Herbal Legacy Newsletter January 16, 2008
Published: Wed, 01/16/08
January 16, 2008
Dear ,
Last week we discussed how almost all disease is caused by constipation of some kind. In Sandy Ellis' book, "Dr. Mom's Healthy Living" she discusses the body's four channels of elimination (respiratory, digestive, urinary and skin). Keeping the four channels of elimination clean and healthy are absolutely essential.
Last week we did a background article. To read that article, please visit:
This week we will discuss how to keep the respiratory and digestive systems healthy, and next week we will discuss how to keep the urinary system and skin healthy.
Our recipe was contributed by a subscriber, Janet Hailstone and is called Radish Rollups. Thank you so much for the recipe Janet! We always appreciate subscriber contributed recipes.
Until next week - be healthy and happy-
-Dr. Christopher's Herbal Legacy Newsletter
ARTICLE: Keeping the Respiratory and Digestive Systems Healthy
RECIPE: Radish Rollups
NEWS: Feature Book
RECIPE: Radish Rollups
NEWS: Feature Book
By Sandra K. Ellis, M.H.
RESPIRATORY:
If the body uses the respiratory system to eliminate the problem, we will see symptoms such as; a runny nose, runny eyes, sneezing, and cold-like symptoms. This is why modern medicine will never find a cure for the "common cold." The cold is the cure! The body is trying to eliminate something that does not belong there. Most of us since childhood have been taught that a runny nose is not socially acceptable, so we reach for a decongestant or anti-histamine to stop the body from doing what it was designed to do. When we do this, we drive the problem deeper, which is why a cold will last for 10 to 14 days and then, quite often, go into a secondary infection of some kind; such as an ear infection or bronchitis. In our house, a cold lasts no more than 24-48 hours because we have learned to help the body eliminate whatever is causing the problem.
Here are some ideas to keep the respiratory system healthy:
a) Breathe deeply - we need to remind ourselves several times per day to inhale and fill our lungs up. Chances are you have become a shallow breather. We need to remind ourselves periodically to take big, deep breaths that will fill up and expand our lungs with oxygen.
b) EXERCISE - It is extremely important to do some form of exercise every day of your life. Along with helping us take in oxygen, this will move the lymph (another source for elimination) and get our blood flowing, which is how the oxygen reaches every cell in our body.
c) Drink lots of pure water. We need to keep all of the cells in the body hydrated. When the respiratory system becomes dried out, it is much more prone to bacteria and infections.
d) Keep lots of fresh, live plants around. We have this wonderful partnership with the plant kingdom - they put off fresh oxygen which we desperately need and we exhale carbon dioxide which is what the plants need to live. When we have live plants in our homes and offices, they are constantly putting oxygen back into the air for us to breathe, along with helping the air to stay moist.
e) In the winter, if you are running any type of heating system, it will help to put some type of humidity back in to the air, so that our respiratory system does not become dried out. This can be done just by putting a pot of water on the stove to simmer.
f) Do not smoke and try to avoid as much second-hand smoke as possible.
g) Stay away from dairy products which produce a lot of mucus in the respiratory system. You would be surprised at how many chronic colds and ear infections can be cleared up just by getting a child off of dairy.
h) Fresh air - try to get fresh air everyday - even if it's just by opening up some windows. It is not healthy to constantly be breathing recycled air.
DIGESTIVE
If the body chooses the digestive system to eliminate through, we will see symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea or other flu-like symptoms. If the body chooses the urinary system, we might see a bladder infection or kidney stones.
Over the years, I have discovered there are some simple things we can do to help keep the digestive system healthy:
a) Eating fresh food with lots of fiber. Fiber is the Drano of digestion. Another benefit of eating fresh food is that it comes with its own enzymes to help break it down.
b) Fasting - Fasting is a wonderful way to cleanse the colon and keep it healthy. It is also an easy way to give the digestive system a rest.
c) Drink lots of water - this is extremely important to digestion and elimination.
d) EXERCISE - again, exercise is crucial to the health of the whole body. It brings blood and oxygen into the area and keeps everything moving. Our muscles were meant to be moved and worked hard. It they are not moved on a regular basis, they will begin to degenerate and atrophy.
e) Cleansing - consciously keep the colon cleaned out - most people who have studied health will tell you that all disease begins in the colon.
Contributed by Janet HailstoneINGREDIENTS:
* 1 pkg Food For Life sprouted wheat tortillas - 6 good sized tortillas
* 1 good sized bunch of radishes - (with fresh leaves, thinly sliced radishes - separate leaves with stems intact)
* 1 1/2 avocados - quartered lengthwise
* 1 Bunch green onions - thinly cut the green ends to make 1 Tbs per tortilla (2/3 of the bunch will be leftover for another recipe)
* 1-2 whole dill pickles - very thinly sliced lengthwise
* Garlic salt
DIRECTIONS:
Lay out one tortilla. Spoon out, then mash and spread with a fork 1/4 of an avocado to cover most of the tortilla. Lay one line of about 20 overlapped radish slices. Lay separate lines each of about 3 radish leaves, 2 pickle slices and 1 Tbs sliced green onions. Lightly sprinkle the whole thing with garlic salt. Roll up tightly. Cut in half (or not) and enjoy.
NOTE: My 10-yr-old daughter said she hated radishes and didn't want one. I cut off a 1/2" slice for her to just try as I told her how delicious it was to me. She did and then wanted me to make her one. My husband and teenage daughters loved them too.
FEATURE BOOK: Dr. Mom's Healthy Living by Sandra Ellis, M.H. Today's article, as well as the articles from the next two weeks, are from Sandra Ellis' book, Dr. Mom's Healthy Living. In her book, Sandra shares her experiences in natural healing; showing you how to take responsibility for your own health through the use of diet, exercise, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, and other natural modalities.
To learn more about this book, click on the link below:
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