TUESDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2011 EMOTIONAL HEARTACHE

"The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found in the heart."

"Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart."

Your emotional and spiritual heart does have the answer. How many of us actually trust our emotional heart for the answers? If we have had our heart hurt in a situation it takes time to trust and start again. We all have been hurt in relationships. This is called heartache. I haven't met anyone who has not been hurt, damaged or scared. We all move on. We let go.

A few weeks after my Mom passed away and everyone had gone, when it was just the two of us, Dad took me into my bedroom and closed the door. He said, "Patrick, listen, I want to talk to you about something. It's almost time. You are going away to medical school in less than one month." I said, " Dad, I do not have to go. You have so much to do, and Nanny and Poppy need me." My father answered, " Don't worry about that. I'll make it work. I promise you. I will take care of Nanny and Poppy for your mother. She would want you to go if it was me who died. She will always be with you." And my dad became the greatest hero I will ever know in my life. My father was sixty one when my mother died. He lived alone for the next twenty five years. It took time for my heart to heal. I would listen to Jerry Herman's "Time Heals Everything" from the musical Mack and Mabel and cry.

My own heartache lessened over the years. Today, now that both parents and grandparents are no longer here, I recite this quote:

When love is lost, do not bow your head in sadness; instead keep your head up high and gaze into heaven, for that is where your broken heart has been sent to heal.

The American Heart Association designates February as Heart Month- or Heart Awareness Month. It is appropriate because Valentine's Day is on February 14th.

You can prevent heart disease with a dietary lifestyle and exercise change. I adhere to my seven lifestyle changes for protection against every disease. 1. Dietary 2) Exercise 3) Addictions 4) Meditation 5) Self -Esteem-Hobbies 6) Anger/ Resentment and 7) Self - Love

The emotional heart can be healed by attending to the 4th through 7th lifestyle changes- meditation, self esteem, eliminating anger/resentment and self love.
Your choices and actions can make a difference between healthy longevity and early death from heart disease. Some facts, NOT MYTHS you need to know are:

1. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise in several short stretches can decrease your risk of coronary artery (heart) disease.

2. The process of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries in older terminology) begins in childhood and is already present in most Americans by the time they are teenagers. Be careful of your children's diet.

3. Many people with the most aggressive cholesterol and other risk factors have a total cholesterol less than 200.

4. There are different kinds of cholesterol especially when you discuss particle size. Have your particles of bad (LDL) and Good (HDL) cholesterol checked.

5. Low fat diets actually raise cholesterol and increase risk in certain patients.

6. There is NO universal diet; it is dietary and lifestyle changes that matter.

7. Cholesterol is one of several risk factors. HS-CRP, Fibrinogen, Lipo@, and Homocysteine are important risk factors as well.

8. Certain vitamins/supplements have been studied for the treatment and risk reduction of heart disease. Omega 3 fish oils play a significant role in reduction of heart disease.

9. Low Vitamin D3 levels have been linked to heart disease.

10. Herbs can be prescribed safely to a heart patient by a certified health care practitioner.

Until tomorrow...

MONDAY JANUARY 31, 2011 WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT......BITTER MELON

"What other people think of you is none of YOUR business."

I used to worry about what people thought of me. I came to realize that it is none of my business what they think of me. I don't care what anyone thinks of me or my life. I can say that with assurance, because I am secure in who I am, what I do and why I do it. Everyone will have an opinion. I have opinions. I do not always have to agree with someone else's opinion. Even if what a person thinks is good, it is still none of my business. I used to need the affirmation of others. It had to do with my own self esteem at that time in my life. It is the same with acceptance. I wanted people to accept me. How I got their acceptance was to make them happy! I organized parties and invited those I wanted to like me. I didn't realize till years later that those individuals only liked me for what I could give or buy them. Now I can say , "You really like me... you really like me," as Sally Field did when she accepted her Oscar for Norma Rae. The nicest part is I do not have to do that anymore.

It is amazing what my children remember from those years. My children and I often reflect about their childhood. Their perspective is definitely more clear than mine, even though I was sober. Both saw the people pleaser in me. That is the 'giver' in me. Today, both see a stronger, self confident, happy man. I could cry because I see it too.

New Studies on Memory:

Recent studies have now correlated low levels of zinc and iron with memory deficits. Children aged 9 -11 with low levels of iron and zinc deficiency displayed a significantly impaired degree of both verbal and non verbal memory. There was a significant improvement after supplementation of zinc and iron. Key point: Have your blood levels of zinc and iron checked!

Bitter Melon ( Momordica charantia ) was recently studied for its neuroprotective benefits. This herb is traditionally used for maintaining blood sugar levels. Other herbs that have similar blood sugar maintenance are fenugreek, rosemary and cinnamon. Mice studies were done comparing groups of mice pretreated with Bitter Melon with others that were NOT pretreated with Bitter Melon. Those mice that received Bitter Melon had reduced oxidative stress in the brain (thus better blood flow to the brain) and better performance compared to those mice that were not pretreated. More studies need to be done on Bitter Melon for memory. Traditionally Bitter Melon is used for treatment of viruses, malaria and worms. There are even some anti cancer properties.

Until tomorrow...

Top two photographs: Bitter Melon and Bitter Melon flowers

Third photograph: Pennsylvania Icicles by Paul Fratellone

Bottom photograph: Gregory, Me and Rick at Jacques Cabaret in Boston MA celebrating Gregory's 21st birthday.

JANUARY 30, 2011 INTOXICATING LETTUCE

"Always be ready to accept the opportunity that will present itself and you will be successful."

This sounds too easy. It's almost is as if you must rub Aladdin's lamp and the wish will be granted. Listen patiently, consider realistically and realize that there are many opportunities that will present themselves. Not all of them may be appropriate for you, but some may be the right fit. For me, one of those opportunities occurred more than fifteen years ago, when I received a call from Dr. Robert Atkins, the high protein diet mogul. He wanted me to work with him, side by side in developing a Cardiac Program at his 6 story center in New York City. I couldn't understand- why me? How did he know about me? It turns out that a mutual patient, Ellie, talked to Atkins about me. I accepted the opportunity to work with him despite the fact that there would be some legal issues. I jumped into the water, accepting the challenge. Reflecting back, I would do it again. My own merits and success with him speak for themselves. I will be always be grateful to Ellie, and more so to Dr. Robert Atkins for his mentorship and friendship. I learned to always be 'me'. When success comes your way, one should always feel humble, blessed and grateful. Financial success should never compromise your integrity. My friend, Ruppert refers to me as the 'country' doctor--the people's doctor. I always try to the best of my ability to be the 'people's doctor'

