NOVEMBER 21, 2011 ESSENTIAL OILS AND SPIROCHETES

"An attitude of love can bless all situations and all people."

We all need to be grateful for what we have in life. Life is so, so short. I was wondering how does a woman with a history of Hodgkins Disease, Valve Replacement, Breast Cancer and Food sensitivities get through it all. There has to be gratitude and NOT attitude. The attitude of love can bless all situations and make people healthier-- both spiritually and physically. I see it on a daily basis.

In the last weeks I have been using my essential oils from Snow Lotus more with a great passion. In St Petersberg, Peter Holmes focused on using essential oils for infections which I have discussed .

The Winter 2010 Issue 88 Herbalgram by the American Botanical Council had a feature titled, "Using Essential Oils Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria: New Treatment Possibilities for a Global Health Priority." I found this Lindsay Stafford article most interesting since we have no where to run except to the plants. This is the same way we must turn to mushrooms to Save the Earth (Mycelium Running - Paul Stamets). There are more and more drug resistant bacteria! We need other means to help infections--I would encourage you to read this article.

There are important single oils that are useful in treating various aspects of infections. My goal until the summer of 2012 is to find an oil I can use for Lyme Disease on Fire Island. I am torn between using Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrus), Thyme (Thymol), and Peppermint (Methia x piperita). All three have been used for various viruses especially viral hepatitis, viral neuritis, shingles and HSV1. All have been used for fungus.

There is no mention in the literature of an essential oil being used for Lyme and its other related spirochete infections. I did find some basic essential oils for Lymes in Jeanne Rose's Herb and Essential Oils for Lymes, but it was not as in depth as I hoped it would be.

So if you iget bit by a tick. You get the tick off - use lavender and lemon eucalyptus to help sterilize the wound. I am looking for a combination of essential oils to be diluted in water to keep the ticks away.

Those who do not venture to Fire Island have no idea of the Lyme epidemic that exists. I do not think even Brookhaven Township realizes the situation. I know it is a guarantee that those men roaming through the Judy Garland Memorial Park or the 'Meat Rack ' are bound (no pun intended) to get one or two tick bites. You do not have to be roaming in the woods to get a bite, you can be in your garden in front of your house.

My mind is swirling with ideas for essential oils and marketing for this oil. I have the perfect combination in mind myrrh, peppermint, cloves and the 'secret essential oil '. I will have to get a lab to start testing it.

I would also suggest using the thyme to spray around so you do not get spiders crawling out all over.

Miss you --Pat Fratellone, Sr 7/8/21-11/21/05

Until l tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 19, 2011 SALVIA DIVINORUM

"Accept the good things that come your way and live with hope for the possibilities.

I deliberately reversed the phrases before and after the word 'and'. It originally read, "Live with hope for the possibilities and accept the good things that come your way." In either case, always have hope. Never stop hoping or dreaming. Never stop until the miracle happens, because it will happen. Do you believe?

I never reject anything that comes my way. There must be a reason. Even if I do not understand the reason at that moment, it will be revealed to me at a later time.

Vision producing plants is not what you think. These are NOT plants used to help eyesight or vision. These are plants that are hallucinogenic. For those who lived through the late 60's and 70's you know the kind of hallucigenics I am referring to. Well plants also can be hallucogenic. I am fascinated with a book called Plant Intoxicants. I have read it cover to cover. These hallucinogenic plants can be exciting and pleasurable but also terrifying. These types of plants are used in various cultures for sacred rituals throughout the world. Many of these plants are used by shamans who truly understand the effects of these plants.

I approach all plants with respect. I am also a person who appreciates trees for their dignity and strength. I approach 'vision producing plants' with the utmost respect. I believe since working with 7song I have entered into a relationship with plants unlike any other aspect of my career. It is the same relationship I have developed with honeybees. Both of these aspects of my life have broadened my spiritual self.

Some of the names for the hallucinogenic plants are fabulous--Holy Flower of the North Star, Tree of the Evil Eagle, Diviner's Sage, Turbina and Psilocybe (the sacred mushroom)

One herb that has become popular in the United States has been the Diviner's Sage (Salvia divinorum ). You would think that this would be burned as white sage before a ceremonial ritual. The leaves are used for divinity rites (thus its name). Some believe this plant is an incarnation of the Virgin Mary, thus it is also known as 'Herb of the Virgin'. This herb has been used by Mazatec shamans and it facilitates visionary states of consciousness during spiritual healing sessions. It is native to Mazateca of Oaxaca, Mexico. This herb remains legal in most states, although in the last three years states like Texas are trying to regulate its use or ban it. Other states have started calling for its prohibition.

