Some interesting things to read about...

Goji

Star Catcher — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:16:32 GMT

Hardiness: to - 5 degrees F Deciduous woody shrub to 9 feet tall. Native to Northern China. Goji berries are used fresh, juiced or (more commonly) dried and used like raisins. They are a yin tonic, immune enhancing, and excellent for the overall health. The seed is of confirmed germination and vigor. Plant prefers full sun and fast-drying soils. High desert conditions are quite conducive. Goji plants are drought-tolerant. Do not plant the berry. You must remove the seed from the fruit and plant the seeds. The seed maintains its viability and vigor very nicely in the dried fruit but quickly loses its viability if removed from the fruit. Use a sandy potting soil medium. Sow the seeds just beneath the surface, tamp in, and keep in strong light. Water well to start, but back off on watering after germination, which occurrs in 1 to 2 weeks. Pot up seedlings and plant out to the landscape only after they are well-established

Ashwagandha

Star Catcher — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:05:29 GMT

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somniferum, is a member of the pepper family.Ashwagandha stimulates the activation of.immune system cells, such as lymphocytes, and protects against damage caused by various stressors; it has antidepressant and memory-protective activities. Ashwagandha is one of the most valuable herbs in the Ayurvedic medical system. Ashwagandha is specific for a wide range of conditions including arthritic inflammation, anxiety, insomnia, respiratory disorders including emphysema, asthma bronchitis and coughs, nervous disorders, gynecological disorders, especially functional female and male infertility and impotence. Ashwagandha, is destined to rise significantly and take its place with all the other better known tonics. Withanolides possess remarkable antibacterial, antitumor, ant arthritic and immunosuppressive.It is used equally by men and women, and is widely prescribed by physicians to adults with low libido, and to improve sexual function. In the system of Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is king of the herbs. Aswagandha is an erect branched shrub with a greenish or lurid yellow flowers. Aswagandha in India is akin to ginseng in other parts of the orient. Both are touted for their longevity enhancing and sexually stimulating properties. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. The fruit is rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute.The leaves are an insect repellent. Application of chemical fertilizers is not recommended as its use invariably leads to a much branched and fibrous roots which are not good for commercial point of view.

