My Winter Medicine Cabinet*

At any given moment we have some kind of inflammatory process going on and in the winter time especially we usually have some sort of microbial or viral infection just waiting to find a home in our warm, cozy body. A few selected additions to your holistic medicine cabinet can make a big difference in whether you stay home in bed or be active in your normal day.

For boosting your immune system Vitamin C is probably the best bang for your buck! This being said… dosage matters. If you are trying to knock out a cold or the flu, using Vitamin C just short of bowel tolerance can make a huge difference in inhibiting and shortening the misery time of that oncoming flu or cold. When my family starts getting a cold or the flu we start out taking about 1,000 mg every four hours. If we don’t get loose stools or abdominal distress we increase the dosage. If some sort of abdominal distress such as gas, diarrhea or bloating occurs, we reduce the dosage. Each person’s bowel tolerance will be different and bowel tolerance will vary with each illness.

Another significant contributor towards an optimal immune system is Vitamin D. Within the past few years the medical community has learned that Vitamin D deficiency is more common than it is rare and that its contributions are multi-faceted. Vitamin D functions are many and varied… enough to warrant an entire article itself but for purposes of this article, it supports the immune system. Among other things it regulates T cells, which are important to the functioning of a strong immune system. It plays a major role in protecting the respiratory system by protecting cells lining the respiratory tract and inhibiting lung infections. Here again, dosage matters. Most would agree that the optimal form of Vitamin D to supplement is Vitamin D3 and dosages are determined by weight. Vitamin D is stored in fat cells so for those carrying extra pounds, you will need a larger dose.  For example, a 5’6 person weighing about 150 pounds would probably use around 50,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per week, children about half that. As with any other medication or supplement there are cautions of which to be aware. If you have high calcium levels you should not take Vitamin D without explicit permission from your doctor. Additionally, it is not uncommon for some people to experience pain when they start Vitamin D therapy. This pain will likely be caused due to the Vitamin D forcing calcium back into calcium starved bones which is a good thing. If this is the case, the pain will likely be temporary and subside within a few weeks.

A good natural anti-microbial is also a must for the winter season and there are several. In my house we use Oregon Grape Root or Goldenseal combined with Echinacea. Like an antibiotic, these supplements are intended for short term use only. We also use Colloidal Silver both internally and externally.  Goldenseal and Oregon Grape Root have some similar properties and some separate and distinct properties. They are both thought to be powerful antibiotics particularly for the throat, intestines and urinary tract. It is thought that the herbs stimulate macrophages which help destroy bacteria, protozoa and cancer cells and inhibits the ability of certain bacteria to attach to human cells. One of the active ingredients of both Goldenseal and Oregon Grape Root, berberine has been known to successfully treat diarrhea and is a natural insulin which can lower blood sugars. You should not use either of these if you suffer hypoglycemia. Be aware that you should not take Goldenseal if you have heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, stroke or high blood pressure. Goldenseal stimulates heart muscle and can increase blood pressure and high doses may interfere with Vitamin B metabolism. The active ingredients of Goldenseal are the alkaloids hydrastine, berberine and canadine which can also cause photosensitivity.  Echinacea, like other antibiotics is known to change gut flora so it would be a good idea to take a good probiotic. Oregon Grape Root is also known to regulate the digestive system by increasing hydrochloric acid in the stomach and is thought to smooth mucous membranes and help with nausea and gastritis.

To help keep inflammation at bay, it is a good idea to use a pharmaceutical grade fish oil. Many over the counter fish oils contain fillers, PCBs, DDT and organic mercury and with very little of the precious EPA/DHA that you think you are buying. A pharmaceutical grade fish oil is more expensive but worth every penny.  Not only are the fillers and heavy metals bad for you but they do not contribute to the anti-inflammatory effect you seek. With low quality fish oils you may experience a fishy tasting regurgitation, burning ears, gastric distress, itching and other allergic reactions. High quality fish oils are much less likely to cause such contraindications. Read the labels for individual fractions that are combined to provide a 2:1 ratio of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) for the finished fish oil product. A good daily maintenance dosage would be about 4,000 mg of pharmaceutical grade fish oil concentrate typically breaking down to about 1500 mg EPA and 800 mg of DHA.  Fish oil metabolism uses Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, so increased intake of Vitamin E is required if fish oil is being taken to avoid the reduction of vitamin E levels. The form of Vitamin E taken is important! You look for Vitamin E Mixed Toccopherals. Ask your doctor of pharmacist if you are not sure which form you are purchasing.

