DECEMBER 31, 2011 REAWAKEN YOUR SPIRIT

As the year closes I am reminded of two Yehuda Berg quote's-

"Stop worrying about tomorrow, Be HERE and HEAR." and

"We all fall. The challenge is picking ourselves up."

I need to hear both of these this morning as the day continues. Once again I must pick myself up, dust myself off and start all over again- and do it the Frank Sinatra way. I also have to be in the now --NOT the Past and not the Future. It is hard not to be in the past as midnight approaches. I reflect of years gone by. I never went out on the Eve. I always wanted to. From age 18 to now there seemed to be a reason to return home to be with my grandparents and/or father. I never wanted to leave my grandparents as they had lost all their children and I never wanted them to be alone. The immediate family is no longer physically there. There were years I was in London during this night. For the last decade I have been right beside Rick and our family--children or parents. Today we are with family and friends that have become our family.

For years Nature has filled my life, never more so than in the last 5 years. In my childhood I was fascinated by animals, insects and even plants. I have looked raccoons, skunks and possums in the face. I have watched hawks and eagles fly overhead in Central Park. I always tell people to get back to nature. Very few say that to me. I am really asking for individuals to get in touch with Earth as when he/she was a child. As children most of us spent more time outside, playing in the dirt, setting up forts and building tree houses and running in the fields. Today, children seem to stay indoors - with their Ninendo, Xbox, computer, iPhone or iPAD. If you are an adult who does this,- DO NOT feel guilty. We have never been out of touch with the Earth. As you begin to start a relationship with nature intimate aspects of your self will be revealed to you. Nature... animals, plants and the elements of the Earth are not meant to be just studied scientifically or statistically.

When you are watching a Nature Show especially with animals, don't you watch in awe and wonderment? I have been doing that my entire life. The animal world has much to teach us. Do you remember Rex Harrison as Dr. Doolittle? Do you remember the song Talk to the Animals?

I talk to animals. Yes, it sounds absurd and a little like crazy talk. I hear and I listen to animals and nature itself. I believe and know that every animal is the gateway to a world unknown to many of us in disbelief. Within this world is the gateway to our human spirit. I know it is the gateway to MY own soul.

Think about this: watching a tiger on Animal Planet shows us true majesty, while some animals restore forgotten childlike wonder at the world, and when seeing nature and animals it reawakens our lost belief in dreams, magic and the ever wondering possibilities.

This is what I dreamed last night. I had to share it. This summer I had an opportunity to be among millions of honeybees on a farm. I walked over to the stables and stood, talked and softly touched a horse. I began to have flashbacks of childhood with horses. We lived across from a Racetrack and I had the opportunity to enter the stables, ride the horses and talk to jockeys. It was a magical time. I knew then as I know now my affinity to animals. Rick and I had at one time in one swelling - five dogs, 2 parrots, 14 lovebirds, and 4 large lizards.

Chief Dan George said..

If you talk to the animals

they will talk to you

If you DO NOT talk to them

you will not know them,

And what you do not know

you will fear

What one fears one destroys.

So when I take my last breath, I know I will saying - Is That All there Is?

As I traditionally break a plate tonight at midnight, I wish you all happiness, peace, serenity, and love.

- Red Star

Until tomorrow --oh no next year....

DECEMBER 30, 2011 ARCHITECTURE: A NEW HOBBY

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."

"Freedom is from within."

"Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun"


The first quote is my favorite of all three. God = Nature in my mind. Nature is fascinating as was the man who stated all three quotes. The last quote tells you the writer of these quotes is an architect. His name was Frank Lloyd Wright.

Architects design houses, buildings, landscapes and even cities. Do you know any architects? I do. Today to become an architect you have national exams and you must earn a college degree. Was it that way 70 years ago?

I love architecture. The Upper West Side of NYC offers some of the most architecturally distinguished buildings. Some of them are residential buildings. The most beloved romantic skyline of the city is the twin-towered San Remo, the Majestic and the El Dorado apartments. Let's not forget the triple towered Beresford apartments. Or the Dakota. The Dakota was one of the city's foremost large spacious apartment buildings built in 1884. In that same year NYC changed the name of 8th Avenue above 59th street to Central Park West. What architecture lies on that street. The Dakota unfortunately was made famous by the slaying of John Lennon in front of the building and the filming of "Rosemary's Baby". There are many stories about the buildings of the Upper West Side. There are other NYC neighborhoods that offer great buildings. I would suggest exploring the buildings of architectural interest as a hobby. It could be a great weekend project.

About 6 years ago I was introduced to the architect of the 20th century, Frank Lloyd Wright. Much has been written about Mr. Wright. The name Frank Lloyd Wright is as famous as Garbo or FDR. He was born on June 8, 1867. There are many Frank Lloyd Wright architectural houses throughout the United States. Some are the Prairie Houses built in 1901 in Oak Park, Illinois. Yet, his most famous and greatest achievement is Fallingwater in Bear Run, PA. The city doesn't exist on a map. Husband, father of five children and architectural genius is worth a new hobby - Discovering the work of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Through the generosity of dear friends (who we consider our family), Rick and I had the pleasure in August 2005 of intimately visiting Fallingwater. I cannot describe the excitement and exhilaration of that visit.

