Dr. Leonard Coldwell.com

Medical Cannabis States Have Lower Rates Of Opioid Prescriptions

Using data from privately-insured adults, new findings from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston revealed that there is a lower level of opioids prescribed in states that have allowed the use of medical marijuana.

The findings are currently available in Preventive Medicine.

“We found that the overall prescription opioid use increased by age, which we expected,” said senior author Mukaila Raji, UTMB professor and director, Division of Geriatrics Medicine. “But, when we looked at the results within different age groups, opioid prescription rates varied depending on the stringency of state cannabis laws. In particular, states that implemented medical cannabis laws had lower rates of opioid prescription in people aged 18 to 54.”

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Initially, opioids were seen as a way to ease pain and their use became widespread over time, with little attention paid to possible side effects or the risk of addiction. Over the past 25 years, prescriptions for opioids have nearly tripled and in 2017 there were 29,406 synthetic opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. alone. The desire to reduce the use of opioids has given rise to a search for non-opioid alternatives for pain treatment.

“As more states enact laws legalizing medical use of cannabis, there is growing interest in cannabis as a potential agent to mitigate harmful effects associated with synthetic opioid use,” said Raji.

“While this may suggest a public health benefit, it must be carefully examined across different groups of people to prevent unintended downsides of any new cannabis legislation,” Raji said. “Earlier studies that analyzed data from Medicaid and Medicare enrollees suggest a relationship between cannabis laws and lower opioid use, but we’re the first to explore whether this link is mirrored among commercially insured adults – which encompasses a wide range of ages and other demographics.”

The researchers used de-identified data from Clinformatics Data Mart, a database of one of the nation’s largest commercial health insurance providers that contains 87 percent of commercial enrollees. They calculated the number of people who had opioid prescriptions for one month and three months within a year and then separated the data into groups by level of legalization of cannabis laws and different age groups.

Article by University of Texas Galveston. Other authors include UTMB’s N. Ogechi Abara, Habeeb Salameh, Jordan Westra and Yong-Fang Kuo. Read journal article here.

Originally posted: https://www.naturalblaze.com/2019/06/legal-medical-cannabis-states-have-lower-rates-of-opioid-prescriptions.html

Superweed Resists Another Class Of Herbicides, Study Finds

We’ve all heard about bacteria that are becoming resistant to multiple types of antibiotics. These are the so-called superbugs perplexing and panicking medical science. The plant analogue may just be waterhemp, a broadleaf weed common to corn and soybean fields across the Midwest. With resistance to multiple common herbicides, waterhemp is getting much harder to kill.

In a new study from the University of Illinois, scientists document waterhemp’s resistance to yet another class of herbicides, known as Group 15s. The study provides the first documentation of a non-grass plant to be resistant to Group 15 herbicides.

There are many herbicides on the market, but they all fall into one of 16 classes describing their mode of action (MOA), or specific target in the plant that the chemical attacks. Because of various regulations and biological realities, a smaller number of herbicide MOAs can be used on any given crop and the suite of weeds that goes along with it. Historically, about nine have been useful for waterhemp – and now the weed appears to be resistant to at least seven.

“In some areas, we’re one or two MOAs away from completely losing chemical control of waterhemp and other multiple-herbicide-resistant weeds,” says Adam Davis, head of the Department of Crop Sciences at Illinois and co-author on the study. “And there are no new herbicide MOAs coming out. There haven’t been for 30 years.”

Illinois weed scientist and co-author Aaron Hager adds, “We don’t want to panic people, but farmers need to be aware this is real. It continues on with the challenges we’ve warned people about for years.”

The research team tested the effectiveness of soil-applied Group 15 herbicides in a Champaign County population already resistant to five MOAs. They applied eight Group 15 formulations in the field at their label rates, and chose three – non-encapsulated acetochlor (Harness), S-metolachlor (Dual Magnum), and pyroxasulfone (Zidua) – for a rate-titration experiment in which the herbicides were applied at one-half, one, two, and four times the label rate.