I get so thrilled when I read new material. Yesterday I started reading about lettuce. Lettuce is not a nightshade like Datura. In the summer months Rick and I consume more garden lettuce than in the winter months. Most of you who have read about hallucinogenic plants have never tried them. Many people read about opium but never smoke or taste it. Unknowingly some people have eaten a substance that resembles opium in its properties--it is a lettuce species, Lactuca virosa. I am not a avid gardener yet, but I do know there are various varieties of lettuce. At this point I could not recognize the species L. virosa. Its leaves emit a narcotic odor and contain a milky juice. The milky juice has sedative properties. Although I haven't begun my botanical Latin course yet, I do know that lac means milk. Lactuca is the Latin name for lettuce. So we have 'milk lettuce'

The effects of ingesting L. virosa are similar to opium, although no opiates are present in the plant. In a way it is like the poppy seed, however you would have to consume a lot of poppy seeds to have an opium effect. Lactucarium is a milky extract of the stem secretion of Lactuca virosa. Effects are felt quickly but do not last long-- between half an hour to a couple of hours. They dwindle slowly. The plant has been used as an anesthetic and a sleep aid, as well as recreationally. Oils and extracts can also be produced from L. virosa. These oils and extracts are often added to tea to help induce sleep. The leaves of L. virosa are more bitter than other salad greens. Smoking involves either dried leaves or a sticky precipitate extracted from the leaves. Beverages can be prepared by soaking the leaves in alcohol

The sedative properties of garden lettuce have been known since the time of Discorides. Pedanius Dioscorides (circa 40—90 AD) was a Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist, and the author of a 5-volume encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances. He compared lettuce to opium, thus the name lettuce opium. Cladius Galenus, better known as Galen of Pergamon, was a prominent Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher who also dabbled in botany and herbs in his study of pharmacology. Galenus used the lettuce on himself. As he got older he used the lettuce to induce sleep. Centuries later a Pennsylvania doctor named Koxe restored the Galenus practice of using lettuce to induce sleep. I can envision an 'old' herbalist in a cottage among a wild lettuce field using L. virosa to sleep.

I have not found a lot of new research on this lettuce species yet. But a 1994 Herbalgram from the American Botanical Council mentions a text entitled High Road to Paradise: Intoxication. Life in Pursuit of Artificial Paradise. by R Siegel which I am looking for.

So the moral of the story is DO NOT hand pick your wild lettuce from the field unless you know your lettuce species. I am sure you can find L. virosa seeds and grow them in your own private garden!

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 29, 2011 SNOW WHITE'S APPLE DREAMS

" One never knows what each day is going to bring. The important thing is to be open and ready for it" --Henry Moore

No one can predict the kind of day one will have. Everyone of us would like to have a great day, but you know that doesn't always happen. I am always ready, willing and now able to accept any kind of day. In Boy Scouts we always used to say their motto: Be prepared. I am prepared for the worst of days and also for the best of days. During morning meditation I visualize the day ahead. I visualize a happy, peaceful and serene day. If the day does not progress in the peaceful way I have visualized, I take a deep breath and start over again. Any day can be started over at any time I want. Life is what you make of it. I try to make the most of each day. Have you tried to meditate or pray in the morning as a way of starting your day? It is definitely better than the cup of java!

So, let’s finish with the sinister Thornapple. There are many species of Datura plants. D. metel is a powerful hallucinogenic. It reached medieval Europe from India. In India it is used to treat rheumatism. The sensation of flying through the air is induced by this plant. Historically in Mexico the seeds were used in ritual practices.

Some of the effects of this plant are relaxation, euphoria, visual hallucinations and confusion. There are reported deaths from ingestion of Datura plants. If taken orally, the effects are longer lasting than when smoked. I think the same is true of oral marijuana called Marinol versus the inhaled or smoked marijuana. There is an herbal-gram from the American Botanical Council on Thornapple (also known as Jimson Weed) entitled, "The Traditional Uses and Benefits of the Genus Datura."

It is hard to believe that Datura intoxication was reported in the 1960’s and 1970’s. People used the drug recreationaly without knowing the dosage or potential effects. There were 4 cases of teenage Datura intoxication reported in 1968. I have not seen any intoxication in the literature in the last 30 years. There was a review of Datura intoxication published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in August 1972. At that time there were 212 cases reviewed in the literature.

Another species of Datura called D. sanguinea is used by the Indians of South America. They use it with coca. The name used by this tribe is bovahero or yerba de huaca meaning the ‘ herb of the graves.’ The yerba name is derived from the idea that the Indians can communicate with the spirits of their forefathers. Another intoxicating drink called tonga is prepared from the seed capsules of D. sanguinea.

Throughout the world, similar hallucinations have been reported in people who consume the Thornapple species. I find the reported stories fascinating and informative. It is reported that the old Indian priests drank Thornapple preparations if they wanted to communicate with the Gods. This seems so ‘ Clash of the Titans’ with Laurence Olivier as Zeus...

Although the stories shed light on the plant species, it must always be remembered that the species Datura can have fatal effects.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 28, 2011 STITCHING YOUR WAY TO HEALTH

" When you give, you show your appreciation to the source of all things." Deepak Chopra

I am a giver, not a taker. I love to give. The only difference today is that I give without ANY expectations. In my past, I gave to allow more people to like me. I had low self esteem. I even did this with life-partners at that time. You would think your partner would love you for who you are! It doesn't always happen that way. I give today because I want to give, not because I feel obligated--nor do I need to be loved more. I am loved today by the people I choose to love. It is a happy feeling to know you are loved, and you do not have to give anything. I just have to be myself. I give of myself in my God chosen profession every day. This is my gift back to my Higher Power.

I give hand made tokens or gifts because I feel it is the right thing to do. Dolly Levi portrayed by Carol Channing, Betty Grable, Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey and Richard Skipper on the stage or Barbra Streisand on the screen said this:
"Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow."

I feel the same way about giving hand made crafts. If your God given hands can make a special gift, share it. Spread it around so all people, no matter what age can be encouraged.

A craft or hobby can help manage your stress. A hobby can also boost your self-esteem. You need to set time aside to do your hobby. One of my hobbies is Needlepoint. Whether you do other forms of stitching such as embroidery, petit-point, tapestry work, crewel, cross stitch or needlepoint, this book can be a valuable tool in starting your way to a healthy heart. Perhaps all forms of stitching should be called canvas work. Needlework is one of mankind’s oldest art forms. It dates back to Exodus in the Bible and has been found in the tombs of Egypt dating back to the 15th century. It came into its own art form in the 12th century in China. Due to technological advances and machinery, it became a dying art form. It was not until the early 19th century that needle work had its revival.

