Whole Food Artillery In Alternatives
Years and years of research have gone into alternative medicine, much of it keen observation out of necessity by our forefathers. Today, some of these folk treatments are widely accepted and promoted by forward-thinking health care practitioners who want only the best for their patients.
So, what constitutes a treatment as 'alternative'? Anything that is not scientifically proven may be considered alternative by some, however, the best description is simply a natural product that heals or otherwise positively impacts the body and is available by wildcrafting or in health-conscious shops and stores.
Having defined the term 'alternative' for our purposes, now .. let's get on with our artillery and what should be included in our own alternative tool kit.
Recently, I've been made aware of natural products that were once considered poisonous that now appear to be quite beneficial to the body. For years, the apricot pit was considered a viable treatment for some cancers yet, those who attempted to treat with the extract, a/k/a Laetrille where arrested and charged with practicing illegal medicine. Many chose to uproot their practices to Mexico where they thrived in a willing atmosphere with visits from numerous US 'vacationers' seeking treatment.
Today, it is becoming more and more accepted to consume 1 to 4 apricot pits daily as a preventative for cancer and pre-cancerous conditions. I recently learned through a highly informative four-day seminar produced by the Supreme Science Qigong Center of south Florida that indeed apricot pits, apple pits, avocado seed and even grapefruit pith (the bitter white part) contain the highest concentration of phytochemicals and phytonutrients - more than the fruit themselves.
I've been in this industry for years and have been a happy VitaMix owner forever .. and have used apple seeds, orange seeds, lemon seed, pith and rind in many concoctions that I consumed believing these portions of the fruit and vegetable to be wholesome ... but an avocado seed? Hmmmmm .. this needed some thought.
Well, I didn't have to think too long because the next day, Jeff Primack's staff made enough 'smoothie' for 420 people to sample -- including the pits, the seeds and the pith of numerous fruits and vegetables. Also .. he mixed both fruits and vegetables in one smoothie, another 'discovery' that I had always heard was an alternative no-no. HA! Go Jeff, I say! So, what did this smoothie taste like?
Having successfully made smoothies for years privately and commercially in my own busness, I can honestly say with a professional taste bud that it wasn't bad, but I don't believe it would be a big seller, regardless of how good it is for you. The pits and seeds leave a bitter aftertaste, no matter how you try to disguise it with sweet fruit, such as goji berries and strawberries. However ... the idea of using WHOLE fruit and vegetables in a smoothie to be drank every day, albeit not new, is still exciting and I consider it the Number One piece of artillery in my alternative medicine tool kit!
What;s the next piece of artillery in our tool kit? Green Tea. The catechins and polyphenols contained in tea, especially green and white tea have proven to work wonders for the body. Reports on weight loss, lowering of cholesterol, improving the elasticity of arteries, veins and capillaries have been coming in during recent years. In addition, it has been reported that diabetics also benefit from drinking 2 - 3 cups of green tea daily. Between green and white tea, I prefer organic white tea, which is the least processed -- simply steamed, dried and packaged -- with little nutritive loss. And, it is also most flavorful to my palate, if the fact that white tea contains more catechins and polyphenols than green tea. isn't enough. Tea gets the nod.
The next addition is Distilled Water. Why distilled? Because the process of distilling water removes all impurities, including toxins and minerals, as well. Steam distilled water has been boiled and recondensed into a separate, clean container, leaving the impurities in the original container. If you don't like the taste of charcoal in your water, try buying distilled water a couple of times and taste the difference. Home water distillers are available that make a gallon a day -- that's enough water for two people to drink daily and they are reasonably priced for home use. Distilled water gets my vote as an important piece of artillery for my alternative tool kit.
Dolphyn .. why no vitamins, minerals or supplements on your list so far? Because I believe that all the nutrition we need should be available to us from the whole foods we consume. If, however our diets lack due to time constraints, busy work days, too much fast food, I would add a high end multi-vitamin to my tool kit.
And, I would definitely add Honey!
So, the next item ..... Honey ! Honey is the most versatile piece of artillery in our tool kit because it is delicioulsy edible , contains every vitamin, mineral and trace element and is medicinal --- treats burns, scrapes, and cuts. Honey is known to reduce scarring and stretch marks and is a natural humectant, soothing to rough, dry skin.
The above heavy artillery listing is a pretty good beginning for anyone's alternative tool kit! I hope you take this advice to heart and please, do check out Jeff Primack's wonderful website - Supreme Science Qigong Center - and check out his Food Based Healing section. I strongly urge you, if you can, to participate in one of his four day Qigong seminars. Age is no barrier. I saw the old and the young at this seminar, everyone participating in the exercises -- the skinnies, the fatties and the in-betweeners -- all can benefit. Check out their list of upcoming events and see if there is a session scheduled in your area. My sister flew down to Tampa from New York State to attend and left Florida a very happy lady with some excellent information about natural treatment for diabetes that works!
In love and light always
Dolphyn