for coming to read this thread and you are always welcome here.
Thought I would check a bit on the Soros-Monsanto issue...
Seems Mr. Soros liquidated his position September 2008.
New player is Ken Heebner - bought about 7 million shares
Ken Heebner is the co-founder of Capital Growth Management, a money management firm with more than $6 billion under management. As of June 30, 2007, the CGM Focus Fund has averaged 21.1% since inception in September 1997.
Another big player in Monsanto with 15.5 Million shares is:
PRIMECAP Management Company was founded in September 1983 in Pasadena, California. It manages Vanguard’s PRIMECAP Fund, Vanguard Capital Opportunity Fund, and Vanguard PRIMECAP Core Fund. It also manages PRIMECAP ODYSSEY FUNDS.
There is some very interesting tracking that can be done on
http://www.gurufocus.com
If you want to see who is big in what.
[A sample that makes us even more like Argentina...granny]
=== Google News Alert for: shooting of people on street ===
Three wounded after shooting at nightclub
MSNBC - USA
Indianapolis - Three people were shot during a fight at an east side
nightclub Saturday morning. Police were called to Club Escalade at 6800 E.
38th Street ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29202209/
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29202209/
On Lucerne Street, a wary savoring of newfound peace
Boston Globe - United States
The stray bullet found in a toilet the day after a nearby shooting. The
guns hastily discarded in bushes and yards. The two little girls who were
shot as ...
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/15/on_lucerne_street_a_wary_savoring_of_newfound_peace
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/02/15/on_lucerne_street_a_wary_savoring_of_newfound_peace
Ex-BART cop accused of murder in rare group
San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
Although the BART case also involves a white officer shooting a black man,
the scene outside court has been quite different. Protesters chanted, “We
are ...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/14/MN2615QD01.DTL&tsp=1
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff%3D/c/a/2009/02/14/MN2615QD01.DTL%26tsp%3D1
Op-Ed Columnist They Sure Showed That Obama
New York Times - United States
In the summer of ’07, the conventional wisdom was that Obama was a
shooting star; his campaign was irretrievably lost; it was a ludicrous
strategy to focus ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/opinion/15rich.html
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/opinion/15rich.html
Turkish police clash with Kurdish protesters; dozens detained
The Canadian Press - ANKARA, Turkey
In Diyarbakir, the region’s largest city, about 1500 people gathered in the
streets to throw rocks at large military vehicles that were shooting water
...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gQxIuqf5ce6jVNj3suyPgV-jo8OA
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gQxIuqf5ce6jVNj3suyPgV-jo8OA
Crosses at NIU memorial just latest for local carpenter
St. Charles Sun - Chicago,IL,USA
14, 2008, during a shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Here, the Maces pause after they placed wreaths on a memorial in honor of
Ryanne and ...
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1432109,6_1_NA15_NIU_S3.article
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1432109,6_1_NA15_NIU_S3.article
Shootings in San Francisco injure four
San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
At 11:15 pm, police responded to a second shooting which occurred in the
500 block of Shotwell Street. Sgt. Wilfred Williams said the shots were
fired among ...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/14/BAJS15U9UT.DTL&tsp=1
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff%3D/c/a/2009/02/14/BAJS15U9UT.DTL%26tsp%3D1
Finding foreign fugitives on the streets of LA
Los Angeles Times - CA,USA
Last year, authorities arrested a Mexican national in Inglewood wanted in
the 2004 shooting of a policeman in Jalisco while he sat in his patrol car.
...
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-fugitive15-2009feb15,0,7020577.story
See all stories on this topic:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-fugitive15-2009feb15,0,7020577.story
=== Google Blogs Alert for: shooting of people on street ===
Shooting Leaves Man Seriously Wounded - Kansas City News Story ...
Police said they have someone in custody in connection with a shooting on
Saturday night that left one man injured. The man was shot and seriously
wounded near 39th Street and Prospect Avenue at about 9:30 p.m. Police said
he is expected to survive his injuries. ... Most people know that weight is
a risk factor for diabetes, but it’s actually more complicated. Read about
what might put you at risk. More · Avoid These Ten Mortgage Mistakes ...
http://www.kmbc.com/news/18719307/detail.html
KMBC.com - Local News
http://www.kmbc.com/news/
News Radio 1420 Lubbock, Texas
The president’s stimulus plan aims at changes on Wall Street. Four people
have been killed in an upstate New York shooting spree. The publicists
representing octuplets mom Nadya Suleman say they’ve dropped her, after
getting thousands ...
http://newsradio1420.com/newsradio/newsMaker.asp?storyID=19505
News Radio 1420 KJDL Lubbock
http://newsradio1420.com/
Turkey: Kurdish protesters clash with police - Kansas City Star
In Diyarbakir, the region’s largest city, about 1500 people gathered in the
streets to throw rocks at large military vehicles that were shooting water
cannons and tear gas at them. One of the vehicles was seen retreating down
a street ...
http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/1035631.html
Kansas City Star: World
http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/index.xml
Judge: Alleged Pomona gang members must stand trial for shooting ...
... preliminary hearing included two Pomona police detectives, two people
who witnessed the shooting, and a relative of Martin who was familiar with
the ongoing disagreements between Martin’s family and the street gang, Dodd
said. ...
http://www.insidesocal.com/news247/2009/02/judge-alleged-pomona-gang-memb.html
News 24/7
http://www.insidesocal.com/news247/
WTHR | Indianapolis -Three wounded after shooting at nightclub
Police were called to Club Escalade at 6800 E. 38th Street around 2:30 a.m.
on a report of a person shot. When they arrived, they discovered three
people in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Ivory Duerson, a
36-year-old ...
http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=9847254
WTHR - Local News
http://www.wthr.com/global/category.asp?c=23903
This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google...
Me too. I think I got the bug because I loved the "old" people in the family when I was a kid. I had time with all 4 of my great grandmothers. Lots of time with 2 of them.