I would start with looking at the buildings of New York City or your hometown in a different way from now on. Then visit Fallingwater.

Top Photograph: The Dakota in New York City
Middle Photograph: Fallingwater

Bottom Photograph: Cross-Stitch/Needlecraft of Fallingwater by PF (me)

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 29, 2011 DAIRY - DO OR DO NOT

"Shed peace, not discord wherever you go."

It sounds so easy to do, but at times it is difficult. Who doesn't want to share peace and harmony with everyone? I know I want to, but at times it is difficult when there are those who only want to shed discord. I have found that in these economic times, some people are not just happy. Did you ever meet an unhappy person? I have! This past summer I met many unhappy individuals. I do not know if it is because they are physically ill or mentally ill. The longer I remain in a small community for the summer the more unhappy people I seem to meet. The more I think of these past summer the more I pray for those who cause harm to others. I would rather pray for their harmony as good karma is the only choice in life!

There are many reasons people consume fewer dairy products or avoid them altogether. Most of the time the individual doesn't relate their bloating, flatulence and changes in stool to their dairy consumption. The younger generation consumes more soda or pop by 300% over the past 50 years. Some avoid dairy because of the advice from their health care practitioner, or because of a history of kidney stones, calcium deposits in joints or bothersome skin conditions that can be related to dairy. Dairy as it exists today is very inflammatory. Some have to avoid dairy due to lactose intolerance. Lactose is the sugar found in milk that gets broken down in the small intestine into two simple sugars (glucose and galactose) which are then absorbed by the brush border of the small intestines. There is a normal physiologic decline in the absorption of milk as we get older. This is a lactase (the enzyme which breaks down lactose) deficiency, called lactase non-persistence. There is a difference in lactose intolerance and lactase non-persistence.

If you avoid dairy you must make sure you get the proper supplementation of minerals that are found in dairy. You need to still get the adequate calcium and magnesium levels, and do not forget the trace minerals as manganese, zinc, selenium and copper. Calcium is critical to bone health.

I agree with avoiding dairy as it exists today. Make sure you eat spinach for calcium, bananas and avocados for potassium, eggs for vitamin A (organic eggs), canned sardines and salmon (from http://www.vitalchoice.com/) for B12 and Vitamin D, almonds for riboflavin and (if not allergic) cooked soybeans for magnesium. There are alternatives to milk in the way of other foods.

You can eat other dairy as in sheep or goat. I would also suggest raw dairy. To be informed about raw dairy join http://www.westonaprice.org/

THE QUESTION IS - TO BE OR NOT TO BE A DAIRY CONSUMER

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 28, 2011 RESCUE REMEDY: A BACH REMEDY

"We are set free if we set others free, for it is only by example we can teach."

Dr. Edward Bach, 1932

Dr. Bach had the right idea. How are we as healers supposed to set people free if we cannot free ourselves? I can only teach by example. I can only teach and heal by giving personal examples. This is why I write this daily blog. I feel I am free when I use myself as an example. Honesty is the best policy. You have heard that many times before.

The term Bach means nothing to most people, but to a homeopath and myself it means a lot. There is a multitude of Bach remedies available. The one most people know about is Rescue Remedy. There actually was a Dr. Bach. Each of his 38 remedies is directed at a particular characteristic or emotional state. Some of the examples are:

Aspen - fear of unknown things

Gorse- hopelessness and despair

Holly - hatred envy and jealousy

Honeysuckle- living in the past

Rock Rose - terror and fright

and 33 others. The Bach centre continues the work of Dr Edward Bach. The site is run from Mount Vernon which was the home and workplace of this visionary man. He completed research into his flower remedy system. The Bach centre is the world hub for education and information on Dr. Bach's work

I wish I had known about the Bach centre when I studied medicine in England as I could have visited Oxfordshire.

Rescue Remedy is a combination of 5 Bach flower essences- These are Cherry Plum (for feelings of desperation), Rock Rose -(to ease terror), Impatiens - (to soothe irritability) , Clematis - (to counteract the tendency to drift away from the present), Star of Bethlehem (to address the mental and physical symptoms of shock)

Together these flower essences can make a safe sanctuary for your mental state. It should be taken when you feel a need to be rescued or you are unsettled. Instead of using a clonezepam or an ativan, try rescue remedy. It can be used after an argument with a life partner, friend or family member. It can be used after a loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or loss of self.

Upon reading I have found that Rescue remedy is the only Bach Flower Remedy that is usually taken neat, straight from the stock bottle. Put 4 drops directly under the tongue. repeat dosage if needed. If you do not want it directly on your tongue you can put in a water bottle and sip for the entire day. I find it great for soothing pets if they are anxious or nervous. It is safe for children.

There are even creams that have rescue remedy in them. These are used for sunburns, cuts bruises and scrapes. It can be added to a skin wash, and some homeopaths add it to a poultice.

Try Rescue Remedy...It works

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 27, 2011 CHIVALRY AND SEX HERBS

"SHED PEACE, NOT DISCORD, WHERE EVER YOU GO."

