Musing Herbs and Wellness

What a summer it has been!

2011-09-30T15:34:00.000-06:00

What started out as an odd weather rollercoaster June, turned into the disbelief at having to evacuate LosAlamos again due to the Las Conchas Wildfire. I had risen early that Sunday morning, June 26, to take a road ride around "the loop". I hadn't been on my road bike in weeks, save for a little bit of commuting here and there, and I felt a desperate need to take a decent ride. I left the house before 7am, and little nigglin' thoughts kept throwing me for a loop. Should I do this ride, or another one? Should I turn here, or wait to turn over there? Should I go up to the Back Gate and down, or down to White Rock and up? Should I cross at the light, or ride all the way through the gates? I was surprised by these nagging thoughts, as usually I feel light and free while riding. I kept thinking that something bad would happen if I made the wrong choice, like I'd get run over by a car, or something.

Remarkably, nothing happened on the ride. I remember taking note of previous burn areas from the Cerro Grande and Dome Fires. I admired a herd of deer as they ambled through the juniper-pinon woodlands near TA-54. I noticed how dry it was, and how the wildflowers were suffering...barely an inflorescence could be seen.

Later, I was helping my girls clean their rooms, and I ran downstairs to get a drink of water, admired the skyline, went back upstairs, and then ran back down a few minutes later to get some cleaner. When I looked out the window this time, I saw this:

"Oh Shit!" I said, which I had said exactly two weeks before at the start of the Borrego Fire. "Not another fire!" I hurried outside and told Jan and Jerry about the smoke. Jerry quickly decided to drive for a better view, because from where we stood it looked like the ski hill was burning, and that's where Scott was.

Jerry came back and said that it looked like it was further back in the Jemez. I texted Scott and he said they were already dropping water on it, and it looked like it was near Sierra los Pinos or Los Griegos. I went to the store (thankfully for Scott, as he ended up not evacuating) and we could see how awful the fire looked. When we got home, this is what it looked like:

A flurry of activity began on Facebook, with newer Los Alamos residents asking if us older residents thought an evacuation was likely. In absolute denial, I said, "No way, not gonna happen." And boy was I wrong. The girls madly dashed about the house on Sunday night, throwing stuffed animals, random items of clothing, books, hair ties, toys, and other objects into their bags. I was still in denial. The Lab announced it would be closed in the morning, so I figured I'd have time to get stuff together the next day, since I wouldn't be able to go to work. I woke early, drove up the Middle School and took some pictures, noted that it didn't look bad today, and hoped that it wouldn't get too smoky. We'd already spent several weeks in June being smoked out by the Wallow Fire in Arizona. I was smoked out. I casually gathered up those few things I considered important, ignored imminent claims of an evacuation being announced at 1pm, and tried to soothe the fears of my eldest daughter. By noon, ash and debris was raining down, and the smoke levels were severe. I resigned myself to the evacuation, and Scott agreed to stay in town to water the deck, yard, and fencing...along with his parents. The girls and I drove to Pojoaque to head to my folks' house in El Rancho. This was the view of Los Alamos from the El Rancho bridge...or non view, I should say.

The next morning, I found pieces of Ponderosa bark and needles all over the ground in the Barrancas.

So we hung out. And hung out. And hung out some more.

And we hiked up the hill to see what was going on in Los Alamos several times a day. We went to Santa Fe every day to kill time, and to eat dinner, as I didn't have the motivation to cook while we were evacuated. It was easier to eat out, and enjoy good food.

We visited the neighbor's and enjoyed their beautiful pool.

And walked back to Grandma and Grandpa's house via the old trails I know inside and out.

We endured the disconcerting orange hue that colored our moods and our days.

Seven days later we finally got to go home, but it was evident that the fire was closer to our home than it had been at its worst. The hot spots were viewed each night, and eventually they fizzled into dot spots.

We still tried to enjoy the 4th of July.

Eventually life started getting back to normal. We went swimming A LOT. Signe learned to jump off the low dive, and then surprised us all by walking up to the high dive during the 4th of July party and jumping off. The cool picture below makes it looks like she's balancing on the water.

Many parts of the forest are still closed, and the summer monsoons brought a lot of geological rearrangement to our local canyons. Water Canyon looked like a lake for a while.

Eventually things will sort out, and he vegetation will grow again. I truly hope that this is not another severe drought winter, though...I keep feeling a sad sort of dread that we'll have no snow, and frigid temps, and I think we had more than our fair share of that last year. Autumn has arrived. Leaves are turning yellow. The temperatures are falling a little each week. I see the beauty in the fall colors, and I am hopeful that we'll have some winter whites to follow.

Droughts and the Solstice

2011-06-21T22:24:00.000-06:00

I was supposed to lead an herb walk this Sunday. My last two scouting sessions indicated that the participants would need to be able to hike more than a couple miles just to reach some goods, and that's not really conducive to a easy herb walk. I ran down into Pajarito Canyon last Wednesday and the yarrow was a mere 2 to 3 inches in leaf length. No flowers, except from a few rogue plants, and the nettles were all tucked down inside the very low creek bed, about 1.5 miles in. Mullein are definitely flourishing, in fact, my garden is a hotbed nursery for baby mullein. But other than general yard weeds, which is not the topic of this particular class (although it does sound like a good one for a future class...), the native medicinal plants are small, sparse, and leaving me feeling like we should wait a few weeks.

This has certainly been an unusual June. May was odd as well. We've had cold temps, extreme winds, normal hot days, and then more cold temps and more extreme winds. I want to say that I am looking forward to things being more normal and summer-like, but I'm not sure that will happen this year.

On this Summer Solstice day, I can hope for a decrease in the winds, a typical monsoon season, and some beautiful summer days...summer seems to arrive later each year, and ends too quickly. Here's to trying to make the best of it, no matter what.

Herbal Medicine and Women's Cycles at Pajarito Environmental Education Center

2011-04-26T14:24:00.000-06:00

I will be presenting a new Herb Class at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center on May 6, 2011 from 6 to 8 pm.

From their website:

Herbal Medicine and Women's Cycles

May 6, 6 - 8 p.m.

This class will present herbs that are useful for nourishing and supporting a woman's body during her monthly female cycles. This class will involve more than a simple discussion of herbal remedies for specific complaints, and rather, will encourage the exploration of cultural ideas, personal histories, and womanly insights into how our monthly cycles affect our overall health and well-being. As the discussion evolves, herbals formulas and how they can be used to maintain balance within the body will be considered.

$16 members / $20 non-members. Advanced registration is required. There is a minimum and maximum number of participants, so please register early.

The Magic of Wellness

2011-03-01T13:25:00.001-07:00

note: This post was written while still very sick. Please pardon the topic shifting and disjointed tone.

"If we ignore the magical level of our herbal tradition, we would be throwing away a great portion of our literature, whether we are speaking of European or Native American or some other kind of lore. In herbal tradition, medicine plants have long been associated with magic." ~~ Matthew Wood, The Book of Herbal Wisdom

Many herbalists say that herbs work on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels, but I also feel that herbs work on a magical level as well. My early years of learning about medicinal plants involved hours of time spent within and around the plants. Sometimes I would just sit amongst stands of chickweed, or nettles, or red clover, or trillium and listen. Listen to my own internal chatter, listen to the sound of the forest, listen to sound of the plants. Magic can be found easily when one sits amongst the plants deep within the forest.

Magic is more difficult to see when experiencing the physical agony of illness. When racked with fever, body aches, and chills, the only thing most people desire is for the symptoms to end quickly. It is very difficult to endure sickness with grace and patience. Add a nursing baby, or several young children, household chores, and work obligations to the mix, and one's tolerance slips quickly into the abyss.

I was raised by a God-fearing Mother, and she believes that sickness comes straight from Satan. When experiencing a throat burning with the embers of unrelenting pain, it's easy to see why.

When contemplating the origins of our solar system, and thinking about how bacteria and viruses played an important role in the organization and evolution of life, I wish I could feel some philosophical comfort when I can't sleep because of fever, discomfort, or pain.

The fact is it's difficult to be sick, and it's hard to wait for the sickness to be over.

Herbs can be very effective at lessening the length of illness, and can help to alleviate symptoms of a variety of ailments. When necessary, herbs can often be combined with over the counter remedies, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and prescription meds like antibiotics. I have reliably used herbal medicine to soothe symptoms, decrease the duration of illness, and to prevent illness from taking root into deeper, nastier problems like sinus infections and bronchitis. One of the biggest dilemmas most people faced when taking herbs, however, is that they expect some sort of rapid, end-the-symptom result.

Herbs offer a biochemical synergistic response within the body that will not look like taking a prescription or over the counter medicine that was designed to produce a certain result. If a person takes a certain herb or a set of herbs with the idea that the herb is going to remove certain symptoms promptly, or force the illness to leave the body, they are likely to be disappointed. Although it's a sort of crap shoot with prescription and over-the-counter meds as well, which may cause undesired side effects that are as uncomfortable as the condition being treated. Sometimes herbal preparations will work rapidly and bring prompt relief, and other times they are working subtley and under the surface--bring no obvious response on the outside, but affecting processes on the inside and preventing further problems down the road.

With herbs, most often people do not take the right preparation, or take enough of the herb for the herb to have much of an effect on the body. Drinking a cup of tea is not the same thing as drinking an infusion. A cup of tea, while generally relaxing and enjoyable, is not a medicinal preparation. An infusion is usually one to up to several ounces of a single herb or blended herbs, steeped in a qt of water. Honey or maple syrup can be added for sweetness, but it often will taste nothing like your favorite cup of chamomile!

The problem with relying solely on over-the-counter or prescription meds is that they often work to suppress the symptoms the body is experiencing. Symptoms are a part of an illness, but often not the illness itself. A suppression of the symptoms does not help support the body in the healing process. Suppressing symptoms works to alleviate the discomfort associated with an illness, but the body is still working through the suppression to remove the pathogen from the body, and with the symptoms removed, the body may have to work harder to get better.

Herbs work in conjunction with the body, supporting internal and external systems, as well as working with the specific symptoms the body is presenting. During a fever, some herbs, like lemon balm, catmint, or yarrow, work to open pores to facilitate sweating, thus working with a fever to remove the pathogen, and cool the body from the outside in. Mucilaginous herbs work to moisten and lubricate mucous membranes that may be irritated and inflamed from spasmodic coughing, or from an aching sore throat.

Sometimes...the results are not so obvious, and the herbs are working at an internal level to facilitate blood circulation, move bile within the liver, and move lymph fluids through the lymphatic systems.

For five days, I've been experiencing the absolute most severe sore throat I've ever experienced in my life. This pain has been so severe that the only real analogy I have for it is that it is nearly identical to the "ring of fire" a woman experiences moments before giving birth when the head is crowning. The fact that this pain is unrelenting, and can be lessened, but not eradicated, with ibuprofin and aspirin, led me to believe this was not a typical cold caused by a rhinovirus. After doing some research of medical journals, based on the symptoms each of my family members has experienced, I'm pretty certain that this particular virus is an Enterovirus, most likely a coxsackie strain, or possibly even an Echovirus based on the lesions I saw on the back of one tongue in the family. The most interesting aspect to these kinds of viruses are that a person can shed them fecally for up to 8 weeks after an infection has cleared. Alcohol does not break their outer envelope of echoviruses, so hand sanitizers do not kill them. They are generally spread via the fecal-oral route, but can be passed through respiratory droplets from sneezing or coughing. They can also be passed via fomites--things such as towels, toys, books, etc.

This virus was certainly different in that it began with a severe sore throat immediately--although I did feel somewhat nauseous the day before, but I thought it that was attributed to 4 straight vegetable meals causing a bit of harsh-gut. No other symptoms for several days, with the exception of two--a fever on the second night and several clusters of itchy blisters on my right thigh. Severe pain. No runny nose, no congestion, no cough. Full-on unbearable pain that made me want to crumple up and disappear. The flu had nothing on this illness--for me, anyway.

My girls each had the exact same symptoms, and the peak discomfort for them lasted but a mere 48 hours. They each began with a sore throat, not severe, and then they had conjunctivitis (that was obviously not bacterial in that it was green, only present in the morning, no itching, and disappeared quickly) in one eye that lasted for about 2 days. Then they each developed a cough. Neither of them experienced what I have been experiencing.

Day 4 I lost my voice, and during that night I developed a deep bronchial cough.

Today, is day 5. I feel much better mentally, but I'm still relying on ibuprofen and aspirin to relieve the pain, which is still present, but in the background. Scott developed a severe sore throat, followed by a cough almost immediately. On day 6 he developed large fluid-filled lesions on the back of his tongue. That was my first clue that this wasn't just another cold virus...this was some specifically nasty virus!

Both my In-Laws contracted it as well, and each of them presented with symptoms in their own way as well. My father-in-Law had what he describes as mostly a bad cold. My dear Mother-in-Law developed fluid-filled blisters around her mouth and inner cheeks. Commonly brushed off as fever blisters, this was yet more confirmation that a possible coxsackie virus is what we are dealing with.

Virology is a fascinating science for me, and I sometimes fancy the idea of pursuing a career in that field, although that would be quite a feat! The fact that these microscopic beings can have such a profound impact on people is remarkable. The fact that my usual herbal allies that often do bring prompt relief have had no impact was frustrating. But, as an herbalist, I know that the herbs I have been taking have been working to support my inner systems despite the lack of sore throat relief. I quickly felt the burdock and red root formulas removing the swelling from my glands. The cough syrups have been keeping the sap-like green mucous from setting up shop in my sinuses and bronchials. The last couple days of sunshine without wind have helped to restore my state of mind to one that's positive, rather than feeling like this pain will never subside.

Cheers to good health!

New Herbal Class at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center

2011-01-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Join me on January 22 from 1pm to 4pm at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, where I'll be leading a class for parents on the effective use of herbal remedies for treating common childhood illnesses.

I'm very excited about presenting this class and look forward to helping others gain the benefit of having a basic herbal knowledge from which to build upon.

While understanding herbal medicine can be a complex undertaking, pediatric herbal medicine is usually pretty straightforward and simple.

To register log on to the PEEC website and register electronically, or visit the center in person.

In My Skin

2010-10-15T15:07:00.000-06:00

While swimming yesterday I wondered, have I ever been comfortable in my own skin?

I'm comfortable being me, usually, but lately, and pervasively for a while, I've noticed that I just have not been comfortable being me in my own skin. I look at pictures of me now and think, that's not me. I don't look like what I think I look like...and that's probably not a good precursor to what's to come. I'm not exactly sure how I will feel when I look in the mirror and I am an actual old lady, and honestly, that's not that far away!

As a long-time martial artist, a runner, cyclist, climber, hiker, swimmer, mother, etc. I'm pretty comfortable pushing myself and enduring levels of pain that would make the average couch potato pretty happy to remain there...on the couch.

But that's the feeling I've had, lately. This odd disassociation between the me I think I am and the me I really am.

The me I think of, when I envision myself, has blond hair, bluish/green eyes, muscular legs, and a a curvy figure. Describes me pretty well until I catch a glimpse of myself in a window reflection, and I see a wide, rectangular person that looks nearly identical to pictures I've seen of my forebears. Do I really look like that? I ask myself as I quickly turn away.

I tend to avoid being in front of the picture-taking portion of a camera lens...preferring to find myself snugly behind the lens taking the picture. And recent pictures of me have been even less reassuring of my own image of myself. After subjecting myself to a particularly grueling trail running race, which made me feel very proud of myself for completing it at about my predicted time, the pictures that were collected of me during the event made me want to subject my computer screen to the full force of a cannon. With a torso that looks more like a linebacker than a trail runner, and a backside that could be mistaken for a Mack truck, any pride I felt after the race melted abruptly from my brain. Additionally, the reality of not a single, not a double, but a triple chin seriously makes me think that a cannon is too mild, and maybe a nuclear bomb would be a better option to eliminate the image I see.

I'm actually not one to lament my body image. And I don't really mean to be doing it now...thus the attempts at humor. I've never been a skinny-minnie. I've had periods of thinness--mostly during the college years when I bike commuted an average of 14 miles a day and ate mostly salad and rice. I've gained and lost and gained again. But for the most part I've been consistently stable. But, as I've gotten older I've really started thinking that micro-brewed beer should never have been discovered and perfected.

When I was 12 we moved to Las Vegas, NV and lived there for nearly a year, until the renters my parents left our NM home with abandoned it like reckless white trash. My Mother, who had worked 4 days a week for many years prior to our move, noticed that her bottom was becoming smaller after we'd been in Vegas for several months, "I think it's because I'm not sitting on it all day long," she reflected, "I haven't lost any weight, I think it's just redistributed itself." Well, I've been sitting on my bottom at work for quite a number of years, too, and if this is what redistribution does, I better start a process of once again redistributing!

Considering the amount of exercise I get, I say this is all just an unfair roll of the dice. I know people a fraction of my size who do nothing every day, drink like fish, and yet maintain a svelte figure. I know very few people who work out as much as I do who maintain a figure like my own. Except for linebackers.

With all that, I think I'll drink some water and then head off to a double workout of spinning and Power Up for the day...actually it will be my third, as I already hiked the puppy up the hill morning and enjoyed a gloriously-colored fall sunrise.

Once upon a time, a long time ago...

Just A Quick Note

2010-05-11T10:03:00.001-06:00

You can click on the photos below to see the larger images.

Cerro Grande Fire - Ten Years Later (Part I)

2010-05-11T07:39:00.003-06:00

View of Mitchell Trail Area from LA Mountain, 1997

Ten years ago I watched what started as a narrow plume of smoke on the mountain of Cerro Grande transform into a firestorm of intensity and power. My life, and the lives of my family and many friends, transformed as we saw the remains of our homes and our belongings turned into nothing more than ashes blowing around in the wind.

4007 Arizona Ave. May 2000

I learned a lot about instincts, love, family, and loss, and I endured countless hours of frustration, exhaustion, and helplessness.

But those are not the things I care to focus on now that ten years--an entire decade--have passed since the Cerro Grande Fire of May 2000. I find myself musing more about the paths not taken, about the choices made or not, and about where I might have been if this massive fire had not impacted my life.

At the dawn of a new millennium, a new century,a new decade, and a new year, the entire world seemed caught up in Y2K frenzy. I didn’t believe it, but I stashed a couple gallons of water just in case. By April, the Y2K frenzy had fizzled into nothing. Life went on as normal. I was working as an environmental consultant, and I worked outside collecting water and sediment samples and data from Canyon de Valle at Technical Area (TA) 16 at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. We collected our samples every Friday. By April, it was becoming evident that a pretty serious drought was already in effect. There had been only traces of snow throughout the winter, and the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area hadn’t even opened for business. As my team member, Donna, and I hiked up and down the canyon that spring, the pine needles crunched underfoot, and the wildflowers seemed sparse.

Our position at TA-16 afforded us the opportunity to see the first plume of smoke rising into the clear, blue sky on the Friday morning of May 4, 2000. All of the team members I worked with watched in astonishment as the plume rose higher, circling its gray arms above the Jemez ridgeline. We knew the conditions outside as we’d been outside all winter. The lack of snow had enabled a more productive field season and created a tinderbox out of the forests. “What are they thinking?” we all asked upon hearing that a controlled burn had been lit on Bandelier National Monument Property. We rolled our eyes, and got back to work.

On Saturday, May 5th, Scott and I, having recently discovered an interest in fly-fishing, thought we would take our dogs up into the Jemez to try our hand on a Jemez river. We were turned around before the Pajarito Ski Hill turn off—firefighters told us that the fire was burning on both sides of State Road 4 along the Western boundary of Bandelier. We decided to go to the Los Alamos Reservoir instead, not realizing that it would be the last time we’d see the reservoir intact and healthy. While there, the plume of smoke ballooned into a cumulonimbus of monstrous size. Upon returning home, we went next door to Scott’s parents’ house, and began filming the air tankers and spotter planes as they circled over our house to drop water on the fire that was obviously careening out of control. That was when we all started feeling a bit nervous about the situation.

Spotter Plane Flying Immediately Over 4007 Arizona Ave. May 5, 2000

Tanker 27 Flying Immediately over 4007 Arizona Ave. May 6, 2000

Tanker 27 Before Unloading May 6, 2000. (In very center of photo)

Sunday, remarkably, the flames had calmed down, and it seemed like maybe the situation was under control. Monday, while working, we were evacuated from TA-16, the Western Area portion of Los Alamos was also evacuated, and residents of that part of town scrambled to find places to stay while shut out of their own homes. Tuesday was spent in the office and everyone seemed a little antsy. Wednesday evening, May 9th, Scott and I made plans to go fishing in the Pecos while my Toyota truck was being serviced in Santa Fe. We made plans with a friend to meet us there, and thought we’d finish up with dinner and margaritas at Gabriel’s on the way home.

Overnight, the winds were howling out of control. Unable to sleep due to the thrashing of the Ponderosa’s outside my window, I began to feel real discomfort creeping into my bones. Upon daybreak I told Scott that I didn’t feel comfortable leaving town, and I cancelled my service appt. I went to the office, and Scott and Jan and Jerry, went to our retail shop, The DOME, that we ran together in the Hilltop Shopping Center on Arkansas. At 10am, I couldn’t take work anymore. Everyone seemed very non-chalant, and I felt truly unsettled. I didn’t like the denial that everyone seemed to be in, so I left and went to the shop. At 11:30 I offered to get all of us lunch, and when I drove up-town I could see that the fire was once again ballooning into a monstrous demon. I picked up our lunch at the Hill Diner, and drove back to the shop. On my way back I noticed that every single street and parking lot had a sheriff, policeman, or State Trooper parked in front of it. As I pulled into our parking lot, a State Trooper was sitting in his black cruiser blocking the exit. I went over to him and asked, “Are we being evacuated?” “Not yet,” was his answer. I went into the shop with our food and told everyone what he’d said. We immediately closed down the shop and went to our houses a couple blocks away. I don’t remember if we ever even ate.