Making Winter for Seeds: Cold Stratification From Fridge to Snow Sowing

Star Catcher — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:38:57 GMT

Unlike the seeds of annuals, lots of perennial seeds require a period of moist cold (cold stratification) before they will germinate. They get this naturally in the wild, lying on the ground, being half buried by fallen leaves, the digging of animals, and frost heave. Without this period of cold and wet, certain seeds, usually perennials, won't germinate at all. Instead, they continue to wait inside their shells, asleep. But natural cold stratification usually results in the death of many seeds (which is why plants that rely mostly on seeds for reproduction make so many of them--it's insurance). Seeds get eaten by critters, end up wet and rotting, land in conditions not good for growing (a driveway), and more. Humans, as caretakers and partners with plants, have developed a number of ways of creating an awakening winter for seeds that need it. In the gardening world, this is called cold moist stratification (usually just called stratification or cold stratification). There are six methods of cold moist stratification to choose from: cold water soaking, refrigeration, fall planting, winter/solstice sowing, outdoor treatment, and snow planting. Cold Water Soaking I've tried this method on a few seeds--belladonna, henbane, black mandrake, white mandrake, and various monkshoods--and it is promising enough and low-tech enough (no fancy chemicals needed) to make it worth trying with other seeds that need cold stratification, especially if they are not too small. Use a small jar (and old vitamin bottle works well). Put the seeds in and fill with cold water. Store in the fridge, and change the water for fresh daily. This is important--you're trying to imitate snowmelt here, and how snowmelt apparently works is to wash away germination inhibitors in the seed. Also, if you don't change the water, it will get moldy. After two weeks, take the seeds out and plant as usual. I usually plant in jiffy pellets and put under fluorescent lights until it's warm enough to put them outside. This method works well if you are within a few weeks of your last frost date. It's short and sweet. If you try this with other seeds, let me know your success (and failures) so that I can add the info here. Today I just read of another way of getting the cold water soak going - putting seeds in little muslin bags and then suspending them in the toilet tank, lol! Refrigeration Americans usually use the refrigerator to create an awakening winter for seeds. In fact, we've gotten so reliant on this method that we've forgotten that previously everyone simply planted seeds that need cold stratification outside once it got cold in the fall, usually in late October. You need something to hold the moistness: traditionally, sterile soils like sphagnum moss, peat moss (good for acid-loving plants), clean sand (not from the beach or dredging--too salty), or vermiculite are moistened (not slopping wet), but you can also use a paper towel that has been wet and wrung out. Mix the seeds with the sterile soil--it's good not to use too much, because unless the seeds are large, you will be sowing the soil together with the seeds once they start germinating. Soak seeds overnight and mix in with the moistened sterile soil. Or if using a paper towel, fold the wrung-out paper towel in half and sprinkle the seeds on. Fold the paper towel closed and press it gently between your hands to get good contact between the seeds and the towel. With any of these methods, I normally use water that has some liquid kelp added to it, because kelp contains chemicals that help with germination of seeds. You can get liquid kelp at most garden stores in the summer. Put the sterile soil/seeds or paper towel/seeds in a resealable plastic bag and put in the fridge. Three months is a good time, but sometimes you can get away with less, even 3 weeks. This is an area for experimenting. After a month, check the seeds every week or so to see if they are germinating. Some will germinate in the fridge; some won't. Plant them as you normally would when the time is up, whether they have germinated or not. I have had much more luck using the paper towel method than using the ones that involve some kind of sterile soil. With a paper towel, it's a lot easier to open it up and see if the seeds are starting to germinate--or if they are just rotting. If they get brown spots around them or smell musty, they are rotting and should be tossed. (Seeds can rot because they were not stored properly before planting--usually too warm and/or moist. Keeping seeds at room temperature for too long causes many seeds to die, although some are actually conditioned this way to germinate better. Most seeds need cool and dry conditions for max storage life.) Another way to use the fridge for brief cold stratification is to plant the seeds in individual jiffy pellets and put them in either a plastic covered container (such as for home baking little bread loaves) or in a store-bought "greenhouse" flat. Depends on how much room you have in your fridge. I have done this as well, for instance, with mandrake seeds before I started using cold water soaking. Planting in jiffy pellets and then putting them in the fridge also works very well for seeds that need just a little boost of cold instead of a whole "winter." In that case, you only keep them in there for a few weeks. For instance, with poppy seeds that require cool temperatures to grow, planting them in jiffy pellets and putting them in the fridge for a week or so will cause them to germinate with great gusto once you take them out and put them in indirect light. I suspect refrigerating for just a few weeks would greatly help the germination of some annual seeds that usually are simply planted outside in the spring. Fall Planting : Fall planting has also been a traditional method both for most Europeans presently and for old-timers here in the US. Seeds are planted either directly in the ground in a cold frame or in pots left in a protected area. If you have a cold frame, you probably already know plenty about cold stratification. You can jerry-rig a cold frame with old windows or old storm windows leaned against the side of the house (I did this one winter in northern Minnesota and was able to grow snow peas against the east side of the house much of the time). To cover the sides, tape up folded-up cardboard boxes to the windows or use straw bales for more serious protection. You can put uncovered pots with seeds in them into a cold frame, but check on your coldframe regularly, because mice like to be warm. One thing about a coldframe--it will not allow any moisture in, so seeds that need snowmelt to germinate won't like it. Coldframes are more useful for season extenders than seed germinators. With fall planting, seeds are planted outside, sometimes directly in the ground - for instance, you can just broadcast cover crops and allow frost heave to bury them. More often, however, fall planting is done with pots before temps fall below 8C/45F. The pot is covered with either a piece of glass (if you have very rainy or dry winters) or a piece of screen held on with string or a rubber band (if you have snowy winters). The screening allows snow to come in close contact with the soil in the pot, which insulates the soil from extremes of cold, and snowmelt is able to trickle down through the holes in the screen. Lots of seeds are triggered to germinate by snowmelt. Place the pots up against a building. The east side of a house is good, or if seeds are of a plant that is borderline in your area, choose the south side. Then make sure that if the pot is covered with glass you raise it up a bit when the sun is bright and temperatures begin to warm, or it will get too hot in there. Someone emailed questioning the use of terra cotta pots outside in the winter. You can use them, as long as you keep them close to the wall of the house and they do not fill up with water and then freeze (keep away from the roof's dripline). I have used them outside here in upstate NY and in northern Minnesota without a problem, but you have to make sure that you get good ones. The terra cotta pots that are slipware are too thin. You need the heavy old-fashioned kind. Last year I had one pot crack outside; it was made of that paper stuff. Also, handle plastic carefully when it is bitter cold; it cracks more easily then. Winter/Solstice Sowing : A modified version of fall planting is to plant later in the year, from Winter Solstice (December 21) all the way up through February, depending on the severity of your winters. The harder your winter, the later you can plant. This takes advantage not only of the natural swings between cold and warm that occur in late winter but of the growth energy of the Earth that starts once the days begin to lengthen at Solstice. So this method combines temperature fluctuation with snowmelt and increasing daylength to help seeds grow. Europeans have been winter sowing for decades--I've seen a mosaic from Roman times depicting Frenchemn winter sowing beans--so it was not invented by an American. Americans simply tend to use throw-away containers instead of terra cotta or plastic pots, and to use the plastic tops instead of screens or glass. By the way, don't waste your time planting annuals in the winter. It will just stress them, and a lot of them will die or be knocked out by late frosts. Annuals will germinate just fine planted in the spring. You can incorporate planting into your Yule celebration or just do it as a private affirmation that even on the darkest day of the year, even in the very deepest of sleep, the Earth is getting ready to awaken. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, this same method will work on Summer Solstice. Any covered container works - including terra cotta pots, as described in fall planting section. The kind of foil and plastic-topped baking pans you can find in the supermarket in the baking aisle are convenient (although at a dollar a pop, not cheap). Regular little 25-slot planting trays that come with a plastic cover work well and are not expensive if you get them on sale in the late summer at garden centers. You can use any sort of plastic carry-out food containers with a plastic lid as long as the bottom part is deep enough--at least an inch. Top For drainage, make some slits in the bottom of the pan or tray with a knife or poke holes with the tip of a Philips screwdriver. Fill the pan with seed starting soil (or use jiffy pellets) and tamp down gently. Don't use dirt from the yard, as it is usually compacted, which makes it hard for some seeds to break through. Water well before sowing--until it is mudpie consistency (this is the way you want to start out, not the way you want it to stay permanently). If your planting mix has got any peat moss in it, it will get wet more easily with warm water--just make sure if you use hot to let it cool off before you put the seeds in. When the soil has drained, take the seeds you've had soaking overnight and toss out any floaters. Pour the rest into your hand, letting the water drain through your fingers, and sprinkle them *thinly* on top. If the seeds are very small, like wormwood seeds, you don't need to soak them overnight. If you plant the seeds too thickly, you will end up with spindly seedlings that will tend to die from damping off. It's a good idea to sow at most only half of a packet at a time. Try other methods of sowing with the rest of the seeds so you can figure out which method works best for you, for your seeds, and for your climate. I have noticed that everyone has their own best way to plant. Gently pat the seeds down with your hand. You want a good contact between soil and seed. Then sprinkle a thin layer of soil (some use sand or grit) over the seeds, barely covering them, and gently pat that down as well. You don't need that covering soil to be wet--it sprinkles more easily if it is dry, and it will wet quickly from the soil beneath it. If the seeds are very tiny, like for wormwood or other dust-like seeds, don't cover them with any extra soil, just very gently pat them in (trying not to let them get stuck to your hand!). Make slits in the plastic cover or plastic wrap, or just use a piece of screen so heat and air can get in and out, or seeds will cook in the sun even in winter. Put the lid on and fold the foil pan edges around it so it is secure and can't be blown off or removed by hungry critters. Don't forget to label the pan with the seed name(s)--I can't tell you how many times I have forgotten to label plantings and had to wait until they got big before I could figure them out! You can write with a grease pencil (Sharpies fade in the sun) on the pan bottom or even the plastic cover, or use regular address labels on the side. Cover the labels with tape to help keep them dry. I usually print out my labels on my laser printer, which uses waterproof ink, and they stay pretty readable, considering. If it is very cold out, below 30F/0C, condition your seeds for a week or two in your fridge before putting them outside. This will decrease the shock of going from room temperature to below freezing. Put your containers outside in a safe place. On the ground next to the north or east side of the house is best (next to a building should give you at least another zone's worth of protection). It is good if snow can get on the pans and melt, because the snowmelt can help trigger germination. They should not be in standing water or right in the drip line under the eaves of the house. Too much water, especially in winter, will kill the seeds. If it snows and does not cover them, pile snow over their tops or move them to a sheltered place where snow will cover them--snow's an important part of this process. Alternately, you can use regular pots and just put them into a plastic baggie, which Deno described in 1993. Then put the whole shebang against the north side of the house. Open the baggie some when the seeds start to germinate, and gradually allow them more light and air. Be careful not to cook them. This method does not make use of snowmelt. It is especially aimed at seeds that like to get a little colder, like aconites. Seeds should germinate in late winter. They won't come up all at the same time, like the seeds of most cultivated plants are bred to do. Seeds that use cold to germinate are closer to the wild and so have a good reason to stagger their germination - more are likely to survive that way, and you will get more genetic variation. That means there will be a greater likelihood of getting plants that will survive and prosper in your conditions. Once they come up, check them regularly to see if they have enough water. Make sure to put the lids back on securely, because even warm wind can quickly kill seedlings. Each week make the slits in the lid larger, gradually "hardening off" the seedlings so they will be ready to pot up or put them in the ground after they have their first set of true leaves (this is the second pair of leaves they will get). Transplant before they hit the lid or just remove it, if it's warm enough. Transplanting is best done on a cloudy day so that the sun doesn't bake the seedlings. Seedlings are just like children and should be treated gently but firmly. "Outdoor Treatment" Norm Deno's "Seed Germination Theory and Practice" (1993) is well known for its description of using gibberellic acid to jump-start germination and for advocating the use of paper towels and baggies for starting seeds. One type of cold moist stratification that he calls simply "Outdoor Treatment" makes use of temperature fluctuations in winter for especially recalcitrant seeds. You "plant" as usual with the paper towel method, but instead of putting the baggies in the fridge, you put them outside in a shed during winter. This gives you fluctuation in temps instead of steady temps. You only need to keep them away from direct light (and hungry mice!). If you want to cold stratify a bunch of different seeds, this method sounds really helpful, as it saves enormously on work, soil, space, and containers, and you end up planting only the seeds that actually germinate, which is the advantage of the paper towel method in the first place. I tried this with over 150 species during the winter of 2006-2007, and it was incredibly successful. Ninety-five percent of the different varieties had germination, as opposed to using the refrigerator, where I often get the situation where I can tell the seed is alive (it doesn't rot), but it won't germinate. I will be using Outdoor Treatment to cold stratify from now on. Snow Planting : This isn't strictly cold stratification but it's a wonderfully mysterious method and should delight children. It works for hardy annuals, biennials, and short-lived perennials--seeds that enjoy some cold to germinate and grow but don't truly require cold stratification - for instance, members of poppy family, heartsease, and sweet alyssum. During the winter after a heavy snow, go outside with your seeds and just broadcast them out on the snow. Believe it or not, they will come up in the spring. I tried this with California poppy, and it works wonderfully well. Just make sure you are broadcasting them in an area where they will be able to grow. This is a great way to beat the dulls of winter. Whichever method you try, remember that seed germination of perennials is an art, not a science. Patience is definitely required, and even the most experienced growers fail sometimes. That's why you always keep some seeds back to try again.:)

