Get the Skinny on Blood Sugar and How to Manage It!

The media is teeming with articles warning us of the meteoric rise of Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes in the US.  Do you have the most current information?

Do you wonder how you might best prevent blood sugar problems for yourself and/or for your clients and loved ones?  Michael Gaeta LAc, CND, will be offering a Sunday morning micro workshop on Optimizing Glycemic Control.  This class will give you a snapshot of how to deal with blood sugar issues wholistically.   You will leave better educated, and with the necessary tools to maintain healthy glycemic levels for life.

This class is open to student and health care practitioners, as well as the community.

The class is eligible for Continuing Ed credits.

I want to personally encourage you to consider taking this class with us at The Wellspring School.  I can say firsthand that Michael is an inspired and informed presenter.  I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Michael for 22 years. We were Amma Therapy classmates, back in the day, and our professional paths continued to cross over the years. Michael used to travel to Idaho to teach our business classes and was so well liked that he still provides mentorship to a handful of practitioners who graduated from those programs.  Michael has taught for Standard Process and Mediherb all over the United States and is always well received.  We are fortunate to have the opportunity to bring him to the Wellspring.  Let’s give him a cheery Portland welcome!

The class is Sunday, Nov. 4th from 9-1pm $40.

Portland Wholistic Nutriton Program – Enrollment & Classes Start in January!

We’ve been waiting a long time to be able to make this announcement! Our Portland school branch is now formally licensed by the Oregon State Department of Education and we are officially opening enrollment for our very first Wholistic Nutrition Program in Portland from January 2nd through February 15th, 2012. We will be accepting applications from students who’ve been taking individual classes with us as well as new students who are interested in pursuing program level certification for this nationally recognized program.

Check out our current schedule of classes and download a copy of the current student handbook that includes all of the required registration and application materials as well as info on pricing, payment plans, etc.

Classes for this program will run January 2012 through June 2013. The enrollment period is in tandem with new classes starting up. There are some really great discounts that we will offer to  this first group only!

The next class is Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine on January 21st & 22nd, 2012. After that we have Wholistic Nutrition I & II in February (25th & 26th) and March (17th & 18th). We still offer our classes to the community as well, so if there’s a topic that’s of interest to you, we welcome you to take the class. Check out the classes page on our website for more information on all of these classes.

The program incorporates Eastern (Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory) and Western principles and is a unique opportunity for acupuncturists, Asian body workers, physical therapists, personal trainers, healthcare practitioners, individuals seeking to start a stand-alone practice, or anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of Wholistic Nutrition!

The 280-hour program consists of 18 classes that meet one weekend a month to accommodate busy work schedules and real life demands! This format is ideal for commuters, full-time jobs and anyone with a busy schedule. Classes can also be taken individually for continuing education credits or personal enrichment.

Our past and current student body for this program include RN’s, PT’s, OT’s, Amma Therapists, Bodyworkers, Teachers, and many folks from different professions, all of whom tell us this program has given them some of the best tools possible in applying the benefits of nutrition.

It’s really a great program that we believe can make a difference. What are you waiting for? Contact us with any questions. 503.688.1482 or info@thewellspring.org.

“Currently I am incorporating the knowledge and wisdom(learned from The Wellspring School Wholistic Nutrition Program classes) to enhance my already established physical therapy practice. The combination couldn’t be better.” 

T. Hindson, CPT, CHN

Dietary Supplements & Mortality Rate – What’s That About???

Did you all happen to see the somewhat unbelievable slue of articles out earlier this week that stated according to a recent study taking multivitamins could shorten one’s life?   If you missed it, check out the abstract in the AMA Internal Medicine Archives entitled, Dietary Supplements and Mortality Rate in Older Women.  The Alliance for Natural Health has posted a response to the study itself and asks a lot of great questions about the validity of the scientific method applied and subsequent gross generalizations made.

Regardless of your stance on supplementation the bigger issue is how these types of scientifically flawed studies are leveraged in the legislative process and give momentum to the types of bills that would regulate or deny public access to supplementation. We aren’t just talking multivitamins here. These types of studies and corresponding propaganda have the potential to be used against all herbs and supplements.

Below the ANH’s article. Read it!

Shame on AMA’s Archives of Internal Medicine

October 11, 2011

Did you hear the breaking news last night—that multivitamins may shorten your life? Here’s how junk science from the AMA set off the media frenzy.

