Naturally....

Use essential oils with diffusers without burning away important natural healing properties ...

2012-01-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

I used to buy essential oil burners as a way to infuse essential oils into the home environment. I started with eucalyptus oils years ago as I suffered from bad sinuses. With that came migrane and I added lavender to the oils I burnt, yes literally ~ burnt. That was yester-years....

With technological progress, we now have diffusers which are electronic gadget used for breaking up water molecules and molecules of essential oils into micro sizes which are then infused into the air and environment without destroying the sensitive and natural healing essences of plants ~ the essential oils that we all know and are fond of ~ with high heat. The smaller molecules of the essential oils are then inhaled through the air that we breathe for various wonderful benefits.

These days I am particularly fond of infusing the oils of Clove Bud, Lavender and Peppermint.

Clove bud oil which has the highest level of antioxidant properties amongst all essential oils, is great in cleasing the air of microbes, bacteria and viruses. It is also a very grounding oil that aids in alleviating many bodily discomforts, including insect bites and stings.

Lavender as we all know is indeed a very good oil that has strong healing properties for the skin, the immune system and such. You can read more about lavender in my earlier posts.

Peppermint is another wonderful oil that I find promote clarity of mind for me. It aids in my concentration and definitely help boost the creative process for work, play and rest too. It also has amazing property of consolidating all the positive properties of other oils used and magnifying the positive effects to greater levels.

I will definitely diffuse more of the oils into my home space as we come to the Chinese New Year celebration. First to bring on an air of natural, healing aromas of pure essential oils (not adulterated ones nor artifical fragrances) into the home space as visitors increase. This will purify and cleanse the air at home.

Diffusing the oil also helps to build up strength and better immunity to airborne bacteria, etc ~ that is so common during festivity due to the dry and hot season now. I feel this will definitely benefit children and babies and keep them in safer environment!

I also feel the special natural aromas will definitely attract better vibration to my living space too! I would say, what all Chinese wish for in this coming Lunar New Year! Vibration of good health, peace, happiness and prosperity ~ to lift all our spirits for a wonderful year ahead!

Aloha again...

2011-10-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Received this in my email about cancer and the danger of plastics, etc. I have read many of such article and have decided to copy the email here for all to read. The original email was by one Dr Rick Cantrell. Have a read and see if this resonate with you....

Subject: Cancer treatment is about making money...provoking thoughts

I posted this article, which may have some provoking thoughts:

The below is absolutely 100% true and as a doctor I have been telling people this for 15 years now. No one wants to listen. Folks need to wake up. Cancer treatment is about making money. It is a 120 billion dollar a year industry in the United States alone and estimated to be a 600 billion dollar a year industry worldwide.

A successful cancer case according to the American Cancer Society and the American College of Oncology and Hematology means that the person survives for 5 years. Both the American Cancer Society and the American College of Oncology and Hematology admit that a person is likely to survive cancer for 7 to 10 years even if they do absolutely NOTHING. Of course, only the doctors get those magazines - not you, the cancer patient.

Alternative medicine's track record of curing cancer is 10 times higher than that of conventional medicine. Note that I say CURE.

Remember another thing. A TUMOR is just a symptom. It is not the cause of cancer.

Science is cause and effect. Remove the cause and the effect disappears.

I am in my third battle with cancer right now. I have not done any chemotherapy or radiation or surgery for any of my bouts with cancer. I survived leukemia, I survived Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and now I have Glioblastoma which is supposedly an incurable form of brain cancer. I was given two months to live 5 months ago.

I have been using Chinese herbs, high doses of vitamin C, acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy and nutritional changes. Yes, at first it got worse. It had metastasized to my lymph nodes, my lungs and my bones. As of this week, I am happy to say that there is no evidence now of any cancer in my lymph system or my bones. I had 6 tumors in my lungs, now there are only two. The tumors in my brain have shrunken tremendously. I never did any of their chemo, radiation or surgery.

Here is a very interesting statistic that you can only have access to by being a doctor. Every year more than 1,000 doctors oncologists (cancer doctors) are diagnosed with cancer. Less than 10% of them choose to do the treatment that they have been giving to their patients. Sort of like the fact that less than 25% of all pediatricians vaccinate their own children because of the fact that the risk of sudden death or serious side effects from the vaccination is higher than the risk of catching the disease one is being vaccinated for. This is not bullshit people - it is truth.

Medicine is about money, not about your health and the system traps people, especially the elderly, disabled and poor into a deadly treatment regime that puts them in an early grave. Meanwhile, all the jet set billionaires are flying off toEurope and paying big bucks for alternative treatments and getting cured.

Does alternative medicine work all the time? No. Of course not. Nothing works all the time. But there is a reason for that. You don't die until it's your time to die. Nothing can make you live longer than that time.

However quality of life comes into play. Those cancer patients who use alternative therapies for their cancer, yet still die from the illness, suffer a much higher quality of life. They die able to spend time with their families and even recognize their family members. They don't become emaciated like those who do chemotherapy or radiation do and rarely is a person who goes under the treatment of chemotherapy able to recognize anyone for the last few days of their lives. Their bodies become ravaged to the point that you can't even recognize them either. They suffer at a much much higher rate and they have one let down after another as doctors tell them, ahhh - it's looking good, only to tell them on the next visit it's looking worse, you need more chemo and radiation.

What is criminal about this is that YOUR DOCTORS KNOW THIS SHIT.

I took an oath as a physician. I have always followed it. That has certainly not made me successful financially as a doctor because I have consistently refused to go along with conventional medicine's bullshit.

Read the below carefully. It may indeed make a difference in your life.

Rick Cantrell, PhD, MD, PsyD

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ('TRY', BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .

              Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :

              1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer
                   cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have
                   multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients
                   that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after
                   treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the
                   cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable
                   size.

              2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a
                   person's lifetime.

              3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer
                   cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and
                   forming tumors.

              4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has
                   nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,
                   but also to environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

              5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing
                    diet to eat more adequately and healthy, 4-5 times/day
                    and by including supplements will strengthen the immune
                    system.

              6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing
                   cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells
                   in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can
                   cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

              7.. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars
                   and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

              8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often
                   reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of
                   chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor
                   destruction.

              9. When the body has too much toxic burden from
                   chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either
                   compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb
                   to various kinds of infections and complications.

              10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to
                     mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.
                     Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other
                     sites.

              11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer
                     cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

             *CANCER CELLS FEED ON:-

              a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are
                  made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural
                  substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses , but only in
                  very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make
                  it white in color Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea
                  salt.

              B. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the
                   gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting
                   off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer
                   cells are being starved.

              c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based
                   diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other
                   meat, like chicken. Meat also contains livestock
                   antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all
                   harmful, especially to people with cancer.

            d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole
                 grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into
                 an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked
                 food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live
                 enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to
                 cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance
                 growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building
                 healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most
                 vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw
                 vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at
                 temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)..

            e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high
                 caffeine Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer
                 fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or
                 filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap
                 water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

            12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of
                   digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the
                   intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic
                   buildup.

            13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By
                        refraining from or eating less meat it frees more
                   enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and
                   allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

            14. Some supplements build up the immune system
                   (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals,
                   EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy
                   cancer cells.. Other supplements like vitamin E are known
                   to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's
                   normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or
                   unneeded cells.

            15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit.
                   A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior
                  be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put
                  the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to
                  have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy
                  life.

            16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated
                   environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help  to
                   get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen
                   therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer
                   cells.

            1. No plastic containers in micro.

            2. No water bottles in freezer.

            3. No plastic wrap in microwave..

            Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic. Recently, Dr Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers. This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else. Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

           Please share this with your whole email list.........................

             Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

Time to Spare?

2010-11-16T04:02:00.000-08:00

Here's something noteworthy to share... A piece which Li Yen has written in her article for the Mind & Spirit column in NST.

Compassion On The Streets

Mind & Spirit: NST Life & Times 16/11/2010

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MIND_SPIRIT_Compassiononthestreets/Article

BY CHIM LI YEN

BEING of service to others is an integral part of the journey in achieving fulfilment in life. It is about being there for someone with no expectations of anything in return. No underlying motive of recognition or compensation. Even doing service in exchange for good merits or for a ticket to heaven is an ego trip — expectations in disguise.

Service is simply about being there with your heart wide open to support a cause or another person. When was the last time you participated in making someone’s life better? In a world where everyone seems obsessed with material possessions, job promotions, good food, fame and money, the volunteers at Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK) truly demonstrate what it means to be of service to others. While the rest of us are painting the town red on a Saturday night, the volunteers wander around the streets in the Klang Valley to distribute food and comfort to the forgotten members of society. “Our goal is to get our clients off the streets permanently by assisting them to reintegrate into society and be self-sufficient.

The food distribution programme is a tool for us to get to know our clients better. By giving them food and basic necessities, they open up to us easily and tell us why they ended up on the streets. Then, we can assist them in other ways like finding jobs for them, placing them in shelter homes for the elderly, replacing their identity cards and registering with the Welfare Department if they are eligible,” says Justin Cheah, Project Director of KSK.

KSK started out in 2006 as a group of friends giving out food, drinks and basic first aid to those in need. It grew quickly via word-of-mouth and today, the group is formed by volunteers of all ages from different faiths, cultures and background. “Our direct contact with those who live a ’street existence’ has been invaluable in gaining their trust and gathering information on their needs. As a result of these observations, we have established a plan to address not just the symptoms (hunger) but also the cause of the problem (urban poverty and a disconnection with society).

“Those stricken by poverty are not in that situation by choice. Nobody wants to sleep on the streets. They do not want charity, they need inspiration. We discovered that most of them are willing to re-enter society if given the opportunity — they just need to be shown the way.

“To effectively accomplish this, we have recently acquired a building just off Jalan Imbi as a permanent soup kitchen where we will continue to provide food, as well as medical aid, laundry facilities and counselling. It provides them with a fixed address, thus granting them easier access to employment opportunities. Besides the Saturday night rounds, we provide meals for about 150 people during lunch time every weekday from this premises,” says Cheah.

Since 2009, KSK has successfully obtained job placements for more than 60 people, found places in shelter homes for 20 elderly clients and assisted three to reconcile with their families.

If what they do at KSK touches your heart or inspires you, you can do your part by contributing in the following ways:

- Funds in the form of cash donations or pledges.