Those orange-red spots to the left of the electrical poles are 150-ft flames crossing Pipeline Road. May 10, 2000.

Flames on Pipeline Road. We'd been told to evacuate over 30 minutes prior to this. May 10, 2000.

Looking West to LA Mountain/Pipeline Road from Arizona Ave. The black smoke seen after the huge flames. May 10, 2000

Within minutes of arriving at the house, firemen started driving the streets with their sirens and a loud speaker declaring the evacuation. We were told we had 10-minutes to pack up our belongings and leave. We stayed for about an hour, filming the fire, taking pictures, and packing up random belongings. Instead of throwing all our artwork, or journals, or rare vinyl into boxes, I packed up the stupid Playstation and a few games. We took one bike each. We grabbed our climbing and camping gear thinking we may end up going on a climbing trip if we couldn’t get back into town for a couple days. I packed a bag of random clothes, but nothing that I really cared for. At one point Scott asked if he should take some drums. I said, take a few if they fit. He took his bass drum and a snare. When we left, I locked our door and said, “good bye house.” A burning ember landed on Scott’s arm and created a blister.

This was the last picture Scott took of the sun before we left and as a burning ember landed on his arm. May 10, 2000

Jan, Jerry, Jan’s Mother Betty, and Jan’s brother Uncle Danne, decided to stay a bit longer to pack stuff up. But of course, they did not pack up their hundreds of pieces of original artwork, or the valuable antiques, or priceless mementos. They took another random smattering of stuff. And they took a lot more pictures. The firemen came again, and told them they had to go, houses on Alabama were burning.

A snapshot of Boghee as we were driving away. The dogs were stressed out too. May 10, 2000

Scott and I drove through Rendija Canyon, and Jan and Jerry who’d left nearly 40 minutes after we did, went down the Main Hill road. They beat us to El Rancho. We gathered at my parents’ house. Ironically, my parents had been living in Carlsbad, NM for the previous two years. My Father was driving home that same day--just in time for Scott and me, our two dogs, Jan and Jerry, Uncle Danne, and Scott’s Grandma Betty to descend upon them due to evacuation. The timing couldn’t have been more weird. That night we watched homes on Ridgeway and in Western Area burning through the lens of the TV.

Looking at the Jemez from El Rancho. May 10, 2000

I don’t remember sleeping, but I do remember telling Scott at about 2 in the morning, “I think it’s gone.”

Looking East to Arizona Ave. The foundations of our neighborhood. May 11, 2000
(Photo Courtesy of PD-USGOV-DOE)

At 6:20 in the morning my dear friend Josie called and said, “I think I see your foundation on the news.” Sure enough, we turned to Channel 7, and there it was. The first thought in my head was, “what am I supposed to do about all the bills that were sitting on my table?” and my second thought was, “I want to have kids.”

A few nights later, after feeling really weird about being without a home, and still living in a sort of unsettled fog of uncertainty, Scott and his family went to visit a good friend who also lived in El Rancho. Despite the darkness, I decided to take a walk with my dogs up in the Barrancas. After nearly a mile, I crested a hill and sat down and watched the flames smoldering along the Jemez. The entire Jemez view was glowing behind a smoky apparition. Hot spots were everywhere and the smoke clung the mountains like a blanket. Finally, the vastness of my reality set in and I was able to cry long and hard. My dogs stood on either side of me and licked my tears. Being able to cry deeply was the first step towards rebuilding.

Wildfire would not be my first choice in leading to a more comfortable home. But that is the turn taken on our road of life. And things did work out. Our neighbor sold us his property for pennies, and we had a half acre to call our own.

Looking West to LA Mountain in April 2001.

I could not have predicted what lay before us in the rebuilding process. I had no idea how many hundreds of hours I would spend documenting all the possessions we lost, how much alcohol I would consume, how many frustrations we would encounter along the path forward. But now, 10-years later, it all seems to have faded into the dusty recesses of my mind. We plodded forward. We built our own house, we had children. One of our children was born in our new home. The forests have changed. The majority of the remaining trees were either killed by bark beetles or blew down in the winds. Ponderosas planted have started really growing. The drainages have widened or deepened and turned into vast alluvial beds.

Looking West From the Mitchell Trail Head. April 29, 2010.

LA Mountain and the Mitchell/Perimeter Intersection. April 2010

The anniversary of a catastrophic event is a strange thing. I can look out my window, see the vast beauty of this amazing location where I live, see the aspens we’ve planted shivering with their new spring leaves, and know that fire is yet another cycle, human-caused or not. I can look back and see that we made choices in the last 10 years that enabled us to rebuild our home and settle back into normalcy pretty quickly. There are choices I wish I’d made. There are things we should have done.

How will life look to the next ten years? It’s nearly impossible to know. In another 10 years, my oldest will be 18 and I will be 49. Who knows what kinds of twists and turns our lives will take over the next decade. It should be an interesting ride.

Spring on the Perimeter Trail

2010-04-16T15:19:00.001-06:00

I've been hiking early each morning for the past several weeks. Very unlike me as I would prefer to revel in my slumber. However, the arrival of a puppy has required that I stumble out of bed and out the door at the crack of dawn, and I've actually discovered that I'm enjoying it.

Not only have I had the opportunity to see the snow melt, see the first Turkey Vultures arrive back in Los Alamos, witness some astonishingly beautiful sunrises, experienced that there actually is joy in a windblown hike through pelting graupel, and discover that there really are a lot of early birds in my neighborhood...I've also realized what I've been missing on my local trails for so many years. (Like this red-tailed hawk, for instance)

I've become inspired to do a 10-year post Cerro Grande post as well, so stay tuned for that. I'm just sorry that I haven't been taking photos each and every year of how things have evolved.

Most recently, though, I've been overjoyed to see some of my favorite spring herbs poking their beautiful little faces out of the earth.

Pulsatilla

Valerian

So Many Blogs, So Little Time to Read (or Write) Them All...

2010-02-18T16:29:00.000-07:00

I've decided that my interests are too varied, and the very simple reality is that I have not enough time to do all that I wish to do in any given day. Funny how that is. I want to Blog on a minimum of 3 different topics:

1) Herbs, and their utility in maintaining health and assisting in those times when our health has gone South.

2) Unschooling, and our progress and experiences through this fascinating voyage into our life of learning through living, exploring, discovering; and the nuts and bolts run down of day-to-day activities.

3) Pregnancy and Birth, and all the fascinating aspects to both.

I think I need two more blogs, because it seems silly to try and combine all three into one. However, the reality is that I barely keep up with this blog, and it seems insane to think I could keep up with three! My herbal blogging seems to have gotten trampled as my interests in Unschooling and my path towards Doula certification have grown.

I'll get back to you soon, and let you know what my resulting decision is...

Soaring

2010-01-14T11:28:00.001-07:00

Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.

~Kahlil Gibran

My path, like most, has been full of ruts, curves, and hill climbs. But sometimes there is that soaring along—that floating that accompanies the downhill ride—and I am exhilarated.

For me, leaving home and taking my first steps as an adult on my own were exhilarating. And before that, falling madly, hopelessly, and wholly in love with Scott. Discovering the joys of cycling and climbing. The birth of my first daughter, and then the second. Most recently, it has been the choice to say no. No, thank you, we have decided not to send our daughter to first grade. She will stay home instead.

This path was paved a little smoother this past week. I had the opportunity to attend Sandra Dodd’s Unschooling Symposium, and to listen to the insight and experience of several Unschooling heavyweights: Sandra, Pam Sorooshian, and Joyce Fetteroll, and their children—all of whom are adults now. There were also the Unschooling parents who have been doing this a while, and some who are just starting out. And then there was me.

The insights of these lovely, experienced Unschooling Parents were much what I expected. Unschooling is not difficult, Unschooling takes commitment, Unschooling requires love, and patience, and a willingness to see more than just the schooling part—to see that this really is about life. It is about the kind of life our children will have, and about how we choose to live with our children. It is about so much more than just “homeschooling.” But I knew all that already. I didn’t need to attend a conference to reinforce that in my mind.

The real insight came in my first interaction with Holly Dodd. Nothing more than simple conversation over lunch. But what struck me profoundly was how well-spoken this 18-year old is…how clear, and bright, and engaging. She spoke with well-oiled ease on the subject of Unschooling, as much any one of the main presenters…more so! The final day of the Symposium, the young adult Sorooshians, Dodds, and Kathryn Fetteroll were the presenters. Their discussion was enjoyable. I brought my girls and we enjoyed an enchilada dinner after the talks.

The conference was inspirational, and I can imagine that larger conferences with a variety of speakers would be different but also enjoyable. The small size and ability to interact with everyone present was a bonus for this conference. In reflecting about what I listened to and how the lives of these Unschoolers are rich and joyful based on their decisions and choices in how they have decided to live their family lives, I was able to settle into my own thoughts and know that we have made the right choice. But, like any choice, this choice has alternatives. It may not be fixed, it may not be forever, but at least it has been made mindfully. This is not our last-ditch hope for our kids’ learning…we did not come to this point out of desperation. This is a decision that feels powerful and totally off the grid.

And the learning continues every single hour of every day.

Slow School Zone

2009-11-27T22:09:00.097-07:00

Caution - Students Learning

Today we decided to visit the Pojoaque Valley Elementary School, where the play structures are awesome. Obviously they have been infused with state money, and possibly stimulus money, which hasn't filtered up to Los Alamost schools, most likely because we are too rich up here. The remarkable difference between the new Pojoaque schools and the Los Alamos schools is astonishing, to say the least. The Pojoaque ones are new, loaded with brand new playgrounds, and all the amenities. The Los Alamos ones are outdated, make-shift buildings, where band-aids are applied, but new construction is rare. Considering my property tax bill just increased by approximately $1200 annually to supposedly remedy this, I can only hope that my friends' schoolchildren will have more than veneers and plastic surgery to "fix" the schools ails. But I digress...

It All Starts Here!

Schools have been around in this country for what, 375 years? Interestingly enough, the founders of America's first public school, the Boston Latin School, began the school with the ancient Greek belief that "the only good things are the goods of the soul." Additionally, "from its beginning, Boston Latin School has taught its scholars dissent with responsibility and has persistently encouraged such dissent." What happened to these premises? An institution designed to help children learn the goods of the soul, and encouraging responsible dissent? Where did this train derail? It seems that the majority of public schools today are, in fact, in existence for the sole reason of preventing dissent both within the schools and the confines of modern day life. Forget about the goods of the soul. Schools have enough on their hands trying to maintain control of active, little bodies, and ensuring their kids are scoring high on standardized tests, there is no time to pursue Greek philosophy and to even discover what these goods of the soul might be. So, if soul goods and dissent are out...what is it that starts within the walls of education?

Success. When I was in 4th Grade at Pojoaque Elementary, we had a cheer that we performed all the time: S - U - C - C - E - S - S. That's the way you spell success, who's gonna win it? You can guess...Elks, Elks, the BEST!!!! I loved cheerleading when I was between the ages of 9 and 12. I attended cheerleading camps, and my friends and I pretended to be high school cheerleaders for hours a day. I did, in fact, wish to be a successful cheerleader--one who was pretty, kind, talented, and well, you know, cheery. When I was 9, that's what success meant to me. I wonder what it means to the little 4th graders at Pojoaque these days?

Excellence. Most people strive for excellence. But what is excellence? According to Webster's, excellence is the quality of being excellent, or superior. It is considered a virtue, which is said to be "a conformity to a standard of right; a morality." The virtuous definition makes more sense when it comes to what a school might hope to impart when emplacing a sign that implies that excellence starts at school.Come little children and conform.

Respect. Respect comes from Latin respectus, literally, an act of looking back; from respicere to look back. As I'm moving backwards through these signs that children see every day during classes, it seems like looking back and reflecting before commencing with the future would be an effective use of respect.However, I don't think that's what the administrators are hoping to impart by ensuring that their children see this day after day after day. Most likely the schools are hoping that their wards are engaging in acts of deference, holding their teachers, administrators, and peers in high regard.

Pride. Pride is the first thing the young ones at Pojoaque schools are subconsciously absorbing on upon entering school. Once again, I suspect that the school admins are, in their minds, thinking of pride in a positive manner, and not thinking of the word's synonym: conceit. A "reasonable or justifiable self-respect; the delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship" seem suited to what a school intends to pass along to its students. Pride in their schools, pride in their buildings, you know...that pre-patriotism stuff.

To be honest, I have no qualms with any of these ideas, or even the fact that Pojoaque schools feel compelled to hang these signs on the main walkway into the elementary school. Most people want their kid to feel pride in his work, to respect others, to have a sense a sense of excellence, and taste success.

I was more intrigued by the "Slow School Zone" sign. I suspect the sign intended to read "SLOW. School Zone" as in, slow down you idiot drivers, there are children here who may dash in front of your car. However, that's not how the sign read. Its juxtaposition to the "Caution Children Learning" sign is even more intriguing to me. Caution. Children Learning. Caution? What is there to be cautious about? The sign is placed in the bus drop-off loop, not at the entrance to the building, so I find it even more strange.

But, to go with it... Wouldn't it be nice if schools COULD slow down? If they would let kids be kids so they could have countless hours of play? Could let kids enjoy the success of using their imagination, feel the excellence of using their big muscles (as opposed to the heroic effort it takes to sit in a chair doing busywork), to respect gravity and the other forces of nature, and to have pride in their own creations - whether big or small? Schools should slow down, and become slow school zones. And there should be no caution in our children learning...kids should be encouraged to learn in dangerous (at least to the status quo) ways, as in being allowed the freedom to follow their own interests, and to explore the world at their own pace.

The intent of schools is fundamentally good--they want to impart concepts into the minds of children so they grow into successful, people who strive for excellence, do so respectfully and with pride. But I disagree that it all starts in the hallways of our modern day schools. But, that is an essay for another day. In the meantime, my kids and I will continue to enjoy the playground while we play and explore in our own ways, and with our own "Po - w - e - r" !!!

A Doula I am

2009-11-18T22:41:00.001-07:00

I completed the ToLabor Doula Training this past weekend and walked away with a profoundly different understanding of who I am, how my own births were, and how every pregnancy and birth should be for all women. I entered the class not really even knowing what a Doula was, much less whether I truly wanted to be one. I actually went into the workshop with the intention of using the knowledge gained towards becoming a birth educator. I still plan on becoming a birth educator. However, since I didn't really understand the whole role a Doula plays in labor and birth, I had no preconceived notions of what a Doula is or is not. In my mind, I thought a Doula was just a woman present during birth. I've read the research that suggests that the simple presence of a woman at another woman's birth helps to create a positive birth outcome. I questioned whether I needed a Doula during my own births, but because I planned on homebirth with Midwives, I assumed I didn't need one. How wrong I was!

A Doula (pronounced Doo-la) is a term from the Greek language meaning a "woman who serves." They support mothers and their families through the emotional and physical challenges and joys of childbearing. Doulas provide non-medical support and they are the only care providers whose responsibility is to support a laboring woman exclusively and continuously. Studies show that doctors are present only 5% of the time, and nurses only 20-25% of the time, however, labor assistants or birth Doulas provide constant care throughout a woman's entire birth experience.

The experienced, loving support of sisters, mothers, aunts, and friends has diminished as births have moved into the hospital, and under the medical practice of OB/GYNs. Most women do not share or participate in a birth until they experience their own. This is where Doulas come in. Doulas understand the complexities of birth, work to ease the fears and anxieties of the unknown, and can instill confidence and trust in a woman and her body. Doulas work with the mother and her partner by providing useful comfort techniques for the mother that incorporate the help of the partner. Doulas also help facilitate communication with the labor care team.

Randomized controlled trials demonstrate that the presence of a Doula is also associated with:

Reduced cesarean rates
Fewer forceps/vacuum deliveries
Less requests for epidurals
Shorter labor
Reduced use of Pitocin/Oxytocin
Lower rates of newborn complications
Increased success with breastfeeding
Reduction in postpartum depression
Increased maternal satisfaction

Doulas use a wide variety of pain-management techniques to help women feel more safe and comfortable, including:

Massage
Acupressure
Positioning for mother’s comfort and to relieve/avoid back labor
Shower/bath
Birth ball
Hot and cold compresses
Guided imagery/visualizations
Aromatherapy

What Doulas do not do:

Perform clinical tasks, such as blood pressure, fetal heart checks, vaginal exams.
Make decisions for the mother.
Speak on behalf of the mother to the medical staff or primary care providers regarding decision matters.

Before this remarkable workshop was complete, I realized that every woman should have the right to have a Doula, and that Doulas should be made available by all hospitals. Our maternity care system in the United States is a topic all its own, but one simple change to help support positive birth outcomes would be to have Doulas on call in all hospitals and birth centers.

My certification process has just begun, but I am looking forward to working through it.

The Hunter's Moon, and Other Random Thoughts

2009-11-05T16:52:00.003-07:00

The Hunter's Moon on Monday seemed to dredge up all sorts of emotional turbulence within me, as well as others I interacted with. My day began with co-worker conflict, and ended in an endless stream of griping and bitching erupting from my brain and mouth. Finally, in sheer desperation for the stream of words flowing forth from my mouth to end, I shut up. I just quit.

However, gems of wonder were to be found amidst all the rapids. My daughter discovered a fun and creative way to make letters from the mail...she started by making an A and then a W, and then a Y, which progressed into words like MAX, WAX, EAT, which then progressed into finding other object with which to make the letters such as pencils, our Halloween spoon witches, spoons, pens, the fly-swatter. It was a lot of fun to watch and encourage.

My brain has been literally swirling with thoughts regarding learning without school, parenting, relationships, life’s typical challenges, the weather, finances, conflicts at work, my career, worries about others, opinions about everything, and on and on and on.

Often it seems, life’s daily flow travels along easily and fluidly and my focus is on each present moment. And then there are those times when all the various things that make up this life are swarming around me like bees hunting for a new hive and it’s impossible to focus on any one thing as they are demanding my attention. Now seems to be one of those times.

Perhaps I just need a quiet spot to reflect upon things, and calm my busy mind...

On the plus side, however, I've had the opportunity to read some inspiring articles on learning lately, and feel aware and responsive to how we are approaching this new journey in our life. It's quotes like this, from John Holt, that really just hone it all in:

"It's not that I feel that school is a good idea gone wrong, but a wrong idea from the word go. It's a nutty notion that we can have a place where nothing but learning happens, cut off from the rest of life."
~John Holt

I've even taken the leap to really sharing my understanding of this approach with those who most need it, namely my Mother and my In-Laws, who are the most supportive bunch of folks I've encountered recently, and who really need to be on the same page as me since they are primary caregivers to my kids. By sharing Naomi Aldort's amazing, and pretty much mind-blowing CD set, Trusting Our Children, Trusting Ourselves, with my Mom, among others, I am hopeful that my kids will have even more support from their loving grandparents, who are also learning about this new idea for our family. In a family of many PhDs, the concept of homeschooling, and especially without a curriculum and "schoolwork" is a novel concept.

"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."
~John Holt, Teach Your Own

Parenting is probably the most challenging (and possibly unanticipated) aspect to many peoples' lives, and being with our children all day and not relying on others to entertain them, "teach" them, take care of them, "endure" them, etc. has become an important aspect of learning without school, at least in my own eyes. I'm the kind of person that constantly seeks out and eats up as much information as I possibly can so that I can become the very best parent that I can possibly be. I believe that kids thrive in an environment without shame, humiliation, punishment, invoked consequences, rewards, time-outs, and all those other negative "traditional" discipline techniques. Changing myself has become a daily affair, and I work at it really hard. Respecting my kids for who they are is essential. I've included a little snippet of inspiration I found this week, as well: How to Raise a Respected Child, by Sandra Dodd.

Onward!

It's Official - We Really are Unschoolers

2009-10-09T15:27:00.004-06:00

And it's truly no surprise. Being Evergreen Alumni and having non-standard views on parenting, learning, and life, this path seems to have flowed seamlessly into our lives.

I've added a list of Unschooling sites down below for my own sake as well as for those who might be interested in what the whole idea of unschooling is.

In pulling my daughter out of school, I've already had many people ask me, "why would you take your kid out of school when the schools in Los Alamos are so good?"

To start with, we just happen to have a child who is not willing to be coerced into a situation she is uncomfortable with, and the situation she was most uncomfortable with was school. If she were like most other kids, we may never have found ourselves in this part of the world. But in many ways I can be thankful that she is different and that we can embark upon this journey of something radical and adventurous. And what an interesting journey it shall be...

Besides, are Los Alamos schools really so good? I went to Los Alamos schools 20+ years ago, and sure I had a good teacher or two. But I don't think I began any real passionate learning until I got to college. I mostly just cruised it, and did what I needed to do to get through the day to day.

LA Schools at this point seemed to have fallen under the spell of testing and more testing, homework and more homework.

I think John Holt said it best:

"What children need is not new and better curricula but access to more and more of the real world; plenty of time and space to think over their experiences, and to use fantasy and play to make meaning out of them; and advice, road maps, guidebooks, to make it easier for them to get where they want to go (not where we think they ought to go), and to find out what they want to find out."
—John Holt, Teach Your Own

Summer Nettles

2009-06-30T08:36:00.003-06:00

Summer has arrived.
We've had a most unusual June, here in Los Alamos, with much more rain than usual, and some very chilly days. June is generally the hottest, driest month, so all this moisture and cool temps have been quite a surprise. The plants and trees must be soaking up every ounce of the water. Nettles that were a mere few inches off the ground a couple weeks ago, are nearly towering over my head! The grasses too have completely taken off. My native grass front yard looks greener than it ever has, and all grasses must be flowering profusely as I've been more allergized in recent days than I can remember...back to those nettles!

