FEBRUARY 1, 2012 HEART'S DELIGHT

"If you believe you cannot do something, you'll never do it. Believe you CAN, however, and you've all but done it. "

One of the greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright said, "The things always happen that you believe in. And belief is the thing that makes them happen. I think nothing will happen until you thoroughly and deeply believe in it." This is coming from the man who had the vision to build Fallingwater in Bear Run, PA.. the most architecturally amazing home.

I believe and know I can help make a difference in the life of an individual. It sometimes happens quickly and sometimes it is a little slower. I never give up. I strive to do this to the best of my ability. The secret is no secret at all. I believe in myself. There was a time - I didn't. Meditation and prayer have sure made a change in my life in regard to believing in myself.

For centuries , the herb Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) has been used medicinally. I have grown this herb every year in pots on the terrace. I received a plant of Lemon Balm from a patient, Diane P. about 3 years ago, and have grown it ever since. It grows wild in some areas. The plant is in Mint Family. Its leaves look like spearmint or peppermint. If you rub the leaves together you get the scent of lemon, which is so refreshing. The plant yields very little essential oil. So if you find it - it is expensive. Most of the commercial Melissa oil is mixed with other lemon oils.

Lemon Balm has been used for a variety of conditions. Lemon balm has traditionally been used orally to treat insomnia, anxiety, gastric conditions, hypertension and even hyperthyroidism (Grave's Disease) I have used both lemon balm and bugle weed for the hyperactive thyroid. I use tincture of lemon balm to treat mouth ulcers also known as canker sores. I remember my mother used to put gentian violet on my canker sores when I was a child. I didn't mind the taste, but I didn't like the tooth staining and gum staining. I do not think it is still used for canker sores, since there are other herbal alternatives. Studies have combined dandelion, St John's wort and Calendula for colitis with some success.

To calm the nerves I would suggest a soothing bath with the following:

1. 3 drops of melissa

2. 2 drops of chamomille

3. 2 drops of bergamot

Put all three in 1 teaspoon ( 5ml) of sweet almond oil. Add this to your bath and relax

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 31, 2012 YIN AND YANG

"Where there is life, there is hope."

The quote is not from the Chinese but it does sound like the Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). One of the eight guarding principles and the most ancient is the concept of Yin and Yang. I speak to many TCM practitioners who believe that yang becomes yin and yin becomes yang. Everything in the universe is in a constant state of change. Well, that ancient principle will always hold true.

If yin and yang are not balanced, an imbalance occurs. This is reflected in the human body by a variety of body systems. Yin descriptions are as inhibition, deterioration, quietness, and gloominess. I know many of these personality traits in people. Deficiency syndromes like cold are categorized as Yin. Such deficiencies can result in dull aches, pain, chills and even fatigue. The organs that are affected are the heart, lung, liver and kidneys.

Yang is characterized by excitation, restlessness, optimism, and hyperactivity. I know many individuals who could be described as Yang. An excess of yang energy is described as "hot". This results in acute pain, spasm, and headaches. Usually the organs affected are the intestines, both small and large, stomach and the bladder.

Since yin and yang are in a constant state of change, it has been said to have a healthier life- emotionally, physically and spiritually, one needs to be able to always be flexible. A rigid life will not get you far. There is much more to TCM. There are excesses and emotions of the body. I feel that traditional Chinese medicine is the most interesting and complex. I continually read about TCM. I do not practice acupuncture, nor use Chinese Herbs. Some of the Chinese herbs my colleagues use contain some western herbs that I am familiar with. I am learning more about Chinese herbs day by day.

Remember it is a day at a time. No perfection only progress.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 30, 2012 CLAVICEPS PURPUREA

"BE content content with enough instead of grasping for more."

"What part of NO didn't you understand."

I am content with what I have in life. I am not talking about the materialistic items, but rather the emotional, physical, and mental aspects. Of course, there was a time I wanted more and more - who doesn't want more! Today I am content. I need not grasp for anything except a more constant with the G.O.D. of my understanding.

"NO" is a complete sentence. There are many individuals who cannot say no. I was one of those individuals. I always said YES to everything. Today, I know to say NO to protect myself. I also have to help myself as I help others. Try to say NO especially if you have already carved the time out for yourself.

Ergot is a fungus that is parasitic on cereal grains, especially rye. The special aspect of this fungus is that it has medicinal properties . Ergot contains many alkaloid substances which have been known to promote contractions in the smooth muscle. Ergot has a historical significance. In the past, if rye bread with the fungus was ingested, this resulted in a poisoning known as Ergotism. This was also known as St. Anthony's Fire. The victims had systemic convulsions and burning pains in both of their limbs. This is depicted in many historical medical texts as well as literature. In 1834 Fuchs found early references to ergotism in Annales Xantenses for the year 857 stating "a great plague of swollen blisters consumed the people by a loathsome rot (gangrene) so that their limbs were loosened and fell off."

