How to Handle Seasonal Food Cravings Without Going Crazy!

The idea for this post came when I got home from yoga class and I found myself craving, no needing more food than usual.


So really, a plate full of nachos told me to write this...  ;)

Handling Seasonal Craving Without Going Crazy WeightFreeWellness.com

When I thought about it... I distinctly noticed this feeling as... it's fall... it's time for warm, rich foods... like NOW!



I get it... I've been overweight and underweight in my life. I understand the struggle between what the body is craving and what the mind is reasonably (at first) trying to convince the body to do or feel... what it does or does not need.



In my Weight Free Wellness Programs I get into the meat and potatoes (Yum!) of tools for self-understanding, self-compassion and taking the weight off your own shoulders... which incidentally makes it much easier to lead a healthy life!



But for today, I'll share a few things that I've learned and have helped me over the years...




How to Handle those Fall and Winter Food Cravings:

Each Body-type has it's own unique challenges with Food during the Holidays...

• Did you know that the craving for sweet things is very natural? In times when food was scarce (an argument could be made that real food still is) that this craving would lead us to eat sweet, calorie-rich foods when available, to store energy for times of scarcity. Satiate this true craving by eating seasonal, naturally sweet root vegetables (beets, carrots, sweet potatoes) and squashes. When you give the body what it is really seeking, cravings for processed sweets decreases. Seek high quality, organic foods whenever possible, not only because of chemicals that are spared for the Earth and our bodies, but these vegetables are often more nutrient-rich; it is the nutrients that our bodies deeply desire too, not just the taste! If weight management is a concern, eat these sweet vegetables for the noon meal and have vegetable soup or my easy and delicious Egg Drop Soup which can be made in just 20 minutes!

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

• On a similar note, if you are not already, take a multi mineral and multivitamin supplement. When the body is getting the nutrients it needs, we have fewer cravings. Did you know that our body cues us to the nutritional needs we have by the flavors we crave? Fascinating!

• I know, here it is again... Yes, drink enough water! It's amazing how often hunger can be mistaken for what is really thirst!  Because I get asked so often... FYI- I drink Mountain Valley Spring water. 

• Certain Body-types react differently to this season change. Earth-types are ready to cook and bake, settle in for the long winter with a good book or projects and have the hardest time not indulging in the warm, unctuous foods so typical of this season. For them it is most helpful to keep dairy intake to a minimum (as if it's a condiment), eat modest proportions of the sweet vegetables named above, and opt for evening dishes that are mostly made of cooked vegetables with tasty culinary herbs. This not only helps with weight management, but to help prevent ailments that Earth-types are prone to. For more on how to help balance the Earth-type, see my book, You-niversal Self-care. Fire-types typically have very active metabolisms and the sweet veggies help to naturally calm their fire and satiate cravings for sweets. (Earth-types eat sweets by sneaking them into their mouths over time, Fire-types binge-eat sweets...) Air-types need to eat hearty foods more than others to help keep them grounded, balanced and naturally well-energized. While Air-types are notorious for being able to eat a lot and not gain a pound; eating predominantly processed foods depletes the Air-type of energy more than anything. They may feel an initial spike in energy, but they most often feel the crash at the end.

• There are so many things I could list, but I'm striving to keep it basic. Why not list the entire list? Well, because I've found that when you address core issues, the many other things are automatically taken care of. So, finally, rest. Get 6-8 hours of quality sleep. Turn off screens at least 1 hour before bed. Sleep a regular schedule. Don't eat at least 3 hours before bed. Avoid drinking alcohol or stimulants, late in the day especially. Notice if anything else you are doing is disturbing your sleep. If you're doing these things and it's still not working, I recommend seeing a professional. This is a topic worth expanding- I'll likely write more in the future.

Which Body-type 'are' you?

Taking the Free Body-type Assessment from my book is the perfect way to learn more. Get it here!

For more about Body-typing:

Check out my book You-niversal Self-care: Improved Health Through Self-Understanding
Get the FREE Ebook and Audiobook here!

Get my FREE Weight Free Wellness Cookbook! 
Links also in the upper right section of this site.


And! Check out my Events page for Free Holiday Wellness Q&A Webinars!

Last, but not least- as I say in many of my classes... Have compassion for yourself...

Tweet: Work WITH your body rather than working ON it!

If you found this helpful, please share this! Thanks!


Wishing you well-ness!

With Love,

Tara

Healing is an Inside Job

It's helpful to know:

The unknown feels like darkness at times

It is normal to not always know where to go

Make sure the 'insider' on this job is YOU helping YOU!

Healing does take work...

You're not alone!

It's worth it!

There are those who have walked the path and can help you along the way.

Just reach out - they can help you see in the dark!

Healing is an Inside Job - WeightFreeWellness.com

Tweet: Healing is an inside job!

What do you need? Part 2

What do you need?

Get unstuck

Create healthy habits

Feel good about yourself!