Bloomberg phrased it this way: “Multivitamins and some dietary supplements, used regularly by an estimated 234 million US adults, may do more harm than good, according to a study that tied their use to higher death rates among older women.” The study’s authors outrageously concluded, “We see little justification for the general and widespread use of dietary supplements.”

Read the rest of the article here!

Protect Your Consumer Rights for Supplements!

Please take a moment to look into the recent FDA draft guidance issued on July 1, 2011, to comply with the “New Dietary Ingredients (NDI)” notification protocols included in the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). These new guidelines potentially impact any and all supplemental ingredients introduced to the market since October 1994. This is a very roundabout complex draft that promises to bog down the supplement industry and make many products (L-theanine, SamE, Rhodiola) possibly unavailable for years.

Don’t be fooled that these regulations are for your protection! They will only serve to support the pharmaceutical industry.  The European Union recently (May 1, 2011) passed regulations that have made nearly all supplements unavailable throughout the European Union. Please help stop this from happening here in the US. Speak up to protect your rights as a consumer.

Keep in mind that properly prescribed pharmaceuticals are estimated to be between the 4 – 6th leading cause of death in the U.S.  On the contrary, statistics published in the U.S. National Poison Data System 2009 Annual Report indicate the number of people killed in 2009 across America by vitamins, minerals, amino acids or herbal supplements is exactly zero.

For more information on the DSHEA and the related NDI, check out the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH). The ANH is also driving a National Lobby Day (Thursday, September 8th) for all consumers to speak out against NDI.

Comments are currently open till October 3rd, 2011. 

Docket info: Document ID: FDA-2011-D-0376-0001

Document Type: Notice

What can you do!

You can sign a petition here:

comment directly here

You can join ANH and call your Congressman on Sept. 8th (that’s tomorrow!) details here.

You can pass this on, via email, twitter, facebook, linkedin and whatever other social media you use

In addition to the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), below are some additional resources to keep current on this issue:

FDA/Law Blog

FDA

American Botanical Council

Daily Dose I – This Weekend in Boise w/ New Instructor, Jessie Hensley, MS, RD

Anyone taking either the Amma Bodywork Therapy Program or the Wholistic Nutrition Program (WNP) is familiar with Daily Dose classes. Where else can you learn about uses, sources, safety, etc., for vitamins and minerals alongside French Green Clay, Castor Oil Packs and Nettle Tea? This is definitely a unique class packed full of ever evolving information relevant to the holistic healthcare practitioner, nutrition professional or anyone interested in learning more about healthy living. It’s a little different every time and definitely worth repeating!

We are very excited to be offering Daily Dose I this weekend, August 6th & 7th, 9:00-5:30 both days, with one of our new WNP instructors, Jessie Hensley, MS, RD. To give you a feel for Jessie and her approach to nutrition and the upcoming class in particular, we’ve included a recent Q&A with her from our Summer Newsletter. Check it out and if you are interested in taking the class, call the school office to register at 208.388.0206. There are still a couple of spots available. The price of the workshop is $275, but for alumni re-taking it again it’s 50% off!

 

More about Jessie!

Jessie Hensley, a Wellspring Wholistic Nutrition Program Instructor, is dedicated to helping others by exposing them to wholistic health knowledge. She earned her Masters of Science in Nutrition at Bastyr University. Following graduation, she interned at hospitals and became a Registered Dietitian. Currently, Jessie consults with nutrition clients, writes nutrition-related articles, and teaches health topics for Art Institute of Seattle, University of Phoenix, and the YMCA. Jessie will be teaching Daily Dose I in Boise August 6th & 7th.

Q: When did you know this was the path your life would take?
A: I had become increasingly interested in nutrition after years of eating poorly and not feeling very good in my adult life. When it finally became apparent to me that nutrition was such a basic foundation of health, I decided to go to graduate school to study it.

Q: Where are you presently practicing?
A: I am starting my own practice in Seattle this summer, but it doesn’t have a name yet! I’d love to hear some suggestions! I am thinking of something along the lines of “real solutions for regular people.”

Q: How do you challenge yourself to keep up with new knowledge in the field?
A: That is always a challenge, especially in the nutrition field, in which opinions are constantly changing, the media picks and chooses the issues, and new scientific discoveries are constantly being made. To keep up, I read a lot, but I stay grounded by remembering the principles behind traditional nutrition, which don’t really change.

Q: What’s the biggest impact your practice has had on your life?
A: Practicing nutrition has resulted in better health for myself and those I’ve shared my knowledge with.