Nettles can be useful for allergy relief and they boast significant amounts of chlorophyll, protein, ascorbic acid, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin K1, potassium and zinc. These nutrients are considered to promote healthy skin, bones and joints and encourage a healthy immune and respiratory system. Nettle leaf contains flavonoids such as quercitin, kaempferol, and rutin that help to maintain healthy levels of histamine in the body. Histamine release is associated with allergic reactions, where tissues become damaged and inflamed. Further, nettle leaf extract promotes the healthy modulation of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and cytokines- which are components associated with normal immune function.

I am a sucker for stinging nettles. When I see a patch I get all giggley in my tummy and feel like jumping up and down and shouting for joy. Los Alamos Canyon is ripe with nettles right now, and during a run up the canyon yesterday I simply couldn't help myself and had to stop and commune with one of the large patches growing up alongside the stream bed. I plucked a lovely leaf, folded it upon itself and chewed it up as my friend Susan had taught me a decade and a half ago. The flavor was pure green, with hints of minerals and vitamins. My thumb and forefinger were numb for the rest of the run, and every time I felt the numbness my heart swelled with joy for this lovely soul-sister plant. Now, if I can just convince my daughters to come watch me harvest this bounty!

The natives of the Olympic Peninsula used nettles for medicine, charms, and rituals. In order to stay awake through the night, the Quileute would rub nettles over the body prior to heading out on seal hunts. The Makah would use nettles to purify their bodies and to toughen their skin before heading out on whale hunts. I've always found those uses intriguing. My husband once thrashed himself with Nettles prior to driving 18 hours straight, and said it worked quite well for staying awake through the night.

Nettles are also a delicious green that can be cooked like spinach. Sautee the fresh leaves with garlic and butter and dash of soy for a nutritious green...Bon Appetit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
References:
Gunther, E. and J. Janish. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. 1973; 78.

Klingelhoefer S, et al. Antirheumatic effect of IDS 23, a stinging nettle leaf extract, on in vitro expression of T helper cytokines. J. Rheumatol. 1999; 26(12): 2517-2522.

Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze dried urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Medica. 1990;56:44-47.

Image copyright David Beaulieu

2009-02-27T11:17:00.003-07:00

My dreams are often tied to phases of the moon and the new moon in particular often leaves my dreamland filled with an odd variety of graphic surprises.

This week, in particular, has been an odd week for sleep. Dreams have been vivid, full of color and texture and even flavor. It seems as if a bit of intuitive and uncanny senses have been awakened as soon as I slip into slumber.

My dreams last night, however, were disturbing. Slightly menacing, nearly terrifying, and graphic in an unpleasant way. I began riding as a passenger in a car, observing events as if watching them on TV. We pulled over, and sat facing a young black woman as if watching a drive-in movie. We watched as an outside group began discussing the merits of removing the faces, and it was understood that the face belonged to one who was already dead. A pair of large, metal, dangerous scissors began cutting the skin from the face of this beautiful woman--right up the middle from the chin towards the forehead. The blood seemed slow to start and their was no reaction at all from the woman until I screamed, "Wait! She's not dead! you can't cut the faces of people who aren't dead!" and the blood began to flow as the scissors seemed unable to cut further towards the scalp. The scene shifted, and I was back at Evergreen, a dream event that recurs several times a month.

Yesterday, while on a hike, I had a glimpse of thought regarding why I always dream that I return to Evergreen, and I am moving, trying to find a house, registering for classes, and always slightly lost. But today I can't remember what that reason was.

In any case, back to the dream. My partner and I entered a small, all glass building where people were doing Aikido. There were a few benches on the side, filled with observers, and the floor of the room had a mat with thick blankets on to serve as padding. The Sensei was manipulating people and throwing them on the floor. Several people I remember from my short tenure in Aikido moved to do their thing in the center of the floor. I held my daughters on my lap and we watched from the sides. As we stood to leave, the Sensei came over to me and placed his hands on my back. As he did so I felt all the tension in my shoulders and neck surge to the surface as if trying to escape. And then I relaxed and felt the healing power flow through his hands. I breathed deeply and felt as I do at the end of a Rolfing session. Although this Sensei was not my Rolfer, even though he really does practice Aikido.

Lastly, I was walking along a street in White Rock. It was night and I was upset, possibly scared. I kept seeing people getting run over by cars on the street. Most would get up, brush themselves off, and keep going. I saw a mother and her daughter get run over on the opposite side of the street. I ran to them, and was yelling at the driver to stop, which he did. I was helping the mother and daughter to lay down on the sidewalk, and took the young girl's hands in mine. Begging with her, pleading, I kept asking, "where does it hurt, are you hurt?" The mother was fine but wanted to sleep. The young girl was fine too. We sat back with our heads on the curb and saw a white van with a yellow hat flying in the air above us. A teenaged girl was sitting on a chair atop the van and was holding its reins and hollering at us. While it rightly is an amusing and funny sight, it was terrifying. The girl kept flipping the van in the air, doing hundreds of flips and circles. I watched it in absolute terror, certain it would fall on top of us. The girl seemed to know that we were mortified and kept hollering and laughing and flipping. Another flying vehicle began to float over us, and I was sure this one would do us in. And then I woke.

It's About Time...

2009-02-23T13:02:00.007-07:00

I was recently made aware of this Consumer Reports article on the state of US maternity care.

They even include a handy little quiz to test your knowledge of commonly cited facts and figures regarding standard maternity care.

Childbirth, and specifically natural childbirth, became a passion of mine during my first pregnancy. Having birthed both my babies naturally, the second one at home, has furthered my interest in knowing whether women of today have access to the information they need to make informed choices regarding childbirth.

Consumer Reports cites this October 2008 report Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What It Is and What It Can Achieve, by Carol Sakala and Maureen P. Corry. This report has all kinds of information, and will hopefully be useful in the new Administration's healthcare reform.

As I stepped through the portal of 2009, many of my back-burner interests have surged to the forefront. My role in the natural birth community is one of them. Shall I become a licensed midwife? Should I become a childbirth educator? As time permits, should I pursue my degree in Chinese Medicine and focus on women's health and childbirth? Do I continue my herbalist studies and focus on women's and children's health? How about a massage certificate?

All these ideas have been swimming around fervently in my head for the last several weeks. I'll keep letting them swim for a while, but I imagine at some point some of them are simply going to drown, and I'll have to send the Coast Guard in to rescue those that remain.

I found some cool new links to post on my blog, and I've included them under Earth Grown.

Herbs for the Season -- Yerba Santa, Mullein, and other Bronchials

2009-01-07T11:35:00.009-07:00

Winter is upon us, and blessing us with an abundance of snow.

Fortunately, nature has also provided a bounty of herbal options for those who find themselves under the weather, and caught with the unpleasant situation of a bronchial illness.

Coughing is a protective mechanism that helps to clear the lungs and throat of irritants and fluid. Coughing may be also a symptom of more serious upper respiratory conditions such as croup, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Continuous, spasmodic coughing is exhausting, and can cause difficulty sleeping at a time when rest is critical.

When the chest is full of congestion, and coughing is not helping to expel the phlegm, a decongestant herb may be useful. Yerba Santa, Eriodictyon spp. is used as a bronchial dilator and expectorant, and also is considered a mild decongestant (1). The smoke of Yerba Santa is an antispasmodic herb, which can be particularly useful when bronchial spasms are rudely persistent. While it might seem contrary to reason to smoke a substance during a respiratory illness, for this particular herb, a scant amount of the smoke can provide a welcome relief from coughing spasm.

Yerba Santa is one of those herbs that smells truly medicinal. It has that turpentine-type odor that seems to dredge up dormant memories of our great-great-great-grandmother's cough syrup--even if we never had to privilege of meeting her--it seems to me to be an instinctual body memory of some sort. Take a sniff and you'll know what I am talking about! While the odor is strong, the taste is somewhat sweet.

To prepare a Yerba Santa decoction, take a tablespoon of the dried, ground leaves and add to 1 cup boiling water. Boil for 10 minutes, let it cool for 20 or so minutes, strain, and drink. Up to 1 ounce of the dried herb can be consumed safely throughout the day (1).

Another lung herb is Mullein, Verbascum thapsus. People with a predilection for being outside all summer long, might fondly refer to Mullein as Toilet Paper Weed, as it offers itself up for emergency use. It is also called velvet plant, blanket leaf, and Gordolobo in NM. Mullein is a sedative to the lungs and also helps to relax bronchial spasms. Mullein leaf smoke is also considered antispasmodic and have been used for centuries in smoking mixtures for asthma and bronchial infections (1).

To prepare Mullein tea, take a tablespoon of the dried chopped leaves and add to 1 or 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from heat, add honey or maple syrup, cool to a drinkable temperature, and drink slowly (1).

A third herb that is useful for lung conditions is Elecampane, Inula helenium. Elecampane is indicated when a cough has lingered much too long, thus turning chronic. It is specifically used for bronchitis and asthma. Elecampane is an expectorant and due to its warming, carminative properties it also helps to decrease mucous in the body (2).

A strong decoction of Elecampane is made by using 1 oz of the dried root to a pint of water. Bring to a boil, and let steep for 20 minutes. 1 to 3 cups of this tea can be drunk throughout the day (2).

A fourth effective lung herb is Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara. Coltsfoot is an expectorant, is anti-inflammatory, demulcent--which is soothing to the throat and stomach, and helps to reduce spasmodic coughing. Coltsfoot should not be consumed by pregnant women, or by children under the age of 6, as it contains very small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). Both the leaves and flowers contain PA, which are known to be associated with venoocclusive liver disease with excessive or prolonged use. Coltsfoot should not be taken during pregnancy and lactation, and should not be given to children under 6 years old. Most herbalists consider short-term use of coltsfoot for acute URI quite safe in older children and adults (3).

Coltsfoot tea is prepared by using one ounce of dried leaves and flowers to a pint of water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes. This can be drunk 1 to 2 times a day for 2-3 days if necessary.

Finally, Lobelia, Lobelia inflata, also called Indian tobacco, is another very effective herb for spasmodic coughing caused by bronchitis and other upper-respiratory infections. Lobelia is and expectorant and an antispasmodic (2). Because it is an emetic, and is commonly employed to induce vomiting for other types of illnesses, it is best to use the lowest dosage necessary to help relieve coughing spasms. The leaves and flowers of Lobelia are commonly employed in smoking mixtures to relieve bronchial spasms, and is particularly suited to certain asthmatic individuals (1).

Bronchial herbs are generally quite specific in their actions, and are used for short periods of time, until relief is felt. The herbs listed above can be combined with other herbs to create formulas specific for the illness at hand. I've found these particular herbs to be very effective in reducing coughing spasms, and for bringing relief during an upper respiratory infection.

I've observed that when a sickness progresses to the chronic stage, that is, when an illness has worsened or continues to linger for more than two weeks, people are often inclined to head to the doctor seeking antibiotics with the hopes that the antibiotics will kill off whatever has been infecting them, and to prevent (as the doctors love to say) the illness from going "deeper".

However, this idea that antibiotics are going to cure the chronic cough has not been proven effective, and in fact it may do more harm than good. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the consumption of 235 million doses of antibiotics in 2001. It is estimated that 20-50 percent of these were unnecessarily prescribed for viral infections (4). Antimicrobial drug use rates have been highest for children (5) with inappropriate prescription of antibiotics accounting for at least 40 % of antibiotic prescriptions (6).

The main rationale for antibiotic prescription, despite the known lack of efficacy, lies in the premise of preventing complications (i.e. pneumonia) from secondary bacterial infection (7). Data suggests that this practice is ineffective, and analysis of five randomized clinical trials concludes there is no substantial evidence of a protective effect against secondary infection (8).

Moreover, this practice has caused conflict amongst medical experts. It is primarily due to excessive antibiotic overuse that some pneumococci are resistant to all oral antibiotics. Recent antibiotic use is now considered a risk factor for developing invasive illness with pneumococci and there is increased risk of clinical treatment failure when treating certain pediatric diseases (8, 9, 10, & 5).

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), antibiotics are extremely cold in nature. If a viral illness is presenting with symptoms that TCM considers to be cold in nature (i.e., with chills, achiness, low-grade fever, and intolerance of cold) antibiotics tend to drive the illness deeper into the body, and generally cause the body to take longer to recover. If an illness is presenting symptoms of heat (i.e., high fever, headache,, irritability) the antibiotics may cause symptomatic relief temporarily, as they work to reduce the heat. However, when an illness is viral in nature, the antibiotics are really only affecting the symptomatic response to an illness, and not truly working on the sickness at all.

In my opinion, it's better to save the antibiotics for those times they are truly needed so as to prevent our bodies and bacterium from developing resistance to these medicines. They truly do serve a purpose, but generally NOT for a viral illness.

As this winter progresses, may we all be strong and well, and may we be appreciative of the amazing capacity of our immunity. Herbs can be very useful allies to keep us well and whole, and to be used for specific purposes, as needed.

________________________________
References:
(1) Michael Moore, 2003. Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, Revised and Expanded Edition. Museum of New Mexico Press.
(2) Michael Tierra, 1998. The Way of Herbs. Washington Square Press, Published by Pocket Books.
(3) Aviva Romm, 2004. Upper Respiratory Infection (URI) in Children: The Emerging Need for Botanical Strategies. Journal of the American Herbalists Guild, Spring/Summer 2004.
(4) MacKay D 2003, Can CAM therapies help reduce antibiotic resistance? Alternative Medicine Review. 8(1):28-42
(5) Dowell S, Marcy M, Phillips W, Gerber M, Scwartz B 1998, Principles of judicious use of antimicrobial agents for pediatric upper respiratory tract infections Pediatrics. 101(1):163-165
(6) Besser E 2003, Antimicrobial prescribing in the United States: good news, bad news Annals Of Internal Medicine. 138(7):605-06
(7) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998a, Careful antibiotic use: pharyngitis in children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
(8) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998b, Careful antibiotic use: resistance and antibiotic use. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA
(9) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998c, Careful antibiotic use: rhinitis versus sinusitis in children. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
(10) Rosenstein N, Phillips W, Gerber M, Marcy S, Schwartz B, and Dowell S 1998, The common cold- principles of judicious use of antimicrobial agents Pediatrics. 101(1):181-184

New Year--New Ideas--New Creations

2009-01-03T18:47:00.003-07:00

I've recently been inspired through unexpected means.
Inspired to write fiction--once the passion of my creative soul.
Inspired to remove all negative thoughts and speech from my day to day life.
Inspired to dwell in all that has to do with true love.
Inspired to help those around me.
Inspired to pursue those callings that have continued their subdued siren songs in the background of my life even during times when the mundanities of life have clouded my hearing.

I feel an upswelling of creative fire growing from deep within and simultaneously I have a very logical desire to pursue my next career in the healing arts.

The close of 2008 and the door into 2009 has been starkly real for me. I do not recall any other New Year that has felt so...well, New.

Is it the Change that our President elect, Mr. Obama, predicted?

Is it the events leading up to my profound need to change my life and my thoughts that have caused the strength of this feeling?

Is it simply the ever-continual change that is a part of life?

I feel as if I'm on the brink of an amazing new way of being. The threshold is more than a doorway to the unknown, it is to all I've ever known, and all that I've understood, but have never been able to translate into language. Suddenly all that I've been pushing aside is staring at me head-on.

What have I ignored that I now must face?

As I have witnessed my normally focused self perform such senseless and scattered acts in the last several weeks...from losing my cell phone and ski poles to crashing my car, it became apparent that my choices in thought, speech, and attention were losing clarity. Even while I was encircling myself in an inspiration and absolute deliciousness of love inspired by books I was reading, it was evident that a self-imposed negativity that was so profound in other aspects of my life were contributing to this lack of focus.

And then, it seemed, I suddenly woke up. I came through the fog and had these profound and magnanimous feelings of change. Once I changed my thinking, it immediately felt like the train of my life regained its tracks...and I'm pushed to follow through.

I'll be very interested to see where this year will go.

I'm wishing each and every one of my friends, family, and acquaintances a prosperous New Year, full of Joy, Good Fortune, and Blessings. I am grateful for living a life that is so blessed with amazing people, amazing family, so much love, and such quintessential beauty. I am blessed.

Let's Get Some, Get Some, Get Some...Go Again!

This Warm Weather

2008-11-18T22:06:00.003-07:00

Sixty seven degrees today,
at 1 o'clock when I climbed into the car
hair wet from sweating and even hotter still as I felt the stale car air.
Sixty seven degrees and sky so blue the mountains stood out sharp--
the rocks jagged and broken alongside the blackened remnants of trees holding tight to the horizon.
What is this weather?
The bees gone now for over two weeks may start buzzing around again looking for nectar.
A lone purple aster jetting out from the morphing patch of thyme that is slowly consuming my strawberry patch.
And the sky!
No clouds there, only the vast emptiness that causes a blue so deep it pierces my soul.
My soul that has begun its annual longing for the sky's gift of snow.
A longing that can be soothed only with the darkest gray of snow-filled clouds that continue to provide for hours on end.
A longing that rears up once the skies begin to clear--even if only for a moment.
Where is that snow?
Those clouds?
I am yearning to trod through trails laden deep with cover...to feel my heart rate climb while walking at altitude.
To stand at the top of an open run, the trees splayed apart as if beckoning me to fall free.
And yet, I am ever hopeful. Hoping that soon this will not simply be a longing in my mind, but reality.

Happy 91st! Grandma!!

2008-11-10T23:04:00.004-07:00

My Grandma is truly awesome. There really is no other way around it.

Today she celebrates her 91st year on this planet, and I think that's just fine.

Of all the people who have influenced me in a positive manner, I'd have to say she was top of the list. A numero-uno.

I'm so fortunate to have grown up with my wonderful grandparents. My grandma took us under her wing many a summer, winter, spring, and fall day. And she sure did haul us around with her. Back then, there were no seat belt laws, car seats, or any of that safety stuff. But we did have Grandma!

The best memories?

Hot dog pita bread sandwiches, with home-made tomato relish while reading Mad magazines and Sunsets, out in the hammock. Tomatoes, corn, and apples. Apricots, peaches, and cucumbers.

Trying to keep up with Jim and Denise riding horses in the pond, coming in to eat, going back out to the pond, and then spending the rest of the day riding horses in the river. Did Grandma ever complain about sand on the floor?

(I think I better recuse myself from that answer, or else I better learn from example.)

Knowing she was making jewelery while I was lounging in the hammock.

Wandering around getting stickers in my socks, nearly falling into the wells I didn't even know were wells until I was on top of them, slinking back into the house to pretend I hadn't been climbing over the wells, and then begging for a snack--usually peanut butter crackers, so that I could cool off and chill out. Until the next time, that is...

Riding in the back of the Ranchero to Santa Fe.

Riding to the dump in the back of the Ranchero.

Ghost stories under the stars.

Sleeping on the roof.

Walking back home after ghost stories on the roof!! SCARY!!!

Listening to stories about driving to Mexico in the Ambulance.

Ghost stories in the Ambulance. SCARY!!!

Going to lunch with your friends.

Rancho de Chimayo.

Going to lunch with my friends. (Remember Julia?)

Yesterday.

Today.

Tomorrow.

You rock, Grandma!!!

(Too bad we never got a picture of my head all wrapped up in those bandages the day my ear got ripped open on the playground...I just remember you coming in to the nurse's office to get me, and by some stroke of karmatic luck there had to have been about 22 other kids all bandaged up and broken apart and hoping that the next grown-up to walk in the door was their own...and there you were, which made my heart open wide, and you took one look at the sorry lot of us, shook your head, and said, "what have we here, a war zone?" I couldn't help but beam with joy walking out of there with you. Thanks for picking me up that day!)

Of Viruses and Antivirals

2008-10-22T15:50:00.004-06:00

Cold season has already hit several home runs within my family circle. After the mass humanity of Vegas, and surely what must have been armies of billions of germs, I brought home a lovely virus that began with an iron fist clamp down in my throat, muscle pain in my cheeks and neck, and a headache that felt as if I'd swallowed a gallon of ice cream in one gulp.

Fortunately, my aresenal of herbs was well stocked, and I began taking Gan Mao Ling right away, along with teaspoonfuls of echinacea ever 2 hours, and a specific tea blend that helped to open my pores and initiate sweating. The tea blend I chose for this particular cold was yarrow, elder, eucalyptis, and mint. I alternated this tea with another beverage of hot water, 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice, and honey. Additionally, I took 4 capsules of olive leaf 4 times a day for about 5 days. I drank no coffee, consumed no alcoholic beverages, and drank only soup for 3 days. By day 2 I felt okay. Within 4 days I felt nearly as good as new, and within 7 days I was back on the pony feeling as if nothing had invaded my body or my previous week. Pretty good! I thought. I have only been successful at warding off a cold so quickly only one other time.

I guess all those hours poring over the chinese herbal manuals and discerning the differences between an invasion of wind-heat vs. wind-cold and internal pathogens vs. external pathogens helped me after all.

Of course, when things wnet south less than 3 weeks later, I thought "oh great! a repeat of last winter!" So, off to the acupuncturist I went, this time for some professional opinionating about my own theories. The stress load I'd been dealing with didn't seem to be helping. Between work, a child undergoing her own extreme anxieties and emotional turbulence, a dog that unexpectedly died, and trying to balance work, exercise, keeping up my home, tending to the family, a few outside projects, and a before winter To-Do list the size of Texas, I was starting to feel as if my body was falling apart.

My problem, it turns out, is that I am an extreme optimist. Not only do I think I can do it all, I try, and I don't slow down unless forced to.

The acupuncturist took one look at my tongue, and in her broken English said "You under too much stress." "Thank you," I said, "for noticing." She gave me a strong dose of a calming formula, put me up on the table, and began treatment immediately, even though she had first said the treatment would come later this week. "I must be messed up," I thought, but felt immediate relief once the needles were in.

"Go home and take naps two times week," she ordered. Knowing better, I still said, "but I like to exercise at lunch...you know, get out and be alone, on the trails, running." She nodded and mumbled, and said "I know. But you rest. You need nap two times week." I promised to try.