Live!

FREE helpful webinars here!

Watch this short video...

How to Use Your Stale Kale Chips

We all know that kale is super nutritious (and correspondingly very green-tasting).

Even though my hubby and I are quite health-conscious, we still have to dress kale up a bit...

Our favorite ways to enjoy kale is in the form of kale chips or semi-hidden in soup.

Kale chips are great for a while but one does finally get tired of them. I've tossed more packages of stale chips than I'd like to admit.

But when it comes to foods that I make, it's especially hard for me to see them go to waste.

Our favorite kale chips are those I make at home. I dehydrate them at a low temperature (about 105 degreed Fahrenheit) so they keep their health-promoting enzymes. I douse the torn pieces of kale in olive oil and then sprinkle the desired amount of garlic salt, mix well, spread on dehydrator screens and dehydrate overnight.


--- When faced with buying a store-bought brand my hubby likes the Kale Krunch by Alive & Radiant. Check out the flavors! ---

Ok, back to what I meant to write about... so what do you do (other than throwing them away) with stale(ish) kale chips? 


Toss them in your soup! That's right! No need to sauté kale, trying to get it to a palatable taste and texture, just toss in the chips and they will have great flavor and add a nice twist to things- especially veggie soup!

I did this the other day and just had to pass on the good news!

Enjoy!


PS... I dare you to tweet this! Confuse your friends ;)

Click to Tweet...


Go eat stale kale!

My 11+ Most Favorite Natural Remedies and Preventatives for the Cold & Flu Season

We call it preventing the "Cold & Flu" but let's be real... 

What we're really talking about is preventing or diminishing 

miserable symptoms and valuable time away from work, school and life!

In Weight Free Wellness I promote keeping things simple. This means supporting the body by giving it what it needs to do it's job. This includes water, rest, exercise, fresh food, to name the basics.

Sometimes... Let me rephrase... Oftentimes our body needs extra support to deal with all of the stressors we encounter, not to mention fending off this season's new bug!

Let's start with Prevention

Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches us that dark fruits and seeds support our vital force energy, directly affecting and improving our immune health.

This leads me to my first fav'...

#1     Elderberry Syrup

It's simple to make, tastes good and is a well-rounded recipe with ingredients to support the body. In the description in my Cookbook you'll get tips on how to source Elderberries and details on making and even gifting this highly valuable syrup!

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

Elderberry Syrup Recipe - Support the body - Prevent cold and flu
WeightFreeWellness.com

#2     Raindrop Remedy Formula

You know that achy feeling you get at the onset of a nasty bug? I started getting that a couple of days ago. I started taking the above remedies as well as rubbing my own mixture of several therapeutic essential oils on my feet and along my spine. The powerful therapeutic grade essential oils are naturally antibacterial and antiviral and help the body to have a strong defense. Additionally, if I feel the aches of the flu coming, I like to massage this oil along my spine at night. I feel much better the next morning!

How to make the Raindrop Formula:

I add the following *Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils to a 3 oz. bottle of massage oil: 4 drops of oregano, 4 drops of thyme, 4 drops of basil, 4 drops cypress, 4 drops of wintergreen, 8 drop of marjoram, 8 drops of Aroma Seiz, 8 drops of peppermint, 8 drops of Valor

Ordering one of each bottle will be enough oils to make at least 10 massage bottles of Raindrop mixture.

(Consult your physician or pharmacist for drug interactions and read instructions before using oils. Epileptics should not use wintergreen.)

*Anything other than therapeutic grade oils can be toxic.

Find the Raindrop Oils here.

#3     Oil-infused Handwashes, etc.

Another preventative I will mention is actually a group of products from the Young Living line brand of Therapeutic Essential Oil products.

Why the name Thieves?

The story goes that the recipe for Thieves combination of herbs was passed down from the time of the Black Plague- when a group of bandits where found to not only be looting dead bodies (not all that uncommon) but surviving The Plague! They were apprehended but the authorities struck a deal to let them free if they shared the recipe for the cause of their amazing immunity. Here it is in an essential oil combination, waterless hand sanitizer, foaming hand soap and a handful of new products. They are perfect for travel too!

Keep in purse, car, diaper bag or on your desk and counter
for natural protection during cold and flu season!
Available here

#4     Vitamin D

This is the form of Vitamin D that I like the best. The first time I took it I felt my body quickly revive with energy; not the caffeine-like energy, but a deeper energy like what you feel upon awakening from a deep, refreshing sleep. 

Consult your primary health practitioner to discuss the form and amount of vitamin D that may be right for you.

Nutri-Dyn Vitamin D3

#5     Zinc

I first learned the effectiveness of zinc when I had a severe cold. After taking a couple of doses I felt much stronger and have not had more than mild symptoms of Cold or Flu in the couple of years since. 

The cough drops in the image are also a simple and palatable way to get zinc and the benefits of elderberry. I use these only in a pinch as they are rather sugary. 