About twelve years ago, I realized I needed to find a hobby to idle my tension. I was in Florida walking on Los Olas Boulevard when I passed a store that had needlepoint designs in the window. I decided right then to start needle pointing. I went in the store and asked Joan, who paints her own designs to quickly show me a stitch. I easily remembered from watching countless hours of my mother, grandmother and Aunt Katie stitching while sitting in the living room. I bought my first needlepoint, an Orchid Floral. In addition to reading medical journals I began to read books on stitching. I think needlepoint could be one of the most rewarding hobbies you will ever undertake. Not only does it fill the hours and relaxe you, but also provides you with a finished product and a sense of accomplishment. It also makes one of a kind birthday and holiday gifts for loved ones.

Needlepoint as most hobbies, can be either simple or difficult. This depends on the individual. I have met some people who always use the basic and easiest stitches. I feel they use needlepoint as a restful pastime to create gifts for people. There are others who use needlework as a creative outlet. These crafter's delight in working with complicated patterns using a variety of threads. Some compose their own designs. I am a needle worker who is all of the above. Therapeutic though it may be, needle point for me is above all an artistic activity. And, needle work is not an exclusively a female hobby. I am sure we all remember when Hall of Fame Football player Rosie Greer started needlepoint as a hobby.

On a cruise six years ago, I pulled my canvas from my bag and started to stitch while sitting on a deck chair. When I looked up I saw two women also stitching, one doing needlepoint and the other, cross stitching. As we worked our needles, we talked about stitching and enjoyed the warm sun and cool breeze. We later met during the week to share our collection we each brought with us. One woman told me that stitching is a popular hobby among men who spend a great deal of time at sea. I have met many business executives who find that stitching helps them unwind after a stressful and tense day at the office.

My wallet quickly discovered that needlepoint can be an expensive hobby. It doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby, and you don’t have to buy canvases that cost one hundred dollars. You can make equally lovely pieces for just a few dollars. You just have to buy the blank canvases and use a pattern from a book or a needlepoint magazine.

As with any hobby you may pursue, there are an array of tools to explore. For the beginner, perhaps one of the most confusing areas of needlepoint is in choosing the materials to be used. You can purchase a kit from a local craft store, a larger store such as Michael’s or obtain your materials by ordering online. There are kits by Dimensions , Sunset and Janlynn. Some original painted canvases are very expensive—you pay a premium for someone’s creativity. For the beginner, I am going to keep it really simple and introduce you only to the essential tools needed to complete the designs and patterns included in this book. Naturally as you become more proficient in needle pointing, you will explore other tools.

Canvas is the basic material needed for needlepoint and other forms of stitchery. The basic definition for canvas is the even, open-weave mesh to be covered by the needlepoint stitches. Both sides of the canvas should be identical. You need a canvas that is shiny and there should be no broken threads. There are two types of canvas, Penelope and Mono. Mono canvas is simply single-strand, whereas Penelope is double-strand. Most of the needlepoint kits contain mono canvas. For the beginner it is easier, as sometimes the needle can split the strands of a Penelope canvas. Canvas quality also varies. Remember this general rule: the fewer the holes, the larger the canvas. All canvases are manufactured in a total of twenty-two different meshes. The mesh of canvas is determined by the number of holes to an inch. For example, if a piece of canvas has twelve holes to an inch, it is a No 12 mesh. The only reason to know the number of holes to an inch is to know which classification of needlepoint you are doing. There are two standard classifications, gros point and petit point. I have done both. The simple rule is that gros point describes work on larger canvases whereas petit point describes work on smaller mesh canvases. The usual number of holes per inch for petit point varies from No 16 to No 40 mesh. A No 40 mesh will have 40 holes to the inch. In larger stores like Michael’s, I purchase MCG Textiles already measured canvases. The canvases should be at least two inches wider on all sides of the design you are stitching. For instance, a 10” by 10” design needs a 14” by 14” canvas.

You always need surplus canvas for taping. Use masking tape. Cut a piece of masking tape the length of each side, and wrap it around the cut edge of the canvas. You never want your thread or yarn to catch on rough edges. In finer quality stores, the owners always tape the sides whether you are purchasing a blank canvas or a painted canvas.

Use a stainless steel tapestry needle. The bluntness is very important. I always have found it a good idea to test the needle before purchasing. You should be able to prick your finger on the point. The size of the needle must be matched to your canvas. In most stores when purchasing a painted canvas the correct gauge needles are included. The following guide below is useful if you are designing your own canvas.

Canvas Recommended Needle

5 to 8 mesh: No. 15 needle
10 to 12 mesh: No. 17 or 18 needle
14 to 18 mesh: No. 19 or 20 needle
20 mesh: No. 22 needle
22 to 24 mesh: No. 24 needle

Some people want a needle for each different color of thread. I find this to be cumbersome.
Thimbles come in various sizes and should tried for comfort. I never used a thimble until about two years ago. I found a stainless steel thimble in my mother’s memory print box. I have that thimble placed on a table in the den where I do most of my needle work. I suggest buying several at a time, since they are easily misplaced or lost.

Scissors are a must for every needle pointer. There is no need to buy an expensive scissor. You should have two pairs of scissors: one small pair for trimming the loose threads on the back of the canvases after knotting, and a larger pair for cutting canvases. Small scissors with a cutting edge less than four inches (10 cm) are allowed in the cabin of an airplane. Today you can buy a cutting device which can be worn on a chain or tucked in your needle point case, too. I have several Clover Travel Cutters. I do have an old pair of scissors that belonged to my mother which I still like to use at home.

The choice of threads depends on you, but you will absolutely need threads. You can use either cotton, wool, or silk thread for needlepoint. Each thread has more than one component. The component parts for wool are called plies, those of silk are called filaments and those of cotton are called strands. All these components must settle into the canvas to make a solid covering. Also remember you can split the threads. Threads can be divided, doubled and even tripled. I have also mixed different colors after splitting the treads. If a thread does not split, do not use that thread.

Who doesn't love silk thread? This floss comes from France. French silk is often inconvenient to locate and costly to purchase, however the color and texture are so lovely that it is worth the extra effort at times. Recently at a flea market I purchased an original spool of Holland’s #10 tan silk. I use it sparingly on some of my designs to enhance the beauty. Silk thread has six filaments and is very thin. I recall that my mother used to buy silk from two stores: one in Cincinnati, Ohio and the other is Copaigue, New York. I find it very difficult to work with silk. I find it so difficult to run the needle through the back of your silk when you want to anchor a new strand.

