My "New" Favorite Song

So, you may be asking: What does a song have to do with health and healing? 

Everything I say, everything!

Musicians weave soul magic with their words and the musical notes.  Human healing begins at the soul's level.  Remember me writing about how healing the physical body begins with healing the emotional and spiritual body? What better catalyst than music!

An earlier post, about another favorite song, urges using forgiveness as a self-healing tool.

My new favorite song and how it fits into this whole story...

As you know, from a previous post on blasting belly fat, I recently ventured down into the Havasupai Indian Reservation in the Grand Canyon. After I posted this adventure story, a dear friend sent me the link to a song I had not heard in years:  In the House of Stone and Light by Martin Page.

Listening to the hauntingly beautiful music and soulfully insightful words of this song returns me to the same peace, deep inside my heart and soul, that I felt down in the Havasupai's canyon world.

(See pictures below.)

The House of Stone and Light as we walked into the Havasupai village.

Meandering through this House of Stone and Light!

Little Navajo Falls In The House of Stone and Light.  Yes, we swam there!  In fact, I am on that beach!

The sunrises and sunsets on the canyon walls were completely mesmerizing. The light, on the sandstone walls, absolutely glows. (I live in a sandstone home, I recognize my stone home's beauty and, yet, this canyon home is an intense sandstone home space!)  American Indians speak of sacred places where there are high levels of spiritual energy.  It was obvious to me that this oasis, in the Grand Canyon, is one of these sacred places, a vortex of energy.

The sunrise, hiking out of The House Of Stone and Light.

I would love to take my healing energy back to Havasupai.  Maybe I could offer my nutrition and whole health healing to the Havasupia people. I could support their health around the high incidence of diabetes and diabetes related health problems.  I could be giving back to the people who opened their canyon home to me and my family!

For now, I listen to my new favorite song, over and over again.  My kids tell me I am obsessed with this song about the canyon home.  I tell them the hike down into this beautiful home of the Havasupai was a deeply moving and soul cleansing experience.  

If they hand me my backpack and tattered Teva hiking sandals, I will know they are sending me packing back into the canyon!  I will go, willingly!

My dirty feet and tattered Teva sandals after a day of canyon hiking!

Your Take Away Health Information:  Find music that soothes and excites your soul.  

Sing, dance, let the music flow through you like the healing energy it is.  Much Love, Paula

PS  The lyrics of the song are deep, meaningful, soul searching!  Tell me this is not a healing experience...

O Mount Kailas uncover me
Come my restoration
Wash my body clean

I've been walking
Along a crooked path
Where the walls have fallen
Broken me in half

I'm telling you
I will not rest till I lay down my head
I'm gonna go
In the house of stone and light

I shall not cry
For the blind man I leave behind
When I go
In the house of stone and light, yeah
In the house of stone and light

Holy lady
Show me my soul
Tell me of the place
Where I must surely go

Old man waiting
At the gates for me
Give me the wisdom
Give me the key

I'm telling you
I will not rest till I lay down my head
In the house of stone and light

I make my way
Oh, gonna be such a beautiful day
In the house of stone and light
In the house of stone and light

Let me in beneath my skin
In the house of stone and light

It's been too long
My spirit's been at war
Havasupai Shaman
Let me be reborn

And I will embrace
The sun upon my face
Come the day
I awake the child inside
In the house of stone and light

And when I go
I will op', op', open my eyes
In the house of stone and light
I will see you
In the house of stone and light

Looking in beneath my skin
In the house of stone and light

Going inside
In the house of stone and light
(Stone and light)
Looking for the child
In the house of stone and light
(See myself got such a good shelter)
In the house of stone and light

In the house of stone and light
(I'm gonna let this child come washing of water)
In the house of stone and light
(He's speakin' softly to me)
(I must go there, to find my soul, yeah)

In the house of stone and light
(I can see so clearly now)
(I will go there, to find my soul, yeah)
In the house of stone and light
(Well keep on knocking on my door)
(I must go there, to find my soul, yeah)

In the house of stone and light
(I will go there, to find my soul, yeah)
In the house of stone and light
(I must go there, to find my soul, yeah)

Songwriter:

Martin Page

His albums are awesome. Check them out for some soul soothing, healing music!

Like Almond Butter? A Nut Butter from Heaven!

So I buy the above Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter.  Who could resist the melding of such flavors?

Taste Test:  It is VERY yummy, in fact incredibly yummy!

So, I took a huge spoonful, as I always do with nut butters.  It was probably 2 tablespoons or so... I tend to err, about my estimates, on the conservative side!