My Scots great grandmother was widowed in 1921. She had 13 children all under the age of 20 at the time. 11 boys and 2 gals. Boys all decided that converting the 2nd outhouse to a still house was a good way to make money. Great-grandmother was a strict Nazarene, not sure how much she knew and overlooked but the family made it through the time after great grandfather's death and the depression okay. Ingenuity. Not a bad thing. I loved hearing all those old stories. As a young teen, I found I liked history because I could put the stories I knew of great grandparents, great aunts etc into the timeline. Was fascinating. Still is.
There is some very interesting tracking that can be done on
http://www.gurufocus.com
If you want to see who is big in what.<<<
Thank you for the link.
It might prove interesting to know how much money Soros has in these companies....
I found this page last night, it is soros connections, nice list of names:
http://www.knowthelies.com/?q=node/3452
I don’t see the names you have, or missed them, and I didn’t take the links given on the page....LOL, but I did copy the page so I would have it.
My Scots great grandmother was widowed in 1921. She had 13 children all under the age of 20 at the time. 11 boys and 2 gals. Boys all decided that converting the 2nd outhouse to a still house was a good way to make money.<<<
LOL, so dangerous we would be, if we lived near each other.
My fathers mother is Scots, his father a full blood Cherokee on the Oklahoma reservation, I have one tiny photo of the great grandfather and none of my grandfather, that granny gave to me.
Still smiling about the stories told about granny, seems the cops got word that she was making whiskey and they came to get her/it.
At the time she was a widow, no education and 2 kids.
They say the cops managed to park the car over the spot that she had the boys bury it and so the cops could not find it.
My dad made beer and there was always some working ....
Granny married again and had 5 more kids.
She was always a soft spoken Virginia lady and would not tell us anything about her past.
I asked her how a Scots lady from Virginia, married a full blood Cherokee, who worked on the railroad.
She told me that I did not need to know, as it happened a long time ago and was no ones business......
Granny was always telling us, “If it happened yesterday, forget it, for it is past and done with and should not be talked about..” and she did not talk about the past.
It is our Scots blood that binds us in our twin paths.
“The Death of Common Sense: How Law Is Suffocating America”
Interesting book to read. But it makes you mad how crazy all these laws are that they keep making. If people would just use common sense...but then again, I got an email years ago telling me common sense had died. And dealing with people, you can tell it was true.
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/nettle-many-uses-many-benefits.html
Nettle ~ Many Uses, Many Benefits ~ 1/06/08
Nettle provides one of the richest sources of chlorophyll and is a valuable blood builder. It is one of the most powerful iron sources in the vegetable kingdom. Therefore, it is a valuable aid for anemia, during menstruation to build up iron, for fatigue or whenever you feel run down or tired & think of nettles. As nettle is high in iodine it is beneficial for the thyroid gland.
Leaves are a source of histamine, which helps to reduce the symptoms in any allergic response, including hay fever, asthma and sinus. Also, serotonin, which acts as a neuro-transmitter to the central nervous system and is helpful for relieving stress, fear, nervousness, depression, insomnia, and eating disorders; and melatonin, an antioxidant sometimes referred to as an anti-ageing hormone , that may give relief from chronic fatigue syndrome, seasonal effect disorder, depression and sleeplessness.
Drink nettle as a tea to stimulate the digestive system and encourage weight-loss, to stop haemorrhaging (including excess menstruation); to treat ulcers, kidney, bladder and liver ailments; and to promote milk flow for nursing mothers. Nettle is valuable for strengthening the adrenals. Eating nettles or drinking the tea has been a folk custom to make hair brighter, thicker and shinier and the skin clearer and healthier. A healing ointment is prepared by steeping cut nettle leaves in oil.
Use nettle tea for its metal chelating action to remove heavy metals and to detox the body. Sip nettle tea for its benefits as a mild diuretic to relieve fluid retention, and to stimulate the lymphatic system. It is also known to eliminate bad breath. Nettles increase excretion of uric acid through the kidneys, making them an excellent remedy for gout and all other arthritic conditions. The herb is used to reduce blood sugar, and a tincture of the seed is found to raise thyroid function and reduce goiter.
Use nettle and get the nutrient-rich benefits: protein 21%, polysaccharides, vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K; and minerals, iron (41.8mg per 100 g), calcium (2,900mg), magnesium (860mg), potassium (1,750mg); chromium, iodine, silica, silicon, selenium and sulphur.
Greater nettle Urtica dioica is a hardy perennial 100cm high, with spreading root system; Lesser nettle U. urens, is an annual to 100cm with smaller leaves than Greater nettle; Native scrub nettle U. incisa, is a perennial, grows to 100cm similar in growth to Greater nettle. All 3 species have serrated leaves and leaves and stems are covered in fine hairs. If the plants are touched, these fine hairs can sting the skin, causing pain, redness and itching.
However, the sting that gives the nettle it s nasty reputation has been used for centuries as an effective remedy for pain relief, and it is not just an old wives tale! Early man would have discovered this use by accident, as he bumped into the plant and experience the pain it inflicted. Then, he would have learnt, very quickly, how the body was stimulated by blood moving rapidly to the area and the sting gave warmth and pain relief. From this discovery, we have the folklore of taking some fresh nettle stems and beating parts of the body affected by arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica, paralysis, gout and lumbago. This method of pain relief is still practiced in countries where natural remedies are the major source of therapies.
Another folklore custom from Europe was to brush nettle stems over the skin, so that the stings would warm the limbs in the freezing conditions of winter. And if that really does not appeal to you, try a warm nettle infusion in a footbath, to relieve cold feet.
It is best to wear gloves when picking nettles, or place hands in plastic bags to give protection when grasping cut stems. If I get stung, when picking nettle, I just tell myself it is good for me. Nettle leaves are not very agreeable to the tongue and throat if eaten raw. But nettle may be eaten raw, when blended, and the stinging action does dissipate when leaves are cooked or dried.) Use nettle leaves steamed, in soups, and other cooked dishes. Leaves dried, crushed and stored provide a valuable survival food. The way I like to use nettle is as a nettle smoothie: a handful of nettle leaves in a blender with pineapple or orange juice.
Isabell Shipard
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/fenugreek-powerful-antioxidant.html
Fenugreek ~ Powerful Antioxidant ~ 27/07/08
Fenugreek sprouts are very alkalising and have been used to bring inner cleansing and a return to health from many conditions, such as: peptic ulcers, fluid retention, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, thyroid conditions, cancer and many other degenerative conditions.
