Number Five ©August, 2000 ••••••• Don Harthcock, Editor
OpinionSoup may contain language and topics unsuitable for children.
"Imagine all the people living life in peace." ~John Lennon
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LAZINESS - "Just give me something for it." |
PLUMS - Dried-up Plums and Senators become Prunes. |
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QUININE - "Another gin-and-tonic, please; and speak up!" |
RED RASPBERRY - Red? Yes. Berry? No. |
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SELENIUM - It may raise your sperm count, if you are male. |
TOMATO - lowers your chances of getting prostate cancer |
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UMEBOSHI - beloved of Japanese old ladies |
VALERIAN - your herbal alternative to Valium, Halcion and Xanax |
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WATER - There is no substitute! |
YARROW - Stop that razor cut, and throw the I Ching. |
None of the statements made in this publication have been evaluated by the FDA, nor is that likely ever to happen. This publication is not meant to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Since this publication is not intended to be diagnostic or prescriptive, the authors assume no responsibility for any adverse reactions resulting from the use of any information contained in it.
Personal from Donny
I'm thinking of laziness in taking proper care of oneself, but first, let's talk about Laziness in general.
There's no such thing as A LAZY PERSON. A truly lazy person, all life functions being normal, would never even make it through potty training. In my opinion, it's not possible to be completely lazy; everybody has at least one thing that cranks his or her tractor and motivates, to some degree. The deal is, lazy people are always doing something far less important than what we have told them to do.
Why doesn't my great-nephew make better grades? He's lazy! Actually, "lazy" teens are often displaying subdued but hostile reactions to having their lives managed.
Why is my sister overweight? Laziness! Actually, some adults are less able than teens to manage their compulsions.
Why is the liquor store out of Irish Crème? NOW we're in the area of actual laziness! They've got four cases in the back room!
This house is sort-of an eccentric jumble at the moment; are the Harthcocks lazy? No, we are not; far from it. Jonnie is not a well woman, we have too much stuff for this small house, and Donny is having too much fun doing the easy things, like writing books and newsletters.
Our house is not perfect, but laziness is not a factor; Jonnie's organizational and housekeeping skills are diminished, and I have other priorities. My sisters and nieces never accuse us of being lazy housekeepers; they just too-frequently (but gently) "remind" us that we "have too much stuff."
Some day soon, Jonnie and I plan either to host a record-breaking garage sale or to move into a larger house with many servants. In Florida, or Mexico. Maybe Costa Rica. Someplace where they speak Spanish and it's always warm. Texas, possibly.
Getting back on track until the next digression…all of us tend to pass judgment on other people's motivations, poking our noses into their business and branding "LAZY" on the hides of those who are disinterested in the things we think they ought to be doing. My point is, we are all guilty of selective laziness of one kind of another, a very subjective stockpot of opinion.
Poking my nose into everyone's business for a moment, let me say that there is one particular kind of laziness which most of us, young and old, have in common, and to me it is a most puzzling perversity: it is Health Laziness. Have overworked or overly ambitious doctors trained us to be Health Lazy?
In my experience, doctors seldom counsel their patients to make lifestyle changes; even diet recommendations are infrequent. Doctors don't want to piss their patients off and lose them, especially in small towns where they may interact on other levels, such as golf, religion and/or politics.
"Just give me something for it" is the request most often made of doctors, and they are quick to oblige, hurrying to the next customer; excuse me, "patient." Donny urges you to take charge of your own health care ("you lazy twit" implied).
I recently heard of a poll that was taken of the twenty-something age group, asking them to list the inventions, "new developments" or accomplishments they most hoped for, in the new millennium. In the top ten was the wish for "a pill that's good for everything."
Notice that the desire was not expressed as "an end to sickness, suffering, poverty and disease," lofty goals that imply hard work and dedication. Rather, the childlike wish was for a magic bullet, a device that resides in the ether of doctors' dreams.
Heaven On Earth, with no effort on our part; that's what we really want, isn't it? What a waste, to squander Life with such an attitude. Or so it seems to Donny. Of course, I am not in the loop of other people's private karmic journeys. I do know, however, that "Just give me something for it" is the irresponsible, juvenile attitude of those who spend their lives paddling along in very shallow water. And laziness.
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- Where have all the WILD Plums gone? Gone to pastures, every one.
This ubiquitous Prunus is a cousin of Cherries and Peaches. Delightfully edible Plums should not be confused with Sugarplums or Political Plums, although these two also can be found from California to the District of Columbia.
Medicinally, Plums are said to be good for the Liver; also good for those who suffer from diabetes. Plums contain Potassium, Silicon, and Vitamins A and C. They are a digestive aid as well as being delicious, but be aware that Plums are high in Oxalic Acid, which binds Calcium.
