Get me outta here!

The pharmacy in your yard… **edited

(I want to preface this with:  I am not a health professional.  Please consult with your health care provider before breathing, er I mean, before trying anything outside of Big Pharma, er I mean, before trying anything I suggest here.  You are responsible for your own health decisions. Which is why you should run, not walk, away from American medicine.)

I wanted to explore the link between dandelions and cancer, and found this. 

It supports my own intuition that this plant that we categorized as a bothersome weed could be our lifeline.

It’s just amazing that we’re pouring toxic chemicals–those same chemicals linked to cancer –on a plant that could very well cure that cancer.  (I’m not pointing fingers, mind you, because I am guilty of doing this in my past life, before becoming informed and aware.)

Breast cancer is especially of interest to me because my grandmother died from breast cancer…at least we think it was breast cancer–by the time it was discovered, it had metastasized all over her body, but the concentration was in her breasts.

I still have my two breast lumps, discovered nearly two years ago, but they shrunk after upping my iodine.  And in the last couple of years–drinking dandelion tea every day. Part of the reason for the lumps is the messed up hormones from mercury poisoning…so I am hopeful that they will disappear once I get this horrible poison gone from my system.

I also drink rose hip tea every day–loaded with natural Vitamin C….after reading that synthesized vitamins, such as “C”, are not really that good for us.  The body doesn’t recognize the synthetic version as it does the natural version–which makes sense to me.

Dr. Horner’s list begins with what I’ve been saying all along–eating organic food is the best medicine for your body to do its miracle work of healing itself. Unfortunately, she also recommends grains–which I now see as poison, as well.

A minor quibble with the good fats suggestion–butter from cows allowed to eat naturally–grass, without hormones and antibiotics–is good for us, too.

**edited to add:  she recommends flaxseeds every day — you should be aware that those of us of Irish heritage lack the necessary enzyme to digest flaxseeds.  I was taking flaxseed oil every day thinking it was a good thing, but I started having such nausea with it that I stopped.  It was only later that I found out about the lacking enzymes.

Teas are okay, but Dr. Campbell-McBride (GAPS), allows only loose leaf tea–not processed.   Tea  is high in salicylates, which can cause some severe issues, such as bladder pain and urgency, even blood in the urine. I guess it’s what you call too much of a good thing.

I’ve tried turmeric, too, but didn’t have results with it.  I guess that is one of the individual aspects of “food medicine.”  One size does not fit all.  Listen to your body, and learn to recognize when it is telling you to “stop”.

I wouldn’t recommend stevia, either, as I’ve read of issues with it.  Honey or maple syrup are preferred sweeteners–naturally offering benefits. I might note that royal jelly–from bees–has been touted as energizing–but if you’re allergic, it can have the opposite effect.  I began taking it before I knew I was mercury toxic, and I felt pretty good the first couple of weeks I took it.  Then, I began to feel more tired and developed a sore throat.  When I discontinued the royal jelly, I felt better.  In the interest of science, I took the royal jelly again, and again felt worse with a sore throat after just a few days.  I don’t know if this is a result of the mercury, because it does cause one to be allergic to everything, or whether it was just too high a concentration for my body.

I also disagree with soy–it is a known to impact the thyroid negatively.

So, yeah, nature has provided for us…we just need to value it.

 

 

 

Exit through the gift shop- the 9/11 Museum

Abby Zimet has a post up on the vulgarity of the 9/11 museum commercialization.  It’s more like an enterprise than a solemn memorial to those who experience the horror of that day.

And, as is brought up–the end of our civil rights, specifically, the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment is hardly reason to “celibrate”…or perhaps one should say, bank upon…

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

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Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

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Violation of our right to peacefully assemble:

And, of course, the violation of our right to privacy against government intrusion unless there is a court warrant with justifiable cause.

Perhaps it should be called the Museum of Lost Civil Rights…

And like a couple of commenters, I take exception to the dismissive tone of Abby on the Architects and Engineers –who are not claiming to know if 9/11 was an inside job, but rather, they are stating that Building 7 was not hit, but nevertheless collapse as one does in a controlled demolition.  THAT is what they’re saying.