Ergot is used in the obstetrical practice. It was initially used in China which quickly spread throughout Europe. Ergot is a hemostatic. Ergonovine is administered in post partum hemorrhage. Ergotamine is also administered with caffeine and used for treatment of migraines.

Bottom Photograph: This was a needlepoint pillow I made for my son when he went to college. It now sits on his bed in his Boston Apartment. Both my children always appreciate the pillows I have made them through the years.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 27, 2012 BUILDING A TERRARIUM

" I have not thought it beneath me to converse with Root and Indian Doctors, and everyone who has professed to possess any valuable remedy." - Wooster Beach ( The American Practice. 1833,10) -

The quote is great. I have no problem with conversing with anyone who can help me assist in healing. This quote appeared in the Introduction of Matthew Wood's The Earthwise Herbal ) New World Medicinal Plants) I am drawn today to any aspect of healing, especially if it involves plants. So today with much thought, respect and vision I want to tell you about a hobby that I watched someone else do. The someone else is Rick. We both love plants and have an affinity to the energy of the plant. He - more with flowers, me more with plants.
I wanted to buy a special gift this year. So I went to http://www.onekingslane.com/ and found an old style terrarium with numbers paneled glass #1 and #2. It arrived after Christmas ( naturally) but it arrived in one piece.

The journey of terrarium planting started 2-3 weeks later in the Flower District of New York City. We had to buy small terrarium plants. I also had some assistance from a patient, Ruth, in sending me baby Pitcher Plants ( there are carnivorous eating plants like Venus Fly Traps ) which will be planted in the terrarium. This is a great hobby. The thought of creating a small, fascinating world in a glass enclosure is fascinating to me. I always marveled in seeing terrariums in movies that depict the life of the 19th century. Usually people chose a terrarium as they cannot grow outdoors. Rick and I have the ability to grow plants outdoors as well as indoors. We just added a different dimension to plants in our life. So we selected plants that will thrive. We had to consider the light quality. Of course south and west facing windows would be the best. We do not want the plants to grow larger than the terrarium but who knows. This is the fun of it. We want no pests ( bugs) in our terrarium. Of course if we always kept it closed I would have every sort of amphibian or reptile in the terrarium.

As usual Rick read an article about terrariums. He bought the charcoal, the rocks, the 'right' soil and the sphagnum moss. I watched him create. It did layers then 2 - 3" of soil in waves of height and depth to create this tiny small plant kingdom. He added driftwood and an air plant. Occasional watering, maybe some trimming, and light is all that is required when finished.

Of course, he added love. I added a prayer and energy.

I found a book on line by Tovah Martin called The New Terrarium. I peeked inside- there are great terrarium resources, imagination and great photographs. You can find a lot of information on line. Find the right terrarium. Our next one will be a larger one to sit on the floor in the shape of a large bell jar.

Photograph Credit: Rick Byrd , Our Terrarium

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 26, 2012 BREAST HEALTH

"There is no short cut to longevity; to achieve it is the work of a lifetime."

- James Crichton Browne

We all have habits to unlearn, and many new lifestyle changes to make. We all do! For me it is a life long process of progress not perfection. I am learning the good and forgetting the bad. I know some people that are virtuous all at once. That is not me. I have learned it a day at a time. Sometimes it was even a minute at a time. I may not have always acknowledged my mistakes in the past but today I do. Eyes are in front for a reason, not to look at the past with depth, but to look at the future in front of me. Yet, there should be no expectations of the future.

I FEEL MORE WOMEN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES THAN MEN.

Cancer although not the #1 killer in the United States is still a health concern. I hear of more and more breast cancer cases every day. I know many women who have breast cancer that either live in Long Island (especially Suffolk County) or Staten Island. Could this due to the chemicals and the environment?

Since we haven't been careful with our waste products, Mother Earth has many chemicals that affect us. These are dioxins, pesticides, radiation, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, and even chlorinated water. These chemicals have been created by us. There is an estimation that 80% of all cancers are environmentally linked. That is scary. What we do know for sure is that tobacco use, poor nutritional status and alcohol are linked to cancer.

The type of fat consumed by an individual can be a risk factor although this changes with whomever you read. Use fats that are certified organic. Use olive oil, flax seed oil, cod liver oil and even borage and primrose oil. These oils are nourishing and protective. A good amount of protein is essential but it does not necessarily need to be animal protein. Protein should be at every meal. You should know that sugar is what I call "white death." This does not even include the pink, blue and yellow packets. Use wild flower honey as a choice instead of refined sugar. Eat more leafy green vegetables. Eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in flavinoids and other antioxidants You can never go wrong with the wide variety of berries.