Note that quality fish oils will thin your blood so if you are on blood thinners this will be of concern to you. If you don’t know the quality of your fish oil, contact the manufacturer and ask if their brand is pharmaceutical grade and how much DHA/EPA does their brand contain for each dosage. A few suggested pharmaceutical grade fish oils are Dr. Barry Sears, Eico/RX and Trilogy Sealogix.

As with any other drug, it is strongly recommended to talk with your doctor before taking ANY supplement.  Supplements are medicines and medicines can conflict with other medicines and/or have side effects that can be dangerous.  Many supplements have more than one usage so it is important to educate yourself thoroughly before using them.

 *The information is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through handout and/or lecture is for general information purposes only. SEE ENTIRE MEDICAL DISCLAIMER __________

Let’s start with a little known, but very important vitamin called Vitamin K. Vitamin K is a fat soluble nutrient and is the basic structure for the clotting of blood. A Vitamin K deficiency results in impaired blood clotting, usually demonstrated by laboratory tests that measure clotting time. Symptoms include easy bruising and bleeding that may be manifested as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine, blood in the stool, tarry black stools, or heavy menstrual bleeding. In infants, vitamin K deficiency may result in life-threatening bleeding within the skull (intracranial hemorrhage.)

Supplementing with vitamin K can significantly reduce your risk of atherosclerosis – the thickening of your arteries which inhibits the flow of blood around your body. This makes it important in preventing life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, stroke and thrombosis which are all associated with atherosclerosis.

If too much of the mineral calcium seeps into your arteries it can contribute to atherosclerosis. This is because calcium deposits form on your arterial walls, making them thick and inflexible. It is important to remember that calcium must be balanced with magnesium. Vitamin K helps pump calcium out of your arteries and directs it inside your bones instead, where it is needed to prevent osteoporosis

Gas6 is a vitamin K-dependent protein that has been found throughout the nervous system, as well in the heart, lungs, stomach, kidneys, and cartilage. It appears to be a cellular growth regulation factor with cell-signaling activities. Gas6 appears to be important in diverse cellular functions, including cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and protection against apoptosis or cell deconcentrations. Deficiencies of vitamin K are also associated with lower bone mineral density and increased risk of hip fracture. Vitamin K supplements may improve bone mass in postmenopausal women and can help prevent calcification of arteries and other soft tissue. Vitamin K may also play a role in the regulation of blood sugar. Interestingly, the pancreas which makes insulin has the second highest amount of vitamin K in the body. Vitamin K1 or phylloquinone is the principal dietary source of vitamin K and its predominant circulating form.

It is important to note that if taken with a pharmaceutical blood thinner it can cause too much thinning of the blood. It could potentially serve as a replacement for blood thinners, without the added side effects.

It can be found in natural sources such as alfalfa, broccoli, dark green leafy vegetables and soybeans, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, egg yolks, liver, oatmeal, rye, and wheat.

Lecithin

Lecithin or phosphatidylcholine has been known for years as a wonder food with many benefits on persons combating atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, cirrhosis of the liver, gall stones, psoriasis, eczema, scleroderma, anxiety, tremors, and is an overall fabulous brain food. I personally use non-GMO soy lecithin granules but it is also found in egg yolks and organ meats.

Among other things, lecithin is an emulsifier, meaning it helps blend oil/fats with non-fats and is very important in managing lipids in your body. One particular useful element of lecithin is its ability to support the gallbladder by emulsifying fats in bile.  It cannot dissolve gallstone but it can help prevent their formation by increasing phospholipids in the gallbladder which will assist in eliminating waste in the gallbladder.

Another example of the benefits of lecithin is its ability to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. It helps prevent vascular diseases associated with fatty deposits, degenerative arterial diseases, cholesterol from depositing in arterial walls and helps improve elasticity of blood vessels.

Yet another very important function of lecithin is its ability to strengthen the myelin sheath which is the thin covering that envelopes neurons and nerves. Lecithin helps strengthen this sheath to better carry messages throughout the nervous system and can be quite beneficial for those with attention disorders.

There are also significant findings that people who suffer from dementia often have a low level of a natural chemical known as acetylcholine which is one of the chemical compounds found in. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in memory retention.

Selenium

Selenium is a trace element found in soil, and is required in small amounts to maintain good health. It is essential for many body processes and is present in nearly every cell but especially in the kidneys, liver, spleen, testes, and pancreas.

