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Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments 25 June 2006 Herbal Help for Humans and their CompanionsThe Gift of LaughterBy Dan Gascon Laughter is a bonding force that has no cultural, social or spiritual exemptions. Laughter is the sweetest human music, the medicine of the soul, the sound healing and a window into the heart's concerns and interests. Hence the ancient saying: By their joy and laughter, shall ye know them, heal them, and love them Laughter's main gift, is it's healing power over our bodies, minds and souls. Mentally, it can transcend any situation by causing us to focus outward and expand our vision away from the issue at hand. It separates us form the "funk" we may be in and installs a sense of self-protection and control over our environment. It gives us a break when things become too difficult to handle. Laughter helps us cope and gives us new perspectives illustrated in this mantra: Pleasant thoughts, words and sounds mean happiness and health abounds The physical effects of laughing are dramatic and essential to our well-being. Laughing relives us of tension and stress, and stimulates the immune system. Medical studies show how serum cortisol levels are lowered and T-cell production increases significantly when laughing. Endorphins are also released in the pleasure centers of our brain when we chuckle, snicker or laugh, giving us a natural "high" feeling. Laughter also gives us an excellent aerobic workout by increasing our oxygen intake, enhancing our respiration and lowering our blood pressure. The movement of the diaphragm during laughter stimulates surrounding organs like the stomach, kidneys and liver, acting as an internal massage. It's credo to the body is: Laughter balances our steps as we walk the tightrope of life Laughing empowers and lifts the spirit. When we feel low, depressed or down, a lighthearted spirit always has the ability to see us through. The experience of laughter, even if just for the moment, banishes feelings of loneliness, anger and fear. It overrides any predicament by drawing our attention away from our upsets and giving us feelings that are carefree and hopeful. Laughing enhances our quality of life and the will to live. It replenishes the spirits energy fueled by this saying: Joy is the echo of God's life within us So take with you the many gifts that laughter has to offer. It is a tonic, a relief from pain and can withstand any assault. It has the power to make new friends and heal old wounds. Laughter can bring sunshine into any room by driving sorrow, grief and regret from the human face. Cherishing time spent sharing honest laughter is pure and divine. Above all remember: He who laughs, lasts -------- © 2005 by Dan Gascon. Founder of Humor for your health. Reprinted with permission. Reach Dan at www.humorforyourhealth.com This week we feature:-
Feline - Eosinophilic Ulcer Eosinophilic ulcer in a cat can be a frustrating problem to eliminate. The ulcer results from a localized invasion of a type of white blood cell called an EOSINOPHIL, a type of white blood cell found in your cat's blood. Eosinophils often invade tissues that are being physically irritated or are undergoing an allergic reaction. It is part of the immune response to fight infection but in this case, after the initial immune response it just doesn't turn off. When large numbers of eosinophils invade the tissues locally, they interfere with normal physiological processes and as a result scar tissue can form. Circulation is impeded, and inflammatory cells migrate to the area in an attempt to heal the damage. Tissue destruction results in death of cells and, in the case of "rodent ulcer" in a cat, there can be a disfiguring ulceration of the upper lip. In severe cases the inside of the oral cavity and the lower lip may be involved. The ulcer on his leg is a lick granuloma ulcer from the constant licking. This is the treatment I recommend: Rodent Ulcer: http://www.herbal-treatments.com/herbs_blood_balance_wbc_high.html to re-balance the blood along with the Maritime Pine Bark as this is a major part of all my immune support programs: http://www.herbal-treatments.com/cat_maritime_pine_bark_extract_pycnogenol.html Canine - Boils The boil can be caused by an infected hair follicle, sebaceous cyst, dietary insufficiency or toxins building up in the circulatory system and parking themselves under the skin as a boil. Treat with a course of blood cleansers to start: http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/dog_blood_poisoning.html Continue this treatment for 12 weeks (a full blood cycle). Dab castor oil over the boil daily to draw out the infection. You can cover with a light bandage. Alternate castor oil with colloidal silver on to the boil to treat the infection topically. It should burst and release its contents; this is a good thing. Keep applying the castor oil and colloidal silver until it completely clears. I also recommend that you place your dog on a diet of raw meat and bones i.e. beef/mutton bones with meat on them or raw chicken necks and wings, mince, definitely no processed food and snacks. You can also add some freshly cooked vegetables and rice. If your dog is not already on this type of diet, then I suggest that you introduce it slowly. The following articles are on dogs diets and why it is important to keep it natural and simple: http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/articles_digestive_system_ofadog.html http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/articles_give_your_dog_abone.html Also add 2 dessertspoons of crushed White millet and linseed to the diet once daily to improve tissue quality and repair Equine - Arthritis (See Article by Robert) For your horse I suggest the tendon and bone healing mix that can be found at: http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_tendon_bone_healing.html This will help with some of the repair work in that joint. As a long term and deep seated problem, you will need to look at running through at least 3 buckets of this mix, but hopefully by the third you will be down to just one cup once daily (full dose is 1 cup twice a day in feed). Each bucket will last 6 weeks at full dose. We usually find it takes a good 4 weeks to really begin seeing results and then they are quite subtle but at the six week mark generally, some good positive signs happen. During this time it is also not unusual to see a period of increased soreness as processes are stirred up slightly. This is usually around the 3-4 week mark and only lasts a couple of days to a week at the most. The other part of the arthritis program is the Anti Inflammatory mix which can be found at: http://www.herbal-horsekeeping.com/horse_anti_inflammatory_healer.html The anti-inflam is not a pain killer, simply a pain management mix, so it does not mask the pain like Bute does. It provides relief and still allows you gauge the rate of healing well. Human - Fibroids Fibroids can be seen from several different levels, from the energetic point of view they can be seen either as: 1. Non acceptance of relationship (self or others) issues. 2. As a result of a possible sexual violation of some sort not necessarily physical. 3. Resistance to bearing children or an anxiety about bearing children. This is really why the old adage about having a child to resolve fibroids makes a lot of sense. Not only does having a child often result in changes in the above three things but hormonal changes which come about as a result of the above are able to be rebalanced through the cycle of pregnancy and birthing. I do provide herbal mixes to assist in both the resolution of fibroids and rebalancing hormones but always want to get my patients to work at the energetic level as well either by just thinking about the issues which may be involved in their own cases or by having some sort of energetic or spiritual healing as well. Please see the link below: http://www.herbal-treatments.com/herbs_uterine_fibroids.html Home Remedies - Lets Talk Weight Loss Many herbs are used for temporary weight loss, including some that you can buy at an herb store. However, there are many herbalists who consider weight loss formulas to be harmful, and will not make them for their clients. Typically, herbal diet pills use herbs with the following properties to cause weight loss: 1. Stimulants: encourage the body to burn more calories. 2. Diuretics: cause the body to excrete water through excess urine. 3. Cathartics: cause evacuation of the bowels, reduce calorie consumption by impeding full digestion. 4. Appetite suppressants: reduce hunger by expanding in the stomach, altering mood, or satisfying taste. They may also use herbs to increase perspiration, (more "water weight" loss), and kill pain, or balance nerves. Some formulas are definitely going to be better balanced than others, but in general, we are not talking here about gentle herbs that nourish and support you, as you bring your habits into balance. Herbal weight loss formulas may have drastic physical effects on your body. "Effective" diet pills --herbal or not-- are potent, depleting, and temporary, if effective. They do not cure overweight conditions. There are herbs which can be used as supplements while you diet, but weight loss involves your whole lifestyle. Why not consider using herbs to change your lifestyle? Instead of just using dried, capsulated, herbal products, start including *whole* herbs in your life. Eat them everyday, as fresh as possible, (e.g. take walks, check out the vegetable stand, or tend a garden), everyday. Instead of taking a capsule, eat a handful of fresh parsley. Experiment with tasting each of your favorite culinary herbs made up as "diet" tea. Collect dandelion leaves, plantain, mints, lettuce, whatever, and whip it up in your blender as special diet "green drink." Almost no calories in most herbs. Also, get to know specific weeds and plants in your neighborhood. Learn their names and uses; look at them. Watch how they grow, Think about their growing condition and responses to it. You can even keep a journal noting everything you learn about each plant. Spring is the perfect time to bring herbs into your lifestyle. Eating and living with herbs can bring you a lifestyle which may be more conducive to weight loss. Reader Feed Back Thank you for the excellent information about water and its importance to our health. I would have preferred more information about the importance of water than the rubbish about coca cola! Cheers, Anne-Marie We value your feedback so much that we are making it easier for you to send us a sentence or two. Please fill in the form below and click 'Submit' Wishing you and your companions the best of health and happiness. Yours Truly, Judith Burton for Robert McDowell |
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