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Friday, November 15, 2013

Gallbladder and Liver Health

HERBAL REMEDIES FOR GALLSTONES



©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Silymarin in milk thistle can stimulate bile production and help flush out gallstones.

Gallstones occur when one of the compounds in bile, particularly cholesterol, becomes so saturated that it forms a solid. If a gallstone lodges in the bile duct, it can cause severe pain, inflammation, infection, and sometimes even jaundice due to the backup of bile.
However, there are some herbal remedies to prevent and treat gallstones. Avoiding gallstone trouble is advised, and often can be achieved by healthy eating.
About Gallstones
As with many health conditions, preventing gallstones is preferable to treating them after they have formed. Research indicates that a high-fiber, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet rich in vitamins C and E helps prevent stones from forming.
That's good news because items commonly found in simple gardens can help ward off gallstones. Vegetables and fruits, which tend to be high in fiber and vitamins, low in fat, and cholesterol free, are popular and healthy choices.

Herbal Treatments for Gallstones

In addition to preventative healthy eating, some herbs stimulate the gallbladder, promoting the flow of bile.
Dandelion and milk thistle are particularly useful. They contain bitter substances -- taraxacin in dandelion and silymarin in milk thistle -- that stimulate bile production.
Increasing the amount of bile produced decreases its concentration. And the greater volume is also more likely to flush out a stone.
These herbs can be taken as tea or tincture or eaten steamed. Trim the sharp edges off young milk thistle leaves. Mix them with dandelion greens and steam as you would spinach; you can even eat them raw.
Oregon grape enhances blood flow to the liver and increases bile production. It can be combined with dandelion and milk thistle in a tea. This blend is even more effective when mixed with herbs such as chamomile, marshmallow, and slippery elm, which have relaxing and soothing properties. This mixture will also help decrease gallbladder inflammation.
Rosemary stimulates bile production, too, while also eliminating any spasms that might occur in the bile duct. It is well-known for aiding fat digestion and is often used as an herb in high-fat dishes. Its flavor helps to cut the richness of fat. Several studies have shown concentrated mint oil capsules can, if taken for several months, help break down small gallstones. Wild yam is another herb that increases bile flow and is also said to lessen the pain of gallstones. Like rosemary, it is an antispasmodic herb.An ultrasound is needed to definitively diagnose gallstones. A qualified health care practitioner should monitor herbal treatment of them. Once stones have formed, they can cause urgent medical problems if they block the bile duct. In that case, surgery may be necessary. But if surgery is not needed and the they are not serious, herbal remedies can be a healthy and effective treatment for preventing and helping with gallstones. However, eating healthily to avoid getting gallstones in the first place is always advised. 
          I like to sprinkle Young Livings "Rosemary Oil" on pork and chicken just before serving.
youngliving.org/edeye #1019691

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Notes On Hunt Camp

                                        Healthier Than Ever
         
             The first year at "Hunt Camp" I didn't sleep well at all. I had the wrong kind of sleeping bag, I wasn't used to the altitude.... it was a learning experience. Last year, I was sick the whole time. This year, I have felt GREAT. Lots more energy. It takes me about two hours to do the things I need to do in camp (besides cook dinner) between the time the hunters leave at 6 am and the time they get back at 6 pm. There is a lot of down time.... time for naps. This year, some times even when I tried to lay down and take a nap, I just laid there and never went to sleep. That's how much energy I had, even into the third season when it was colder and I wanted to spend more time in my sleeping bag! ha,ha! I generally felt good all the time. I even had much more confidence riding horses on the muddy, icy, snowy trails in and out of camp.
         So... the difference? Familiarity, of course leads to things being easier. My reflexologist over in Frasher is fantastic and I saw her a couple of days before going into camp. There is just one more thing that I've been doing on a regular basis that I think might have made a big difference.
     I've been drinking one or two of Young Livings "Power Meals" a day. To the shake I add a few drops of "Silique Essence", a drop of clove, a drop of nutmeg, a drop of longevity and a drop of DiGize. Just before going to bed I apply "Valor" oil with a roller applicator down the middle of each foot. Then I rub a couple of drops of "Thieves" oil on the bottom of each foot.
     I  really have been feeling great! While in hunt camp I turned 58 . Everyone I know that is my age are on all kinds of medications. I am pretty much controlling any issues I have through diet and nutrition. Don't get me wrong I still have issues and 20 pounds to lose but I'm going to get there.
     I did go through a bad time this summer where things just didn't seem to be going right, seemed like everything was against me. Everything comes in cycles.... right! With out the bad we wouldn't know the good..... right! The important thing is that it seems that life has come to a place where the bad times don't last as long. It seems the times of good and blessed and magical are longer and longer.
      A couple of weeks ago I started back on two of my most favorite oils, "Abundance" and
"Magnify Your Purpose" and after a challenging summer and a not so great year financially I really am feeling like my life is more abundant and more blessed all the time. Its just a feeling and I think a great part of it is from using Young Living products  
            For more info on products or how to get great savings and abundance as a distributor check out youngliving.org/edeye #1019691