Understanding a Past Life Dream

Working through a past life dream is challenging and rewarding. There is no need to feel victimized by dreams and nightmares. Dreams are for healing, learning, and enlightenment (through a process of true acceptance and an action of forgiveness). Mastery of our dreams and past life memories can heal emotional and physical concerns and enhance mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

Past lives reveal the roots of our current patterns of life programming. You can identify: 1.Your coping skills, and hidden strengths and skills: 2. The root of maladaptive behaviors (alcoholism, eating disorders, feelings of financial insecurity); 3. The roots of emotional issues (anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress); and 4. The programming that leads to poor personal relationships at home and work.

How do you know you are working with a past life dream? The dream will feel historical and if you look for skin color, historical modes of dress (look at your feet), transportation, tools, etc.—you will see them. Sometimes a specific name or date sticks in your memory as you awaken. There will be a deep sense of “realness”---this was my life.

Be aware that we have all played many roles: males and females; heroes and villains; victims and victimizers; rich and poor, long lives and short lives; loved and despised; various races; various cultures; and various beliefs.

There are many books that give insights and techniques. For some people and dreams it is enough to recognize the dream as part of yourself, to accept and not judge (forgive). To understand a past life dream, you must look for patterns of cause and effect. (The idea of reward and punishment is too simplistic.) You could try this method:

• Write the dream down---write the dream in first person—“I am___, I did____”
• Tell yourself this is who I was in the past—I am not that person today, I do not have to be that person today
• If you saw something ugly and feel emotionally shocked pray for strength to help you heal---put the dream away until you are ready to work with it.
• Write down specific images that illicit strong emotions and make note of the emotion
• If every thing is hidden in blackness, ask yourself “Am I blind? Is something covering my eyes? Is this so horrible I refuse to see (accept) this event?”
• Go into a meditative state visualize strongly and re-experience the past life
• One of the most important things to do is heal your death---do not take negative thoughts into the next life. For example, say to yourself  “I leave behind fear of drowning—I take perfect beauty, health and self-respect into my next life.”

An actual past life memory, which emerged in a dream:

In the dream I am myself now, but I am looking back into the darkness following the chain links of lives and events. I see various people attached to the chain who are all me.

The blackness makes me feel as if I do not want to see what is happening. It reminds me of a previous dream that was all black, no visuals, just an intense feeling of regret, remorse and horror. (A dream I had close to 20 years ago) I did not want to see it and I did not want to talk about it, because it was so awful. When I awoke from that dream I was in shock. I could not think or focus my thoughts. I felt like I had done something so wrong my heart was a black empty hole.

I know now that I am looking at what I could not face in the previous dream. I am now ready to see the pattern of my past.

In this current dream I am looking back down the black iron chain to other past parts of myself. I am very aware of the links in the chain.

The self nearest me in time is unclear and basically unimportant at this time. He is a man who had died of syphilis. (His importance was made clear after I worked with the dream.)

The next person back in time was a Catholic nun.

The focus of my attention is on next person back in time. She is a richly dressed courtesan woman in a red dress a large veiled hat with a feather. This woman has leprosy. She seems to be the focus of the past life memory. She is deeply conflicted. (I can feel her inner conflict and shame.) She is trying to pretend she does not have leprosy. She does not want to be isolated and shunned. She is dependent on her beauty to survive and does not care if she puts others at risk. She cannot bear to give up her lifestyle---to be alone.

A nun confronts the woman about her self-absorption and tries to stop her evil and wickedness. The nun tells the leper courtesan to separate herself from the people of the community. The courtesan will not stop. The nun's beliefs and sense of duty drive her to kill the courtesan. She buries the leper women in unconsecrated ground.

As I am the leper woman in spirit, I watch as the nun buries my body by a tree. I can see into the graveyard to the place where the good people are buried. I feel isolated and alone. In the spirit I feel compassion for the nun who has killed me. I know she has damaged her soul to protect the people from leprosy. (In spirit I am standing behind the tree as the nun reverently buries my body.)

Again as I look back further down the chain of past lives I see another lifetime hiding in the blackness. When I allow myself to feel it I can see it.

I see the lifetime when we as people had been bioengineered. (Lemuria? Atlantis?) We have the ability to destroy our enemies by looking at them. This technology is supposed to protect us from what we fear so we always feel safe. But the technology has mutated. Anytime we look at anyone else, even in friendship, this self-defense lazar mechanism activates. Our fear has created our own prison. I see myself as burned and mutilated and lost in my isolation. 

As I awaken from the past life dream I feel confused, guilty and ashamed. What do I do with a dream like this? Are these people my past? First I must always face the emotions. The emotions verify the reality of the significant dream.  No life is perfect, but by accepting the truth we are set free.

First, I accept my emotions. I draw on my spirituality and accept what I have seen. God forgives the repentant person. The hard part is to forgive myself. Forgiveness is essential to be free of the past programming. Past lives' feelings and actions are not me now.

Negative self-judgment is not useful. When I allow the strength of the mental mind to take over, I can look at the dream with discernment.

The dream seems to lacks internal logic. How can I be the nun killing the leper woman and be the leper woman at the same time? Is this truly a chain of connected past lives? Answer: I am not the nun killing the leper woman. However, the words of encouragement and faith she said at my death scene set a desire in my soul (soul code) that leads to choosing my next life time as a nun.

The unconscious mind is like a blank slate, or computer waiting for code. The unconscious mind of every person is in contact with the unconscious mind of every other person. Because I am aware of the emotions and drives of the nun who killed the leper (me), my soul was emotionally coded by her conscious thought process. Her words became my thoughts at death.

The negative aspect of cause and effect:  The death scene codes future life programming on the soul, however it may not be evident for several lifetimes. I see the fear of isolation, and an overwhelming need for human contact and connection as initiating in the Atlantis lifetime. I see the coding of unresolved issues and needs: for a loving relationship, for physical connection, personal need fulfillment creating a diseased outcome (bioengineering=leprosy=syphilis).

The positive aspect of cause and effect:  Soul coding created a life-path where: to become a nun is to live in a community, personal need fulfillment focuses on knowledge of good health practices, loving relationships are characterized by acts of service (like the life of the nun), and physical connections are based on respect for the other balanced with personal need.

