A Happy New Year to you all!
Are we all set with our New Year resolutions?
That’s what I thought.
For those of you who strive for unattainable goals, try downsizing. Make them incremental and more realistic.
Exercise more? Fine, but do not start training for the X Games or a marathon.
Diet? Great, but follow a simple plan such as the Mediterranean diet, or by slowly adding one vegetable to your plate as you reduce the red meat or potatoes.
Moderation works very well. You can see results and that can give you the confidence to continue.
That is all the advice I intend to give on that subject.
Personally I resolved to stop making resolutions. So far, so good.
Tackling cholesterol
and ear wax naturally
Prime readers have posed the following questions to Jonathan:
Dear Jonathan,
I need to get my cholesterol down and do not want to use statin drugs because of the side effects. Are there any natural ways to accomplish this?
Ron
Dear Ron,
Mother Nature has given us several ways to lower our cholesterol naturally. Many of our customers have the problem of being sensitive to statins. Red yeast rice is a naturally occurring statin, much more mild than a prescription and better tolerate.
There are a very small number of people who are so sensitive even red yeast rice bothers them, but as I said, very few people. I would try that first.
If you find you cannot use the red yeast rice, then Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) has been found to be helpful. It helps stimulate the flow of bile thus helping to emulsify fats, and is a liver cleanser.
Artichoke (Cynara scolymus ) is another choleretic, helping to lower concentrations of fats,cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood. Dandelion root (Taraxacum offininalis), Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Schisandra ( Schisandra chinensis) are also suggested as enhancing agents.
Policosanol is a waxy substance derived from sugar cane that can lower levels of LDLs ( the bad cholesterol).
Guggul, a resin from the Guggul tree (Commiphora mukul) is an Ayurvedic herb with a long history. It helps with lowering triglycerides, LDL,and raising HDL (the good cholesterol).
One thing that always makes me smile is everyone gets their cholesterol checked in January. This is right after the holidays – when we are not really watching our diet and eating everything put before us. Additionally, our cholesterol traditionally goes up in the colder weather. If you see that sudden spike, don’t panic. Get back to a regular diet, watch the fats and sweets, and get it checked in the spring when the warmer weather returns.
Dear Jonathan,
I suffer from excess earwax. I have heard about ear candles. Do you have any thoughts or information on them? Do they really work?
Alan
Dear Alan,
Every official site says it is a hoax. But... I have had ear candling done, and have a large number of customers who swear by them.
Ear candling dates back centuries. Records show Egyptians, Chinese, Persians and Hopi Indians all practiced candling.
The candle consists of fabric and wax formed into a hollow tube. The theory, as I understand it, works similar to a chimney. Lighting one end and inserting into the ear canal causes a flue effect, softening the wax and drawing it up into the candle.
Officials have said the residue found in the candle is just the remains of the burnt material.
I think their testing was a bit flawed.
From experience and talking with others you may find some residue from burning, but then there is other “stuff” that definitely did not come from the candle. I just had a customer come in to tell me of her doctor telling her ear candling did not work. She convinced him to try it and he did. Guess who became a believer?
There are many videos on youtube showing how to do candling. We offer directions here at the Herbarium for safe candling using a barrier between you and the flame.
I must say, once you have experienced ear candling you will become a believer also.
You know when someone says if they had the chance to meet a famous person in history they would want to meet George Washington, or Jesus?
I want to meet the guy who came up with ear candling.
Or the first to eat a pomegranate. What was going through their mind to try it?
— Jonathan
Send questions on botanical remedies to: Natures Rx: Jonathan Evans at Herbarium258@gmail.com, or by regular mail to: The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA. 01013. If requesting additional info, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