And I will. It just hasn't worked out with my schedule yet this week.

But during the strength and conditioning class I enjoy on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I felt like my lungs were sodden with peat moss, and I just couldn't get my legs to not feel like anvils, and my head still felt a bit swooshy and weezy. I don't feel sick. Just...tired.

So, maybe tomorrow, instead of going to class, I'll just go home a take a nap.

The antivirals I'm keeping stocked up on, however, for the kids, as well as the adults include:

Olive leaf
Andrographis
Lemon Balm
Isatis

Gan Mao Ling and Yin Chiao are two Chinese formulas that are recommended at the first sign of colds. They contain antiviral herbs as well as diaphoretic herbs that help to open the pores and stimulate sweating.

The theory behind diaphoretics is that they help to eliminate sickness more quickly and prevent a sickness from travelling deeper into the body, where you tend to get more of the awful symptoms and a lingering illness.

Travels and Tribulations

2008-10-02T22:01:00.012-06:00

There is the Vegas in my mind's eye, and there the Vegas that is not. The Vegas of my embedded body memory is the Vegas where tortoises walk across your front lawn after a desert downpour, and where you travel out to the desert to see the tarantulas migrate. The Vegas where swimming pools are a dime a dozen, and breakfast on Sunday is delicious and cheap. The Vegas where the Strip means glamour and success, and is special place to go.

There are the Vegas memories I received from hearing the conversations of my parents and their peers when I was just a Vegas tot scrambling over ashtrays with still-burning butts while I played with my Fisher-Price 8-wheeled ride-on truck.

The Vegas of last week, however, was the Vegas of Mass Humanity. The word Zoomanity kept erupting in my head over and over as we went up the escalators, down the escalators; up the elevators, down the elevators; up the stairs, down the stairs; through the casinos, back through the casinos; waiting in line for $4.99 coffee, waiting in line for $2.50 banana; waiting in line for a tram, waiting in line in traffic. Endless masses of humanity--hands and bodies, and stinky smells, cigarettes and high heels, tourists and locals, casino workers, porn peddlers, faces, butts, and the unrelenting afternoon heat. Oh yes, and those masses of bodies.

Speaking of bodies, both the highlight and the lowlight of the trip was a trip to the Bodies Exhibition that is currently showing at the Luxor. I have been interested in seeing the exhibit since I first heard of it from my physical therapist friend who flew to LA just to see the showing a few years back. In viewing the slideshow that the Luxor provides, I was psyched to see the first image of a mother with her small children discovering what our insides are made of. I should've taken closer note of the constrained baby in the backpack.

The Vegas family vacation all began with picking up my Kindergartner from school, rushing home to down some lunch, quickly packing the final necessities into her pack, and heading down to Albuquerque to catch our plane. My other half, who had already been in Vegas for 3 days, had smartly carried all our luggage, liquid containers, etc. so I hoped for an easy transition through Airport Security with my two pups. No problems!

We arrive at the gate, two eager kittens quivering in anticipation hot on my heels, each wheeling their wheely backpacks full of snacks, toys, and books. We fill up our water bottles in the nearest fountain, and check in at the gate. "Looks like the plane is running early," I thought to myself as I glanced at the board and saw a 5:15 arrival time under our flight number. The girls pretended to be patient for about 5 minutes, when my youngest started wailing in frustration. The young college kid next to us shifted uncomfortably and logged into his laptop. "I need go poop!!" She shouted out at about 98 decibels, at which point the college kid, popped in his iPod earphones. "When's the plane going to be here, Moooommm, when????" My oldest started in with full whining bravado. "Should be any minute," I whispered, hoping they'd take my cue. The next few minutes seemed to ebb and flow with whining, crying, moaning, mock laughter, and lots of hushed whispers from me. My oldest threw herself on the floor, and knocked into the shoes of an elderly gentlemen across the aisle. With grandfatherly grace, he simply moved his feet aside and continued reading his NY Times without so much as a glance. I asked that she respect other people's space, and she inched closer to me, but still sprawled out in the middle of the floor.

I sighed. "What was I thinking, haven't I told myself I wouldn't do this by myself again?" I sighed again and checked my watch. I checked my boarding pass again to make sure of the time of departure--4:35 pm. Wait, wait, wait, I thought, what am I thinking?? I did the quick calculation in my head and realized the plane was running late. Cripes! I thought. How did I get that messed up? We were already over an hour early, now we'd have to wait another 40 minutes? Actually another 65, but by that time, who was counting?

In my delirious haze, I neglected to turn my phone on, or call my Honey to let him know we'd be late...we'll only be a few minutes late, I kept thinking.

I made the brilliant decision to take a shuttle for $20 to the hotel, instead of a taxi. Whoops. We were nearly the last group to be dropped off, after enduring rush hour traffic on the Strip with a crazy shuttle driver. I have to give him props, though, for maneuvering that bus through places I would've taken out the quarter panels on. Finally we get to the hotel, hook up with Daddy, and set out to find out room. The girls are starving, we have nothing but Tootsie Pops and Fruit Leathers.

After an hour of walking and bypassing eateries with no lines, we ended up back where we started, and waited in line. The food was mediocre, but provided some sustenance. Our 6 yr. old hid under the dining table for the duration of the meal, but fortunately we we in a corner booth, so nobody but the waiter seemed to notice, or care.

Back to the room to make plans for the next day. Swimming, Interbike, F.A.O. Schwartz toy store, shopping at a grocery store, and dinner. Pretty simple stuff. After a morning of swimming in the pretty fancy pool, we headed to the Venetian to find Papa and stroll through Interbike. After 88 minutes of driving 2 1/2 blocks and doing 188 passes through the Venetian parking garage, I finally found a spot. The girls and I headed through the Venetian to find the Interbike show.

Entering Bicycle Madness at Interbike 2008

Waves and Waves of people passed all around us and eventually we made it to the show. I got badged up, and we headed into the hall. "I'm staaaarrrrrvvvving" both girls wailed in absolute pity at the same moment. A hustle-shuffle-buffle-bustle moment ensued, and my oldest somehow managed to boot my youngest from the stroller and stole her spot. We had barely entered the doors, when we decided to turn around and find food. It was straight up noon.

The Venetian is a lovely hotel, and for all the massive amounts of consumption that Vegas offers up each day--the Venetian is one of the finest. We made our way to the central palazza and proceeded to wait to be called to a table. Little did I know, but the Venetian offers up entertainment for those strolling and waiting. As we proceeded to take a break by sitting down on a small stage housing a statue, I discovered the statue was a real person. I should've taken more notes about my youngest child's potential, as she shot straight up onto the stage and stood next to the Statue, and refused to come back down. The kind statue moved gently, probably trying to shoo her away, but my stubborn one stood her ground. Finally we convinced her that we were going to eat and she should come along. This is when I discovered that my oldest daughter was trembling in fright about the Statue. I never cease to be amazed at what will turn a perfectly grumpy and hungry child into a sniveling pile of drivel.

Fortunately, the rest of the day went as planned.

Friday we enjoyed the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay, which the girls and I had been to before. It rivals most far-from sea aquariums, and has some pretty cool creatures, as well as architecture.

The "Siginator" enjoying the second tunnel at Shark Reef.

My nearly 3-year old had found a stuffed sting-ray she named Towel while we were at the 3-story toy store the previous day, so we had fun meeting and petting some real sting-rays named "Towel" like this little guy...

After spending a whole lot of money to go through the Shark Reef and eat at the Mandalay Bay Garden Buffet, we decided to take the tram over to the Luxor and go through the Bodies Exhibition . My squeamish sweetie decided to "wait it out" so the girls and I bought tickets and went on in. Being a museum exhibit, and not your typical Vegas photo-op, all visitors are asked to turn off their cell phones and put all cameras away. We entered the first room which housed several small Plexiglas displays and one real skeleton. There were probably 30 people or so in the room. Everyone spoke in hushed whispers. The Docent asked if anyone had questions. I watched the ""Siginator" stroll up to the skeleton, which was not enclosed in any sort of protective case, and knew what was to occur before I could react. Amongst the quiet whispers and quiet sounds of fascination and wonder, I saw this child walk up to the skeleton and reach out as if it were all in slow motion. She clasped the femur of this poor, dead person just as I thrust my arms out in an attempt to prevent the connection. I grabbed my child just as she threw down the iron grip around the femur. As I pulled her away, the skeleton's leg came with us. She released her grip and an amazing crash enveloped the room. The entire room heaved an enormous collective gasp and then utter and complete silence. Eyes pierced through my skin from every direction. In astonishment, I stared wide-eyed at the Docent and she stared wide-eyed back at me. "I'm sure we can fix it," she stammered at me, and I prayed that they could. Thoughts of being ushered away, casino security, payments in the thousands all ran through my head. But suddenly, the skeleton was made whole again.

And just as quickly the entire room emerged into a sound of hurried, hushed whispers of scorn and wonder. I felt my face turn seventeen shades of red and then my baby, my youngest child, erupted into a 100 decibel wail. Obviously the entire series of events had stunned and frightened her. I felt like running away, crawling under a rock, departing the exhibit--well except for the fact that the tickets cost so much. I comforted her as best as I could, endured the remaining minutes of embarrassment, and then we continued on through the rest of the displays, my child clinging to me like a monkey. Thankfully.

The show was fascinating, however. And I do recommend it to most anyone.

After all the day's excitement, after returning to our room, we decided to go escalator hopping for a couple hours. Nothing like going up and down and up and down to make everyone feel better!

We decided to get married, too.

The next day we headed off to Red Rocks to attempt a route before the temps climbed above 95. We got up there around 9 am, and the girls and I strolled leisurely up to the climbs, while their Climber Daddy booked it up in order to secure a route, just in case of crowds. The heat was already unbearable, but once at the climbs we managed to settle into a lovely shady

nook. Some teenage kids were climbing outside for their first time. Always a thrill to watch! (While secretly hoping that someone taught them how to get down safely.) We enjoyed the morning, and the escape from the cigarettes and casino noise. Once the heat became thoroughly too much, we went off to lunch at BJs Brew House--a very delicious option! The food was delicious and reasonably priced, and the freshly brewed beers were craft and tasty.

Back to the pool for some serious swimming and meathouse-watching before it closed. The slide was fantastic, but I sure do wonder how those half-asleep lifeguards deal with all those drunken swimmers. Between drunk grandmas, drunk frat boys, drunk old men, it was astonishing to see that no one had biffed it.

After another night of escalator hopping and strolling around Caesar's Palace and the Bellagio, we got packed and ready to go. Enduring one more round of insane Zoomanity while traveling to the airport and through security, we managed to get to the gate without too much wear and tear--with the exception that we lost Signe's shoes somewhere along the way. We discovered the small-town joys of being a New Mexican when we ran into an old friend at the gate and passed the hour away chatting about home. The girls were much more accustomed to waiting, and not a single wail erupted during our wait to catch the plane.

Now, I need a vacation to recover from my vacation...

Woefully Behind

2008-09-22T22:32:00.003-06:00

But intending to catch up soon!
In the mean time, it's off to Vegas...the land of my birth place, tortoises, tarantulas, and wild burros. Maybe we'll see some!

The 15-acre pool oasis at the Flamingo ought to be tops for the girls. What is Vegas if not an exploration of absolute consumerism, wastefulness, and enjoyment all wrapped up into one tidy, pretend-we're-not-in-the-desert package?

Interbike festivities, and climbing at Red Rocks. Looking forward to a long-overdue vacation.

Perhaps I'll be able to post some while there.

Cheers!

Herb of the Day -- Lemon Balm

2008-08-15T14:53:00.003-06:00

Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Family: Labiatae (Mint)

Description: Up to 3’ high, 2 ft diameter. Leaves oval and serrated and come to a point. Flowers are small, white, tube-shaped, approximately 1/3 of an inch long. Whole plant smells strongly of lemon.

Melissa, in Greek, means Bee. The name seems fitting. Each morning for the last several weeks, I’ve woken up to the gentle buzz of bees working their magic from the Lemon balm flowers growing immediately outside my bedroom window. Lemon balm has a lengthy herbal history, and has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for well over 2000 years.

Lemon balm has historically been acclaimed as an herb “to make the heart merry,” according to Avicenna. Paracelcus called it the “elixir of life” and it was called the “heart’s delight” throughout southern Europe.

Lemon balm is considered to be cold, dry, sour, and slightly bitter in energetics. It’s actions are considered to be sedative, anti-depressant, diaphoretic, antiviral, antibacterial, carminative, antispasmodic, a restorative nervine, and a digestive stimulant.

Lemon balm has been indicated for a variety of uses that run the gamut from skin care to respiratory to digestive to circulatory to genito-urinary to nerves and emotions. It is especially useful for asthma, bronchitis, colds, and flus—and even more-so in children. It is helpful for indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and flatulence. It has been prescribed for painful menses and other menstrual problems—often as a result of emotional imbalance. It is often used for anxiety, depression, hypertension, insomnia, migraines, nervous tension, shock, and vertigo. Lemon balm is said to help one to revitalize the inner self, assisting in promoting calmness and centeredness. It helps to dispel dejection during times of grief or bereavement, engendering a state of quiet peace.

In Chinese medicine, Melissa is said to be sour, spicy, and cool. It affects the lungs and the liver. Its primary action is as a tranquilizer, however it is very gentle, albeit effective. The hot tea helps to bring on a sweat that can help to relieve colds, flu, and fevers. It has been prescribed for mumps, cold sores, and other viral conditions.

Ritual uses of Melissa have primarily been the pursuit of romance. It was often made into a charm to help bring a lover into one’s life and is said to attract romance.

I’ve got more Melissa officinalis than I need, so much, in fact, that this year, I’m going to experiment in every possible way. Apparently Melissa is quite useful as a culinary herb. I’ll include a few recipes to tantalize the taste buds. The French employ this herb in custards and both green and fruit salads. Just a few of the young leaves chopped and added over the top. It is also used to enhance the flavor of fresh steamed or sautéed vegetables, light grains, roast chicken and fish. It can be added to cooked rice, or in the dipping butter for artichoke leaves. Mmmm….Another suggestion is to stuff a handful of fresh leaved with minced green onions and garlic under the skin of chicken breasts, sprinkle with lemon-pepper and olive oil, and roast, bake, or grill. Fresh leaves can be chopped and added to yogurt with fresh berries, or added to a tall chilled glass of white or rose wine. Melissa is known as a traditional wine herbs, and is often used to flavor liqueurs and cordials. It can also be added during the brewing process for flavoring wheat and lemon-scented beers.

RECIPES

Blueberry Lemon Balm Muffins

12 lemon balm leaves
1 cup superfine or powdered sugar
6 Tbsp fresh lemon balm, minced
1 ½ cup fresh blueberries
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup milk
1/3 cup safflower oil
1 egg

Bury the 12 lemon balm leaves in the superfine sugar in an airtight container. Let stand overnight. Combine all ingredients, waiting to fold in the fresh blueberries until last. Divide batter into muffin tins. Sprinkle each muffin with a little of the lemon-scented sugar. Bake at 400 for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden. When cool, sprinkle lightly with additional lemon-scented sugar. (An Herbal Collection)

Herb and Vegetable Stir-Fry

1 head cauliflower, cut into florettes
5 carrots, peeled and sliced thinly
1 bunch broccoli, cut into florettes
1 White onion
(OR ANY COMBINATION OF STIR-FRY VEGGIES OF YOUR CHOOSING)
1 tsp ginger powder
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dillweed, snipped fine
6 fresh lemon balm leaves, cut small
2 Tbsp oil
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
4 Tbsp Tamari
4 scallions chopped fine
1 Tbsp brown sugar or honey
1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 cup cooked rice or vermicelli noodles

Prepare sauce of oil, vinegar, tamari, scallions, sesame seeds, and brown sugar or honey. Set aside. Mix vegetables and herbs and sauté at medium heat in oil. Continue to stir slowly until tender crisp. Mix in the sauce and simmer slowly for a few more minutes and spoon over cooked rice or noodles.

Tropical Smoothie with Mint and Lemon Balm

1 medium banana, peeled and slices
1 medium mango, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1 medium papaya, peeled, seeded, and chopped
3 cups skim milk
¼ cup fresh mint leaves
¼ cup fresh lemon balm leaves
2 Tbsp honey.
Combine all ingredients in a blender,
puree, and serve immediately. Garnish with
sprigs of fresh mint or lemon balm, if desired.
(The Herbal Palate)

REFERENCES:

HERBALPEDIA™ by The Herb Growing & Marketing Network

Herb of the Day -- Hawthorn Berry -- An herb for the Heart

2008-07-22T21:56:00.004-06:00

On Friendship and Communication

While swimming the other day I found myself lost in deep thought. I find this happens to me frequently while swimming, which I suspect is better than being lost in the deep end. So, there I was, counting my laps, and mulling through this ever-perpetual, consistently annoying confliction that has been plaguing my brain for the last 21 months. “Why can I not resolve this issue?” I asked myself for the seventy-seven-thousandth-three-hundred-fifty-second time. And thus began my memory replay of important people and good friends, acquaintances, and friendships turned bad; as well as a reflection upon myself as a human, colleague, acquaintance, enemy, woman, and a friend. Deep thought in the shallow end!

I thought all the way back to my first really close friend. Sarah was 1 year older than me, a brunette with big front teeth, and she lived with her dad on a hill above the ancient adobe house my parents were renting. That was the first stunning revelation I had as a child—that some kids didn’t live with BOTH parents. Divorce was seemingly uncommon, and the fact that my friend’s mother lived more than half a continent away was difficult to swallow. “She didn’t want me.” Sarah would say bluntly, while smacking chewing gum between her teeth. But given the tone of her voice I knew that was just her 5-year old way of showing off in a convoluted and sad kind of way. Apparently it was much more complicated than that, but I’ve never been told the whole story, and thus I’ve been left to my own fabrications.

Sarah and I, however, had a long and tumultuous friendship that had many periods of extreme joy and elation, and definite periods of difficulty. We played together a lot, and we were fortunate to have an ideal childhood set-up of ponds, a ditch, massive amounts of space to roam in, hundreds of trees, a gaggle of dogs, a smattering of chickens, and a couple of ducks. Given the large acreage of all the houses surrounding us, our absolute remoteness away from the real world, tucked in as we were in El Rancho, New Mexico; as well as our minority status as Anglos in a community that was largely Hispanic, we stuck together like glue.

Sticking together saved our gringa butts a few times as kids, like the day the bus driver decided he didn’t feel like driving the extra mile to our bus stop when I was 6 and she 7. We held hands and trembled most of the way, fighting off mongrel dogs and hiding from a number of high-school-aged cholos driving their lowriders along the dirt road. The first one we didn’t hide from scared us so silly we were sure would end up knifed in the river, like in the stories my brother told on occasion. As we made it closer to home, we could hear her dogs barking, and she wisely said, “They’re barking to let us know they can smell us and they are waiting for us.” This seemed somehow comforting, although I did wonder why they didn’t just run down the road to greet us. They chased cars all day long, anyway.

In reflecting upon my current conflicting emotions, I wondered if my ability to interact with people was influenced by these ups and downs with my childhood friend. Perhaps at the root of it all, I mused. There is no doubt that Sarah and I taught each other a lot about relationships. We had a remarkable ability to cause our whole world to explode around us, and then minutes later clamber up a big cottonwood tree, or wade through the ditch as if nothing bad had happened. “Why can’t it be like that now?” I pondered.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master whose work I’ve become very fond of. If only I could maintain all his teachings in the up-front region of my brain so that every one of my interactions with others could be maintained with a positive, smooth, outflow of awareness and without reaction and the subsequent negative thoughts that may arise when communications head south. I’ve never U-Tubed any of his talks, but I imagine that he’s a calm and collected person whose awareness, joy, and centeredness is contagious.

In his understated book, Peace is Every Step he has a chapter titled “Internal Formations.” When I first read this chapter I realized how perfectly it described my recent conflicting events. Such a simple concept-- that knots are being tied up inside me, and all the thoughts and communications, emotions and feelings I have only seem to make them stronger and more complex.

Mr. Hanh is simple in his statement, “When we have a sensory input, depending on how we receive it, a knot may be tied in us.”[1]

“If we practice full awareness, we will be able to recognize internal formations as soon as they are formed, and we will find ways to transform them.” [2] and finally,

“If we know how to live every moment in an awakened way, we will be aware of what is going on in our feelings and perceptions of the present moment, and we will not let knots form or become tighter in our consciousness.” [3]

It sounds so graceful and simple and I understand fully what must be done. But I am simply a mortal human, and not a Zen Master. I work and have kids, and I focus on my personal goals and priorities, as well as maintain the health and well-being of my family and household. I’m not seeking out excuses, but what am I to do? I’ve been struggling to untie these fetters in my soul for over a year now!

The convoluted intertwinings of friendships and acquaintances that take place in a small town cannot be adequately explored within a few paragraphs. I’m hoping that this, too, shall pass…

Now, back to the plants.

Hawthorn Berry
Crataegus spp.

Hawthorns are a widespread group of shrubs, which in our area are quite indistinct...that is you probably wouldn't notice it if you tripped over it, and even then you would be likely to mistake it for something else, namely a rose, even though it has nearly no thorns and really doesn't look like one.

I found my first Hawthorn last summer, while exploring a lovely section of the East Fork of the Jemez River. I had mistaken it for a rose. And then, upon inspecting it closer, my heart, so to speak felt drawn to it. Look at it's lovely purple fruit, I wondered to myself, taste it...Mmmm...sweet, yet tart, Yes! This is the lovely herb I'd been hearing so much about the previous year amongst my herbal classmates.

It is a notably small shrub, although I suspect it could grow to be about 10 or 12 feet in height. It has small, coarse-toothed leaves, hairless twigs that appear almost mauve in color behind the typical brown bark. The flowers are small, white, and in clusters, and the fruit are small, and range from red before they are ripe to a nearly purple-black, and they appear apple-like and very similar to rose hips--but with a much more delicate skin. It is a genuinely attractive little shrub, but has no airs about it.