Angelica Sinensis or Dong Quai

Star Catcher — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:20:04 GMT

This plant builds female and creative energy, bringing inspiration and helping new ideas to grow and build a foundation. Usually associated with the blood in traditional Chinese medicine, this magick herb is also considered the best for women and is tonic, sedative, and estrogenic. Logically enough, it is co nnected to the Empress and to Venus.An aromatic herb, it is sometimes used to flavor liquor. Legends says that angelica was revealed in a dream by an angel to cure the deadly bubonic plague.

Ker-On Speaks

Star Catcher — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:23:34 GMT

You will find that once you have gained control of your emotions, living in relative calm and peace becomes a way of life. Having moved on from your programmed responses that have been ingrained from childhood, you will find it to be a much more natural way. The male role in particular has been one of taking an aggressive and protective stance in life, and this conditioning has served its purpose up until now, but will no longer be necessary. If a new Man is to emerge in readiness to take his place in the higher vibrations, the female energy must be integrated so as to achieve balance. You no longer need to set yourselves apart in that box that labels you Man or Woman. Physical differences and attributes will distinguish your gender, but beyond that you becoming a different person. The peace you seek must first come from within, and as you find that you are able to maintain such a level you exude those energies to all around you. Think of it happening on a large scale, and it is not too difficult to understand what a difference it will make. Peace throughout the nations of the world can be enforced, but what value unless the people themselves are serious in wanting peace for everyone. Clear the decks as you might say, of all the trappings of war and replace them with co-operation and intent to again become One. It comes down to trust and open-handed dealings, and the days of manipulation and deceit should be consigned to history. To achieve this it is necessary to replace your leadership, that represents the old ways of aggression and confrontation. Since there is a purpose to life it is useful that you take the trouble to find out what it is. Even within the times of chaos there is a plan working out, although it may not be apparent to the average person. There is a great cleansing in progress so that the next stage of your evolution can commence. By bringing the dark energies to the fore they stand before you for cleansing and transmutation, to allow for more Light to be grounded upon Earth. You are responsible for your own creations and the period you are now, is one where you should be actively working to remove those that cannot be taken into the Golden Age. If any energy lacks balance and harmony it will be out of place in the higher dimensions. Within everyone is the potential to rise up, but then not everyone has that desire or realization of their higher purpose. However, evolution is ongoing and you cannot stop too long in one place. The pull of the higher vibrations will draw you out of the old pattern of life. Some souls fight to retain what they have, in the misconception that they will lose their identity if they move into the Light. They fail to realize that your present dimension is illusory and a creation of your own making. Finding your true self again is essential to your understanding, and far from taking away your identity adds another level that reveals who you truly are. Allowing yourself to flow with the new energies is your best approach, and will bring you a gentle introduction to your full potential. One thing for sure is that once you have placed your feet upon the new path that leads to Ascension, you will never want to go back to the old ways. Life becomes more purposeful and joyful, as you create a permanent link with your Higher Self. You will be guided so that you follow the pathway to your destiny, and shown what you need to do to place your feet firmly upon it. Suddenly you find many aspects of your life coming into balance, and for many it will bring necessary changes that may even affect your work or family life situation. You are preparing for the greatest upliftment you have ever experienced, and it will release you from the cycle of duality. What you are heading for is your return to the levels of Light that allow you to exist in absolute harmony, with all of the beauty of creation. You lose nothing and gain everything, as you find your real home in the energies of Light and Love. Your present dimension is barely within the Light, but that is changing due to the magnificent efforts of the Lightworkers. Instead of continuing on the downward path to oblivion, the tide has turned and you are glimpsing the new path that is opening up before you. It is full of hope and the manifestation of your wildest dreams of Utopia, where a heavenly existence provides that elusive happiness that you seek. You are so near to seeing a multitude of events occurring on Earth that will lift it up in quick time. With it shall come the end of duality, and the minions of the dark will be removed to continue their chosen life style elsewhere. It is their path and way of experiencing, and until they realize their connection with the Light they cannot rise above their present limitations. They are loved as souls who carry the Light, and all have the potential to rise up again. None are abandoned, and indeed many higher Beings follow their plight looking for the first glimmer of hope that they are rising in consciousness. Life is for you too serious to call it a game, yet in essence that is what it is and when it is over you return to your true selves. You are acting out exactly what roles you have chosen, but the rules of the game are such that you are responsible for any harm you cause others. However there is no judgement or punishment, just simply an opportunity to understand the reasons for your actions. Situations where you have erred are presented to you again, and it is almost certain that as a result lessons will be learnt. How else would you expect to evolve except through such experiences? I am Ker-On from Venus, and many from my planet have been in the forefront of making contact with you. With First Contact we will come openly to Earth, and you will see how we are very much like you in appearance. Many of the members of the Galactic Federation are also very human looking, and these shall be the first ones to contact you. The plan has been carefully thought out, and we shall not overpower you with our presence. However, the sooner you feel comfortable with us, we can join up and forge ahead with the many projects to be carried out. You will find us easy to get on with, as we do understand you and have a great love for you and your accomplishments. Thank you Ker-On