- Employment opportunities or training

- Donations of food such as cooking oil, rice, fruits, canned food, biscuits, etc

- Medication for fever, diarrhoea, cough, cold, vomiting, asthma and multivitamins

- Medical items for external use: First aid kit, plasters, bandages, crutches, antiseptic wash, gauze, acriflavine lotion, cotton wool, medicated oil, anti-fungal cream, etc

- Toiletries: Soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo

- New or used apparel, socks, slippers, raincoats, blankets, bags

- Your time.

Join the food distribution rounds at 8pm every Saturday by attending a compulsory orientation programme at KSK before heading out to the streets at 10pm. Address: No. 17 Jalan Barat (off Jalan Imbi), Kuala Lumpur. l If you are a medical doctor or qualified nurse, join them on the food distribution rounds to provide advice on medical treatment when the need arises.

Kechara Soup Kitchen’s long- term goal is to establish a nurture centre to provide training to enable the homeless to return to society as skilled citizens.

Join us this Sunday from 10am to 5pm at The Violet Flame in Bangsar for a fundraiser “Feed The Hungry Day”. There will be mini sessions of tarot card reading, aura chakra reading, Dorn therapy (for back problems and spinal misalignments) and other interesting activities. Proceeds from this event will be used to purchase food for KSK.

Visit www.thevioletflame.com.my for more info.

Biles of the Earth!

2010-11-08T07:39:00.000-08:00

Now that sounds yucky and awfully bitter, doesn't it? I can tell you it is darn bitter!

A common name of this hardy and easily found herb in Malaysia, is the "Hempedu Bumi" (translated as Biles of the Earth). I remembered well how my mum and the mums in my neighbourhood would pick the leaves of this herbs that can be found growing wild all over, even in garden pots! They would sun-dry the darkgreen leaves and subsequently pound/pulverised them, before putting the dried pounded leaves into empty vegetable capsules, as first aid at home against sore throat, laryngitis, mouth ulcers, high fever, skin diseases from rashes to pimple breakouts and many more! The Chinese community here has been calling this as "Seh York" (literal translation of the Cantonese name - Snake Medicine). Snake Medicine? Don't ask me why! I have not found a logical reason for this name yet. It's more proper Chinese name being Chuan Xin Lian (穿心蓮). I have also heard that the Malay community uses this herb for diabetic related illnesses. It is also a popular herbs in the ayurvedic practice and tradition.

I have seen the a few fresh green leaves being steeped in hot boiling water and taken as tea. Sometimes the leaves are boiled and the water taken as tea for those heaty days and to battle internal heat. I have also witnessed brave folks chew its bitter leaves, neat! This is a big deal as it is really bitter! Trust me this can be easily a stunt included in one of those live reality TV shows testing a person's bravery and such!

This is a common herb in the region, including Thailand and India. It grows to about 60 to 70 cm in height and spreads abundantly through seeds that matures in pods, upon flowering. The seeds appears much like mustard seeds - I know cause I have them in my pots now too! Hahaha!

Scientifically it is Andrographis paniculata in Latin, this King of Bitters has been found to contain the active compound Diterpene andrographolide, which has been found to "to induce significant stimulation of antibody production," as quoted from Institute for Medical Research's website http://www.imr.gov.my/org/hmrc_r1.htm. Do have a read of the website.

Generally it is known as rich source of anti-oxidant which has positive effects on the liver and the digestive system. Research seems to suggest that its active compounds aids in breaking up fats and cholestrol in the blood. It is now being sold over the counter in powder form, in capsules as herbal tonics by several local companies dealing with natural/herbal health products.

It is claimed that the active ingredient in this Bile of the Earth is even greater than that of Milk Thistles in its liver protecting and bile promoting properties. An interesting read is this link by one such company, http://www.rainforestherbs.com/img/Hempedu%20Bumi%20Plus%20infosheet.pdf.

Other interesting claims of the plant's positive effects are in areas of weight loss, chronic fatigue, bad breath, expelling worms and parasites in the intestinal tracts and high blood pressure. Its effect on terminating cancer cells, especially of the gastro-intestinal tracts has been positive as reported by some research in this area.

Because of the herbs' multiple uses, it has apparently gained popularity in Northern America and Europe. It is also used to treat coughs and flu in Scandinavian countries. Now how did this plant make its way to such cold places! :)

Some other interesting links (some maybe written in Malay) are:

- http://www.frim.gov.my/cms/fin/file/20090529_N_UM_SUP_pg11_Manfaat%20hempedu%20bumi.pdf

- http://www.melur.com/myherba.asp?plant_id=4

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrographis_paniculata

- http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-remedies/herbs/andrographis-paniculata-00054.html

As usual, do take precaution in the use of traditional herbs, I always advice liberal usage and do get to know more about what you put into the body first....

Breath Vs Bad Cells

2010-11-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

Have we become so removed and unaware of our body these days? I was tickled by the fact that there is actually a book, "Breathing for Dummies" - for those of us who do not breathe right! Laughed I did but I also suspect that majority of us have been breathing wrongly for a long, long time. It is a fact that babies breathe rightly, but how and when did we forget to take in air the right way? Stumped, right?! Breathing is a critical process of not merely supplying the lungs and body with air - oxygen, to be precise - it is more than that....

My friend, KarLai, shared a booklet with my friends and I sometime ago. It was entitled Cancer Care with Chi Dynamics by Master Anthony Wee. It is basically a concise and to the point instructions and sharing on how to use breath-work to maintain good health or even fight off cancer cells, basing on the theories that:

1- the breathing exercise will balance the Yin and Yang aspects within our body, and maintain the body's right pH balance within.

As further shared in an article in Natural Healing for You (http://www.naturalhealingforyou.com/journal.php?J_Id=28&V_Name=Volume%203&SE_Name=Review%20Article), a combination of gentle movements and breathing (as practiced in Qigong), also bring about positive healing through,

2 - Improved Oxygen Supply to cells

3 - Improved balance of the Autonomic Nervous System

4 - Improved Lymphatic function

Of course, in the path to healing, especially in battling cancer cells and diseases, there are many other aspects of our lives to look into, i.e. lifestyle, diet, rest, mental health, environment and many more. A whole and natural approach has often times been proven to be the most effective way to put ourselves back on the road to regain our optimum health.

There is nothing to lose to take some moments, stop ourselves in our hurtle head-on and take stock of ourselves from time to time. Is our lifestyle destructive? Am I eating myself to an early grave? Are we pushing our body to beyond its limits? Am I getting proper rests? Are we thinking right? Am I emotionally healthy?

Or, just simply, am I breathing right?

Have a read through this webpage of Chi Dynamics, http://www.chidynamics.org.sg/sg_cancercare.htm.

Good Health to All, & Happy Deepavali to All Hindu Friends!

A Papaya Leaf A Day Keeps the Cancer Cells Away...?

2010-10-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello dear friends, this was shared by my friend Simon in his recent email. The use of very natural and easy to find ingredients such as papaya stems, lemon grass and apricot seeds to fight cancer. I have heard about the use of papaya stems before but the other two ingredients are not surprising too. Here goes...

This is an extract of the email of which the original sender's name is not available... nonetheless, thank you whoever you are for sharing your experience...

Quote:

This is for your personal health education - it is important to know and do, if ever you need it. Remember, Chemotherapy and Radiation kills the patient before the Cancer kills him. This is a true fact - you can ask your friends who are doctors. Doctors recommend Chemo and Radiation to others but will NEVER take this road if they are a victim of Cancer!

Remember, long time ago, I was helping my good friend who had Nose Cancer. I travelled with him all the way to Penang to search for cure. Well, today he is still alive, has been free of Cancer for 6 years and is now helping others who are in the same straits, through a NPC(not sure of the initial) organisation.

I met him last week and he said again - No need for Chemo and Radiation. Got to believe a person who went to hell and came back alive and well! And is now a helping others to survive Cancer. He said you need three things to survive Cancer attack:

Juice fresh Papaya leaves and stalk to drink
Boil Lemon grass and drink as water
Eat Apricot seeds to kill the Cancer cells.

Unquote

The email also shared a link about the apricot seeds. Do have a read of it at http://www.naturalnews.com/027088_cancer_laetrile_health.html.

It says, "(NaturalNews) Are apricot seeds a source for a natural substance that kills cancer cells without destroying the cancer victim's health and wealth? The essential ingredient has been called laetrile or vitamin B 17. If there is any merit to it, why is this information being suppressed? Why are people who have been cured or have cured others being censured and imprisoned? Could be there is something to the claims." Click on the link above to read on....

An interesting summary about the goodness of papaya is available on this link, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_170_2005-01-11.html, from the National Library of Singapore.

A link about the lemongrass and how it prompt cancer cells to 'commit suicide' is an interesting read too. Please go to http://my.88db.com/my/Knowledge/Knowledge_Detail.page/Health-Medical/?kid=11068

You decide if you think these are good to fight cancer with. As far as I know these plants have been used in many ways to fight diseases in many ways in various cultures, way before drugs were available with modern medicine.

Something to think about too... watch this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54VbiKw2LdM&feature=related.

May all of us be blessed with good health and joyful lives! Good night!

Migranes Be Gone!

2010-10-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

I am proned to migrane headaches which will leave me having to sleep off the pain while waiting for the body to slowly heal the cause of the headaches/migrane. I know for a fact, I can't have the airconditioning on for a full night. The dry and cold air will dry up my sinus cavity which causes a chain reaction from the lining and blood vessels in my sinus cavity contracting due to the dry condition. This will guarantee me a migrane headache.

I used to massage the sinus points on my hands and feet as a form of relief. That done, I will still need a long day's rest before the migrane or headache goes off. As I have been actively using essential oils recently, I asked for a friend's help to massage the sinus points on my feet using Young Living's Eucalyptus radiata followed by YL's Peppermint oil. What I have experienced (and I have tried this a few times with the same result) is that my migrane headache goes off almost within minutes of application of the oils on the reflex points in my feet! I dare say this is wonderful discovery that is saving me from having agonising and unproductive day of having to sleep it off!

Do give this a try, massage the tips of the toes of the feet as that is where the reflex points are located for the sinus. Add on the essential oils, and voila! What a relief! Migrane sufferers would know what I am talking about - the nasty pain that makes one nauseous and even unable to withstand bright/day lights! I use Young Living's oils as they are of very high quality and of therapeutic grade. Do be careful as to using oils that are labeled 'pure' - there are many reasons why the oils are not really pure as claimed. I, now, would personally trust only therapeutic graded ones.

If you like to find out more about how effective therapeutic graded oils are have a look at www.howtouseessentialoils.com or www.youngliving.com.my.

I have so many positive and amazing experiences from these oils since I began to use them. I hope more people will benefit from it! :)

More about Ginger ...

