Do It Now : Personal Growth

Are Your Medications Safe?

I know many of you are grateful for the medications that you take to keep you healthy, but now and then, I go on the rampage against drugs because I know of far too many cases very close to home where they have caused many more problems than they helped. And as I showed you in my blog of 11 aug 'What most people really die from', medications rank high in the main causes of death.

Drug companies make billions of dollars a year and work hard to push their products to doctors and pharmacists...and after all, it's just business. But in many regards, it's a big game in which the consumer...and many doctors...are simply kept in the dark about what some of these drugs really do.

If you choose to go the way of medicinal drugs, or feel you need them, why not find out just what you're taking, and make informed choices? I've copied a webpage address that has some information that might be of interest.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/09/27/fda-announces-20-dangerous-drugs-you-should-not-be-on.aspx?source=nl

P.S. Does it make you suspicious when your doctor pull medicine samples out of a draw, saying, 'try this'?
If he's not sure it works, why on earth is he testing it on you?

Reconnecting with the Real YOU

To live a meaningful life is to live truthfully…to be true to one’s own true nature. It’s that simple. Yet how many of us can really say we know our own true nature? That is what we live to discover and express. So what is this notion of truth? All the great spiritual teachers of the world speak of it, yet where do we find it?

 

The answer is, In Ourselves. Truth is, and always has been within us, but we must want to find it. How? Through our two guides: our emotions and our mind.

 

Messages in Your Emotions

 

As you go through life, you will hear many others (like me) tell you this or that about what is good, what is right or true. Much of what others want to teach you will be mistaken, and some of it will be true, offering the guidance you need for your personal and spiritual growth.

But what is wrong or mistaken can often make sense, whereas what is true is often hard to believe. Consider how many great mistakes, enormous evils or blunders have seemed to make sense at the time.

 

Clearly, our judgement is often faulty. Yet faulty judgement often is a result of ignoring the inner promptings of our heart (or soul). Our emotions are not 'something extra' in life...they are our guides, our teachers and our friends. They tell us when we are off track, completely lost, or headed in the right direction.

 

 If what others tell you is true or right, or a certain decision makes you feel bad about yourself or doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right for you, no matter how much others approve of it.

 

If you hear or read something that strikes a chord of ‘rightness’ within you, or if you feel a deep inner contentment or joy over a certain decision or situation, it is probably right for you.

 

If you feel lost, confused, directionless, take hope. It’s a sign that you are ready to grow.

In fact, overwhelming doubt, confusion and emptiness are very powerful messages that we ignore at our own peril. They arise directly from the soul to tell us that it's time to reassess our lives, our goals and our actions…or sometimes, just to ask for inner guidance and wait.

 

The Wise Mind

 

However, everyone who is even half awake knows that our emotions can lead us in the wrong direction. We've all followed our feelings at some time or other only to find ourselves deep in trouble or unhappier than ever. In fact, on their own, our emotions can lead us so far off the path that we decide never to trust our emotions again.

 

Don't blame your emotions for your mistakes. Blame your mind for not doing its job. You see, they are meant to work together. The great spiritual teachers tell us to listen to our hearts, but also to choose wisely >>>> Mind and Emotion.

 

The problem is that we learn over time to value one more highly than the other, to ignore or mistrust one. As children, we are often taught to ignore our emotions, in fact, to suppress or hide them. We are often also discouraged from thinking for ourselves. Well meaning adults do their utmost to mold our minds, to teach them HOW to think, WHAT to think, and that our thinking must conform to certain values or beliefs.

 

So from both ends, our two great guides are suppressed, constrained, twisted around…and we are disconnected from our natural inner wisdom. 

 

Your task is to get back in touch with the truth within you. To do that, dear friend, you need to make time to listen. 

 

Now and then throughout your day, especially when you are about to make a decision…even a small one such as what to have for lunch…take a deep breath, be still, put aside your thoughts, and ask your inner self: what do YOU have to tell me? Listen to what you heart tells you. Listen to what your inner mind has to say.

 

It may take time to get past the barriers that have arisen between your inner and outer self over your lifetime, but if you persist, the barriers will begin to melt, and you will be astonished to meet the wise, truthful spirit within you….that is always within you, and always will be.

 

P.S.  Why the butterfly? The butterfly is an ancient Greek symbol for the soul or psyche, which flies between our material selves and our spiritual selves.  That’s what you do every time you take time to listen to your inner self. Neat.

Sweet Medicine for the Heart

If you’ve been cutting back on chocolate to help reduce risk of heart disease or to lower your blood pressure, think again. Cocoa is actually very good for you. In fact, studies are showing that it can significantly lower blood pressure within a few hours.