The most common thread you will see used is cotton. Cotton thread has six strands and is easily divided. For small mesh canvases I usually use three strands. By using different numbers of strands on a single design it enhances the dimensions of the finished product. I have always used D.M.C. cotton. It comes in a variety of colors. I once counted sixty shades of red offered by D.M.C! I also like using a specific cotton called Wildflowers by Caron which can be purchased from the Caron Collection in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Cotton has disadvantages compared to other threads like wool. Cotton is less durable than wool. If you are making a pillow or the back of a chair, wool will last much longer than cotton. I have met some crafter's who feel that cotton is harder to work with due to the six strands. Cotton allows you to blend or mix a variety of colors. This is much more difficult when using wool. Considering all of this, I prefer cotton due to its availability and extensive range of colors.

Some needlepoint kits use wool. I am not fond of wool but it does bring a dimension to your canvas. There are several types of wool you can use for needlepoint. The needlepoint wools must have the strength of long fibers for you are pulling each thread many times through the large mesh canvas. There are three basic types of wool used for needlepoint: Persian, Tapestry and Rug Wool. Both the Persian and Rug wool are three ply whereas the Tapestry wool is four-ply. Persian wool is the most extensively used wool in complete kits available to buy in larger stores. I love using Tapestry wool for background wool to create thicker dimensions. I usually use the specific brand, Anchor. Rug wool is very durable and very inexpensive to buy.
It is my hope that my 21st century search for serenity is fulfilled by my needle work. It is also my hope that you who live in this technological, mechanical, toxic environment will benefit from the hours you spend with the needle in your hand

Happy stitching... More hobbies to come.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 27, 2011 A THORNAPPLE A DAY DOES NOT KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY

"Times are changing for the better. Continue on the path of trust. Be open to the new."


Change. Fear. Fear: Change. I use these two words interchangeably. For me change creates fear. I should say that change used to create fear. Now change creates a furry in my blood and a yearning to know more about life. I am a perpetual student. In my early 40's I returned to school for another fellowship and in my late forties I began my informal study of plants. I was knowledgeable about herbs and plants when I started but I wanted more. I yearned for more. I wanted to continue on my path of love, trust and health. Of course this created fear, but I 'let go' of the fear.

I am always open to something new. If a friend wanted me to act in a movie, television show or play, I would do it. I am always up for learning. Today I am not ashamed to say I do not know how to...

I will learn how to do 'whatever' to the best of my ability. I now know there is no perfection - only progress. So I am in the process of making progress in progress.


Since my visit to the New York Botanical Garden, I have been reading Plant Intoxicants: A Classic Text on the Use of Mind-Altering Plants by Baron Ernst von Bibra (1806-1878) This book was published in German in 1855 and translated into English. In the book he summarized the current state of medical and plant knowledge of the most psychoactive plants used at that time. I am trying to read the chapters that stimulate my brain, introduce a plant that was obscure at that time, or discuss plants that remain more or less obscure today. Von Bibra wrote about coffee, tea, chocolate and tobacco-- all of which were already in widespread use in his time.

Did I read about those plants? Of course not. I wanted to read and research the various species of Datura. These are the sacred visionary plants. The names you might have heard in relation to these plants are Thornapple and Jimson Weed.

It is interesting to note that the Datura species are part of the nightshade family. The edible plants in this family are familiar to many of us. Examples are tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and potatoes. Historically for over 300 years, plants in the nightshade family were thought of as 'diabolic incarnations'. In von Bibra's time, the name for the fruit of Datura was "Mad apple" or "Devil's work". But if you encounter its flower, you would never think this plant produces such change if ingested. The flowers are large, fragrant and 'handsome'. I do not like the word 'pretty' to describe a flower anymore. I do not think flowers should always be feminine. I want to describe a flower as masculine, handsome, intelligent and debonair. The flower is succeeded by a large egg shaped capsule, green in color and full of thorns. So guess what? It is called the Thornapple.

What confuses me when I read about this plant is the different common names it has, depending on the region. In Jamestown, Virginia it is Jimson Weed. Others call it the 'Devil's Apple'. Since it was exploited in the famous flying ointments of the European witches, it should be known as the "Witches Apple". Maybe Walter Ellis Disney used the apple in Sleeping Beauty as a representative of the Thornapple.

It is said that the whole plant is poisonous, but the seeds are the most active. Nothing destroys the potency of the seeds--not drying nor boiling.

This is one plant that is heavily embedded in religious rituals. When I began to read this I was automatically reminded of my past readings on Wicca Studies and the Green Man. We know our ancestors associated many spirits and deities with nature, wildlife, and plant growth. It was once thought that witches and shamans held the knowledge about using plants.

The Green Man is a god of vegetation (plant life). The Green Man is usually drawn with a human face surrounded by a variety of foliage and plants. So what happened to the Green Man and Wicca studies? Wicca studies, also known as paganism is still practiced today. The Green Man went into hiding as Christianity spread. I read many books on Wicca studies but the book I liked best is The Path of the Green Man by Michael Thomas Ford. So who do you think would be my favorite Walt Disney character based on the above paragraph? It is James M. Barrie's eternally youthful boy, Peter Pan.

It is still controversial whether the pagan rituals were for mere enjoyment, recreation, medicinal purposes or even diabolically intended. I have read that in China the Datura seeds were mixed with cannabinoids and even mixing the seeds with was limited to China and India. I would like to think that in a far away forest in a far away place is a man is sipping Datura tea and having an occasional smoke to induce vivid dreams and hallucinations.

Today, in 1904, Rose Mendola gave birth to Josephine Mendola. She would be the third oldest child of a family of 11 children. She lived at 2 Elizabeth Street in New York City. In 1925 she married James Calamis. These are my grandparents-Nanny and Poppy. I was the third oldest grandchild and without any qualms I can say I was her favorite. My Nanny and I were two peas in a pod. Growing up with your grandparents living in the same house is a unique experience--one that I was blessed and grateful to have. Every night after homework I went downstairs to watch Merv Griffin or Loretta Young with my Poppy and listen to old stories from my Nanny. There were plenty of old family stories. Over the last seventeen years, I have written down these family stories.

After my grandparents lost their last child (my mother) life become sublime. My dad, brother and I did our best to keep them uplifted. It was difficult. We hired Cyress, a Jamaican companion who lived with them until their deaths. My Nanny died one month after my daughter, Alyssa was born in 1988. She holds a special place in my heart. During one of my twelve step qualifications I said recovery is like baking a slow Bundt cake- the ingredients for me are 1/4 part my nanny, 1/4 part my mother, 1/4 part my Aunt Katie, and 1/4 part Fred Astaire.