Many women use Red Root (Ceanothus spp) and Violet (Viola odorata) for breast health. These are specific for certain breast issues/diseases. I have seen many women use Violet for breast cancer. Both are used by slow or stagnant lymphatic tissues. I use Red Root for women with pelvic congestion.

Let's beat breast cancer today.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 25, 2012 OILY SKIN NO MORE

"Clear your slate so you may be free to LOVE and be LOVED"

Who doesn't want to love and be loved? So for the 1928 musical Good Boy the song 'I wanna be loved by you' was written. As an old soul, I have many associations with this song. It was first performed in 1928 by Helen Kane (whom Betty Boop was modeled after in 1930).

However, most of you know it as one of Marilyn Monroe's musical performance from the classic film Some Like it Hot filmed at the Hotel Coronado in San Diego, California.

"I wanna to be loved by you,

just you and nobody else but you

I wanna to be loved by you....alone

Boo Boo bee do


Oily skin ...Do you have oily skin? I used to. Probably it is the Italian blood in me, but it was affecting my appearance. I am definitely sure that my skin, especially my facial area looks better today due to one woman, Tracie Martyn (http://www.traciemartyn.com/ )It was not acne, for which I would have used essential oils, and vitamins on my skin. Those supplements I recommend for oily skin are Vitamin A, B, C, pantothenic, selenium and zinc. Yet there are several herbs that have a drying affect and reduce the amount of excess oil. I would recommend making any the following below as a strong tea to apply to the face after cleansing

These herbs are

1. Salvia scarea (Clary sage)

2. Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)

3. Rosmarius officinalis (Rosemary)

4. Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)

5. Fragaria ssp (Strawberry leaves)


Until tomorrow...

Happy Duck Duck Birthday, Gregory

JANUARY 24, 2012 MEDICINE TODAY

"LIVE AS IF YOU WERE TO DIE TOMORROW. LEARN AS IF YOU WERE TO LIVE FORVER." - gandhi

This quote reminds me of the 5 golden virtues - enthusiasm, belief, love, forgiveness and perseverance. The first one Enthusiasm is the virtue that tells you how to act at all a times.

Belief is the virtue that instructs you how to look at yourself; I always believe in myself wholeheartedly no matter how i feel or look. Love is the double virtue; a tricky one this is - love for others and self love. If you live with love you will always find continued delight in your life.

Forgiveness is also a double virtue; by forgiving others you immediately without knowing or wanting to have freed yourself from the burden of carrying on hatred and hurt. If you have the first four virtues, these will add up for the strength, courage and determination for the fifth -

Perseverance. You can persevere in your enthusiasm, belief, love and forgiveness.

Try to never give in to anger, guilt, fear and self doubt. I always meditate to tell my soul and spirit to lead me toward a better life.

I discuss bloating a lot when I discuss Irratible Bowel Disease often called 'Leaky Gut'

Medicine is too bloated, too burdensome and too unrewarding these days. Let's not even talk about the financial burden. Who do we blame? I cannot even begin to discuss who to blame. I blame years of mismanagement by Congress and their Presidential leader at that time. It started with Richard Nixon, peaked with Ronald Reagan, and continues to be a major problem even today in 2012.

Medicine is bankrupt, and will bring this country to its knees if something doesn't happen soon. As I was interviewing 4th year medical students for positions at the hospital today, I felt two emotions. Happy for them to come into the fine institution in which I work at but also sad as by the time he/she finishes medicine will be of another dimension. Even when America was at its worst after the Depression people bonded and got through. People planted gardens with herbs and vegetables to be used all year long. We relied on Earth Mother. I do not think that Earth Mother will help us out of the medicine crisis as we have not helped Earth Mother with her problems - environment, changing weather and its diverse people. The days of doctors and drugs all being paid by Medicare is of no more. There is a financial necessity to change. If not we are doomed.

In preparation for this you can do three simple tasks:

1. Have a better dietary lifestyle with less refined carbohydrates

2. Have a better exercise lifestyle; incorporate it into your existing activites.

3. Take phytonutrients supplementation

Until tomorrow....

JANUARY 21-22, 2012 LIFE UPON LIFE'S TERMS

"Passion is the element in which we live; without it, we hardly vegetate."Lord Byron

What does this mean? Everything sounded fine until 'we hardly vegetate'. Possibly it means we should focus on the passion of life instead of the stresses of day to day living. We should focus on the inner self instead of always looking at the outside of ourselves--our personal weight and how we look. I feel it is important to focus on the inner self. Years ago, I focused on the materialistic aspects of life: how I looked, what I wore and which designer I was wearing that day. There was one aspect I did change.It was my mouth. I took care of my dental health. I never focused on my weight as I never had a weight issue.