It sounds so good, but it seems not to be for today. So much has changed since I was growing up or even since I was dating. There used to a be a time when a man would fall head over heels in love with someone because that person glanced their way. It was sort of like "One Enchanted Evening". One would go above and beyond to try to woo the person of their desire, courting them with romantic dinners and plays and even sending flowers. You would hope that both individuals involved would create a picturesque image of chivalry. Whatever happened to chivalry? Or better as stated in Chicago, "What ever happened to Class?" It seems dead especially in a city like New York City. Every person has a computer or an iPAD. Just look at how many cards you receive by BlueMountain or another website. There is nothing wrong with that but what happened to card and letter writing?

I have seen many in the gay community not date in person anymore but date on Adam4Adam,

Grinder, Scruff and other websites. Is it about dating anymore? Or just about hooking up? I talk to many young patients , including my own children and dating has changed drastically. When I was dating I imagined a perfect life; a nice apartment/house, dogs, and children. For me what sounded like a perfect life STILL is a perfect life. Well there is no such thing as perfection. Dating is difficult.

If your dating life is not perfect, there is one common attempt to cure it: the anti depressant or the anti anxiety medication. These psychological medications can really throw off a great date when they affect sexual function. I see this especially in the male population. Factors like alcohol, the wrong foods, caffeine and definitely illicit drugs can also affect your sex drive.

For the male individual there are certain herbal remedies to ward off the problem. DO NOT stop your medications without talking to your doctor and doing it properly. It would be great if men would take the time to read, research and brew a cup of Damiana tea, but in today's ever popular quick fix world this will not happen. If a man cannot take the time to really date what makes him likely to boil water for a cup of tea? The quick fix is in a herbal pill like:

1. Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium) - this herb has been used in Asia for thousands of years with great success. It boosts libido, and even treats erectile dysfunction. Is is easier to get cialis or Viagra? Sure it is but look at the side effect profile and the cost! Horny goat weed dilates blood vessels, increases sensitivity in nerve ending (of the penile vessels) and raises adrenaline levels. This is what one needs. A natural approach...

There are others like

Tribulus, Panax Ginseng, and Damiana.

There is also Tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia) - this herb is named for the Malaysian god known for sexual prowess. In this culture it is used as a daily tonic and for longevity. Maybe you should find some...

So when you find the person of your dreams, go have a cup of tea (not necessarily the above herbs) and take a stroll in the park. Tell him/her you love him/her Respect him/her.

For me, I aim to spend every day for the rest of my life falling in love all over again with the same man... and I do.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 26, 2011 STAR OF BETHLEHEM

"Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."

-Janice Maeditere

I love opening gifts. There is something about carefully untying the ribbon (I save the ribbon) and tearing the paper (I do not save the paper anymore) that is exciting. This year was about family and friends. I wanted all the my immediate family to be together. Whether it was Christmas Eve or the Day, we were all there. It meant a lot to me. It warmed my heart. I had the love, support, and guidance of my partner, Rick who made sure everything was as perfect as it could be. Bless his heart.

In bloom in late spring are these delicate white flowers related to the Lily family...

They have six pointed stars - It is called Ornithogalam umbellatum, also known as the Star of Bethlehem. I have only seen these flower once while studying in England in the 1980's. I had a friend, Kate at the local hospital in Kingswinford who showed me the Stars in bloom in her garden.

Kate said to me that this flower is used for peace and comfort. Her mother used it when the children had fallen and were in a crying shock. It is basically used for the shock of bad news, of loss, of an accident and sometimes even of being born. (although I do not quite get the last use)

It is in a common Bach remedy which I have used called Rescue Remedy. When my white Maltese, Cary and Grant were puppies I used it on them as they crossed the Bay on the Ferry to the Pines. I didn't want either dog to get upset. They didn't and slept the whole 20 minutes.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 24, 2011 ULMUS FULVA

"Enjoy the journey , you are here for a reason."

The journey has been rewarding. Sometimes not as happy as I would like, but it is not me controlling the situation. In the last seventeen years of sobriety at times I have felt like I was on a roller coaster. I have been challenged . Or is life but a ball of twisted yarn?

I know the reason I am here on Mother Earth. I am here as a messenger of the healing arts. I am healer, more than a doctor. I am Red Star Man. Thank you, Amanda. More to come on this topic. I believe in the old fashioned way of healing. Not only the blood work, the prescriptions, and modern scans, but the holding of a patent's hand. The intimate touch when a patient starts to cry. The discussion of their children and grandchildren and their life thirty or forty years ago. This is medicine.

So my journey has been very rewarding.

The inner bark of a small tree is a extremely useful remedy for most inflammation especially the digestive tract. It is usually sold as a powder. It is Ulmus fulva, known as Slippery Elm. I usually combine is with other digestive teas as chamomilla, meadowsweet, and catnip. I use it for indigestion, stomach ulcers, food allergies, bloating, and diarrhea. You can use slippery elm combined with a powdered probiotic in water. I would not suggest putting slippery elm and the probiotic in milk or juice.