A horrible past life is not a justification for current bad behavior—it is an opportunity for healing. Typically we do not dream of joyful, enlightened lives because those lives do not need healing. If you dream of a past life that is joyful and enlightened, it is a reminder to live those gifts in the here and now.

George Santayana wrote (in The Life of Reason, 1905) “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

 https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/blog/churchill-quote-history/

Healing Past Life Dreams

The first past life memory I had came in a dream or you could call it a nightmare. I was trapped in a barn fire. I remember seeing beams falling down on me, and flaming hay streaming down from the loft. The next moment I knew myself as a blackened and charred body. I was screaming out in my mind, I’m still in here, I’m still alive.

I was saved from this shocking dream by a friend pounding on my door. I was a graduate student and my friend wanted to go partying—of course I went. To this day I can see the image of the burning barn and charred corpse. It is strange to contemplate but I was put in a state of shock by a past life memory.

Each of us should learn to use our dreams and past life memories for healing (emotional and physical) and for growth (mental, emotional and spiritual). It is possible to work with past life memories on your own—but it is a challenge. Currently, I am studying advanced training as a past life regression therapist. To be free of unconscious memories is liberating.

My mentor, Dr. Morris Netherton, teaches past life therapy is effective for healing present life issues. Past life therapy is very effective for certain cases of anxiety, obsessive/compulsive behavior, post-traumatic stress, fears, phobias, and health issues such as asthma and chronic pain. Netherton tells us past life is anything that is not this very moment. Any time you are unconscious, or fear that you are dying you become vulnerable to negative emotional programming.

The relationship between the physical brain frequency and the function of mind and emotion is central to understanding why past life therapy is so effective. Past life therapy occurs in the Alpha and Theta frequency range. The therapist’s function is as a facilitator as the client consciously tells his remembered story. The point is to be aware and heal the emotional programming of the story.

Charles Skillas (PhD, DD, BCH) tells us understanding brain wave activity (EEG) enhances our understanding of hypnosis and meditation.

• The Beta Range frequency, 14-28 cps, describes conscious functions like problem solving, worry, fear and processing visual information.
• The Alpha range, 7- 14 cps, correlates to prayer, reverie, relaxation, meditation and light hypnosis.
• The Theta frequencies, 4-7 cps, identify with visual reverie, deep hypnosis, anesthesia and perceptual changes.
• Delta frequencies, .5 to 4 cps, are associated with deep sleep and [danger] awareness (ex. alarm clock awakening, sounds outside the window.)

EEG studies demonstrate Alpha and Theta waves as the most powerful, with higher peaks of voltage and longer duration. Dr. Skillas speculates that the information that is being impressed on brain cells in a stronger, more effective manner during Alpha and Theta states. If this is true, it may explain the powerful changes that may be effective under deep hypnosis in a brief time, say Skillas.

Lisa Miller, AUG. 27, 2010, in an online article for the New York Times, tells us according to data by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, a quarter of Americans believe in reincarnation. Women are more likely to believe than men. There are nearly a billion Hindus and a half-billion Buddhists who have for thousands of years believed in reincarnation. (Not to mention the ancient Greeks, certain Jews and some ancient Christians) They have a cyclical view--you are born, you live, you die, and because nobody is perfect your soul is born again — not in another location or sphere, not metaphorical but right here on earth.

Brian L. Weiss M.D. is Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami started his career as a traditional psychotherapist. He has become a foremost expert in the use of regression therapy for healing, mind, body and spirit. According to his website, Dr. Weiss was “astonished and skeptical when one of his patients began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks.

Dr. Weiss tells us:

• Not all problems have their source in the past.
• Often dreams contain fragments of past life memories. 
• Frequently the material elicited through past life regressions contains metaphors and symbols and can trigger dream experiences.
• Using free association or the active imagination helps free the mind from any negative connotations.
• One can replace the word reincarnation with the word imagine and the process still works.
• It is not always necessary to see a therapist in order to discover one’s past lives
• Meditation on your own can open the unconscious mind
• Or using audiotapes or CDs can help you to have your own experiences. 

There are people who feel victimized by their dreams and nightmares. The true purpose of our dreams is for healing, learning, and enlightenment (through a process of true acceptance and an action of forgiveness).  Each of us should be a master of our dreams and past life memories for healing (emotional and physical) and for growth (mental, emotional and spiritual).

How do you know you are working with a past life dream? The dream will feel historical and if you look for skin color, historical modes of dress (look at your feet), transportation, tools, etc.—you will see them. Sometimes a specific name or date sticks in your memory as you awake. Most important—there will be an intense inner knowing. A past life dream is only one type of dream.

Types of Dreams:

1. Psychological Healing

2. Belief Dreams

3. Problem-Solving Dreams

4. Physiological Dreams

5. Dreams of Daily Life

6. Compensatory Dreams

7. Recurring Dreams

8. Lucid Dreams

9. Psychic Dreams or Prophetic Dreams.

10. Nightmares

If you are drawn to work with the past life it will reveal to you: 1.Your coping skills, hidden strengths and skills; 2. The root of maladaptive behaviors (alcoholism, eating disorders, feelings of financial insecurity); 3. The roots emotional issues (anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress); 4. The programming that leads to poor relationships at home and work.

Over time I have developed techniques for healing past life dreams. There are many books that give insights and techniques. For some people and dreams it is enough to recognize the dream as part of yourself to accept and not judge (forgive). There is no one special strategy. You could try this method:

• Write the dream down---write the dream in first person—“I am___, I did____”
• Tell yourself this is who I was in the past—I am not that person today, I do not have to be that person today
• If you saw something ugly and feel emotionally shocked pray for strength to help you heal---put the dream away until you are ready to work with it.
• Go into a meditative state visualize strongly and re-experience the past life
• One of the most important things to do is heal your death---do not take negative thoughts into the next life. For example, say to yourself  “I leave behind fear of drowning—I take perfect beauty, health and self-respect into my next life.” 

A horrible past life is not a justification for current bad behavior—it is an opportunity for healing. Typically we do not dream of joyful, enlightened lives because those lives do not need healing. If you dream of a past life that is joyful and enlightened, it is a reminder to live those gifts in the here and now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/fashion/29PastLives.html?_r=0

http://www.drskillas.com/A-Hypnosis-and-Brain-Waves.htm

http://www.dreaminterpretation-dictionary.com/types-of-dreams.html

http://www.brianweiss.com

First Aid: Time for a review

I became interested in health and wellness along time ago when I was in Girl Scouts. I decided to study for a badge on First Aid. First aid techniques change over the years and often what we do is really based on bad information, “old wives tales,” so I decided to check out the Red Cross website and see what is up to date information.