The comments:

“arguing it was all an insider job by the U.S. and Israel; their premise is kinda bonkers” I disagree, Abby Z., and I dislike your dismissive tone.

From what I know of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, they do not argue that “it was all an insider job by the U.S. and Israel.” They do however argue that the observed events cannot be adequately explained by the “official story” and that a new, impartial investigation should be conducted.

As a financial supporter of the 9/11 truth movement that is supported by over 2,000 Architects and Engineers of impeccable credentials, your post is spot on. They do not say they know what really happened or who was behind 9/11 but what they do say is: anyone with an open mind that makes a comprehensive study cannot help but see the official story is so bogus as to be a fairy tale for children.

The website for the architects and engineers questioning why Building 7 collapsed is here.  Their video on how and why they question the building collapse is here.

  • As you see, these are not Tea Partiers, but people with degrees in engineering and architecture who explain simply how this building could not have collapsed from heat alone.

    They don’t speculate on who did this or why–they are just following the path of scientific explanation.  Since this was a financial center, I can’t help but wonder at the connection to banksters.  Why the World Trade Center?
     

Eating the weeds…

…continuing to explore the weeds-are-a-figment-of-your-upbringing theme…

I found this podcast of EarthEats on public radio talking about the redbuds.  It has special significance being here in Indiana.

Who knew that the redbuds were edible?  Not I.