The eight Group 15 products varied in their effectiveness, with encapsulated acetochlor (Warrant), S-metolachlor, metolachlor (Stalwart), and dimethenamid-P (Outlook) performing the worst. These products provided less than 25% control 28 days after application and less than 6% control 14 days later.

Of the rate-titration experiment, Hager says, “We found we could apply significantly higher than the labeled dose and still see resistance.” For example, S-metolachlor provided only 10% control at the standard label rate, 20% at 2x the label rate, and 45% at 4x the label rate.

Hager says farmers might not notice the poor performance of these soil-applied pre-emergence herbicides because waterhemp germinates continuously throughout the season. When a weed pops up mid-season, it’s hard to tell exactly when it emerged and whether it was exposed to residual soil-applied herbicides.

“If you think about how you use these products, rarely do they last the entire year. They’re very dependent on environmental conditions to work effectively. It could be too wet or too dry. Generally speaking, you have some weed escape. But many farmers would chalk it up to these weather issues. If you’re not thinking about it, you could very easily overlook resistance,” Hager says.

To confirm results from the field, the team performed a dose response test in the greenhouse. In that test, four waterhemp populations – three with resistance to multiple herbicides and one that is sensitive to all herbicides – were dosed with increasing levels of S-metolachlor, acetochlor, dimethenamid-P, and pyroxasulfone. Populations from Champaign County and McLean County survived higher levels of the Group 15 herbicides than the other populations.

Hager suspects the plants are breaking the chemicals down before they cause damage, a trick known as metabolic resistance. All organisms can turn on cellular defenses against toxins, but it is rather worrisome when weeds and other undesirable pests use their biology against human interventions.

“As we get into the era of metabolic resistance, our predictability is virtually zero. We have no idea what these populations are resistant to until we get them under controlled conditions,” Hager says. “It’s just another example of how we need a more integrated system, rather than relying on chemistry only. We can still use the chemistry, but have to do something in addition.

“We want farmers to understand that we have to rethink how we manage waterhemp long term.”

Article by University of Illinois. Image by L. Brian Stauffer, University of Illinois. The journal article, “Characterization of multiple herbicide-resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) populations from Illinois to VLCFA-inhibiting herbicides,” is published in Weed Science [DOI: 10.1017/wsc.2019.13]. Authors include Seth Strom, Lisa Gonzini, Charlie Mitsdarfer, Adam Davis, Dean Riechers, and Aaron Hager.

Speed up your metabolism by detoxing your liver

If you’re struggling to lose weight, it might be time to add liver- and gut-cleansing foods to your diet. By eating certain kinds of nutritious foods, you can boost your body’s detoxification process.

According to Dr. Charles Passler, a nutritionist based in New York, a healthy liver can take toxins, turn them into a water-soluble form, and efficiently flush them out of your body.

Detoxify your liver with a nutrient-rich diet

By eating the right kinds of food, you can easily eliminate foreign chemicals that your body is exposed to when you consume unhealthy snacks.

The six foods included in the list below can give your body a detoxifying boost.

Apples

Organic apples are good for your liver and gut health because they are rich in fiber.

Fiber helps clean out the bowels and introduce “good” bacteria. Leave the skin on apples to boost your fiber and nutrient intake. You can also add apples to chia seed pudding, another great source of gut-friendly fiber.

Beets

Beets are full of antioxidants. Eating beets helps activate liver enzymes and bile, which break down and absorb healthy fats and fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin E.

As the liver transforms fat and soluble toxins into their water-soluble form for excretion, it binds various toxins to bile so they can be flushed out of your body via bowel movements.

Broccoli sprouts

Broccoli sprouts are a “detox superstar” because they’re full of antioxidants. They can also boost your glutathione levels better than broccoli, which is a good thing since this supports both phases of liver detoxification.

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Additionally, broccoli sprouts contain indole-3-carbinol, a compound that helps the liver flush out excessive levels of hormones.

Passler noted that broccoli sprouts contain the precursors of sulforaphane, a substance that may prevent certain types of cancers. (Related: 16 Signs that you need a liver cleanse (and how to detox naturally).)