ACTIONS

Medicinally, Hawthorn is considered to be an excellent nutritive tonic and a restorative tonic for heart and blood vessels. It dilates the coronary artery and improves blood flow to the heart. It strengthens the heartbeat and regulates its rhythm. It normalizes blood pressure. Additionally, it is considered a connective tissue tonic. Hawthorn is safe during pregnancy, and can be used during the later stages of pregnancy if the blood pressure tends to run slightly higher than normal.

USES

Hawthorn has been indicated specifically for degenerative heart disease, arteriosclerosis, aging heart, smoker's heart, heart weakness due to debilitating or infectious disease; weak or irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure. It has also been prescribed for injured connective tissues such as injured ligaments and tendons, arthritic joints, varicose veins, and degenerative diseases associated with these. 4

CAUTIONS

Hawthorn may potentiate the effects of Digitalis. Patients taking digitalis heart medication should seek consultation with their Dr. before taking Hawthorn, or supplements containing Hawthorn.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hawthorn has long been associated with the heart, both physically and metaphorically. Many herbal cordial recipes include hawthorn amongst the primary ingredients, especially for romantic cordials--aphrodisiacs among them!

References:
1 Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step, page 64
2 Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step, page 65
3 Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace is Every Step, page 67
4 Ed Smith, Therapeutic Herb Manual, page 44

Peak of the Summer

2008-07-15T13:01:00.001-06:00

Summer, for me, is the pinnacle of the year. Whether this is due to my birthday being in July, or whether this is simply the manner in which my brain categorizes the year, I’m unsure. Each season is full of its own beauty and wonder and I appreciate them all (except, possibly, the wind in the spring, which I could live without; but I suspect it is vital to many aspects of this region.).

Summer, though…summer is it. The scent of chlorine saturated towels and sunscreen, the sound of flip flops and the buzzing of bees. The flowers waving in light breezes, and the coolness of the evening as the sun slowly disappears behind the mountains…these things satiate my summer satisfaction.

Six years ago today, my first baby was born—without pain blockers, medical interventions, or being taken away to be placed in some plastic container down the hall. Having kept several people awake all night long, I was left on my own with my new baby while everyone else went home to sleep. I, however, was buzzing with energy, despite my 31-hour marathon. Additionally, I felt about as motherly as an acorn lying in the dirt—what was I supposed to be doing? Thinking? Saying? Singing? I wasn’t quite sure. And nothing miraculously came into play once I was an actual Mom, and not just another pregnant lady. The motherly instincts didn’t suddenly come “on-line” like my satellite TV did once hooked up.

I was amazed, however, at how remarkably beautiful this teensy-tiny baby looked, at how long her fingernails were, and that she had not one, but two sets of dimples on each tiny cheek. I did feel remarkably better to have space around my abdominal organs, and I certainly knew that it felt great to finally be done being pregnant. I guessed that I would be able to figure most things about being a parent out, and that whatever I couldn’t, there would be books, other mamas, and grandmas to consult with.

Looking down on that remarkably perfect little face, I really didn’t know how I would change in the future. None of us can forsee the future anyway, whether we are parents or not. I had adamantly said that becoming a Mom wouldn’t change my lifestyle or interests, and for that most part that has been true. I did not, however, expect the deep realization that comes with knowing that should something happen to me, I would certainly decide to become a ghost so that I might have some influence on my kids’ day to day lives.

Reflecting back a short six years ago, I certainly never anticipated how much more motivation I would have to pursue my own interests, while nurturing the interests of my little ones. I didn’t realize that kids can be so remarkably goofy without anyone teaching them how to be, and that they come up with creative ways to say things through nothing more than their own working brain. My favorite? “I have a monster in my foot,” is what this oldest one says when her foot falls asleep. Who would’ve guessed?

Birthdays are special days for most people. A time to reflect on the past and to hope for the future. Perhaps a time to receive a welcomed gift, or to splurge a little on oneself. When I think back on the day that I brought this particular child out onto the planet, I am in awe of the magic of a growing and developing life. SO much to look forward to, and so many potential possibilities!
Happy Birthday, Honey Bee!!

Ethnobotany and the Origins of Plant Knowledge

2008-06-21T10:18:00.003-06:00

I'm reading a fascinating book by Harvard ethnobotany scholar, Wade Davis, better known for his book-turned-movie the Serpent and the Rainbow. The book I'm currently in the middle of, One River, Explorations and Discoveries in the Amazon Rain Forest, is mind blowing. Having spent a good deal of time studying the ethnobotany of the Pacific Northwest native people, I have an interest in the topic. Having never been to the Amazon, and never really having a desire to travel there, I've suddenly changed my mind. Pictures in my mind of "savages," muddy serpent infested rivers, and thick, dark jungles must be a result of the sort of "history" that was given to my schoolmates and I during the 70s and 80s. Not only is this book re-educating me as to the real horrors of the Amazonian jungle--the Spaniards and Europeans and their "missionaries" who infested the jungle as early as the 1500s and continued their atrocities through the late 1800s, but it is also sparking some creative interest in reflecting on theories and ideas of how people came to know the many properties of plants and then created their own rituals for use and teaching.

The section of the book that caused me to again consider the origins of plant knowledge had to do with the late Harvard Ethnobotanist Richard Schultes, who is reknowned for his extensive studies of the Amazon flora and who lived amongst many different indigenous tribes during his time there in the first half of the 20th century. Dr. Schultes had already been living amongst the Amazon peoples for well over a decade, and had already identified and collected thousands of species of plants that were commonly employed for food, crafts, and intoxicant use. He had undergone a multitude of different ceremonies during which a vareity of different psychotropic plants were consumed or otherwise and made remarkably scientific observations about each of his experiences. A hippie of the 60s he was not--this man was all scholar and science. After having recently discovered the Amazonian beverage yage, Banisteriopsis caapi, and learning that a variety of different plants were used as admixtures to alter the effect of the original blend, Dr. Schultes began to ponder what most botanist don't often write about:

"The Amazonian flora contains literally tens of thousands of species. How had the Indians learned to identify and combine in this sophisticated manner these morphologically dissimilar plants that possessed such unique and complementary chemical properties? The standard scientific explanation was trial and error--a reasonable term that may well account for certain innovations--but at another level, as Schultes came to realize on spending more time in the forest, it is a euphemism which disguises the fact that ethnobotanists have very little idea how Indians originally made their discoveries.

"The problem with trial and error is that the elaboration of the preparations often involves procedures that are either exceedingly complex or yield products of little or no obvious value. Yage is an inedible, nondescript liana that seldom flowers. True, its bark is bitter, often a clue to medicinal properties, but it is no more so than a hundred other forest vines. An infusion of the bark causes vomiting and severe diarrhea, conditions that would discourage further experimentation. Yet not only did the Indians persist but they became so deft at manipulating the various ingredients that individual shamans developed dozens of recipes, each yielding potions of various strengths and nuances to be used for specific ceremonial and ritual purposes."

"The Indians naturally had their own explanations, rich cosmological accounts that from their perspective were perfectly logical: sacred plants that had journeyed up the Milk River in the belly of anacondas, potions prepared by jaguars, the drifting souls of shamans dead from the beginning of time. As a scientist Shultes did not take these myths literally, but they did suggest to him a certain delicate balance. 'These were the ideas,' he would write half a century later, 'of a people who did not distinguish the supernatural from the pragmatic.' The Indians, Schultes realized, believed in the power of plants, accepted the existence of magic, and acknowledged the potency of the spirit. Magical and mystical ideas entered the very texture of their thinking. Their botanical knowledge could not be separated from their metaphysics." (pp. 217 - 218)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Truly, the real question of how these native peoples learned of the variety of uses of a multitude of plants will most likely never be answered. The use of a few intoxicating plants may have lead to the knowledge of thousands of plants is the unstated premise. Now, as the rain forest is razed, and the individual native cultures and their millenia of traditions are being lost or westernized, I find only sadness. The fact that only a few students of the botany of South America have had such a short span of time to do their studies (far less time than is necessary for such a magnitude of botanical treasure), and that the jungle is now being destroyed faster than could have been imagined even a few decades ago is just stunning.

The sadness at the loss of habitat is overwhelming. Therefore, I plant my own habitat to surround my domain. Plants for food, plants for medicine.

Beat the Heat

2008-06-03T10:57:00.006-06:00

Summer finally seems to be ramping up, even if those pesky winds don't seem to be leaving for summer vacation. This past weekend proved that once it warms up, it gets downright HOT. Of course, Spring also decided to prove that summer is still not officially here by unleashing a dose of snow at my house yesterday morning, and cooling the temps down once again.

However, I'm optimistic that summer will eventually decide to stay a while, and therefore I thought I'd write about herbs and foods that can help the body cool off after a nice round in the sun.

As we start to get into the swing of summertime activities our bodies may naturally be seeking things that are cool, especially if we tend to participate in activities that heat us up and then leave us parched and dehydrated--like mountain biking, road cycling, rock climbing, running, hiking, etc.

Some local residents are fortunate enough to have a membership to one of the lovely outdoor pools in the area, and others choose to head inside to the local aquatic center for a nice cool down swim.

Kiddie pools, sprinklers, and mud puddles are long known as the choice of cool down for most kids...I think kids just simply have an innate sense of how to have fun and regulate body temps all at the same time. As my daughter demonstrates so naturally...

Many foods and herbs are cooling as well, and can be enjoyed while one is sitting near the pool or the sprinkler...whatever the case may be! Many of these foods are obvious coolers that often end up on the table due to seasonal availability--like cucumbers and watermelon. However, most people probably don't realize that watermelon seed can be taken internally for "summer heat," which is characterized by symptoms of fever, ruddy skin, rapid pulse, and great thirst.

Most mints are cooling because they open the pores of skin and allow for a better transfer of sweat to the outside layer of skin, which will subsequently cool the body. Mint sun tea is often a hit at backyard BBQs and parties! Of course, if we want to have fun with mint, there are all kinds of recipes it can be added to: strawberry salsa with mint, thai soda, mojitos, ice cream, coconut and mint popsicles--you name it!

Chinese medicine has identified the inherent energy of all herbs and many foods into the categories of hot, warm, neutral, cool, and cold. The taste of individual foods often indicate its energy. Bitter foods, like endive or dandelion greens, tend to be cooling. Sour foods, like lemons, are refreshing and cool. Spicy foods, such as jalapenos, tend to be stimulating and heating. Salty foods, like seaweeds and miso, are cool and softening. Full and sweet foods, such as barley and winter squash, are considered neutral to slightly warming.

Summertime cooling foods can include whole-grain salads made from barley, wheat kernals, and mung beans. Tofu is also considered cooling, as is edamame. Vegetables that are cool include eggplant, lettuce, radish, spinach, mushrooms, alfalfa sprouts, summer squash, celery, asparagus, and broccoli.

Cold vegies include tomato, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and snowpeas. Most seasonal fruits are cool, such as pear, apple, peach, and apricot. But watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe are considered cold.

So, in light of all these ideas, it seems that the standard American summer BBQ sampler of fruit salads, green salads, iced tea, and watermelon all help us cool off. Good old potato salad and homemade ice cream help too!

Mmmmm...that all sounds too good!

Feel free to share your recipes for good old summer fare!

Brainy Maneuvers

2008-05-29T13:21:00.004-06:00

I've had a link to my very brainy neuroscientist cousin's blog for quite some time. Sandra Aamodt and another neuroscientist, Sam Wang, recently published an informative and witty book called "Welcome to Your Brain, Why you Lose Your Car Keys, but Never Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of Everyday Life" that is tailored for everyone, not just the neurophiles. Sandra and Sam were recently highlighted on NPRs All Things Considered, and given that I'm very excited for their success, I thought I'd share the links!

Herb of the Day--Yarrow

2008-05-23T09:33:00.006-06:00

Wind, Rain, Cold, Snow, Sun, Heat, and do it all again! We've had a mixed bag of weather around here lately. Mostly, we've had months of cooler temps and lots of wind, but the last 2 weeks have been a roller-coaster of changes, that seem a little off for this time of May--something more commonly seen in April.

It started with some seriously cold wind the weekend of May 10th, that evolved to some much needed rain showers during the next week, which turned to snow, and then back to some lovely calm, sunny days for the weekend, to a seriously rapid rise to the mid-80s mid week, back to rain, and snow!

The heat felt more worse than pleasant as the HVAC unit in the building I work in was out, so while it was a lovely 78 degrees outside, it was nearly 90, stagnant, and sweltering in my office. To go home to a little hot-burning ember of a 2 year old with fever for two of those days, made the heat seem practically unbearable! Then the winds came back with a vengeance, and the snow, sleet, and hail came down with a roar all day yesterday. Currently--a gentle rain. Timing is a remarkable thing...

During the arduous, yet fun Jemez Mountain Trail Run, an acquaintance of mine had a mishap on the trail and thought she was through. Fortunately, due to a lack of pain, and a first aid kit at the Mitchell Aid Station, she was bandaged up and back on the trail passing me after no time! Due to the fact that I was suffering in my own way, my herbal repertoire was shoved way to the back of my brain when I came upon her, bleeding leg and all, on the trail. About 50 minutes and 1,540 feet of elevation gain later, I realized that I could have easily helped her stop the bleeding leg with a few simple steps. She hadn't passed me yet, and I assumed she was at ER awaiting stitches. Little did I know she'd come romping up behind me a mere matter of minutes later. Perhaps my subconscious intuition of her presence spurned my thoughts towards healing, rather than the 7.2 miles of running I had left before me. That and the fact that all around me, I kept seeing fresh, green signs of one of my favorite plant allies:

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, the Warrior's herb.

(drawing copyright Mimi Kamp, courtesty of Michael Moore)

In days of old, you know, like Brave Heart and the Knights of the Roundtable, men used to spend their days in battle. Since men were often a long ways from the comforts of their stone hearths, they often had to rely on emergency methods to take care of gaping wounds caused by the blades of their foes. Yarrow was one such tool these warriors could rely on.

A handful of the fresh leaves, chewed up into a green, sticky mess, and applied to a wound is a highly effective first aid to stop bleeding. If one chooses not to chew up the bitter tasting leaves, they can be reasonably mashed up by squeezing the leaves with your fingers. Oak can also be used this way, and oaks are even more easy to identify and be familiar with. The leaves from an oak scrub, or oak tree can similarly be chewed up into a pasty mush and applied to a wound to stop the bleeding and to decrease swelling and pain. The astringent nature of tannin is what makes both these common plants so useful.

So, note to myself, next time you are laboring through an arduous race by choice, don't let your herbal knowledge sink to the bottom of your brain, lost in the sludge of personal suffering and blatant muscle aching! Think about those who may be hurting more than you, and help them to see the little allies that might be growing around their feet--accessible and helpful.

Tired Feet and New Spring Growth

2008-05-06T08:12:00.004-06:00

After countless weeks of wind: strong wind, cold wind, windy wind, slow wind, and downright nasty wind, I have begun to notice signs of Spring. Real Spring! Not that smokey-hazy-pollen-ridden-wind-swept reality that it has been of late. But Spring...the kind where seventeen different shades of green can be seen as the new leaf buds emerge from their hunkered down curls.

Box Elder beginning to leaf out.

The season where the new spring shoots dive straight up into the air like green swords before unfurling their languid leaves and blossoms into all their beauty. The Spring of nursery rhymes and rhythms where the sight of shoots, buds and blooms invokes a ramble of repeating verses tumbling through my head.

This past Saturday I completed my longest run to date. (I find it amusing that if it had been a mountain bike ride, I would have considered it a "short one.") As I willed myself to continue for the last 1.2 miles, my feet were graciously looking forward to the effort being over. An amazing, and highly recommended 12.8 miles in Bandelier, however, was worth every minute! We ascended the South rim of Frijoles canyon and followed the rim west to the Upper Crossing of Frijoles canyon. Then we descended all the way down the canyon back to the Visitor Center.

Looking West along the Frijoles Rim Trail.

The scenery was stunning! Having never been above the Alcove House (Ceremonial Cave) I had to sometimes simply stop and gawk at the amazing cliff lines that rise straight from the streambed high into the air.

The "Narrows" within the Frijoles Canyon.

The long, gradual climb along the Frijoles Rim trail allows for unmatched views of the ruins within the canyon at the start, and the variety of plants and trees that weather the open and exposed regions on the mesa top. The climb starts in Pinon-Juniper woodland, extends through the recovering portion of burned area from the La Mesa Fire of 1977, and then enters Ponderosa forest before the descent into the canyon. All the way down the canyon I was continually sighing my Ooohss and Ahhhss at the first sightings of my favorite plants--stinging nettles, columbine, chickweed, valerian, clematis, horsetail, and yarrow.

Columbine blooming in the canyon bottom.

The multiple river crossings were lessons in balance and I was continually shocked to discover that I had none each time I had to slow down and work my way across the specifically-placed boulders to ease the progress. As my dear friend and future acupuncturist said, "Running makes you blood deficient, and blood deficiency makes you dizzy," which was the best reason I could find for my lack of any sort of balance at each crossing. Considering she joined in on the run, I figured she knew what she was talking about!

Clematis Vines in the Canyon.

After miles of elegant cliff lines, rock-hopping river crossings, a few surprise hill climbs, and amazing views, I finally reached the Alcove House and was suddenly bombarded with the throngs of mid-morning Saturday visitors. Where I had been previously listening only to the sounds of the river, song birds, the rhythmic pounding of my feet on the dirt, as well as my own gasping, I began hearing the happy chatter of kids walking the trail for possibly the first time, and all the other people making their way up the trail and the ladders. This last 1.2 miles was the most arduous for me, as I knew that the end was near, but I still had to finish that last bit of trail that I knew so well.

The tired-foot treatment began the next day, to allow for all potential muscle swelling to subside. I lit some moxa for moxibustion therapy for my feet and ankles. Holding the moxa rolls close to skin (but not too close!!) helps to increase blood circulation. Remarkably, all soreness in my feet disappeared after about 20 minutes of using the moxa. I was very impressed! This is something I will continue to do between now and shortly after the BIG race I've signed up for--the culimnating event for all this running training I've been doing. Then it's back on the bike for me!

Moxibustion, Traumeel ointment, nervines for the tired muscles, Eleuthero and Rhodiola for stamina, and lots of hot-tubbing and rest!

A solid start to the spring and summer!

Down Time in the Desert

2008-04-25T08:40:00.003-06:00

I am remarkably overdue in creating a new post. This is due to the fact that I finally was able to steal away and leave the regular realities of home behind for a few days. After bathing in red desert sand for six days, I'm feeling a bit more centered, calm, and refreshed. Some of this sand came in the form of a sand shower--that is when the wind blows so hard, the very finest sand penetrates every fabric possible (including metal), and scours away the surfaces of skin, hair, teeth, and eyes and you are left feeling as though you visited a fine spa for a whole body scrub, only you didn't have to pay anything at all. And the sand doesn't come off when you're done. However, given that when the wind slowed to a minor squall, and we could hear eachother talk again, it seemed that the coating of sand was just another fine aspect of camping in the desert. After a couple days, you don't even notice it in your drinks and in your food!

Regardless, I've been busily trying to catch up to all that needs tending to, and this blog is one of those things.

I had to jump right back into the training fire this week, especially since I've signed myself up for the grueling Atomic Man Duathlon's Fat Man Course. Ack!! It sounded good three weeks ago when I was feeling very good about my training schedule, but now with nearly two weeks off save for a couple beautiful mountain bike rides, a short desert run, and ZERO time on the road bike, I'm feeling a bit nervous about my whole choice of endeavors.

Plus, thinking I would have some time to ride the long lonely road into Canyonlands while on vacation, my poor road bike endured the sand showers as well, and is likely containing an abnormal amount of sand in places it should not be.

It is quite likely that after Sunday's race, I'll be in dire need of some of the following topical preparations!

EXTERNAL HERBAL PREPARATIONS
There are a variety of commercial liniments that are extremely effective in relieving sore aching muscles, strains, and bruises:

Po Sum On Oil
Zheng Gu Shui Liniment
Tiger Balm salves, liquids, and oils
Dit Dat Jiao Liniment

Other non-Chinese preparations include:
Arnica gel or spray
Traumeel Cream
Alcis Cream
Topracin Cream

Ginger Compress
Our kitchens often contain all we need to heal ourselves. An easy compress to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and warm cold or painful joints is a ginger compress:

Grate a 2-inch chunk of fresh ginger into 2 C hot water. Cover and let stand until the water turns yellow, or about 5 minutes. Soak a towel in the tea and wring out gently so that the towel is still saturated, but not dripping. Apply to the affected area, cover the wet towel with a dry towel, and place a heating pad or hot water bottle over the top towel. Repeat as many times as needed.

Mustard Plaster
This is a pain relieving plaster, it increases circulation, and reduces swelling.

½ Cup ground mustard seed combined with just enough water to make a thick sticky goo. Spread a fairly thick layer over painful area and cover with a warm damp towel. Allow to set on skin just until you start to feel it burn and then remove the plaster using warm water and soap. Don’t leave on too long, as blisters will form!

OTHER
Homeopathic Remedies and Flower Essences can be very useful if injured. I highly recommend keeping on hand the following preparations:

Arnica 30c—Indicated for Sprains, strains, bruises, trauma. Extremely effective when taken immediately after any kind of accident, trauma, or contusion. Speeds recovery times.
Ruta grav 30c – Indicated for sprains, broken bones, and trauma. Especially useful for more chronic conditions like sprains that are difficult to heal.

Medicinal Herbs for Athletes -- NERVINES

2008-04-04T11:48:00.005-06:00

Nervines are my favorite category of medicinal herbs. They are particularly interesting because they affect the mind/body interface moreso than any other category of herbs. Herbalists can often match an individual with a particular herb based on the personality of both, or based on an individual's constitution type. Nervines are often known more for their relaxing and sedating properties, and used for conditions such as anxiety, stress, and hypertension. But many nervines can be useful for conditions which require a more stimulating action, such as with depression or lethargy.

