2009 August/September Newsletter
Welcome!
The 2009 August/September newsletter is the first newsletter we have published entirely online. The newsletter was emailed in mid-August, and includes a welcome message, announcements, and three “teasers” for longer articles. The articles are on this page in their entirety. (Scroll down to see all the articles.)
You can sign up to receive the newsletter (and coupons!) via email on our website: www.herbalpath.com.
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KOMBUCHA: Not Just Your Ordinary Energy Drink
by Barbara King, Doctorate Student of Naturopathy
Each day at the Herbal Path, I see our customers purchase kombucha drinks. Some buy these flavorful drinks by the case. It can be amusing to hear our customers tell us about the time they opened their first bottle. You see, the fermentation makes the drink fizz up and sometimes “explode” if it is shaken up too vigorously. But by now, most have gotten the hang of it and they say they can’t believe how much of a difference it has made in how they feel. Steve said, “Just one drink a day gives me all the energy I need and promotes healthy cells which give my body a fighting chance against infection.” Donna wouldn’t want to be a day without it. She feels it is key in reducing the side effects from her chemotherapy treatments. After hearing such powerful and positive testimonies, it made me wonder what is kombucha and why do they call it “The Wonder Drink.” So, I very carefully, gently, and slowly opened up a bottle of gingerberry kombucha, took a sip and started my research.
Organic raw kombucha is a culture of microorganisms that enhance health and restore balance. Many people mistake kombucha as a mushroom, but it is not. Rather, it is actually a combination of different bacteria and fungal yeast cells that live symbolically. Because it is raw, nutritionally it provides viable probiotics (billions of strains), active enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, polyphenols, and electrolytes.
It is an ancient elixer used for thousands of years. Raw kombucha helps the body find natural defenses as it normalizes the ph balance and detoxifies blood, digestive system, liver, and skin. Many claim that kombucha gives them increased energy, lifts spirits, boosts immunity and revs metabolism.
I am now sold and a firm believer in it’s medicinal properties and the vitality that kombucha provides. The Herbal Path carries several kombucha products. In liquid form, Pronatura’s makes a kombucha extract, and GT’s Synergy has an assortment of many flavorful organic drinks including, guava, mango, gingerade, multi-grain, grape, raspberry, cranberry, strawberry, and trilogy which is a three flavor mixture of lemon, raspberry and ginger. My personal favorites are the one I chose, gingerberry a refreshing combination of ginger and blueberry and their original flavor. Yummy!
These Synergy drinks are very popular amongst our customers. They are completely raw, organic, natural, and safe for a vegan or Kosher diet. Their label lists the 10 “R’s” – rejuvenate, restore, revitalize, recharge, rebuild, regenerate, replenish, regain, rebalance and renew. It’s no wonder we are selling the stuff by the case!
We now carry the several new flavors Botanic #3, Botanic #7, Bontanic # 9. These contain herbs such as lavender and elderberry, hibiscus, orange peel, chamomile and fresh pressed ginger, bilbery, honeysuckle and red clover respectively. They also have just come out with their Superfriuts drink with yumberry juice, goji berry juice and camu camu juice. For those people who would prefer not to drink kombucha, Garden of Life’s has formulated Raw Kombucha that comes in vegan capsules.
So, this summer, sit back and very carefully open your bottle of your favorite flavor of kombucha cold tea and see for yourself. Enjoy!
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Making Sense of Snacks
by Marci Kuegel
Every year when it gets to be “back to school” time, there’s a lot of information flying around about kids’ lunches. But what about adults? Many adults eat at least one meal a day “on the go.” And just because we can buy our food out of a vending machine or at a drive-through doesn’t mean it’s a good choice, either for our health or our wallet. Here are some easy, inexpensive ideas to give your workday meals a boost.
The “I don’t have time for breakfast” breakfast shake:
Breakfast shakes don’t have to be a lot of work. At the Herbal Path, we have several delicious options that taste great even when just mixed with water. One great choice is the Life’s Basics Plant Protein – a blend of pea, hemp, rice, and chia that provides 20 grams of protein per serving, as well as omega 3s. Or try the Dr. Greens Energizing Protein Shake, which does double duty as a multivitamin supplement. Looking for more energy in the mornings? Try the Navitas Hemp-Cacao-Maca blend or Dr. Greens Organic Energy. Grab your travel mug and sip on a filling and energizing chilled drink instead of your morning joe.
