The Dalai Lama turned 75 on July 6th and here are his Good Karma notes that are worthy of passing on….

20 Good Karma Notes from The Dalai Lama

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R’s:
- Respect for self,
- Respect for others and
- Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. (My personal favorite)
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
20. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

Energy therapies is a collective term used to refer to a variety of alternative and complementary treatments based on the use, modification, or manipulation of energy fields.

In 2007 Dr. Mehmet Oz stated “the next big frontier in medicine is energy medicine”, on the Oprah show. He is not alone, many others are joining the collective voice of supporters of this ancient knowledge. According to Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, Nobel laureate in Medicine: “In every culture and in every medical tradition before ours, healing was accomplished by moving energy.”

The language of energy is one your body already speaks and understands.  Energy can be managed to more effectively deal with stress, reduce anxiety and free yourself of many ailments.

Using energy you can optimize the body’s natural capacities to heal itself and to stay healthy.  Energy therapy is a return to personal responsibility for health care, harmonizing with the forces of nature and returning to practices that are natural, non-invasive and familiar to the body, mind and spirit.

Symptoms of Low Energy:

• Unusual tiredness, even after 8 or 9 hours sleep
• Inability to summon enthusiasm
• Lack of interest in sex
• Poor concentration
• Apathy

All people can enhance the health of the body’s energies.  Just as eveyone has a different physical structure, everyone has a different energy anatomy.  The most important participant in energy medicine is the one who inhabits the body being worked on.

A typical energy session will start off with a brief conversation, allowing the client tell the practitioner why he or she is there, what is going on in his/her life, and what he or she is hoping to get out of the session(s).   Almost all energy therapies are performed on fully clothed clients who are either lying down on a flat surface or sitting up in a chair.

The practitioner simply allows the energy to channel into the client. There is no physical manipulation; everything is done on a purely energetic level.  Once the energy session is completed the practitioner “grounds” the client back to the planet. This is often done by moving to the feet and channeling the energy into the soles of the feet. This works to open the chakras on the bottoms of the feet, which connect us to the planet.

The purpose of energy healing is to help identify and move stuck energy to allow us to rediscover the lightness of life and the joy of being alive.  An open heart, a set of hands and a willing spirit is all that is needed.

Taking care of our health isn’t just about doctor’s visits and blood tests. It is estimated that 80% of healthcare is done in our homes by loved ones. When we begin to see healthcare as all the things we do everyday to treat ourselves and keep us healthy it becomes obvious. So the real question is how do you want to treat those everyday issues? One way is with simple, natural remedies found in your kitchen!

Things like onions, lemons and honey can be first aid for a variety of ailments. Here are a few simple things you can do at home:

Earaches

Earaches are infections of the inner or outer ear signified by pain, redness and sometimes itchiness around the outer ear.  If the pain becomes severe or is prolonged, consult a medical practitioner.

Generally, earaches are accompanied by colds and flus.  Treat the related symptoms and eliminate foods that may be congesting to the eardrums.  Dairy, sugar and citrus products (with the exception of lemons and grapefruit) are the primary culprits.  Then try the following:

• Hot Onion Packs: Hot onion packs are an old-fashioned remedy that really works.  Wrap hot sautéed onions in a flannel cloth and apply directly to both ears.  Reheat the onions as needed.  Leave the hot onion pack on for 30-45 minutes, longer if possible.

• Hot Salt Packs: If the onion pack doesn’t work, heat some salt in a cast-iron skillet; when the salt is too hot to touch, pour it onto a dishcloth or cotton cloth.  Using other towels to protect against the heat, place against the ear for at least 30 minutes.

The Versatile Aloe

The fresh gel from the aloe vera plant is easy to extract.  Choose a large succulent leaf and slice it carefully off the mother plant.  (The plant will ooze a gel-like substance from the location of the cut, which will heal itself within a few hours.) Slice along the edge of the leaf lengthwise (cutting only as far as you need to for one application of gel).  Scoop out the gel from the interior of the leaf, scraping the skin clean.  This gel can be applied directly to any burn, wound or rash.  If you don’t use the entire leaf, wrap the remainder in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator, it will keep for several months.

When we look at the health of the digestive system holistically we can see the importance of the interaction between a person’s state of mind and digestion. Emotions profoundly influence both the functioning and structure of tissue in the stomach and intestines. There is an immediate response to anger, anxiety, fear and all form of stress and worry. Most of the digestive problems that commonly occur are easily avoidable by changes of lifestyle and habits.