Some Plums, dried-up, become Prunes; the same is true of many members of Congress. Please vote for Term Limits.
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- Doctors don't prescribe it anymore; belly up to the bar!
This bitter alkaloid has been used to treat malaria, along with Quinidine. It is derived from the bark of various Cinchona plants (trees) of South America.
Quinine is also used to flavor tonic water and bitter lemon, commonly used at most bars. It has been very poorly tested, and it is suspected of causing birth defects. Pregnant women, therefore, should avoid it.
Jethro Kloss claimed that although Quinine cures malaria, it also causes deafness. Quinine does, in fact, lead to hearing loss; it is seldom prescribed these days.
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- The Raspberry does not lie; it did not name itself Raspberry.
A delicious berry and medicinal leaves make Rubus idaeus and R. strigosus valuable members of your herbal war chest. Raspberry Leaf Tea, astringent and high in Tannins, will control diarrhea (especially recommended for children), as will the berries themselves. Raspberries are used for rheumatic pain and indigestion. Raspberry Leaf Tea is also a good gargle for sore throats.
But wait! That's not all! Leaves of this worldwide bramble also contain Fragarine, wonderful for those who suffer from PMS, as it "tones" the uterus and eases cramping. Now, how much would you pay? (Does not come with free socket set or vegetable slicer.)
Raspberry Leaf Tea has been popular with pregnant European women for centuries, to prepare them for an easier labor. This anecdotal folklore spurred the British medical journal Lancet to study the herb. They found that Raspberry Leaf Tea does indeed act as a uterine relaxant, and that it is also loaded with Vitamins and Minerals. They further recommended it for morning sickness, as a preventative for miscarriages, and for maintaining a healthy uterus.
Raspberries, low in Sodium and high in Potassium, are not really berries. Like their cousins Blackberries, they are clusters of tiny drupes.
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- treats acne and raises sperm count. Are these things related?
Selenium is an antioxidant trace mineral that is vital to your good health, especially when it is combined with Vitamin E. Its principle function is to inhibit the oxidation of lipids (fats), thereby protecting the immune system; it prevents the formation of free radicals.
As an enabler or activator of glutathione, Selenium helps prevent cancer and immunodeficiencies. Naturopaths have used Selenium to treat arthritis, cataracts and poor vision. There are Selenium-sulfide shampoos which control dandruff. Selenium has been used to treat acne, and it may raise your sperm count.
Selenium and Vitamin E act synergistically to aid in the production of antibodies and to help maintain a healthy Heart and Liver. Selenium is found naturally in bran, broccoli, fish, organ meats, onions, tomatoes, tuna and wheat germ; you are advised that produce these days is not as high in Selenium as it used to be.
Selenium deficiency can lead to arthritis, heart disease or even cancer. If you take Selenium supplements, which is advisable, take them with Vitamin E, and vice-versa.
CAUTION: VERY LARGE DOSES OF SELENIUM MAY BE TOXIC, AND NOBODY NEEDS LARGE DOSES OF THIS MINERAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Donny is not a big fan of bureaucracies in general and government agencies particularly, so let me regale you with this recommendation from the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board, a recommendation which makes perfect sense to somebody, I'm sure. The USFNB says that Selenium toxicity may occur if you ingest 2,400 to 3,000 micrograms a day; therefore, under no circumstances should your total intake be more than 200 micrograms a day. We pay these guys very nice salaries; did you know that?
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- ANYBODY CAN GROW TOMATOES! Even YOU!
Vine-ripened Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), especially the ones you could eat right out of my back yard if you knew me really well, are heavenly...a gift from God and Native Americans. Tomatoes are called "vegetables" in the U.S. for tax purposes (this required a Supreme Court decision, believe it or don't), but everywhere else they're fruits (no offense, Butch). If you want to get really technical, Tomatoes are actually berries.
You just cannot make a better sandwich than a huge slice or two of vine-ripened Tomato with salt (limit intake), pepper and mayonnaise (pure fat) on good bread, with a thin slice of Bermuda, purple or Vidalia onion and, if you like it, a touch of tuna. If you're not Jewish, Moslem or Vegetarian, add two slices of bacon (not healthy).
If you're using a bagel, nix the mayo, onion and Tomato, add a slice of pineapple to the tuna and bacon, and you now have my award-winning sandwich from the Lender's Bagel recipe contest! By now, of course, it's no longer a Tomato sandwich.
Plant your young Tomato plants DEEP after stripping off their bottom-most leaves, in full sun (Tomatoes, being Nightshade plants, MUST have early-morning sun), with plenty of fertilizer (not too much nitrogen). Old cotton-gin trash and bone meal are excellent for fertilizing Tomatoes. Of course, Tomatoes must be staked, because they are vines (metal stakes are better than wood, and old nylon stockings are best to tie them off as they grow). Pinch out the suckers and top the vines after three levels of fruit have set.