Nervines are used to treat a variety of conditions including neurological disorders, hypertension, restlessness, insomnia, anxiety, nerve fatigue, nerve pain, numbness, and muscular aches and pains. Some nervines work to relax muscle tissue—alleviating spasms and cramping and pain. Others work by supplying specific minerals to the nerve tissues, such as calcium and magnesium, which act to counteract the debilitating effects of stress and pain. Many nervines are calming and sedating, helping to relax nervous tension, easing feelings of stress and anxiety, and assisting in relaxation. Fortunately most nervines have none of the side-effects of typical sedatives or narcotic pain relievers.

Athletes tend to push themselves harder than the average person, and as such often experience more than average aches and pains following hard sessions of training or after races. Many nervines contain antispasmodic properties and can help to alleviate muscle pain, or nerve pain such as sciatica, that may result from periods of enduring physical stress.

The following are some nerviness that may be useful during training:

1. Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) – Considered to be a restorative nerve tonic, is useful in preventing muscular spasms, and is a mild sedative. I call this my Grumpy Mama herb—the one I choose when I start feeling like the Mama I don’t want to be…works quickly! Scullcap is effective for a variety of personalities and constitutions.

2. Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnate) – This herb is considered to be a calmative and sedative, it helps to prevent nervousness and restlessness, is considered an anodyne for the relief of pain, and is antispasmodic. It is especially useful for children and the elderly. Helps to induce a calm, natural sleep, useful for painful menses, muscular twitching, nervous headache, and persistent hiccups. Also useful for teething babies. Used to prevent worry and anxiety.

3. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) – This herb is antispasmodic, calming, mildly sedative. It is also anti-inflammatory and especially useful for external skin eruptions. This is another good choice for children and babies who are teething. This herb is considered for nervous irritability, PMS, nervous stomach, fevers, colds, and flus. Chamomile is said to restore a sunny disposition by driving out darkness and despair.

4. California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) – Safe and non-addictive sedative. This herb is antispasmodic, helps to prevent muscle spasms, is analgesic thus preventing and relieving pain, and is soporific, meaning it induces sleep. It is useful for anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, headache and toothache. This herb is also useful for children and is especially indicated for bedwetting associated with nervousness.

5. Saint John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) – Saint John's Wort is currently more commonly associated as a depression remedy, but among herbalists it is better known as a highly effective remedy for nerve and spinal damage. It is also extremely useful for nerve pain associated with viral conditions such as herpetic inflammation (shingles), as well as trigeminal neuralgia and sciatica. It is considered a long-term restorative for the nervous system as a whole, and can be useful is addressing depressions caused by long-term exhaustion, stress, illness, and injury.

All these nervines can be taken in tea form, tincture, and capsule or tablet. Many can also be applied in tea or tincture form externally to reduce inflammation and pain. There are a variety of other nervines such as Valerian, Black Cohosh, and Lemon Balm that contain many of the above-described properties, and which may be more specifically useful to certain individuals. Lemon Balm is considered to be the Children's Remedy Extrordinaire as it is good for colds, fevers, nausea, vomiting, and restlessness.

My next discussion will be on external remedies for pain, soreness, and injury.

Happy Training!

Medicinal Herbs for Athletes -- TONICS

2008-03-31T14:47:00.007-06:00

3 Herbal Categories Useful for Athletes:

· Tonics – increase energy, increase endurance, and stimulate the immune system.
· Nervines – resolve pain, nourish nerve tissues, relieve muscle spasms, and calm and relax the mind.
· Topical Preparations – formulas used to relieve strains, sprains, soreness, and
swelling.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), exercise is essential to maintain health. Physical activity promotes the flow of Qi –which is our life force or energy, and promotes the flow of blood throughout our circulatory system.

However, excessive exercise is considered to be taxing to the body and may lead to “deficiencies” within the body. Rest is considered to be the primary method for preventing deficiencies and to ensure the body has time to rebuild and maintain Qi and Blood.

The concept of Yin and Yang is the foundation of TCM. Yin is considered feminine, fluid, cool, and nourishing; and Yang is considered masculine, drying, warm, and stimulating. Running, is considered to be a Yang activity, and should be balanced with Yin activities such as Yoga, stretching, swimming, easy cycling, or Tai Chi. Cross-training with Yin activities will help to promote balance within the structural body.

The use of herbs as medicine and food has been occurring as long as humans have walked (or run!) the Earth. Ideally, our food should be our primary medicine, and we can supplement our food with specific herbs to enhance the tonifying and nutritional value of food. A diet consisting mostly of whole grains, legumes, steamed or sautéed vegetables, and moderate amounts of protein will help to maintain our health, and support our body—especially during periods of high intensity training. Supplementing our diets with specific herbs can be useful in maintaining our immune system, supporting and tonifying specific organ groups, and enhancing endurance.

Additionally, the use of external herbal preparations can help to alleviate sore muscles, strains, and sprains.

Herbs are biochemically available to our bodies, and our bodies have had millennia to create receptors for the constituents present in herbs. Synthetic pharmaceuticals have been around for about 100 years, and are useful for certain conditions. Herbs generally work by helping to support the body as necessary, enhancing the body’s ability to heal itself without masking symptoms or driving illness deeper within the body.

TONICS
Most people are familiar with the tonic herb Ginseng (Panax ginseng), which is widely used around the world to increase energy, strength, and endurance, as well as to stimulate the immune system. There are actually six kinds of “Ginseng” used in TCM, and only two are actual Ginsengs. The other herbs share similar qualities as ginseng. Ginsengs are considered to be the Kings of all tonics, but each type has specific actions on the body, and not all are appropriate for everyone.

As athletes, we are exerting stress upon our bodies during periods of heavy training. In using tonics, we can help to counteract that stress, and maintain a strong, healthy body.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
One tonic that is very useful for most athletes is the Siberian Ginseng. This herb is considered to be a Qi tonic, and counteracts stress and fatigue. Additionally, it is prescribed for rheumatic conditions, and is considered to be antispasmodic—helping to reduce muscle spasms. Siberian Ginseng can be taken daily by athletes to increase stamina.

Cordyceps (Cordyceps spp.)
In China, Cordyceps is considered to be virtually essential for athletes who rely on strength, speed of foot, and endurance. Recent Research has shown that Cordyceps is restorative after excessive exertion, and it may improve physical endurance. Cordyceps helps restore cellular energy levels during times of high stress. It helps boost functions associated with the adrenal cortex that aid in the adaptation to stress. Cordyceps increases respiratory capacity and efficiency. Cordyceps is also an immune-stimulant. Cordyceps has been shown to benefit the vascular system, improving the function of circulation at the capillary level. According to TCM principles, Cordyceps is used to tonify Qi, replenish Yin and Yang “Essence”, (which is thought to be the very foundation of our life-giving energy), strengthen the body and mind, and is said to be “anti-aging” and have rejuvenative capability.

Cordyceps is one of the absolute coolest fungi on the planet. The spores invade the pupae of various species of caterpillars, use the infant caterpillar as food, overtake the pupae and eventually sprout a fruiting body.

Lycii Berries (Lycium barbarum and L. chinensis)

This delicious fruit of the Wolfberry bush is very widely used throughout Asia and is thought of as a superb Yin and Blood tonic. The fruit is easily added to cereals, yogurt, and trail mix. You can find it at health food stores in a product called Himalmania. It is sometimes called Goji berry. We have several related species here in the SW, and this popular xeriscape plant is easily found at most local nurseries. Recent research has shown that Lycii fruit has significant antioxidant activity. Lycii berries may help athletes produce more lean muscle mass and experience strength gains. The berries contains substances that protect DNA, they contains polysaccharides that have been demonstrated to stimulate the immune system. Zeaxanthin, a carotenoid abundant in Lycii berries, may produce functional improvement in vision. It has been reported that it could markedly increase androgen levels in the blood, making patients feel more energetic.

In TCM Lycii is used as a Liver and Blood Tonic, it nourishes the vital essence of the body, calms the heart and the nervous system. It is said to brighten the eyes, promote cheerfulness and vitality. It is also said to strengthen the legs.

Reishi Mushroom / Ling Zhi (Ganoderma lucidum)

In China, Reishi is called the Herb of Immortality, and is thought of as the premier herb for longevity and health. Reishi is abundant in chemical constituents known as polysaccharides, which play an important role in strengthening the body's overall immune functions. Extensive research has been performed on the constituents present in Reishi. Research has proven Reishi to be anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-parasitic, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic, anti-hypotensive, and hepatoprotective. It has also been found to inhibit platelet aggregations, and to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar. Ganoderic acids in Reishi inhibit histamine release, improve oxygen utilization and improve liver functions. Ganoderic acids are potent antioxidant free-radical scavengers. Reishi may improve the physical condition of the cardiovascular system. Reishi stimulates the production of interferon and interleukins I and II, which are potent natural immunity-boosting substances produced in our own bodies. According to TCM Reishi is a Qi, Essence, and Shen (Mind) Tonic. It is said to protect the entire body, it nurtures the heart, protects the liver, and promotes calmness, centeredness, balance, inner awareness, and inner strength.

Nervines are next...

A few easy remedies

2008-03-23T14:20:00.005-06:00

Since, it seems, that many people are currently reeling from the after effects of some noxious nasty or another, I thought I'd provide a few quick and easy remedies for some of these lingering symptoms of colds, flus, etc.

The majority of these can be purchased in health food stores, specialty herb stores, or most chain natural food markets.

Additionally, all these products are Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified, and if you choose the brand name along with product name, you can be assured that there are no heavy metals, unknown pharmaceuticals, fillers, sugars, artificial colors, or other unknown contaminants. Given that these are Chinese forumulas, and some are manufactured in China, GMP certified products are especially important to herbalists and the herb industry.

Sinus Congestion and Sinus Infections

Bi Yan Pian

Clinical Uses:

allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic rhinitis, perennial rhinitis, acute and chronic sinusitis, post-nasal drip, upper respiratory tract infection, common cold, and influenza.

Ingredients:

Xanthium sibiricum fruit, Magnolia denudata flower, Forsythia suspensa fruit, Saposhnikovia divaricata root, Angelica dahurica root, Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome, Glycyrrhiza uralensis root, Schizonepeta tenuifolia herb, Chrysanthemum indicum flower, Schisandra chinensis fruit, Platycodon grandiflorum root.

This formula is espcially useful for chronic congested sinuses--the ongoing stuffed-up nose that simply doesn't goes away, even though it's been 3 weeks since you got the darn cold to begin with. Also, it is very effective for sinus infections, usually clearing them up within a day or so.

Horseradish Root

Another good choice at the early stages of a sinus infection, grate 1 Tblsp. of fresh horseradish root and add enough apple cider vinegar to cover the root. Drink the cider vinegar and discard the horseradish. Like wasabi, it immediately enters the sinuses and provides some immediate relief. Another option, is, of course, to simply go have sushi and eat as much of the wasabi as you can stand!

Low Energy

Does it seem like you're still draggin' your tail, even though that cold or flu is several weeks behind you? It's likely that you could use a little help boosting your immunity and energy after a bout with some of the nasty stuff that's been circulating this winter.

Siberian Ginseng

Not a real ginseng, Siberian Ginseng, or Eleutherococcus senticosus, is especially useful after enduring a particularly hard sickness. It is anti-inflammatory, counteracts stress and fatigue, and is often prescribed for low vitality and a lack of endurance. Siberian Ginseng helps to increase blood circulation and is said to be a Qi (Energy) Tonic.

If using the tincture 40 to 60 drops 3 to 4 times a day for several days should help. This is also a respected plant for athletes, which I am still planning to elaborate on, as it increases endurance and stamina.

Increase Immunity

After a bout with a hard-to-shake illness, it's good to do a short blast of immuno-enhancing to get yourself back on track. My recommendation is a 4-week blast using two simple herbs, Echinacea and Astragalus.

Echinacea has past been in the news in articles where the intent is obviously to debunk or discredit the herb and its benefits. The articles (A quick Google search in the news archives will take you to many of these) often refer to the ineffectiveness of Echinacea at preventing colds, or reducing symptoms of colds. There is much debate about the kinds of scientific studies that have been performed with Echinacea; some are well done, some are not. That's just the way scientific studies are. However, herbalists have long known that while Echinacea does not prevent colds, nor reduce it's symptoms, it is quite effective at boosting immunity.

Generally, it can be safely taken when sick to help reduce the duration of colds and other sicknesses. And after sickness, it is generally regarded as a simple remedy to boost immunity. It is often recommended for two weeks time. Echinacea pupurea is thought to be the most powerful of the Echinacea species. Herbs Etc. make a wonderful tincture called Echinace Triple Source that has all three Echinacea species in it, and it makes your mouth all tingly so you know it's strong! Some herbalists feel that the benefit of using Echinacea to enhance immunity are reduced after two weeks.

Echinacea should not be taken by those allergic to ragweed, those with autoimmune disorders or if taking drugs that can hurt the liver.

The second immuno-blast herb is Astragalus. According to MedHerb, Astragalus membranaceus one of the top fifty herbs used by clinical herbalists in the U.S., where it placed sixteenth. Clinically, it is known for building resistance to colds and infections. It also figures prominently in the herbal treatment of cancer, AIDS, and autoimmune diseases. It builds overall immunity, strengthens the lungs, and improves the digestion. It increases endurance and body weight in animals. American varieties of astragalus are known as “locoweed” because of their overstimulating effects on cattle that eat too much of them. In Chinese medical terms, astragalus is said to build up the protective Qi, also called the Wei Qi. Astragalus is the primary herb in Chinese herbalism used to strengthen Wei Qi.

My instructor Leslie Tierra used this analogy for using Astragalus: use this herb as your "home defense system" as it can help build your body's immunity such that the outer walls are like a fortress, but at the first sign of a cold or other sickness, stop taking Astragalus, as that is like locking the robber in the house...and the last thing we want to do is lock a sickness in!

Astragalus can be used long term and its effects are said to increase the longer it is taken. Post sickeness, I suggest starting astragalus after all known symptoms of the illness are gone, and after the Echinacea has been taken for two weeks. A two-week "blast" of Astragalus should help the body back to it's strong and healthy state.

Cheers to Good Health!

Bumps in the Road

2008-03-20T11:08:00.002-06:00

To say the least, despite this being the Year of the Rat, supposedly the year of new beginnings, my family and I have finally had enough of the new beginnings of illnesses upon illnesses, upon illnesses.

While this is supposed to be a blog about health and healing and the use of herbs to maintain and get you there, it all goes out the door (sometimes) when kids are involved.

Given the last 5 weeks of snot and such and watching it all deteriorate into pneumonia with one kid and a serious non-pneumonia respiratory infection with the other, I am amazed at the amazing power of viruses and the amazing differences in the ability of one body versus another in dealing with them. One kid is fine one day, sick the next, fine for a week, sick for a day, fine the next, sick again, fine the next, and then BAM!! Pneumonia. The other kid has been sniffling, snuffling, dripping, coughing, moaning, cranky, clingy, irritable, irritating, and generally unwell for 4 weeks, and then BAM!! Super serious do-we-need-to-rush-to-ER-in-the-middle-of-the-night sick. And then she maintains that level of sickness for 5 straight days.

Sigh.

Fortunately, I think she's turned the corner and is on the up and up.

To add insult to injury, I of course got sick again, for the 2nd time in 3 weeks right at the apex of the do we hospitalize or not time-frame.

Mother's can't afford to get sick when everyone is healthy and happy, but when the poop is hitting the fan the last thing anyone needs is a sick Mama.

Fortunately, Mama does know herbs, and I managed to pick the right forumula to knock the crap out of this virus. And while it hasn't left my body, it didn't entrench itself there like it did with the kids, and I definitely feel like I'm on the mend.

It all reminds me of being in 9th grade when I got strep 3 times, the chickenpox, bronchitis, and several normal colds, all between the months of November and April. Now that was a picnic! The chickenpox were miraculously obtained from a book of childhood illnesses I read while babysitting one night, and 4 days later I was covered in a lovely shade of polka-dot. I managed to give it to the 5 or so people in high school who also had somehow never been exposed. What a joy.

In all upbeatedness...I hope that's all for now. Let's get on to some real new beginnings--like vacations to fun places we've never been!

'Tis the Season for Training

2008-03-09T14:26:00.004-06:00

This little community is known far and wide as an excellent location for high altitude training. In addition to the many athletes that come here to train for specific world class events, there happens to be a large number of world class athletes who reside here. I am far from a world class athlete, although I'm honored to be friends with quite a few.

Growing up, I was one of those kids that had to face the difficult position of being born with natural athletic skills, yet my parents had little interest in me joining any sort of athletic team outside of standard school-day events. I can (sort of) understand where they were coming from. They both worked a fair distance away, and each of them commuted about an hour each day to work. Due to our rural locale, grocery shopping, and other such mundane errands required a commute as well. By the time the weekend rolled around, I imagine they didn't want to get tied down with running me all over the northern half of the state to soccer games, or gymnastics meets, or volleyball tournaments, or swim meets. It was easier to say, "why don't you go play outside," and be done with it.

Granted, as a result of our rural locale, I spent the majority of my childhood outdoors, and I loved every bit of it. Between the ponds, the ditch, the river, the horses, the Barrancas, the arroyos, the bikes, the acres and acres to explore, I definitely kept myself busy. But the reality was, I wanted to play soccer, I wanted to take gymnastics, I wanted to be on the track team, and I wanted my own horse. As I got older, and it became evident that band was the only extra-curricular activity I would be encouraged to participate in, I gave up my athletic interests for chain-smoking Camels on the Plaza with my friends. Naturally, we ended up walking quite a bit as we searched for friends and parties within the city limits, but it was certainly a far cry from joining my peers at the track meet for the weekend.

My senior year in high school, however, I hooked up with my future husband and he happened to be an avid outdoorsman. Being a guy, he was able to spend his teenage years camping with his best bros, spending all weekend long hiking up and down mountains, through canyons, and everywhere in between. When he wasn't in the mountains, he was skateboarding, and when he wasn't skateboarding, he was practicing martial arts, and if he wasn't doing any of those things he was playing his drums. It became evident pretty quickly that if I was to keep this fine catch, I was going to have to give up the nasty cigarrette habit (fortunately that was simple), buy myself a pair of hiking boots, and whip my butt into shape. The first hike he and I took together, I seem to recall dying about 200 yards from the trailhead. My lungs were bursting and stopped working, my legs were burning from a fire that began from within my very bones, and I was sweating something awful. I felt like a total wimp. I probably cried, too, but he was kind to me and has memory issues, so he probably doesn't remember that.

As the days wore into weeks, and the weeks into months, it soon became obvious that something was happening to me; I was getting better and better at hiking. Soon, I started running after school--just for fun, I became a pretty darn good sipa sack player, I needed a new pair of hiking boots because mine wore out, and I took up karate.

When I went off to college, I kept running, I started swimming, and I bought my very first mountain bike--a "purple haze" colored GT Karakoram. It was a dream. Soon I was navigating the sopping wet, moss and root-laden trails that went down to the beach on our campus, and maneuvering the steep climb back out. Over the next several years I became a full-time bike commuter equipped with plastic bags over my feet, my books in garbage bags inside the panniers, and outfitted in full gore-tex due to the sodden conditions I lived in. It was awesome. And honestly, I was quite righteous about it.

As my love affair with mountain biking progressed through the years, I dappled with a few mountain bike races--but puking in the woods on a Sunday pretty much cured me of that. So, I just satisfied myself with long, beautiful mountain bike rides, bought myself a road bike, and continued with all my other interests such as climbing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, swimming, running, karate, and taking my dogs for hikes.

Then one day I decided to try a sprint triathlon. Much more fun than any mountain bike race, I thought I might like to train more seriously. I didn't, however, have a clue what that meant. I consulted with my personal trainer / world cup mountain bike racer friend. She helped me develop a training program, performed all the baseline tests to help me guage my progress, and provided me with a workout calendar to track all the training. I was stoked! Then I got pregnant, and my training program pretty much went out with the wash.

Despite the short interlude during which time I still swam and did karate regularly, I came back with gusto. Birthing a baby at home sans doctors or drugs surely helped to fire me up. I was ready to start training again!

My next triathlon, however, was nothing to write home about. I was slightly under the weather, and it became obvious pretty quick that my idea of what I'd done to train was really not worthy of even being called training. The next triathlon was a bit better, I trained much harder, got a gold medal in my category, and wasn't even sore the next day. Pretty cool!

And here I am today. In the midst of week 5 of my new training program. A real training program, with a real coach, a real team, and with a race goal at the end. And this time it's a 1/2 marathon trail run. The Jemez Mountain Trail Run, which is notorious for its climbs. I'm not really a runner. Not in the ultra-runner sense of the word. I'm just hoping to improve my running even more.

In retrospect, I can see that I might be trying to make up for the lost athletic time I could've spent during my childhood. But, then again, maybe I'd be just another jock burnout if I'd done athletics all through school. So, with all the focus on training, and supporting the body during periods of high intensity exercise, I'll have several posts this week on herbs and supplements that have been proven to be helpful for athletes.

But for now, I'm going to go prepare a nutritious feast, as all that exercise is making me hungry!

Ciao!

Spring Forward -- Even if it's not yet Spring!

2008-03-06T10:35:00.003-07:00

It’s that time of year again! We spring forward from Standard Time to Daylight Savings Time. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Standard Time has actually become a misnomer. Daylight Savings Time now spans nearly 3/4's of the year, which makes Standard Time less standard than it has been for nearly 30 years.