The term indigestion is used for a wide range of symptoms including pain, flatulence, heartburn and other distress. Most are caused by a functional problem in the stomach stemming from inappropriate eating habits. Some common causes of indigestion include:

• Irregular eating: the functioning of the body is characterized by rhythms and in the digestive systems is no exception. If meals are eaten irregularly these rhythms are disturbed and functional problems may result.
• Overeating and eating too quickly: if too much food goes into the stomach, either at one time or in total over the day the stomach will be overloaded and not work properly. Overloading causes problems in the stomach which may affect the whole system. Obesity is one common result. Also when food is eaten too quickly and not chewed thoroughly it causes problems as the food may not be digested properly and may pass through the system in an undigested state.
• Nervous tension: the whole digestive system is easily effected by stress and anxiety.

You can see how lifestyle is a big factor in indigestion and changes to those habits can influence your overall health. There are herbs that can be helpful in dealing with the symptoms of indigestion. For flatulence a good carminative can be a friend to you and those around you. Herbs to try are Aniseed, Fennel and Peppermint. Now you understand the popularity of those after dinner mints!

If you are asking that question then the answer is yes. Menopause comes on gradually; you don’t just wake up one day and say wow I have arrived. It is a process that takes time and is a different experience for each woman.

It is estimated that by the year 2015 about 50% of all women in America will be menopausal. Think about that for a minute…think about how much of your everyday life will be controlled by women having power surges and mood swings! What a great time to be on this planet!

In the wise woman tradition there are 3 phases to a woman’s life, that of the maiden, the mother and the crone. Each phase is a time to be honored and lived fully. Unfortunately the word crone has been linked to many negative images. We’ve been lead to believe that once we become a crone death is just around the corner. Becoming a crone does require some amount of death and rebirth. Just like death and birth, menopause takes time, is different for everyone and it always brings about a profound change.

Women are beginning to realize that we are more than the sum of our parts. We are the givers of life, the gatherers, the ones who most readily feel the stirrings of mother earth and attune to her cycles. We are relearning how to trust our instincts and give voice to our needs and desires. Women are joyously embracing that time in their life when the chores of raising a family are behind them and they are stepping fully into their crone years with pride and a sense of freedom. We are no longer afraid of menopause; in fact some of us embrace it!

For more information listen to my internet radio show. Aunt Mel’s Herbs & Insights Radio on the VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel! http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1699

Humans have forever been in search of the perfect aphrodisiac.  From ancient to modern times almost no culture, primitive or civilized, has been without its cornucopia of love foods and potions.

The term aphrodisiac comes from Aphrodite, the goddess of love and sexuality.

Aphrodisiacs are substances that excite sexual desire or enhance sexual performance. They include not only substances taken internally but also visual, auditory, tactile and olfactory stimulants…in short anything that inspires sensuality is an aphrodisiac. In fact if you work to combine what is seen, heard, felt and make it smell good you may not even need an internal stimulant. Create the right atmosphere, with the right person and love blooms!

For most people there is nothing more stimulating than a partner who is warm, nurturing and willing to explore options that work for both partners. Every person is different in his or her needs and desires. Communication is really key.

In today’s society aphrodisiacs mean different things to different people. The most potent aphrodisiac known to man is the human brain. We can use all the tricks to create the right atmosphere but if our mind is busy thinking about other things we are not present and we diminish the experience. Sensuality is definitely a place for the combining of mind, body and spirit.

Here are just a few of the foods that have been called aphrodisiacs:

• Almond: the aroma can ignite passion
• Arugula: documented as an aphrodisiac since the first century AD
• Basil: stimulates the sex drive and boosts fertility
• Chocolate: contains chemicals effecting neurotransmitters in the brain
• Ginger: stimulant to the circulatory system
• Mustard: increases desire
• Onions: restores sexual vigor
• Oysters: very nutritious and high in protein

Here are some food recipes to spice up your love life!

From Botanica Erotica, by Diana De Luca

Chocolate Spiced Butter

• 1 stick softened butter
• 3 tablespoons cocoa
• 2-3 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground aniseed

Thoroughly mix ingredients together. Spread generously!

Candied Citrus

• Citrus fruits of choice
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup

Peel the citrus or slice and pull out the fruit. Put the peels in a large pot of water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Drain the water and let the peels cool down enough to handle. Use a spoon and scrape away the white pith. Slice or cut the peels into narrow strips.