This stuff is loaded with espresso!  Eating it made me feel like I think I would feel had I been smoking crack.  I have never smoked crack, but I am certain I would not feel good.  It's that extreme jittery and agitated feeling.  I do not do well in this mode.

So, today I tried a much smaller spoonful.  I am thinking perhaps 2 teaspoons.  Still, not so good in my system. (Keep in mind, I can not drink a normal cup of regular, caffeinated coffee and not feel this jittery agitated energy.)

One thing I know about me: I do not tolerate caffeine.

Who would of thought a nut butter could be like a drug!  Well, to my body and mind it is.

Seriously, try it, it is extremely delicious.  

Caution:  If you are caffeine sensitive, like me, it is probably not for you!

Butter is Back & Better Than Ever

Now that butter is on the cover of Time Magazine... it must be true!  Butter is a superfood! 

Not that my butter eating habits are much of a secret anymore.  I used to hide my butter habit to avoid the "you are going to clog your heart" advice and lectures.  Not that I didn't pass out a few of the very same lectures in my days*, see below!

A couple of years ago I wrote an article: "Unwrapping Butter's Bad Rap" for the Potsdam Food Co-op's newsletter, it became a blog post on Whole Food Healer, and was later revised and included in my first book.  Butter is a head liner!

I confess, I have always loved butter.  I only refrained from butter when I was *eating a vegan diet (for a few years, back then, sometime in my past life!).  That is over and butter was put back in my diet quite quickly. Mashed potatoes without butter?  What is the point? I ate them, for years, at the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner table. Not anymore, mashed potatoes with butter for me, please!

Butter is awesome, yummy, the best!  Now a butter - nettle pesto, hmmm... I might be on to something here! Two of my favorite things fused together with love.  Heading to the kitchen now...

30 minutes later after picking some nettle tops:

Ok, it did work!  Butter, nettles, and garlic scapes.  Chives would be fine as well.  Have patience with the food processor as olive oil blends with the herbs more easily.  Try making the pesto with a 1/2 butter and 1/2 olive oil mix for easy blending!

So back to butter. My favorite way to eat it is off a spoon, fork, or knife.  Mom taught me this was not ok. I do it anyhow. Sorry Mom!     : )

Local to me, NY State butter!

This is my new favorite butter, thanks to Jessica Prosper of Prosper's Farmstead Creamery.  She turned me on to this butter because the cows graze on grass and the butter is made just about 3 1/2 hours from my home. Now, if I had a farmer close by making butter with grazing cows cream, that would be even better!

I buy in 2 pound tubs, a few tubs at a time.  I do not like running out of butter.  Makes me feel like an addict without my drug!  Seriously, I am not that bad. But, humor is always good!

Butter recently has had a big popularity boost with the Bullet Proof Coffee craze.  I tried it, why not?  I will try anything once!

What I learned, butter is best eaten from the spoon, knife, or fork! Why ruin good butter or good coffee? Want fat in your coffee?  Find a source of pasture-raised, whole cream or 1/2 and 1/2 and dose up your coffee in style. Coffe tastes better this way AND saves the mess in the kitchen making the bullet proof stuff. If you try bullet proof coffee and like it, go for it.

I prefer my coffee with butter like this:

on a piece of buckwheat toast.  Organic buckwheat grown close to me, just over the border in Canada, and baked at Little Stream Bakery. 

Now the amount of butter on this 2 inch by 3 1/2 inch piece of toast was triple, what you see above, by the time I finished eating it.  Maybe 2 1/2 to 3 Tbsp. of butter.  Butter is definitely better on toast than in my coffee!

Eat butter, it won't kill you!  Paula

PS  Maybe Gardenshare has an more local source of NY State butter from grass fed cows? Aviva, any thoughts?  

I know Birdsfoot Farm has some very, deep-yellow cream from their grazing cow!  

I want local butter that is that deep yellow!

Cheers!

Ode to My Farmers

                                                                                                  Kent Family Growers

Ode to My Farmers

Farmers are my (everybody's) lifeline

worth more than silver or gold

the food they feed me now

will keep me young as I grow old

                                                                                               Martin's Farmstand

I write of real farmers

true stewards of the land

farmers who love their animals

sustainability is their stand

                                 Dulli, Birdsfoot Farm

Food IS our best medicine

to prevent and heal disease

farmers are the keepers of our health

hug your farmer(s) today, please

   Rob & Winny Sachno

                                            Carol the Cow

PS Compensate your farmers well for the food they grow you.