As the New Year has already begun where are you? Did you start those silly New Year's Resolutions? If not or if you already failed do not worry. Noting you do is a mistake-it is a learning experience. You can always start your day over right from NOW.

It is safe to say that we all suffer from stress. If you think you do not suffer from stress of some kind then look again. Is it short or long term stress is the question. Short term stress is stress that allows your body to recover the next day. Chronic stress caused by many issues as chronic disease stays with you day after day. This kind of stress is more important as it has a negative impact on your health.

Chronic stress affects your immune system, heart, brain, mental outlook and digestion. Sure it also affects how we sleep, and how we feel when we wake up. Do you wake up tired every morning and drag yourself out of bed? Or do you wake up with energy? Those who wake up tired and get better through the day and then peak at 7pm and cannot go to sleep at normal hours have a condition called Adrenal Fatigue. I believe we all have some aspect of adrenal fatigue. I certainly do and it was worse years ago. I could literally stay up till 2 or 3 am and get up at 6am. I cannot do this anymore. I work hard and I need to sleep hard (not play hard) in order to rejuvenate my body's cells.

I attribute this to using a group of herbs called adaptogens. David Winston RH wrote a great book called Adaptogens I suggest reading it. Adaptogens are non specific herbs that increase the whole resistance of the body. The best known adaptogens are the ginsengs- Panax (American and Asian). I use Eleutherococcus (Siberian Ginseng). But the adaptogens I use the most is Withania (Ashwaganda) and Centella (Gota kola). There are many others you can read about including holy basil, rhodiola, schisandra and reishi.

As an herbalist I look at many compounds. Some I use together by mixing them as a tea for the patient. Sometimes I use as single agents, either by products from Herbal Vitality, Chemist and Alchemist, Gaya, and HerbPharm. I always pick as a tincture so it is easily absorbed by the body. Some herbalists use schisandrea berry and reishi as these are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I often pick by my intuition sitting with the patient. It works for me. Lately I have been using Snow Lotus Essential Oils to help ny patient, along with herbs. There is a great Snow Lotus product called Stress Relief. I love essential oils.

For sure- I love anything derived from plants!

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 23, 2012 WHAT OUR PETS TEACH US

" Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty ." - albert einstein

Every morning while on my way to work I am reminded of this quote. I pass You Gotta Have It on East 57th street with a painting of Albert Einstein in the window. One day I would like to own that portrait , not because of its beauty but because of the many life quotes Mr. Einstein has given the world. Truly a genius.

I have been a pet owner since I was 11 years old. My first dog, Jacques was bought with my first holy communion money . Jacques lived a really long time. I would bet that I did my Holy Communion when I was nine. I know for the fact that Jacques lived two years after my mom died in 1982. Therefore Jacques lived from 1969-1984. I always acquired pets-snakes, stray cats, lizards, birds, and even insects. My cousin, Dr, Jim brought a Mynah Bird for a gift one year . I named him Charlie. I even had a turtle go to an upstate University as my Aunt Mary facilitated that.

A pet has to become part of your life. They teach us true unconditional love. This love is not conditional upon materialistic items. Your pet will always be there to greet you no matter how rough your life may be.

I found having a pet at a young age I was taught responsibility. If are thinking about getting a pet for your family, you should not be the one responsible for always walking it. Your son or daughter wanted a pet. This is a big responsibility. Children will quickly find out that having a pet is a huge responsibility. The third lesson is compassion. There are movies and books about pets and their owners. Rick and I have lost two dogs in our lives together. We lost a white Maltese named Cary ( Grant, his twin is above) and the old soul Yorkshire terrier, Jack only recently Both dogs died at home and we did have to use euthanasia. We both agreed if it got really bad and he was suffering we would have done euthanasia. Each died very peaceful in our home. Although I have focused on dogs -- all pets teach us unconditional love, responsibility and compassion. Your pet might be a feline cat, a turtle or even a bird. I have an affinity to birds and always have. We have a Green Amazon Parrot named Gracie. Although Gracie has a small brain her capacity for human like behavior is amazing. She loves to talk, imitate and sing. Yes, at 6am when the sun rises is a problem when she squawks, but she is my Gracie. Gracie and I are alike. We are both living creatures. Regardless if my brain is larger than hers, we both have emotions.

Remember that all animals have emotions

From your pets learn this : 1. sleep more, 2. play and have more fun 3. eat properly 4. drink enough water. These are just a few tips.

St Francis of Assisi surrounded by all animals said this " If you have men who will exclude God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. "

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 20, 2012 WEAVING

"The best way out is always through." Robert Frost

Always challenge yourself to make it through the bad times. As Nietrzche said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger."

I didn't think that I would find another hobby within the needle crafting or wool crafting that would make me happy. So this Christmas I received a gift certificate to a Weaving Class. There is needlepoint, cross stitching, knitting quilting, sewing and even loom knitting. I do all of these as a collective hobby.