Stir together the water, sugar and corn syrup in a pan, stirring until it boils. When the syrup is clear add the peels, lower the heat, and slowly cook for about 1 hour until they look translucent. With a slotted spoon scoop out the peels and drain on a rack. Store in the refrigerator if you are using them for baking. To serve as a sweetmeat, first drain and then roll the peels in a little sugar. Let them dry for 2 hours. The candied peels may also be dipped in chocolate.

Chocolate Cordial

• 1/2 cup brandy
• 1 cup chocolate syrup
• 2-3 drops almond extract or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bottle the ingredients and shake well. Let sit for 2 days to 1 week. It will get smoother and silkier the longer it sits. It is tantalizing served over ice cream and fresh fruit such as fresh peaches with toasted almonds.

Flower essences are used to treat the emotional and spiritual imbalances that cause disease. Flower essence therapy is not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any illness or disease, rather it offers a simple technique of alleviating behavioral negativities. By eliminatiing negativities you are able to become emotionally balanced therby supporting the whole person as you move forward toward healing.

Flower essences are the blossoms of plants prepared from a sun infusion in a bowl of water, then further diluted and preserved with brandy. These preparations embody the distinct imprint or energetic pattern of each flower species.

Flower essence therapy is a form of vibrational medicine. Vibrational medicine incorporates the use of chi energies within living organisms such as plants, gemstones and crystals, water, sunlight and even the foods we eat.

Anyone can make their own flower essences. Here’s how:

Tools and Supplies: Scissors, long tweezers, 2 quart glass bowl, glass saucer, distilled water, quart canning jars and lids, brandy.

Best time for collecting flowers: 8 – 10 am

A sunny day is a must in preparing flower essences.

Choose flowers a day a head of being fully open.

1. Sterilize your equipment by washing with hot soapy water. Be sure not to touch the inside surface of the bowl and jars after washing to insure the purity of the essence.

2. Decide how many flower heads are to be collected, generally 1-5.

3. Give thanks to the plant before you begin.

4. Collect the flower head by snipping them onto the glass saucer while being careful not to handle them. Touching them or sniffing them will alter the flower’s energy.

5. Remove the petals using scissors or tweezers. Allow the petals to fall onto the glass saucer without handling them with your hands.

6. Lift the petals one by one and place them in the bowl of water so that each petal touches the water surface. The petals will float. Shake loose all the stamen before hand.

7. Place the bowl in direct sunlight outdoors.

8. Give a request to the nature spirits for the healing properties of the flowers to be treated by the sunlight. This begins the process of releasing the flower’s energy into the water.

9. Allow the grounding process to take place by leaving the bowl in sunlight for approximately 3 hours.

10. Fill two quart canning jars with about 1/2 brandy. This ratio can be adjusted to your liking but no more than 50% brandy.

11. Fill the remainder of the jars with the solarized flower solution.

12. Secure the jar with a clean lid and label with the name of the flower and the date.

This makes a mother tincture bottle. You can further dilute this to dosage bottles as needed.

The word aromatherapy conjures up images of people magically alleviating their depression or insecurities with wonderful scents.  But aromatherapy is much more than that.  Incorporating aromatherapy into your life enhances you overall health, beauty and psychological well-being.  Aromatherapy can reduce stress, improve sleep and give you more energy.  It can improve your complexion, treat an annoying skin itch and eliminate a stomachache.

Perhaps the best thing about aromatherapy is that it is so easy and pleasurable to do.  Few people will complain about receiving a prescription to bathe with scented oils or apply fragrant body oil.

Essential oils give plants their characteristic odors. It’s why a rose smells like a rose and a lilac smells completely different.  It is because essential oils are aromatic that the therapy involving their use is called aromatherapy.

There are two main ways to use fragrance in healing.  One is through inhalation, which has its most significant impact on mood and emotion but can also produce physical reactions such as lowering blood pressure. The other route is the physical application of essential oil to the body. Any time you use essential oils you will be getting a benefit because you can’t help but inhale the aroma.

Useful Essential Oils:

Anger, Anxiety: Basil, Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Hyssop, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Ylang-Ylang

Depression: Basil, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Melissa, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang-Ylang

Immunity: Bergamot, Black Pepper, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Rosemary, Tea Tree

Insomnia: Basil, Chamomile, Lavender, Mandarin, Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Petitgrain, Rose, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang-Ylang

Loss of Appetite: Bergamot, Caraway, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Coriander, Ginger, Hyssop

Nausea: Basil, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Chamomile, Clove, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose, Sandalwood

Nervous Exhaustion: Basil, Cinnamon, Citronella, Coriander, Ginger, Grapefruit, Hyssop, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Peppermint, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Ylang-Ylang