I remember my mother always said put butter on a burn 1st degree burn---Do Not Do This. (I read somewhere oils trap the heat in causing the skin to continue to burn--maybe true.) Sorry Mom, the Mayo Clinic tells us:

For minor burns:

• Cool the burn to help soothe the pain. Hold the burned area under cool (not cold) running water for 10 to 15 minutes or until the pain eases. Or apply a clean towel dampened with cool tap water.
• Remove rings or other tight items from the burned area. Try to do this quickly and gently, before the area swells.
• Don't break small blisters (no bigger than your little fingernail). If blisters break, gently clean the area with mild soap and water, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a nonstick gauze bandage.
• Apply moisturizer or aloe vera lotion or gel, which may provide relief in some cases.

Major burns:

• Until an emergency unit arrives, take these actions:
• Protect the burned person from further harm.
• But don't remove burned clothing stuck to the skin.
• Check for signs of circulation. Look for breathing, coughing or movement. Begin CPR if needed.
• Remove jewelry, belts and other restrictive items, especially from around burned areas and the neck---burned areas swell rapidly.
• Don't immerse large severe burns in cold water--doing so could cause a serious loss of body heat (hypothermia) or a drop in blood pressure and decreased blood flow (shock).
• Elevate the burned area. Raise the wound above heart level, if possible.
• Cover the area of the burn. Use a cool, moist, bandage or a clean cloth. 

Every home should have a well-stocked first-aid kit.

The Mayo Clinic recommends a basic first-aid kit that includes:

• Adhesive tape
• Elastic wrap bandages
• Bandage strips and "butterfly" bandages in assorted sizes
• Nonstick sterile bandages and roller gauze in assorted sizes
• Eye shield or pad
• Triangular bandage
• Aluminum finger split
• Instant cold packs
• Cotton balls and cotton-tipped swabs
• Disposable nonlatex examination gloves, several pairs
• Duct tape
• Petroleum jelly or other lubricant
• Plastic bags, assorted sizes
• Safety pins in assorted sizes
• Scissors and tweezers
• Soap or hand sanitizer
• Antibiotic ointment
• Antiseptic solution and towelettes
• Eyewash solution
• Thermometer
• Turkey baster or other bulb suction device for flushing wounds
• Breathing barrier
• Syringe, medicine cup or spoon
• First-aid manual

The kit should include medications appropriate to your family such as: Aloe vera gel, Calamine lotion, Anti-diarrhea medication, Laxative, Antacids, Antihistamine, Pain relievers, Cough and cold medications, and Auto-injector of epinephrine, if prescribed by your doctor.

An emergency items kit includes: Emergency phone numbers, contact information for your family doctor, Medical consent forms for each family member, Medical history forms for each family member, Small, waterproof flashlight or headlamp and extra batteries, Waterproof matches, Small notepad and waterproof writing instrument, Emergency space blanket, Cell phone with solar charger, Sunscreen, Insect repellant,

Whistle. I would include a hat or scarf. Check your first-aid kits regularly to be sure the flashlight batteries work and to replace supplies that have expired or been used up.

There are many resources for medical information and advice including the Internet, magazines, and television. The Red Cross tells us to seek health and safety recommendations from credible sources and disregard popular myths. Their website lists some of the most common first aid mistakes They recommend enrolling in a first aid class to learn how to respond correctly in an emergency situation.

• Myth: Soothe a burn by applying butter. 
Reality: If you apply butter or an oily substance to a serious burn, you could make it difficult for a doctor to treat the burn later and increase risk of infection. The right approach: Treat a burn with cool water. If a burn is severe and starts to blister, make sure to see a doctor. Keep the affected area clean and loosely covered with a dry, sterile dressing. 

• Myth: If a child swallows a poisonous substance, induce vomiting with syrup of ipecac. Reality: Inducing vomiting is not recommended for certain poisonous substances and may be harmful. 
The right approach: Never give anything to eat or drink unless directed to by the Poison Control Center or a medical professional. If an accidental poisoning occurs, immediately call the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222) or your doctor for advice.

• Myth (bad advice): The best way to treat a bleeding extremity is by applying a tourniquet. 
Reality: Tourniquets stop the flow of blood, which could cause permanent damage to a limb. They should be used only as a last resort in the case of severe bleeding. The right approach: Pad the wound with layers of sterile gauze or cloth, apply direct pressure and wrap the wound securely. Seek medical help if the bleeding doesn't stop or if the wound is gaping, dirty or caused by an animal bite

• Myth: Apply heat to a sprain, strain or fracture. 
Reality: Heat actually increases swelling and can keep the injury from healing as quickly as it could. 
The right approach: Apply ice to reduce swelling for about 20 minutes. Place a thin barrier between the ice and the bare skin.

• Myth: You should move someone injured in a car accident away from the scene. 
Reality: A person with a spinal-cord injury won't necessarily appear badly injured, but any movement could lead to paralysis or death. 
The right approach: Move an injured victim only if 
The scene becomes unsafe (the vehicle is threatened by fire or another serious hazard) or if you have to reach another victim who may have a more serious injury or illness. 
You need to provide proper care (CPR needs to be performed on a firm, flat surface. 
Otherwise, it's best to stabilize the victim, and leave the person in place until paramedics arrive. 

• Myth: Rub your eye when you get a foreign substance in it. Tears will wash the substance out. 
Reality: Rubbing could cause a serious scratch or abrasion to the eye. 
The right approach: Rinse the eye with tap water. 

• Myth: Use hot water to thaw a cold extremity. Reality: Avoid any extreme temperature change- hot water can cause further damage. 
The right approach: Gradually warm the extremity by soaking it in lukewarm water. 

• Myth: To reduce a fever, sponge rubbing alcohol on the skin. 
Reality: Alcohol can be absorbed by the skin, which can cause alcohol poisoning, especially in young children. 
The right approach: Lower a fever by taking ibuprofen. If a high fever continues for several days, see a physician or go to a hospital emergency room for treatment.  