Fenugreek sprouts are my favourite. Fenugreek is a powerful antioxidant and it is valuable for cleansing the blood and the lymphatic system. Use it, too, for mucus conditions, all respiratory, stomach and bowel ailments, macular degeneration, chronic fatigue, diabetes, anaemia, allergies, menstrual discomfort, menopause symptoms (including hot flushes) and to strengthen the immune system.
When we eat sprouts at a meal we know, without a doubt, that they will be the best food on the plate, and have the highest nutritional value. Eating a variety of sprouts, regularly, is most beneficial. Sprouts are nature s wonder food, so rich in protein, essential vitamins and alkaline minerals. Often called: the most nutrient dense food we can eat and the fountain of youth . A diet rich in sprouts is not only nutritious but also beneficial to cleanse and regenerate the body. Eating sprouts is said to be the best way to slow down the ageing clock & and we all want to stay young, don t we?
For more details of seeds and methods of sprouting, see extensive detail, in my book, ‘How can I grow and use sprouts as living food?’
Isabell Shipard
Licorice, for flavour, health benefits and crop potential
As we have been growing licorice on our Herb Farm at Nambour, Sunshine Coast, Queensland for over 25 years, people often ask, is it easy to grow and what are its uses.
It certainly is easy to grow, if you are the type of farmer who just likes to watch a crop that requires little maintenance. This perennial legume to 1 metre high, develops a strong root system, and it is the woody spreading roots 1-5cm thick, that give us licorice flavouring and also many therapeutic uses. Licorice will grow in temperate, warm and sub-tropical climates; and also in tropical areas provided the soil is free draining, during wet humid weather. If plants are mulched thickly, to deter weeds and retain moisture, very little attention is necessary once plants are established. As plants goes dormant in winter, they are not affected by frosts.
Seeds planted spring and summer can be started in pots or seedling trays, and planted in the field when 10-20cm high. Germination of seed may be spasmodic, from 2 weeks to 12 months or more. Propagation by root pieces 20-30cm long, planted spring, summer, autumn at 60-100 cm spacing, is the quickest way to establish a crop. Once roots or seedlings have settled in, plants require little maintenance and generally thrive in extremely dry conditions. A rich friable soil will encourage fast growth of roots with new stems emerging along the spreading horizontal roots, which is an indication that the licorice is developing. Roots may be of ‘finger-thickness’ size in 2-3 years and can be dug at any time of the year.
The multiplex chemistry of licorice gives it a wide-spectrum of properties, infact, over 600 constituents have been identified in the plant; no wonder it is a plant with many actions: expectorant, alterative, pectoral, diuretic, emollient, antioxidant, antifungal, cathartic, stomachic, antiviral, laxative, antispasmodic, antihistaminic, antibacterial, oestrogenic, anti-inflammatory, and tonic & to name a few.
Licorice contains a unique substance called glycyrrhizin, by analysis found to be 50 times sweeter than refined sugar. It is detectable if only one drop is added to 15,000 drops of pure water. The glycyrrhizin has no kilojoules, but the natural licorice root (from which the glycyrrhizin comes) does contain a few kilojoules due to the presence of a very small amount of dextrose (1.4%) and sucrose (3.2%). Due to its sweetness and flavouring properties, it has been used to make bitter medicines more palatable. It can be used as a sweetener to sweeten foods, such as when cooking rhubarb, plums and other tart fruits. Diabetics and weight watchers have found licorice useful for sweetening and flavouring drinks, sherbets, puddings, etc.
A cup of licorice tea after a meal, has been a traditional aid to digestion. Try the tea chilled and served with ice in summer, as it is a thirst quencher, and it has been known to give ‘get-up-and-go’ when suffering from heat fatigue! Even chewing on a small piece of licorice before a meal is beneficial, as it stimulates the salivary glands in the mouth. Chew on a licorice stick as an alternative to lollies, chocolate, or other sweet snacks. Some people, who visit the Herb Farm for licorice plants, remember with nostalgia, how, in their childhood, they could purchase natural licorice root and enjoyed sucking the sweet sticks. During World War II, when food and sugar was rationed, licorice was often the only sweet treat available in Europe. Chew on a stick when feeling stressed studying for exams, or for any stresses of life.
Several years ago, I had a man call at the farm and ask if I had anything that would help him give up smoking, as he had decided to quit smoking that morning and was having severe withdrawal symptoms. As we had just dug some licorice and had it drying, I offered him a stick (cut into 8 cm lengths so a similar length and size of a cigarette) and suggested he hold in his mouth like a cigarette and suck on the end. Within a couple of minutes of giving him the stick to smoke, his nerves had calmed and he said he no longer had the desire for a cigarette. For the next 10 minutes he kept sucking on the stick, and looking at it, wondering why his new ‘cigarette’ did not have smoke coming from it! Over the next 2 weeks when he had the craving to smoke, he would pull out the licorice stick and was able to kick the habit of smoking nicotine. I have shared this incident with other people, who have done likewise and given up smoking. Also, worth noting are the health benefits, as well as the cost of licorice compared to cigarettes. A licorice stick can be used over and over many times; just bring it out of the pocket for a suck when desired, whenever the quitter has the urge to light a cigarette. Maybe we can set a new trend in Australia, a health trend of smoking licorice sticks.
Licorice is a very special plant, the nutritive and rejuvenating properties have made it one of the most universally consumed herbs. Since earliest recorded history, it has been valued as a beautifying agent, aphrodisiac, used for vitality and longevity, and often called an elixir of life. It is one of the oldest and best-known remedies for coughs and respiratory conditions. In Egypt, licorice water was a popular sweet drink in the time of the pharaohs. Roman legions considered licorice indispensable ration for their long gruelling campaigns; as it was said soldiers could go up to 10 days without eating or drinking as the licorice properties helped to build stamina and energy, which allayed both hunger and thirst. It is a time-honoured herb in Chinese medicine, dating back thousands of years. Chinese herbalism applied the principle of prevention, by emphasising the use of tonics and adaptogens, using plants like licorice, that regulate, strengthen and invigorate the whole body.