Q: How did you begin teaching?
A: My first teaching experience was in Japan, teaching conversational English to children and adults. After that, I volunteered as a community nutrition educator during grad school, which was a lot of fun. I also volunteered as a teacher in Ghana. Since then I’ve been teaching undergraduates.

Q: What’s your educational background?
A: My MS in Nutrition was earned from Bastyr University. Upon graduating, I went through a 9-month dietetic internship, to become a Registered Dietitian. During the internship, I worked at hospitals, long-term care facilities, school districts, and community nutrition programs. My BA is in Liberal Arts & Sciences, from Virginia Tech, with concentrations in biology, chemistry, history and journalism.

Q: How does teaching affect your practice and inner life?
A: There’s a saying that you haven’t really learned a subject until you’ve taught it. I think this is very true. I feel that, by teaching nutrition, I can better explain it to my clients. It makes me confident that I know it, inside and out.

Q: How did your life before becoming a teacher prepare to take on the role of teacher?
A: I used to be a pretty shy person, and would never have imagined myself standing in front of a class by choice. I think writing, first for my college newspaper, and then as a freelance writer, helped to bring me out of my shell, as well as giving me experience in clearly communicating ideas to an audience. Moving around a lot and traveling have also helped me become a more social and outgoing person. Both of my parents were teachers at some point, as well, so maybe it’s in the genes.

Survival Skills for the Modern Day Wholistic Warrior – (Part 3)

Seaweed, Green Clay & Other Essential Nutrients

Part 3 of a 3-part series:

Contributed by Rylen Feeney

As noted in my previous post, I can’t spend enough telling you how wonderful wheatgrass is and how everyone should have some in their diet! There are two other nutrients, green clay and seaweed, that I would like to focus on. These really round out what I consider to be the top three essential for daily good health and counter-acting the negative effects of exposure to environmental toxins.

GREEN or BENTONITE CLAY

Clay is a powerful yet gentle detoxifier.  It can been used as an absorbing protective barrier or in baths to remove exposure to radiation and other toxins as well as be consumed with water to bind and absorb toxins internally.

“The Soviet Union put French Green Clay in chocolate bars and dispensed them freely to the masses to remove radiation their citizens were exposed to after the disaster.”
 (www.janethull.com). Furthermore, they buried the reactor in beds of clay and workers at nuclear planet in Russia cover their bodies in Bentonite clay under their radiation suits to prevent the absorption of radioactive substances.

Green Clay is found in seabeds in France and India. The clay helps balances body pH, has a high negative ion charge which in turn in responsible for it’s ability to bind with heavy metals and chemical toxins in the body.
 Green clay is rich in trace amounts of Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Manganese, Phosphorous, Zinc, Aluminum, Silicon, Copper, Selenium, Cobalt, Micro-algae, Kelp and other phyto-nutrients.

Download Handout on: Uses and Directions for Green Clay or see www.aboutclay.com

SEAWEED

Kelp and other seaweeds are wonderful nourishing foods.   Many claim that Kelp can be taken safely and preventively rather than the Potassium Iodine to protect the thyroid from radiation poisoning.

“Seaweed offers broadest range of minerals of any food.  Minerals found in the ocean mirror minerals found in blood.  Sea vegetables are an excellent source of iodine and vitamin K, B-vitamin folate, and magnesium, iron and calcium, and the B-vitamins riboflavin and pantothenic acid. In addition, sea vegetables contain good amounts of lignans, plant compounds with cancer-protective properties.  Lignans have been credited with inhibiting estrogen synthesis in fat cells as effectively as some of the drugs used in cancer chemotherapy. Diets high in folate-rich foods are associated with a significantly reduced risk for colon cancer.  An abundance of folic acid helps prevent birth defects and cardiovascular disease. Sea vegetables promote healthy thyroid function. With a good source of magnesium, sea vegetables have been shown to reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart attack, it also may help prevent migraine headaches, and reduce the severity of asthma symptoms.”   (Wellspring School student handout 2009)

“If there is insufficient iodine in the diet radioactive iodine-131 will be absorbed and collected in the thyroid gland. Even if radioactive iodine is absorbed by the thyroid, taking natural iodine helps offset the side effects of exposure.  According to Dr. Russell Morgan, one mg. of iodine for children and five mg. for adults taken daily will reduce by about 80 percent the radioactive iodine accumulated in the thyroid.  Whole foods are the best source of iodine, e.g. sea vegetables like hijiki, arame, kombu and dulse.  Iodine is leached from the thyroid gland by drinking chlorinated water.  Avoid iodized salt, which contains excessive sodium and no potassium.  Sea vegetables are rich in vitamins and contain most if not all of the essential minerals and trace elements.”  (Northland New Zealand ChemTrails Watch)