2010-08-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

I must apologise for the long hiatus. Anyway, I am back! :)

Casts of Gilligan's Island - Ginger is the redhead in white dress...

Long before 'Lost' there was Gilligan's Island...Rang any bells? Remember Ginger, the red-headed starlet? Hmm... I had much fun in my childhood days watching and laughing at the silly adventures. That, of course, is a dead give-away of the era I came from! Perhaps I can claim having watched this from DVDs, which I did see on the shelves at the shops... hehehee!

What brought on Ginger was an email I have just received from a friend, Selena, listing out quite extensively the many use of ginger. I have written about this handy and popular kitchen ingredient before but as they say, a good thing is worth repeating! So here goes an extract from the email received:

Ginger is one of the world's seven most potent disease-fighting spices.

Ginger has been used for its health benefits for over 5000 years and is a favorite medicinal as well as culinary herb.

Unlike most spices, the part that has the most medicinal value grows under ground. Often mistakenly called “ginger root” this is actually the rhizome of the plant which is more of a subterranean stem than a root. Although you can use dried ginger and powdered ginger for health benefits, fresh ginger is preferred.

The intake of ginger helps stimulate the secretion of mucus, quieting your cough and soothing any scratchiness in your throat.

Ginger has been proven (in multiple studies) to treat feelings of nausea, particularly in the form of seasickness, morning sickness, motion sickness and as a side effect of chemotherapy.

In pregnancy is to be extra careful!! Never use any herb, including ginger, without first discussing it with your doctor!! As for those suffering from ulcer, or other very serious gastric problems, they should also consult their doctor.

Ginger contains anti viral, anti toxic, and anti fungal properties, and is used for the prevention of and treatment against the common cold.

Ginger acts as an antihistamine and aids in the treatment of allergies.

Ginger displays anti inflammatory properties and can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and various other muscular disorders.

The chemical components of the root are instrumental in inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins which are responsible for causing inflammation.

Thus the root has proven to be a highly effective form of treatment, in some cases, even more so than the NSAID's that are traditionally prescribed.

So eating ginger may help to prevent cancer and aging disorders.

Ginger contains special enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins in your food, thus aiding in digestion and the prevention of cramps.

Good for those with constipation!

The ancient Greeks used to eat ginger after a large meal,
in order to ease the digestion process.

Ginger has proven to help lower your cholesterol levels and prevent the formation of blood clots.

As a mood enhancer, ginger's cineole content may help contribute to stress relief.

Also used for migraine headache.

Ginger can also be used for reducing toothache and the discomfort which arises due to the infection in the upper respiratory tract due to its antibacterial and antifungal nature.

Chewing on fresh ginger, can help freshen the breath.

Being a warming herb, ginger can help knock out a fever. This property also makes it effective in stimulating circulation of the blood.

It can also help relax muscles around the blood vessels and is said to help prevent blood clots from forming. The warming effects make it a natural decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the perfect remedy for colds.

Some studies show that it can even help inhibit the replication of the herpes simplex virus.

Recent studies show that ginger might also have a role in lowering LDL cholesterol because the spice can help reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed.

It has also been shown in animal trials to help slow
or even prevent cancerous tumor growth.

To discover the health benefits of ginger for yourself, simply make a tea by steeping about 5 slices of ginger in hot water.

If you prefer it in your food, ginger is excellent in many dishes and is perfect when combined with garlic.

Ginger doesn't only spice up your food it can also help to put some extra spice in your intimate life too. It improves blood flow to your sexual organs, and contains Vitamin C, zinc and magnesium.

There was no quote on the source of the information above. But anyhow, read and discern for yourself what works for you. :)

Dinner Talk 2 & Radishes

2010-05-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,

I am honoured that my fellow blogger, Lion Girl, was inspired to go looking for a Hakka LuiCha Stall after my entry about it, in my last Dinner Talk. She has found one at Taman Cheras. But, alas, I am not very sure of my directions in Cheras and shall attempt to seek it out one fine day when traffic is bearable. Do have a read of her blog at http://theliongirl.blogspot.com/search/label/Makan Junction to find out where it is...

On with more Dinner Talks. We were treated to delicious radish soup by mum today. Mum has always been telling us that (white) radish (also known as daikon in Japanese) soup is good for us, especially if we are caught in traffic day in and day out. Apparently, radish, which is a regulating food for the body sputum and blood circulation, has the ability to counteract toxic effects in our body. We inhale a large amount of carbon dioxide and fumes in traffic. It is also good for those of us who uses gas cookers too. We would have inadvertently inhaled the cooking gases at some point.

According to The Chinese Food for Longevity by Henry C. Lu, this root vegetable has the ability to also reduce internal heat, promote urination, heal inflamation, expel phlegm and helps with cough. Consumption of raw radishes in large amount can also improve symptoms of silicosis, a lung disease associated to inhalation of dust especially for miners and those who works in blasting sites and dusty construction environment. Silicosis is inflamation and scarring leading to nodular lesions in the lungs.

How to dish up radish soup? You will need a radish of medium size (roughly about a foot in length and of 2 to 3 inches thickness). Cube the radish and boil in a soup pot with chicken or pork (according to your liking) with some dried longans, lightly crushed black pepper seeds, some cubed carrots.

Boil for 3 to 4 hours. Start with heat on high and turn to low heat after 45 minutes or so. We start with about 10 bowls of water. Do add check the water level from time to time, and add warm water if boiling has reduced it significantly. This should serve between 3 to 5 people.

It is even simpler with a slow cooker. I usually put in enough water to cover the ingredients and meat, plus more. For slow cooker, I always start off the boiling by adding hot water into the pot with the ingredients. I would just leave the whole thing to cook while i retire for the night. It is usually ready in the morning after about 8 hours of sleep.

Add salt and a little soya sauce to taste, at the end of the boiling.

It is also said that in case of poisoning (orally) and there being no other medical help available, pulverise some radishes for its juice. The juices from raw radishes also has the ability to counteract swallowed poison. Drink about 4 to 5 tablespoons or 1/3 glass of it.

Because of it's ability to counteract poison and medication, it is advised that we should not take radish right after taking medication or with other Chinese herbal preparations. Otherwise it would have just neutralised the good effects desired in the medication or herbs.

As we all know, radishes is critical in adding that extra oumph to traditional Chinese sour pork (trotter) dish with black vinegar. Personally, I find that it makes lamb or red meat soup or stew really great tasting with black pepper and some green herbs like parsley added.

Wikipedia writes that "Radishes are rich in ascorbic acid, folic acid, and potassium. They are a good source of vitamin B6, riboflavin, magnesium, copper, and calcium. One cup of sliced red radish bulbs provides approximately 20 calories, largely from carbohydrates."

It also said that, "the raw flesh with its crisp texture and pungent, peppery flavor, caused by glucosinolates and the enzyme myrosinase which combine when chewed to form allyl isothiocyanates, also present in mustard, horseradish, and wasabi."

The radish is a close relative to the mustard plant. It is used widely in salads too. Health Recipes dot com (http://www.healthrecipes.com/radishes.htm) shared that, "ordinary radishes are a great source of vitamin C and are rich in minerals like sulphur, iron, and iodine. Daikon is even better, a source of vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and folate as well as sulphur, iron, and iodine."

"Radishes can be added to vegetable juice to spice up the flavor a little. In this form, they can help clear your sinus cavities and soothe your sore throat. The vitamin C in radishes is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and has been shown to have a positive effect on asthma symptoms because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Potassium can help lower your risk of kidney stones and strokes, and radishes along a diet high in other fruits and vegetables can significantly lower your risk of multiple sclerosis."

"Besides, the earthy-spicy flavor of radish, unlike any other vegetable, can bring out unexpected flavors in your meals. With no drawbacks, what’s not to like?"

Yes indeed! What is there not to like about radish!

:) Have a great week ahead!

Of Apples and Vinegar

2010-05-06T01:15:00.000-07:00

I used to consume apple cider vinegar religiously, at least once a day a few years back. Somehow I think I forgot all about it at one point and never got back to it.

Strangely, a few days ago I got thinking about apples and vinegar out of the blue and started doing some reading on the net about them. That of course reminded me of the bottle of apple cider vinegar that is still in my larder! I forgot how nice it taste with some honey and lemon!

I am now back to taking Bragg's apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon) with High Dessert's Clover Honey (1 to 2 tablespoon) with a drop or two of Young Living's lemon essential oil - a very potent and detoxifying concoction twice a day. It not only gives me a real pick up in energy but also helps with my immune system and digestion. I have read before that apple cider vinegar helps to return our internal system to a more alkaline state which is how a healthy body should be.

Apparently Hippocrates, The Father of Medicine, used it extensively (400BC) encouraging people to consume apple cider vinegar and honey. Vinegar was already in use in treatment as far back as the Babylonians of 5,000 BC, or more. The Samurai warriors used it for strength and health.

There are many information about its uses. I will list here some interesting websites that you might like to read further from.

A quick summary of its health benefits include:
* lowering bad cholesterol and blood pressure
* keeping control of sugar level in diabetics
* eliminates fatigue
* home remedy for sorethroat
* helps to keep allergies away
* treating dermatitis
* fight fungal and bacteria infections
* guards against cancer
* protect against aging of the cells and the mind
* helps in weight control
* help to relieve joint pains
* helps cats, dogs and horses in many of their arthritic conditions, keeping fleas away, shines their coats
and many more...

This site, http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/umeboshi_vinegar.htm, gives a good run down of the chemical chain of reaction in simple terms to understand why vinegar is such good stuffs.

One of my favourite sites, Buzzle.com has a good write up at http://www.buzzle.com/articles/health-benefits-apple-cider-vinegar.html. It says, "Apple cider vinegar is made from fresh ripe apples that are fermented and undergo a stringent process to create the final product. The vinegar contains a host of vitamins, beta-carotene, pectin and vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, chlorine, sulphur, iron, and fluorine." Now, with so much of goodness in apple cider vinegar, how can we ignore this "wonder vinegar"!

As the apple cider vinegar is easily available these days, consuming it is no big job. We don't need to plant an apple tree, wait for it to fruit, squash the fruit and ferment it! How easy can life gets these days?!

Do remember, though, that the best apple cider from the store would be those liquid that appears brownish tint with some cobweb-like substance floating in it.