It is a soothing herb with mucilagious properties. I would use 1 teaspoon in water three times a day for digestive issue. If in the city, go to Flower Power on East 9th street or order it online at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 23, 2011 THE STUDY OF BUTTERFLIES

"The quality, not the longevity, of one' s life is what is important."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am prepared to die. The quality of my life in the last ten years and beyond have been amazing. I may have at one time had quantity of abundance- money, clothes, and other material items

but today I have abundance of love, sincerity, friendship, support, kindness and generosity. Oh, yes I have trust.

This is what is important to me today.

A butterfly is a mainly day flying insect of the order Lepidoptera which includes butterflies and moths. How could you not love a butterfly? A butterfly represents freedom to me. I was sad when my next door neighbor collected butterflies and mounted them on cardboard by pinning their wings. I felt sad for the butterfly. Not many individuals collect moths as most moths are not as pretty as butterflies.

There are three super families of butterflies- true butterflies, skippers and the moth-butterflies. The earliest known butterfly dates back to 40-50 million years ago.

What prompted me to write about butterflies are the beautiful photos above. These are from colleague/mentor, 7song while on his herbal trip to Nicaragua The knowledge that this one man has is beyond reproach. His love for nature is exhilarating.

A great hobby is getting to know the butterflies of your area. I would not advise collecting them as some butterflies are becoming extinct. This is due to pesticides and environmental changes. There is great polymorphism among the same species, each showing differences in appearance. I am only beginning to learn about butterflies and I find them fascinating.
Remember butterflies are like honeybees--they pollinate (some moths do also)

Thanks to 7song:

Left top photograph: Banded Peacock

Right top photograph: Glass winged butterfly

Left bottom photograph: Great Spangled

Right bottom photograph: Dot-colored Skipper

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 22, 2011 - A PAIN IN THE NECK...

"Challenges arise to make us aware of our inner purpose." Deepak Chopra

As I sit here I am reflecting on the challenges I had to face when I was younger. I knew I always wanted to be a healer. I wanted to heal animals, but when faced with a challenge I sought to heal the human being- physically. I came to the realization that I cannot heal physically, without healing both emotionally and mentally. I had to incorporate more than one healing modality into my practice. I actually incorporate many in the care of one patient.

Only when life became sober, not only in abstinence but in honesty did I truly begin to heal myself and others. I had other challenges within myself that I had to deal with. Those were frightening at that time, and unfortunately I could have done a better job, but I learned life's lessons. Today I welcome a challenge. I love challenges in cases within the medical field. I also know I have my limitations in many of the conventional modalities. Therefore I use other modalities. Any challenge I face today further awakens and strengthens my inner purpose in life. These are the challenges I stress to younger individuals in my life whether my son, daughter, family, friends and younger patients within my practice. I always pray for challenges.

The neck is particularly vulnerable to problems which can include but are not limited to cervical osteoarthritis, cervical spondylosis, neck rigidity, locked or stiff neck and neck swelling.

I do see many older patients with degenerative arthritis of the spine especially the neck and lower back . In the younger patient I usually see a locked neck which is over strain of ligaments or muscle spasms caused by an awkward or sudden movement. It can be caused by an unusual position while sleeping

Some of us can take an aspirin, anti inflammatory, or a pain killers for the pain. Local heat does help tense muscles. If the pain is associated with nerves I usually ask the patient to drink celery juice. If I use an essential oil to be massaged into the area to ease the discomfort, I recommend rosemary.

There is one herb you may not think of using for pain as it has been associated with depression. This is St. Johns Wort . I feel this herb has been given a 'bad rap'. It has sedative and painkilling properties and can be drunk as an infusion or even applied to the area. To reduce inflammation I love ginger, white willow and vervain.

My homeopathic friends/colleagues usually recommend the fresh black root from the plant Cimicifuga racemosa. (see photo above)

Search for these remedies as a 'pill' is NOT always the answer.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 21, 2011 POMANDER FOR THE ELDERLY

"WE are always given exactly what WE need at the moment."

It is not in my time or your time. Things happen when they happen. I wish I could sometimes have things in my time or at least at a faster rate, but I cannot. I have come to the realization that life is on life's terms. I know in my heart I am always given what I need at that moment. It just happens that way! I believe it is my daily meditation practice that enhances this spirituality.

Many elderly people feel a sense of worthlessness as they age. I believe it is the younger generation that needs to help them NOW, not later. Older people feel that they no longer matter to others . This is absolutely not true for me. I cherish old people. I have learned a lot from old people. If you start a conversation with them, you will find that older individuals certainly have purpose and/or usefulness.

Do you know any old people? I know plenty (I sound like Liza Minnelli from one of her albums). But truthfully I love old people. I can discuss history, the movies, AND the 1939 Worlds Fair. You never want an older person to feel a sense of isolation. Have them participate in as many chores as they can. My grandfather (Poppy) worked until his late 80's traveling to NYC from Westchester taking the subway from the Bronx. He had a purpose to live despite the fact that he no longer had any children alive. He had his tomatoes, his work and he had us.