Also, Trader’s Point Creamery of Indiana, sells excellent milk products with their grassfed cows.  Good stuff.

~~~~~

Also, I subscribe to a farmer’s forum and one of the members talked about the “weeds” they harvest.

One of them is plantain.  When I first read that, I thought of the banana-like fruit.  Nope.  It’s that weed that you can’t seem to kill that sprouts all over the place…and after reading this, one wonders what are we thinking–spraying them with poison to eradicate them?

The writer makes a good point about our lack of knowledge and how folks lining up for food banks had an abundance of good food that was free in the form of plantains scattered about.  It’s depressing that we have been brainwashed against the natural world and good nutrition is available at no cost.  The only problem is that unless they know if the plant has been sprayed with chemicals, they could make themselves ill.  In poor neighborhoods, it’s probably a safe bet that those “weeds” have not been sprayed, as keeping up with the Joneses with manicured lawns is not on the top of their list of survival.  But it’s always good to ask if you wish to eat the plant.

On a positive note~it’s also highly likely that they are GMO free, as Monsanto, Dow, et al, would not have a $$ profit incentive since they grow like…weeds.  Heh.

 

Diet and Health, via Weston Price **edited

A member of the mercury support group posted this link to the Spring Caustic Commentary on the Weston Price Foundation website.

It’s pretty informative for those who are unfamiliar with Weston Price’s work.  He was a dentist who traveled the world, observing the indigenous tribes.  He discovered that they had perfect teeth–no dental decay.  When they became industrialized, and ate a more Western diet, their dental health began to suffer.  Price also observed the changes in mouth structure–before the Western diet, the parents had bright, wide smiles….but the generations afterward had more narrow smiles and misshapened teeth by overcrowding the mouth.  And yet, Western doctors refuse to see the connection between diet and overall health and wellbeing.

**edited to add the link. Geesh.

Selling out the Earth via Keystone Pipeline

Well, this is news I didn’t need to wake up to today.

Methinks the writer is an oil industry proponent…by the slanted view of this piece.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said last Thursday that he was prepared to bring a measure approving the pipeline to the Senate floor despite the administration’s continued reluctance to determine the project’s fate.

Reid is no fan of the pipeline, but he is feeling heat from his own members to bring the issue up for a vote – possibly this week – provided Republicans agree to support a separate energy efficiency bill drafted by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH).

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Ever heard of “just say no”, Harry?  Tell me, what price is a soul going for nowadays? $10,000?  $100,000? $1,000,000?  Because the Keystone XL is the end of us.  The Earth cannot take any more–we are at the point of no return–that point where if we stopped destroying the environment, the Earth just might have a chance to recover.

People are overwhelming against the Keystone XL—yet Reid, Landrieu, et al, try to say that they are feeling the heat from their constituents.  I find that hard to believe….because they’re not hearing from people made ill by petroleum refineries, as in the folks in Texas.  And what about Louisiana, which has had its own battle with fierce nature…the more we destroy the environment and increase climate change, the more fierce the weather will become.  I don’t think Louisiana can afford Katrina times ten. And they’re not listening to the environmentalists.

So…who are they listening to…?

On gue$$.  They’re promoting Keystone XL, while investing in it…

The Clintons connection to XL. This is probably the biggest reason that they are pushing Hillary Clinton’s bid for the Presidency.  God help us if she gets elected.

ALEC and the dirty nine.

BP and the Tar Sands connection.

Keystone Pipeline Exposed.

All is not lost, folks…there are some decent people in Congress after all…who care about the truth and the lies of the Hillary Clinton State Dept.’s hoax.   I do hope Elizabeth Warren runs for President.  Like I said before, I’ll knock on doors and do whatever it takes to help get her elected.

And, just to quash the naysayers who claim environmentalists are phonies (while doing nothing for the environment themselves…here is my own journey:

…my advocating for the environment has been a slow evolving process that includes my experience with mercury poisoning, growing awareness of what we’re doing to the atmosphere, and a spiritual component of realizing everything is connected.

Here are some of the things I do:

–use cloth bags when going to the grocery.  I might use plastic for meat, but I re-use those bags, too, bringing them to the grocery along with the cloth bags.  If you use the cloth bags for meat, be sure to launder them before using again, to avoid contamination.

–avoid plastic packaging. …well, plastic *everything*.   This has been much easier following the GAPS diet because you don’t eat the processed food in packaging, but real food.  If I am given an option, I will buy something in glass packaging before plastic.

—re-use the glass containers for drinking glasses, food storage, plants, etc. I try to avoid ziploc bags when possible.

—don’t purchase synthetic materials like nylon and other materials requiring petroleum.  The list I think is a catch-all, because I think some of the things listed are made with petroleum if plastic or manufactured cloth such as nylon, so some of the products listed could be okay if not using those materials.  Here’s a website on organic cotton, fyi.