Fermented foods

If you’ve been bloated or constipated for more than three days, you may need to add more fermented foods to your diet.

The following fermented foods can help introduce gut-friendly bacteria that will colonize your intestines and promote healthy bowel movements.

• Kefir – Kefir is a fermented dairy product that can boost lactose digestion, decrease inflammation, and improve bone health.
• Kimchi – Kimchi is a popular Korean dish that’s usually made of fermented vegetables like cabbage or radishes. According to research, kimchi can reduce insulin resistance and blood cholesterol.
• Miso – Miso, a Japanese seasoning made from fermented soybeans, is often used to make miso soup. Studies suggest that miso can lower cancer risk and improve heart health.
• Sauerkraut – Sauerkraut, a dish made from shredded and fermented cabbage, is full of antioxidants that are essential for eye health. The dish is also rich in fiber and vitamins C and K.

Garlic

Eating fresh, organic garlic activates liver detox enzymes that break down toxins and eliminate them from your system. Garlic contains a sulfur compound called alliin that converts to the active ingredient allicin when garlic is chopped, crushed, or minced.

Allicin is a powerful antioxidant, antibiotic, and antifungal substance that offers many benefits for your liver health. Garlic’s antioxidant properties keep toxic substances filtered by your liver from reaching other organs.

Walnuts

Walnuts aren’t just good for boosting your brain health – they can also promote detoxification and keep your liver in good condition. Passler explained that walnuts help boost circulation and blood flow, which allows toxins to be transported more efficiently from different points in your body to the liver.

Walnuts are chock-full of arginine, which helps your body neutralize and flush out toxic byproducts of alcohol and ammonia from the brain and central nervous system.

Follow a healthy diet and eat nutritious foods to boost your liver health and improve your metabolism.

Sources include:

WellAndGood.com

Livestrong.com

Healthline.com

Originally posted: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-06-12-speed-up-your-metabolism-by-detoxing-your-liver.html
Author: Zoey Sky

Study looks at which foods prevent cancer vs. those that contribute to it

One of the key challenges in preventing cancers and other chronic diseases is helping consumers make healthier food choices. For this reason, some countries are considering implementing a simplified labeling system that informs consumers of the nutritional quality of food products. The Nutri-Score is France’s official nutrition label, but it remains optional as per European labeling regulations. It is a five-color nutrition label that was based on the Nutrient Profiling System of the British Food Standards Agency modified version (FSAm-NPS) score.

To test the relevance of the two labels as nutritional profiling systems, a team of European researchers conducted a prospective analysis of the association between the nutritional score of food and cancer risk. Their study involved a large and diverse European population that constitutes the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. The EPIC study is an ongoing multi-center prospective cohort study investigating metabolic, dietary, lifestyle, and environmental factors in relation to cancer and other chronic diseases.

The research team analyzed the association between the FSAm-NPS score – which reflects their nutritional quality – and cancer risk in 471,495 adults from 10 European countries; 49,794 of them were newly diagnosed cancer cases. They calculated the FSAm-NPS score for each food or beverage using its 100-gram content in energy, sugar, saturated fatty acid, sodium, fibers, proteins, and fruits/vegetables/legumes/nuts. The FSAm-NPS scores of all food items typically consumed by an individual were averaged to obtain the individual FSAm-NPS Dietary Index (DI) scores. A high FSAm-NPS DI score indicates low nutritional quality.

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The researchers found that consumption of foods with high FSAm-NPS DI scores was associated with high risks of developing cancers, such as colorectal, lung, liver, and breast cancer. This finding supports the relevance of using the FSAm-NPS and Nutri-Score to grade the nutritional quality of food products as a basis for prevention strategies for cancer and other diseases. The results of this study were published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

How your diet influences your risk of cancer

Increasing evidence suggests that the foods you eat can either increase or decrease your risk of cancer. Adhering to a diet rich in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, spices, healthy fats, fresh fish, and high-quality dairy may reduce cancer risk. (Related: Nine anti-cancer foods proven to prevent and help reverse cancer.)