Sources and sites to read:
1. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/health-benefits-apple-cider-vinegar.html
2. http://www.naturodoc.com/library/lifestyle/umeboshi_vinegar.htm
3. http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar.html
4. http://www.health.junkieyard.com/2009/05/22/is-the-apple-cider-vinegar-hype-backed-by-research/
(this site even gives you a link to make your own apple cider vinegar from scratch for the adventurous ones)
5. http://www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html
6. http://www.wellsphere.com/wellpage/apple-cider-vinegar-cholesterol (with info on how to use the apple cider and some articles on its uses)

Well, I wish everyone days filled with good health, joy and love! Ciao!

P/s - i just remembered, my mum used one or two tablespoon of vinegar into boiling water to scald peanuts and any nuts - apparently this was a tip she read from the newspaper sometime ago to get rid of some cholestrol contents especially in peanuts! How cool! Blanch, drain and remove from vinegar water, rinse and cook as normal. See ya!

Dinner Talk 24 April 2010

2010-04-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

I had a good and delicious dinner of the 'Hakka Lui Cha' cooked up by my mum and sis this evening. The Hakka Lui Cha is the perfect all in one dish with greens (choi sam, sweet basil or chinese basil, chinese parsley, long beans, salad greens) - all diced up with nuts, sesame, toufu and diced meat. The star of this dish is, of course, the blend of good Chinese tea (usually Oolong or Pu Erh), sesame, peanuts and herbs/greens that is pounded in the old days, but blended these days into a paste and made into tea soup. A rice bowl piled with the mixes of diced greens, nuts, toufu and meat is then served with hot tea soup poured into the bowl. For the vegetarian, it is perfectly fine to omit the meat.

Full of goodness of vitamins and proteins - a well balanced meal in one bowl!

As usual, during dinner mum was sharing on what has gone into the dish, bla, bla, bla.... and somehow launched into a variety of topics involving, what else, but FOOD! :)

Mental notes taken tonight include how to make yummy and believable 'meat' soup that is vegetarian (mock meat soup)! This involved using carrot, radishes, chinese turnips, corn and taugeh! All very healthy and nutritious ingredients in their own rights.
For chicken 'taste-alike' soup - boil carrot, turnip and taugeh together.
For beef 'taste-alike' soup - boil carrot, radishes and turnip.
Cool right? :)

Dinner was capped with dessert of taiwanese watermelon and sun melon, courtesy of W & D. So that puts more vitamins C into an already nutritious dinner!

While packing and storing the watermelon skins (see my piece on watermelon) my mum recollected how the watermelon skin (the tough green exterior plus the white soft parts) can be boiled with corn on hobs (corn still wrapped in its green-leaves exterior and including the cornsilk within) into a healing drink for diabetics. Apparently those with mild diabetic conditions have found cure by taking this simple concoction daily for a period of time.

After that last note, I thought I should quickly blog them while they are still fresh in my mind. So here it is dear friends. Have a good night!

Err...for no particular reasons, I am thinking of chocolate and carrot cakes right now! Or perhaps time to munch on that chocolate bar in the fridge ... decisions, decisions...!

Soothes with Pears

2010-04-23T07:11:00.000-07:00

Am in a mood for sharing tonight. So here goes my third entry for the day.

Ever found yourself preparing a nice Chinese dinner for the family or grilling that herbs marinated chicken for a candle light dinner for two, and yet you run out of ideas for a simple and yet great dessert?

Search no more. I have two suggestions! One, refer to my watermelon piece. Or, two, do something with pears.
This is a very versatile recipe, you can either double boil, slowcook it, or simmer in a pot.

Ingredients:
1. Pears. One pear serves two, split in half. Core or remove seeds. My favourite is to use Bosc Pears (the brown and slightly thick skinned pears). Or any other pears of your choice. However, Bosc pears when cooked has a beautiful aroma that is yummy in itself.
2. Winter melon sugar or rock sugar, or both. Sweetness to taste. I find that a medium sized piece of rock sugar (about 3" in diameter) and some 6 to 8 pieces of wintermelon sugar cooked in three bowls of water is just nice for my sweet bud.
3. a small pinch of tea leaves - you can use any good Chinese tea leaves, be it Oolong orTit Kuan Yin, and even Earl Grey.

Let's look at simmering this in a pot. Melt the rock sugar in a pot of water enough for two if you are cooking two half-pears. Stir in the winter melon sugar. Put in a small pinch of the tea leaves of your choice. Let this cook for a while or until the rock sugar is melted.

Add the half-pears into the sugar and tea water. Add another smaller pinch of tea leaves on top of the pears. Simmer at low for at least 45 mins.

You can serve this hot or cold. For a cold serving, simply remove from the fire and let it cool, before putting it into the fridge. But my preference is to serve warm. As with any food of medicinal/healing values, serving it warm is the best.

For double-boiling or slow-cooking, simple put in hot water and all the ingredients together. Cook for 1 and half to two hours if double boiling it. Whilst you can leave it longer if you choose to slow cook it. My favourite is to have it slowly cooked in a slow cooker for half a day, whilst I go about preparing the other dishes. Or take a nap.

You may alternatively add about half a dozen pieces of dried longan for the extra sweetness and taste. But i prefer it plain.

The pears cooked this way contributes yin energy, enhance complexion and regulate sputum in our body. This helps in dry and hot weather like now to move the phlegm from the lungs. Longans, if you use them, is tonic for the spleen and heart.

I have had this in a restaurant too, at a pretty expensive price per bowl. So I know this must be good stuff! Hehehe!

Well, enjoy and stay healthy.

wonder watermelon

2010-04-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Back to foodstuffs tonight. Don't you just wanna sink your teeth into this juciy thing?! Especially on a hot day like today!

This pink or sometimes yellow fleshed fruit is simply marvelous. It, not only, gives us the sweet juicy thirst-quencher of a fruit, but it also has many great uses.

The fruit is fully consumed in my family, not even the peel with its whitish juicy parts nor the seeds are wasted.

My mum make delicious 'leong sui' (cooling soup) by cutting out the whitish juicy parts and boiling them with wintermelon sugar. Sometimes with the green peel/skin too. Try it - it's really yummy. My old and wise neighbourhood aunty poh-poh (grandma) would dry the skin together with it's whitish flesh and pulverised them into powder that is great for relief of sore throats and mouth ulcers.

Other uses?

*To counteract summer heat, reduces fever in the body and promotes urination:
- eat the fruit!

*Clear lungs, lubricate intestines, quench thirts and aid digestion:
- eat the seeds! Chew them instead of spitting them all over.

*Treat diarrhea, dysentery, hypertension, toothaches:
- boil the roots and leaves for soup!

*Cure edema in the heart and kidney diseases:
- boil 60gm of fresh watermelon peel, or 30g of dried peel, in water and drink like tea!

*Quench thirst, and to cure cloudy urine in diabetics:
- boil 30gm of watermelon peel and wax gourd peel. Take as tea.

*Why is it so effective in combating heaty issues?
- watermelon induce heat in the pericardium (the membranous sac that covers the heart and the roots of major blood vessels) to travel to the stomach and small intestine, then to the bladder where the heat is excreted/expelled!

Oh, we forgot the seeds. Removed hygienically from the flesh with knife and spoon, rinse and dry, then toast it! It is kuachi! Without the chemical additives nor salt! Personally, I just like to chew on them with the flesh... a bit of crunch and a little nutty in flavour - yum!

* source: The Art of Long Life - Chinese Foods for Longevity by Henry C. Lu.

Tiger Trivia

2010-04-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

A tiger can only usually expect a one in twenty success rate when bringing down prey.
On average a tiger can eat up to 60 pounds of meat at one time.
After a feed, a tiger will usually bury the remaining animal carcass in an attempt to hide it from scavengers, and then exhume it for its next meal.
All tigers have a similar marking on their forehead, which resembles the Chinese symbol Wang, (King)
A tiger can go two to three days without eating.
A tiger can spend up to eighteen hours sleeping.
Tigers reach maturity and are ready for mating at the age of three.
Tiger cubs are blind at birth.
A tiger cub can gain 100 grams in weight per day.
Tiger cubs play fight with their siblings, which enables them to gain strength and speed.
The tail gives the tiger extra balance when running and is also used to communicate to other tigers.
The tendons in a tiger's leg are so strong that it has been known to remain standing after it has been shot dead.

tigers almost always attack from behind, a double sided mask had been shown to be effective in preventing attacks.
There were 8 subspecies of Tiger at the beginning of the 20th century. 3 are now extinct, leaving 5 existing subspecies.
tigers evolved in Asia.
It is estimated that they have roamed the earth for over 6 million years.
earliest fossil of tigers date back to between 1.5 to 2 million years ago.
Tiger are protected under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora) treaty. 158 countries have signed the treaty and agreed to abide by its terms, including those in which most tigers live.
They have been on the Endangered Species list since 1970.
We could lose the wild tiger in as little as five years time.
The tiger has only one predator...MAN!

Source:
1. http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0313003/Tigers/Tigers/Trivia.html
2. http://www.elvidge.com/users/jimbo/tigers/facts.htm
Picture:
- http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/print/2008/10/tiger_desert.jpg

HOT STATS.

2010-04-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

World's favourite animal

In a poll conducted by Animal Planet, the tiger was voted the world's favourite animal, narrowly beating the dog. More than 50,000 viewers from 73 countries voted in the poll.

Tigers received 21% of the vote,
dogs 20%,
dolphins 13%,
horses 10%,
lions 9%,
snakes 8%,
followed by elephants, chimpanzees, orangutans and whales.

Animal behaviourist Candy d'Sa, who worked with Animal Planet on the list, said: "We can relate to the tiger, as it is fierce and commanding on the outside, but noble and discerning on the inside".

Callum Rankine, international species officer at the World Wildlife Federation conservation charity, said the result gave him hope. "If people are voting tigers as their favourite animal, it means they recognise their importance, and hopefully the need to ensure their survival," he said.

BUT ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO ENSURE OUR FAVOURITE WILL NOT BE JUST A MUSEUM EXHIBIT IN THE FUTURE?

Text Source: wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger
Picture Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_73MI4VJObuo/SRVGBfzgRpI/AAAAAAAAAm4/dOWg2pVXo-Q/s400/tiger-cubs.jpg

No Tiger or any animal parts please!!!

2010-04-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

As we all know, many wildlife are now in danger of going the way of the dinosaurs. Bears, rhinoceros, whales, sharks, tigers and many more are joining the ranks of exotic animals sought for their skin, body parts, etc. It is our duty to create and promote the awareness of being a responsible citizen of the Earth, to ensure not just the survival of the planet but everything else that is on it, be it the water, air, forest or animals.