My Nanny, Josephine Mendola shares her birthday with:
1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
1885 - Jerome Kern, NYC, Broadway composer,
1921 - Donna Reed, Denison Iowa,
1955 - Mimi Rogers, Coral Gables FL, actress,
1965 - Alan Cumming, Scottish actor, and
1970 - Carlos Javier Bernardo, Dutch Prince

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 26, 2011 CALL IT WEED, POT, OR SMOKE

~ A little wine sometimes, that's all. Spirits are bad. Alcohol wrong. Herb does grow. ~

~ Herb is the healing of a nation, alcohol is the destruction. ~

~ When you smoke the herb, it reveals you to yourself. ~

All three quotes on the 'herb' are from Bob Marley. From the three I get the feeling that Mr. Marley was not a drinker but a smoker. I feel that every baby boomer has tried marijuana at least once. Every one gets a different effect from this herb. I know individuals who still smoke marijuana daily. I know people who haven't smoked since their college years. I know people in their late 80' and 90's who enjoy puffing a joint for their glaucoma. Is marijuana as addictive as alcohol or cocaine ? Does it help with the introverted personality? Do people ever get paranoid after smoking? What about the munchies?


Cannabis, also known as marijuana (sometimes spelled "marihuana" ) among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug. The major psychoactive chemical compoundin cannabis is Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly abbreviated as THC). Cannabis contains more than 400 different chemical compounds, including at least 66 other cannabinoids (cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), etc.) which can result in different effects from those of THC alone.

Cannabis is one of the earliest cultivated plants. Cannabis has much versatility. It has been used as food, fuel, fiber, medicine and as a religious sacrament. Today, cannabis is used by inhalation. All other routes of administration have been used from anal to oromucosal delivery. Historically, cannabis has been used in various ways. There are three main forms and named by their Indian names

1. Bhang - seeded mix of flower tops
2. Ganja - seedless unfertilized female flower tops
3. Charas - resin from sifted flowers ( also known as hashish)

The use of cannabis has been found to have occurred as long ago as the third millennium B.C. I did not find any mention of marijuana in the Bible according to James Duke's book, Medicinal Plants of the Bible. In modern times, the drug has been used for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes .

The question is should cannabis be legalized? It is legal in 13 states. I am undecided on this issue. I need to study the literature in detail and listen to the pros and cons about its use. One name that always surfaces in the use of cannabis is Ethan Russo, MD. Dr. Russo is a board certified child and adult neurologist in Montana. He also is a researcher in migraine, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, cannabis and cannabinoids in pain management. I have seen web sites touting the good effects of marijuana. In the 1990's, Dr Ethan Russo spent two months in Peru's remote Manu National Park, researching use of medicinal plants by members of the Machiguenga tribes. His boundless energy based on his work, books and teachings makes me look like a snail. I admire his dedication.

Russo jokingly calls himself a "renaissance dilettante" because he is an expert participant in an eclectic variety of scientific and socio cultural endeavors. He has written a book about the medicinal uses of psychotropic herbs. Although this Handbook is more than 10 years old, it is a good foundation if you want to learn about psychotropic herbs.

He is the founder of the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics. I have seen the journal and even read a couple of articles. I am not well versed on cannabis but was very impressed. The journal is the most scholarly, comprehensive and timely compendium of cannabis research available to date. It contains scientific, historical and interpretive reports on medical marijuana, cannabis lore, legal issues, cannabis literature, and social/cultural aspects of cannabis use and regulation. He is a pioneer. He states, "My opinion about the efficacy and relative safety of cannabis is widely known, since I've made no secret of my feelings the last few years." He is clear and concise about his opinions.

Cannabis used medically does have several well-documented beneficial effects. Among these are: the amelioration of nausea and vomiting, stimulation of hunger in chemotherapy and AIDS patients, lowered intraocular eye pressure (shown to be effective for treating glaucoma), as well as general analgesic effects (pain reliever). There are other studies to document medicinal use. One study on cannabis discussed improvement in night blindness after ingestion of cannabis while another study cited effective improvement in Rheumatoid Arthritis. We do know that cannabis smoking is detrimental to periodontal health.

Cannabis was manufactured and sold by U.S. pharmaceutical companies from the 1880s through the 1930s. Unfortunately the lack of documented information on the frequency and effectiveness of its use during this time period makes it difficult to evaluate its medicinal value. There are more studies today which can answer the question.

The first President and the sixteenth president of the United States said this about marijuana:

"Make the most you can of the Indian hemp seed and sow it everywhere." - George Washington

"Two of my favorite things are sitting on my front porch smoking a pipe of sweet hemp, and playing my Hohner harmonica." - Abe Lincoln

SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGAL IN ALL STATES?

Top photograph: Ethan Ross, MD

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 25, 2011 YOU ARE MY SONSHINE -HAPPY 21ST

A man's desire for a son is usually nothing but the wish to duplicate himself in order that such a remarkable pattern may not be lost to the world. ~Helen Rowland

A boy is a magical creature - you can lock him out of your workshop, but you can't lock him out of your heart. ~Allan Beck



On January 25, 1990, a boy was born who happen to weigh in at greater than 9 lbs. He was named Gregory Patrick Fratellone. The relationship of a son towards both of his parents can be very complex. I know there he has a close bond with his mother. In the last few years I have also found that close bond. Having a son was the second greatest joy I have ever experienced. The first was having a daughter. It is written that sons can be one of the greatest challenges. In this case, I disagree. I tried to balance the need to offer some freedom to Gregory especially when he started at Northeastern University in Boston.
As a father I want what is best for him and I want to see good in all that he does. I have not been disappointed many times.
As I sit so early and write this to my son on his 21st Birthday my heart is swelled with love and I am crying tears of joy. It is hard to believe that he is twenty one. He is legal for a glass of wine, but that happened long ago. I am so sorry both sets of grandparents are not physically here , but all reside in his heart and are with him every step of the way.
I know he knows who he really is inside, and I do not think he tosses the idea of "where he will be in a few years." He has direction. I know his answer comes from the heart. He is not much unlike me. As a boy he looked like me. During his teen years he had features of both mom and dad. Today, I still feel he looks like me.
I will always stand by your side in good times and bad times. Remember my shoulder is always here for you to lean on no matter how old you are. I am so overwhelmed at your achievements as well as your sister's. Life has not been easy. The 52 card deck was cut, shuffled and mixed up, but all in all things didn't turn out all that bad.
There are many memories I could share. Some are our private ones. One memory is that the most consistent thing you and I have done in your twenty one years is that both of us grew up with Harry Potter. Harry and Gregory will always hold a special place in my heart.

I want you to remember this--Always be true to yourself. I will always be there to guide you if you need my help. Always remember that life is what you make of it.

Son, you outgrew my lap, but never my heart. Happy 21st Birthday. Until we see each other may God hold you in the palms of his hands.