Sure there are anti depressants for the elderly. I prefer to treat the elderly with other disciplines of medicines like chinese herbalism, aromatherapy, homoeopathy, western herbs, flower essences and vitamins and minerals. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT MEDICINE IS TAUGHT AT THE BEDSIDE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELDERLY PATIENT. This translates that doctors should talk to the patient.

I always make sure that the older person has an adequate diet every day. I make sure he/she has enough B12 and folic acid. I check magnesium, potassium and calcium in their diet. I encourage plenty of antioxidants which can help delay some of the effects of aging.

I rely on two flower essences for comfort in the elderly. One is Cherry Plum and the other is Sweet Chestnut. The former is for "fear of the mind being over strained" while the other is for the "person who is anguished and stretched beyond endurance." In the field of homeopathy I prefer Ignatia for depression from a loss. I have seen many older individuals who have lost their spouse and more upsetting is the loss of a child. I know some homeopathic remedies and utilize them as often as I can.

The amount of herbs I use for depression and anxiety vary from individual to individual. I love the nervines in this regard. I use lemon balm (Melissa officiales) borage, limeflower, rosemary and vervain.

Ginseng is an herb I use for depression. It is useful for memory and confusion as well. I am careful not to use too much ginseng in the elderly as I have seen my reverse reactions.

Two remedies I learned from an elderly herbalist include using sage and cloves for lifting the mood. Both can be used as teas or can be added to food. As far as sage, I like the taste. When it comes to drinking clove tea, I usually add some chamomile, wild flower honey and even peppermint to help the taste. I am not fond of plain clove tea.

A gift for an elderly friend: A FRAGRANT POMANDER

1. Push cloves into an Orange or grapefruit

2. Attach a piece of ribbon and hang up for them when you visit.

3. It will freshen anyone's home and senses.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 20, 2011 JUNIPERIS AND HAIR

"Seek to see the good in everything that happens."

When something happens I used to see the bad side of the event. The poor me! Why me! Now I seek to see the good in everything that happens-- or at least I try to see the good. Sometimes in tragedies, death, and murder I cannot seek the good. Try to seek the good. It makes all the difference.


Juniperis communis was used in ancient Greece and Egypt to combat the spread of disease. The common name is Juniper. It is an evergreen shrub with bluish green stiff needles. Even the French used it in WW II for the same purpose of combating the spread of disease. Today I use juniper for those men with prostatitis and women with interstitial cystitis.

For three years I have been using a variety of remedies for strengthening and growing hair. My favorites are Horsetail with Fennel. I have had too many hairstyles in the last 40 years. I was reminded of this when a video was shown at my 50th birthday party. I didn't even recognize myself in some of those photos.

Here is a great hair and scalp tonic using rosemary, cedar wood and juniper.
Use10 drops of juniper essential oil, 8 drops of rosemary and 7 drops of cedarwood added to 1 1/2 fluid ounces (50 ml) or 9 teaspoons of olive oil.
Massage into the scalp before you wash it. Wrap the head in a warm towel for about two hours. Yes, 2 hours.
Wash out with a mild shampoo massaging the shampoo into the hair before you wet it to remove all the oil.
You will be amazed, refreshed and lively when you come out of the shower.

I also use rosemary and cedar wood with cypress oil for those adults and/or children with dandruff. I use 6 drops of rosemary, 6 drops of cedar wood and 4 drops of cypress oil in 50ml olive oil. Massage in and leave overnight. For the children I use half the amount of essential oils.

One thing to remember: Never use juniper for pregnant women.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 19, 2011 ARMORACIA

"Blessings are the wages of your spiritual work."

If you do some spiritual work--whether meditating or praying you will reap the awards. These rewards will come in a way of blessings when you least expect it. I would suggest meditation as a lifestyle change.

Armoracia rusticana, also known as Horseradish is a member of the mustard family. Horseradish has been used for centuries in folklore medicine. I can recall my Nanny using horseradish on any rash...similar to the father in My Big Fat Greek Wedding using Windex for every cut and bruise.

I am not fond of horseradish as a spice. I find it too hot for me. Rick happens to love 'hot foods' . So does my daughter Alyssa who had a monetary bet that she could eat a teaspoon of horseradish. She did and won the bet.

Horseradish is particularly useful to clear the sinuses. It is also a powerful diuretic. Others uses of horseradish: stimulates blood flow, is an antiseptic

Some of the folklore uses which work are:

1. Apply horseradish to skin eruptions, including boils to draw out infection

2. Add small amounts of horseradish to your toothpaste for effective cleaning and cleansing of bacteria

3. For sinus relief, eat small amounts of horseradish mixed with lemon juice for effective sinus clearing

4. For edema or fluid retention eat fresh grated horseradish. This can be useful during PMS with associated edema of legs

There are some precautions if you overdue horseradish. It can cause night sweats, diarrhea and abdominal cramping.

Try it.. You might like it !

Until tomorrow....

DECEMBER 18, 2011 LIVING LONGER

"The Art of Living lies not in eliminating but in growing with troubles."

We all have troubles except in the Kit Kat Klub.-Joel Grey and Alan Cumming stated, "...we have no troubles here. Here life is beautiful, the girls are beautiful, even the orchestra is beautiful."