Can’t give up coffee? There are still things you can do to make it a healthier choice. Switch to a low-glycemic sweetener like stevia, erythritol, xylitol, or lo han. Try mixing your coffee with Dandy Blend, which includes chicory and dandelion root and is recommended for anyone trying to give up or cut back on coffee. You could also toss in a teaspoon of ashwagandha powder, a wonderful restorative herb for stress.
The “all in one dish” lunch:
We all know plain yogurt is good for us – it’s chock full of beneficial bacteria, and it has much less sugar than the flavored varieties. But plain yogurt can get boring. With some creativity, however, you can create a new meal every day with this basic staple. What can you add? How about hemp hearts for protein, or chia seeds for fiber? Fruit is always a great choice – toss in some fresh berries from the Farmers’ Market, or add a spoonful of jam. At the Herbal Path we have powdered Acai berry and powdered Goji berry that can be added to yogurt to boost your antioxidants. If you have a sweet tooth, try using cacao powder or nibs, or mix in some of InJoy Organics hot chocolate mix.
What if you want a quick, healthy meal, but you won’t have access to a refrigerator, microwave, utensils, or napkins? The Herbal Path has you covered, with our More Than a Square Meal Hemp Bars. These bars are hemp seeds mixed with dark chocolate, and topped with nuts or fruit. One bar easily provides two to three lunches, along with protein, fiber, and all the great omega 3 benefits of hemp seeds!
The “vending machine is calling my name” snack:
When you’re hungry, you’re hungry. Eating multiple smaller meals throughout your day is great, but how can you tell which snacks are healthy? Raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts are all excellent choices. If you’re looking for a snack bar, Cristyn Peters (a personal trainer who also works at the Herbal Path) has some advice: look for ones with less than 25 grams of carbs, and more than 10 grams of protein. This is a great rule of thumb any time you’re looking for something to munch on.
Here at the Herbal Path, we’re always happy to help you find just what you’re looking for. This “back to school” season, let’s all take steps towards making our meals easy, delicious, and healthy!
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Flower Essence Formulas: Powerful Remedies for Times of Crisis
Excerpts of an article by Richard Katz
Flower essences were first developed during an earlier time of traumatic economic and social upheaval, the Great Depression of the 1930s. In the face of today’s challenges, these potent plant remedies can be important allies as we seek the wisdom, inner strength, emotional equanimity and resolve needed to meet a new world crisis.
In the Crucible of Crisis: The Origins of Flower Essences
Flower essences originated with Dr. Edward Bach (1886-1936), an English physician, whose work spanned the first third of the twentieth century. Trained at the University Hospital in London as a bacteriologist, Bach began his career at the start of World War One, treating war casualties and victims of the great influenza epidemic of 1918. It was a time of profound world crisis, when the nineteenth century’s optimistic assumptions of unending human progress were shattered, as millions died in the trenches and hospital beds. During that time Bach himself nearly died of illness, but he came through the experience with a renewed sense of life purpose – to find the source of disease and a truly natural and effective way of treating it.
Bach saw first-hand the effects of “shell shock,” what we now call Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He realized the profound influence of emotional and stress reactions on physical health. He also realized that emotional health is not separate from spirituality, and that issues of moral values, life purpose and destiny are as important, if not more so, than diet, exercise and pathogens in determining human health. Long before the advent of psychosomatic and holistic medicine, Bach was a pioneer in recognizing the crucial spirit-body-mind connection in disease and health.
During the 1920s, Bach worked with the holistic principles of homeopathy, and developed a highly successful practice as he continued his healing research into the relationship of spirit, mind, and body. Meanwhile, as society tried to put the trauma of the War behind, the 1920s were giddy with get-rich-quick scams, including the original Ponzi pyramid scheme, the Florida real estate bubble, overleveraged debt and speculation resulting in a soaring stock market. (Does any of this sound familiar?) When the “Roaring Twenties” came crashing down into global depression during the 1930s, millions of people around the world lost their jobs, and many more lost their hope, plunging into a struggle for mere survival.
Bach knew from his own experience that finding and following one’s life purpose, one’s calling, was the key to true health and well-being. This became the guiding light for his own life, as well as the key to the flower essence therapy he went on to develop.