JANUARY 24, 2011 AN INTOXICATING PLANT: THE POPPY

Among the remedies which it has pleased Almighty God to give to man to relieve his sufferings, none is so universal and so efficacious as opium.
Thomas Sydenham

Everything one does in life, even love, occurs in an express train racing toward death. To smoke opium is to get out of the train while it is still moving. It is to concern oneself with something other than life or death.
Jean Cocteau

While reading Baron Ernst Von Bibra book, " Plant Intoxicants" late last night I began to think about the use and misuse of drugs. Can any drug be the universal drug for pain and suffering. Who wouldn't want to take a drug that would end all their pain ? Many people would want a drug. How many us at one time in our lives have used drugs ? I do not think that a single person can say they haven't used at least one drug. There might be a few older people that have not used illicit drugs, however he/she may have been prescribed a pain killer after an operation or a visit to the dentist. Drugs have been part of cultures for thousands of years.

I love what Salvador Dali answered when asked that question. He said,
" I don't use drugs. I am drugs."

One of the best Chinese proverbs about drugs is:
It is easy to get a thousand prescriptions but hard to get one single remedy.

The drug marijuana has been legalized in thirteen States. New York is not one of those states and I do not think it ever will be. There are many opinions about the use of marijuana. I know some people are trying to legalize marijuana because of the medicinal purposes. Some of their very lives and their pain levels depends on these drugs. If you were in that situation wouldn't you want to legalize the drug. I see people suffer from devastating diseases. I do want anyone to suffer with a disease or watch the disease ravage their bodies. If I could ease their pain, I will. I will turn to an opium derivative.

Yet I have heard of some people doing real hard prison time for carrying a small bag of marijuana. In history there are plenty of people who gave used drugs for a good purpose and some even use drugs to keep their jobs. When does social drug use become an addiction ? Is there such an entity as social cocaine or LSD use? If you have control issues in your personal life, you would not a good candidate to using drugs. There are people using cocaine, crack, ecstasy, heroin, opium, methamphetamines, LSD, psylocibin, peyote, PCP, amphetamines, uppers, Ketamine and downers. Some are happy about their use and some wish they had never touched the stuff. I have seen drugs end lives. Very famous people have used drugs over the years. Some of those people had wished they never started using drugs, and some feel they could not live without drugs. Would a painting by Dali be a painting without hashish ? Would Bela Lugosi been a great Dracula without his morphine and opium ? Would Miss Tallulah Bankhead been so witty without cocaine? I could go on and on. Drugs are part of our culture.

Hallucinogens have been part and parcel of man's cultural baggage for thousands of years. The hallucinogenic or psychoactive plants have been of great significance in the ideology and religious practices of a wide variety of peoples the world over, and in some traditional cultures continue to play such a role today. The native peoples of South America, alone utilized nearly a hundred different botanical species for their psychoactive properties, not counting scores of plants used for the brewing of alcoholic beverages to induce ritual intoxication. Many people are shocked by the idea that experiences resembling religious experiences can be produced by drugs.

I was amazed to discover that Papaver somniferum (Opium) is mentioned in the Bible. While reading James Duke's Medicinal Plants of the Bible, opium is not directly mentioned, but James Duke believes that the biblical gall was opium.
" They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof he would not drink." Matthew 27:34 (King James Version) The gall added to the vinegar and thus given to Jesus was the juice of the opium poppy.
Opium is the air-dried milky exudate obtained from the excised unripe fruits. The seeds contain no opium and are used in cooking and baking. Although the poppy seeds on a bagel contain no narcotic alkaloid, a urinalysis following their ingestion may lead to a false positive urine test for opiods. Although only into 50 or so pages from the book, The History of Opium I am able to discuss some basic opium facts.
The opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a native of Greece and Turkey. The opium poppy has a long history in China. The trade of this drug has had an immense political impact on that country. The author tells how 18th-century British farmers were given medals and cash rewards for pioneering high-yield methods of growing the opium poppy. Opium has yielded possibly the most effective pain killer of the day. It was fine the Wicked Witch of the West to put Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow in a deep sleep in the 1939 Wizard of Oz. It is fascinating to read of early advances in cultivation. Through the centuries of morphine, laudanum and heroin use, I begin to understand its impact and even reflect on the human costs of the recreational use of opium drugs today. If you do not think we have a drug problem in the United States, you are out of the loop and totally wrong.


Will the new Dali film show him smoking the drug, hashish. As of January 22, 2011 it has been discussed that the 45 year old Scottish actor , Alan Cumming is to play the eccentric Spanish artist Salvador Dali in a new £10 million 3D biopic. Until now there has been no film solely devoted to the great Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali.
I find it appropriate that the movie will be in 3D, a dimension that Dali himself loved. The love affair which began between Salvador Dali and the poet Federico García Lorca was seen on the silver screen in 2009's, Little Ashes. The setting was in The Residencia de Estudiantes, or Students' Residence, a modern environment which encouraged Spain's brightest young minds. Dali and Lorca were two of those brightest minds. How much of Lorca will be seen in the new Dali screen is yet to be determined. I have been fascinated with Dali from a young age. It is the one artist that I can freely discuss in a conversation with some authority. I was totally surprised this holiday by Rick who gave me a 1939 New World's Fair Russia Exhibition postcard signed by the genius himself, Salvador Dali. There is one fact that many do not know about Dali ? He wrote and illustrated a cookbook called Les Dinners de Galla
My own chef, Rick, has a copy given by the semi-Daliesque authority, Me.

Hollywood made no mistake by casting Mr Cumming in this role.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 23, 2011 New York Botanical Gardens

" Life is short,and we never have too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh, be swift to love, make haste to be kind!" - Henri Frederic Amiel

You own soul is nourished when you are kind,but you destroy yourself when you are cruel. Proverbs 11:17


Kindness is something we never have enough of. I have learned through hard lessons of my own, to be kind to unkind people--because they need it the most. I have also learned that hatred and anger are powerless when met with kindness. My mother used to say when she saw me upset about 'the little things' Kill them with kindness. The word powerless is a powerful word. In a twelve step program you learn about powerless. I am powerless over alcohol...I am powerless over food...I am powerless over drugs and my life is unmanageable. Well, I am powerless over unkind people. We all have met unkind people. For example, in a small community on a small island, you will find many unkind individuals. There are unkind individuals everywhere. In the same respect you will find many kind individuals. Stick with the kind . When I see faults and unkindess around me, I become blind and become a little kinder. Kindness never hurt anyone. When was the last time you were kind to someone? It cost you nothing to be kind. Washington Irving sums up kindness in this quote, " A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."


Yesterday two friends who happen to be life partners went on a journey. The journey was a 15 minute Harlem Line Metro North train ride to the New York Botanical Gardens.
Have you ever visited the Botanical Gardens. If not, let me inspire you.

The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is one of the premier botanical gardens in the United States, located in the Bronx in New York City. It spans some 250 acres (100 ha) of Bronx Park and is home to some of the world's leading plant laboratories. More than 1 million people visit the Gardens every year. You would think that in a coild winter day you wouldn't enjoy the Gardens. Wrong !