The knitting loom family is a fun project for all ages. But now there is weaving for the whole family. I thought it would be difficult to use a machine loom. I started to think about weaving when my patient Ruth, a 90 year old white female born on the same day and year as my father brought in a table loom for weaving to me as a gift (see top left picture). She showed me how to use the table loom and I worked on her project that was started more than 30 years ago.

Then the gift certificate came and I explored the weaving courses within Manhattan. I found Loop of the Loom (http://www.loopoftheloom.com/) This unique studio is the only private weaving course in NYC. It uses Saorizen techniques which create diverse and creative projects. You must check out the studio and sign up. It will be a most delightful day. Usually my hobbies are my own. I usually do not share with Rick as he has his own - floral arrangement, (recent graduate of the New York School of Floral Design) terrarium set ups, piano and photography . As much as we are co-dependent we are definitely independent. When he asked if he could join me in the Weaving Program I was thrilled and excited. We each had a unique experience. His project is now displayed on one of the apartment walls, while mine is under a unique piece of art "The Heart" from Cuba. Both can be seen in photographs above. Go to the Loop of the Loom on East 87th Street-tell them Patrick and Rick sent you.

Guess who signed up for the dates for the next class- NOT me, but Rick.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 19,2011 CHOLESTEROL MYTHS

"The grace of humility is a precious gift."

"Strive for the impossible."

"Laughter is the music of life."

All three quotes are from what I consider the most esteemed and distinguished physician in the history of medicine - Sir William Osler. His influence in regard to clinical and educational literary was global and to this day his legacy remains strong.

Born on July 12, 1849 he became one of the Big Four at John Hopkins along with William Welch, future dean in Pathology, William S Halsted in Surgery and Howard A Kelly in Gynecology. I do not think there is any physician today who could come close to the ethos of the man called Osler. He left us a body of works encompassing all aspects of medicine, and philosophy of life. He included both his personal and professional life. He had a presence and a personality that brought him friendship, devotion and disciplines. Yesterday I interviewed a medical student for their first year at the hospital. Later that day I received a gracious and thankful letter concerning the interview. It made me proud. If I could be 1/10 of this man called Osler I would feel honored and die happily.

I recently read the myths of CHOLESTEROL:

1. The main cause of high cholesterol is eating foods high in cholesterol FALSE

2. You only should be concerned about high cholesterol if you are overweight FALSE

3. Some foods contain the good cholesterol (HDL) FALSE

4. High cholesterol is only a problem for men over 45 FALSE

5. Low total cholesterol is not a problem FALSE

6. High triglycerides on a cholesterol panel is good for the patient FALSE

7. If your bad cholesterol (LDL) is less than 100 you are not at risk for heart disease FALSE

8. Healthy cholesterol is the same for everyone FALSE

9. A high good cholesterol (HDL) always protects you against heart disease FALSE

10. Exercise increases the bad cholesterol ( LDL) FALSE

These are the most common ten myths about cholesterol, It is not about the number any longer. It does not matter the # or level of your total, low density (bad) cholesterol and your high (good) density lipoprotein. It is all about the particle size of the bad and good cholesterol. A bad particle is always small and dense and causes heart disease. A good particle is always large, fluffy and protects you against heart disease.

So it is about the particle size, not the number. For example an LDL of 100 which has bad particles will cause heart disease where as a LDL of 125 with good particles will protect you against heart disease. The same is true of the good cholesterol A good cholesterol with a good particle protects you because this particle is large, fluffy and floats through the arteries

This lipid fraction blood test is a covered insurance test. Years ago it was called the Berkley Heart Lab test. In certain labs this test is called the VAP, ACT and NMR lipid fraction test.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 18, 2012 SINUSITIS

"Love alone, dominates fear ." - Zohar, Exodus 216a

What are you really afraid of? Fear is the antithesis of love. I believe that fear is the reason most of us suffer from the lack of self esteem. We have fear - this makes it so difficult to love others.

When I had a low self esteem years ago, everything caused fear in me - I was out of what I call my comfort zone and I was always tense. We are afraid to try something new and we are scared not to try to try something new. It is almost like the fear of success and the fear of failure combined in one individual. This must change. There is some fear that is necessary . Fear by 'fright or flight' response where you are jumped from behind, or walking down a dark alley, or even watching a horror flick is one kind of fear. Then there are all the negative thoughts.

Of course there is also guilt. As a Catholic/Italian I am well aware of guilt. I sometimes believe that guilt can be the flip side of fear. Fear is a future tense feeling. Most fear is about the future. I do not understand that- the future should be a happy thought. I would have no expectations of the future otherwise you will get disappointed most of the time. I see too many people who are afraid of things that will or will not happen.