–When I had my home, I made a conscious decision not to pave the driveway–it was gravel.  I didn’t spray for weeds, either.  I let my grass grow to 3 inches so that the roots could grow deeply enough to avoid having to water the lawn, especially during the dry time in July–this also helped keep the weeds down. Meanwhile, my neighbors practically shaved the grass off and…wait for it…had to waste precious water to keep the grass from dying in July.    I let a patch of ground that was the former owner’s garden, grow its natural way, without my interference.  Yeah, I was the neighborhood hippie…

—use baking soda, borax, and vinegar for cleaning.  A formula I found in a natural health mag goes like this:  Bathroom cleaner:  6 T vinegar, 2 T borax mixed with a cup– of warm water.  Put this in a 1 qt. spray bottle and fill the rest with water.  Works great, especially if used every day.

—I use non-toxic natural cleaners for laundry, dish washing, etc.,  when I am able to afford them.  Oh, and fyi, avoid dishwashers–the detergent used in them is highly toxic.

—ride a bike or walk when going somewhere.  This was easier for me when I lived in Fort Wayne, where everything was within walking distance.  I could get to the downtown in 45 minutes to an hour.  There is something to be said for walking or riding–you are much more connected to what is going on around you.  You hear the birds sing.  Feel the breeze.  Hear the ripple of water along the river…driving a vehicle cuts you off from so much, besides polluting.

—use flannel cloths instead of toilet paper and re-wash them.  I know, I know, some of you are going “ick” right now.  No. 1 is fine…No. 2 still requires paper. So there.

—cloth pads instead of chemically manufactured pads.

—use less.  I just use less.  This was part of the learning process of being poor–you just learn how to manage on less.  Not easy, for sure.  I became much more adept at planning meals and using food up before it went to waste.  I didn’t buy as much at the grocery until I needed it.  This is easier if the grocery is within walking distance….which is becoming harder as the independents are being forced out while big box stores are situated out in no-man’s-land, forcing people to drive there.

—garden organically, using compost from kitchen waste, and if you’re really adventurous, pee and poo.   This is not for sissies…so come with your brain in active mode and your determination to get away from petroleum and chemicals.  You will succeed, but you can’t give up when challenged.  Nature does challenge you, but also gives such splendid rewards. 😉

This is an ongoing process, for sure.  I didn’t just wake up one day and start doing all of this.  It was a gradual endeavor with every new discovery of my own contribution to pollution.

So…there you have it…my efforts towards helping instead of hurting the environment.

I think if we all took those first steps, and built on that, we would greatly reduce our dependency on petroleum.  Everything helps and every bit matters.

Homemade Coconut oil deodorant

Back by popular demand…well, okay, only one person asked about this, but I thought perhaps it was time to repost about the homemade coconut oil deodorant I made previously.  And I can’t recall if I came back to give an update on how it worked or not—but yeah, it does work.  And it’s economical, too, as this recipe lasted months.  No chemicals, no preservatives (other than the salt in the baking soda)…and you’re not adding to the trash pile because you’re not throwing away another stupid plastic container…and you’re not exposing yourself to aluminum….so a win-win.

Here it is:

5-6 TBSP Coconut Oil (more in winter, less in summer)
1/4 cup cornstarch OR arrowroot powder (if you have very sensitive skin)
1/4 cup baking soda
4-6 drops essential oil (optional-tea tree or lavender would be my pick)

What you’ll do:

1. Mix the cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) and baking soda together in a small bowl with a spoon.

2. Melt or soften the coconut oil in a double boiler (glass bowl over a boiling pot of water) or set the coconut oil outside for a few minutes (it melts at 76 degrees). The original recipe does not say to melt the coconut oil but I find it makes mixing and pouring so much easier.

3. Add the dry ingredients to the coconut oil and mix with a spoon until well combined.

4. Add essential oils, if you are using them, and mix well.

5. You can pour or scoop this into your old deodorant container once it’s all combined. Let it sit until firm again. If you are very impatient (like me) you can stick it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to speed up the cooling process.

Note: If you use an old deodorant tube you will most likely need to store it in the refrigerator because coconut oil melts at 76 degrees. Also, ONLY roll up as much as you need. If you roll up too much it will fall out onto the floor (ahem-I know this to be true). My PREFERRED method for using THIS deodorant is to just keep it in a glass container with a lid in my bathroom and apply it with my fingers. Yes, my fingers. It’s really not as strange as it sounds once you try it. 🙂 – See more at: http://blog.lexienaturals.com/2012/08/simple-homemade-deodorant.html#sthash.9wx8BoIC.dpuf

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Okay, my own recipe differs from this in that I don’t use cornstarch or arrowroot–two things I can’t have because of the gluten intolerance.   I also use Bob’s Red Mill baking soda because it is mined without using chemicals.

I mix the coconut oil and baking soda in equal parts–so I would mix 1/4 c. of oil + 1/4 c. of baking soda.

I don’t add the essential oil for two reasons– One is that it is expensive, and two – I still can’t tolerate fragrances.  And I don’t think it is a necessity….the coconut has a nice aroma to it, anyway, so it’s more overkill, to me.  It’s really just a personal choice in what you prefer.