It seems that trouble must exist if you are to live. How you deal with your troubles can vary, but you still must live. When wounds are allowed to heal,the troubles get less. Time does heal everything. Growing with the troubles has made me a better man, despite the pain one must go through. I do not like having any troubles, but I am human. Remember there is no perfection only progress.

This past week my oldest patient died at age 104. Her name was Mary M. She lived in Florida with her son. Mary was a believer in complimentary health care. She took her vitamins, ate very well and exercised. Although from age 98 she didn't exercise as much she continued to read the newspaper, watch her favorite television shows (even if they had to be repeated on
DVD) and listen to the radio. She always took her vitamins. I also have many patients ages 95-99, 2 at age 100 and one at 102.

This past week a European health study was published entitled Patients of Complementary Medicine Physicians in the Netherlands Have Lower Costs and Live Longer by Kooreman, P. and Baars, EW.

Below is a summary of the study as printed by David Levine of the American Botanical Council. It was reassuring to me that I am practicing the medicine I want to practice and that WORKS.
You should reconsider always seeking a second opinion, and consider using other medical therapies.

Although there have been many studies on the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), there is very little information on whether or not it is cost-effective. In an age where cutting healthcare costs has become a priority, data on CAM's cost-effectiveness are essential. However, the authors of this study say that CAM has been an area of little interest to health economists.

To determine if CAM is cost-effective, the authors compared data on general practitioners (GPs) who had completed certified additional training in CAM after obtaining their medical degrees (GP-CAMs) with those who did not have training in CAM.

The comparisons were based on data provided by the Dutch health insurer Azivo. The database contained dates of quarterly information collected by Azivo on the cost of GP care, hospital care, pharmaceutical care, and paramedic care for 151,952 patients from 2006-2009. Data from 1,913 conventional GPs were compared with data from 79 GP-CAMs: 25 in acupuncture, 28 in homeopathy, and 26 in anthroposophic. The only outcome measure provided by the insurance company was mortality.

The authors found that patients who went to a GP-CAM had between 0-30% lower healthcare costs and mortality rates. The reason for the range was dependent on age and the training of the GP-CAM. For example, the costs were 66 Euros lower per quarter for patients aged 25-49 years whose GP-CAM was trained in acupuncture, but patients who were 75 years of age or older who saw a GP-CAM trained in anthroposophic medicine spent 405 Euros less per quarter. The lower costs for all the groups visiting GP-CAMs were primarily due to fewer hospital stays and fewer prescription drugs.

The data analysis showed that the lower costs of CAM were gender-based and socioeconomic status-dependent. For example, GP-CAMs had a larger percentage of female patients than conventional GPs and fewer patients from disadvantaged neighborhoods.

The authors state that there are several explanations for the lower costs of CAM. These include self-selection of CAMs by people who did not want aggressive treatment, undertreatment, and/or higher out-of-pocket expenses, as well as the focus on prevention and promotion of better health practices by GP-CAMs. Significantly lower mortality rates with CAM (P values not given) suggest that under treatment is not a reasonable explanation for lower costs.

The authors note that this study has important limitations which make it impossible to offer definitive conclusions on the cost-effectiveness of CAM. These limitations include the fact that all the data were from one insurer in a homogeneous Dutch region, the small number of GPs on which the authors had data, and the lack of data on costs such as out-of-pocket expenses, morbidity, work absence, subjective health, and patient satisfaction.

The authors state that further studies need to be done to determine the true cost-effectiveness of CAM. They cite three areas needing further research: "First, replication studies based on similar data sets are needed to confirm the present results. Secondly, further research is needed to determine to what extent selection on unobservable and causal effects explain the lower costs and lower mortality rates of patients with a GP-CAM. Thirdly, more research is needed with regard to the cost-effectiveness of CAM for specific diagnostic categories."


More studies need to be done. Did anyone ever consider spending more money on CAM Therapies versus increasing health care deductibles, taking care of the elderly less and less, and ever rising health care costs ???


Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 16, 2011 A RADKO HOBBY

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body." - Proverbs 16:24

Who doesn't want to hear pleasant words? We all do. I know I do. Two other beekeepers, S and J sent us this quote which I love. Beekeeping as a Hobby has been a pleasure. It is now more than a hobby. I consider it part of our lives. Rick and I read on all aspects of bee life. I have 1st edition books on Bees.

Every year we have a special chore. The chore is magical. It is in the spirit of the Holidays. It is putting up the tree with all its splendor. The splendor comes from another hobby. The hobby of Christmas Ornament collecting.

As the legend goes, the Christopher Radko Company started with the falling of Christopher’s family tree. After more than 1,000 vintage mouth-blown glass ornaments were broken to bits, Christopher tried to replace them by looking far and wide in the United States and by scouring Polish glassware markets. His quest did not produce even one replacement ornament that met his requirements, and he soon came to realize that his only option was to start completely from scratch. Armed only with his memories of his family’s ornaments, Christopher enlisted a Polish glass blower and together they went to work, trying to recreate his family’s lost heirlooms. It went so well that by 1985, Christopher was in business. Sixty unique designs debuted that year and the rest, as they say, is history.