Sea vegetables are classified by their color.  The most popular types are:

• Nori: dark purple-black color that turns phosphorescent green when toasted, famous for its role in making sushi rolls.
• Kelp: light brown to dark green in color, oftentimes available in flake form.
• Hijiki: looks like small strands of black wiry pasta, has a strong flavor.
• Kombu: very dark in color and generally sold in strips or sheets, often used as a flavoring for soups or to soften and salt beans.
• Wakame: similar to kombu, most commonly used to make Japanese miso soup.
• Arame: this lacy, wiry sea vegetable is sweeter and milder in taste than many others
• Dulse: soft, chewy texture and a reddish-brown color.

All of the above can be incorporated into many recipes or added as garnish to dishes. There are countless recipes available on-line. For more information on seaweed, check out the website of one of our past Wholistic Nutrition Program instructors, Jennifer Adler, to view her “Seaweed 101” video. http://www.passionatenutrition.com/seaweed-101/.

I think it is important to mention that all seaweed sources need to be clean and free of heavy metals and toxins. Seaweed should still be eaten in small amounts, as it is a powerful and salty food.  It is something that should be part of a healthy diet, not something we load up on in an emergency situation. I think that what is currently available is good but I would be wary of anything coming from the Pacific Ocean in the near future.  Eden Foods is a brand that I trust.

Other important dietary considerations: An anti-radiation diet should focus on the following foods as constants in a daily diet:

• Miso soup
• High beta carotene vegetables
• Beans and lentils
• Potassium, calcium and mineral rich foods
• Fermented/Cultured foods
• High nucleotide content foods to assist in cellular repair including spirulina, chlorella, algae, yeast, sardines, liver, anchovies and mackerel
• Cod liver oil and olive oil
• Avoid sugars, sweets, wheat & commercial non-cultured dairy.
• A good multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement that includes D3
• Black & Green Tea that contains tannins
• Mushrooms: Mushrooms are a leading source of selenium and ergothioneine both reported to help protect cells in the body and boost immunity.

For specific reasons for each of these recommendations, see the resources below for explanations and more details.

• Nutrients and description of Anti-radiation Diet: Safe Space Protection
• Complete source of foods and ideas to prevent and minimize radiation poisoning: Natural Solutions Foundation
• On Iodine dosing: Dr. David Brownstein Blog
• On mushrooms: 6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World

I hope that something from my posts this week has resonated with you. Whether it’s a renewed commitment to your own health, a new resource or use for a nutrient rich food, or just taking a moment to consider that we are all connected, responsible and capable of transformation, these are just a few of the tools available to the modern day wholistic warrior.

Be well,

Rylen

Survival Skills for the Modern Day Wholistic Warrior (Part 2)

 

Part 2 of a 3-part series:

Contributed by Rylen Feeney

As the nuclear reactors in Japan are cooling, it is important that we remain calm but vigilant about our food, air and water.  Radiation travels in unpredictable ways.  Cesium 137 frequently makes its way into the food chain.  More than 15 years after Chernobyl, dangerous levels of Cesium 137 could be detected in wild boar in Croatia and reindeer in Norway. (NYT, March 21, 2011) The recommendations that will be covered in my posts this week are wise additions to our diets to protect us long-term from the environmental toxins of the world we live in today.  Whereas stocking up on Potassium Iodine may be a good choice to tuck away for an eminent disaster, it does nothing to protect us long term from the likely slow seepage of contaminants into our food, air and water.  The following recommendations are sustainable, long-term solutions for this.

There is currently a plethora of info out there on how to maximize one’s intake of clean, nutrient dense foods to minimize damage caused by exposure to toxins.  For this post, I will to focus on just one, wheatgrass, as it is one of the most powerful, yet simple foods easily available to most of us. It is something I often recommend to clients, students and use personally to address specific conditions as well as promote day-to-day health.  We cover wheatgrass specifically in one of The Wellspring School classes (Daily Dose I), it’s benefits, applications, etc. Wheatgrass remains the single most beneficial substance we can take to protect and nourish ourselves.