Ten different bioflavanoids have been found in licorice, that have an effect of strengthening the immune system, fighting cancer cells and protecting from cancer. Licorice has been given many remedial applications: for hoarseness, mucus congestion, tonsillitis, nausea, fatigue, fevers; pancreas, kidney, bladder and gall complaints, skin allergies, endometriosis, infertility, menstrual and menopausal discomforts, poor circulation, diabetes, headaches, cold sores, shingles, candida, hemorrhoids, mouth ulcers, nervous tension, cramps, drug withdrawal, conjunctivitis, high cholesterol, low blood pressure, insomnia, AIDS, melonoma and cancer, to name a few.
Numerous studies have been carried out on its therapeutic benefits particularly for duodenal and peptic ulcers, hormonal imbalances, respiratory and liver diseases. Studies show that it assists the liver to neutralise toxins. Trials have been done on patients with gastric ulcers in a number of countries. One study, showed relief to complete cure in 2-6 weeks with patients taking up to 20-25g daily. Another valuable action of licorice is oestrogen support and for strengthening the endocrine glands, and it has also shown immune stimulating properties. Studies show that natural licorice can kill the bacteria in the mouth that causes cavities and tooth decay. This information should be more readily available; it certainly makes good sense to cut down on dentist’s bills.
Licorice should be avoided in cases of high blood pressure, cardiac and kidney conditions, myasthenia gravis sufferers, and also pregnant women (as it may cause fluid retention). Licorice may be incompatible with prescribed medication for hypertension and heart failure. Most people have no problem with eating the natural root, or licorice confectionary.
Is there potential for licorice as commercial crop? Yes, as the majority of Australians have never tasted licorice root in its natural form. Only a small amount is grown in Australia, with most being exported to Japan for sweetening foods. There is an opportunity for growers to supply processors, city markets, health food shops, tourist attractions, food expos, country markets, and school tuckshops. On numerous occasions we have had phone calls to supply, but have not had sufficient to fulfil orders. At the Herb Farm we sell the dried sticks and also sticks in cellophane snack packs with bright labels listing the uses. Some entrepreneur farmer could market ‘smokers snack packs’ or other value added products. The uses of licorice for wellbeing make it an interesting and practical plant for every home garden, and for farmers to grow, so that our fellow Australians can experience the health benefits.
Further information on licorice, and details of the booklet ‘Absolutely Delicious Licorice, how to grow and use’.
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/isabells-articles/delicious-salads.html
Great plants to grow for delicious salads
There is such a vast variety of easy to grow plants, rich in chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals and protein that can create eye-catching, nutritious salads. Salads served daily are valuable to our well-being, particularly in warm weather when the body craves for something cool and refreshing. Salads can consist of leaves, vegetables, flowers and fruit, seeds and nuts, herbs, spices, cheese, pickled titbits, drizzled with tantalising dressing, a true treasure-trove of wonderful flavours and a gold mine of health-giving nutrients.
Plants are so very special and play a very valuable role in our lives. In fact, all food on our table is made possible by plants, whether it is a loaf of bread, piece of steak, eggs, ice cream and sugar. We can’t live without food. We can’t live without plants. Plants capture sunlight and energy through photosynthesis and together with chlorophyll (the green stuff in plants) produce plant foods, rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and proteins, that gives us our daily food, besides many other processes in the body ... to keep its amazing mechanism functioning ... like cell building, and removal of wastes and toxins. Chlorophyll-rich plants are also valued for helping build strong bones.
Chlorophyll, the green pigment, is important to plants, and in fact can be regarded as the ‘green blood’ of plants, supplying nutrients to plant cells. Interestingly, chlorophyll is very similar in chemical composition to human blood, with the chlorophyll molecule closely resembling the hemin molecule of our blood. The only difference in these molecules is that chlorophyll contains magnesium as its central atom, while haemoglobin of blood contains iron in the correlating position. Chlorophyll acts as a catalyst in systemising the various elements associated with plant growth and it also acts as a catalyst to promote healing within the bodies of man and animals. Considerable research has been done, which shows chlorophyll to be a tremendous blood building element; and to actually rejuvenate old cells, promote growth of new cells, provide a favourable intestinal flora and aid regular bowel elimination and benefit the circulation; plus pain relieving properties, antiseptic and antioxidant action, oxygen producing benefits, and energy boosting. Think of chlorophyll as a mighty weapon that you can add to your diet, for maintaining or restoring health. Many remedial effects of chlorophyll have been recorded... builds a high blood count, helps eliminate anaemic conditions, bad breath and body odour, haemorrhoids, catarrh and nasal drip, varicose veins, inflammatory conditions and ulcers, and helps counteract toxins.
Research has shown chlorophyll is a valuable aid to prevent and to treat many diseases. Chlorophyll-rich plants have featured in cancer treatments, as they help detoxify the liver. A diet, rich in greens, has been used to help lower cholesterol and triglycerides, regulate blood sugar, relieve heartburn, ease chronic muscle pain, reduce food cravings, and increase strength and stamina. American herbal writer and lecturer, Dr. Bernard Jensen valued greens for good health. He said, ‘When you are green inside, you are clean inside. Green inside, can result from a daily regime of raw salad eating ... salads with plenty of fresh, green leafy chlorophyll-rich plants. Numerous studies have shown, that fresh greens boost lymphocyte production and so increase resistance to illness, and strengthen the immune system.’
Salad greens are rich in Vitamin C and beta-carotene, which makes them heart-friendly; both working together to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. When cholesterol becomes oxidised, it becomes sticky and starts to build up in the artery walls forming plaques. If the plaques become too large, they can block off blood flow or break, causing a clot that may trigger a heart attack or stroke. Maximise the benefits of salad for the B vitamins, including folic acid. Recent research at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research has found that the consumption of green leafy vegetables have a range of constituents (eg zeaxanthin, lutein and other components) which help boost the skin’s natural defence against damage caused by UV rays. Dr. Jolieke van der Pols said, ‘This new evidence suggests that an increase in consumption of greens may help to reduce the risk of skin cancer recurring among those with a previous history, by up to 55%. ‘We all need to protect ourselves from skin cancer. Greens are also a good source of calcium, essential to bone formation, and nerves, glands, muscles and heart health, and also iron, important for blood building, stamina and energy; and also the mineral potassium, which has been shown in studies to be useful in lowering high blood pressure ... another factor for heart health.