I use a glass container to melt the coconut oil (I put the oil in the jar, and then put it on the coffee maker’s hotplate and let it melt that way).  Then I add the baking soda.  Put it in the refrigerator to solidify…and voila!  Deodorant that you can eat!  Ha.

 

It’s Not Safe to Breathe in New York…

…or anywhere else, for that matter.

Although the small town I’m in has beautiful blue skies, when chemtrails are sprayed, I can’t go outside for any length of time–as turning pale and getting a swollen face and getting a migraine were the result of jogging outside when chemtrails were heavily sprayed.

Same with Fort Wayne–when I jogged on days of ozone warnings, I thought I could jog early in the morning…nope.  I was wheezing by the time I got back to my apartment.

Nature.org has this up on the costs of pollution to all living things…

Here is a paper on thyroid cancer and nuclear energy…

 

More adventures in gluten free foods

(I meant to post this a few days ago. Oops.  Too much going on…geesh.)

A member of the mercury support group posted about foods that might create problems for folks who are gluten sensitive.   She had taken an expensive ($225) test for foods that the body reacted to as if they were gluten.  A lot of the foods she reacted to are on the “safe” list for gluten sensitive folk.

And then another member of the group posted this link.  Of course, coffee, chocolate and eggs are on the list.

As you can imagine, I was depressed that chocolate was once again mentioned as a problem for us.  But coming off of a five day migraine means that something is wrong and I need to start looking at what I am eating.

Worse than that was the eggs and coffee.  If you can’t eat grains, the usual stuff you would eat for breakfast is out the window…so eggs were an easy option for me.

So, I went searching for others’ views on this, and found a helpful links here .  This makes more sense to me, because Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (GAPS), had eggs on her list for recommended foods.  She even recommended raw eggs beaten with honey for their nutrient value.

I have been trying to get free range eggs, but that is hard to come by in my area.  I came across someone who has eggs for sale independently of stores, and I plan on asking about the feed they use.  As a side note~when I first saw the notice, my first thought was “I wonder if they take food stamps?”  And the next happy thought was…”I don’t have to choose my food according to who will take food stamps anymore! Woot!”

On another site, coffee is debated (in the comments section) on whether it or the dairy creamer might be responsible.  Dr. McBride states that we should not drink instant coffee, but that freshly made coffee that is somewhat weak can be in our diet.

Okay, I feel a little less constricted.

And I realize that chocolate IS a problem, but I seriously don’t know how I’m going to give it up.  It’s an addiction, for sure.  I think I’m going to have to approach it like an addiction and focus on one day at a time.  It would be sooo much easier if it didn’t taste so good.  And be comfort food.

Same with rice.  I had purchased rice flour and made biscuits and gravy as comfort food…and now it looks like I’ll have to give that up, too.  And the rice flour pizza, too.  Arrgh.

One of the comments linked to this page.  He explains gluten reactions a little more in-depth than most.

Another mentioned the gluten free society.

 

10 Biggest Oil Spills in History

We don’t hear a lot about oil spills in other parts of the world…we’re lucky if we hear about ALL of them in our little corner of the world…so I thought I’d post this on the worst that has happened.

From the Gulf War in Kuwait:

The largest oil spill the world has seen exacted little permanent damage on coral ecosystems and local fisheries, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at Unesco. The study concluded that about half the oil evaporated, one-eighth of it was recovered and another quarter washed ashore, mostly in Saudi Arabia.

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I found it hard to believe that this spill had not done a lot of damage…especially now that there are cases of MERS in Saudi Arabia that are on the increase.

Could oil spills from over a decade ago be impacting the immune health of the folks there? I don’t know for sure, but it is a possibility. Something has compromised their immune systems…GMO’s, grain-based diet, chemicals…and on.  I would start looking at the folks whom have survived it and do detailed investigation into their diet and what chemicals they have been exposed to.

I found this website that not only dismisses the idea that there wasn’t a lot of damage, but the spill was not an accident–but a deliberate act of environmental warfare.  (I highlighted the text with my mouse so I could read it.  Black and white, people. Black and white, if you want a person to read what you write.)  (haha. poet and don’t know it.)

Not only did they have to contend with the oil spill on the land and water, but then they had an oily rain to deal with.  Good Grief.  If your land is polluted, the normally beneficial rain cannot help do its work of cleansing the Earth, as well as replenishing the water supply, and nourishing the plant life.  All life stops the minute the water supply is polluted.

 

 

 

 

Study links Monsanto pesticide with gluten intolerance

You know what really bothers me about this story?  They already know that pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers destroy the immune system.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that multiplying the chemical is going to do more harm.

So if the immune system begins in the gut, and chemicals destroy the gut…intolerance to problematic grains is a no-brainer.

Can the USDA, FDA, or anybody with a brain and ethics in Washington do something about this? Or is money going to once again trump common sense and forward thinking of not only the present day but the future, as well…..?