I hope to share with you and remind us all that we need to play our part in ensuring the survival of our natural and national treasure, the Malayan Tiger, which is only numbered at 500 in the wild now. This sub-species was only officially identified as unique to the Peninsular of Malaysia in 2004. Something for us to be proud of.

As in our culture, the faulty belief of the magical medicinal effects from tiger parts, has contributed highly to the dwindling numbers of this king of the forest. Not to mention the high price paid for tiger skin for ornamental purposes. Let's play our part and choose tiger parts-free products. Go natural, go herbs, which is in abundant and is sustainable!

Some interesting sites for you to read about the tigers and their plights are as follows:
1. http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/tigers/about_tigers/malayan_tiger/
2. http://www.tigersincrisis.com/trade_tigers.htm
3. http://www.21stcenturytiger.org/index.php?pg=1183113244

My kudos to the organisers of The Tiger blogfest:
• Planet of the Monyets (www.planetofthemonyets.blogspot.com )

Also checkout WWF Malaysia TX2 (www.tx2.my) website.

Gingerly does it .....

2010-04-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

As I was sharing with a friend recently of this ginger remedy for an upset tummy with a bit of runs, I reminded myself to put it down here too. So here it is. A simple and fast enough remedy with ginger as the main star.

On those nights or days when you find that whatever food we have eaten does not seem to agree with us, and is giving you some mild runs, as well as doubling you over in aches, try this:

1. Ginger - a generous portion of perhaps 2 inch by 2 inch or 3 by 3 of old ginger root that has been cleansed.

2. Next pound it in a mortar.

3. Squeeze the juice out into a glass

4. mix in a table spoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon juice.

5. Top up with a little water.

Now it is ready to be drank. From my experience, I get an almost immediate warmth of comfort radiating in my tummy. Followed by the tummy churning lesser and lesser.

I would of course advice everyone, as usual, to go see a doctor as the safest way to ensure you have not picked up more than what your tummy can hold in. I would also remind you that one should ensure proper hygiene in the preparation of such juice. Wash and scrub ginger, peel of skin if necessary, and run it through clean distilled water or hot water. Similarly utensils such as mortar used should be cleanse too with hot water before use.

Alternatively, the ginger root, lemon juice and honey can be quickly blended in a food processor too.

Ginger has been used in Chinese cooking for many purposes.

- It masks bad odour of meat and fish (ginger juice can be used to tenderise meat and remove meat odour too, in preparation of cooking)

- improve flavour with its aroma, and as well as

- being an indicator of poisonous factors in food. It turns black if poison is present. A common use of ginger is in cooking mushrooms - to ensure the fresh mushroom picked from forest ground is not poisonous. Imperial cooks for in China purportedly use either ginger or a silver needles to test for poison in the food before serving them to the Emperors in ancient days.

Ginger is considered a yang food that helps to stimulate the intestinal tract and promote digestion. The chinese also use boiled ginger water to induce perspiration which is considered good to fight and elevate the symptoms of the common cold and fever. Ginger cooked with chicken and Chinese wine is a staple for mothers in confinement after giving birth.

The humble ginger contains little amount of protein, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins B1, B2, C and other trace elements needed by our body.

Hold it! What's with the wrist?

2010-04-11T03:51:00.000-07:00

I am not sure if this would be useful. Apparently if you are in dire need to visit the restroom, and is caught in a jam, holding the wrist, ie the pulse point where doctors take your pulse, will keep the tummy aches a-bay. That is until you get to a proper place of depository! My dad swore by it. Hehehe! I think holding the wrist would certainly look more dignified than doubling over in pain, especially in a public place!

According to this website, http://www.travelband.com/morning-sickness.htm, which is selling wrist bands for ladies, pressure on the pulse point (wrist, nei kuan) keeps morning sickness away for the expecting ladies.

The above picture showing pressure points on the hand related to the relief of pain is interesting too. This is from the website of American Acupuncture. (http://www.americanacupuncture.com/ear_ac.htm#meridian_images).

About.com also shared a series of interesting taps on the body's meridian points, including that of the wrists', that you can try at home for the release of unwanted and negative emotions. Check it out at http://healing.about.com/od/esoanat_meridians/ss/mtt-steps_8.htm.

Do share your feedback if you decided to try any of the above. As usual,do read our words on waiver of liabilities of anything that you might decide to undertake from what is shared here - blog dated Tues, Mar 16, 2010. ;)

FOOD for THOUGHTS?

2010-04-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

We have shared remedies and tips on food that would help us strengthen the physical body so far. Has anyone given any thought to the maladies/ailments that we are prone to suffer affecting our personality, minds and psyche?

I could name a few of such symptoms - low self esteem, anger, hatred, judgmental, feeling victimised, feeling sorry for ourselves, be a martyr blindly, feeling absolutely superior of self to the effect of seeing others as minions to do our bidding, and many more. Perhaps, we feel that we are right, whilst the whole family, community and world is at war with us. Feeling sorry for ourselves and blaming everyone around us for our financial situation, for that hard-to-find-someone to love and share lour life with, or perhaps going no where with our careers? Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

I believe strongly that as the physical body need the proper food to upkeep and heal itself, so do our mind and psyche. So what shall we consume? Any natural remedies?

Hmm... to me, nothing is more natural than having a really look good look into our selves. A generous dose honesty and bravery is required. In my experience, having the courage of honesty in spirit, in thoughts, in words, in conduct is a massive step forward for me to look at myself and truly understand where i came from and where i intend to head to. Am i embodying the right philosophy and psychology of mind and soul to make the right choices in thoughts, words and actions?

I would ask myself, am I choosing to wallow in the negativity or is there a better way out? is my current state of mind going in circle and wallowing in negative thoughts? This will only serve to take me into a downward spiral. Now, how do i make that first step to go up an upward spiral instead? Perhaps see and understand situations, people and such from a different perspective, with larger all-inclusive lenses? Do I have my set of belief system that is stopping me from understanding other situations and people better? Would I harm myself or others by seeing and understanding things from another perspective? Will I grow positively as a person?

I find that these questions and more have certainly brought about great leaps in the way I am able to see and understand myself, others and the world around me. This has certainly helped to make me see life as the greatest adventure I could ever embark on. Now I ask myself, do I want to have positive experience or do i want to 'go to hell,' literally?

Every experience and moment has been hugely and positively different since I am learning to see and appreciate things in new ways. I found out that there is no short-cuts. No spectacles to wear, no books to read, no garment to put on to have that 'better wisdom' instantly. A lot of hard work in evaluating and understanding myself, watching my own thoughts, words and actions. Hard work yes, but darn exciting too! The light at the end of the tunnel? Well maybe not yet in sight but i could at least feel the glow in my heart that comes from that light!

I am further encouraged that eventually how I think and perceive affects the world I create around me. I am certainly going to create wonderful, joyful, positively great experiences.... that is for sure.

My lecturer once asked, "What would I want to be written on my tombstone?" - knowing this will definitely make our destination and journey clearer... I am still writing mine. How about yours?

of common herbs and spice ...

2010-04-05T22:24:00.000-07:00

The following entry came from Weisuan too, however the original source or author of the compilation is unknown. There's some interesting stuffs in there for all.

Do have a read please ...

Kitchen Cabinet Cures

When I’m feeling ill, the last thing I want to do is drag myself out of bed to get to the nearest pharmacy. Besides the fact that medicine can get pricey, sometimes it makes me feel even sicker. When battling nausea, the chalky taste and artificial pink colour of Pepto Bismol is enough to turn me green.

I was happy to learn that we don’t have to run to the store for solutions to our stress-induced headaches, skin problems, and embarrassing gastrointestinal “issues”. Instead, remedies for what ails us can be found in our kitchen cupboards.

Basil

Ingesting basil promotes healthy digestion and decreases gas. Though mint teas are touted for their stomach-healing properties, a cup of basil tea is an even better choice when big, hearty meals leave us feeling overly full and bloated. It has also been said to alleviate constipation and cramping. Some believe it has a calming affect, so add basil to your diet when feeling stressed or anxious.

Black Pepper

People have used black pepper, one of the most popular spices in the world, to treat everything from earaches to tooth decay, and it’s even been used to treat skin maladies. One example of this is putting black pepper on a cut (after cleaning the area, of course) to halt the bleeding and heal the cut. Those who do this swear that it’s the best method for minimizing scarring.

Ginger

That ginger is good for stomach issues is no surprise—after all, ginger ale is a common recommendation for soothing upset stomachs. A study done at Chiang Mai University in Thailand even found that ginger was a useful remedy for morning sickness among pregnant women in their first trimester. What’s less known is that ginger also helps alleviate inflammatory issues, such as arthritis and headaches. A study conducted by Danish researchers found that taking ginger at the beginning of a headache quickly stops the pain in its tracks by reducing the inflamed blood vessels. Ginger tea and ginger pills are available to buy, or you can try adding ginger root to your meals.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg in limited doses (too much can be toxic) has healing properties associated with nausea and vomiting, and it’s known as an aphrodisiac in India. It’s also sometimes used as a sleep aid by those who practice Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurvedic (which translates to “the science of life”) medicine is a practice borne out of India that offers a more holistic, natural approach to treatment. An Ayurvedic recipe for “bedtime milk” includes a pinch of ground nutmeg to ensure a restful night.

Garlic

Aside from being a delicious addition to just about every meal, garlic is a healing powerhouse. It can treat asthma and fever; it’s great for kidney function. It even prevents the common cold! A study at the Garlic Centre in the UK found that participants who took a garlic supplement every day were less likely to catch a cold than those who didn’t.

Cayenne

Cayenne pepper can add a kick to your chilli or ease your joint and muscle pains. Those suffering from arthritis, skin blisters, and back pain find comfort by adding dried cayenne powder to hot water, pouring the mixture on a towel, and applying the damp towel to the problem area. Its cardiovascular benefits are numerous, ranging from increased circulation to stopping nosebleeds. If a nosebleed comes on (or if you’re prone to them), try drinking a cup of hot water with a few shakes of cayenne pepper. It will take pressure off the haemorrhaging area and promote clotting to stop the blood loss.

Rosemary

Ancient Greeks believed that rosemary increased brain activity and memory. Its smell is thought to stimulate the senses, relieving stress and elevating energy levels. In essential oil form, it may even prompt hair growth. Rosemary is also great for curing headaches because it opens up constricted blood vessels. Try putting a dab of rosemary oil on your temples, or brew a cup of rosemary tea and drink it a few times a day.