THE ANSWER: Live in the now.

Cold and flu season seems to occur all year round these days. Perhaps climate or weather changes are creating more sinus infections. The other possibility is the overuse of antibiotics.
SINUSITIS IS INFLAMMATION OF THE SINUSES. The sinuses are the air filled cavities located in the bones around the nose. When this does occur the sinus swells. This causes a blockage in the channel than drains them. There is a build up of mucous which then discharges through the nose. It creates intense pressure buildup in the sinus areas. It is a usual complication of a virus such as the flu, but can also develop due to tobacco ( even second hand smoke) and air pollution. The sinuses usually involved are the frontal, maxilary and sphenoid sinuses. Maxillary sinusitis can be result of swimming in contaminated water such as a lake. Headache usually occurs if the sinusitis is in the frontal or ethmoid sinuses.

Most of the time the physician will give the patient an antibiotic. Usually today, physicians start with the 'big gun' antibiotics as levaquin or a Z - pack (5 days).

Are there alternatives other than antibiotics? Of course there are. Do not forget that many sinus infections are caused by food allergies especially cow's dairy and wheat. Other possible food allergens can be vinegar and/or vinegar products such as green olives, pickles, and dried fruit. Oh let's not forget peanuts.

There are many Chinese herbal treatments. I prefer Western herbs. I love essential oils infused (one to two drops) in a steam . Remember the vaporizer your mom used when you had a cold? She likely used Vick's vapor rub. I have other herbs that are just as effective. It is better to use a cool mist steamer which prevents mold buildup. These are also not that expensive. Find one that is easily maintainable. I would add one to two drops of one of the following:

1. Tea tree oil

2. Lavender

3. Eucalyptus

4. Peppermint

5. Thyme

A cheaper effective method is add a handful of sage to simmering water on the stove. It fills the air with sage constituents which are antimicrobial. A strong tea of Goldenseal is also helpful. Try one of the following above. If this sinusitis persists and fevers occur, then try an antibiotic. Remember you must take probiotics (the good bacteria) to prevent a yeast infection.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 17, 2012 NATTO

"DIE, MY DEAR DOCTOR,--THAT'S THE LAST THING I SHALL DO." - lord palmerston

Who was Lord Palmerston? Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC (20 October 1784 – 18 October 1865), known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century. Popularly nicknamed "Pam", he was in government office almost continuously from 1807 until his death in 1865, beginning his parliamentary career as a Tory and concluding it as a Liberal. He was also known for his quotes, one which appears above. Others include, "We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."

Two weeks ago, my oldest patient, Mary died at age 104. She would have been 105 in February. I also thought of the Lord Palmerston quote when I spoke to her or her son on the phone from Florida. She followed a dietary and exericse lifestyle as well as taking her vitamin.supplements and herbs. She will be missed!

What food do you think can clean the blood and keep your bones strong? You probably have never heard of it, but it is called Natto. Natto is Japanese. It is the accounterment to rice made of fermented soybeans. It is the rage, at least in New York City. The word actually means "meat of the farm". I will tell you this: the protein in natto is higher than that found in eggs and its cholesterol content is almost zero. I am not opposed to whole eggs (yolk and white) as long as you do not eat bread nor potatoes with it. Once you add carbohydrates with eggs your cholesterol will go up.

Back to natto... I would rather you use natto which uses the whole soybean rather than processed tofu. I do not recommend tofu. You get a lot of fiber from natto --another plus for your diet. Natto is made by packing the soybeans into straw. The bacteria in the straw ferment the soybeans. The bacteria from natto is a good friendly bacteria as it increases lactic acid bacteria in the human small intestines. Yeah --this helps to resolve slow bowel movements. Derived from natto is the enzyme nattokinase which has been studied to clean the blood. It acts as a blood thinner. There are many Japanese studies documenting this aspect of the enzyme. It has also been found that nattokinase activates another enzyme, urokinase that melts clots. By having thinner blood you are preventing strokes, heart attacks, atherosclerosis and diabetes.

I consume nattokinase as a capsule every day (about 50 - 100 units). Another vitamin called Vitamin K2 is created by fermentation and has been shown to strengthen bones. Most of the nattokinase products contain Vitamin K2. You can get more vitamin K2 by eating natto 3 - 5 times per week or more. At first I did not like the smell of natto as a food source. I was told not to heat it as it will deactivate the enzyme I want - the nattokinase. Make it into a fried dumpling. By this method you will not lose the effects of the nattokinase nor the Vitamin K. I never eat natto alone . I combine it with yams, onions and Japanese pickles. You may ask - why Japanese pickles ? These pickles also contain lactic acid bacteria--more benefit to the GI tract. If you are one of those individual who take coumadin (warfarin) be careful as this conventional drug weakness the effect of Vitamin K2 which is needed for the healthy bones.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 16, 2012 IPOMOEAS BATATAS

"To err is human, to forgive is divine." Alexander Pope

Ipomoeas batatas is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. It is the Sweet Potato. Its large starchy sweet tasting tuberous roots are a very important vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as Greens. There are more than 100 species in this family, yet I. batatas is the only crop plant of major importance.