Interestingly, even the concept of a standardized time is relatively new to modern world, being used in the United States for under a century. Before the concept of Standard Time, the entire world operated on Solar Time, or “Sun Time.” For millennia, time had been measured based upon the position of the sun with noon being the moment when the sun was highest in the sky. Prior to the invention of mechanical clocks sometime during the Middle Ages, people used sundials to measure time. Villages and cities would set their clock by measuring the position of the sun, and every city was on a slightly different time. Thus, time measured by the sun on a sundial is called Apparent Solar Time, or true local time. When time was measured based upon a longitudinal meridian, it was called Mean Solar Time.

During the 1800s, Great Britain instituted the first Standard Time because those who operated the railroads were most concerned about the inconsistencies of time from one town to the next. During the late 1800s, the railroads in the United States began to feel constraints due to these inconsistencies between town to town, and the initial steps towards time standardization began. It wasn’t until 1918 however, that Congress enacted the Standard Time Act of 1918, and time thus became standardized for the entire country. Well, sort of. Included in the Standard Time Act was the concept of preserving daylight for 7 months of the year and beginning on March 31.

The option to use Daylight Savings Time became a matter of choice for individual cities. Most chose not to implement it. Most cities and counties around the country used their own guidelines for following Daylight Savings Time, and there was no consistency from coast to coast. It wasn’t until the Uniform Time Act of 1966 that the Government once again stepped in and established the rules for Daylight Savings Time: it would begin on the last Sunday of April, and end on the last Sunday of October. If a state chose to not use Daylight Savings Time they could pass a State Law regarding the issue.

Jump forward to 2007, when a quick glance at the calendar left me befuddled and confused. “What?! Daylight Savings time begins now? Holy smokes! What has caused this atrocity? It’s not even officially Spring yet!” While, I’ll be the first to admit that more daylight in the evening is a great thing for those of us who crave nothing more than getting out on the bike or on a hike, or out for a run, or a walk with the dogs, or a quick session climbing, etc. But, for those of us who wake with the sun, and rely upon daylight to regulate our internal clocks, this whole change from the end of April to the second Sunday in March is no good at all!

Just as I’m finally able to get up and moving before the hour of 7 am, suddenly I’m forced to rouse earlier than my body is ready to, and thus a straggling and harried morning confusion ensues. At least for a couple weeks.

As that chaos ensued last March, I had to know who I could thank for this disruption to my internal clock, and a quick Google search gave me the answers I needed. I could wholeheartedly thank the manipulative Dick Cheney. Yeah, “Thanks, Dick” pun intended. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, I am now a walking zombie a whole 6 weeks earlier. I won’t even bother going into the controversy surrounding the development of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. It will just make my head hurt.

However, the fact that Daylight Savings Time is considered to have some sort of energy savings associated with it does seem somewhat puzzling. It seems to me that if it is dark and cold when I wake in the morning, it is unlikely that I'll be helping to conserve energy by igniting my lights, or raising the thermostat. A couple of researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara are curious too, and their interesting draft paper can be read here. Their conclusions are that there is no energy savings at all, and in fact, Daylight Savings Time increases energy demands. How's that for smart policy, Dick?

So, here we are, poised to Spring Forward this coming Sunday. My bicycle will be happy, and my children likely will too, when they to romp at the park or in the woods a little while longer. In fact, when my dear little sweeties are sleeping soundly in the wee hours of the morning, while I’m scrabbling bleary-eyed towards the espresso machine, I’ll probably be happy too. At least for a few moments.

And that leaves us to discussing an herb that may help us make the transition into spring a little earlier a little easier.

Nettles

Latin Name Urtica dioica
Other Names Stinging nettle
Part Used Leaf, rhizome
Herb Forms Tincture, capsule, bulk herb.
Affects Blood, Digestive system, Urinary system
Cautions The fresh leaves can cause skin rash.

Description
Nettles are known to be rich in chlorophyll and minerals and are used for anemia and weak blood. Nettles have been shown to have antiallergenic properties and may be useful for hay fever. The cool tea is taken for urinary problems, such as cystitis and gravel. Nettles increase the excretion of uric acid and are used internally or externally for arthritis and rheumatism. Nettles are slightly diuretic, cleansing, and hemostatic. The rhizomes are often recommended by herbalists in Europe to alleviate inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland and are blended with saw palmetto berries. The nettle greens are among the most nutritious foods known, containing a large portion of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and a complete protein. The powdered or fresh greens can be used as a tea or food to help build the blood in cases of blood deficiency with fatigue, or as a preventative. Nettles are considered very useful during pregnancy, and can safely be used during the entire 9 months. After steaming, the stinging properties are completely destroyed.

Nettles has a taste of SALTY, BITTER and a temperature of COOL.

Nettles are often one of the first spring greens, arriving along the moist banks of annual and perennial streams, and near springs, seeps, and marshes. As such, many herbalists have considered Nettles to be useful for cleansing the blood of stagnation that may have accumulated during the dark days of winter, and from a diet heavy in starches and proteins. Nettles are also useful for the hayfever, which in our neck of the woods, arrived in early spring. Nettles are more tasty than Spinach, in my opinion, and are used by many cultures as a steamed green, which is made more delicious with some fresh garlic, toasted sesame oil, a little rice vinegar, and tamari.

Nettles are more notoriously known for their stinging and blistering properties, which if you’ve ever found yourself enmeshed in a patch of nettles in the middle of the night while hiking back from a hot spring, you’ll know what I’m referring to! However, even the stinging properties of nettles are revered by the Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, who, prior to launching on all-night whale hunts, would lash their bodies all over with fresh nettles, to help them stay alert and awake during the hunt.

Leaping Towards Spring

2008-02-28T15:51:00.004-07:00

As we pass with the gracious addition of one more day into the month of March, it truly is feeling like we are entering maaliskuu (Finnish for earthy month as the earth starts to show from under the snow). The weather is balmy by all comparisons, the ground is moist and losing its tundra-like temperatures, and the deciduous trees are beginning to unfurl their ends into pollen releasing wonders. To say nothing about the Juniper (Ahh-chooo!).

The Ides of March, St. Patricks Day, the Vernal Equinox, and Easter will all be upon us just as quickly as ever.

It's been quite a week.

Between getting sick while traveling, returning home to extremely sick children, and thinking that this is now the second trip of the season where timing has been horrible, I've spent some serious time wondering why sickness is necessary at all.

I grew up with a mother who believed that to say "I'm sick" was to accept the plight of sickness for the time it took for the sickness to come in, arrive in the body, set up camp, do its business, decide to move out, and for health to once again arrive. It was suggested to me to never say "I'm sick." In fact it was suggested that I never even say things like "I'm sick and tired of..." because even such a benign statement as that could invite sickness into the body, which would thus overrun and cause all sorts of maelstrom-like activities to occur within the body.

Interestingly, as I've aged, and been sick many more times than I can count (fortunately nothing beyond the normal sick stuff...), this advice has managed to get stuck in my psyche. When the first twinges of illness show their nasty little tendrils, instead of saying, "I feel awful" or "Uh oh, here it comes, that nasty crud that's been going around," my first instinct is to say "I WILL NOT GET SICK!!!!!" Followed by a whole slew of curse words in my head.

Being a Mama, getting sick is akin to being chained to floor and having your children jump on your stomach endlessly, so essentially, getting sick is not an option, at least not for more than a few minutes. When it really happens, God forbid, then may blessings fall at the feet of the Mama at hand so that life can progress forward without any ill effects.

This advice my Mother doled out while I was a kid who was secretly hoping for sickness so as to avoid that mandatory necessity called school ,has actually proven effective. At least in comparison to others I know. On average, I've found that my illnesses last fewer days than those around me (non-mothers, of course). Of course this may be attributed to the arsenal of herbs and other supplements that I flood my bloodstream with, but I tend to take the superstitious view and place the result on my attitude.

With all that, I'm thankful that for today, at least, during this lovely pre-spring day, I was feeling better, even while nursing my little ones back to health.

Now those gardens are another topic...

La Lune & Ashwaganda

2008-02-21T12:40:00.006-07:00

One of my favorite celestial bodies is the Moon. Also known as Luna, la Lune, Луна, Φεγγάρι, Mond, Maan, to translate into just a few different languages, the Moon is our Earth’s only natural satellite, and has scientifically confirmed influence on the ocean tides, and unconfirmed influence on the psyches of humans.

Wikipedia is full of all sorts of interesting snippets of wisdom regarding the moon and its darkside, and if you have time to browse it, I fully recommend it!

Being an astrological Moon Child, I have been drawn to lunar associations ever since I was a gothic, jaded, and moody teen. When I entered college, and disposed of my gothic persona, I became drawn to the cosmic, ethereal forces of the moon. Since I lived 20 ft from a tidal bay, I was able to witness the effects of the moon on the tides two times each day. I commuted to school on bicycle, and I had to ride up a long, steep hill each day on my way to class. I noticed that on the mornings when it was high tide AND a full moon, it was infinitely more difficult to ride up that hill—almost as if the gravitational pull of the tide and moon was pulling my bicycle backwards towards the murky, muddy depths of the water—reaching for my soul and attempting to suck me into a death of cold, deep mud.

Even now, as a down-to earth, practical, and grown-up adult, I am still drawn to all things lunar. Whenever I see the fingernail-sliver of the waxing or waning crescent moon, I still draw my breath and admire in wonder. I’ve even hooked my moon child 5-year old into my lunar fixations. When she sees the sliver of crescent moon in the night sky, she delights in chanting “Mommy’s favorite moo—oon, Mommy’s favorite moo—oon,” like a mantra of a sing-song know-it-all.

Last night, after we’d been happily spending our evening in the warm waters of the therapy pool while the local chapter of the A&FCP&D rehearsed in our playroom, my daughters and I had the fortune of watching the lunar eclipse. Due to a bit of overcast clouds, when the eclipse reached its apex, the moon seemed to vanish completely into the night sky.

Thoughts of ancient times danced through my head~~what would our local ancient natives have thought as they witnessed the disappearance of the moon? What did the Vikings think was happening? The ancient Greeks? Some of these questions are addressed in myths and folklore surrounding eclipses. But the thoughts of my 5 year old were equally mythological. As the sky became dark and the place where the moon was hidden covered with thin clouds, my daughter began a slight wimper, “Come back, Earth, come back Earth…the Earth is going to disappear with the Moon…I don’t want to disappear! Mama, make the Moon come back!”

I was thoroughly fascinated. A child is essentially operating on primal emotion and instinct for many years before society eventually kills those instincts off. I was witnessing her own primal reaction to the eclipse and was able to observe how the mysteries of the unknown truly do trump all that science has to offer. Sometimes it’s just too cool to have these little beings around to remind us of that!

During my studies of herbal medicine, I’ve discovered a wealth of myths and folklore surrounding the cosmos, plants, and healing. Many herbs are presumed to be under the influence of the moon, and so, today’s lunar herb of the day is Ashwaganda.

Ashwaganda, or Winter Cherry

Latin Name: Withania somnifera

Ashwaganda is a member of the nightshade family, however it lacks the poisonous constituents found in other nightshades such as Datura and Belladonna. Typically found and cultivated in India, Ashwaganda is generally prescribed to overworked, overstressed and often hypertensive people. Ashwaganda is India's native answer to Ginseng and it is currently being applied in Ayurvedic medicine to treat hypertension and stress related ailments. It is also prescribed for male infertility and is said to increase libido. In Ayurvedic medicine, Ashwaganda is said to be a rejuvenative herb, and is considered an adaptogen—meaning that it helps the body to adapt to stress and change and restores balance to the body’s physiological functions. It is also used to help treat memory loss associated with aging. A double-blind study found that ashwaganda prevented stress-related ulcers and vitamin C deficiency, and increased energy and endurance when under stress. It is well established for its effectiveness in dysmenorrhoea. It is said to produce an estrogen-like effect that enhances the repair of the endometrial tissue and stops bleeding. It is also useful in internal bleeding, hemorrhoids and also hemorrhagic dysentery.

Constituents

The plant is rich in potent alkaloids, including withamosine, visamine, cuscohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, pseudotropine, anaferine, isopelletierine, and withaferin A. The plant contains a large number of novel compounds known as withanolides.

Parts Used

Eastern and Western herbal medicine use the dried root. Most notably, the dry, cut root. Berries of this plant are mildly toxic to the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, however, the berries are used as a rennet substitute for the making of cheese.

Typical preparations

Tea decoction from the root, liquid herbal extract, herbal capsules (non-standardized) Dried crushed or powdered roots can be applied to food or directly consumed.

Precautions

Botanical safety guidelines in the US and Germany have suggested that Ashwaganda may be a mild abortifacient and it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Herb of the Day -- Dandelion

2008-02-18T10:19:00.005-07:00

Despite some recent spring-like conditions it is indeed still Winter, and it might be a good time to start thinking about herbs that can help the body transition from winter to spring. Winter diets tend to be more starchy and laden with carbs and fats, and as the seasons begin to change, our bodies might naturally start craving lighter fare that has a cleansing detoxifying action. This week I'll focus on some herbs that can be useful in supporting the body as the season ends and the days gradually shift towards spring. The first one for this week is Dandelion.

Latin Name: Taraxacum officinale
Other Names: Lion's tooth
Part Used: Root, Leaf
Herb Forms: Tincture, capsule, tablet, teabag, bulk herb, powder.
Affects: Endocrine system, Liver
Cautions: The root is contraindicated in cases of bile duct or intestinal blockage and gallbladder inflammation.
Botanical Info: A common plant of the Aster family with single flowering heads full of bright yellow strap-shaped flowers on hollow, unbranched stalks with hairless, large-toothed leaves.

Medicinal Uses:

Dandelion root, ubiquitous in lawns and gardens, is widely-used for cooling and cleansing the liver; it is excellent in herbal formulas for hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver toxicity. It increases the flow of bile and has been used for a variety of liver-associated illnesses. Dandelion has anti-carcinogenic, estrogen-lowering, and blood cholesterol-lowering capabilities. It also helps with headaches, emotional swings before or during menstruation, acne, red, irritated eyes, mood swings, and other problems related to "liver heat" and is a strong diuretic. In Chinese medicine dandelion root is taken internally and applied topically for abscesses and nodules. Additionally, it is used to increase lactation and clear liver heat when there are symptoms such as painfully inflamed eyes. Dandelion root tea is also a famous specific for breast cancer but should be taken in conjunction with other blood purifying herbs, such as sarsaparilla, red clover, and burdock root, as well as appropriate immune-strengthening herbal therapy and positive dietary and lifestyle changes.

According to Chinese herbal energetics, Dandelion has a taste of BITTER, SWEET and a temperature of COOL.

Dandelion is a natural diuretic that increases urine production by promoting the excretion of salts and water from the kidney. Dandelion may be used for a wide range of conditions requiring mild diuretic treatment, such as poor digestion, liver disorders, and high blood pressure. One advantage of dandelion is that dandelion is a source of potassium, a nutrient often lost through the use of other natural and synthetic diuretics.

Fresh or dried dandelion herb is also used as a mild appetite stimulant and to improve upset stomach (such as feelings of fullness, flatulence, and constipation). The root of the dandelion plant is believed to have mild laxative effects and is often used to improve digestion. Research suggests that dandelion root may improve the health and function of natural bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies have also reported that dandelion root may help improve liver and gallbladder function.

Some preliminary animal studies also suggest that dandelion may help normalize blood sugar levels and improve lipid profiles [namely, lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL ("good") cholesterol] in diabetic mice. However, not all animal studies have had the same positive effect on blood sugar. In addition, research needs to be conducted on people to know if this traditional use for diabetes (see Overview) has modern-day merit.

Dandelion may be used in a variety of available forms:
Dried leaf infusion: 1 - 2 teaspoonfuls, 3 times daily. Pour hot water onto dried leaf and steep for 5 - 10 minutes. Drink as directed.

Dried root decoction: 1/2 - 2 teaspoonfuls, 3 times daily. Place root into boiling water for 5 - 10 minutes. Strain and drink as directed.

Leaf tincture (1:5) in 30 % alcohol: 100 - 150 drops, 3 times daily

Standardized powdered extract (4:1) leaf: 500 mg, 1-3 times daily
Standardized powdered extract (4:1) root: 500 mg, 1-3 times daily

Root tincture (1:2) fresh root in 45 % alcohol: 100 - 150 drops, 3 times daily

Possible Herb-Drug Interactions:

Dandelion leaf is a diuretic and may increase the excretion of drugs from the body. If you are taking prescription medications, ask your health care provider before taking dandelion leaf. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use dandelion preparations without first talking to your health care provider:

Lithium -- Animal studies suggest that dandelion may worsen the side effects associated with lithium, a medication used to treat bipolar disorder.

Antibiotics, quinolone -- One species of dandelion, Taraxacum mongolicum , also called Chinese dandelion, may decrease the absorption of quinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin) from the digestive tract. It is not known whether Taraxacum officinale , also known as common dandelion, would interact with these antibiotics in the same way. As a precaution, dandelion should not be taken at the same time as these antibiotics.

A Valentine of Mine

2008-02-14T12:51:00.004-07:00

I've had a few Valentines in my life, including the very special 3 that I currently share my life with, however, none have been so very Valentine as my very special Valentine Grandfather.

You see, he was born on February 14, 1917 in a little place just outside of Salt Lake City. Twenty four years later he met his Sweetheart, and they married on Valentine's Day, 1941.

During my childhood, once the potentially heart-breaking ritual of giving and receiving classroom Valentines was done for the day--my Grandfather created a family tradition of always giving a box of Senor Murphy Chocolates to all the granddaughters and ladies in the family. It was a treat I continued to cherish until 2006~~ the last Valentine's Day my Grandfather was present for.

My Grandfather was an amazing person. His interests were varied and spanned the realm between nuclear physics and teaching himself to play the piano late in his retirement. He was praised for his remarkable ability to grow the sweetest corn that side of the Rio Grande, and was the first to show off his computers~long before anyone owned a "personal PC" much less a laptop thinner than a notebook. He used to read Tolkien to me when I was probably too little to understand what I was hearing. And on those rare mornings I had to catch the schoolbus from their house, he made a point to serve me Cornflakes with homemade vanilla ice cream simply because he could, and noone else (not even my Grandma) would complain.

Being a girl, I've always been a sucker for all things Valentine: cupcakes with pink frosting, heart-shaped boxes filled with chocolates, home-made paper hearts, and secret admirers. But thanks to my Grandfather, I've never been one to complain when my own Sweetheart showers me with compliments rather than roses, mostly because I've come to value the long-lasting love that comes with family, and that seems to trump all the commercial consumerism that most holidays seem to be about.

Anyway, on this Valentine's Day, I continue to miss my quirky but wonderful Grandfather, and I'll be sure to cherish even more my sweet little Valentines, and my very special Sweetheart.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Herb of the Day -- Honey

2008-02-13T16:46:00.005-07:00

Being new to this blog writing business, I'm trying to develop a theme for this site that will be fun for me and useful for others.

While not exactly mind blowing, I was thinking that perhaps an herb of the day lesson might be useful for some, and if nothing else, interesting for others.

With that...

Yesterday I wrote an all too long treatise on Dal. While I like Dal well enough and we do eat it quite frequently, I'll be honest in saying that I don't eat it for weight loss or for strictly health reasons on average. Apparently, in China Dal is called congee, or porridge, and is also used as medicine. Typically the Chinese will add some useful medicinal herbs to the batch and will tailor the herbs to whatever ailment is presenting itself. Personally, I tend to stick with the "green chile and garlic cures all" mentality. But since I study this stuff and have imbued my brain with countless hours of research, I still feel like I have to share the traditional medicinal concepts and practices of other cultures.

Since yesterday's topic was really a response to the Bomb Town News Observer blog regarding the consumption of meat, and the disgusting excess (that comes with a cheap pricetag, but high cost) that has become the norm here in our American culture, I thought that perhaps I should introduce the concept of Purgatives today.

Herbs that fall into the category of Purgative are, well, purging...and generally they act from the "bottom" down.

Some are extremely powerful and can be used for only one dosage, while others are considered gentle, and can be used daily. There are 3 types of purgatives: attacking, lubricating, and cathartic.

Attacking purgatives purge internal heat and inflammation. Lubricating purgatives (also called laxatives) attract and hold water in the intestine to lubricate it and also help to promote bowel elimination. Cathartic purgatives are the most powerful and are used to forcefully evacuate solid and fluid waste--thus these should be used with caution.

Ayurvedic medicine promotes the use of an ayurvedic formula called Triphala, which gently eliminates "excess" without creating dependency. Triphala can be purchased in most natural food stores, or ordered on the internet.

Today, however, I'll focus on one sweet little purgative that is probably not known as a "laxative," and that sweet nectar is HONEY.

According to Chinese medicine, Honey, or Apis melifera, has a neutral energy and a sweet taste.
Honey affects the lung, spleen, and stomach meridians.
Honey contains natural sugars, inorganic salts, enzymes, protein, wax, pigments, resin, aromatics, pollen, choline, Vitamin A, B2, C, and D.

In Western Herbal medicine, Honey is said to be antitussive, aperient, demulcent, tonic, laxative, and expectorant.

Honey is especially useful for chronic dry stool, and constipation in the elderly. It should not, however, be used for chronic diarrhea. Cinnamon is more useful for chronic diarrhea.

Generally, the dosage for constipation would be 15 to 30 grams, 2 to 4 times per day.

Honey, can be taken with tea, and will lose none of it's purgative properties even when mixed with tea.

Even though Honey is considered to be a laxative, it is probably more well-known as an expectorant and demulcent --meaning it helps the body to remove phlegm, and is moistening. It truly is one of those wonderful blessings from little bees that those Vegans are really missing out on.

More later!

Food of the Gods

2008-02-12T11:42:00.001-07:00

“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine, your food,” -- Hippocrates

It is generally recognized by most systems of natural medicine throughout the world, that the majority of all diseases begin in the stomach, with symptoms such as faulty digestion emerging first. In areas of the world where food is scarce, it would be unthinkable to treat diseases caused by inadequate nutrition with raw foods, liquid fasts, or vegetable and fruit juice as these would not supply the adequate amount of protein and complex carbohydrates and would only cause more degenerative wasting.