Salads picked fresh from the garden, or from a few pots near the kitchen door (if no garden is available) is the absolute freshest and most nutritious food, to serve for a meal and teeming with living enzymes, so essential to health. Enzymes have been called ‘the spark plug of life’ as they initiate so many bio-chemical processes in the body. Greens are rich in digestive enzymes ... these make it easier to digest the heavier foods we eat, such as starches and proteins. Enzymes convert food to energy, essential to fuel every biologic mechanism, and direct metabolism on a cellular level. Salad greens are also a very good source of insoluble fibre, which is vital to peristaltic action of the intestinal muscles and bowel cleanliness.
Salad plants are alkaline, and alkaline foods are fundamental to good health. Pain and disease in the body is caused by a build up of toxins around the cells, which creates an acid state (which is opposite to alkaline). A variety of alkaline foods can assist the body to clear acid wastes. When our body is very acidic, we are not able to absorb minerals and other nutrients from the food we eat; and the body is not able to so easily repair damaged cells, detoxify heavy metals or other toxins, and we are more susceptible to fatigue and illness ... and tumour cells can thrive. Many natural health practitioners recommend a ratio of 80% alkaline foods and 20% acid foods in the daily diet. Alkaline foods are also known for their healing properties. Our cells love alkaline foods.
By tossing together a variety of greens, fresh herbs for flavouring, and colourful vegetables we can create a wonderful meal with a range of phyto-nutrients .... many of them are antioxidants, that act to destroy free radicals and toxins in the body and can halt cell mutations. Think of salads as a ‘treat to well-being’. Think of salads as a ‘boost to better health’. Call greens ... ‘green magic’ and this is a good way of encouraging children to eat a salad ... saying ... ‘when we eat a salad, it can work like magic in the body, to make toxins disappear and keep our body healthy’. Add to your garden, or grow in pots, some of the following plants ...
Lebanese Cress
(Aethionema corditloum) perennial 30cm; with lush attractive fern-like leaves and a carrot-like flavour; wonderful in tossed salads, as a garnish, or made into pesto.
Sweet Leaf Bush
(Sauropus androgynus) perennial 1-2meters; tastes like fresh peas; leaves are over 34% protein and excellent source of calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Eat leaves as a snack any time, add to stir-fries. Indonesian folk-lore, says ... to stop teeth grinding or snoring in sleep, eat sweet leaf!
Salad Mallow
(Corchorus olitorius) annual 1m meter; over 20% protein, rich in Vitamin A, B1, B2, BC, C, and excellent source of potassium (3068 mg per 100 grams), and leaves rich in mucin, valuable for clearing mucus and toxins from the body.
Drumstick Tree
(Moringa oleifera) this tree can be kept trimmed to bush size; leaves 38% protein, with all ess-ential amino acids. High calcium (297mg per 100 g leaves.) Vitamins A (8855 IU per 100 g leaves,) B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B15, B17, C, D, K. Leaves have strong antibiotic, antifungal, anti-fatigue, antioxidant and tonic properties.
Nasturtiums
(Tropaeolum majus) ground sprawler to 6cm high; use leaves and the bright coloured flowers for antibiotic, antioxidant and tonic properties.
Sheep Sorrel
(Rumex acetosella) perennial, leaves to 12cm high; powerful antioxidant properties said to kill viruses; leaves are good to eat at the beginning of a meal as they have a mild sour flavour which helps stimulate the digestive juices in the mouth, and the sour flavour can benefit kidney, bladder, and the circulation.
Ceylon Salad Leaves
(Basells alba and B. rubra) perennial (annual in cold climates) fast growing climber or ground cover; nip off nutritious leaves, which have many health-giving and healing benefits.
Purslane
(Portulaca oleracea) annual ground cover; young leaves extremely rich in vitamin C and Essential Fatty Acids, so valuable to use regularly. EFA nourish the body at the very foundation of health, the cellular level. EFA strengthen cell membranes to fortify against the invasion of harmful micro-organisms. EFA also help dissolve body fat, and increase metabolism and energy production, and help reduce cravings for sweet and fatty foods. EFA are required for a healthy nervous and immune system. And of the same family ... Leaf Ginseng (Talinum triangulare) perennial 60cm; use leaves in salads and stir- fries etc. In South East Asia the tonic properties of this plant are as highly esteemed as ginseng. And another plant of the same family as purslane is Sun Jewels (Portulaca grandiflora) annual ground sprawler; leaves and flowers can be added to a salad.
Watercress
(Nasturtium officinale) Perennial to 20cm; will grow in well-limed soil in pots. Leaves rich in Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B17, C, D, E ,K, and in minerals, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, sulphur and germanium; leaves valued for purifying the blood and toning the whole system. And when you have excess watercress, try a Watercress Sauce ... Blend in a blender, or chop very finely, a large handful of watercress, ½ cup yoghurt or kefir, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of mustard paste, dash of salt and pepper, 1 tablespoon of fresh chives, and dill. Serve over diced cucumber, other vegetables or over a toss salad.
Rocket
(Eruca veriscaria sativa) annual 60cm -100cm; tasty leaves in salads, pesto, soups and garnish.
Mukunu-wenna
(Alternanthera triandra) and Purple Mukunu-wenna (A. versicolor) perennial ground cover plants, and Sambu Lettuce (A. sissoo) a bush species to 60cm; provide nutritious leaves for salads and cooked dishes. The mukunnuwenna’s are highly esteemed in Sri Lanka and India and other Asian countries, for eye ailments, and strengthening the eyes and the nervous system. The vitamin and mineral-rich leaves have been an essential ingredient in kola kanda, a traditional dish, consumed daily, ... made with boiled rice, coconut and several kinds of green leaves, finely chopped. Eaten as a meal, kola kanda is esteemed for cooling the body, as a tonic, and for promoting energy and balance.