• Myth: Allergic reactions to bee stings can be treated at home. 
Reality: Delaying professional treatment to a respiratory allergic reaction to a bee sting could be fatal. 
The right approach: For symptoms such as breathing problems, tight throat or swollen tongue, call an ambulance immediately.

• Myth: If you get a cut or scrape, apply first-aid ointment, cover it with a bandage, and leave it untended to heal for a few days. 
Reality: Exposure to fresh air is the quickest way to allow wounds to heal, and thus it is generally best not to apply creams or ointments, since they keep the wound moist. Bandages should also be changed to keep the wound clean. 
The right approach: The first and best thing to do with a wound is wash it with soap and cool water. All dressings should be changed twice a day. At bedtime, the bandage should be replaced with a looser dressing so air can circulate around the wound. Upon waking, a slightly tighter bandage should be applied, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. Bandages should be changed even if it means pulling off a part of a scab that's forming, experts say. Also, try to keep the wounded area dry.

The Mayo clinic tells us for a broken bone or fractured bone, where bone has torn through the skin, this requires emergency medical attention---call for help to come to you. Also call for emergency help if:

• The person is unresponsive, isn't breathing or isn't moving. Begin CPR if there's no breathing or heartbeat.
• There is heavy bleeding.
• Even gentle pressure or movement causes pain.
• The limb or joint appears deformed.
• The bone has pierced the skin.
• The extremity of the injured arm or leg, such as a toe or finger, is numb or bluish at the tip.
• You suspect a bone is broken in the neck, head or back.
• Don't move the person except if necessary to avoid further injury. Take these actions immediately while waiting for medical help:
• Stop any bleeding. Apply pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage, a clean cloth or a clean piece of clothing.
• Immobilize the injured area. Don't try to realign the bone or push a bone that's sticking out back in. If you've been trained in how to splint and professional help isn't readily available, apply a splint to the area above and below the fracture sites. Padding the splints can help reduce discomfort.
• Apply ice packs to limit swelling and help relieve pain. Don't apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the ice in a towel, piece of cloth or some other material.

According to the Mayo Clinic, shock may result from trauma, heatstroke, blood loss, an allergic reaction, severe infection, poisoning, severe burns or other causes. A person in shock is not getting enough blood or oxygen to their organs. This can lead to permanent organ damage or even death if left untreated. Signs and symptoms of shock vary depending on circumstances and may include:

• Cool, clammy skin
• Pale or ashen skin
• Rapid pulse
• Rapid breathing
• Nausea or vomiting
• Enlarged pupils
• Weakness or fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Changes in mental status or behavior, such as anxiousness or agitation 

Seek emergency medical care if you suspect a person is in shock. Then immediately take the following steps:

• Lay the person down and elevate the legs and feet slightly, unless you think this may cause pain or further injury.
• Keep the person still and don't move him or her unless necessary.
• Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life, such as breathing, coughing or movement.
• Loosen tight clothing and, if needed, cover the person with a blanket to prevent chilling.
• Don't let the person eat or drink anything.
• If the person vomits or begins bleeding from the mouth, turn him or her onto a side to prevent choking, unless you suspect a spinal injury. 

Now that I have reviewed this basic information, I feel more prepared. I know what I can do and what I should not do. First Aide is HUGE topic. A web search shows there are varieties of online first aide courses. My recommendation would be to contact the Red Cross because first aide is their primary mission.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=first%20aide%20basic

http://www.redcross.org/email/safetynet/v1n9/firstaid.asp

http://www.firstaidforfree.com/

Coconut for Cake and Good Health

My childhood memories of coconut are all about baking. My brother’s favorite cake for his birthday was called German Chocolate Cake. Originally, the German’s Chocolate Cake was made of 3 layers of buttermilk cake flavored with melted German's chocolate, and sandwiched with a rich coconut-pecan filling. Typically my mother frosted the cake top with coconut -pecan filling sides with chocolate icing

The Joyofbaking.com website tells us the cake was named after German's Sweet Chocolate, which is a dark baking chocolate created by the Walter Baker & Company. Samuel German an employee developed the chocolate in 1852. The origin of German Chocolate Cake is hard to pinpoint---all we do know is it’s all American. “Richard Sax in Classic Home Desserts says this cake was being made in the 1920's and eventually became popular nationwide after a recipe appeared in a 1957 food column of a Dallas newspaper.”

The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. Because the hairy nut seems to have eyes and resembles the head and face of a monkey, early Spanish explorers called it coco, or "monkey face". Coconut contains a nutritious white meat, juice, milk, and oil that has been staple food for populations around the world for generations. A third of the world's people depend on coconut for food.

Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is classified as a "functional food" since it provides many health benefits. Coconut oil has healing properties and is used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Coconut oil is considered curative for all illness by Pacific Islanders. The indigenous people call the coconut palm "The Tree of Life."

For thousands of years coconut has been valued and used in local folk medicine. Traditional medicine around the world has used coconut to treat a wide variety of health problems including abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds. Medical science research is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions.

Medical journals report that various forms of coconut, demonstrate a wide range of health benefits:

Kills viruses

Kills bacteria

Kills fungi and yeasts

Expels or kills tapeworms and other parasites

Provides quick energy and endurance

Enhancing physical and athletic performance

Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients

Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose

Relieves stress on pancreas

Helps protect against osteoporosis.

Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers.

Reduces inflammation.

Supports tissue healing and repair.

Supports and aids immune system function

Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.

Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.

Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Functions as a protective antioxidant.

Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.

Dissolves kidney stones.

Supports thyroid function.

Promotes loss of excess weight

Applied Topically:

Form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.

Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.

Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.

Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.

Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion

Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Helps control dandruff

Pure virgin coconut oil does not need hydrogenation---the process of adding hydrogen to make a liquid fat hard. It is 92% saturated fat. Unlike animal fats, tropical oils -- palm, palm kernel, and coconut oils -- are saturated fats that are called oils.  Depending on room temperature they can be solid, semi-solid, or liquid.

Like all fats, coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids. Coconut oil contains an unusual blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, primarily lauric (44%) and myristic (16.8%) acids. It is this unusual composition of short and medium chain fatty acids that offers some health benefits.

Dr. Mehmet Oz tells us "It has been shown that lauric acid [in coconut] increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels.  Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need. Coconut can help restore normal thyroid function. When the thyroid does not function optimally, it can contribute to higher levels of bad cholesterol.”