Cinnamon

The addition of cinnamon to meals can lower their blood sugar impact on bodies by increasing insulin activity, making the spice a good choice for diabetics. Even those who don’t like the taste of cinnamon can reap its benefits by smelling its fragrance. Research suggests that just smelling cinnamon or chewing cinnamon gum can improve brain power and memory. A study at the Teikyo University Institute in Medical Mycology in Japan also linked cinnamon to a reduction in fungi that causes ailments such as athlete’s foot and yeast infections. Drinking cinnamon tea is also a useful cure for diarrhoea and runny noses.

Turmeric

This is considered a wonder spice among the alternative medicine community. When added to food or drink, or even applied to the skin in a mixture, it targets anaemia, diabetes, allergies, and skin and cardiovascular disorders. Within the past few years, turmeric’s role in reducing the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s has come under speculation. Research at the National University of Singapore suggests that turmeric strengthens brain function—elderly individuals who ate varying degrees of yellow curry (turmeric gives it the yellow flavour) were tested, and it was found that those who ate curry more often scored better on tests than those who hardly or never ate it. This also might explain why Alzheimer’s is so rare in India, where turmeric is quite popular.

Oregano

Oregano is not often thought of outside of Italian cuisine, but its medicinal properties are impressive. A tea mixed with the bold herb can cure all kinds of stomach issues, from flatulence and bloating to a dwindling appetite. The miracle tea can even affect throat problems, urinary issues, menstrual cycles, and it can be a substitute for Listerine. Those with cavities can apply the oil of oregano directly to the tooth to decrease pain, and it can alleviate skin disorders like eczema and dandruff.

Disclaimer

These herbs and spices are not cure-alls, and medical professionals should be consulted before attempting to use these to alleviate serious diseases. However, for those of us interested in alternative treatments, it might be worth a quick trip to our kitchen to see if the solutions to our problems can be found in our spice rack.

Cough and flu came a visiting...

2010-04-02T03:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! What did I invite to myself after that last article on home remedies coughs?!

Started the week with a nasty, dizzy, heavy headed and feeling-achy-everywhere kind of flu, right after I posted the previous article! Needless to say, my mum made the concoction shared in that article. It helped to keep the phlegm a bay i believed. But I guessed the virus that got to me is neither meek nor easily intimidated! I should take more of the concoction - this occurred to me, just! So while waiting for the a fresh batch to be ready I am sharing here my experience of the last few days.

It was a good thing I had my essential oils to help me in this war too. For my friends into Young Living Essential Oils, I especially would like to share today's posting with you. So listen up.... :)

I have been using the Thieves blend at night in my diffuser, usually mixed with a few drops of Peppermint or White Angelica. On the first few nights, I only rubbed two drops of Thieves into the sole of my feet when I go to bed.

However, yesterday when the flu developed into a terrible cough that kept me awake all night, I decided to be more adventurous. At 3 a.m., I concocted this mix when I coughed myself awake and felt that I had trouble breathing. It felt like the air that i sucked would not fill up my lungs properly. Not panicking, I first cleared my nasal passage by inhaling 2 drops of peppermint and a drop of Thieves rubbed into the palms of my hand and onto my chest. That was fantastic! Then I was inspired to use 5 drops of Thieves, 5 drops of peppermint and 2 drops of lemon in my diffuser. Double fantastic!!

Then I put my diffuser really close to inhale the essential oil mix i experimented with. Slowly I could feel my breathing easing and becoming more natural. In addition to rubbing Thieves on the soles of my feet, I also rubbed some on my chest. Needless to say I fell asleep soon after that and did not wake up till my alarm rang at 9 a.m.

I have been keeping up with Thieves on my chest every few hours, and lemon oil drops in my drinking water. :)

In addition to the use of essential oils, I have also been taking bee propolis, gamat extract and echinacea two to three times a day.

Of course, I had to nap throughout the day as I still felt weak, and needed more rest. As I woke up feeling hungry (yay! Good sign of a victory over the flu bug) just, I felt i needed a pick me up. Again, I turned to the essential oils. Another wave of inspiration washed over me as I put in 3 drops of Valor and 2 drops of Joy into the diffuser. Immediately I was awashed in the uplifting aroma of the oil mix! And I do mean immediately. That made me sit down and type this in before I forget, while gorging myself on some vegetarian and curry pau!

The hunger has reminded me again, how true the popular advice that one should, "feed the flu and starve the fever". My body feels like it has gone through a major battle and is famished. The heavy head has gone and seems like the cough and nasty phlegms has lessen tremendously too!

SO while I continue to feed my face with food (it's 5 p.m and dinner at 6 is just too far away...), I bid everyone a good and joyful evening!

Cheers!!!

p/s - the oil blends i mentioned are made up of the various mixes of fine therapeutic grade essential oils from Young Living Essential Oil.

Thieves is a blend of clove, cinnamon bark, rosemary, lemon, Eucalyptus Radiata.
Valor is from a mix of spruce, blue tansy, rosewood, frankincense.
Joy is made up of bergamot, lemon, palmarosa, ylang ylang, mandarin, rose, geranium, jasmine, rosewood, Roman chamomile.

These oils are achieved by means of accurate and specific proportions blending of the various single oils. The proportion of mixes are of course proprietary to Young Living. I believe I am unlikely to be able to come up with the exact scent and properties even if I have all the different ingredients and the recipe in front of me!

All I can say I have so much more to discover and learn about the natural healing properties of essential oils! And I can't wait to experiment more....
"Errr..... Ah Leng ah! Yeah, you in the GAGA tee and the watery, sniffling nose....want to be my lab rat ah?" Hehehehe......

Nasty coughs that refuse to go away.....

2010-03-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Looks like the season for the dreaded coughs is here, especially when extreme hot afternoons are followed by storms in the evenings, here in KL.

I wish to share two potent home remedies for the coughs that seems to linger on for weeks. These recipes are courtesy of my dear mum. (She has plenty of these nifty recipes - my wonderful source for future sharing!)

Numero uno:

Ingredients:
- 1 medium size peeled Onion,
- 5 to 8 pieces of peeled small onions,
- 5 to 8 stalks of Lemon Grass (the root part),
- an inch of Ginger (about the size of an average sized thumb) - crushed, with or without skin is fine (remember to wash thoroughly if with skin),
- dried mandarin peel ('chan pei' in Cantonese, can be purchased from any Chinese Medicine Hall, or home made too, like my mum's),
- 1 lou han kuo (arhat fruit, some call it the magic fruit, a brown and round dried fruit that can be purchased from any Chinese Medicine Halls) - break open the fruit to reveal it's seeds and sweet pulp within, use together with the hard brown shell.
- if you like to, you can also add a 1 to 2 cloves of garlic (but be warned that garlic has potent smell, however it's healing properties for the lungs is great)
- 5 to 6 bowls (average sized rice bowl) of water

Put the above ingredients into a pot and cook till the water boils. Let it simmer for approximately 2 hours. Alternatively, boil till you can smell the aroma of the ingredients filling the air, and the lou han kuo taste is brought out. You can also put the ingredients to cook in a slow cooker at night and it is ready to drink by morning. You will ultimately get sweet brown soup much like the mata kuching dessert colour. But with a more potent aroma!

You can drink it hot or cool down to room temperature. If you keep the remainder chilled, for the next day, then do heat it up again. Use gas or electricity heating please, instead of microwave. :)

There is no need to add sugar as the Lou Han Kuo has natural sweetness that also soothes the throat and it is also anti-phlegm. The fruit's natural sweetness is diabetic and hypoglycemic patients friendly. For the weight conscious please note that the fruit's sweetness has no calories too! The ingredients above, all have their own healing properties. I shall share the specifics at a later time. Do look out for it.

Should you find that you are feeling a lot of heat, you might like to exclude the ginger. The concoction works just as well.

Numero Due:

This remedy requires the lotus root (1 small section each time) and some small amount of rock sugar to improve the taste if you are particular... (get rock sugar from chinese medicinal halls, as the rock sugar meant for remedies is soothing and has better healing properties) - not white sugar -

You will need to clean the skin off the lotus root by scrapping with a knife's sharp side, lightly, to remove the dark layer. Then chop up the lotus root to reveal it's many holes within. Clean them well by running water through the hole to drain of any mud that might have been trapped within.

Next, grate the lotus root.

Put the grated lotus root into a bowl or deep plate, top with a little bit of rock sugar, and then steam it. You can steam it together when you cook rice (save power and fuel) or separately. This takes a minimum of 15 to 20 mnutes. There is no wrong to steam it longer too.

Once steamed the grated lotus root will appear greyish and with a consistency much like glue. Don't be put off by the appearance. I actually find it quite yummy. Of course if you are particular, then you might need some bit of water to consume this with. You can take it while it is warm or leave it to cool slightly.

It is good to make a fresh batch each time.

Many a hard-to-get-rid-of coughs have been banished by a few serving of this. Take it twice a day or three times if necessary. There is no harm in consuming this. You won't get OD-ed! Look at it as sweet lotus dessert! :-D

I have taken this and many of my friends and relatives have tried this too, with success. This remedy is especially good when the cough is phlegm-y.

Try this and share with us your experience please.

May your coughs be gone! :)

to microwave or not to microwave

2010-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Many of us rely on this modern technology for ease and time saving purposes. But we have also hear about the many effects of microwave on our food. So I like to thank my friend, Christine for sharing this story.

Please do use your own wisdom in reading and accepting anything shared here. :)

Christine's email goes like this:

MICROWAVE OVEN - Not the usual stories, please read
'Below is a science fair project that my granddaughter did for 2006. In it she took filtered water and divided it into two parts. The first part she heated to boiling in a pan on the stove, and the second part she heated to boiling in a microwave. Then after cooling she used the water to water two identical plants to see if there would be any difference in the growth between the normal boiled water and the water boiled in a microwave. She was thinking that the structure or energy of the water may be compromised by microwave. As it turned out, even she was amazed at the difference..)'

'I have known for years that the problem with microwaved anything is not the radiation people used to worry about, It's how it corrupts the DNA in the food so the body can not recognize it. So the body wraps it in fat cells to protect itself from the dead food or it eliminates it fast. Think of all the Mothers heating up milk in these 'Safe' appliances. What about the nurse in Canadathat warmed up blood for a transfusion patient and accidentally killed them when the blood went in dead. But the makers say it's safe. But proof is in the pictures of living plants dying.'