Consult a practitioner for proper dosage and usage of zinc. While supplements can be extremely helpful, misuse can cause imbalance among other things. Zinc needs to be taken with food- it easily upsets the stomach.

Trace Minerals Ionic Zinc

Zand Elderberry Zinc

#6     Mushrooms

Fungi are starting to get the recognition they deserve. I take this tincture nearly daily during Cold & Flu season. Unlike many herbs, these fungi can be taken on a daily basis. To make my supplementing regimen simple, I usually add some to my Elderberry syrup mixture. Check out the TED talk!

More information here.

But what do you do when you already have come down with something?  :(

All of the above will still help!

Here are some of my favorite remedies that address more specific conditions...

#7     Sinus Support

Could a sinus infection quite possibly be the worst of Cold & Flu symptoms?

I start taking this remedy up to 2 capsules 3 times per day at the onset of symptoms. Nipping sinus infections in the bud while they are sprouting is SUPER IMPORTANT! ALSO, yes, this is very important... eliminate sugar from your diet until you are 100% better. Especially if you are suffering from or are prone to very intense sinus infections, even orange juice can exacerbate such an issue.

This can be found at some local herb shops as it is sold by local distributors. You can also order online here. Enter Sinus Support in the search box below my photo.

I keep a couple of bottles of Sinus Support on hand. When it's needed, it's needed ASAP!
Available here.

#8     Breathe Again

Earth-types are very prone to having bronchial infections. What is an Earth-type?

Taking the Free Body-type Assessment from my book is the perfect way to learn more. Get it here!

When I feel even the slightest cough or congestion starting in my chest I apply this oil. It's been very affective for me, friends and family. I keep it in my purse at all times- you never know when someone may need it!

I started feeling chest congestion. Put this on. Went away that day!
Available here.

#9     Oscillococcinum Homeopathic Remedy

Homeopathic remedies are weak but very strong. They are energetic natural medicines that have been around since the early 19th century. If you would like to learn more, here is a helpful article about homeopathic remedies from Dr. Weil's website. I personally get better results from herbs than homeopathics, but I have seen many cases where homeopathic remedies have helped people greatly. To me, they are an energetic medicine. Keep them away from electronic devices and especially cellular phones. Tap a couple of times in the container before using... those are just a few tricks ;)

Available at many local stores and online. Search 

Boiron Oscillococcinum Natural Flu Relief

#10     Gypsy Cold Care

Elder is so good, Traditional Medicinals puts it in their remedies too! While this is very comforting to drink (especially with honey) when you have a cold, I use it also when it's just "cold & flu season" and when those around me are sniffling and sneezing. If you're new to these teas, try the Seasonal Sampler which includes the Gypsy Cold Care.

#11     Egg Drop Soup

Last but certainly not least...

We know that homemade chicken soup is THE classic remedy for those who are ailing, but few have the time to make it!

Here's a solution. My Egg Drop soup!

You still get the benefits of the warm, nourishing chicken stock (I suggest you make several batches at once and freeze them in quart and pint size containers- one of the few things I freeze for later use... but I elaborate on this in my cookbook...)

In addition to the health-promoting stock, this recipe calls for onions which are in the allium family along with garlic which are known for their immune-boosting properties and in the herbal realms are known to help the bronchial and sinus regions.

For seasoning I add quality salt which helps those who are losing precious fluids and white pepper (to taste) which helps to open up passages to allow fever to naturally escape and to holistically cool the body.

Eggs are highly nutritious, and can be difficult to digest for anyone who is ailing or otherwise has weak digestion- but most can easily eat them in this soup.

Once stock is thawed (if needed) you can serve this in just 20 minutes!

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

Tara's Egg Drop Soup - Great nourishment for those with weak digestion and ailing bodies-
especially those suffering from cold and flu.
WeightFreeWellness.com

PS...  With cold and Flu season upon us I'm shuffling through my natural remedy cabinet and lo and behold I find more wonderful remedies!

#12     Neti-stik

The neti pot came into the spotlight when Oprah featured it as a must-have. Now, it doesn't seem such a craft thing to do- pour salt water through your nostril, carefully tipping the head to guide it through the sinus cavity to then pour out the other nostril.

I'm happy to say that there is an easier way to do this!

Check out this Neti-stik. Here's how they describe their wonderful product!

This compact aromatherapy inhaler fits easily into your pocket or purse for quick relief. Neti Stik™ contains an energizing blend of peppermint, eucalyptus, menthol, and lavender essential oils. Use alone, or as a perfect complement to daily Neti Pot™ use.

• Temporary relief for stuffy noses
• Clear and open, invigorating feeling
• Great for travel and on the go
• Extends the benefits of nasal irrigation
• 2 oz

Their website here

Neti-Stik

I wish you well-ness this Cold & Flu season - and always!