Conversely, high consumption of certain foods may raise your chances of developing cancer. Some of these cancer-causing foods contain high amounts of sugar and refined carbs. A review published in the Nutrition Journal reported that processed foods high in sugar but low in fiber and nutrients have been linked to increased cancer risk.

Eating lots of processed and red meats can also increase the risk of certain cancers including colon, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. Processed meat includes ham, bacon, salami, and sausages, while red meat includes all fresh, minced, and frozen beef, pork, and lamb.

Researchers found that processed and red meats can increase the risk of cancer because of their chemical content – that is, chemicals that are naturally present in the meat or were used to preserve the meat, and the chemicals produced when the meat is cooked at high temperatures. Red meat contains a naturally occurring red pigment called haem, which could irritate or impair cells or increase the production of harmful chemicals by bacteria, thus increasing the risk of cancer. On the other hand, nitrates and nitrites are chemicals often used to preserve processed meat. The body converts nitrites into cancer-causing chemicals called N-nitroso compounds (NOCs). Cooking meat at high temperatures, such as grilling or barbecuing, also produces chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic amines (PCAs) – both of which cause cancer.

Lower your risk of cancer and other diseases by eating healthily. Learn more at Prevention.news.

Sources include:

Science.news

Healthline.com

CancerResearchUK.org

Originally posted: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-06-12-foods-that-prevent-cancer-and-foods-that-contribute-to-it.html

2019 ‘Dead Zone’ In Gulf Of Mexico May Be Second Largest On Record

A recent forecast of the size of the “Dead Zone” in the northern Gulf of Mexico for late July 2019 is that it will cover 8,717-square-miles of the bottom of the continental shelf off Louisiana and Texas.

The unusually high Mississippi River discharge in May controls the size of this zone, which will likely be the second largest zone since systematic measurements began in 1985.

The water mass with oxygen concentrations less than 2 parts per million forms in bottom waters each year primarily as a result of nitrogen and phosphorus loading from the Mississippi River watershed, which fertilizes the Gulf of Mexico’s surface waters to create excessive amounts of algal biomass. The decomposition of this plant material in the bottom layer leads to oxygen loss.

The low oxygen conditions in the gulf’s most productive waters stresses organisms and may even cause their death, threatening living resources, including fish, shrimp and crabs caught there.

Low oxygen conditions started to appear 50 years ago when agricultural practices intensified in the Midwest. No reductions in the nitrate loading from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico have occurred in the last few decades.

The predicted hypoxic area is about the size of the land area of New Hampshire and about 4.5 times the size of the Hypoxia Action Plan goal.

This estimate assumes that there are no significant tropical storms in the two weeks before the monitoring cruise or during the cruise. The estimate is made each year by LSU scientists Eugene Turner and Nancy Rabalais.

Article by Louisiana State University. The report is posted at https://gulfhypoxia.net/research/shelfwide-cruise/?y=2019&p=hypoxia_fc. Image credit NOAA.

School-Located National Vaccination. Do You Consent?

By Rosanne Lindsay, ND

Dentists in Oregon, Pharmacists in all 50 states, and soon school nurses, can inject your children without your permission.

What makes it possible to deliver vaccines to children through the public schools? One reason is that the School-located vaccination (SLV) has a long history in the United States. In 1875, New York City schools delivered the small pox vaccine. In the 1950s, schools delivered the Salk polio vaccine. In the 1990s, schools conducted catch-up clinics for the Hep B vaccine. In 2009, schools injected the H1N1 vaccines. In 2012-13, an SLV project in rural Kentucky deployed the HPV vaccine, all to improve vaccination rates.

According to Goal #4 of the 2015-16 National Vaccine Plan, Health care providers must continue to improve access to and acceptance of vaccination providers in nontraditional healthcare settings. School-located vaccination (SLV) can augment other emerging alternative vaccination sites.