New York Botanical Garden is an advocate for the plant kingdom. The conservatory welcomes you with this " A World of Plants "The Garden pursues its mission through its role as a museum of living plant collections arranged in gardens and landscapes across its National Historic Landmark site and through its comprehensive education programs in horticulture and plant science.

So being a friend/partner means he/she accepts US as WE are, yet helps US to BE what WE should be. He finds Watson 203 for a Digital Photography Class, while I find the exhibit on Carribean Fauna and Flora. We meet later at The Shop for sipping the tea and shopping for plants. Well, maybe not plants in this cold, but for books.

The history of the Gardens is grand as the Gardens itself. The Lorillard Family owned most of the land which became The New York Botanical Garden. That land and adjacent acreage was acquired by the City of New York and set aside for the creation of a zoo and botanical garden. The Garden was founded in 1891 on part of the grounds of the Lorillard Estate, formerly owned by the tobacco magnate Pierre Lorillard. The Garden's creation followed a fund-raising campaign led by the Torrey Botanical Club and Columbia University botanist Nathaniel Lord Britton and his wife Elizabeth Knight who were inspired to emulate the Royal Botanic Gardens in London. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1967. Visit www.nybg.com

Become a member and enjoy the benefits of membership through exhibits, education classes, and bringing your friends.

Since I love history and I love plants, I wanted a new book that a History of a Plant. Do I need a new book? No, I do not. My Botanical Latin book arrived yesterday in time for my Botanical Latin course sponsored of course by the New York Botanical Gardens. The Shop at the Gardens had my Botanical Latin text in the course section, but to the left was a book titled, 'Plant Intoxicants' A Classic Text on the Use of Mind-Altering Plants. My left hand reached up and my mind said yes. It is a pioneering study of psychoactive plants and their role in society. It was initially published in 1855, and the first book to examine the cultivation, preparation and consumption of the world's major stimulants. So I will read and tell you about in the future, Paullinia sorbilis (Guarana), Datura fastuosa
( Thoranapple), and Erythroxylon coca (Coca). Yet, the plant and its flower that has always fascinated me is Papaver somniferum - The Poppy. This plant unlike any other played the most important role in the history of narcotics, of trade and even mankind. So, I had to find a book on the Poppy. Two books away from Plant Intoxicants was ' The History of Opium.' So there is was. This second book touched my left hand and it guided me to the cash register.

The photographer and the student went home in bliss, happiness and love.

The End


Photo Credit: Rick Byrd

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 22, 2011 DO YOU EVER DISCUSS SEX ?

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." - Elisabeth Foley


Since a true friend can also be your partner and in many instances is, this quote is wonderful for a loving, nurturing relationship. I feel that a relationship lasts longer with open communication and the ability to grow separately without growing apart. A true relationship whether with your friend or partner should allow for each individual's growth. If that growth leads to growing apart, then were you ever a true friend to that person? I have some friends that I haven't seen in years, however when we have the opportunity to get together, it feels as if we never grew apart or we never said goodbye. I know these are rare instances but they do occur.

When two people communicate rarely is the topic of sex discussed. The upcoming February issue of OUT changes that with three pages of 115 questions posted and answered by 1000 individuals (92% Gay, 7% bisexual and 1% questioning). You may be saying is he going to discuss sex. The answer is yes. Why? Because no one does, at least not the doctors I know. It is so important for you to discuss your sexual practices with your doctor. Not only your sexual practices, but the do and don'ts, your fears, drinking during sex, other habits during sex and just plain sex.

The oddest response to me were to the question "strangest place you've ever had sex"
This question unlike many of the others is not gay oriented. I do not care how old you are, or what your sexual orientation. You can answer some of the questions. It might even trigger some old desires that you thought were gone. The happiest couples I have seen whether straight or gay have been in those that have some type of intimacy. I do not expect my 83 year old couple from NJ to be having sex. I do expect that some type of intimacy must exist. The next question is the definition of sex. The definition of having sex has changed since I was a teenager. I am sure the Presidency of President Clinton changed the term "sex" forever. I wonder if 8th grade history classes discuss this topic.

SOME STATISTICS:

Some of the percentages are surprising. For example on 'cheating' - 68% have been cheated on; 51% have cheated and 60% have had sex with someone who was in a straight relationship at that time.

Alcohol is part of society and relationships. Sometimes drinking is the bond that holds a relationship together. Not everyone drinks.
24% drink most or every time they have sex, while 23% never do

The Internet has not helped with communication between couples in a relationship as 82% look at free porn sites, while 18% pay for it.

I was delighted to read that across all age groups (18-25; 26-35; 36-45; 46-55; 55-65)
the average percentage of condom use always/mostly is about 75%. It could be better. I would have liked to see a percentage for those from 14-18.

The percentage for 'coming out' is interesting by geographic areas within the United States.

Where is the strangest place you have had sex? You can answer this question. I do not care how old you are or your sexual lifestyle. I do not know if some of these answers are real or there for the 'shock factor'. I did expect to read in an airplane bathroom, or in a car. I didn't expect to read the following:
1. Between moving subway cars
2. The ruins of Pompeii
3. Home Depot Bathroom
4. On a Field with cows
5. A gutter

I am sure the magazines Cosmopolitan, G Q or perhaps the Ladies Home Journal have published some statistics.
It is a laid back Saturday...
Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 21, 2011 THE REPUTATION OF PERIWINKLE

" Reputation grows like a mushroom; character grows like an oak"

I was thinking how to discuss one's reputation and plants. I found the quote above which sums up the solid firm hard character as should an oak tree.
I can change the quote to 'reputation comes over one from without and character grows up from within.'
There is always a comparison between one's reputation and one's character. In my life I had a bad spell where my reputation was blackened or marked. This was before I decided to live my life by a twelve step program and a Higher Power. Benjamin Franklin stated that ' Glass, china and reputation are easily cracked and never well mended.' I do not know if that is completely true. I feel that any one's reputation may be repaired, but rest to sure that people keep an eye on where it was cracked. This was true with some of my colleagues at a rough time in my life. I might have done the same if I was on the other end. But after some amount of time, I feel people should stop looking at the place it cracked. With almost 17 years of continuous sobriety I have to the best of my ability changed. At this point I cannot worry or fret about what people think of me. I know who and what I am. Perhaps I do so much in my life to continually polish up my reputation. I feel we need to lend some slack to people who are trying to change their lives. I had an older Chief of Medicine once tell me and in writing that 'recovery never happens to someone with an addiction.' That is a harsh statement and I totally disagree. Many men would turn over a new leaf if they could tear out some of the old pages. I do not want to tear out the old pages. These old pages keep it green for me every day. I do not dwell on the old pages, but look upon them with a different view. Think about your own reputation. How did a crack in your reputation change your thoughts on life?