Using a simple method of preparation based on the alchemical principles of the four elements of earth, water, air and fire, Bach created subtle essences of wildflowers that have profound effects on the human psyche. Each flower essence addresses a specific psycho-spiritual issue, and acts as a catalyst to awaken the inner soul life forces necessary for spirit-mind-body health.
Meeting Despair and Fear with Hope and Courage
Although we find no evidence that Bach spoke directly of the social and economic turmoil of his age, it is clear from his remedies that he was offering medicine for a time of fear and despair, themes which represent more than half of his 38 remedies. For example, Mustard brings balance and light when our mood turns dark, or when our moods swing between highs and lows. Pine encourages self-acceptance when we are overly self-critical, becoming paralyzed with self-blame. To deal with fear, Mimulus helps us face life’s challenges with confidence and courage, instead of withdrawing out of fear and anxiety. Rock rose gives inner stability and strength when we are in panic or terror as our lives threaten to unravel.
The most famous of Dr. Bach’s discoveries is his emergency combination (available under the brand names of Rescue Remedy and Five-Flower Formula). The first version of the emergency formula was developed to aid a shipwrecked sailor brought ashore at the English seaside town of Cromer. It has since become well-known as one of the world’s leading natural stress remedies, used for children, animals, and anyone who has experience a major upset or shock. For many people, it is their first and most dramatic encounter with flower essences, as the effects can be immediate and palpable, bringing a sense of inner calm and presence in such diverse situations as visiting the dentist, or evacuating during a natural disaster.
Flower essences differ from psycho-pharmaceutical drugs, in that they do not suppress our symptoms of fear or depression. They do not manipulate brain chemistry to make us feel better. Rather, they are natural catalysts that awaken those inner qualities that give us the ability to face our fear and despair.
Crises Then and Now
While acknowledging the parallels between the crises of the 1930s and those of our time, there are also significant differences. Dr. Bach’s work was that of a lone pioneer, with a small circle of supporters, in a society that had little understanding of the psychological and spiritual dimensions of health. Although the dominance of allopathic medicine and the pharmaceutical industry remains in our day, there is increasing openness to natural alternatives. There is a strong holistic health movement, and use of flower essences is gaining, particularly in Europe, and in Latin America, where it is part of the health care system in Cuba and Chile.
During the 1990s and the beginning of this new millennium, the Flower Essence Society responded to various emergencies with additional formulas offered to flower essence practitioners. They aided relief workers in natural disasters such as fires, floods, mud slides, earthquakes, hurricanes, and such human-made disasters as the Rwandan genocide and the attacks of September 11, 2001. They also helped therapists attending to the more personal crises and “disasters” of relationship conflicts and abuse, depression, alienation, illness, loss of a loved one, childhood trauma, difficulties with work and accomplishing goals, lack of focus and mental clarity. Based on the success of many health professionals with these formulas, a set of twelve Flourish flower essence formulas was released to the public in 2007. These formulas serve the dual purpose of serving as an entry way for those beginning the use of flower essences, as well as a means of aiding large populations in a time of disaster.
As economic, social and psychological stresses increase during this time of crisis, flower essences help us not only to cope with the challenges, but to transform them into new opportunities for service and positive change.
Copyright 2009 by the Flower Essence Society, used with permission
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4 Responses
I am being told that elderberries have 3 times the VIT C as oranges. Really???
Hi,
Good question — an internet search revealed that there are *many* different figures out there for vitamin C content. Going by the wikipedia entry on Vitamin C, 100 mg of elderberries contains 60 mg of vitamin C, and 100 mg of an orange has 50 mg of vitamin C. Elderberries are slightly higher, but not 3x higher. (Also, there is the consideration that oranges are much easier to come by!)
Marci
I am being told that elderberries have 3 times the VIT C as oranges. Really???
Great job on your first edition! I’m not one to sit in front of the computer and read a lengthly newsletter, but when I made the time to read yours, I was quite pleased (and relieved). It provided just the right amount of informative reading material. Thanks.
Thanks Linda! Glad to hear from you, and we look forward to seeing you again soon!
Great job on your first edition! I’m not one to sit in front of the computer and read a lengthly newsletter, but when I made the time to read yours, I was quite pleased (and relieved). It provided just the right amount of informative reading material. Thanks.
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