The Elements of the Wise and their Correspondences with The Pentagram.

Star Catcher — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 04:23:06 GMT

The five elements that make up the whole of creation and their associations with the Pentacle and Wicca. Earth : Wisecraft Air : Philosophy/Knowledge Fire : Magick Water : Love/Worship Aether or Spirit : Mystery/Mysticism Ether or Spirit, the fifth non-material element, binds the other four together, but which is greater than the sum of its parts. The Pentagram. Is a five pointed star, that represents the five Elements of the Wise. It is also the symbol of the perfected human being. The four elements of material creation are surmounted by the fifth Element Of Spirit, the element that links us to the divine. Each of the points of the Pentagram relates to a particular element and correspondence. Water : Is the element of love, that which unites and binds us to others and to the universe around us. Water represents the religious element of Wicca. Fire : Relates to energy, will, passion, in Wicca the Magickal Powers. Earth : Wisecraft is Earth, the practical knowledge of the Wise Woman and Cunning Man Air : Relates to the mind, intellect, word, thoughts, philosophy, our ideas about the Universe and our world view. Spirit : Represents Wicca as a initiatory Mystery Tradition, the mystical aspect of Wicca. The Magicians Maxim in Relation To The Elements Magicians Maxim Water - To Dare Fire - To Will Earth - To Learn Air - To Keep Silent Aether or Spirit - To Become Perfected

Gathering your Herbs

Star Catcher — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:37:48 GMT

The magickal hours to gather are, three, six, nine and twelve. Make sure your plants are healthy and free from pesticides. Gather your flowers and herbs in a basket or something else handy and open. If you place your plants in a plastic bag for instance, they will become hot and dilute their healing properties. Also if you dry plants that have been placed in a bag they will turn black. If a plant other than a weed suddenly grows in your garden, take note of it. Things happen for a reason and it may be that you or someone you know is in need of the healing qualities of the plant. It could just be that your garden is in need of healing as well. Also, jade is good for gardening as is anything green.

Master Li Ch'ing Yuen

Star Catcher — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:22:02 GMT

Master Li Ch’ing Yuen, a Chinese herbalist, was born in 1678 in the hill country of southwest China. While still a “young man” of 50 , he met a venerable old sage who maintained his exquisite health by drinking a soup daily made from tonic herbs. Master Li started drinking this broth. Master Li met several more elderly sages and learned secrets of longevity from each. His efforts and commitment were well rewarded; he lived to the age of 252, was married 14 times and lived through 11 generations of his own descendants ( almost 200 in his lifetime). Master Li died in 1930 after a banquet in his honor. In case you don’t believe this story, modern-day scholars have verified his age. Excerpt from Rosemary Gladstar’s book ” Longevity and Well-Being”

Licorice

Star Catcher — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:38:12 GMT

Delicious Licorice will help to keep your lungs clear, your digestive tract calm, your colon cleansed and your adrenal gland functioning properly. Alexander the Great gave his soldiers Licorice to boost their energy before a battle, so why not try some if you are feeling exhausted and stressed? Licorice is a reliable and pleasant way to soothe a sore throat. It is also very helpful for bronchitis, congestion and colds. As an effective antibacterial, the glycyrrhizinic acid in Licorice seems to stop the growth of many bacteria and is a further support for the respiratory tract by treating infection. The Chinese utilize Licorice as a powerful antitoxin and use it for the treatment of pesticide poisoning. It may also curb malaria. As an antiviral, Licorice combats viruses, including influenza-A, hepatitis-B, Epstein-Barr virus (chronic fatigue) and holds promise for the treatment of HIV. Studies have shown Licorice to be effective in treating viral hepatitis, particularly chronic active hepatitis (under a doctor's care), due to its well-documented antiviral activity.