I find it interesting that although discovered and written about in 1939, it was not until the 1990's that any articles appeared on its psychoactive component. I do not understand the other common name of the plant, 'Herb of the Sheppard less'. From my catholic upbringing I have never known the Virgin Mary as sheppard less so there must be another reason. The Mazatec shamans crushed the leaves and drank the extract leaf juice. I am sure you could make a tea concoction. Chewing and swallowing the leaves is another mode of ingestion. It has been written that the effect comes on more slowly and can last 10 - 30 minutes. As with most herbs, smoking is also an option. This would achieve the main hallucinogenic effects rather quickly. The active ingredient, salvinorin A is generally considered inactive when orally ingested as it is deactivated by the GI tract. A tincture could be made and taken with tea. Since tinctures are made with alcohol each tincture will vary based on who prepares the tincture.

I wouldn't party with this herb, but if you wish to gain an insightful spiritual experience you might have found your herb

Whether you try it or not...be careful

I didn't find it in Jame's Dukes, Handbook of Medicinal Plants from the Bible.

Until tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 18, 2011 BOARD GAMES

"RESPOND INTELLIGENTLY EVEN TO UNINTELLIGENT TREATMENT."

If you are not treated well, do not respond with anger or emotion. Respond with intelligence and learn to let go and walk away. It is not the easiest thing to do, but in the long run it will pay off. Pray for those who treat you unintelligently.

I am a child of the 1960's! I do not know if I am considered a Baby Boomer or not. I do know as a child then, we did not have the games of today since most of the games are now on computers or phones. We played board games. My brother and I always played board games with our parents or with our cousins. Some of the games I played were Risk, Monopoly, L.I.F.E., Trouble and Candy Land.

In the 1980's a board game which determined the player's ability to answer general knowledge and popular questions was released. It was released in 1982, and gained major popularity in 1984. The game is Trivial Pursuit. The game was actually released in 1979 in Canada with initial concept by Chris Haney. By 2004, nearly 88 million games were sold in 26 countries and in 17 languages.

The technology of today has changed interaction of family members. Board games are fun and exciting. It allows for interaction of family members on a special level. If you ever played Trivial Pursuit I always sought the Pink Pie ( Entertainment ) and Green Pie ( Science Nature) first.

As a herbalist ( RH) I want a game that teaches edible and medicinal plants. At the AHG (American Herbal Guild) symposium in St. Petersberg, I bid at the silent auction on Wildcraft. Wildcraft is a Herbal Adventure Game for the whole family. The game teaches you 25 important edible and medicinal plants and their uses in most first aid situations. I love the game. It is a beautifully illustrated, nature based cooperative game for the whole family. It is created in the tradition of the old classic board games.

Th game is also green friendly - box/board made with 100% recycled paper, printed with vegetable oil based ink and uses no varnish.

This is a great game. It will also make a great Christmas gift

www.learningherbs.com/wildcraft.html

Until tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 17, 2011 HERBS FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

"Choice, not circumstances, determines your success." - unknown

We all have a choice in life. Here is a fictional example: I have a choice to stay at a gathering where there are drugs, alcohol and marijuana. I have the choice to stay as long as I want. I am not obligated to stay. I am an adult. For me , it doesn't matter what the circumstance were to be invited to a gathering. I have a choice. This is my freedom and my right. Another fictional example would be attending a benefit concert for a cause. If I feel that some of the other guests have caused disharmony, deliberately hurt people and treat people poorly, why would I attend this benefit even if it is for a great cause. I can give my time, money and participation to this cause in another way. I have choices in life. I have a choice to be the man that I am or hide and secretly live a life that would be unfair to not only me but to others. As Jerry Herman wrote and Shirley Bassey sang, "I Am What I Am"

I love choices. I know that my choices in the last seventeen years have determined my success in life.

The very first botanical used for Parkinson's Disease (PD) symptoms were the anti cholinergics . These agents are effective for the muscle stiffness. A balance needs to happen between the dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons.