In the West, where food is abundant and excess is more likely to be the underlying cause of disease, raw foods and juice fasting may be more appropriate as an initial treatment to eliminate and detoxify excess waste clogging the circulatory vessels and organs of the body, however as a long-term diet it often leads to deficiency and weakness.

Few of us are sufficiently in touch with how food affects our mental states, emotions, and overall state of health. However most people understand the hyped feeling that comes from consuming too much sugar, the heavy, dull feeling from an excess of dairy, fats and red meat or the ungrounded, spacey and unfocused effects from too much chocolate or caffeine.

Kichari and weight loss
Indian Dal, also called Kichari is a mainstay of East Indian cuisine and consists of split yellow mung beans or lentils, and white basmati rice cooked together with ghee (clarified butter) and mild spices. According to Ayurvedic medicine, Kichari detoxifies the entire system, and helps to kindle the body’s digestive fires called ‘agni.’ Unlike other fasts or restricted diets, following an exclusive diet of kichari with the addition of some steamed seasonal vegetables and fresh fruits and perhaps a few tablespoons of yogurt mid-day, supplies all the bodies’ nutritional needs and will cause no nutritional deficiencies.

An exclusive diet of kichari for at least one to several weeks is the safest and best way to lose unwanted pounds.

In Ayurveda the human constitution is evaluated according to the three basic body types, Vata - sensitive, and nerve oriented; Pitta – fire oriented; and Kapha – water oriented. This is called Tridosha and is the cornerstone for all Ayurvedic treatment.

Ayurveda teaches that each individual is naturally born with a predominance of any one or a combination of these three basic types and that this dominance is reflected in one’s overall constitution, personality, and their day to day climatic and dietary preferences and aversions. Thus the term ‘dosha’ means ‘fault’ because an imbalance of any of the Tridoshas is deemed the cause of disease. Ayurvedic treatment then goes on to prescribe dietary, herbal, activity, and lifestyle changes that are specifically intended to restore balance to an individual.

This ancient medical theory has its modern scientific counterpart with the more contemporary theory of somatypes developed in the 1940’s by American psychologist, William Sheldon. This is a respected scientific principle of physiological and psychological medicine probably and shares similarities with the Ayurveda tridosha system. Sheldon corroborated three body types, endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph with human temperament types. These are described below with their Ayurvedic tridosha counterparts.

The endomorph corresponds to Ayurvedic Kapha type and has a more phlegmatic, naturally rounder shaped body with a greater tendency towards stockiness along with congestive and digestive disorders. They are more prone to conditions and diseases exhibiting an excess of fat, fluids and mucus. Their complexion and hair is lustrous and more oily. Temperamentally they are slower responders but with a tendency towards greater tolerance and pleasurable self-indulgence. Negatively they may succumb to greater rigidity and ‘stuck’ manners of being. The stereotype is “the fat, jolly person.”

The mesomorph corresponds to the Pitta type is tends to be musclular and have a fiery energy. They tend to be of a more medium build with a tendency to be impetuous, quick, courageous, active, dynamic, assertive and competitive. In contrast, while the kapha individual has greater stamina and endurance for the long haul, pitta types tend towards more dynamic bold initiation and risk taking. The stereotype is: “type A personality,” “jock” or “Super Hero.”

The ecotomorph corresponds to the Vata type and tends to be thinner, more hypersensitive, introverted and moody. Thus they are metaphorically compared to air with less focus on the physical act of doing and more on the mental process of creating ideas. The vata type is more likely to be the ‘seer,’ or visionary or negatively the one tending towards deranged mental states. The stereotype is the “hypersensitive individual,” “airhead,” and “thin skinned.”

An Ayurvedic doctor will prescribe diet, herbs, and lifestyle changes according to one’s dosha imbalance. It is possible to further fine tune the basic Dahl or Kichari recipe according to ingredients, proportions, consistency and spices based on one’s dosha propensity. The result is the same, which is the ability of kichari to restore metabolic balance while eliminating toxins called ‘ama’ and kindling ‘agni’ which is digestive or metabolic life fire.

Basic kichari:
1 cup split mung dal (yellow)
2 cups of white basmati rice
2 tsp of ghee (clarified butter)
½ tsp turmeric
½ tsp of coriander powder
½ tsp of cumin powder
½ tsp of whole cumin seeds
¼ tsp of rock salt
8 cups of water (6 cups when using a pressure cooker)

This is suitable for all body types. However for those who may be more of a kapha or vata type, one may want to make a more heating version of kichari by adding:

1 inch of fresh minced ginger root
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
1 scant pinch of asafetida and either red chilli or black pepper omitting or limiting the inclusion of dairy or yogurt.

Why White Rice?
Rice is universally regarded as one of the most perfectly balanced foods. The difference between naturally brown and white rice is that brown rice has all of the out skin or bran intact while white rice has been mechanically polished to remove part or all of the bran depending on one’s digestive capability. Japanese Macrobiotics favors the use of brown rice but they also advocate chewing each mouthful of food 80 to 100 times. For most this is extremely impractical and overly rigid especially since many older people may not even retain all of their teeth for proper chewing. White rice has less of the whole food nutritional elements of brown rice but it is better assimilated. Further, by adding beans or other protein-rich foods to white rice what is lost nutritionally is mostly replaced.

How to make Ghee.
Ghee or clarified butter has had the majority of the saturated fats removed from butter. It is said to restore vitality, mental clarity, clear the skin and enhance digestion. All of these attributes along with its delicious buttery flavor, make it a desirable cooking oil. It is easily made in the kitchen. Simply obtain a pound or two of unsalted butter. Place it in a skillet atop a low flame. The butter will melt to a liquid and eventually the fat solids will congeal and settle to the bottom. Be careful to not burn it. After a period of time, carefully decant the clear golden butter oil (ghee) into a wide mouthed jar to which one should place a metal spoon to absorb some of the heat and prevent the jar from cracking. Discard the white fat solids.

Ghee does not need to be refrigerated and will keep unrefrigerated virtually indefinitely.

The Spices of Kichari
The three spices turmeric, cumin and coriander are the basis of Indian curry mixes. Besides adding wonderful exotic flavors to foods, these also have potent medicinal properties, which I may expand upon later.

With thanks to Michael Tierra.

Of Gardens and Education

2008-02-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Winter is not generally the season people think about plant identification, but it seems poignant to note that two of our community’s revered plant experts, Dorothy Hoard and Terry Foxx, will be teaching classes about plant related things this month at PEEC.

I’ve not been thinking much about live plants~~other than dreaming about how I wish to finally get a garden going this summer. Being able to grow and nurture some fresh, home-grown produce would be worth, well…bushels!

I’ve had the placeholders for my future garden sitting dormant in my back yard for about 3 years now. Unfortunately, what began as a great idea, has turned into a crumbling choss-pile of debris. Being that I’m a working Mama who loves to recreate in the outdoors (beyond the garden), I haven’t had much time to devote to getting those garden beds completed. The choss-pile of sandstone rubble that could become some pretty nifty garden beds should probably just be removed, and some standard wooden beds erected in their place. Of course, this will require a helping hand by someone other than me, as I’m not necessarily a wood-working wizard, although I can fix the plumbing in most any toilet pretty quick!

My New Year’s Resolutions this year weren’t about losing weight, or getting on a fitness program, but were, rather, on a different track: 1) To get my garden beds completed and grow some scrumptious veggies this summer, and 2) To open my heart more to my immediate family.

Two really completely different things, that actually will likely work symbiotically, assuming we get Resolution # 1 in place. Having a plot to grow their own carrots and strawberries will be both educational and plain-old dirt-diggin’ fun for the kiddos, and not having to trudge through the supermarket each week for certain kitchen staples will be priceless for me. A less-harried Mama means a happier Mama, and muddy kids mean happier kids thus Voilà! A more peaceful home. Simple, really.

At least in theory.

As a voracious reader of topics great and small, I’ve been doing a lot of recent research on education. Radical educational reform, homeschooling, unschooling, and regular public schooling. A wonderful line crossed my eyes a few weeks back. It was so simple, and yet stunningly subversive in this day and age of trying to make our schools more competitive, more efficient, and just more better. While I don’t have the quote directly in front of me, the quote was along the lines of this: “ Children just need time. Time to play. Time to grow. Time to be bored on occasion.” This was being said in reference to our fast-paced, highly scheduled society, where children (especially in this town) are shuffled from music lessons, to soccer practice, to dance practice, to swim meets, chess tournaments, and miscellaneous other sports and clubs that last long into the night, only to have to come home to homework that must be completed before rising again early the next morning. School days are longer, recesses are shorter (and even non-existent is some schools), and children are well on their ways to becoming stressed-out, overworked, overbooked, overstimulated adults with no concept of how to enjoy free time (other than the TV, of course).

If I can do only one thing right as a Mama, I want to at least provide my children with time. Time to play in the dirt. Time to be bored. Time to pick strawberries. Time to splash around in a puddle. Simply, time to be a kid.

If there is one thing I wish for as an adult, it is more time. More time to enjoy the things I love, and more time to complete the menialities that must get done. However, as I'm sure most adults have noticed, time seems to go by faster each year, and thus I can strive for helping my children to enjoy this time in their lives when time seems not so fleeting.

Parenting from the Heart

2008-02-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

Before I ever had kids, I envisioned that being a Mom would be a sort of idyllic paradise where the kids would be beautiful and healthy, I would walk the path of parenting calmly, I could instill in my offspring my (previous) virtues of patience and diplomacy, and we would all enjoy the vast array of fun that life has to offer.

The realities of parenting are an iron-cold slap in the face.

When you are expecting your first child, people congratulate you and tell you how much joy you’ll experience as a parent. They’ll tell you wonderful stories about their own children and how rich and full their lives have become. They’ll say neat little things like “Your life will never be the same and in a good way,” or “Children are such blessings,” thus leaving you satisfied in your decision to be a parent.

I am guessing that the reason people don’t say things like “Children will make you rip your hair from your head,” or “You will never go anywhere again without forgetting the 2 items you actually needed while hauling 17 other items you don’t really need,” or “You’ll spend the next 13 or so years picking up toys and clothes and food and cups in an endless cycle of repetition that will leave you squirrely in the head,” is that to terrify you into not having children will leave them without anyone to commiserate with in the future.

If I had known that being a Mama consists largely of being interrupted 1,179 times per hour, repeatedly cleaning up messes that seem to breed by the minute, and feeling exasperated nearly all hours of the day, I might have considered just getting another puppy. However, the clock cannot be reversed, and as such I must forge on with the realities of being a Mama, and try my damnedest to do my best.

By the time my first born was 3, I discovered that there is nothing terrible about the 2s, and that no one warned me about the 3s. There are not enough adjectives that begin with T to describe them: troublesome, tormenting, torrential, trial-like, terrifying…other letters of the alphabet must be explored.

I discovered I had no idea how to handle this bundle of trouble, and thus I began a search for books to help me untangle myself from the web of chaos I felt I’d been caught up in. Not wanting to be a repeat of my own parents, I’ve sought resources on parenting that seem to be in line with my heart.

And thus begins the challenge~~ how to parent from the heart, while not going crazy in the process.

As an example, I was busy getting dishes done the other morning (about 7:23 am) when my eldest daughter came up to me as said, “Let’s go somewhere. NOW!” My hands were fully immersed in the liquid grease-soap-shmegma that was encrusted to the bottom of the casserole dish from the previous night’s dinner. I calmly rinsed my hands, looked her in the eye and said, “Honey, it’s not even 7:30. After I’m done with the dishes, and tidying up a bit, maybe we can figure out what we’d like to do today,” To which she replied loudly, “I want to do something NOW, let’s go. I want to go NOW.”

I shrugged my shoulders, and said calmly (while grimacing inside), “I’ll be done in a few.”

She ambled on and then things got really quiet. At first I was relieved that she’d found some activity to enthrall her for a few more minutes while I finished the menial task at hand. And then I began to get nervous. It seemed unusually quiet. My nerves started to go on red alert, and I rinsed off in order to set out and see what was going on.

To my horror, there she was in the bathroom, scissors in hand, and grinning from ear to ear. “Look how nice Sister’s hair looks!” she shouted in glee. And there was my 2 year old with freshly butchered bangs and sides. A real live mullet. It has only taken 2 years and 3 months for my 2 yr. old’s hair to obtain the minor length that it was, and it was all removed in less time than it took for me to walk from the kitchen to the bathroom.

What is a Mama to do? What would you do? What would Scooby Do?

I’m going to explore this range of emotions I’ve felt all weekend, and hope for a less-challenging week. In the meantime, I’ll just enjoy the snow.

Metal

2008-02-01T16:42:00.001-07:00

Metal

Edges, that is.

We left off yesterday discussing TCM theory and the 5 Elements.
According to TCM theory, Metal controls Wood.

I had the fortune today of allowing metal to control wood in a very tangible and fun-filled way.

If there is one thing I can be ever-thankful to my parents for, it's introducing me to the wonders of lift-serviced mountain sports (of course when I was a kid, skiing was all there was). Every time I sit my bum down on a chairlift and enjoy the ride to the top I am thankful, and then I continue on in awe of the amazing beauty--the clouds speeding by, trees standing as bold sentinals close by, the ice crystals forming rainbows around the sun, the sparkle of snow crystals below. Whatever the weather, I am always in awe and perfectly happy to be at that place at that time.

Today, I was more than happy, as I was riding a brand new piece of snow-gliding equipment, due to the unfortunate and untimely demise of my previous ride. Needless to say it was perfect. I had done my homework, shopped around, and ended up with a near-identical match to my previous contraption. Unintended, but beautiful.

The conditions at the little blue bird today were much better than I had expected. While areas were indeed wind-blown and crusty, with a little bit of strange crud thrown in, the majority of the slopes I travelled were remarkable and dreamy. So dreamy. I rode Precious 4 times in a row, and every time the powder seemed softer and deeper than the previous run, which given the physics of reality, we know that just can't be. However, each time it was so delectable and addictive I just had to come back for more...until I realized I needed to head somewhere else to assess the possibilities. Ahhhhh....yes. I love our mountain.

Earth

2008-01-31T10:52:00.000-07:00

I hadn’t expected my post titles to represent the Elements theme, however, it appears that just as life evolves, so do Blog titles. Therefore, in keeping with my newfound theme, I decided to focus today’s discussion on the Earth Element.

As a background, I’ve recently completed a nearly 4 year course on the study of Chinese herbal medicine, Western Herbal medicine, and Ayruvedic herbal medicine through the East West School of Herbal Medicine. Add this to 17 years of studying and teaching about western herbal medicine. To say the least, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is no easy subject for our Western minds to grasp.

Us Westerners are so accustomed to taking a pill for this symptom or that. Western herbal medicine has kept that basic Western premise of taking an herb for this or an herb for that. Whole sections of high-end, alternative, organic groceries have been created in keeping with that line of thinking—take Echincea for colds, take St. John's Wort for depression, take Chamomile to calm down, etc.

The Chinese theory is W-A-Y different. It is so different, in fact, that it is downright difficult to grasp. However, I’ve spent countless hours diligently studying these concepts and theories, and I’m finally feeling pretty solid in my understanding of TCM theory and diagnosis.

Since it was being pondered upon in the BTNO, I’ll admit that one motivation for beginning a blog was to use it as a way to expand my knowledge of herbal medicine simply by writing about it and sharing it with others. No better way to learn than to try to teach it to others! However, my interests are far too vast to stick strictly to one topic, so be prepared for my musings to venture far beyond the herbal realm.

Back to my Element theme, however…

The origin of TCM theory is lost in prehistory, before writing was invented. Written language started in China during the Shang Dynasty in 1766 BC. The writings on medicine at that time project back in history over two thousand years. Ancient works are alluded to in the prehistoric period, but are now lost as "legendary".

TCM theory discusses the Five Element Relationships. To be sure, this is one of the most confusing topics I encountered during my studies.

The five elements include: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.

Each element is associated with a specific bodily organ.

Wood is associated with the Liver.
Fire is associated with the Heart.
Earth is associated with the Spleen.
Metal is associated with the Lungs.
Water is associated with the Kidneys.

While I could go into great detail about the relationships between the elements, the organs, and how they all relate to physical health, I’ll save that for another day.

The Earth element is said to stabilize. The Yin organ associated with the Earth element is the Spleen and the Yang organ is the stomach. The Spleen in TCM is responsible for taking the energy of food and transforming it into physical energy or Qi. By eating foods that are neither too cooling (such as ice water, ice cream, too many raw veggies and fruits, and juices), nor too warming (such as alcohol, fried or greasy foods, or the excessive consumption of spicy food) we can help to maintain balance within the spleen and stomach, and thus, our Earth element.

Something to strive for, to be sure! In our modern, harried, and fast-paced world, it is nearly impossible to eat as our bodies were intended to be fed. And despite the fact that we will never be able to eat perfectly well all the time, we can surely try to do things right part of the time.

While many diets advocate a variety of dietary options: low carb/high protein, low fat/low calorie, low flavor/low excitement, etc., TCM advocates eating meals based on climate, bodily constitution, season, and stages of wellness or sickness. General recommendations include eating primarily whole grains and legumes, steamed or otherwise cooked greens and veggies, and moderate amounts of protein.

Enough TCM theory for my brain, this morning.

We’ll find another element to focus on later.

Fire

2008-01-30T10:27:00.001-07:00

As in fever.

Feverishness seems to be running rampant in this community as of late. It seems that just about everyone I know is either in the process of getting sick, being sick, or getting over being sick.

Myself included.

Part of me wants to hole up in my own domestic cave and not come back out into the public until this threat of gnarly sickness has passed.

But, of course, that is impossible as there is simply the mundane realities of work, groceries, and errands; as well as the ever-inviting realities of outdoor play--snow on the mountain, ice in the canyons, and walks everywhere in between.

My office recently became the breeding ground for a whole host of disgusting illnesses--pink eye, the flu, some excrutiatingly horrible strain of sore throat, bronchitis, colds with fevers, colds with chills, and just general colds. Oh yeah, and some sort of stomach bug too.

Considering I work with a mere 13 people in a farily decent sized building, this onslaught of nasties seemed downright terrifying. I started feeling like I had OCD as I wouldn't think of touching food nor face unless I'd scrubbed and rescrubbed my hands. Forget touching the water cooler, the coffee pot, or the bathroom door handles--I'd get a paper towel for that!

That's when I knew something had to be done. So, with bleach, bucket, gloves, sponge, and spray bottle, I went to work on the concrete and steel petrie dish my office had become.

For the time being, at least, I am not so paranoid about opening doors or turning on faucets at my workplace.

In general, there are some tips people can use towards staying healthy during cold and flu season. It doesn't seem like anyone I work with is taking these steps, but maybe if I share them again, people might begin to incorporate them into their day to day.

1) Avoid a diet high in sugar, caffeine, and processed foods. Whole grains, steamed or stir-fried greens, moderate amounts of high protein, will help nourish the body, and the mind.

2) Avoid excess alcohol consumption--a sort of no-brainer, that many choose to ignore.

3) Choose an immune stimulating supplement to incorporate into the diet--astragalus, reishi mushroom, and elderberry are all immune stimulating and won't trash the body. Echinacea can be helpful for some types of colds--hot colds where you're burning up inside, your eyes are on fire, and your throat feels like your saliva is made from lye.

4) Drink plenty of water each day.

5) Get plenty of exercise each week. Nothing like sweating to remove toxins from your body!

6) IMO, the most important one of all--wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your eyes unless you've washed your hands. (A bit of advice from a friend who grew up with a daycare facility in him home--apparently his mother enforced this, and he and his sisters rarely got sick.)

7) Carry around an arsenal of good luck!

Wind

2008-01-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

Considered to be one of 6 "evil pernicious influences" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Wind is considered to be the cause of a whole slew of nasties.

Wind is said to bring other evil Qi (Chi or energy) in with it.

Given the wind that was slamming into and through my house last night, I can assure you that there was a an entire army of evil Qi being circulated in and around and through my domestic domain. When I stumbled into the commode this morning, a bit scattered and loopy from hearing the tiles on my roof shaking all through the night, I was startled to see the water in the toilet moving up and down as if the almighty wind was in the pipes themselves! Evil nasties, indeed!

According to TCM, wind is considered to be the most important of the 6 evils as it is the cause of the "100 diseases".

Symptoms of illness caused by wind generally start with a stiff, aching neck, headache, itching skin, and aching joints.

Wind is thought to disperse Qi upward and outward.

Given the upward and outward diasarray that my brain feels this morning, I would have to agree...I think I'll go fix myself another cup of coffee, and hope for a little calm before the forecasted comeback of more of this evil pernicious influence.

Oh yes, one more thing, a word of practical advice that most any Grandma might give, wearing a scarf around your neck while travelling through this nasty wind will protect your neck and head, and is prescribed so in TCM.

Ice

2008-01-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Winter in New Mexico is always remarkable--you just never know what the weather gods will serve up. We've recently had two weeks of dry and extremely cold weather, only to have rain commence upon us late yesterday evening.

This comes, of course, after I just found more ice.

Ice is the elusive and ever-mutable siren that calls to those of us wishing to reach her call with axes and crampons.

For years I've searched high and I've searched low. I've noticed ice forming up miles away and on rocks that I can barely see, while driving through our town's primary north-south intersection. I've sought out locations based on topographical images on maps, only to find snow, or rock, or nothing notable at all. I've kept the ice we have found secret for more than a decade in the hopes that people won't kick it down before we get our chance to lap up and down it.

And yesterday, while not even searching at all, I found a most remarkable stash of ice in an isolated and beautiful grotto that is still a not-too-long and easy walk in.

With the excitement of finding something new and beautiful, however, comes the rain, and the worry that the ice will get washed away.

But for now, we are hoping it is still intact for an ascent later on today.