Milk Thistle

Star Catcher — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 03:00:02 GMT

Milk thistle works due to its ability to inhibit the factors responsible for liver damage, coupled with the fact it stimulates production of new liver cells to replace old damaged ones. Milk thistle has been proven to protect the liver from damage. The detrimental effects of environmental toxins, alcohol, drugs and chemotherapy may be countered with this valuable herb. Milk thistle's hepatoprotective effects may be explained by its function of altering the liver cell membrane structure, blocking the absorption of toxins into the cells. Milk thistle is also an antioxidant that is more potent than vitamins C and E. Parts Used: Seeds for powdered or liquid extract.

Catuaba

Star Catcher — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 02:04:01 GMT

CATUABA PLANT SUMMARY Main Preparation Method: tincture or infusion Main Actions (in order): aphrodisiac, nervine (balances/calms nerves), anti-anxiety, central nervous system tonic (tones, balances, strengthens the nervous system), antiviral Main Uses: as an aphrodisiac and libido stimulant for males and females to tone, balance, and calm the central nervous system (and for nerve pain, exhaustion, over stimulation) for nervousness, emotional stress, and insomnia (related to overactive neurotransmitters) as a general tonic (tones, balances, strengthens overall body functions) for poor memory, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia Properties/Actions Documented by Research: analgesic (pain-reliever), antibacterial, antiviral, vasodilator, vasorelaxant Other Properties/Actions Documented by Traditional Use: anti-anxiety, aphrodisiac, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), central nervous system tonic (tones, balances, strengthens), nervine (balances/calms nerves), tonic (tones, balances, strengthens) Cautions: none

"China's Immortality Herb"

Star Catcher — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:46:10 GMT

Research on the Potential Health Benefits of Jiaogulan In the 1970s the Chinese government asked scientists to research the unusually large number of centagenarians in the small mountain provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi and Shicuan . In addition to unusual longevity the researchers found low incidences of many common ailments associated with aging including, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer's and cancer. After over 10 years of study they found one common thread. A plant the locals called "xiancao" the "immortality" plant. The villagers drank it several times a day simply because it tasted good and is naturally sweet. Researchers discovered in the lab that this simple mountain herb, called Jiaogulan, had much more to offer than just good taste.