Mushroom Plant
(Rungia klossii) perennial 60cm; glossy dark green leaves rich in calcium (272mg per 100 g leaves); use raw or cooked to add a mushroom flavour to dishes.
Chinese Watercress
also called Kang kong (Ipomea aquatica) perennial 60cm (annual in cold climates); leaves 31% protein; rich in vitamin A (6300 I.U. per 100g leaves) and B1, B2, B5, C.
Queensland Greens
(Hibiscus manihot) perennial 2m; leaves 29% protein and rich in vitamins and mineral iron, and mucin. Use in salads, steamed, quiche; and the large leaves are used as wraps.
Amaranth
(there are many Amaranthus species) annuals 60cm 100cm tall; young leaves in salads, and mature leaves in cooked dishes. Seeds sprouted, made into bread, added to baking etc.
Warrigal Greens
(Tetrogonia tetragonioides) annual/biennial, use young leaves raw and cooked; great in quiche.
Mustard Greens,
pak choi, tatsoi, kale, mizuna, cress, broccoli, horseradish, wasabi and other plants in the Brasicaceae family, provide flavour, antioxidants and nutrient-rich leaves.
Celery,
celeriac, dill, fennel, parsley, mitsuba, chervil, lovage, coriander, gotu kola and arracacha ... all members of the Apiaceae family (formerly called Umbelliferae), are useful greens to add to salads.
Often plants of the Asteraceae family (formerly called Compositae) are added to mesclun salad mixes, and some of the easiest to grow for salad are dandelion, endive, chicory and open-headed, loose-leaf, lettuce types like ... oak leaf, royal oak, rabbit ear, cos Verdi, Darwin and everlasting. Mesclun means a variety of very young tender, baby-green leaves of a variety of edible greens, picked 2-5 weeks after germination.
Other leaves like ... silver beet, salad burnet, alehoof, orach, borage, spinach, comfrey, brahmi, brooklime and red clover, can add extra variety to a salad. Alfalfa leaves are renown for their alkalising action and for nourishing the digestive, glandular, urinary and skeletal systems. And don’t forget edible weeds in your garden like young leaves of plantain, shepherds purse, cobbler’s pegs, fat hen and chickweed (make sure it is Stelaria media, not the tropical chickweed). Weeds are rich in nutrients, antioxidants and healing properties. Cobbler’s pegs have been noted for 95 therapeutic uses.
And flavouring a tossed salad with herbs, gives us even more nutrients, antibiotics, antioxidants and health-promoting properties. Grow a variety of herbs and use them daily; experiment .... Try any of the following to give a variety of tantalising aromas and tastes ... rau om (one of my favourite,) dill, kaffir lime leaves finely cut, caraway seeds, garlic, chives, chillies, basil, marjoram, tade, oregano, mint, thyme, savory, sweet tarragon, coriander, papalo, betel leaf, vap ca, lemon balm, and a little finely grated ginger. There are so many benefits in using herbs in foods. The aroma, essences or essential oils in herbs, represent the life force and energy of plants. Using herbs, is a gentle way of stimulating the body’s self-healing process. Delicious herbal aromas can induce a deep relaxed breathing that can help relieve nervous tension, stress and pain. In herbal history, the Chinese looked upon the nose as the chief organ of absorption of Qi or vital energy, for sustaining life. So, let’s use fresh herbs regularly for their wonderful aromas and thus encourage a deeper more relaxed breathing rate, to enhance our daily lives. Adding fresh herbs will mean we can eat more naturally, without excess salt, as the herbs will stimulate the taste bud receptors and heighten the flavours in the salad.
And if you wish to make a salad into a complete meal, toss in for colour, texture and added nutrients ... diced or grated carrots, beetroot, radish, corn, snow peas, asparagus, pineapple, capsicum, tomatoes, avocado, cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, pickled gherkins, tomato, apple, pineapple, orange, onion, zucchini, Chinese artichokes and Jerusalem artichokes, mushrooms, and sprouts (like fenugreek, mung, alfalfa, lentils, adzuki, sunflower, buck wheat); and if desired ... hard-boiled egg, diced cheese, and cooked chicken or other meats.
If you like a mayonnaise, toss the salad with a tantalising dressing which could be a simple mix of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and a little honey if desired; or the mayonnaise could be accentuated with mustard, garlic, horseradish or curry powder. The dressing could utilise yoghurt or kefir as a base, plus garlic or other herbs. Garnish the bowl with a sprinkling of any of the following seeds and nuts ... sesame, pepitas, chia, caraway, almonds, walnuts, coconut, pecans, linseed, dill, and hulled sunflower seeds. Dried fruit can create another salad variation ... try sultanas or raisins. And for a finishing touch to your wonderful salad decorate the top with petite, edible flowers from the garden ... garnish with flowers like heartsease, nasturtiums, thyme, violets, chives, elderberry, mullein, society garlic, fennel, sweet tarragon, mallow, chervil and calendula petals. Herb flowers look great and make a wonderful conversation piece. Now ... serve and enjoy. When we create a tossed salad with a variety of leaves, herbs, seeds, vegetables and fruits, we can combine a complete spectrum of colours ... red, yellow/orange, green, purple/blue, white, and the flavours ... of sweet, sour, pungent, salty and bitter ... to help build balance in the body.
Fresh green leaves and herbs can be utilised in many ways, and in every meal of the day. I start my day with fresh picked herbs on a breakfast of ... muesli, fruit in season, sprouts, and leaves of gotu kola, herb robert, brahmi, sweet leaf, lemon balm, rau om, sheep sorrel, purslane and any other herbs that I wish to add ... topped with kefir. Kefir is a beneficial bacteria and enzymes with probiotic and antibiotic action, made from a culture ... grown with milk, whey or seed milk. The word kefir means well-being, and it can do this with many functions ... by helping to alkalise the mouth, stimulate the flow of saliva, increase digestive juices in the intestinal tract, as well as activating peristaltic action of the bowel.
Fresh greens and herbs can be generously topped on bread or sandwiches for lunch. Even a hot cooked evening meal, can have a dollop of chopped fresh leaves, a small toss-salad or a side salad... and remind yourself ... that the raw food ... will be the most nutrient-rich part on the plate. Green smoothies, using chlorophyll-rich leaves like salad mallow, comfrey, nettle, stevia, alfalfa, sweet leaf ... blended with fresh pineapple, orange or apple juice make a quick, delicious and refreshing drink.
