"During his/her lifetime, an individual should devote his/her efforts to creating happiness and enjoy it ." Ch'en Tu'hsiu
Thanks Karen
What could be more important than creating one's happiness? Are you happy? Have you exerted any effort in creating your own happiness? I have created more happiness in my life in my many years of being sober. I do not think anyone can say that every aspect of his/her life is happy. We create our own happiness. As I get older I want serenity, peace, and happiness. I also have God in my life. I have shared my happiness with my family, children and friends. The creating and sharing of happiness with a significant other has been essential in my life. Creating happiness in one's occupation is also important as we spend many years at our occupation.
I have the opportunity to create happiness in patient's I see on a daily basis. This is accomplished by either treating their disease entity, by talking to each patient on an appropriate level, and only suggesting some self-esteem hobbies. At various times in my life I have included Fire Island in my happiness. In Fire Island 1650's to 1980's, Madeline Johnson calls Fire Island a provocative name. It combines the excitement and drama of fire with tranquility, isolation and the mystery of an island. During some decades it combined the excitement and drama of individuals. In the 1980' and 1990's, some communities on Fire Island, especially The Pines and Cherry Grove combined sadness, grief , death and confusion with the AIDS epidemic. I like Johnson's definition, but as in every community there is drama and those unfortunates who express their identity in a variety of addictions- alcohol, sex, drugs and drama. Yes, drama is an addiction.
Over the last five years, Rick and I have volunteered our time in The Doctor's House to support and fund raise and dream of a quality medical center in assisting the elderly community members. In a way we have achieved our dream. I seek happiness in helping those who want and need assistance.
This weekend, I had the opportunity to walk to Sailor's Haven, another Fire Island community with a horticulturist/landscaper, Todd Erickson. As we walked towards the Sunken Forest, a unique National Seashore Establishment (founded in 1962) I was in awe of his explanation of positioning of various plant species. The countless American Holly shrubs and trees with the intertwining Wild Cherry, Bayberry, Barberry and Bearbery has made my Ithaca Botany training a reality. Happiness will be the collaboration of our love of plants in a unique way. Happiness will be experiencing Vaccinium, Smilax, and Gaylussacia up close and personal. The Gaylussacia is the Black Huckleberry. The word 'gay' with huckle. This will make me huckle and chuckle in the years to come.
To continue with Detoxification and Liver herbs...
The liver is essential is assiting other organs of the body. Yesterday we discussed two cholagogues (bitter herbs that stimulate the release of bile form the gallbladder and liver). Today I want to discuss Barberry and Turtlehead.
Berberis the barberries or pepperidge bushes, is a genus of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1-5 m tall with thorny shoots, native to the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. Berberis was discussed in a previous blog.
The historical use of barberry dates back 2,500 years. Indian folk medicine used it to treat diarrhea, reduce fever, improve appetite, relieve upset stomach, and promote vigor and a sense of well-being. Today, it is widely used for medicinal purposes in treating biliary disorders (such as gallbladder disease) and heartburn.
Barberry (Berberis species) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) are often used for similar medicinal purposes because both herbs contain the chemical berberine. Barberry is used to ease inflammation and infection of the urinary (bladder and urinary tract infections), gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts (sore throat, nasal congestion, sinusitis, bronchitis) as well as candida (yeast) infections of the skin or vagina. Barberry extract may also improve symptoms of certain skin conditions including psoriasis and eczema.
Barberry may also be an effective treatment for diarrhea (including traveler's diarrhea and diarrhea caused by food poisoning). I would always use probiotcs when taking barberry. Barberry is available in capsules, fluid extracts, tinctures, and as a topical ointment. I prefer to use Tinctures . I recommend 3 - 6 mL (1/2 to 1 1/2 tsp) 3 times daily. All herbs are drugs and interact with other herbs or conventional medications. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs with care, under the supervision of a health care provider. Barberry can interfere with antibioitcs, blood thinners, sugar medications anti histamines.
Chelone glabra (white turtlehead) is a plant in the family Plantaginaceae (the plantain family). Chelone glabra is a herbaceous plant found in wetlands and riparian forests of eastern North America with opposite, simple leaves on stout, upright stems. The white flowers are borne in late summer and early fall.
Other common names for this plant are Balmony and Turtlehead. The herb may be found growing in moderation along the borders of marsh lands, rivers and wet woods. The plant grows permanently and has tender bearing leaves on opposite sides of a stalk. The oblong-shaped leaves of the herb are usually small, have a thick growth and found on the tips of the branches. The balmony leaves possess a faint smell that fairly resembles tea and have a noticeably bitter flavor.
The herb has derived its botanical name from the Greek term denoting tortoise, primarily owing to the fact that the flowers of the herb appear like a tortoise’s head. Indigenous Americans consumed the bitter leaves of balmony as it possesses aspects of an effective purgative. In addition, the balmony leaves have also been conventionally used to cure worms in the body. Present-day herbal medicine practitioners prescribe balmony for its ability to stimulate the functions of the liver. In fact, the herb serves as an effective liver tonic.
It has a variety of other uses. Personally I have never used this herb. Coincidentally, a friend whom I have known since 1979 has gallstones. This friend who lives in Las Vegas wanted to discuss herbs to stimulate bile production and gallstones. Karmic energy...
The balmony leaves are medicinally very useful as they are anti-nauseous, able to eliminate parasitic worms in the body, act as a cleansing agent and possess a tonic or stimulating property. Elements enclosed in the balmony leaves have an unusual action on the liver and hence the leaves are normally utilized for eating as well as to cure conditions such as indigestion or dyspepsia, weakness or debility, jaundice and liver disorders.
The natives of North America have been using the herb to cure several ailments and it has been considered to be an effective and popular tonic, purgative and laxative.
Photographs: Bottom: Turtlehead and Head of Turtle: See how it got its name. Top photographs: Two barberry photos.
Until tomorrow...
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