I must emphasize... the contents of this blog and website is not medical advice. Herbs are medicine and it's important to check with a trusted health practitioner regarding your herbs and pharmaceuticals. I am sharing what helps and has worked for me. 

Wishing you well-ness!

Simple Solutions to Drink More Water

When talking health and wellness one of the first topics I bring up is drinking plenty of clean water.

So many people comment that they don’t like the taste of water!

Well, water is so important to our bodies that this simply cannot be an excuse!

In my free cookbook I give a simple recipe (honestly you could figure it out by looking at this picture) to make refreshing water. Did you know that these fruits and vegetable do more for our body than just please our tastebuds!?

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

Here's a shortcut...

When in a pinch, I add Therapeutic Grade Essential oils to my water if I need a change or something refreshing.

Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils are fit for consumption (note, not all oils can be used internally). My favorites to add to my water are: Citrus Fresh, Tangerine, Orange, Lemon, and Peppermint. If you are taking prescription medications be sure to check with your pharmacist before ingesting essential oils. Use only metal or glass containers when adding oils to your water as these oils can break down plastics- plus, it tastes better!

These citrus fruits also have the added benefits of naturally cooling the body and supporting healthy liver function.

Add just a couple of drops to your large glass or container of water, sip and enjoy!

Simple Solutions to Drink More Water - WeightFreeWellness.com

Answers to common questions and concerns:


Whenever I start to drink more water I have to go to the bathroom all the time!

We are a very driven society and our adrenal grands (that sit on and affect our kidneys) are most often either on overdrive or are totally depleted. Both will cause frequent urination- one from the constant agitation from the adrenals, the other from a lack of "energy" to keep urine in the body. The latter is often accompanied by incontinence, lack of sexual drive, anal fissures and more.

It's imperative that we still drink water. Mineral-rich spring water will especially help those with adrenal fatigue. Also, naturally active Air-types who are adrenally exhausted need help in "wetting the sponge" so that they can better absorb and recirculate water within them rather than it just running through them (or metaphorically over the sponge).

Here's an example I like to use.

When you are cleaning a very dirty surface, you need to use a lot of solvent (namely water) initially. You may go through several buckets of warm water to them be able to do the finishing touches with just a couple of buckets of water and cleaner.

If you have lived the standard life in food and habits and have not had enough clean water along the way (which is the standard) your "floors" are pretty dirty. When you begin to drink more water (adrenal function aside) you may be flushing out more water simply because the body is taking the opportunity to cleanse.

I drink about 2 quarts of water per day. After addressing cleansing, healthy adrenal function, caffeine consumption and my attitude about stressors; frequent urination is no longer an issue.




What "type" of water do you drink?

The information and studies on the best sources of water have changed regularly over the years and we have tried all kinds of solutions to have healthy water.

At our house, we have gone from carbon and UV filtering well water (when we had well water), to buying Reverse Osmosis water at the store, to installing an expensive RO system, to now buying spring water.

At the beginning of this journey, we looked into getting water at a local spring. There is a well-known natural spring near us in Minnesota on, yes, Spring Road. We were elated at first that such a treasured source could be relatively so near, but as I researched more, I did not feel comfortable about diving into this idea.

While the source was tested by the city for safety, the efficacy of the water could not be guaranteed. I spoke with the city official who worked in this department and I gained what I felt was some helpful information.

This spring is located in a narrow gorge that once must have poured water from the ancient shore of a tributary to what is now the Minnesota river.

The spring is in a populated Twin City suburb, and the city official explained that while the spring does indeed “spring” forth from the ground, it is more likely run-off water from streets and fertilized lawns that comes from the surrounding steep hills these days, than the naturally filtered water we might have enjoyed many years ago.

This made a lot of sense to me, and while I desired the naturally mineralized water from a spring; I also did not want to inadvertently contaminate our family.

Years and filtration systems later, we came upon this solution.

We order Mountain Valley spring water from a local distributor. Part of this solution came about because we now live in a suburban area where we can receive delivery of the large 5-gallon glass bottles.

Since we have switched from our RO water to this spring water my husband and I have felt aches, pains and even nagging “moods” go away. I’m not exaggerating... I don’t do that...

Since I’m asked so often what we do for water, I thought I’d share.

I will update this when and if this changes.

Wishing you well-ness!

P.S. Here's a really good article to explain our reasons behind choosing this type of water.

How to Know Which Cleanse is Right for You

You Cleanse Should be Right for Your Body-type TarasBook.com

My first Cleanse was a simple elimination regimen. To others, this may not technically be a Cleanse, but by omitting the foods that were causing inflammation in my body, my body moved into a state of homeostasis and healing.

From there I tried all kinds of Cleanses, attempting to fully heal the symptoms of Celiac Disease (there was not a test or diagnosis at the time), IBS, and skin issues that I was experiencing, among other things.