(It IS hard work!)

Good food IS your preventative medicine,

Your farmer is your best Doc!

                                                                                          John Dewar, Village Veggies

Even the wee ones make awesome farmers!

        Gramma's Grass Acres, the Lynch's, processing chickens!

PPS  This is a mere sampling of the amazing farmers in my life.  To find your own farmers use your local farmer finding resources:  farm markets, Co-ops, Health & Natural Food Stores, etc.

In St. Lawrence County, NY, we have Gardenshare!

For the Ladies... and, Men, pass along to your ladies

  Originally posted on radiance:

Were you aware that manufacturers of tampons and sanitary pads are not required to disclose the ingredients used in their products ?

Imagine these Known TAMPON INGREDIENTS:

• Synthetic Fibres
• Bleach
• Perfumes
• Polyvinyl Alcohol
• Hydrocarbon Dioxin
• Polyester
• Polyurethane
• Parabens

being INSERTED WILLINGLY BY US:

into our body, month after month, year after year…purely because of our mis-education.

It’s small wonder a large number of the female population have numerous and ongoing medical problems with our reproductive systems as a whole. I’m betting every person reading this knows someone suffering from one of the issues listed below.

For starters there is:

• Endometriosis
• Toxic Shock Syndrome
• Poly Cystic Ovaries
• Irregular Periods
• Menogarhhoia (abnormally heavy and prolonged periods)
• Dysmenorrhea (abnormal painful cramps)
• Polyps
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Spotting
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
• Fibroids

“Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and also the thinnest. Less than 1/10th of an inch separates your…

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Constipation 101

Constipation is an acute or chronic condition in which bowel movements occur less often than usual or consist of hard, dry stools that are painful or difficult to pass.

Generally speaking, humans should have at least one bowel movement daily, in the AM shortly after arising.  Some humans have bowel movements within a short time frame from each meal.

For others, things do not work so smoothly.  Having bowel movements every 2 to 3 days is not normal. What is happening is the solid waste material is compacting and backing up just above the level of the anus, in the rectal and descending colon.  See picture below.

Solid food waste moves from your small intestine, into the ascending colon where you see the appendix.  Solid waste then moves up the ascending, across the transverse (part of colon going straight across the lower abdomen), and down the descending colon.  When solid waste moves into the rectum, it stimulates nerves that tell us it is time to head to the bathroom. Solid waste then leaves the body through the anal opening.

When this does not work so smoothly, meaning things get backed up, constipation is the result.

Some Common Contributors to Constipation:  (there are plenty more)

• Stress: causes the body to tighten up, in the colon this makes it difficult for things to move smoothly,

• Refined foods: degenerate the body cells weakening every body cell and every organ system. A weak colon does not do it's job well. Refined foods lack fiber. Fiber helps keep things moving along the digestive tract. I can not stress enough...100% whole food diets heal the whole body.

• Water and hydration: lack of fluids in the body makes the stool hard and compact,

• Improper chewing of food from rushing to eat quickly and get to the next to do item (food that is not chewed well does not digest well, this causes constipation),

• Lack of movement / exercise: moving the body keeps the colon toned and working like it should,

• Lack of sleep: lack of sleep slows the body down, including the colon,

• Lack of fresh air and unfiltered sunshine: makes every body system function at optimal levels,

• Excess body weight: slows things down, puts compression / pressure on the digestive tract.

• Hormone shifts in the female's body. This is a normal result of the ups and downs of hormones during the course of a normal, healthy menstrual cycle and changes with the waxing and waning of the cycle. This is normal and will correct itself as hormones shift. As hormone levels change with our growth into our wise woman years, our body may also shift in regards to colon function. A hormone related issue to consider is estrogen dominance over progesterone.

• Position of the female uterus. When the fundus, top of the uterus, tips back in the pelvic cavity, it can rest on the colon. This position can interfere with the colon's function. Women who have a forward tipping uterine fundus can experience bladder symptoms (esp. late in the cycle, just before bleed time). Pregnant women know this bladder symptom feeling.

• Prescription and over the counter medications can cause constipation as a side effect.

• Disrupted gut microbiome.

• Position during the pooping action. Sitting is not a healthy poop position. See below suggestion.

• Pooping hygiene: making time daily to have a bowel movement in a time frame that works for your body. Are you a power pooper or a sitter?

• Holding your bowel movments in because you do not want to use public bath rooms. This dulls the nerve endings in the rectal area. Your body does not pick up on messages well because you ignore and suppress them.