Speaking of stakes, I have read in some "advice" books that a good use for old motor oil is to soak fence posts and stakes in it, to make them waterproof. That's good advice for your fence posts, but not for your stakes. Oil-soaked stakes will kill your plants.
Cut foliage away from the fruit and re-fertilize (side-dress) every three weeks. Water generously in the evening (Tomatoes grow at night), but not on the foliage. Be consistent with watering or the fruit may split or develop blossom-end rot. Use plenty of mulch, and cultivate (aerate) the soil every couple of weeks, heaping dirt up around the base of the plant. Tomato vines will develop roots wherever they touch the ground, and sometimes if they are just near the ground. "Decorate" your plants with silver and red Christmas balls and can-lids, to keep birds away.
If you live in an apartment, Tomatoes can be grown indoors in containers. I have had fresh Tomatoes year-round, this way. Of course you can buy Tomato plants only in the spring, but remember that suckers will root.
Perhaps as a result of her upbringing in Southeast Texas, my Jonnie believes that EVERYTHING should be refrigerated immediately - you would not BELIEVE what-all is in our refrigerators (we have two of them, and there's only the two of us). DO NOT KEEP YOUR FRESH TOMATOES IN THE REFRIGERATOR; they will almost immediately become less flavorful and less crisp. Don't store ANY tropical or sub-tropical fruits (Tomatoes, peppers, melons, avocados, citrus, eggplant, cucumbers, pineapples, etc.) in your refrigerator except bananas, and those only after they have completely ripened.
Tomatoes were known as "love apples" in the early days of the colonization of America. They were rumored to enhance virility, but this humorous myth arose from a mistranslation of the name from Latin (Mala oethopica, moor apple) to Italian (pomi di mori, moor apple) to French (pomme d'amour, love apple). Also, Tomatoes were once suspected of being poisonous, because Tomato is a member of the Nightshade Family. But Ben Franklin pronounced them Good, and it was so.
If you love various pasta delights with various Tomato sauces, you have to thank Marco Polo (who brought pasta from China) and los conquistadores (who brought Tomatoes from America). If tonight's Lycopene treat at your house is homemade Tomato sauce on your favorite pasta, don't forget their best friend, Mr. Garlic.
Tomatoes are a gift of the Aztec peoples (in Nahuatl Tomatl, transformed into Spanish Tomate), rich in Potassium, Lycopene and Vitamins A and C, con sabor tremendo! Eating cooked Tomatoes frequently may significantly lower a man's risk for Prostate cancer.
CAUTION: DON'T EAT TOMATO LEAVES OR VINES; THEY ARE POISONOUS. Do you mean to tell me...Yep; the fruits are edible, but the leaves and vines, which contain Solanine, are poisonous. That Nature! She's a pip, ain't she?
UMEBOSHI (Pickled Plum, Salt Plum)
- in Japan, as common as Pachinko machines
Prunus mume; in Japan, Umeboshi are almost as common as soy sauce and pachinko machines. They are well loved in the U.S. as well, among aficionados of Japanese cuisine.
As condiments, Umeboshi are partially sun-dried, immature Plums, fermented in salt and Perilla for a year. Umeboshi bind and eliminate Lactic Acid, a substance that is said to weaken the immune system. Additionally, Umeboshi increase hydrochloric acid levels, which may or may not be a good thing, depending upon the individual's digestive system.
Incidentally, one of several fundamental differences between Japanese and English is the method of pluralizing nouns. Whereas Americans say "one plum, two plums, three plums," etc., a literal translation from Japanese might read "plum, plum by twos, plum by threes." In English, the nouns change; in Japanese, the form of the numbers changes.
The kids I tutored in Japan always had trouble with this; they would say, "I have two textbook," etc. The information immediately preceding has nothing whatsoever to do with Umeboshi.
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- the Internationally Famous All-Heal!
Native to Eurasia, Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) helps soothe and calm nerves; it promotes restful sleep without narcotizing. Prescribed as a calmative and aid to sleep by herbalists for centuries, Valerian is often used in combination with Hops and Skullcap. Still very popular, Valerian was used by herbalists of ancient China, Egypt, Europe and India. In ancient Greece, Valerian was used for digestive and urinary problems; Native Americans used it for healing minor wounds.
Today, Valerian is your herbal alternative to Valium, Halcion and Xanax. Non-addictive Valerian, in normal doses, produces no known side effects except an occasional upset stomach.