The herbs that exert these effects in a variety of ways are :

1. Atropina belladonna - Deadly Nightshade

2. Datura meteloides -Thorne apple or Jimsen weed

3. Mucuna pruriens - Velvet Bean

4. Bacopa monnieri -Water Hyssop

5. Fave fresche - Fava Beans

6. Vitex agnus castus -Chaste tree or Monk's Pepper

7. Cannabis indicus - Marjuana

Both Deadly Nightshade and Thorn apple have alkaloids. These alkaloids are competitive antagonists of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. By binding to the same receptor as acetylcholine they keep this neurotransmitter from doing its job. Both Deadly Nightshade (Atropine) and Thorn Aorn Apple fascinate me due to the fact that both are considered 'sacred'. Atropina was once considered the 'witches herb'

How many of us consider herbs for treatment of disease? Do you care that an herb can alleviate some of the symptoms? It is not a hot topic, but if you knew someone who had PD you would not want them to take all the toxic medications. Although there is a role for conventional medications I know that Mother Earth had plans for these plants-good plans with less side effects. I am even confident that some yet to be discovered plants can help a variety of diseases.

From my reading I know the herb Mucuna pruriens has the most promising possible benefit and exceeded the expectations because of its content of l-dopa (a conventional medicine already used for PD).

Both Bacopa and Fava beans have far less l-dopa than Mucuna. Here is the problem- we do not know enough about this whole plant The studies I have read state that 1/2 to 1 gram given four times a day can be effective in relieving symptoms with no known side effects. This plant is also used in India to remove parasites and to help emotional disorders. In review of the other herbs listed above, none of the others had similar effects.

Until tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 16, 2011 PARKINSON'S DISEASE

"HOW OTHERS TREAT ME IS THEIR PATH; HOW I REACT IS MINE." ----- ---WAYNE DYER

I used to feel so horrible when I was treated in a hurtful way. Whether it was the way another classmate in middle school forced me to do his homework, or a gesture from a classmate in high school. I do believe I had to go through that to be the man I am today. When it comes to adults, I am always 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' over how one adult can treat another adult badly. Some people are so self absorbed in their own world, they don't see what they are doing.

I currently live in a community on an island off the island of Manhattan. On Blackwell Island (its original name) there are men, women and children of all ages, races, and religions. The community is quite successful in bringing everyone together.

In the summer I live on another island where the community is so divided. Men, women and children are also from different ages, races and religion. I have visited and lived in this community on and off since I was eighteen. I have different perspectives as a man in this community as I age. I will not grow old and bitter. How others treat me and my true friends is really their path and their consciousness. How I react is mine. I do sometimes get caught in the drama, but I know one thing. I will pray for those unfortunates who do understand what life is really about. Life is short. I love my G.O.D. given profession but from my view when you see men, women and children of all ages, races and religions die with and sometimes without family/friends- I have learned to treat people special. I do not have 'stinking thinking'

Yesterday I saw a man with Parkinson's disease (PD). I understand the dopamine pathway which has its cell bodies in a small nucleus in the brain stem called the substantia nigra. The pathway degenerates in PD, disrupting motor activity and causing the characteristic rigidity, tremors, and decreased movements. I was introduced to a PD patient at a young age. My father's cousin has PD. It was difficult to understand as a child why he shook so much when he picked up a coffee cup. There are many causes or assumptions about the causes of PD beside the nigrostriatal pathway disruption. It has been postulated that PD could be caused by heavy metal toxicity, free radical damage, drug and alcohol overuse, pesticides and even chronic infections.

For me, it is important and critical that I have gained an understanding how conventional or modern medicine approaches PD. This is important because as doctors we can see patients in various stages of this disease. Dopamine agonists stimulate dopamine receptors which delay the motor complications. These starting medicines are L-dopa and carbi dopa. All medicines can have side effects. Today, both of these medicines are combined in a drug called sinemet. Other medications like selegiline, amantadine and COMT inhibitors are used. I have found that no single intervention works well for every patient. You must individualize the individual approach to a patient not only with PD but in any disease. This must include attention to dietary lifestyle.

I know that an individualized approach to a patient yields the best long term results.

Do you think I only rely on medications in PD? The answer is an astounding NO!

I use other treatments such as plants and vita nutrients. Some of these are plants as Datura and Belladonna as well as nutraceuticals as Piracetam and GABA.

Herbs ... Until tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 15, 2010 NEO 40 DAILY

"OUR GIFT TO LIFE IS OURSELVES. LIFE'S GIFT TO US IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE OUR VALUE."