Linoleic acid makes up the polyunsaturated fat content of coconut oil. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, which the body is unable to make. Essential fatty acids must come from food in order for the body to function properly. Linoleic acid is an omega 6 fatty acid and is important for healthy brain function, skin and hair growth and bone health.

Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends we eat a balance between omega-3 (oily fish or take fish oil supplements, walnuts, flax seeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs) and omega-6. Both are polyunsaturated fatty acids but differ in their chemical structure. We need essential fatty acids for: Energy Production, Diffusion of oxygen into the bloodstream, Hemoglobin production, Vital for the transportation and metabolism of triglycerides and cholesterol, Brain and nerve tissue development, Control cell membrane fluids, etc.

We live in a market driven consume society. We must never forget that the advertising we see on television is there to sell us products, or ideas. Advertising is the corporate tool to create sales it does not educate. Often corporations lobby for laws to protect their profits at the individual’s expense.

Do you remember in the 1980’s when we were told coconut oil was unhealthy? Did you ever wonder why all of a sudden you should not eat coconut oil? The American Soybean Association (ASA) launched a series of attacks that became known as the "Tropical Grease Campaign." They coined a new term, "tropical oils," and used the phrase as a negative label.

We can thank heath advocates such as Dr. Oz and Dr. Weil for reintroducing us to the many benefits of coconut and other healthy oils. If we follow Dr. Andrew Weil’s advice for a balance between omega-3 and omega-6, this is a perfect recipe:

The FOODNETWORK--Canada’s

Caribbean Coconut Crusted Salmon

INGREDIENTS

1 ¼ cup of shredded, unsweetened coconut

4 6 oz salmon filets, skin removed

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Put coconut into a freezer bag. Drop in the salmon filets one at a time and toss to coat. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes.

3. Serve with Caribbean Salsa.

If you’re looking for a good German Chocolate Cake coconut-pecan filling recipe, this looks like my mom’s recipe. Here’s the link:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/german-chocolate-cake-frosting-ii/detail.aspx

Read more at http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/caribbean-coconut-crusted-salmon/6823/#XOwRpXzCqLo8rtSy.99

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400149/balancing-omega-3-and-omega-6.html 

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/surprising-health-benefits-coconut-oil

http://www.livestrong.com/article/363811-the-fatty-acid-composition-of-coconut-oil/

August 2003 issue of Consumers' Research, vol. 86 no. 8.

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/coconut-oil-and-health

http://www.joyofbaking.com/GermanChocolate.html#ixzz3hhxMj8K0

French Maritime Pine Bark: Pycnogenol

It is summer “cold” season. A fever in the winter is bearable but a fever in the summer heat it is hideous. My favorite herb for colds and flu is pine bark.

The active ingredient in French Maritime Pine Bark is pycnogenol. Pycnogenol is any group of flavinoids (chemical molecules) extracted from pine bark. Pycnogenol® has become the registered trademark of supplements made from French maritime pine trees.

A French explorer discovered the benefits of French maritime pine bark extract in the 1500′s. The largest maritime pine trees forest is located in southwestern France near the Bordeaux region. This forest plantation dates back to the times of Napoleon III. The maritime pine tree can be found throughout parts of Spain, Italy, Morocco and Portugal. In the 1950′s Jacques Masquelier began to seriously research beneficial properties of pine bark.

French maritime pine bark (pinus pinaster) comes from trees that grow in the Landes Forest of southwestern France. It should not be confused with White Pine Bark (pinus strobes). White pine is also known as: Eastern White Pine, Northern White Pine, Pumpkin Pine, Soft Pine, Deal Pine, Weymouth Pine, Pin du Lord, and Pinus Alba. The White Pine is an evergreen conifer native to eastern North America and has been cultivated throughout Europe. Medicinal White Pine Bark comes from the inner bark of the White Pine tree, or from young shoots and twigs. The bark is dried, and then used in powdered form, tea, syrups, as a poultice, and in capsules.

I have never used White Pine as an herbal medicine. I am however a true believer in French Maritime Pine Bark, Pycnogenol. It helped me with a terrible case of bronchitis and a sinus infection. 

The makers of Pycnogenol®, French maritime pine bark (pinus pinaster), follow good agricultural practice (GAP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP). This means there is absolutely no application of pesticides to pine trees or use of toxic solvents during the manufacture.

French maritime pine bark (pinus pinaster), Pycnogenol has been researched extensively. It is used for treating circulation problems, allergies, asthma, ringing in the ears, high blood pressure, muscle soreness, pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disease of the female reproductive system called endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, painful menstrual periods, erectile dysfunction (ED), and an eye disease called retinopathy.

Pycnogenol is used to slow the aging process, maintain healthy skin, improve athletic endurance, and improve male fertility. It is also used for preventing disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including stroke, heart disease, and varicose veins. Anti-aging” products contain pycnogenol.

Two capsules are taken 2 hours before the flight and then again 6 hours later. Also, taking pycnogenol 100 mg before a flight, 6 hours after the flight, and the following day appears to reduce the risk of blood clots forming in the veins during long flights, and once the next day reduces swelling and ankle swelling.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website tells us Pycnogenol is derived from the bark of the French maritime pine tree. Studies have displayed effectiveness in treating many inflammatory conditions, skin disorders, and poor blood circulation. Pycnogenol has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is effective in treating erectile dysfunction when used in combination with L-arginine. Recent animal studies show pycnogenol exhibits protective effects against cardiac toxicity caused by the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin, however human data is needed.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering website reports the primary constituents of pine bark extracts are procyanidins and phenolic acids. Pine bark extract acts as an antioxidant by increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes and by increasing the intracellular glutathione levels. It inhibits production the proteins that cause inflammation and atherosclerosis.

An in vitro (in the test tube) study suggests that Pycnogenol induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells causing them to die. Other in vitro studies show it reduces neuronal apoptosis (neuron death), an important factor of Alzheimer’s disease.

There are no known interactions with foods.

Scientific research has studied the following dosages by mouth:

For allergies: 50 mg twice daily.

For asthma in children: 1 mg per pound of body weight given in two divided doses.

For poor circulation: 45-360 mg daily, or 50-100 mg three times daily.

For diseases of the retina, including those related to diabetes: 50 mg three times daily.

For mild high blood pressure: 200 mg of pycnogenol daily.