Cleansing Doesn't Have to be Like Climbing a Mountain. TarasBook.com

In this post I will talk about Cleansing in regard to Body-typing; as I found along my wellness journey, and by observing others, there can be more harm than good caused by Cleansing by forcing the body to cleanse in a way that is not suited for their Body-type.

I have a liberal definition of "Cleansing".

Cleansing is Much Easier with the Right Cleanse . . . TarasBook.com

For some people, simply omitting gluten or dairy can help a person's body to naturally cleanse itself and heal.

A simple Way to Cleanse - Drink lots of Water!

When a person has a lot of dis-ease showing up, a more in-depth Cleanse may be appropriate, with the guidance of a trusted health-wellness practitioner.

An educated health-wellness practitioner should take into account not only your current condition, but also your nutritional needs and your constitution/Body-type. This is not medical advice.

What is the Right Cleanse for You? TarasBook.com

Here are some things to keep in mind when considering the cleanse that is right for you:

 Learn 'your' Body-type and more about Body-typing with the Free Assessment from my Book!

Earth-types- This type of person is the type that most benefits from regular cleansing. Their body is most likely to have symptoms of stagnation, and like stagnant water, lack of movement within the body creates a prime breading ground for "bugs". This type tends to easily and readily build mucous. Cleanses that focus on stimulating the body to move toxins out and also break up mucous are very helpful. Also, if I were a person with a lot of Earthy characteristics I would avoid cleanses that are mostly fruit juice (with the Master Cleanse being the exception, do reduce maple syrup) as sweet and starchy foods, no matter their purity, can exacerbate an Earthy condition. Focusing on green vegetables and stimulating external cleansing techniques such as colonics or hot/cold therapy for example, can be very helpful.

Fire-types- Cleanses that focus on cooling the body heat work well. Simple juice cleanses are well-suited for the Fire-type. I have seen and heard it helping to: lower blood pressure, regulate cholesterol; relieve: tension, inflammation, skin issues; indigestion including ulcers and acid reflux, diabetes and other heat-related issues.

Learn 'your' Body-type and more about Body-typing with the Free Assessment from my Book!

Air-types- Having a lot of Air-type characteristics, I have a lot to share on this topic. If you also have a lot of Air or Water characteristics, cleansing can be a very un-grounding experience; but, Air-types can still benefit from cleansing despite the experience tending to be imbalancing by nature to the Air-type. What to keep in mind for the Air-type cleanse is: consume nutrient-dense foods, don't go too long without dietary fats; while traditionally the best times to cleanse are in the seasons of transition i.e. Spring and Autumn, the Air-type feels most grounded in the Summer weather/months and therefor will have a more balanced experience- especially if doing a juice cleanse. Simple bone broth and vegetable soup cleanses can be helpful due to their warming and moisturizing nature. Broths and soups can contain oils that are so helpful for Air-types as well as giving the digestive system a nice break.

Water-types- If you have a lot of Water-type tendencies I would also pay attention to your secondary dominant "type" and perhaps choose a cleanse that is suited for that type. Be mindful of a very liquid-dominant cleanse, cleansing during rainy or wet seasons, and cleansing at times of transition in your life- all of which are dominant in the Water Element. If you have a lot of Water-type tendencies and you feel stuck; this is a good time to shake things loose by cleansing- and flow!

Is a Juice Cleanse Right for You? TarasBook.com

The objective of Cleansing is to find balance (although admittedly it can feel like quite the opposite is happening in the process)- it is important to be diligent about doing what needs to be done for one's health whether it means pushing on or letting back a bit. 

As I say in my book, 

"It's about learning to work with your body, not on it!"

P.S.  You also may be interested . . .

I have heard of people not only losing weight (the common reason people do a "Cleanse"), but also heal from Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and much more. Great resources to see examples of this are the documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead and Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days. 

Fitting Exercise into a Busy Life - Wellness Walk and "Walking Seminars"

A couple days after sharing with my close friend and Soul Sister about my intention to begin Wellness Walks, she sent me this . . . with her own warm, supportive words at the end . . .



Exercise: “Walking Seminars” Could Replace Sitting in Class. 
What began as a physical activity challenge for a computer science faculty has become a study in how education and fitness can be combined to improve both physical well-being and classroom discussions. University lecturer Dr. Olle Balter started a "walking seminar" in response to a competition in which staff recorded how many hours they and their students spent sitting vs. being active. The majority of students surveyed said that they felt better after the walking workshops than after typical, sedentary seminars. None of the students felt worse and most believed that communication was better during the walking seminar. 
KTH The Royal Institute of Technology, January 2015


It just makes sense, doesn't it!?


Wellness Walks are free and casual events. Join one or participate in all of them, it's up to you!


I look forward to meeting you!


Contact me about hosting or requesting a Wellness Walk or walk site.

How the Body Tells us What it Needs

My body is my natural and traditional medicine lab. And I love experimenting!

As I learn more about herbs, traditional medicine and healthy movement I'm amazed by how much they intertwine.