Selenium deficiency is a widespread, but little known problem due to today’s poorly depleted soils. It is a key cofactor in many enzyme functions; it can significantly retard cancer, is a powerful anti-oxidant, and can contribute to certain forms of heart disease, hypothyroidism, and a weakened immune system. Dr. Harold Foster studies indicate it could even be a major contributor to AIDS. To quote my friend Hal Foster “HIV encodes for one of the human glutathione peroxidases. As a result, as it is replicated it deprives HIV-seropositive individuals of the selenoenzyme glutathione peroxidase and its four key components, namely selenium, cysteine, glutamine and tryptophan. Slowly but surely, this depletion process causes severe deficiencies of all these nutrients. Their lack, in turn, is behind the major symptoms of AIDS, including the collapse of the immune system, increased susceptibility to cancer, myocardial infarction and depression, muscle wasting, diarrhea, psychosis and dementia.”

Remember, natural supplements are powerful medications. It is important to use them with care and under your doctor’s supervision. Using nutrition to prevent and heal disease is a long and complicated process. Educate yourself, ask questions from experts.  Most of the experts are more than happy to share their information. In fact, if you have a question and you don’t know who to ask, write Kinetic Magazine’s new monthly column with your questions and we’ll try our best to get you information to move you along your conscious health path.

–Eva Herr, for Kinetics Magazine

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Eva has written in great detail about the events of her life that created her shift in consciousness and opening of her intuitive ability in her book, “Agape, The Intent of The Soul”, published in 2005. She became a popular talk show hostess on BBS Radio, which gave her the opportunity to engage the minds of today’s top thinkers in the fields of alternative medicine, science and consciousness and our human experience. A list of her past interviews reads like a ‘who’s who’ list of luminaries. Eva conducts both her interviews and herself with a raw honesty, devoid of the pitfalls of egotism that is seldom seen today.

In addition to her internet BBS Radio program, “The Infinite Consciousness,” Eva is a Certified Alternative Holistic Counselor and medical intuitive; as such, she works with clients using her encyclopedic knowledge of alternative health remedies, as well as helping them understand how our minds work–enabling them to heal themselves of illnesses they were unable to resolve through traditional medicine. Combining her knowledge of alternative medicine with her intuitive abilities, she has an impressive track record of success.

Join Eva Herr and various luminaries such as Dannion Brinkley, William Tiller, Norm Shealy, Amit Goswami, Burton Goldberg, Ervin Laszlo, Dean Radin, Marilyn Schlitz, Bernie Siegel, Larry Dossey, Edgar Mitchell, among others, on her weekly radio show, Infinite Consciousness,www.bbsradio.com  on topics of consciousness, the cutting edge science supporting consciousness, alternative energy and alternative medicine.

* The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. Eva Herr makes no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.

Bile, next to blood is the most important fluid in the body. Emotional upsets such as sudden anger and depression can contribute to insufficient bile.

We are all exposed to toxic chemicals every single day whether it is the air we breathe, the food we eat or the cleaning substances we use for our kitchens, bathrooms and lawns or heavy metals in our medications and immunizations. It is all ladened with potent, toxic chemicals. Liver toxicity used to be expected in alcoholics or drug addicts but not in the average person.  That has changed. In fact, not only are middle aged adults being found to have liver toxicity, but our young children as well! Why? Because of greed, the earth has become toxic and when the earth becomes toxic so do we. We are one with all there is, including toxicity.

Generally, the liver’s job is the processing of bile from blood, (approximately one pint daily in a normally functioning liver). Bile, next to blood, is the most important fluid in the body. Other functions of the liver are the processing of glucose, hemoglobin, transformation of protein and fat, vitamin and enzyme production, regulating levels of iron and body temperature, cholesterol levels and lipid metabolism, detoxification and the production of substances to prevent infection.

There are many signs or symptoms that indicate the liver or gallbladder are not functioning properly. Insomnia and waking between 1 and 3 a.m., or sleeping all night and waking up feeling that you haven’t slept at all along with weakness, sluggishness and fatigue. Gallbladder disorders which you might find linked to a pain just below the lower right rib; rosacea; headaches, especially those with nausea, high blood pressure, abdominal fat or belly roll; bad breath; dupytren’s contracture in the hands, hot and burning feet, general feeling of not feeling well, sight disorders due to insulin problems and skin problems to name a few. For example when there is no bile in the stomach there can be nervousness and migraine headaches because digestion is seriously impaired. The ducts of the liver and gall bladder become obstructed with thickened bile and stones due to the excess cholesterol and bile caused by the over-consumption of foods and fats.