For improving exercise capacity in athletes: 200 mg daily.

Special precautions & warnings:

Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center tells us pycnogenol is effective for treating allergies, however for some people pyncogenol is actually an allergen. Some rare and possibly fatal allergies can develop. Signs of an allergic reaction to including wheezing or shortness of breath, rash, chest pain, and swelling of body parts including the face, hands or feet.

If pregnant or breast-feeding pycnogenol should be used cautiously or avoided as there is not enough available research. It may be safe for children when taken by mouth, short-term. If you have an autoimmune disease it’s best to avoid using pycnogenol. High doses of pycnogenol might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding conditions. High doses of pycnogenol might decrease blood sugar too much in people who are taking diabetes medication. Stop using pycnogenol at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery as it might increase the chance of bleeding during and after surgery.

Because pycnogenol increases the immune system it might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants).

Avoid taking pycnogenol with aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Avoid taking pycnogenol with herbs and supplements that can lower blood sugar such as alpha-lipoic acid, chromium, devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, Siberian ginseng, and others.

Avoid using pycnogenol with herbs that slow blood clotting such as angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and others.

http://www.pycnogenol.com/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/1019.html

www.quantumhealth.com/news/pycnogenol_about.htm

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/search/Search.aspx?By=0&SearchBy=0&q=pycnogenol

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/pine-bark-extract

Recreating the Garden of Eden: sustainable gardening

There was and is a Garden of Eden and it is right outside your door, or maybe it is by a south facing window, or maybe it is in the basement under grow lights. Nature is perfect; it was created to have the answer to our every need.

The hypnosis of product advertising has led us to believe nature is imperfect. Pharmaceutical corporations and big agriculture corporations spend billions of dollars to convince us our good health and increased life span is the result of their chemical cocktails and genetically modified foods.

The real reason for increased life span was cleanliness--- people washing their hands, cities creating sewers, and the piping of clean dinking water to our homes. Currently, our longevity is declining in industrialized nations. Why?---Because of un-natural chemical pollution from pharmaceuticals, and chemical agriculture poisoning our water and our food plants.

How can we find our way back to the Garden of Eden?

We create an Eden by learning about sustainable food production and we by becoming caretakers of our land and water resources. Permaculture and hydroponics gardening are two methods for reclaiming food security. Food security in the USA is defined as access to enough healthy, clean food for an active, healthy life.

Permaculture

Permaculture is the practice of sustainable land use through ecological design, ecological engineering, and environmental design.  It develops a garden design and self-maintained planting systems modeled on natural ecosystems. The core ideals are: Take care of the earth; Take care of the people, Share the surplus.

Permaculture emphasizes organizing landscape design patterns for functionality and by species.  The plants are placed for the ecosystem’s maximum benefit and to minimize waste, human labor, and energy input. (Of course the initial garden creation does take some effort but on-going labor is greatly reduced, and yields are higher on smaller plots of land.)

Bill Mollison, Australian ecologist and University of Tasmania professor in the 1970’s, initiated the concept of permaculture. He tells us we should be working together as stewards creating a sustainable world. Permaculture is a combination of the words "permanent," "agriculture,” and “culture.”

Mollison believed sustainable living needed to be based on the observed patterns in nature. Natural systems, such as forests and wetlands, are sustainable providing for their own energy needs and the recycling of their own wastes. The different parts of a natural ecosystem work together to perform important tasks. By applying an integrated understanding of the ecosystem to garden design a sustainable agricultural system is created.

The permaculture specialists are aware that many of us are not naturally gardeners. Their design goal is to integrate the surrounding natural areas with our homes, apartments and other buildings to produce an abundance of food. The ecosystem is set up to function with a minimum of effort and labor---gardening should be more like recreation than work.

Hydroponics

The word hydroponics comes from two Greek words, "hydro" meaning water and "ponics" meaning labor. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in either a bath or flow of highly oxygenated, nutrient enriched water.

Soil-less gardening or hydroponics has been around for thousands of years. Two of the earliest examples of hydroponics are the hanging Gardens of Babylon and The Floating Gardens of China. Scientists started experimenting with soil-less gardening in the 1950s.  Countries, such as Holland, Germany, and Australia have had great success with hydroponics crop production for many years.

To grow plants in soil, biological decomposition breaks down organic matter into the basic nutrient salts. These salts must be dissolved in water for uptake by the plant’s roots. There must be a perfect nutrient balance in the soil for a plant to receive a well balanced diet. The existence of ideal soil conditions is rare due to a lack of good organic matter on the soil surface, chemical contamination and biological imbalances.

Hydroponics has advantages over soil gardening. Plant growth rate is 30-50 percent faster than a soil plant and the yield is also greater. Because of the extra oxygen in the hydroponics growing mediums, root growth is stimulated and the root system absorbs nutrients faster. The plant does not have to search the soil for nutrients, which are being delivered to the plant several times per day. Hydroponics plants have fewer bug infestations, funguses and disease.

Hydroponics benefits our environment and us: A.) Uses less water than soil gardening (because of the constant reuse the nutrient solutions), B.) Fewer pesticides are used on hydroponics crops, and C.)  Topsoil erosion isn't even an issue. Hydroponics grown food is nutrient dense. While most soil grown food from Big Agri-business is grown in depleted soil. If agricultural trends continue to erode topsoil and continue to waste clean water, hydroponics may soon be our best solution for food insecurity.

There are many experts in permaculture and hydroponics to help you get started in creating your sustainable food source. There are several different styles of hydroponics gardens. Your available land will determine your permaculture design. These techniques are intended to be naturally
organic. There are also many do it yourself (DIY) resources. With a little time, a small monetary investment, and a little effort you can recreate your Garden of Eden.

As we work toward self-sufficiency we can leave behind fears of food scarcity. Remember good, healthy food is the best medicine

http://hydroponicshabitat.com/

http://www.permaculturenow.com/video.html

http://midwestpermaculture.com/

http://www.heathcote.org/

http://www.chelseagreen.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT_2VVXA7SY

http://www.howtohydroponics.com/

http://www.7billionothers.org/content/goodplanet-foundation

https://www.hydroponics.net/learn/hydroponic_gardening_for_beginners.asp

Earthactivisttraining.org

FIRE IN THE BLOOD, a film on the right to generic drugs

FIRE IN THE BLOOD is a documentary film by Dylan Gray (released 2013). It is an award-winning documentary that is profound for its truth and disturbing for profit over humanity. It is a profound story of courageous individuals trying to bring medicine to the AIDS stricken in Africa and disturbing because pharmaceutical companies are able to use patent law to block the use of generic drugs leading to the deaths of millions. 