It is major importance to me as I love sweet potatoes. Forget about the candied sweet potato, and discover the delicious taste of the plain sweet potato. This is what I consider the most universally hypoallergenic food there is, or least comes as close to fitting the bill.

What you didn't know is that the genus Ipomoea contains the sweet potato but includes several garden flowers that you sometimes see called Morning Glories. Some grow Ipomoea as ornamental plants, but very few. The plant is a vine with alternate heart shaped leaves or sometimes palmate lobed leaves. The edible root is long and tapered.

I learned that China is the largest grower of sweet potatoes, providing 80% of the world's supply. Most are grown for human consumption but some are now grown for pig consumption. I know friends that feed their dog, Max sweet potatoes all the time. I can understand why--they are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, beta carotene, Vitamin C and vitamin B6. The sweet potatoes with the dark orange flesh have more beta carotene (precursor to Vitamin A) than those with light colored flesh.

Do not let the term sweet potato deter you from eating it. For diabetics it is far better than a white potato which has more sugar and is a simple carbohydrate.

It is easy to prepare sweet potatoes. Choose solid potatoes without any soft spots. The skin should be firm and tight. If you are cooing them together find ones that are the same size. Scrub the potatoes with a brush. Cut out the bad parts.

If baking, these potatoes leak juice when they bake, so put them on a cookie sheet or pie pan. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Slit and eat right out of the skins. I prefer to eat the skins of a sweet potato.

You can also steam sweet potato and make a mash out of them. You can also slice raw, unpeeled potatoes, 3/4 inch thick and arrange int her steamer basket and steam for 15 minutes. Diners remove the skin as they eat them --not me ( I love the skins)

Discover the sweet potato and its numerous recipes.

Until tomorrow....

JANUARY 14-15, 2012 YARROW

"Love is a fruit in all seasons, and within the reach of every hand." - Mother Theresa

I admire this quote - "Love is a fruit of all seasons..." There is never the wrong or right time for love. It is when you want it to be. Love this weekend was getting plants ready for a new hobby. Love was playing with Gracie, my Amazon Green Parrot, cuddling in bed and meditating. As an individual I have come to realize that plants contain healing powers. The herbs I learn about and discuss are a source of wisdom.

One of the herbs discussed in old herbal literature is Archilea millefolium (Yarrow). It is a familiar wildflower you have probably seen in open fields, by the roadside and even waste areas. You may have thought- that is an ugly weed. I used to think the same thing until my experience in the open fields and in botanical school. I find Yarrow to be delicate little leaves arising into yellow or white umbrellas .

I use Yarrow for a variety of conditions. The simples cuts and bruises, the flu, a bad cold, to cleanse the kidneys and to detoxify the liver. Then I read in folklore literature it is a fever remedy, so I am not far off in my use of the plant. I have seen Yarrow used in the worst of injuries and the simplest. It is definitely an herb I want in my herbal first aid kit. I do not think herbalists talk about it enough.

When reading about Yarrow in Sauer's Herbal Cures, one gets a different perspective. He discusses its use as a tea to prevent early deliveries for pregnant females, pain and relief from hemorrhoids, dissolving blood clots, killing tapeworms and healing scurvy of the gums and in the throat.

Perhaps this is why I love plants/herbs. There are many great folklore stories, many uses depending on the source and an abundance of information from every century.

Until tomorrow...

JANUARY 13, 2012 HONEY HOBBY TASTING

"Be Open. Stand in our truth. Trust what you know."

I have learned to trust my instincts more and more every day. I am open to the good and bad that may flow my way. It is the only way to be. I trust that whether good or bad I am protected. I pray and meditate for protection every single day. Honesty in every sense of the word is the right way. I will admit I have not always been honest in years gone by. I know I was wrong, and didn't properly admit it. I had to make amends to those people I harmed. Today, I can say I am honest to the best of my ability (which is not perfect).

Truthfulness will allow you to stand tall and proud.

Today I would suggest doing something magical and mystical. It would be to taste as many different types of honey as you can. This can be a rewarding hobby. For Rick and I it is a hobby within a hobby. Our beekeeping affords us the luxury, privilege and honor of tasting our own honey from our hives as well as from other hobbyists and then the creme de le creme honey from around the world.

There are many books on beekeeping and honey. Many sit on our shelves next to the bed. I love Backyard Beekeeping and The Classroom. There are other books which have helped us deal with problems in beekeeping and honey production. For example, never underestimate the "Dummies" series. Beekeeping for Dummies and ABC and XYZ of Beekeeping have been excellent resources for us.