Shamanic Lunar Calendar

Star Catcher — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:36:54 GMT

Day 1 Lunar Calendar ~ the day marked as the New Moon on your Western calendar, but really is the day of No Moon Day of Light A good day for finding the answer to who you are, why you are here, and what your kharma is. An analytical day. Not a good day for healing others. Better to be alone by yourself, a hermit. Don’t make any serious decisions about anything. Day 2 Lunar Calendar Fish with an open mouth. A day for connecting with earth energy. The day of De Cata, goddess of fortunetellers and fairytale creatures. Beautiful day for fortunetelling, looking into your future or past. Also a good day for cleansing, purification and fasting. Day 3 Lunar Calendar Leopard A day for connecting with yang energy, energy up. Very high activity. A nice day for taking risks, having adventures, or playing sports. Good for making a foundation for a new beginning. At nighttime, the border between day 3 and 4, it is the best time for cleaning your aura or for others, to remove curses or foolish information. Day 4 – Tree A good day for planting trees. Great for praying to your ancestors and doing pokiany. You may ask for protection from your ancestors. A good day for going to church or the temple. It’s a nice day for beginning healing treatments, having new clients. Better to be around home. Day 5 – Unicorn A day for making decisions about what you need to do. A day for making plans if you want to change something in your life. Not a good day for tricky people or adventure. Day 6 – Rainbow It’s a great day for meditating and looking inside your-self. Good day for love and marriage. The sky is open. The energy is young and moving, and you may receive this energy through the clouds. The coo-coo bird may tell you your fortune today. You may do any kind of fortune telling or divination on your own and everything you see will be true. Day 7 – Rooster Demons and black energy are afraid of him. Darkness is afraid. Witches will be sick. On this day, it’s good to give yin and yang energy for sick people. On this day, secrets and darkness are exposed. Day 8 – Phoenix, double Good day for adventurous people and for those who are willing to be heroes and give their lives for someone. It’s a dangerous day for those who work sitting down. It’s better to be active today. Day 9 – Bat The devil incarnated on this day. Stalin’s birthday. A dangerous day for taking a night trip. In the room where there are sick people it’s best to keep a lit candle on the table all through the night. A day of revelry for black energy. A day of scary and frightening sights. You need to make the sign of the cross and turn three times counter-clockwise. Don’t meditate. Day 10 – Fountain A day for making connections with home or family. A very nice day for building a house, making connections with people, fixing any misunderstandings between people, and putting an end to any fighting. Proud and independent people were born on this day. Day 11 – Crown, Fire Snake A day for connections with secrets and mysteries. There is a huge cosmic power on this day. A day for poltergeists. A good day for healing people with heavy diseases or sicknesses. Day 12 – Cup A day for manifestation of dreams. A day for developing, or revealing the subtle world. It’s a good day to give money, be kind, show love and compassion for others. A good day for starting to heal any kind of disease. It’s a day for making sacrifices. You need to cleanse through water. Day 13 – Wheel It’s a day when a situation from the past may repeat itself. You may meet people from long ago, or find something you had previously lost or forgotten about. You need to finish everything you’ve started, but not start anything new. It’s a day for inspection. Think more about the past. Day 14 – Labyrinth or Pipe A heavy day. Give attention to details, symbols and each object around you and try to find meaning there. You have to listen to and take advice from others. A good day for traveling. Day 15 – Jackal A critical day. A day for witch’s debauch, and for spells and curses. A day when you can do psychic or astral attack. Very heavy and scary dreams will come. People are vulnerable to attacks. Don’t make any important decisions on this day. A very good day to receive knowledge about the anti-world. Day 16 – Butterflies and Pigeons (innocence) A day for purification, return to God. A good day to go to church or baptize children. A day for realization of dreams. A good day for channeling and receiving information. On this day, your creativity has a nice level. A good day for making decisions. Day 17 – Rabbits Sexual activity (violent). A day of chaos and spontaneity. A good day for a big celebration, like an anniversary. Not a good day for single people. Day 18 – Monkey A tricky day with lots of masks. A day for intrigue. Good day for healing. Patients on this day are involved with alcohol. They may be very cunning. A day when prostitution souls are reborn. Day 19 – Spider A critical day of attachment and depression. Sick people on this day are very sticky around you. Day 20 – Eagle A positive day for making a big plan for your life or career. A day of freedom from heavy weight or baggage. Day 21 – Horse A neutral day. Yin and yang are in balance. A good day for sports or trekking. An active day. Day 22 – Elephant or Key A day for revealing different kinds of secrets, such as for marriage or wisdom. On this day or in the nighttime, you may see a dream with a key, which means you will stand on a step for serious business. But if you see a book, then this means you will receive a letter. Day 23 – Crocodile A critical day. A day in which foolish and vile people celebrate on. Such as those who may take advantage of or abuse others. Good day for those who take risks in their professions such as police officers. Not a good day for healing or beginning a new project. People need protection on this day. You need to be cautious. Day 24 – A Swinging Bear that you cannot stop. This day children need protection. Be extra watchful over children. Sexual energy is at a low-level. Day 25 – Turtle A day for awakening the intuition and meditation. Better to stay at home and doing some meditation practice, such as dancing, singing, listening to music, painting, prostration, or cleaning house. Day 26 – Toad A day for alchemistry. Day for rebirthing, changing, healing, but use power wisely. Make control with your power, don’t take on more than you can handle. Nice day for healing people; however, better not to take on new clients. Waxing Moon Day 27 – Sheep A day for doing business with groups of people who help others. Need to have active attention for life. Day for a courageous project. Even the most delirious, hectic plan could be successful. If you see a dream on this day (or even Day 26) with a sheep or water, it indicates that something new is coming, something is changing in your life. May also be day for waxing moon. Day 28 – Lotus Flower Day for restoring the world. Balance, truth, compassion. A good day to look at your future. Visit a fortune teller. This is a nice day for cleansing your mind-body-soul. Very simple and easy to quit any bad habits or go out from any crisis. Day 29 – Octopus Day for depression, sadness, like you’re missing something. Chronic diseases are sharpening. Do not provoke with alcohol or taking drugs. Do not see a fortune teller. Best day for prayer, making penance, and spiritual cleansing. Day 30 – Swan Day for thinking and watching your thoughts. To finish any kind of business you’ve been working on. Connect with your family, children. Divorce with any bad or foolish connections. Nice day for healing people from alcoholism or smoking. Good day for occult rituals

Gotu Kola

Star Catcher — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:21:20 GMT

*Gotu Kola grows robustly in summer with rain and heat ! *Gotu Kola is used in meditation incenses Gotu Kola is useful in: Blood Conditions aids in blood diseases hemorrhoids improves the flow of blood throughout the body by strengthening the veins and capillaries phlebitis (inflammation of the veins) purifies the blood varicose veins heals blood vessels Brain and Nervous System Conditions aids in restful sleep brain cell stimulant brain energizer and preserver brain nutritive calming properties excellent mental stimulant fatigue, both mental and physical for children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) because of its stimulating effect on the brain (increasing one's ability to focus while having a soothing and relaxing effect on an overactive nervous system) keeps one calm for yoga and meditative practices improves and enhances memory improves mental functions such as concentration insomnia mental disorders prevents nervous breakdowns rebuilds energy reserves recovery after mental breakdowns relieves mental fatigue senility stimulates the central nervous system supports the central nervous system