Nervous Tension: Basil, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, Neroli, Palmarosa, Rosemary, Vetiver, Ylang-Ylang

Pain: Curry, Peppermint, Basil, Marjoram, Clove

Uplifting: Basil, Bergamot, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Melissa

To hear more about the benefits of aromatherapy you can listen to the recording of my internet radio show, Aunt Mel’s Herbs & Insights on VoiceAmercia Health & Wellness Channel.

http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1699

Friday March 12th I kick off my new internet radio show on the VoiceAmerica Health & Wellness Channel. It airs every Friday at 11 AM Pacific Time. For us challenged Arizonians that is 12 noon for the first show and 11 AM for the shows after that. Why does the nation still do that archaic practice of changing the clocks? Maybe just to confuse the Arizonians

This is a new venue for me and I’m very excited! You can listen in live at http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1699

Unable to tune in live? Each episode is available for download from the archives!

My first show is about stress. Something I have become even more familiar with getting ready to do this show! I will be giving listeners some tips and herbal remedies for dealing with stress. The show is only an hour long and stress is such a big subject that I can’t cover it all so I am including some additional information here.

Stress is a normal physical response to events that upset your balance in some way. Problem is that the body doesn’t distinguish between a real physical threat and a threat that is only in your mind. The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. When you perceive a threat your nervous system responds. You go into the ‘fight or flight’ mode, very useful to the caveman when the tiger was going to eat him. Unfortunately in today’s hectic world we spend a lot of time thinking about our stressful situations and that causes our body to be in a constant response mode. This can weaken our immune system and increase the risk of heart attack.

When asked most people would say that they are stressed. But how much is too much? Take this stress test and find out.

STRESS TEST

1. Do you feel tired all the time or have trouble sleeping?

2. Do you have a hard time relaxing or feel unable to relax?

3. Do you forget things all the time?

4. Are you frequently angry and tired at the end of the day?

5. Do you always feel under pressure?

6. Do you argue all the time, even about minor things?

7. Can you never find time for yourself?

8. Do you no longer want to socialize with others?

9. Do you lack patience and feel others are always wrong?

10. Do people often tell you that you seem tense or upset?

Everyone had bad days and feels some of the above, but if you answered ‘yes’ to two or more of these questions and/or feel this way regularly, chances are that you are stressed! Moreover, you may not be handling the stress in your life as well as you could be.

Find ways to deal with your stress. If possible remove those things that cause detrimental stress from your life. Some stressors are not easily removed so try to find an outlet for your stress. The simplest form of stress relief is to breathe. I don’t mean hyperventilate….I mean deep, relaxing breathing deep into your belly. On the out breath feel all the tension leave your body. Continue breathing deeply until you feel yourself relax. Other great stress reducers are massage, meditation,Yoga and exercise.

One of my favorite ways to let go of stress is with a cup of herbal tea. There are many different herbs that are useful, such as Lavender, Lemon Balm and Chamomile just to name a few. It is true that you can take these same herbs in tinctures or capsules but the very act of making yourself a nice cup of tea is relaxing in itself!

So figure out what your stressors are and then employ some techniques to reduce their effects on you. You’ll live a healthier, happier life!

This is my first attempt at blogging. I am much more comfortable with herbs and people than I am with technology. I promise to give it my best shot!

This blog will be primarily about herbs but since I am a multi-dimensional person it will also have other insights and yes, maybe ramblings. The world around me is so dynamic and ever changing that I can’t help but comment on it.

I am a born and bred Southerner….a sweet tea and grits kind of girl. I learned about herbs in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, an amazing place to sit and listen to the plants. Did you know that the Appalachian mountains are second only to the Rainforest in the amount of medicinal plants they hold? Everywhere you look there are plants that want to be of service. To an herbalist it is paradise. That is where my love affair with the healing plants began.

Fast forward to 2010….I now live in the desert Southwest and have for about 8 years now. I miss my beloved Appalachians but I am enthralled with the desert. What originally seemed like a baren wasteland has taught me the lesson that not everything is as it seems. The desert is beautiful and yes, full of life! I can attest to the full of life part because some little critter is always eating what I am planting. We have a little power struggle going on, I think I’m a gardener, the critters think I’m a waitress serving them dinner. It would be easier to be mad at them if they weren’t so darn cute!

It is January in the desert so that means spring. For those of you in the rest of the country I’m sorry to have said that but it’s true. In an attempt to thwart the critters and have more space we are building a greenhouse. It is a community effort and a labor of love. Growing seasons are short in the desert so we’re working as fast as life will allow. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.