For a flavour treat, try pesto with herbs and lots of green leaves. Although pesto is considered to be of Italian origin (using sweet basil, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and cheese), we can now enjoy this traditional mixture, using a variety of leaves and herbs, in a variety of ways, on foods. Pesto means pounded and it was traditionally made by pounding the leaves with a pestle, in a marble mortar, using lots of steady, repeated, pounding, hand action. With kitchen ‘mod-cons’ we can prepare pesto very quickly in an electric blender. The pesto consistency can be a thick paste and spreadable, or thin and runny like a sauce, depending on the way it is to be used ... as an appetiser, or on a meal. A thick pesto is so tasty on bread, cracker biscuits, or I like to serve it with a plate of small-sized Ceylon salad leaves (just use the leaves for scooping some of the pesto). Pesto made to a runnier consistency like a sauce, can be tossed through pasta, spread on a pizza base, used as a salad dressing or drizzled over steamed vegetables. Pesto can dress up a simple meal and make it into an elegant meal, grand enough to place before royalty ... of course ... you being the royalty ... as you wish to give your body the best ... supreme food in flavour and nutrients. Pesto can be made from a variety of herbs and green leaves, oil, nuts and cheese ... there is nothing complicated in the process of making herb pastes or pesto ... just look at what plants are thriving in your garden that have lots of leaves to share with you, and use your creative imagination. When using herbs that do not provide a lot of green bulk, as with thyme for example, a ‘green extender’ can add volume to the mixture (try purslane, Lebanese cress, watercress, salad mallow, sheep sorrel and French sorrel, parsley, spinach, silver beet, mallow, drumstick and sweet leaf bush leaves).
The choice of the right oil is important in pesto, with olive oil considered important for flavour and viscosity, although a variety of other seed, cold pressed oils, could be used. A virgin olive oil, defined as second-press oil, can provide sufficient quality, as the strong flavour of the pesto overpowers the fruity extra virgin olive oil; although it will certainly make a very fine pesto.
To make classic pesto, use the following ratios, pounded with mortar and pestle or blend in a food processor ... use ... 4 parts (by volume) fresh basil or other herbs, 1 part oil, 1 part nuts (I use sunflower kernels as they are economical), ½ part grated cheese and 1 teaspoon of salt. Process ... as smooth or as chunky as you wish. For a runnier pesto, use more oil.
Pack the pesto into a container and cover with a thin layer of olive oil and cap tightly. Pesto is such a flavour treat, and will keep several weeks when refrigerated, or it can be frozen for later use. There may be some discolouration of the pesto on the surface, but it will not affect the flavour. Simply, stir the discoloured pesto into the green pesto below, add a layer of oil and refrigerate again.
A great recipe for using greens is in a baked dish called ... Incredible Quiche Beat 3 eggs, add 1½ cups of milk, ½ cup of wholemeal flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, garlic and onions as desired, and season with herbs. Add 3-4 large handfuls of chopped green leaves. The leaves could be one of any of the following when in plentiful supply, picked fresh from the garden, or a mixture ... Ceylon salad leaves, amaranth, sweet leaf, salad mallow, comfrey, Queensland greens, purslane, drumstick tree leaves, rocket, mukunuwenna, and warrigal greens. Tip into a large oiled oven dish and bake in a moderate oven 20 minutes, or until set. Serve hot or cold, pack for school and work lunches, or freeze for later use. Cheese, mushrooms, bacon, etc, can be added if desired. This recipe is incredibly easy and incredibly popular.
When you grow a variety of salad plants, you can grow them organically and serve them absolutely fresh, full of nutrients and living enzymes, and you will find doing this rewarding activity, will also be a saving to your weekly food budget ... what could be better than that!
Plan to prepare a green salad daily. Salads are low in calories and glycaemic index, with a most beneficial glycaemic load effect, on the body’s bio-chemistry. Bio-genic living foods (eg sprouts, and baby greens), and bio-active foods (eg freshly picked greens, vegetables and fruits) offer the strongest support for the regeneration of human cells. Many natural health researchers, emphasise, the importance of these foods, to provide a lifestyle for high-level well-being ... a way of living, that can help prevent premature ageing, illness and fatigue.
Salads are so rich in nutrients... that can provide energy and nourishment throughout your body.
Put some ‘green magic’ into your life today!
Isabell Shipard ~ April 2007
For more detailed information on the salad greens, herbs, sprouts and edible plants in this article, refer to Isabell’s books ‘How can I use herbs in my daily life?’ and ‘How can I grow and use sprouts as living food?’
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/aloe-accelerated-healing.html
Aloe ~ Accelerated Healing ~ 2/03/08
(Cinnamomum zeylandicum)
Aloe is often referred to as ‘The living first-aid plant’. Ancient Egyptians called aloe ‘the plant of immortality’. There are over 200 aloe species; the most used species for medicinal uses are:
Aloe vera A. barbadensis, and Candelabra or tree aloe A. aborescens.
Research conducted at a number of universities found that aloe penetrates the human skin almost four times faster than water and that aloe is an effective oral and topical agent for accelerating wound healing. As aloe can quickly penetrate injured tissue to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and dilate capillaries, thereby, it increases blood supply to the injured area and healing can occur rapidly. Burn clinics have found aloe to be 50% more effective for burn treatment than other specific remedies.
Aloe vera contains a wide range of beneficial nutrients, including protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and many other valuable constituents.
Aloe has been found to heal radiation burns quickly and, for this benefit, aloe should be planted in every home garden. Recent talks have centred on the possibility that our future electricity supply may come from nuclear power. Nuclear development raises questions about the problem of radioactive wastes, and the fact that there is no safe means of disposal. Furthermore, wars now pose threats of nuclear dimensions. Will future generations be forever burdened with storage of toxic wastes and the very real threat of deadly spillage and contamination? These threats pose major concerns in contemporary society, yet the simplest solution may still prove the best: renewable energy sources. Safe and natural is always best practice ... and this is also true of our healing herbs.