The longer I do dance and yoga I see how the way my muscles respond also indicate how well I am functioning internally physically and emotionally.

It's fairly common knowledge that if you have sore muscles you may be lacking in minerals such as the proper balance of calcium, magnesium and potassium.

What if you have chronically sore muscles and no type of adjusting or stretching seems to help?

Certain groups of muscles correlate with certain organs and even emotions.

A tight psoas can mean that you are holding onto fear. This can cause constipation, IBS and painful menstruation due to lack of blood circulation. This large muscle group begins up by the kidneys; so the affects of a fear-stricken psoas can also cause frequent urination and a generally depleted feeling.

Here are a few other examples how other muscles, organs and emotions relate:

Diaphragm - Digestion/Respiration (taking in an expelling) and Decision-making/Will
Heart - Respiration and how we Regulate Emotion
Lower back - Large Intestines - Energy levels and Self-confidence


When my dance teacher coaches me to extend my lower back more; I also interpret my body to be telling me to recharge myself with some physical rest which will boost my self-confidence as well.

If I am having a hard time deciding what to make for dinner; is it my body saying that it does not have the energy to digest any thoughts or decisions?

I think yes, it does!

It seems overly simplistic, but that's the beauty of natural health. Since the body cannot speak to us directly, it does so through the poetic means of metaphor.

Mother Nature helps us again by artistically showing us myriad remedies that can help by the Doctrine of Signatures - plants that look like the affected area often help such organs and parts of the body.

But that's the topic of another fascinating post :)

Keeping Ears Healthy Simply and Naturally - Especially for Air-types During the Air-season (Winter)

Remedy for Feline Obesity Related to Emotional Eating

Flower Essences for Cats

Upon first encounter, my cat Star is a shiny, black cat with speckles of stray white fur, a few spots of white on her tummy with bright green/yellow eyes. Other than these obvious characteristics, what people also notice next (or first) is her round, protruding belly.

Starry spent the first year of her life in a 2' by 2' cage with her brother at the no-kill Humane Society in Menomonie, WI. When we adopted her she was quite small for her age. We soon noticed her desire to consume whatever food available. When her body stopped growing her belly continued to grow. She did and does not consume food all at once, but grazes regularly freely from the dish throughout the day.

We attempted timed feeding schedules, meant to mimic a cat's natural feast and fast schedule- allowing the digestive system to rest. What we found is that Star(ry) would become grumpy and would attack our other cat.

After a couple of years of alternately allowing free feeding and timed feeding we gave into free-feeding for the sake of the well-being of our other dear kitty, Madjie.

After some time we noticed that Star developed bad breath and other issues due to poor digestion. This prompted me to once again attempt timed feeding, but in order to save the mental and emotional health of our other cat, I employed another tactic.

I began to add flower essences to the water meant to aid Starry in becoming less emotionally attached to food. For the beginning part of her life she fought for space and sustenance with her brother, causing a type of emotional attachment to the scarce amount of food provided to them. This was her soul source of security.

Flower essences are similar to an herbal tincture, except that they are made in water. Flower essences tend to work on the emotional level, leading to an affect on the physical level, unlike tinctures, that tend to work directly on the physical and emotional level, to a certain degree, depending on the remedy. I chose to use flower essences for a few reasons: it is one of my favored remedies as essential oils are generally much too strong to use for cats, I had the Bach flower essences readily available at home, the remedy would not adversely affect our other cat, the flower essences are meant to work on the emotional level which Star needed and I was beginning to become concerned about Star's long-term health and other methods were not working (raw diet, etc. because she still had the emotional issues- I am a fan of raw food).

I prepared a small brown bottle (diluted- directions are on the bottle) of the Emotional Eating Support combination of Bach Flower essences of which I add 1-3 drop to their small water dish. Flower essences only help, and do not alter a life (animal, human, plant) unless it is in need of the aid that that particular flower essence provides; unlike the indiscriminate ways of pharmaceuticals. Therefor, our other cat, Madjie, was not adversely affected.

The changes I noticed in Starry progressed over the next week. She became even more loving and cuddly in her ways towards me in this time- seeming to release her attachment of food and gaining the need and desire of loving feeling through our relationship rather than through food. Although this increased desire for attention was inconvenient at times, (having to type with one hand while on the computer) she no longer begs for food at or before feeding time. Within a week of beginning this routine of adding flower essences to the water and feeding them only 2 times per day, there was even food left in the dish at the time that I usually would add more! (For two cats I serve 1/2 cup 2 times a day, morning and dinner time.)

She has been much more emotionally stable and generally more loving and open as well as shedding some extra weight. This is very nice to experience in such a manner as it was difficult in the past to withhold food from her when she obviously had an emotional attachment and would meow in a pleading manner or would misbehave to get attention.

I have been very satisfied and even delighted at the results. Starry can look forward to a longer, healthier life and our other kitty can experience more peace in the home as she does not need to look over her should as much due to the possessive and protective nature that Starry used to have over food.