A patent is a right granted by the federal government to an inventor to exclude others from making, using or selling the patented invention. The patent law tactics used to deny Africa generic drugs are the same tactics pharmaceutical companies use every day to inflate the cost of cancer drugs in the USA. 

The film tells the story of how Western pharmaceutical companies and governments blocked access to low-cost AIDS drugs for the countries of Africa and the global south. FIRE IN THE BLOOD is the story of the people who decided to fight back. The documentary is available in DVD, or on demand TV. To watch for free: http://www.freedocumentary.tv/fire-in-the-blood/

Gray, the the film's Director, had read a news article, in The Economist, about the ‘power struggle’ over low-cost AIDS medication for Africa and the global south. The article indicted the coalition of activists, generic drug makers, public figures and civil society organizations as conspiring to bypass international patent laws.

“One of the characters in our film, Dr. Yusuf Hamied, who’s an Indian generic drug maker, [discussed in The Economist article] was talking about how [Hamied] was bringing in low-cost antiviral  medications to Africa. ….To my mind, [this was] a very good thing that he was doing, but they were going out of their way, I felt, to attack him, but it wasn’t clear why.” Gray told journalist Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! —independent news organization.

There are 35 million people in the world living with HIV/AIDS and 25 million of these live in sub Saharan Africa. The film investigates the effect of international patent laws compared with the needs of in those suffering the ravages of HIV/AIDS.

Gray told Goodman “The historian in me was just completely shocked and scandalized that, A) I didn’t know more about the story, and, B) that there was so little written about it… something that had killed 10, 12 million people, and it seemed to have happened almost without a record…. I mean we consider this to be the crime of the century.”

Gray tells us 84% of worldwide research for basic drug development comes from government and public sources. Tens of billions of taxpayer dollars per year are spent on finding new and better drugs. He describes the levels of profiteering on patented drugs as shocking and out of all proportion to the expenditures involved especially since tax dollars are subsidizing the research.

The film traces how Big Pharma refused to allow countries to break patents and blocked the importation of cheap generic AIDS drugs causing millions to die because they could not pay for treatment.

Gray explained that the writer of the article, in The Economist, seemed intent on damning Dr. Yusuf Hamied, head of the socially conscious Indian generic drug company Cipla, as a “pirate.” Hamid had developed an economic generic of the HIV/AIDS cocktail of antivirals. Gray sought out Dr. Hamied in Bombay several months later and through him met a number of the people who become key contributors to the documentary.

Journalist Amy Goodman, of Democracy Now! a national, daily, independent, news program, interviewed Dylan Mohan Gray, director of FIRE IN THE BLOOD. She tells us the problem, access to low cost generic drugs, continues today. The World Trade Organization continues to block importation of generic drugs in many countries because of a trade deal known as the TRIPS Agreement.

Mary Easton, historian on the website historyworkshop.org.uk comments “Companies which claim they need to charge astronomical prices in order to recoup their huge expenditures on innovative research actually do precious little such research…” They spend huge amounts on marketing, lavish executive salaries and lawyers to extend lucrative monopolies.

Easton contends governments, who actually fund global basic drug research are giving the fruits of this research away to giant, profit-crazed corporations. These corporations sell these drugs back to governments and the public at wildly inflated prices. The luckless taxpayers who funded the breakthrough research suffer and die without receiving any benefit from it and may well go bankrupt in the process.

Easton states “Regulating “Big Pharma” is the only area of politics… where you find people on the right [conservative] side of the political spectrum howling in favor of government-granted monopolies…this can only happen with the complicity of officialdom…national governments [are not] fulfilling their mandate to protect the public interest.”

In Africa HIV/AIDS affects the whole society: men, women, children and even babies. Seven million HIV positive African people need generic drugs now but can’t access them because of limited supply due to increased pressures for patent protection even in low-income countries. There is worldwide advocacy for patent protections to be suspended, which is allowed by the World Trade Organization in times of crisis.

Dr. Peter Mugyeny, Ugandan physician, tells Amy Goodman “There was a misinformation, worldwide misinformation, that AIDS drugs were too expensive to manufacture. The second misinformation was that Africans would not be able to use these drugs, that it was impossible to use these drugs in the African condition.

…. Well, [Dr. Yusuf Hamied] just literally announced that it is not true that these drugs can only be manufactured at such an exorbitant cost. He demonstrated that they could be [produced] at relatively affordable cost, which would save millions of lives because of affordability.”

Goodman tells us in Africa [Big Pharma] drug companies were charging $15,000 a year per patient for a triple, antiviral cocktail. Dr. Hamied cut that price to less than a dollar a day from $15,000 to $350 for the year. These pharmaceutical companies used patent and trade laws to block Hamied's generic drugs from use.

As consumers and citizens of one of the most powerful countries on earth we must realize that medicine patent laws need to change. There are ways to write the laws regarding research that will allow for companies to make decent profits but still allow for those who are suffering to afford medication.

Laws are meant to serve people not to be used to enrich the elite. We need to demand that our legislators work for the citizens year round, not just during election season.

http://www.freedocumentary.tv/fire-in-the-blood/

http://globalhealthsciences.ucsf.edu/education-training/blogs/masters-corner/fire-in-the-blood

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/fire_in_the_blood_millions_die

http://fireintheblood.com/blog/browse/news

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/15/business/questcor-pays-135-million-for-rights-to-competitors-drug.html?_r=1

Nemenhah: the Sacred Sahaptan Healing Way

I have been searching for my community of healers and I found it in the Nemenhah/ITO religion! And I am now a Medicine Woman in the Nemenhah/ITO (Indigenous Traditional Organization).

Nemenhah is a haven of support for alternative healing practitioners. All religions are seen as sacred and the individual brings their current religious beliefs to Nemenhah as a foundation. The Nemenhah religion is focused on the practice of healing ministry and the right to the healing way of life. It offers legal protection in the USA under the right to freedom of religion.

The Nemenhah religion is a restoration of an ancient Native American teaching in which healing is a spiritual pillar of the church. Sadly, there are groups of people that find this restoration threatening to existing religious, cultural, medical and legal power structures.