How does it work? Natural cocoa is high in polyphenols which are high in antioxidants that stimulate the production of nitric oxide …sounds explosive, but actually, it relaxes the blood vessels!

But before you rush out to buy a box of cocoa or a bar of chocolate, heed this. Only good quality unprocessed cocoa is good for you. Processed cocoa is not, because the polyphenols and their antioxidants (whicy give cocoa its naturally bitter taste) have been processed out, and the trans fats and sugars that make up most  commercial cocoas and chocolates are definitely not good, and in fact, downright harmful!

Look for cocoa that is as pure as you can get, preferably organic, and dark, good quality chocolate with the highest percentage of cocoa (70% minimum). If it’s not slightly bitter, it’s probably not what you need. And don’t even try to pretend that milk chocolate is a good substitute. It’s not.

Anyway, bolstered by that edifying news about cocoa, I am prepared to give my heart a real treat. I bought a small block of dark (80% cocoa) chocolate, a litre of organic skim milk, and a precious tin of organic cocoa. The grandchildren are asleep, and I will shortly slip downstairs to take my ‘medicine’. Mmmmm.

The Best Spring Tonic of All

On the other side of the world, summer may be winding down, but here where I live, it's spring. And it came suddenly, after an unusually cold winter (for us spoiled inhabitants of the Gold Coast), and right on schedule. The sun is bright and golden, the air softly warm, and there are buds all through my little garden...buds on the tomato plants I put in just two weeks ago, on the mini capsicums, on my determined little lime tree and the lemon tree that has not given up despite many setbacks.

And just as I happily shed my winter sweaters and stockings, I am eager to shed this extra weight that kept me warm in cold weather. Not for vanity, as you might think, but to feel as light, carefree and energetic as one should be in the springtime. For some people, summer is the epitome of joy, but for me, it's spring. I want to burst out of my winter sanity and do wild things. I want to dig deep into the garden and associate with worms, to be silly with my grandchildren...

Years ago, I sort of came upon what I consider the best spring tonic of all...for my body, and I want to share it with you.

Every spring, I make myself a great pot of herb soup and that's basically all I eat for a whole day..sometimes two. What's in it? Anything green, hand picked, and preferably, grown without pesticides. When I lived in California, dandelions thrust up every spring and I'd pick them for my soup. I use dark lettuces, shallots, sage, parsley, cilantro, marjoram, tarragon, onion, garlic, nasturtium leaves and flowers...all the herbs and greens in my garden...whatever else I find, salt, and simmer it all for only 15 -30 minutes, blend it up and drink. breakfast, lunch dinner. 

If you find it too bitter, just add some organic vegetable stock or kelp stock.

We're not used to taking in bitter herbs, but they've been known for their powerful cleansing power for millenia, and once you get used to them, very refreshing. One day of this and your insides will cleaner, and you'll feel really good. If you need something more solid, add lots of vegetables to the soup...but lots of herbs. You might start with a couple of large bunches from your local organic market  then add different kinds of herbs every year as you get used to the idea.

But to receive the wonderful cleansing, tonic benefits, it's best to stay away from any animal products at all, including cheese...(for me, a huge sacrifice!) and avoid grains and cereals...and tea and coffee...(am I pushing it? It's worth it, really) ...and sugar. Two days of this and your clothes will feel looser , you'll have more energy because you've flushed out lots of toxins, accumulated waste and parasites, and  your eyes will be brighter.  Family will notice a new spring in your step.  Really.

Staying Mentally Young

I swear, if another person tells me that 'this is about the age your mind starts to go', I'll throw hot chocolate over them! I had a little car accident today because I forgot which lane of a roundabout I should have been in, and did I get a drubbing from friends about impending senility!

It's not age that makes me absent minded or forgetful...It's all those sweets I've been nibbling on lately, and not taking time to eat well or exercise.

Today after the accident, I picked up a combination of nature's brain tonics: Ginko, Brahmi and Ginseng. Will it make me three times smarter? I wish. But I know from experience that it'll boost my mental energy. And with the weather warming up, it will be easy to eat more raw veggies and cut out the sugar for a while. Last time I did that, I was like a new person...calmer, mentally sharper, and full of energy.

What I will not do is resign myself to a fuzzy-minded, confused, helpless old age. If octogenarians and centenarians in the Mediterranean and Okinawa can stay alert, active and happy, so can I.  I've got years yet to enjoy life and show my grandchildren how wonderful old age can be!

God's Pharmacy

A friend sent this to me.

 
It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish... all before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We're such slow learners...

God left us great clues as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing! 

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All o f the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility. 

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.