Also used for back pain, Valerian smells bad and tastes awful, but it really, really works. Use the dried rhizomes for tea (you'll need lemon and honey), or take capsules. Do not boil Valerian root. Prolonged use of this herb or dosages that are too high can give you headaches, and opposite to its intended use, insomnia!
"Valerian" derives from Latin Valeo, meaning, "I am well." It is sometimes called All-Heal. Basis of standardization for Valerian is Valerianic Acid (0.8%).
Cats are attracted to Valerian. Strangely, so are rats (Valerian smells like dirty socks; go figure). Some Europeans use Valerian Root to bait rat traps, but you are warned to be mindful of the cat.
If you truly need an herbal aid to sleep and you find you cannot abide Valerian, try Lemon Balm (see there).
Valerian is approved as an over-the-counter drug in Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia.
Click here for Valerian on the Net.
CAUTION: YOU CAN TAKE TOO MUCH VALERIAN, CAUSING DELUSIONS, VOMITING AND MUSCLE SPASMS. START WITH SMALL DOSES. DO NOT TAKE VALERIAN IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREAST-FEEDING. IF YOU ARE A COFFEE ADDICT, CUT BACK; CAFFEINE WILL NEUTRALIZE VALERIAN.
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- "...as we grow older...we can't rely on thirst to tell us we need water." ~Dr. Bernard Jensen
H2O. Plain old Water is the most important nutrient to any and every living thing. Constipation and hard, dry stools are both signs of limited dehydration, which is a very common thing. Your body can become toxic if you don't drink enough Water.
Bernard Jensen, D.C., N.D., Ph.D., is one of the foremost proponents of holistic medicine, and here is what he had to say in the October, 1998, edition of Healthy & Natural Journal:
"We must understand there is no substitute for plain water. Coffee, tea and milk are not acceptable substitutes because they act as diuretics, causing more water to be eliminated than is taken in. This increases dehydration. Alcoholic beverages are especially dehydrating. Vegetable and fruit juices are good.
"Diseases favored by dehydration include asthma, allergies, stomach ulcers, bulimia, Alzheimer's, hiatal hernia, arthritis, adult-onset diabetes, kidney problems, high blood pressure and morning sickness due to pregnancy. There may be many others. Drinking two or three quarts of water daily (eight to twelve 8-oz. glasses) will often reduce or eliminate symptoms in these diseases.
"Thirst is produced in a brain center called the hypothalamus, (which) may become desensitized as we grow older; so we can't rely on thirst to tell us we need water."
Donny says, "Thanks, Bernie!"
What a guy! And what a magazine! For a FREE TRIAL ISSUE of Healthy & Natural Journal, call toll-free 888.349.4959.
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- plain, common, ordinary Yarrow: EXTRAORDINARY HERB!
photo courtesy Weed Science Society of America
A perennial Eurasian native, Achillea millefolium (also called Achillea and Milfoil) is common throughout the United States. Its stems have been used by Druids for divining weather and by the Chinese to throw the I Ching. In a future article, I think it would be useful to explore how such diverse "groups" of people as Druids and ancient Chinese could have arrived at the same level of understanding of this and other botanicals.
Fragrant Yarrow flowers are popular in potpourris. Native Americans and early colonists used it for digestive problems and as a wound-healing poultice. Yarrow gets its genus name from the legend that it was first used by Achilles' soldiers to stop bleeding. It was in fact put to the same use in the War Between the States, and it is used for this same purpose today.
Native Americans say it prevents baldness, and how can you argue with that? How many bald "Indians" do you know? Actual Indians (Ayurvedic physicians from India) use Yarrow Tea to break fevers.
Antiseptic Yarrow leaves are, in fact, used to stanch bleeding from minor cuts (better than toilet paper for shaving cuts). This antispasmodic, astringent herb has long been used for diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids and skin conditions. Flowers as tea are diuretic and are used to treat colds, fevers, flu, digestive and urinary problems, poor appetite and high blood pressure. Yarrow is anti-inflammatory and has been used (both as tea and as a poultice) to treat arthritis. Its antispasmodic oils give the additional benefit of calming.
The edible leaves, high in minerals and vitamins, can be finely chopped and added to salads.
Yarrow in your compost heap speeds decomposition. As a companion plant, it increases disease resistance of its neighbors. Similarly, Yarrow potentiates medicinal properties of other herbs. Yarrow is truly an Herb of Power.
Yarrow is approved as an over-the-counter drug in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
CAUTION: DO NOT USE YARROW IF YOU ARE PREGNANT.
OpinionSoup is published by Don Harthcock. OS#5 ©August, 2000, Don Harthcock & Brian McLeod. Reproduction of any part of this publication for commercial purposes is prohibited. Sharing with friends, taping to refrigerators or bulletin boards is cool.
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