'FORENSIC RESEARCH DOCUMENT
Prepared by: William P. Koop
A.R.E.C. Research Operations
TO61-7R10/10-77F05
RELEASE PRIORITY: CLASS I ROO1a'

I am quite convinced of the experiment shared here but I am not so sure about the source of the experiment tho... anyone to enlighten me? :)
Perhaps someone could repeat the same experiment and share with us again?

copper Vs mozzies

2010-03-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

YES! You didn't see wrong! That is a picture of a nasty mozzie! Why mozzie? You thought this blog is all about herbs and stuffs...? Well, why not? If this is about exploring natural solutions to our problems.... :)

Received an email from a childhood friend of mine on the use of copper coins to eliminate mosquito larva. Thanks for sharing Yoke Chun!

Initially I had thought this a good tip to share. On second thought, I decided to do more fact finding (ie goggle-ing) to see if there are any effects that we are unaware of. My rational was, if it kills the larvae of mozzies, it could kill anything too in enough volume and quantity. I did find some not so environmentally friendly facts about copper in the process. As such, I leave it to you, dear readers, to discern for yourself if this works for you. I guess, if one is to to try this, we should keep in mind it's effects on the environment and also potential harm to small animals (pets) and even children. We could do it 'responsibly'? Your call....

Here goes the mail which i received,

"Something useful…..."

"We cannot stop mosquitoes laying eggs in stagnant water e.g. in drains, ponds, water collected in waste pails, tanks, tins, used tyres etc. etc. Of course, if there are fishes inside the tanks/containers then there should not be any problem. Do you know that there is a very simple and economical way to destroy the mosquitoes' eggs thereby not letting them hatch into larvae. Very, very simple. Just put in a few 1 cent copper coins into the tanks/containers to solve all your problems with breeding mosquitoes. Because in accordance to Japanese Research Scientists, they found the mosquitoes eggs will be destroyed by a kind of mineral discharge from the copper."

"DON'T BELIEVE? Try it yourself and even the small snails also will not visit the containers (with copper coins) collected with stagnant water. You will observe that the water collected in the containers will be very clean and clear."

I have seen this being shared in some sites before. But, as i said earlier, my curiosity has the better of me. The following is what i dug up on copper.

The United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has some pretty good information on water contamination by copper. Copper is a common mineral found almost anywhere. Our body also require copper but in very minute traces. Naturally too much of anything will bring harm. You can read more at http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-contamination/copper-contaminants-removal-water.htm.

This site, http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cu.htm gave a pretty good run down of its effects, quoted here too for your ease of reading,

Effects

Long-term exposure to copper can cause irritation of the nose, mouth and eyes and it causes headaches, stomachaches, dizziness, vomiting and diarrhoea. Intentionally high uptakes of copper may cause liver and kidney damage and even death. Whether copper is carcinogenic has not been determined yet.

There are scientific articles that indicate a link between long-term exposure to high concentrations of copper and a decline in intelligence with young adolescents. Whether this should be of concern is a topic for further investigation.

Industrial exposure to copper fumes, dusts, or mists may result in metal fume fever with atrophic changes in nasal mucous membranes. Chronic copper poisoning results in Wilson’s Disease, characterized by a hepatic cirrhosis, brain damage, demyelination, renal disease, and copper deposition in the cornea.

The US state of Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resource has some good facts too. You can read more at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/dwg/copper.htm#health.

Pretty scary, right? But, fear not! Mosquitoes.org (http://www.mosquitoes.org/fpconst.html) - yes there is a site dedicated to these pest-on-wings - has some good recommendation for 'mosquito prevention' as they called it.

So if I were to try this, i will definitely take great care that the water with copper coins is inaccessible to pets, children and even wild birds who would sometimes stop by for a tete-a-tete in between their hunting or mating ...... I would suggest you be too!

Further note before I end this entry- I realised all households with water heaters do utilise copper pipes in some manner. Does this mean, we have to be careful of water from these pipes too? Well, i don't know. Perhaps any leaching will be in too small a trace to have any effect. But over time?

Hmm.... i wonder who can we turn to for better solutions? I can only say, use with care!

I was wondering if man can transport King Kong to New York, perhaps someone will discover how to tame a mozzie in the future? Mozzies for pets anyone?

Cheers!

Wai

p/s - YC - i hope this entry does not discourage you from sharing future tips. hehehe! I look forward to more from you and all my friends out there! Take care!

Essential oil & Lavender

2010-03-19T11:54:00.001-07:00

I have been an active user of essential oils for some time now. I am also very choosy of the grade of oil and its source.

An Aromatherapy Certification Intensive Course I attended a few years back by Mikael Zayat, changed my appreciation of essential oils forever. I realised then the great difference between pure therapeutic grade oil and most of the commercial stuffs sold out there. One thing for sure, we owe it to ourselves to know how pure the essential oil we use are. Find out how was the process of extraction (which can be usually one of the three ways for different raw materials - distillation, expression ie compression, or solvent extraction) and also the source of the raw materials for the oil (ie where the plants are farmed or harvested from).

Some people will ask further, if the plants harvested are genetically modified, or if any genetically modified organisms are used for pest control. We certainly don't want to use oil that has been derived from plants sprayed chemically or fertilised with hazardous stuffs.

The highest grade is referred to as therapeutic grade, which means they can be used to promote health in massages for example, on the skin, pure, diluted or diffused in the air. There are also food grade oil which means the oil from herbs and spice that can be taken or used in cooking or orally. Needless to say, I would advice anyone to choose only the highest grade for obvious health and safety reasons.

An easy way to realise or test the differences between pure and 'adulterated' essential oil is by trusting our own olfactory, the nose. Trust me, one sniff and you will realised the huge difference between pure or otherwise.

I have long since stayed away from anything labelled fragrant oil and scented oil with dilution in various chemically produced addition, trusting only pure therapeutic graded ones. So therefore, we owe it to ourselves to read the labels carefully and ask for information when in doubt.

Having said all the above, my reason for sharing now is to talk about Lavender oil. I find this one of the most handy and easy to use essential oil to aid healing especially. From my own experience, I have used lavender oil in spritzing a room (a few drops mixed into a water spray) to up-lift and chase away musty, moldy smell of stagnant air and carpets (especially in hotel rooms). Great to use in your ironing spray too for that real fresh scent on your clothes, towels and linens.

One of lavender oil's best use is for women, especially for premenstrual and menstrual cramps. I have seen it take effect with my sister who is proned to the cramps from time to time. A few drops pure therapeutic grade lavender oil onto a hot or warm moist towel, then applied to the region below the navel will do wonders.

Another way to apply the oil is in massages. I used a few drops of the pure lavender oil on the hand to rub into troubled areas of cramps and sprain. Headaches and neckaches are soothed just as well. The popular way of long ago was to put a few drops on the oil into hot water, then the vapour is inhaled. Nowadays, we use diffuser or a burner. Lavender oil has soothed many of my migrane days. Great to brew some lavender tea to help along too!

There have been stories of pure lavender oil helping to sooth minor burns, insect bites and even smoothening of scarred skin from lacerated and burn wounds.

A few drops in warm bath water does the trick to calm down a stressful body too. Soothing to babies as well.

There are a variety of lavender flowers available, from True Lavender to Spike Lavender and many more in between. However, there are no noticeable difference in the quality of oil produced from different varieties, though some folks do have their own preferences.

So if you must choose an essential oil for the first aid kit in your home, I would say, go for lavender.

Cheers!

p/s - i have used pure lavender oil by Mikael Zayat and from Young Living and have found them both most agreeable to my needs!

Interesting links -

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_oil

2. http://www.4dshift.com/products/html/articles.html#25

3. http://www.howtouseessentialoils.net/?s=lavender

4. http://www.youngliving.com.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83:lavender-essential-oil&catid=41:roknewspager-showcase&Itemid=166

2010-03-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

A minute to read and ponder...

While researching and reading through the variety of materials from the net, I came upon this story of Abraham ( http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/abraham_cherrix.html) of his and his family's fight for the right to reject modern medicine in treatment of cancer. I do hope you take some time to read through his story.

Abraham was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and after an initial chemotherapy treatment, he refused further treatment with it. When his parents supported his decision, they were accused of neglect and were taken to court. Although a ruling by a lower court decided against the parents, they won on appeal. (Yay!)

An update of his story is included in Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_v._Cherrix. He is apparently still battling his illness, his way. Let's share some good positive thoughts of support to him and his parents for doing what they believed in. I think they have shown great courage and strength for us to emulate and gain inspiration from. I wonder, what would I have done in his shoes? What would you have done? ...

Cinnamon & Honey

2010-03-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks Weisuan for this entry. I must credit all my friends, supporters and contributors for the wonderful ideas and contribution. :)

So ... looking at yr email, it was from Peishih. So thanks to her too and everyone before her... haha!

I have come to know about the wonders of cinnamon for quite a while now. My mum had her period of cinnamon-ing everything a few years back....coffee, tea, maggi mee soup, noodles, bread, anything she could think of then.... Haha!

As usual, I have attached links at the end of this page for your reading pleasure. There are much written about this king of spice, i recalled reading somewhere (though i know not where, now), that in ancient Egypt it is even more treasured than gold (it is a vital ingredient in the embalming process of the mummies)!

Many a myths were created in the ancient days as to where this wonder came from. Some myths borned out the ancient traders' overly furtile imagination, were intended to keep the traders' sources a secret and in order for them to charge very high prices on their cinnamon supplies!

It has certainly been the cause of many wars to gain control of the source of cinnamon especially in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and in the east such as the Malay archipelagos including Indonesia and Peninsular Malaysia in the 1600s to 1800s.

There are really several types of cinnamon. Most sought after is the true cinnamon, Cinnamomun zeylanicum, from Sri Lanka. True cinnamon is apparently the most precious variety. The ancient Chinese treasured this and called this "kwai pei" (in Cantonese). "Kayu manis" is its Malay name, while it is called "pattai" in Tamil.

In the present days, the commercially grown ones are usually a combination or of the cassia variety, Cinnamomun aroticum, or C. cassia. This has a stronger flavour, therefore requiring little less quantity for its effect in cooking and flavouring. Apparently this is a better choice for sweet recipes.

An interesting extract out of Wikipedia says, "Due to the presence of a moderately toxic component called coumarin, European health agencies have recently warned against consuming large amounts of cassia.^[18] This is contained in much lower dosages in Cinnamomum burmannii due to its low essential oil content. Coumarin is known to cause liver and kidney damage in high concentrations. True Ceylon cinnamon has negligible amounts of coumarin." So please be informed in the proper and liberal use of this spice.

It is with intention that I am leaving out the other subject highlighted today, Honey, which is also known as the Food of Gods, in ancient times. I will cover honey in another posting as it certainly warrant a highlight of its own. So watch out for it soon.