I want my reputation to have a little touch of periwinkle. Periwinkle is a magnificent color. It is also the common name for the Vinca plants. Derived from these plants are two chemotherapy drugs, vinblastine and vincristine. There is also another derivative that is never discussed--vinpocetine.

Vinpocetine, a vincamine derivative, is a synthetic ethyl ester of apovincamine. Vincamine is an extract of periwinkle (Vinca minor). Vinpocetine has been widely used and studied in Europe for over 25 years, but is not well known in the United States. Based on animal and clinical studies vinpocetine has been recommended as a treatment for stroke in Hungary, Poland, Germany, Russia, and Japan. However, a recently published meta-analysis does not support the assumption that vinpocetine can decrease the morbidity and mortality in acute stroke. Studies have shown that vinpocetine has the following pharmacological and biological actions: enhancement of brain circulation and oxygen utilization, increased brain tolerance of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) and ischemia (blood deficiency), anticonvulsant activity, inhibitory effect on phosphodiesterase (an enzyme), improvement in blood flow and inhibition of platelet aggregation
Today there are many 'memory formulas' that add vinpocetine to their other ingredients. Some of the other ingredients are amino acids as acety L-carnitine and phosphatidyserine and phosphotidyl choline. Vinpocetine can be used as a single agent.
There are studies from 2000-2003 that researched the use of vinpocetine in cognitive function and memory impairment. The authors from these studies conclude that vinpocetine may slow the disease process and decrease its incidence if taken during the 'window of opportunity' between mild cognitive impairment and the development of senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This was concluded because all three studies suggest that during treatment with vinpocetine there was a significant improvement in cognitive function of patients suffering from dementia or other symptoms of cerebrovascular disease. The studies demonstrated safety and the absence of serious adverse events.
I have not seen recent studies on vinpocetne. I know more studies are needed, but since there is no harm or adverse effects I would not discourage its use.

When I think of reputation I often think of a poem my Aunt Bev sent me after my father died. It reads

You got it from your father,
It was all he had to give.
So it's yours to use and cherish,
For as long as you may live

If you lose the watch he gave you,
It can always be replaced.
But a black mark on your name , son
Can never be erased.

It was clean the day you took it,
And a worthy name to bear.
When he got it from his father
There was no dishonor there.

So make sure you guard it wisely,
After all is said and done.
You'll be glad the name is spotless
When you give it to your son.

One day it will make a lovely cross stitch or needle point.

Thanks, Dad
Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 20, 2011 BACOPA - WHAT IS THIS?

" A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked"

"A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out " - Grace Pulpit

Friends are an important aspect of one's life. I believe that if you have one handful of true friends you are a lucky person. . If you have a partner, husband, wife or a true friend you can ask these types of questions of these people. There are many questions we ask ourselves on an every day basis as stated below
" How much time do we spend postponing enjoying our lives? How often do we say we will really be happy when we retire? Do we spend most of the winter talking and thinking about the summer place we have rented at the beach? Do we think that everyone will be alright as long as we save up a particular sum of money? Why can we not enjoy the moment? If we are to get the most out of life, we need to discern what is important and what is not. " - from www.rickandrickey.blogspot.com


Bacopa monnieri herb has been revered for centuries in the Ayurvedic herbal tradition of India. Over the past few years it has become more popular in the United States and its range of use is expanding. This herb is not widely known for its use on memory and cognition.
A study is reported on the effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) on human memory. Seventy-six adults aged between 40 and 65 years took part in a double-blind randomized, placebo control study in which various memory functions were tested and levels of anxiety measured. There were three testing sessions: one prior to the trial, one after three months on the trial, and one six weeks after the completion of the trial. The results show a significant effect of the Brahmi on a test for the retention of new information. Follow-up tests showed that the rate of learning was unaffected, suggesting that Brahmi decreases the rate of forgetting of newly acquired information. Tasks assessing attention, verbal and visual short-term memory and the retrieval of pre-experimental knowledge were unaffected.

The active constituents of bacopa are thought to be saponins, though no specific compounds have been isolated. Research has elucidated that the saponins could be glycosides of jujubogenin or pseudojujubogenin. Standardized extracts sometimes refer to bacoside A, which probably refers to the total tetracyclic triterpenoid saponin content. Other constituents include bacoside (a triterpene), flavonoids, phytosterols, and alkaloids.

Bacopa has other activities in the body. Extracts have also been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-parasitic activity.

Clinical studies have shown improvement of anxiety, memory and feelings of well-being after treatment with the equivalent of 12 g dried herb per day for one month. Improvements in concentration, IQ and visual motor function were seen in children taking 1050 mg a day of dried herb. In irritable bowel syndrome, bacopa mixed with Bael fruit (Aegle marmelos) was significantly more effective a treating diarrhea than the standard treatment. Several studies in epileptics showed improvement in the frequency of seizures using a dose of 50 g of fresh plant per day.

There is a combined study of bacopa and ginkgo that was published. Eighty-five men and women (aged 19-68 years) who did not smoke or take any drugs participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study conducted at Swinburne University, Hawthorn, Australia. Subjects received either 4 weeks of placebo or a combined extract of ginkgo (120 mg/day) and bacopa (300 mg/day) (Blackmores Ginkgo Brahmi; Blackmores, Balgowlah NSW, Australia). The tablets contained bacopa extract equivalent to 3 grams dry whole plant, standardized to contain 67.5 mg bacosides, and ginkgo extract equivalent to 3 grams dry leaf, standardized to contain 16 mg ginkgo flavonglycosides and 4 mg ginkgolides and bilobalide. A battery of neurological testing was conducted at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment. Treatment compliance was ensured by randomly allocating additional pills to each subject and then counting the number of pills remaining at the end of the study.

There were no significant differences between groups with regard to age, gender, or baseline measurements. The average compliance for the study was 83%. The authors investigated attention, short-term memory, working memory, verbal learning, memory consolidation, executive processes, planning and problem solving, information processing speed, motor responsiveness, and decision-making. There were no significant changes in cognitive performance in either group from baseline to 4 weeks post-treatment, even taking compliance into account. There were no treatment related adverse events.

The results of the study did not support the authors' hypothesis that the combined extract would have positive effects on cognitive function and affect a wider range of cognitive processes than either extract tested singly. The findings are in contrast to the positive findings published by other authors on the individual herbs.

For every herb discussed there are beneficial and not beneficial results. I feel it is important to discuss both in relation to any disease entity especially memory and cognition.

Until tomorrow...more herbs and supplements for MEMORY