The SLV strategy is described in a position statement by the National Association for School Nurses which represents the government-accepted narrative. Their Journal of School Nursing reports:

School nurses are trusted professionals within the school and community settings and can play a pivotal role in the success of SLV. They are ideally placed to identify students who have missedvaccines.

This narrative is repeated in studies published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a group claiming to be dedicated to the health of all children.  Their 2017 study suggests that “SLV is key for adolescents who have significantly lower rates of vaccination due to lower rates of office-based visits.”

Just because registered providers claim they can deploy “biologics” through a needle without parental permission, does not make it right. Just because the Nurses Associationclaims that “School nurses are well-versed in the importance of deterring and eradicating vaccine preventable diseases and the issues that are unique to their school community” does not qualify them to replace parents to decide what is best for each child.

The Journal of School Health (Shlay et al., 2015), writes:

The school is an ideal place to reach 52 million children from all cultures, socioeconomic groups, and age groups that attend each day; and the school is conveniently located in a familiar and trusted community environment. SLV also offers a convenient option for parents to have their children receive needed vaccinations without having to arrange for a healthcare provider visit or take off time from work.

The Healthy People 2020 Act plans for schools to “play a key role in the deterrence of vaccine preventable diseases” because high vaccination coverage is “an important public health objective.” SLV provides an important opportunity to immunize youth with limited access to healthcare services in the community at large. In advance of this Act, studies are evaluating whether state laws permit the implementation of standing orders programs (SOPs) to increase uptake of vaccines.

Question Everything

Pay attention to the language and question everything. First, there is no such thing as “vaccine preventable diseases” when vaccines cause the diseases for which they claim to prevent. See this breakdown.

Secondly, there is no such thing as “Public Health.” Public health is a term created by the Rockefeller Foundation in 1913. “Public health” is a trap. It does not exist outside of individuals who makes up the public. Likewise, Public Opinion, Public Safety, Public Body, and Public Perception are myths that political elites promote in order to manufacture consent to justify their right to power and to maintain the status quo. There is only individual opinion, individual safety, individual bodies, and individual perception.

The public school system is a planned conveyor belt for a Public Health agenda. If you understand the true definition of “public” by the authors who write the narrative, you can see how the language is used against the individual.

Before the vaccine was developed, the American Medical Association claimed that the measles are a benign childhood illness. Then, in 1967, the Public Health Service marketed the measles vaccine as a way to eradicate the measles virus through a mass vaccination campaign. Today, the AMA claims these mild diseases are highly contagiousand result in “illness, disability and death.”

Measles Shots Aren’t Just For Kids

The CDC claims that as measles cases rise, adultswill need an MMR booster. The same CDC that says the killed measles vaccine available in 1963-1967 was not effective, now say:

“There’s no downside to getting a dose of measles vaccine,” says William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University and an infectious disease and vaccine expert. “If you’re [already] protected, it won’t help much, but it won’t harm you. And if you happen to be susceptible, it will give you over 90 percent protection.”

It is no coincidence that this narrative is growing louder to coincide with The Healthy People 2020 Act, which takes advice from an Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to recommend 13 vaccinations for adults.

When individuals buy into a Public Health ideology, thinking stops. Suddenly, people begin to believe that benign childhood illnesses no longer exist and every infection, from flu to measles and Chicken pox can kill. They believe that CDC-approved shots can be ineffective one year but “safe and effective” the next. Yet, according to VAERS data and reports by the Vaccine Court no deaths today result from the measles infection, while many deaths have been attributed to the MMR (measles, mumps, Rubella) vaccine.

Ask yourself by what Authority do registered nurses, a school system, a Public Health Authority, or any group, claim power over parents, or you? Who certifies the certifier? If public schools only serve to indoctrinate, then it is time to go back to the Home School. Read 100 reasons to Home Schools Your Kids.  Nearly two million US children are homeschooled, and the homeschooling population is increasingly reflective of America’s diversity, and the need for self-directed learning.

Choice Cannot Be Legislated

To consent to Public Health dictates is to give up individual (inherent) rights in exchange for Public Rights. Public rights do not exist. They are merely attempts to legislate choice. When it comes to government overreach, the tool for individual re-empowerment is found in the Spirit of the Declaration of Independence:

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government….to effect their Safety and Happiness.