I studied with Phillip R. "Cloudpiler" Landis who is leading this restoration. He is the President and Presiding High Priest (Tehk Tiwehkthihmpt) of the Native American Church of Nemenhah (NACNEM). The Nemenhah were an ancient, indigenous people. There are no current Native American Tribes called Nemenhah.

According to Chief Cloudpiler, the Nemenhah people were an ancient, indigenous people who lived in parts of Central America, North America, the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, China and Tibet. These peoples left evidence and writings of their ancient sacred ways so the Nemenhah might be restored in the future.

The writings are called the Mentinah Archives and are the sacred histories of the people known anciently as the "Nemenhah" (people of the truth). The stories trace their history and journey into the land now known as the "four corners" area of the USA.

According to greaterthings.com, the histories were allegedly written upon plates of various metals, processed animal hides and paper velum.  Allegedly, the records were archived in several locations in North and Central America anciently. The only surviving copies of the Nemenhah histories are strictly guarded in libraries at a non-disclosed location in Sanpete County, Utah. 

I joined the Nemenhah/ITO through the ancient covenant of Spiritual Adoption. This Ceremony of "Making of Relations," is the process for taking initial orders and is the essence of Nemenhah Ministry. I choose to participate in an intensive weeklong study culminating in status of Nemenhah Medicine Woman and minister of the church.

The Five-Fold Mission of the Nemenhah is the healing of individuals, healing of families, healing of communities, healing of society, and the healing of the planet through the use of natural healing methods, natural materials, and the guidance of spirit (Wayaykihn). This is the Sacred Sahaptan Healing Way; so all people may become healers through Wayaykihn.

http://www.nemenhah.org

http://www.nemenhah.org/faqs.html

http://www.greaterthings.com/Records/Nemenhah/

High School Students Identify Fraudulent Supplements

Often we who value herbs and vitamin supplements feel government agencies are unfairly targeting our right to access these. We value the essential components of healthy foods, vitamins, minerals and the wonderful synergy of herbs. When it comes to the health benefits of plants, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  

New York Attorney General Targets Supplements at Major Retailer, February 3, 2015 is an article written by Anahad O’Connor for Alternative Medicine-Well Bog, New York Times newspaper. O’Connor writes, the New York State attorney general’s office accused four major retailers on Monday of selling fraudulent and potentially dangerous herbal supplements and demanded that they remove the products from their shelves.

…Authorities said they had conducted tests on top-selling store brands of herbal supplements at four national retailers — GNC, Target, Walgreens and Walmart — and found that four out of five of the products did not contain any of the herbs on their labels. 

…Tests showed that pills labeled medicinal herbs often contained little more than cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus and houseplants, and in some cases substances that could be dangerous to those with allergies.

O’Connor continues the investigation was a welcome surprise to [allopathic] health experts. These experts and pharmaceutical companies have complained about the safety and quality of dietary supplements. They are angry that supplements are exempt from the strict regulatory oversight that is applied to prescription drugs.

We should all care about the quality of the supplements we ingest. There have been many reports of imported products tainted by toxic chemicals. Often the cost of an organic quality product made in the U.S. is only pennies per serving more. Why risk liver disease, or kidney failure and a lifetime of real medical expense for a few pennies a serving?

What is the moral---Buyer Be Aware. There are many people in the U.S. That claim we have too many consumer regulation that makes products too expensive. Some manufacturers abroad, and in the U.S. are more concerned about profits than the deadly effects of their product. Pharmaceutical companies run statistics on profits compared to the cost of being sued when their drug kills or permanently damages someone. If profits out weigh damage costs, that drug will be sold on the open market---even when research shows little health benefit.

What is the high point of the story? The U.S. has high school students capable of great things when we invest in our schools. Quality does not occur on the cheap in the products we buy, or in our schools.

There is a positive and exciting aspect to the story and that is the back-story. Where did the initial research come from? The research came from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) which is located in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. CSHL is a private, not-for-profit research and education institution at the forefront of molecular biology and genetics. CSHL sponsors a science competition for high school students called the Urban Barcode Project.

From the CSHL website: The Urban Barcode Project (UBP) is a science competition spanning the five boroughs of New York City. Just as a unique pattern of bars in a universal product code (UPC) identifies each item for sale in a store, a DNA barcode is a DNA sequence that uniquely identifies each species of living thing. In the Urban Barcode Project, student research teams use DNA bar coding to explore biodiversity (Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms, between species, and within/between ecosystems) in New York City.

Scientists identify plants and animals by looking for short sequences of DNA unique to each organism, which is much like the bar codes on grocery items, and compares it with an electronic DNA barcode database. In this project technology identifies which plants a supplement contains by identifying its unique DNA.

In 2012, Hostos-Lincoln Academy of Science students Bobby Glover, Mary Achaempong, and Marisa VanBrakle and their teacher Allison Granberry created a DNA barcode project investigating store brands herbal supplements. Their tests revealed that pills labeled medicinal herbs often contained little more than cheap fillers like powdered rice, asparagus and houseplants. The Bronx high school team won first prize in the annual Urban Barcode Project competition conducted by the DNA Learning Center.

The students’ results were forwarded to the N.Y. State Attorney General. Further research confirmed the Urban Barcode Project findings of herbal supplement fraud.

The New York State Attorney General ordered GNC, Walmart, Walgreens, and Target to cease and desist selling the herbal supplements, which did not contain the advertised plant according to DNA bar-coding tests. Among the samples tested, none of ginkgo supplements, from all four companies, contained any Ginkgo biloba DNA rather the DNA barcode for rice was commonly identified.  

Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences was established in 1890 as a laboratory to train high school and college teachers in marine biology. In 1889, John D. Jones gave land and buildings of the Cold Spring Whaling Company to the Institute, which led to a name change. 

The first course at the new Biological Laboratory was the General Course on Biology. Ever since the 1890s, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has been on the cutting edge of scientific research. Today, they continue their mission with outreach science and research programs for children, teachers, college, high school and graduate students, as well as established scientists.

http://www.cshl.edu/About-Us/History.html

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/new-york-attorney-general-targets-supplements-at-major-retailers/?smid=pl-share&_r=0

http://www.urbanbarcodeproject.org/finalists_2012/index.htm