I am a big fan of the transformational and non-disruptive qualities of flower essences.

Body-typing and Blood-typing

This is not in my book- but I've been asked many times if there is a correlation between the body-types and blood-types.

For over a decade the book, Eat Right for your Blood Type has been causing waves in the natural health community. Some practitioners claim that the results are unfounded, others rave of the results of balanced health that they and their clients have achieved. In my personal experience, and in my observation and work with others, I have found the Blood Type Diet to be quite founded and useful- this is my basis for mentioning it in this book.

One can easily obtain the knowledge of their blood type (A, B, O or AB for the following) if they have ever been in the hospital or donated blood. Shortly after donating blood for the first time the donor will receive a card with their specific blood type indicated on it. A simple call can be made to the clinic that one uses to obtain the information of blood type. If neither of these are a resource, one may request a simple blood test.

The following is based on my experience and observation of myself, friends, family and clients.

Taking into account that we are all a combination of all of the types we can open our minds into exploring the possibility that there is a correlation of the four elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire) and the four genotypes (A, AB, O, B).

Something to also consider is the possibility of the affect the “dormant gene” that lies within our blood genotype. If we are blood type A or B we may show the characteristics of blood type O since we may have a dormant O gene since it is recessive to the A and B allele. Likewise, blood type AB can and often does show characteristics of both genotypes- even in Dr. D’Adamo’s studies.

I highly recommend reading Dr. D’ Adamo’s books if this subject interests you. What I am about to illustrate is based on what I have observed, having roots in body-typing, blood-typing and other similar studies. For more specifics on the blood typing please refer to Dr. D’ Adamo’s book and/or website. His sources go into much more detail.

I think that the blood type diet is valid for most people because it focuses on what is best for the person. I appreciate that studies have been done to show the cultural correlations to the blood types which one can easily connect to and understand the evolution of the peoples’ digestive systems and bodies to the environments. Where does your cultural heritage stem from? For most of us in the U.S., we are the descendents of several different cultures. This is why Body-typing can be so much more helpful for us. We don’t have the rich cultural traditions of several generations of one culture. We are the melting pot- growing towards even greater diversity. I personally enjoy diversity and the many new things it brings before me to observe, but it can also be distracting- taking us away from recognizing and administering to our individual self.

This book (originally a part of a draft of my book, You-niversal self-care) is meant to shed light on the subject of typing in several areas in which it can be used. My focus is not to go into detail, but give some food for thought. Observe yourself a little bit further.

Blood Type O

Type O seems to most correlate with the Fire and Air type. Blood type O is the oldest blood type, having had to endure and persevere years to survive. They were the early hunters and gatherers, living off of wild game, nuts, berries roots and the like. They developed strong stomach acids to digest such dense foods- showing a strong internal fire. The desire for meat was more a desire of necessity, rather than the craving that a modern-day Fire type may experience. Vigorous and heavy exercise keep this type fit and in optimal health, which is not often a concern for these types when they engage in such activity as a matter of a way of life. They most often had to migrate with the wild herds as well- walking, a steady activity that is very balancing for an Air type. Neither the Fire nor the Air type have much of an issue of being mobile, unlike the grounded Earth type.

They were the ones who discovered fire and drove themselves to evolve, to later become the herdsmen, agriculturists and cultivators.

Blood Type A

Type A blood types are the cultivators and agronomists. They live of the Earth. This Earth type can most easily survive on a vegan diet- without any meat, dairy or something that had or came from something that had a face or a mother.

Blood Type B

Blood type B most correlates with the Water element. The blood type B people evolved into animal husbandry, herding, milking animals and utilizing the land for grazing. Blood type B is the allele most likely to be able to digest the milk sugar lactose. This makes a lot of sense given “modern” mover towards using and creating foods from animals’ milk. Water is in a constant state of change- always moving towards the lowest source towards the oceans, evaporating or sublimating to once again become precipitation- always flowing in a change. A Water type culture would do very well with routine: grazing animals on fresh pasture daily, cultivating fruits, vegetables and herbs, caring for animals and the land. These people tend to feel best eating vegetarian options, occasionally including fish. Their emotional abundance often brings them very close to their animals, from whom they will create delectable creations, but hardly have the will to make into dinner. These people tend to be hearty people, similar to the Earth type, but are often flow with change more easily.

Blood Type AB

This type is simply a combination of the characteristics of the Earth and Water type. They tend to have propensity towards being very grounded, steady and have very deep emotions.


I think it is important to once again note that we are all a unique combination of the body-types and indeed, the blood types.

If a person is blood type B they may totally relate to the description above, except that occasionally they really feel the need to have some meat, particularly fish. This innate desire for meat may be indicated in the recessive O allele which submits to the dominant B. This person may be primarily an Earth/Water person but occasionally show some significant Fire traits, including desiring meat on occasion.