The Spirit of these words reflect inherent rights in each individual. Physical documents and words do not grant or deny rights. When you consent to Acts and laws, you consent to give up your freedoms. You disempower yourself. Alternatively, you can choose not to give consent. Choice is the power of the individual to say no. Choice means you can cease to participate is a system of coercion. Non-compliance is an option. You can ask, by what authority is your consciousness greater than mine? You can end the ruse of the Public Health authority.

Rosanne Lindsay is a Naturopathic doctor, writer, Earth keeper, Health Freedom advocate, and author of the books The Nature of Healing, Heal the Body, Heal the Planet and  Free Your Voice, Heal Your Thyroid, Reverse Thyroid Disease Naturally. Find her on Facebook at Rosanne Lindsay and at her website at Natureofhealing. Consult with her (Skype or Zoom consults available) at natureofhealing.org. Subscribe to her blog at http://www.natureofhealing.org/blog/ and at her podcast Thursdays at 5 pm on Blog

Originally posted: https://www.naturalblaze.com/2019/06/school-located-national-vaccination-do-you-consent.html

Compound from aged garlic demonstrates anti-cancer activity

Researchers from Fujian Normal University, Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, and The University of Hong Konglooked at the anti-cancer activity of a compound in aged garlic called S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) in a review of studies. They published their findings in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines.

• Daily consumption of food supplements with anti-cancer potential has become a way to prevent and manage cancer.
• Emerging evidence supports a link between garlic consumption and decreased cancer incidence.
• Notably, aged garlic extract (AGE) has stronger anti-cancer activities than that of fresh garlic, because it is enriched with AGE-specific organosulfur compounds, such as SAMC.
• In this review, the researchers looked at studies on SAMC and its anti-cancer potential.
• They summarized the up-to-date mechanistic pathways associated with the anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects of SAMC in various cancer models.
• Evidence suggested that SAMC can protect against cancer because of its ability to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase antioxidant enzymes.
• SAMC also exhibits anti-tumor effects by activating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), scavenging active oxygen, and inhibiting inflammation.
• SAMC can induce Bcl-2 family imbalance to cause programmed cell death of tumor cells.
• It can also inhibit tumor cell proliferation and suppress tumor cell invasiveness.
• Additionally, it can increase the chemosensitivity of cancer cells.

Based on the evidence gathered, the researchers concluded that SAMC in aged garlic can be used as a promising daily food supplement for preventing and treating cancer.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

For more studies on food supplements that have anti-cancer potential like aged garlic, visit AntiCancer.news.

Journal Reference:

LV Y, So KF, Wong NK, Xiao J. ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITIES OF S-ALLYLMERCAPTOCYSTEINE FROM AGED GARLIC. Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. January 2019; 17(1): 43-49.  DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(19)30008-1

Originally posted: https://www.naturalnews.com/2019-06-10-compound-from-aged-garlic-demonstrates-anti-cancer-activity.html

Author: Michelle Simmons

Red yeast rice improves endothelial function by reducing inflammation, alleviating oxidative stress

Researchers from the University of South China, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, and Beijing Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University reviewed existing evidence on the ability of red yeast rice and its related products in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). They published their findings in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines.

• ASCVD is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, wherein endothelial injury continues throughout the course of the disease.
• Improvement in endothelial function is essential in the prevention of ASCVD.
• Red yeast rice is a healthy traditional Chinese food made by fermenting the fungus Monascus purpureus on wet rice.
• Studies have shown that red yeast rice and its products help in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases because of their effectiveness and safety in improving lipid levels.
• Red yeast rice also helps in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as increasing nitric oxide (NO), which maintains normal vasodilatory function and helps prevent platelet aggregation and adhesion.
• These beneficial effects may be attributed to its compounds: polyketides, monounsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, isoflavones, condensed tannins, Coenzyme Q10, microelements, and pigments, including ankaflavin, monascin, rubropunctatin, monascorubrin, rubropunctamine, and monascorubramine.