I have been a Christopher Radko Christmas ornament collector since 1988, when my daughter Alyssa was born. Every year I add more and more Christmas Ornaments. I have a favorite- the Penguins.

Today, the Christopher Radko Company has produced more than fifteen million fine European glass ornaments and grown to encompass several additional lines of holiday décor, including Home for the Holidays—a beautiful collection of decorative holiday tabletop items and trim, including snow globes, ceramic cookie jars, tree skirts and stockings.

Despite this fantastic growth, the company’s original passion for and pride in carrying on the noble tradition of producing only the finest holiday treasures remains 100% intact: Christopher Radko Fine European Glass Ornaments are produced in Europe by a seasoned team of artists and craftsmen, many of whom have been with the company since its very inception. Each piece is meticulously crafted by hand, using Renaissance-era carving, molding, glass blowing, silver lining, hand painting and finishing processes that require both unparalleled skill and several weeks to complete. This Christmas 2011, Rick and I counted about 40 Radko's which now adorn our Martha Stewart Christmas Tree. We did add four new Radko's to the tree last night.

It has been a Holiday Hobby.

Some of our collection are now retired bulbs. I know Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Elizabeth Taylor and Love are all retired. These magical heirlooms produced by the Christopher Radko Company have brought joy and happiness to everyone who sees our tree. We will pass the collection on to younger members of the family as the years go by.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 15, 2011 FOLK REMEDIES FOR THE KITCHEN

"What is difficult alone is always eased in a partnership."

I cannot describe how I would feel doing what I do everyday without the loving, compassionate and truthful support of a life partner. My days vary every single moment. The days can be filled with laughter, tears, sorrow, anger and sadness. It depends on what I have to discuss with a patient. The years in practice never prepare one for telling another individual that he/she may have a life-threatening disease. I get to vent out my frustrations at home with someone who listens attentively. He might comment now and then. I have to learn to listen more attentively when he tells me something. It sometimes takes me an hour before my head can clear. The knitting or needlepoint usually calms my thoughts on the day. I wish a loving partner for all!

Some of us want to have antibiotics in the medicine cabinet--just in case. I feel everyone should have a home healing medicine cabinet. There can be an Ayurvedic medicine cabinet, a Chinese herbal medicine cabinet, an aromatherapy medicine cabinet and finally, my expertise, a western herbal medicine cabinet. There are two shelves in my hall closet filled with tinctures and dried herbs. My herbal closet has the following herbs (and a lot more):

1. Elder - for cough/sore throats

2. Meadowsweet - for indigestion

3. Stinging nettles - for sinus congestion

4. Valerian - for stress

5. Skullcap - for tension

6. Echinacea - for cold/flu and congestion

7. Chamomile - for nervous stomach and sleep

There is another type of medicine cabinet that has passed on from generation to generation even within your family. This is the traditional home or Folklore Remedy Medicine cabinet or "Kitchen cabinet"

1. Garlic - fresh garlic should be in every household. This is great for intestinal infections

2. Wild flower honey - As a beekeeper I find this essential. It is great for the flu. Great for sore throats, and can be applied to cuts and scrapes.

3. Celery - For those individuals with always feeling he/she has to go to urinate. This is called cystitis. You can use fresh celery or celery seeds. A colleague uses celery for headaches.

4. Cabbage leaves - great to apply to infected hair follicles, boils or carbuncles. The cabbage draws out the infection. Place a gauze pad over the fresh cabbage leaves over the wound. Cabbage can be crushed and applied as poultice to a hot swollen joint. Useful for the gouty joints too.

5. Cinnamon sticks - It is very useful for the patient with an unstable blood sugar . It is also used for colds and indigestion.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 14, 2011 YOU ARE A CORN IN MY SIDE

"Living without HOPE is like burying oneself." - Buddhist quote

Hope is essential. We all need to have hope. Hope that the world will get clean. Hope that this financial crisis and economy will change. Hope that you will get better. What is the world without hope? I do not think having hope is bad. I think that it is healthy. Your hope must be realistic!

Have hope!

Have you ever had a callus or corn on your big toe? Most calluses occur on the hands and feet. Construction workers have an increased incidence of callused hands. Dancers have calluses on their feet especially by the big toe (hallux). A callus or hardened and thickened area of skin occurs as a result of constant friction. The skin cells respond to friction by reproducing-- which results in the hardened skin. A callus on the toe joint of a dancer or on you from a new pair of shoes is very painful. The pain is caused by the pressure on the nerve endings. I have seen soft corns appear between the toes but these are not as painful. Women who wear high heels often get calluses.

Of course, there are more women who get pedicures than men, but men should have pedicures just as often if they are prone to calluses. A traditional home remedy for the corn or callus is painting it with fresh lemon juice. Lemon is a blood purifier, helps the body to expel toxins and is very useful for skin calluses. I find fresh lemon and juice especially useful for infections, insect bites, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, mouth ulcers, gallstones and restless leg syndrome. I find fresh lemon juice excellent for halting skin infections. I forgot to mention for bladder and kidney infections. I have also tried vinegar on calluses with some success.