• Magnesium deficiency

Action to take:

• Eat whole foods every day, every meal,

• Include bitters in your diet, think arugula and other bitter greens,

• Chew, Chew, Chew your food VERY well, even soft and liquid like foods,

• Move your body,every day,outside in the fresh air and natural light, (May I suggest Yoga?),

• Drink water and herb teas,

• Sleep and sleep well (If sleeping well is an issue, address the causes),

• Choose wellness to get your body weight within a normal healthy range,

• Move stress out of your life or change the way you perceive "stressful" situations... breathe, let it all go! Yoga, meditation, mindfulness activities are a key to good health and happy pooping action.

• Pay attention to your menstrual cycle. If you are at the point in your beloved cycle, when constipation bothers you, take extra measure to assist your colon in its function. Your colon and you will be grateful!

• Herbal medicinal infusions: these are longer steeped, medicinal strength herb teas. #1 choice is Nettles (surprise, surprise!), red raspberry leaf, alfalfa, oat straw, and red clover blossoms are all good herbs to make into an herbal infusion to add nourishment to body cells and keep the colon humming along. See information below on making herbal infusions.

• Drink lemon water daily. I know, I know, lemons do not grow locally in our Northern NY state BUT they help alkalize the body, stimulate the liver, and cleanse the colon. If you are constipated, a little lemon love is a blessing.

• Keep chlorine & fluoride out of your drinking, eating, cooking, bathing water. They disrupt your gut's microflora and your whole body's health.

• Take some high quality magnesium citrate. Pure Encapsulations brand. Take 300-450 mg at bedtime. See how it affects you over a week’s time. If you need to add in more, take another capsule in the AM. You could divide doses equally at this point: 300 in Am & 300 in PM. Do not waste money on cheap supplements, invest well in your body. It does matter.

• Grind organic golden flax seed or chia seed and take a heaping tsp. to tbsp. daily.

• Use a stool for better pooping position. Putting your feet up on a stool, or any stable object that raises the knees higher than the hips (think squatting in the woods to poop) helps to straighten out the rectum for straight shooting poop right out of the anus. Yes, you want this! The link back there has a fun video explaining this squat vs. sit pooping as an advertisement for a Squatty Potty stool. I just use the wooden stool my kids had to reach the sink when they were toddlers. Works just fine, repurposes something I already had, and saves on plastic purchases.

• Take a green food supplement. As you know, I am not big on "products" and truly prefer to nudge you in the direction of whole foods and whole health lifestyle choices. However, this green food supplement is 100% whole; simply dried and ground herbs and nourishing foods. Nothing added, nothing taken away. I recommend the SuperFood Plus in powder or tablet form.

More Natural Constipation Support

Yoga for constipation:

Daily yoga is a blessing for any health symptoms.  You will sleep better, feel better, and naturally want to eat and take better care of yourself. Have I convinced you to sign up for a local yoga class?  Get a book and start learning yoga at home?  I cannot recommend this healing tool enough.

Great video on yoga and relieving constipation!  And only 4 minutes and 42 seconds of your time invested!

http://www.melissawest.com/constipation-relief/

Acupuncture:    Try Acupuncture for constipation relief.  I can not recommend this enough.  Shelby's needles get things moving fast and help re-balance the health of your body to prevent constipation.  Fits right in with whole food eating and healing!

Whole Foods from the kitchen:  For those occasions when a 'lil extra help is needed, try this poop promotingprune - flax seed pudding:

• Soak 3-4 organic, dried prunes in 1/2 cup water for 1-2 hours.

• Grind 2 Tbsp. organic, golden flax seeds in your blender.

• Pour prunes into blender and grind, blend in with the ground flax seeds.

• Pour into a bowl and eat or let set for a bit and it will jell up.

• Optional: add in 1 tbsp. dark, organic molasses. Add in ground chia and/or hemp seeds.

• Caution: If you are diabetic, pre-diabetic, or have any metabolic disorder involving blood sugar control, do not use this poop pudding. Dried fruit and molasses are very high in sugar. Healing diabetes and blood sugar related diseases requires abstinence from sugar and blood sugar spiking foods.

Herbs:  Need a little more help on occasion, perhaps for travel induced constipation?  Try this Nature's Secret product but do not rely on it daily as a forever tool. Medicine, whether prescription or natural, should be a tool not a crutch. Use them as an aid until you have corrected the lifestyle habits that are creating the problem.

Breathe: Practice deep breathing from the belly to relieve stress in the whole body.  This will help release the strangle hold on your colon muscle so wastes can flow more freely.  See information below on breathing for health. Breath work is the core of Yoga.