In sum, these results suggested that red yeast rice and its products can be used as a healthy functional food for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases.

Read the full text of the study at this link.

For more studies on heart-healthy foods like red yeast rice, visit FoodCures.news.

Journal Reference:

Feng SJ, Tang ZH, Wang Y, Tang XY, Li TH, Tang W, Kuang ZM. POTENTIAL PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF RED YEAST RICE IN ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION AGAINST ATHEROSCLEROTIC CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines. January 2019; 17(1): 50-58. DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(19)30009-3

Healing Herbal Salves: Chickweed, Calendula and Cannabis

The growing season can provide many different medicines straight from your yard or garden, sometimes wild and sometimes cultivated. Here are a few of my favorites to make for our family from our farm:

Chickweed Salve

Chickweed is a wild, edible “weed” that pops up in the cool weather of late winter and early spring in our area of Northern California. Nutritious {full of trace minerals and vitamins} and delicious in a salad, Chickweed applied topically also has a cooling, drying and healing effect on the skin which can aid in treatment of minor burns, cuts, rashes and bug bites. Also acting as an astringent, a compress of fresh Chickweed is helpful in pulling out splinters. Chickweed can be identified by the single line of hairs that run along the stalk and the cute white flowers that bloom with maturity.

To make a topical salve, cut your desired amount of plant, equal to the volume of oil you will be using, and allow to wilt overnight. Wilting the Chickweed decreases the moisture content, which decreases the chance of spoiling your infusion while still allowing the fresh properties of the plants to be used. After wilting overnight, cover the chickweed in the oil{s} of your choice for infusion. I also like to run this through the blender a bit to really increase the surface area of the plant for infusion. To maximize the strength of the infusion, using a crock pot on the lowest setting {‘warm’ on my model} heat the chickweed and oil mixture until dark green in color, over several hours. Once infused and darkened in color, strain the solids out with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Mix 1 cup of infused oil with 1oz of beeswax {more in very hot climates} to create a solid salve and store in a glass jar or metal tins.

Calendula Salve

Calendula not only makes for bright and cheery flowers in the garden, but the edible petals can also add some fun to a salad and make a healing salve to use year round. Calendula comes in a range of colors from yellows, to pinks, to oranges. Calendula has been shown to be anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxer, antimicrobial, and to promote wound healing. Think of it like a herbal Neosporin! Calendula is very easy to grow and easily reseeds itself for years of harvests. To make a topical salve you’ll want to harvest the flowers just after blooming and before setting seeds, cut at the bottom of the flower head right where it meets the stem. The more you cut, the more will bloom! Dry these flower heads where they have good airflow {to prevent mold} until fully dry, then infuse the oil{s} of your choice over a period of weeks until your infusion is golden in color. Strain the spent flowers through a mesh strainer or cheesecloth and either compost the flowers or I sometimes feed them to my chickens for any leftover nutrition. Mix 1 cup of this infused oil with 1oz of beeswax {more in very hot climates} and store in glass jars or metal tins.

Maca Mango Smoothie for Natural Hormone Balance

By Anastasia

Originally published at kindearth.netand reproduced here with permission

I must confess… maca has been one of those foods that have made a big difference in my life. I swear by the stuff! I am super sensitive to the hormonal shifts in my body, feeling every nuance of these ebbs and flows.

I also pop into ‘fight or flight’ mode easily – it’s just the way I’m made. I feel overwhelmed in crowds. I feel everyone’s stuff. My ‘time of the month’ always used to feel like a plunge into the fiery depths.

Don’t get me wrong here, I am actually a pretty calm person (in general) – largely due to the fact that I have learned to find my centre, to stay present, grounded and spend a lot of time on my own. My lifestyle is rather conducive to being calm and relaxed – that’s the way I’ve created it (out of necessity). Hormone balance is something I have to constantly stay on top of though. I guess I am just wired with a super sensitive system.