Back to the email as mentioned above. The email reads:

"Cinnamon and Honey ~ Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around."

"Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:"

"It is found that a mixture of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine or all kinds of diseases."

"Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases."

"Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:"

"HEART DISEASES:

Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who have already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat."

"Arthritis patients:

May take daily, morning, and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If Taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon of Honey and half teaspoon of cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain."

"BLADDER INFECTIONS:

Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it.. It destroys the germs in the bladder."

"CHOLESTEROL:

Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce The level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured.According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol."

"COLDS:

Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This Process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses."

"UPSET STOMACH:

Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root."

"GAS:

According to the studies done in India and Japan , it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas."

"IMMUNE SYSTEM:

Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases."

"INDIGESTION:

Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals."

"INFLUENZA:

A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' Which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu."

"LONGEVITY:

Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder And three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old."

"PIMPLES:

Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with Warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root."

"SKIN INFECTIONS:

Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections."

"WEIGHT LOSS:

Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet."

"CANCER:

Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three time s a day.."

"FATIGUE:

Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. When the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week."

"BAD BREATH:

People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day."

"HEARING LOSS:

Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restore hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!"

"ARTHRITIS:

In America and Canada , various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins."

Interesting links and sources of information:

1. http://homecooking.about.com/od/foodhistory/a/cinnamonhistory.htm

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamomum_aromaticum

4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamomum_burmannii

5. http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-cinnamon.html

6. Interestingly, HealthDiaries.com shared the problem of allergies from cinnamon. Do have a read at http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/allergy-to-cinnamon.html

7. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=68

8. http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/honeyandcinnamon.html

9. http://www.naturalnews.com/cinnamon.html

2010-03-17T01:34:00.000-07:00

Parsley or Petroselinum crispum.

One of my favourite songs from Simon and Garfunkel, Scarbourough Fair with it's lyric going, "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme..." famously named the four most popular herbs used.

My favourites too! Especially, for making the one-pot wonder, the stew, either with meat or vegetarian with lots of onions, garlic, mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and peas! And don't forget the herbs ...all four please. I normally use the dried herbs to stew with, and add fresh parsley just as the whole dish is cooked or right before serving.

Wonderful with either bread or rice - a truly versatile dish! I can also cook it spicy with some chilly and paprika. Cook it with safron and some curry powder, it turns into a very eastern dish! Truly handy when you have that potluck to go to but so little time to prepare. Great to whip up in a short time after a long and tiring day at work. Let the whole thing cook while you take a refreshing soak in the tub!

Anyway, what prompted this is the few similar emails i have received recently on the wonders of parsley.

The email reads,

"Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments."

"How are we going to do this? It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley and wash it clean."

"Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool."

"Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination. Also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before."

"Parsley is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!"

This has prompted me to google "parsley" to find out more about what it really is. Loads of information as usual. Reading from the many websites, I do not doubt what is suggested by the email above.

Aside from what was described in the email i received, the parsley is known through time for its many properties to cure digestive disorder, bronchitis, and as general tonic. It was also used together with other ingredients to relieve kidney and bladder stones.

I got more curious when a friend asked me about the differences in parsley and chinese parsley. representatively, parsley is as in the picture above with a its smaller curlier leaves. The leaves are also more compact. The chinese parsley, on the other hand, is the other bunch with bigger leaves. There is a distinct difference between the two, in texture and in flavour. Texture wise, parsley is bite-ier (in lack of a word i can think of) but less 'pungent' as some people describes it. I love the taste and don't mind loads of it.

Chinese parsley is definitely stronger in taste and goes well with soup or meat and potato dishes. It is also known as coriander leaves or cilantro (aha!).

Another interesting fact is that corianders are the fruits harvested from mature plants. Apparently, plants are grown differently for its leaves and fruits.

The parsley interestingly has come from a rather unglamorous beginning in the days of the ancient Greek, when the herb was sprinkled on corpses to mask the smell. These days it is considered as rather 'pedestrian' as described by www.theepicentre.com, relegated to being garnishing and such.

However, i absolutely enjoy the simple parsley in every way. A simple way to dress up some plain rice is to add freshly chopped parsley into freshly cooked rice, with a little fried garlic and oil to boot. Quite 'glam' if I may add, to one's buffet spread for parties.

There are also interesting recipes and videos of cooking with parsley in Answers.com. Do have a peek.

Storage:

I found storing this a tad difficult, as the leaves wilt all too easily. However, it does keep longer either freshly cut n put into a jar of water, or cleaned, washed and dried before keeping the leaves in its stalks wrapped in paper towel in the fridge.

Links:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parsley

2. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-cilantro.htm

3. http://www.answers.com/topic/parsley

4. http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/parsley.html

2010-03-17T00:33:00.000-07:00

Curry Leaves

Wikipedia says that it is also popularly known as Sweet Neem Leaves or Helichrysum italicum.

I love the leaves fried, popularly used in adding that dash of aroma to dishes such as spicy or butter prawns in Malaysia. Each crunch finds a release of the wonderful aroma in one's mouth, and marry that with the rice ... yumm... it really makes every mouthful a real treat indeed.

However, I am warned that commercially grown curry leaves are rather lethal in that they are sprayed with loads of insecticides due to the nature of the curry leaves plant being easily attacked by bugs, ants and what have you's.

So do wash the ones bought from the market properly. Most homes in Malaysia will have a plant or two, especially when curry is such a staple to us all!

What I have been told about the curry leaves which I find most interesting, is it's apparently curative nature for diabetic wounds. It is claimed that a healthy bunch of the leaves, perhaps as much as one can hold on one hand, when boiled in a medium sized kettle or pot of plain water, and taken daily will help a person with difficult-to-heal diabetic wounds to heal. I have not seen this at work with my own eyes, but some folks i know swear by it. Apparently, taking the water helps the wound to dry up and heal, instead of the open sores and such progressing further.

The boiled water is simply taken as drinking water. Of course I think it would be best to make new batch daily. My apologies for the lack of measurement as to how much of the leaves and water, but it seems there is really no real harm to take this as long as it is required, for the wounds to heal. Having said that, the leaves do have laxative effect too.

As with anything, I always believe in having the wisdom of moderation, when in doubt.

There are many more interesting properties of the curry leaves. As one of the links below has suggested, taking 10 fresh mature curry leaves a day for 3 months will help to prevent hereditary diabetes from manifesting. Some curry leaves daily is claimed to help keep the grey hair at bay and many more...

I shall not duplicate the information when you can glean them from the links posted below. I did find out that information about the humble curry leaves out there is endless. Another of nature's wonder packed into such a tiny packaging.

Interesting facts:

Buzzle.com explains that, the curry leaf contains : 2.6% oil, beta-caryophyllene, beta-gurjenene, beta-elemene, beta-phellandrene, beta-thujene, alpha-selinene, beta-bisabolene, beta-transocimene and beta-cadinene.

Seems like a lot of goodness in such small leaves.

Storage:

The best way to keep store-bought leaves longer is to ensure the leaves are washed and dried properly before laying the leaves onto kitchen papertowels and stored in an opened container in the fridge. It can be frozen too but usually, frozen leaves appears transparent and brittle. So i prefer to have it in the fridge instead, where the leaves will be further dried and able to be kept longer.

Interesting links:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry_Tree

2. http://www.citras.com.my/community/mvalue/curryleaves.html

3. http://healthy-lifestyle.most-effective-solution.com/2007/04/29/the-curry-leaf-magic-in-the-kariveppillai/

4. http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/8-16-2004-57909.asp

2010-03-16T22:18:00.000-07:00

Statement of waiver of responsibilities and liabilities.

Please read this post first.

I am pleased to share, here, information regarding herbs, natural remedies and other stuffs that interest me, such as food, cooking and more food.

For starters, i shall share here information i have gathered from the net as well as from the wise folks around me about the use of herbs and natural remedies. By the latter I refer to my family members and friends who has been swapping and sharing old wives' remedies since I can remember. Many of these remedies would be lost forever as no one has really written them down.

Waiver of responsibilities and liabilities:

I must add here that the natural remedies shared here are merely transcribed from what i hear and received information on. It is certainly not flawless. Nor do i claimed them to be scientifically nor medically tested.

I do not claim these to be replacement of proper medical aid and attention. I believe anyone with any ill health and diseases should always seek proper medical advice, attention, care and aid.

However, should anyone choose to try natural remedies instead of regular medical aid and care, or to combine both, it shall be entirely out of the person's own free will and choice to do so. I would advice that choosing natural remedies over regular medical care and medication, one should be wise enough to find out and know sufficient and proper information regarding his/her choice(s), including the various risks at hand of stopping regular medical aid and care for their condition(s) and illnesses. One should also find out and be aware of possibilities of allergies one has to various herbs or properties of herbs to avoid further complications.

Do discuss and talk to your medical doctor/physician about your plans to try natural remedies.

I waive all responsibilities and liabilities resulting from anyone's use of his/her own free will to choose and try alternative natural remedies suggested here. I shall not be responsible for any outcome whatsoever that follows the use of natural and alternative remedies shared here. I am merely sharing them here as information for everyone's knowledge, hence please use your wise discretion and judgment for any of your decisions to try the remedies.

I do not claim that all information presented here are 100% accurate. Please do research and discern appropriately.

By the way, I also disclaim all responsibilities on food that didn't come out right if anyone should follow my cooking tips too! And, if one gets indigestion or food poisoning from consuming the food from these recipes, please point the finger at the hygiene factors of your food preparation, and freshness of your ingredients too! I was not there to have a hand in it's preparation. ;)

Sharing:

I also encourage readers to write in and share their stuffs on natural remedies and herbs too. Should you discover a link with good and reliable information on herbs and such, do share too.

Links and such:

In addition to the remedies I get from my sources, I will also post useful and interesting links to sites with information on herbs and natural remedies. Should you be the owner of the links I have posted and that you wish not to have link to your website(s) included here, please drop me a note. I shall take the link(s) off this blog.

It is also assumed that links and pictures I used here are free for such purpose as they are sourced from public domains. Do drop me a line to take off any pictures and information that may have been erroneously included here, and i shall gladly take them off this blog.

Lastly....

My objective in writing and sharing this blog is to share and discover together with my readers the wonderful healing power of nature, that which Mother Earth blesses us with but is slowly being forgotten over time. This, I believe is one way of getting to know one of the many properties of abundance bestowed upon us by nature, ie of nature's own curative and healing potentials. Hopefully we will learn to appreciate Mother Nature much better and to regard her gifts with gratitude.

I hope everyone will enjoy this learning process with me! :)

Enjoy!