Liver nourish and cleanse:  The specific actions to nourish the liver have profound impacts on colon health and regularity.

Massage your colon: Colon Massage

Sending Healing Love, Paula

PS:  I am going to start adding additional information at the bottom of my posts. This is in lieu of having you email me for further information.  Hope this makes the process of getting healthy easier for all!

Where I put these high lighted links in articles, click the link to go to other posts on my blog that help to reinforce the information here in this article.

Prune flaxseed pudding:

I used to soak 4 prunes overnight in 3/4 cup water.

Grind golden flax seeds, say 1 tbsp.

Toss prunes and water, flax seeds ground to powder, and 2 tbsp black strap molasses into blender. Dash of vanilla & cinnamon for fun.

Blend into slurry. Pour into dish and let set. Its jells up into a “pudding”

Eat some morning & night.
I made this as a natural method to maintain colon function during pregnancy and the rare occasion my kids struggled.

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Breathing for Health

Simple calming breath:  Consciously make your breath deeper, slower, quieter and more regular.  If you notice, when you are angry or stressed, your breathing is rapid, shallow, noisy and irregular.  Slow down and calm your breath.  You will calm you body, mind & spirit.

Just consciously making your exhalation deeper will make involuntary inhalations deeper.  This automatically calms the body.

Use this technique:  to take a break at your desk, sitting in traffic, before reacting to a negative or stressful situation, when having a craving for something that is not whole food, to relax to go to sleep

Healing Breath technique: To start, exhale very deeply.

1. inhale slowly & quietly, through the nose, to the count of 4

2. hold breath to a slow count of 7

3. exhale slowly and somewhat noisily through the mouth, counting to 8 as you exhale.

4. when exhaling, purse lips and press your tongue to the roof of your mouth, just behind the front teeth.

Repeat this for 4 inhale-exhale cycles 2 times a day. After a month increase to 6-8 inhale-exhale cycles 2 times a day.  Never more than 8 cycles, 2 times a day.

Remember:  Whole foods help your cells regenerate as healthy cells, not degenerate.  Better breathing brings more oxygen to every cell, again helping to regenerate healthier cells.  Breath deeply today to gain better cellular health for life!

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Herbal Infusions

I recommend making infusions, not herbal teas. Herbal teas are when you steep the herbs for 3-5 minutes to enjoy the flavors of wonderful herbal plants.  Infusions are when you steep the herbs for at least 3-4 hours, covered in a quart canning jar.  I recommend steeping them overnight in the canning jar or the pot you boiled the water in, covered.  You can strain the herbs in the AM and reheat the infusion, oh so very gently to preserve the nutrients, or enjoy at room temperature.

Making Infusions:  Boil water.  Measure leaf and flower herbs while water is heating.  Use approximately 2 tsp. of dried herbs per cup of water.  To make a stronger medicinal infusion, use more herbs.  When water is boiling shut off and add dried herbs.  Cover and let steep for at least 15 minutes.  I make medicinal infusions at night, let steep – covered – overnight, and stain to use in AM.

If making infusions with seeds, roots or barks:  chop pieces as small as you can (roots & bark, seeds stay whole or you can gently crush).  When water is boiling, reduce heat to very gentle simmer.  Add herb pieces, cover, and simmer very gently for 15-20 minutes.  Again, I let them sit, covered, overnight and strain in the AM. Do not let this boil as it ruins the medicinal properties and nutrients in the herbal infusions medicine.

If making mixed infusions with parts that need to simmer and the leaves & flowers that do not, simmer parts first then turn off heat and add leaves / flowers and let steep, covered, overnight.

I recommend making a quart each night and sipping 1 cup, 4 times throughout the day, each day.  I usually make ½ gallon to 1 gallon at a time so I do not have to make medicinal infusions every night.  You can drink it cold (keep in the refrigerator) or you can gently warm.  Do not over heat tea , do not boil tea, do not every make tea or re-heat tea in a microwave.  Microwaves are toxic.

High Mineral tea: restores minerals to the body cells that have been depleted from refined foods, toxins, stress, and life as we know it!   Stinging nettles, oat straw, alfalfa leaf, red raspberry leaf are all good for helping with constipation (extra fluid from drinking the infusion is dandy as well!)

If tea bags are glued shut, do not use them in bag form.  To avoid steeping the glue into your tea, I suggest you open the tea bags and steep the lose herbs in a jar for 3-4 hours or overnight.  Follow the infusion instructions above.