Passion Flower

Star Catcher — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 02:12:03 GMT

Botanical: Passiflora incarnata Family: Passifloraceae (passionflower) Other common names: Passionflower, Maypop, Apricot Vine, Passion Vine, Blue Passionflower, Purple Passionflower, Wild Passionflower, Passiflora, Flower of the Five Wounds, Waterlemon, Corona de Cristo Passion Flower is Nature's Tranquilizer. Troubled with tension headaches? Do you toss and turn, unable to fall asleep because you are overstressed, anxious and exhausted? Do you need a restful, sound sleep without the addictive side effects usually associated with synthetic sedatives? Perhaps it's time to think of Passion Flower. Native Americans knew this secret hundreds of years ago, and today, many European herbalists prescribe Passion Flower for insomnia, nervous anxiety and relief of pain and neuralgia. It just might provide the relief you need. Disclaimer: The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider. History: Passion Flower is the State Flower of Tennessee and a perennial woody vine with a trailing stem that can climb to the tops of many trees seeking the sun, often covering spans up to thirty feet in length. There are about four hundred known species of Passiflora, and most are natives of the Americas. Passiflora is native to North, Central and South America and grows along hedgerows, on the edges of woods, in thickets and over open ground. It bears white to pale lavender flowers of about two inches across with edible berries. The fruits ripen only in warm, sunny climates, and the vine thrives in well-drained, sandy (slightly acid) soil in sun. In the sixteenth century, early Spanish explorers were astounded by the beauty of the exotic climbing vine that resembled elements of the Passion and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and named it Passion Flower in honor of the agonies of Christ. They soon found it to be a source of medicine for the Native Americans. The Houma tribe added it to drinking water as a tonic, and in the Yucatan, it was a remedy for insomnia, hysteria and convulsions in children. Other tribes used it in poultices to heal bruises, and the early Algonquians brewed Passion Flower in a tea to soothe their nerves. In 1783, a visiting European doctor described its use as a remedy for epilepsy, and other early physicians prescribed the fruit juice as a wash for sore and tired eyes. The plant was largely ignored in conventional North American medicine until the late 1800s, when it became a popular nineteenth-century remedy for insomnia. It finally received official recognition in the United States National Formulary from 1916 to 1936, and the aerial parts of the plant are used in herbal medicine. Passion Flower may be a useful bridge between traditional herbal medicine and the treatment of modern ills, especially in cases of anxious states, depression and patients trying to wean themselves from synthetic sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Despite the dearth of research into Passion Flower in the United States, the herb is frequently prescribed in Europe to ease tension, restlessness, irritability and mild insomnia. However, because of its increased popularity and use in the United States, clinical trials will hopefully be conducted to determine why the plant appears to produce effective results. Aside from its medicinal value, the fruits are pulped for jams and desserts, and because they create a popping sound when mashed, the plant received one of its common names, "Maypop." Some of the constituents in Passion Flower are alkaloids (harmaline, harmalol, harmol, harmine), flavonoids (vitexin, isovitexin, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin glycosides [orientin, homoorientin, lucenin], quercetin, rutin), carbohydrates, benzopyrones, fatty acids, gamma-pyrone derivatives (maltol, ethylmaltol), passicol, gums amino acids and calcium. Beneficial Uses: Passion Flower is a very gentle (but effective) sedative that has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. The alkaloids and flavonoids are believed to be effective, non-addictive sedatives, which promote restful, sound sleep, particularly in cases of nervous insomnia. It is one of nature's best tranquilizers and has been used for centuries as a reliable remedy for nervous, menopausal and premenstrual tension, irritability, fatigue and tension headaches. The exact mechanism of action is unknown. Activation of GABA receptors by maltol and gamma-pyrone derivatives may mediate passionflower's anxiolytic and sedative properties. It is said to gently shift moods, alter perception and aid concentration, and the alkaloids are thought to act in a similar way as MAO inhibitors, which may be of some help in cases of depression. In Italy, Passion Flower is used to treat hyperactive children. Its relaxing qualities appear to extend to relaxing spasms, relieving muscle tension and other manifestations of extreme anxiety. This is beneficial for restless leg syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and irritable bowel syndrome. Passionflower is considered an anodyne that reduces pain, and as such, is used to relieve headache and nerve pain, the pain of shingles and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Passionflower is thought to relieve hypertension and lower blood pressure. Some tests claim that it relaxes the walls of the arteries, which may be useful for maintaining good heart health. In laboratory tests, Passion Flower was able to stop the growth of certain kinds of thyroid malignancy, and further research may, hopefully, bring positive results in this area. There are reports that Passion Flower stops chemical reactions that cause nausea and vomiting as a result of withdrawal from cocaine, heroine or opiate painkillers, and this may prove useful for those patients trying to withdraw from such substances. A bitter principle in Passion Flower is thought to be beneficial for functional digestive problems as well. Passion Flower may help a diminished sex drive. The herb is a source of an antioxidant chemical known as chrysin, which helps the body conserve testosterone. It does not cause the body to produce more of the hormone, but by conserving it, the action has a direct effect of increasing testosterone levels, which may boost sex drive. Recommended Dosage: Take two (2) capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes. Contraindications: Pregnant and nursing women should not use Passion Flower. Since it may cause sleepiness, it should not be used before driving or operating machinery. Children should never be given this herb in any form, and older adults and children between two and twelve should take low dosages (preferably in consultation with a physician). Do not use Passion Flower if you take MAO inhibitors, and it should not be taken with other prescription sedatives or sedative herbs or alcohol, as it increases their sedative effects. Passionflower may have additive anticoagulant effect.