This may also explain why some people seem very healthy and contented living on fruits, vegetables and nuts while others would feel that they were wasting away on such food choices. The aforementioned person may be a strong Earth type- blood type AA (A) or AB. Blood type AA would mean that they do not have the recessive or “dormant” characteristics of type O. This “super agrarian” type may feel great and do very well on foraged and cultivated food whereas a person with type O, Fire or Air characteristics may need and desire sustenance with more “substance” like meat.

This is “food for thought”.

Take the Body-type assessment and observe your Body-type and Blood-type correlation!

Protect Yourself from the Flu and Colds Naturally with this Homemade Remedy!

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

Elderberry Syrup Ingredients

Echinacea has long gotten the kudos for protecting us from common colds

and the flu. As I have recently learned and experienced, Elderberry is

much better as an immune system booster. This is not to dethrone

Echinacea entirely, it still has itʼs place in herbal pharmacopeia.

Elderberry syrup is very easy to make and the affects are well worth the

minimal time and expense to make it.

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

This recipe is from Connie Karstens (HealthbyConnie.com), a knowledgeable

herbalist in Hutchinson. She recommends this syrup as a good

preventative for the H1N1 virus.

I have added just a few specifics of quantity, etc. for those who are buying

dried elderberry in bulk. (My additions are in parenthesis.)

I always keep at least a couple of bottles of Elderberry Syrup on hand. It seems that when I do not have some made, that's when someone really needs it!

When others are getting sick around me, I make sure to take 2-3 doses of 1 tablespoon of syrup per day and I don't get sick. I give it to various friends and family who are in times of stress- because someone getting sick with the flu or even a cold can make a stressful life that much more unbearable!

It's so rewarding to make a remedy that can support the body so much that it helps to prevent colds and flus.

It's easy to make, tastes nice and it's so comforting knowing that your helping the body get stronger to be able to prevent illness!

Get the recipe and learn more about how Elderberry and the other ingredients in this syrup naturally support the body!

Get This Recipe Here... and Much More!

Insights to "Unexplainable" Moodwings

Ok people, this does not just apply to women!

Has something like this ever happened to you?

Your having what seems like a normal conversation with the co-worker you actually like. Usually a conversation with this person cheers you up and gets you through the day. The two of you "click", and just know what to say to move on to the next task. But for the last week or so some things have just "rubbed you wrong". You're snappy, moody, want to do only what you want to do and wish everyone would leave you alone! Maybe it's to the point where you can no longer shrug off people's looks of disgust, hurt and concern. You know that something is up, something is "off" in you, but what is it? Women, you know that it's not PMS...

Here are some of the symptoms a person might be experiencing:

-irritability in otherwise "normal" situations and conversation
-frequent changes in appetite and preferences
-it seems as though the filter from the brain to the mouth has been removed
-your tummy makes a lot more noise that usual- even when you're not hungry
-you just don't feel like yourself

So what do these all have in common?

Ready?

Parasites...

You might think, ew! I life in a first world nation, how could I have parasites? Well, the truth is, we all have parasites, it's just whether they are in check or taking control in our body.

We use the term flippantly today, but the word "lunatic" actually carries a lot more meaning than "crazy person". Years ago it was observed that certain people would act out, or go crazy at the time of the full moon. In many natural medicine realms it is recognized that parasites grow especially well during the waxing moon phase- the full moon being the peak.

Parasites live off of the food in our digestive tract and as they thrive they let off more and more excretions that can simply over burden our body, thus causing emotional changes. In the extreme cases, these were (are?) the lunatics.

So, what can we do? There are many herbal remedies that can help get these critters under control.

Your symptoms may increase the first couple of days of taking the remedy. Parasites are living beings, and get upset that their being evicted. During this time I make a point of allowing myself to relax even more, I focus on things that I enjoy, I keep taking the herbs regularly, ignore any complaints from the intestinal critter crew and even apologize to people for a few odd things I might have said during this time! ;-)

How do we prevent the proliferation of parasites? I think that a few of the biggest factors are: eat a light meal in the evening and moderating stress.

What you eat during this time will be their meal too, especially since this food sits in the intestines all night and is not moved through as quickly as it is during the day. I choose to eat many vegetables and herbs which they don't particularly care for (garlic and other herbs help kill non-beneficial intestinal bacteria and parasites). I avoid meat and dairy which move especially slowly through the digestive tract and tend to be or provide breeding grounds for bacteria and parasites.

Decrease stress in your life. Exercise, walk, clear harmful emotions, eat well, drink plenty of clean water... allow your body to heal itself. When you decrease stress the body can better take care of itself.

Yes, this topic even "weirds" me out a bit too- that's why I just get down to business and get rid of the little buggers!

Yours in Life and Health,
Tara

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This information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to take the place of medical advice. The author stresses the importance of a person taking their health into their own hands and using their better judgment.