Our honey crystallizes which we do not see or haven't noticed on the shelves of commercial honey sold in stores. We have had it appear orange, and sometimes the delicious creme. I have never seen crystallized honey on the shelves of Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and other gourmet stores. The supermarket honey is always liquid, without a hint of crystallization. You should be also be aware that corn syrup is added to the commercial honey. It might not be a lot but for me, 10% is too much. This is done to keep the honey liquid. Corn syrup? It is destroying our food industry in the United States. Why start affecting the delicate lives of the bees. Some beekeepers tell me the corn syrup is added for the color so it can be sold for a higher price. Without the corn syrup I am told that honey is cheap.

Honey bees make honey from plant nectar. They evaporate much of the moisture and add enzymes that change the composition of the nectar to give honey its unique taste. When the moisture content of the honey is at about 17%, the bees store it in cells of the comb. They then seal the cells with a white beeswax capping. When we opened our hives during the summer, it was breathtaking. There is no other way to describe the work of honeybees!

When bees have access to large areas of one kind of flower such as clover, basswood, goldenrod, or buckwheat, they produce honey with a flavor and color typical of that particular plant. Bees blend honey naturally by combining the nectar from many different flowers in areas where no one flower predominates. Honeys also are blended during packing to create a specific taste.

Honey Categories:

Comb Honey (honeycomb)

Direct from the hive honey-filled beeswax comb as stored naturally by the bees.

Liquid Honey (extracted): Prepared by cutting off the wax cappings and whirling the comb in a honey extractor, where centrifugal force moves the honey out of the cells.

Creamed Honey (granulated): Made by blending one part finely granulated honey with nine parts liquid honey. The mixture is stored at about 57 degrees until it becomes firm.

Chunk Honey: Comb honey in a jar with liquid honey poured around it.

HONEY COLOR AND FLAVOR

The color and flavor of honeys differ depending on the nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the honeybees. In fact, there are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the United States, each originating from a different floral source. Honey color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor varies from delectably mild to distinctively bold, depending on where the honey bees buzzed. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste and dark-colored honey is stronger.

Honey is produced in every state, but depending on floral source location, certain types of honey are produced only in a few regions. Honey is also produced in most countries of the world. Following is a look at some of the most common U.S. honey floral varieties. To learn more about available types of honey in your area, contact a local beekeeper, beekeeping association or honey packer. In the Northeast this year, many keepers were selling honey late int he season. We give ours away. The demand for local honey remains excellent. Rick and I hope our 'girls' have enough honey stores. We made sure they did, but we have no idea what the winter holds.

ALFALFA
Alfalfa honey, produced extensively throughout Canada and the United States from the purple blossoms, is light in color with a pleasingly mild flavor and aroma.

BLUEBERRY
Taken from the tiny white flowers of the blueberry bush, the nectar makes a honey which is typically light amber in color and with a full, well-rounded flavor. Blueberry honey is produced in New England and in Michigan.

BUCKWHEAT
Buckwheat honey is dark and full-bodied. It is produced in Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as in eastern Canada. Buckwheat honey has been found to contain more antioxidant compounds than some lighter honeys.

CLOVER
Clover honey has a pleasing, mild taste. Clovers contribute more to honey production in the United States than any other group of plants. Red clover, Alsike clover and the white and yellow sweet clovers are most important for honey production. Depending on the location and type of source clover, clover honey varies in color from water white to light amber to amber.

MANUKA
Manuka honey, primarily produced in New Zealand, is used as a natural product both internally and topically on the skin. The bees gather nectar from the flowers of the Manuka bush, which is indigenous only to New Zealand. The honey making process is enriched by the pollution free environment of New Zealand.

ORANGE BLOSSOM
Orange blossom honey, often a combination of citrus sources, is usually light in color and mild in flavor with a fresh scent and light citrus taste. Orange blossom honey is produced in Florida, Southern California and parts of Texas.

SAGE
Sage honey, primarily produced in California, is light in color, heavy bodied and has a mild but delightful flavor. It is extremely slow to granulate, making it a favorite among honey packers for blending with other honeys to slow down granulation.

TUPELO
Tupelo honey is a premium honey produced in northwest Florida. It is heavy bodied and is usually light golden amber with a greenish cast and has a mild, distinctive taste. Because of the high fructose content in Tupelo honey, it granulates very slowly. Read the Beekeeper's Lament which is about a local Floridian and his Tupelo honey.

WILDFLOWER
Wildflower honey is often used to describe honey from miscellaneous and undefined flower sources.

So, make it a ritual; to taste at least one different honey per month. I think we need The Honey of the Month Club.

Until tomorrow...