Natives from Peru have used maca for centuries

Maca changed everything for me. Not only does it help with the obvious hormonal things, it supports me with stressful situations, where my fight or flight mode has a tendency to go into total overdrive. Natives from the mountains of Peru, have actually used this plant to counteract hormonal issues(including menopausal and post menopause symptoms) for centuries.

Maca for all-around hormone support for everyone

Sexual and reproductive health and libido are usually the first things that spring to mind when we think of hormones – all of which are greatly supported by maca – however, they are just the tip of the iceberg. Hormones are in fact chemical messengers that tell our cells what they need to do, regulating the balance of our entire body. Hormone function includes digestion control, sleep regulation, brain development, mood, heart behaviour, blood pressure, fat metabolism, skin health, mental health, immune system, reproductive health, sexual health, bone maintenance. Hormones also manage our fight or flight response, induce calm, and control the rate at which we age. Maca’s powerful ability to balance hormones make it one incredible plant-food to include in your daily life.

Personally speaking, it’s the best I’ve ever found.

There is a lot to contend – for all of us – within our unnatural world of unnatural everything, chemicals all over the place, distractions, demands chaos. The stress is on us all!

I eat gelatinised maca every day for my hormone health

I include maca in my diet every day for maintenance purposes. A heaped teaspoon, usually in a smoothie usually does the trick. Whilst going through challenging timesin life, if I miss it out for more than a week in a row, I notice a difference in myself too.

I use gelatinised maca powder because it is more concentrated and easier to digest than raw maca and much closer to the form that native peoples would consume it.

You can read my in-depth article about maca for lots more information on it (including the difference between raw & gelatinised and maca’s ethics, history etc.) here: All about maca and it’s amazing benefits

Anyway, I think it’s time for a maca smoothie!

With many different smoothie blends that we can make, today I am sharing one of my favourites. I also include flaxseed, tahini, ginger and mangoes in this one – which are all full of nutrients that help to regulate hormones.

This recipe is delicious, nutritious. Drinking this sort of thing daily, coupled with a healthy, plant-based diet, can really help with hormone balance.

Where to get your Maca Root Powder from?

Your health is important, so be sure to buy

1. Certified organic
2. GMO free
3. Peruvian Maca

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for inferior products for convenience, but it’s not worth it. You would probably only use between a teaspoon and tablespoon every day. Therefore a 500g (1lb) packet could last you up to three months. A small price to pay for such healthful properties.

I only recommend products that I have used, tried and tested myself. The following two companies both have excellent ethical standards and I’ve been in touch with them personally. Here are my suggestions…

UK and Europe

My favourite company in the UK is Sevenhills Wholefoods. They sell the maca that I use almost all of the time. Sevenhills are very much in contact with their farmers, and are proud of the direct-supply line they have established, with ethics, fairtrade, organic and sustainability as priorities. Their price is very good value.

Check it out here:

Sevenhills Wholefoods Organic Gelatinised Maca Powder 500g

North America

My favourite brand the USA is now Terrasoul. I was looking for an alternative to the Sevenhills one that I use, for my mother who lives out there. The grown it with small family-owned, organic farms high in the Peruvian Andes and selectively harvest their roots. I’ve used this when I visit the USA and love it

Check it out here:
Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Gelatinised Maca Powder

About the author:

Plant-based workshop leader, retreat chef, recipe developer and life coach Anastasia was born in England and is currently nomadic. After a profound spiritual awakening in 1995, she recognised that all things are deeply connected and adopted a lifestyle of compassion and respect for all sentient beings. With a deep affinity with Mother Earth she founded KindEarth.net a space dedicated to compassionate, heart-centred living, plant-based recipes, meditation and reconnection with nature. Having enjoyed a vegan diet for over 24 years, she has experienced optimal health along the way, publishing several cook books and developing a plethora of original high vibe recipes. Anastasia invites us all to rise up from our deepest depths, to honour our true calling and is always delighted to hear from others who resonate on this journey back to a higher paradigm of love and respect.

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Website: https://www.kindearth.net

This article was shared with permission. Original article here.