To ease nerve pain I find the essential oil of tea tree to be beneficial. You can also increase your intake of Vitamins A and E. My colleagues find it comforting to bathe in 4 tablespoons of mustard seeds. In ayurvedic practices mustard reduces pitta and kapha, with a neural effect on vatha. Many use mustard seeds (Brasscia nigra) rectified with alcohol as a lotion for arthritic joints. The mustard foot bath will also clear blood congestion in the head (great for headaches and migraines) . It also lowers fevers in the start of any infection.

Get a pedicure today...I had mine last night

Know your pedicurist...

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 13, 2011 EJACUALTION

The success of love is in the loving--it is not in the result of loving -

Mother Theresa

We all should know more about the 4 letter word - love. We all have said it too many times in life. Maybe when we shouldn't have always said it when we did and maybe we have not said it enough at other times. It is how you love that counts! Is your love compassionate? Does it involve discussion? Does it involve touch? Think about when you use the word ' LOVE'... Think it over.

For men, an orgasm is usually accompanied by ejaculation. As men get older the ejaculate becomes less if at all. It is not as thick as it used to be. It almost can be like water. How many sperm do you think is in a single ejaculate ? The answer is 300 million. Of course the amount of sperm gets less as you get older.

Ejaculation is a two step process. I 'love' saying that! In the emission phase, the seminal fluid accumulates in the bulb of the prostate. Depending on the type of sex men are having this can be felt as a swelling of the prostate. The the expulsion phase the neck of the urinary bladder closes to ensure that no urine will mix with the semen. At the same time the muscles of the penis and penile urethra contract to force the semen out. This phase can be quite 'verbal' for the man depending on the force of the ejaculation (and the age of the man).

As you get older you might experience a dry ejaculation where you feel as though you are having an organism, but no semen is forced out. This can be due to medications, stress and illness. This is commonly observed in my practice in patients on anti-depressants especially celexa, zoloft and paxil.

Most of the cases of ejaculatory problems are psycho-social in origin. Usually there is no physical problem. The psycho social problem is that the man could feel sexual failure with his partner, male or female, but has no problem with another sexual partner. This is commonly the case with gay men. Sometimes after years of being together, the sex is too stagnant. I sometimes deal with men that have premature ejaculation. This often happens when there is initial penetration or very soon after.

The question is would you prefer a dry ejaculation or a premature ejaculation?

Premature ejaculation is usually the sign of performance anxiety. I commonly see this in younger men. There are rare occurrences of no ejaculation. This can occur in men who overindulge (constant or daily masturbation), inadequate stimulation of the penis or age.

Remedies can be varied. I believe that a psychologist should be involved. The male should try to avoid caffeine or stimulants in any form. There should be an increase in the intake of B vitamins. I usually suggest a B50 or B100 multivitamin. Eat oatmeal (always steel cut) as all oatmeal contains thiamine, an essential B vitamin. For the male who loves aromatherapy - mix bergamot in sweet almond oil and refresh the air with a vaporizer. There are three herbs which I recommend to drink two to there times a day. There should be a blend of Valerian, lime blossom, and skullcap. These are the herbs which will calm the nerves. For the men with premature ejaculation, there is a flower essence called Gentian which I find useful for those with a sense of failure.

Until tomorrow...

DECEMBER 12, 2011 INSECURITY

"One day at a time, WE walk out of the darkness into the LIGHT."

No this is not a quote from Poltergeist. We all have problems in our own way. Some are more difficult than others. Some of us have been in the darkness for so long that we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. It will happen one day. The light or 'life' will happen but not on your terms. Nothing is on our terms. We have to let go of that. It is when it is right for us to accept what is right for us. Some of us have lived in a fantasy world. Are you in the dark because you are insecure or have a low self esteem? There are solutions!

Insecurity is a feeling that affects each one of us at one time or another. It can be triggered by physical, social, or emotional factors. In today's time, financial insecurity is most prevalent. This insecurity induces anxiety. There was a time years ago when I felt insecure. My entire perception of my own competence and self worth were thrown off and I questioned everything. Today I do not question my ability in medicine, nor the intuitive sense I have for healing. This is my G.O.D. chosen profession. Every day is not perfect, but it is a process of progress through the years. This insecurity lasted for a while and I turned to a variety of things to alleviate the low self esteem. Those 'other things' got me in trouble. I knew I needed to change. I did not want the chronic low self esteem to cause depression or lack of confidence. There are many remedies excluding synthetic drugs. There are twelve step programs, psychotherapy, exercise, meditation and yoga. There are uplifting herbs for the body. These include rosemary, lavender, damiana, and valerian. If you are not taking conventional medications I urge you to drink this infusion three times a day.

I feel a vaporizer in the room at night with jasmine and marjoram will lift the mood. I have seen it improve mental outlook and clarity and even boost self image. But this alone will not suffice. You need to completely change your dietary and exercise lifestyle.

I have seen one of my homeopathic colleagues use Ignatia for insecurity which is stemming from a cause. An example would be a loss- from either death, ending a relationship or even a job. Pulsatilla is great for those who are tearful.

Suggestion: Vaporize marjoram to cheer you up. I also like a little peppermint to lift my spirits.

Until tomorrow...