Emotional upsets such as sudden anger and depression can contribute to insufficient bile. Inadequate bile can also cause gas in the stomach producing pain around the heart and sternum area and water may develop around the heart and in the lungs. Visual problems may develop, neck and shoulder pain, low back pain or pain in the joints especially the knees, weakness and pain in upper front leg muscles and calves, pain in the arms and top of the right hand. There is likely to be dry or oily skin, itchy ears, muscle pain after working, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, frequent urination, pain between the shoulder blades, colitis, ulcers, hiatus hernia and digestive problems, (especially after eating), too much sleep, nausea and vomiting. In other words a significant number of symptoms could be liver related.

I personally like to use beets to improve liver function because it has an exceptional ability to thin the bile allowing it to flow more freely through the liver and into the small intestine, where it breaks down the fat and helps move food through the digestive system. Another benefit of enhanced bile flow is the reduced likelihood of forming gallstones, a leading cause for surgical removal of the gallbladder. You need your gallbladder. The purpose of the gallbladder is to collect and store bile from the activities of the liver then release it at the appropriate time into the small intestine. You can support your gallbladder with taurine as it is important in conjugating bile acids to form water-soluble bile salts. Taurine conjugation of bile acids has a significant effect on the solubility of cholesterol, increasing its excretion and has been shown to reduce serum cholesterol levels.

The liver makes bile, and the gall bladder stores and concentrates bile during the fasting state. Bile is a major route for eliminating cholesterol. Free cholesterol is virtually insoluble in water solutions, but in bile, it is made soluble by bile acids and lipids like lecithin. When the liver is overloaded toxins remain and eventually the kidneys are left to deal with this overload of toxins. With both organs unable to operate correctly, the liver becomes enlarged. It is at this point that it ceases to function properly and toxic waste finds itself into the bloodstream. Thus if the liver is unable to make adequate bile, your cholesterol is going to get out of control. High levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides cause your blood to become very sticky and thick which can cause gallbladder stones, high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. The liver controls these levels of blood fats which cause your heart to work harder to pump blood through your arteries.  The liver also breaks down an adrenal hormone called aldosterone which regulates the balance of sodium and potassium your body which can all contribute to high blood pressure.  So if your doctor has recommended water pills such as hydrachlorathiazide, one place you might look to is your liver.

Milk Thistle Silybum Marianum, is another a well-known herbal liver protector against such major insults as mushroom poisoning, radiation, and Tylenol overdose. Milk thistle helps the liver in three distinct ways. First, the active ingredient, silymarin, can incorporate itself into the liver cells and prevent the uptake of toxins into the cells by providing specific nutrients. Second, milk thistle is a potent antioxidant and prevents oxidative damage in the liver tissue. Third, milk thistle actually helps repair damaged liver cells.

Clean your liver if you suffer gallstones, you may be able to avoid having it removed. One half cup of beet juice can also lower blood pressure by about 20 points sometimes in as little as four hours and the results can last as long as 24 hours. Beets will cause your bowel movements to have a red color so don’t panic.

You might think many disorders can cause these same type symptoms and that is true. That being said, if you have had a history of taking medications, smoking, sodas, alcohol, or an unhealthy diet in general, it is an excellent idea to clean your liver because the liver is the catch-all for all toxins in your body. A clean, healthy liver means a functioning liver and heightened immune system. The good news is the liver responds well to treatment and can actually regenerate itself if treated in time.

Suggested Reading:

1. Health Begins in the Colon by Dr. Edward Group, III

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/about/dr-group/

2. Fatty Liver–You Can Reverse It by Dr. Sandra Cabot

http://www.liverdoctor.com/

–Eva Herr, for Kinetics Magazine

___________________________________________________________

Eva Herr is a medical intuitive and author of “Agape, The Intent of The Soul”, published in 2005. Eva became a popular talk show hostess on BBS Radio’s Infinite Consciousness, which gave her the opportunity to engage the minds of today’s top thinkers in the fields of alternative medicine, science and consciousness and our human experience. A list of her past interviews reads like a ‘who’s who’ list of luminaries such as Dannion Brinkley, William Tiller, Norm Shealy, Amit Goswami, Burton Goldberg, Ervin Laszlo, among others on topics of consciousness, the cutting edge science supporting consciousness, alternative energy and alternative medicine.

1. *The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only. Eva Herr and Kinetics Magazine make no representation and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of information contained on or available through this web site, and such information is subject to change without notice. You are encouraged to confirm any information obtained from or through this web site with other sources, and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with your physician. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.