Aloe has a wide variety of therapeutic uses. It inhibits histamines, which cause skin itching and other allergic irritations. When aloe is taken internally, it enhances the secretion of digestive enzymes, balances acid in the stomach and regulates sugar and fat metabolism and it is a tonic to the whole body. It has pain relieving properties and a cooling, moistening effect on the body that counteracts problems associated with excess heat and inflammation. It is most effective used as a rub, or the inner gel of the sliced leaf applied to the skin as a poultice. The aloe has wonderful demulcent properties, which helps to soothe and protect the lining of the gut.
Many people report benefits and relief when using the gel for colitis, peptic and duodenal ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, celiac disease and diverticulitis. Research has found that aloe increases the proliferation of lymphocytes, macrophages, T cells and antibodies, to stimulate natural immunity. Some internal uses for aloe include: allergies, arthritis and rheumatism, AIDS, autism, Downs Syndrome, candida, constipation, colds and flu, anaemia, diabetes, fluid retention, Epstein-Barr virus, insomnia, menstrual cramps, circulation and blood disorders, lupus, fibromyalgia, thrush, reflux, staph and viral infections, diarrhea, kidney, bladder and prostate conditions, paralysis, heartburn, back pain, high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, diabetes, lung and heart diseases, gout, bad breath, muscle cramps, bone fractures, gum disease, fatigue, nervous stress, cancer and for removing heavy metals from the body. Aloe gel is applied to haemorrhoids to soothe pain, irritation, and to speed healing.
Another practical way of using aloe is for cleaning teeth.
Aloe tooth gel: take an aloe leaf, cut a section open, rub your toothbrush into the thick gel of the leaf, and then brush your teeth. Aloe also provides a healing action to delicate gum tissue, as well as a cleansing function, and can inhibit the growth of damaging bacteria.
The Candelabra aloe species has a folklore tradition of use for cancer, shingles, pain relief and as a general tonic for good health. Candelabra aloe has a rather special substance called Aloctin A, found in quantities that can stimulate biological activities, such as mitogenic activity of T Lymphocytes, with scientific research showing its strong performance in boosting the immune system. In cancer patients, immune-modulating polysaccharides of aloe increase the body s production of tumour necrosis factor, which is a natural chemical that functions to shut off the blood supply to malignant tumours. Another derivative of the leaves is Alexin B, which researchers have found possesses powerful anti-cancer activity against lymphoid leukemia.
For full details of how to prepare the candelabra tonic recipe refer to my book ‘How can I use herbs in my daily life?’
I encourage readers to grow aloe and make it part of your home health program.
Isabell Shipard
http://www.herbsarespecial.com.au/isabells_blog/gotu-kola-brain-boost.html
Gotu Kola ~ Brain Boost ~ 16/03/08
(Centella asiatica)
Many herbalists have called gotu kola the finest of all herbal tonics. A brain boost - revitalising herb to the body, brain and nerves - it assists memory, concentration, intelligence, improves reflexes and energy levels, and is said to help balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. People have reported that with using the herb regularly they have been able to correct high blood pressure and cholesterol. Many people have experienced relief from painful and crippling arthritis and rheumatism.
An old Asian saying is Two leaves a day keeps old age away . Numerous research projects in the western world studied this herb after the remarkable life of Professor Li Chung Yun, who died at the age of 256 years in 1933. He was born in 1677 and in 1933 the New York Times announced the death of this remarkable Oriental, whose life span had reached over two and half centuries. The Chinese Government officially recorded his age. The professor ate gotu kola daily. At 200 years of age he was still lecturing at a Chinese university and was said to look like a man of 50 years, he stood straight and had his own natural teeth and full head of hair.
Judy rang to share with me the benefits she experienced from taking herbs, as she suffered terrible pain from fibromyalgia. Then, she read about fenugreek sprouts and gotu kola, started taking them daily, and in 4 weeks was completely pain free.
Margaret was a constant visitor to the toilet with irritable bowel syndrome. When she heard about gotu kola, she took 2 cups of tea a day and now enjoys her days to the full, without constant trips to the toilet. Margaret said drinking the tea has also resulted in mouth ulcers clearing.
Gotu kola is a perennial, creeping ground cover with kidney-shaped leaves, with very tiny pink flowers, often hidden underneath the leaves.
Antioxidant flavonoids in gotu kola play a part in zapping free radicals, boosting the circulation to every cell and strengthening the immune system. The asiaticoside constituent in gotu kola has the action of speeding the healing of wounds and accelerating the repair of connective tissue, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, bone fractures, and also repair of veins and arteries. Studies have shown the herb can help relieve ADD and hyperactive conditions.
Every person can benefit by taking gotu kola. Start with eating 2-3 leaves 3cm in diameter (if leaves are smaller, more leaves need to be taken to give the same amount). Then, if desired & after several weeks &increase to 5-6 leaves.
If a person has severe pain and arthritis, it may be necessary to slowly increase intake to 10-12 leaves daily. It is best to eat the leaves early in the day. Don t eat these in the evening, as people who have tried this have said they have experienced a boost of energy and could not sleep. I chop the leaves and eat together with other herbs, over my muesli for breakfast.
Isabell Shipard
HA! We do have much in common. I only know the heritage of my family on my mother's side. It was my mother's parents who raised and taught me. My mom and dad are still around and good parents, I was just born when they were very young and they preferred to enjoy their youth and let my grandparents care for me. On mom's side there were 3 great grandparents who were full blood Scots and one who was Cherokee from Oklahoma.
My dad's family has always seemed so odd to me because they just didn't talk about any heritage. I would ask because it was talked about on mom's side but I only got silly responses. I guess they are the melting pot people. Some of them are nice folks, but just doesn't seem they have any past. Although my dad is a wonderful story-teller and his influence also caused me to love history. He told stories of growing up during WWII and of his uncles who were "in the war." Those things I liked to hear too although the uncles never discussed it.
I think you will understand though when I say that daddy's family always seemed like "hollow people" to me as a child. They didn't tell the stories of heritage and didn't have skills to pass on. Even as a child I knew I should be recieving something from them but they were empty. Nice folks, just no depth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.