It has taken a long time with lots of self-work for me to realize my value. I always knew deep down, but I got off track for a period of time some years ago. Being back on track involves more than I initially thought. It involves self-work. We all need to do some self-work. This might include a more organized schedule, a new hobby, meditation, psychological therapy, group therapy, a 12 step program, massage, et al.

Realize your own value. Be proud of your accomplishments. Inhance your own self esteem.

Nitric Oxide is a vaso dilator. It has been studied extensively for various disease of the body. L arginine (an amino acid) increases nitric oxide production, thus increasing blood flow. It can be used to decrease blood pressure. It has been used to support erectile dysfunction. Years ago, a book called The Arginine Solution was written. It is worthwhile to read this book.

Nitric oxide is involved in cognitive function. We do know that overall cognitive health is related to low levels of oxidative stress and healthy vascular function. Studies have shown that there is a decrease in serum nitric oxide levels in patients with suboptimal cognitive function as compared with controls. In the same group there were low levels of good cholesterol ( HDL) This study now suggests that nitric oxide might be involved in cognitive function through the HDL. Interesting!

In addition to decreasing blood pressure, nitric oxide also plays an important role in well-being and mood. Even though nitric oxide has a very short half life (which means it does last long in the body) it can modulate or stimulate various neurotransmitters that are involved in mood. These are serotonin, epinephrine and dopamine.

OTHER BENEFITS OF NITRIC OXIDE:

1. broncho dilation

2. blood cell regulation

3. learning/ memory

4. pain sensation

5. central blood pressure control

6. human immune response

Has your doctor tested your nitric oxide levels? Everyone over 40 years old should have a nitric oxide test by blood. It is a simple test down in the office.

Arginine does work to increase nitric oxide levels, but the amount needed is greater than 9 grams. Instead I use Neo40 daily. Neo40 helps restore the nitric oxide level naturally. I do pre and post blood sample testing. The blend of nitric oxide is 420mg with beet root powder, and hawthorn berry extract. There is also Vitamin C and B12 in the formula.

I would suggest reading the Nitric Oxide (NO) Solution.

Obtain your strips and Neo40 from LONGEVITY NUTRITIONALS. ( http://www.longevitynutritionals.com/ )

Photographs: Rick Byrd - 1 st : HorseWhisper, Boise, Idaho

2nd: Another fabulous Rick arrangement

Until tomorrow...

NOVEMBER 14, 2011 THE ROSE

"The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the secret anniversaries of the heart." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - from Lavender Light

The best days are the ones we keep to ourselves. These days might be remembrances of the past. In November we all think of Thanksgiving. For me it is the month my father passed away. Some of spend it with family, while others spend it with friends - which are their family. Holidays can be be happy for some, and for others create anxiety and fear. Since I have no biological parents, I could say I am an orphan, but I am not. I have wonderful surrogate parents, children and friends. For me, November is a time of spiritual renewal and a celebration of life- especially my life with my dad.

When you think of love --what flower do you think of?

I think of the Rose - the Wild Rose (Rosa spp). Roses are invasive and colonize everywhere. But how could you be mad at a Rose-- with it's fragrance. The Rose plant is special in a way to every one of us. Red rose for love, and yellow roses for friendship.

The multiflora rose was introduced to the United States in 1866 from Japan. This rose continues to spread. It spreads by agricultural practices and the birds. I do see wild roses in gardens in Fire Island as well as throughout the city.

Do you think the Rose has a place in medicine? I would have never thought of Roses as medicine, but its true. Most of us are familiar with Rose hips. Rose hips contain plenty of Vitamin C (1000-2000mg/100g) and is used as an antioxidant. The rose hips are traditionally used for urinary tract complaints.

There are published studies on the species, Rosa laevigatae as an antibiotic against certain strains of bacteria.

History tells us that Rose water has been used for centuries. There were bowls and pitchers just for Rose water in the 1700 and 1800's in Europe. Rose water is great for chapped hands. It is great for skin inflammation. It also can be mixed with honey to be used as a swish, gargle and swallow for sore throats.

The cosmetic industry has popularized rose hip seed oil in many skin care products. At an herbal conference three years ago, I heard herbalist Rosita Arvigo discuss using rose water to stop heavy vaginal bleeding. One of her great books, Sastun discusses her apprenticeship with a Maya Healer . It is an excellent read for all!

Don't you love to get Roses? I get more than roses. Since Rick has completed the School of Floral Design I not only get fresh flowers in my office every week, but also at home. I am a very grateful man . The first photograph is a floral design by Rick.

Until tomorrow...