WHEATGRASS

“Wheat grass has only about 10-15 calories per teaspoon. It has no fat or cholesterol. It has nearly a gram of protein per teaspoon, and includes all eight of the essential amino acids, as well as 13 of the remaining 16. The amino acids it doesn’t contain are easily made within the body.  It contains Vitamins A, B1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 12; C, E and K.  A teaspoon of wheat grass contains around 15mg of Calcium, 8mcg Iodine, 3.5mcg Selenium, 870mcg Iron, 62mcg Zinc, and many other minerals.” (http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/benefits-of-wheatgrass.html#ixzz1H5K66Gjg)

The best form to consume Wheatgrass is fresh!  When fresh, wheatgrass is not only chock full of nutrients but also full of live enzymes.  Even more importantly, fresh wheatgrass is a live vital food rich in qi (life energy) and living chlorophyll.  Wheatgrass is strongly detoxifying so start small ½ an ounce to 1 ounce and build slowly to two or three ounces.  It is not unusual to experience mild detoxification symptoms such as nausea, headaches or changes in bowels at first.  The taste can also be an issue for some people.  Wheatgrass has a deep salty sweet grassy taste.  Often it is the smell that is most disagreeable.  Recommendations for making it more palatable include:

1. have a clean palate – rinse your mouth well before drinking
2. take with a squeeze of lemon or with a little pineapple juice
3. if all else fails plug your nose!  (it works!)
4. rinse down with more water or fresh juice

Fresh juice can often be found at local juice bars and Jamba juice or one can purchase a wheatgrass juicer (I recommend a manual one for ease of use and price) and juice their own from grass they buy or grow.  For directions on growing see slide presentation at the end of this post! If fresh is not available or impossible, then frozen would be the second best option and freeze-dried as the last option.  Although, many of these products claim to be as good or better than fresh I disagree.  The degree of life force and vitality is greatly diminished with these products.

Please note that Wheatgrass is gluten-free and is generally well tolerated by all.

Consider the following benefits:

• BLOOD BUILDER: Wheatgrass juice is very high in enzymes and chlorophyll. It contains up to 70% chlorophyll, which is an important blood builder. The chlorophyll molecule closely resembles that of the hemoglobin molecule. The major difference is the chlorophyll molecule contains magnesium as its central atom, and the hemoglobin molecule contains iron. The molecular structure of these two substances is almost identical in all other respects.

• OXYGENATES THE CELLS: Many of the benefits of wheatgrass can be attributed to the fact that it is a great oxygenator.  It is the Hemoglobin that is responsible for carrying oxygen to the body cells. . Because wheatgrass increases the production of hemoglobin in the blood as a result of which more oxygen reaches the body cells.  This explains much of it benefits.  Cells that are rich in oxygen are strong.  They resist free-radical damage, mutation, acidosis, and toxic accumulation.  Oxygen in the bloodstream and cells clean up waste and keep the body functioning optimally.

• ENERGIZER AND APPETITE SUPPRESSANT: The starch of the wheat berry is stored energy which, when converted to simpler sugars, is a quick energy source. It is especially good for athletes, because it is a juice, and is assimilated in 20 minutes. Wheat picks up 92 of the 102 minerals in the soil, and contains all the vitamins science has isolated. Because 1 ounce of juice equals over 2 pounds of produce nutritionally, it naturally shuts off the appetite in the brain.

• ANTIBIOTIC: Science has proven that chlorophyll will arrest growth and development of unfriendly bacteria. It acts to produce an unfavorable environment for bacterial growth, rather than by any direct action upon the bacteria themselves. Rapp and Gurney at Loyola University established that water-soluble chlorophyll inhibits the action of proteolytic bacteria (which break down protein into simpler substances) and enzymes. Hence when taken internally, (via mouth or rectum) it inhibits the putrefaction of protein by some of the bacteria that are commonly found in the digestive tract of meat eaters.

• CARCINOGENS: Dr. Chiu-nan Lai, Ph.D. at the University of Texas System Cancer Center, Dept. of Biology, Houston, Texas, has determined through using the Ames Bacterial Mutagenicity Test, that chlorophyll is the active factor in wheat sprout extract which inhibits the metabolic activity of carcinogens. A 20-year study of 2,000 telephone company workers has found that a natural ingredient in carrots and leafy green vegetables significantly reduced the risk of lung cancer in cigarette smokers. They determined that a diet high in beta-carotene negated the bad effects of 30 years of smoking. The National Cancer Institute reports that 19 of 21 studies over the years have indicated diets high in beta-carotene contribute to at least 40% risk reduction in developing some kinds of cancer.

• ANEMIA: Chlorophyll (wheatgrass) aids in rebuilding the bloodstream. Studies on various animals have shown chlorophyll to be free of any toxic reaction. The red cell count has returned to normal within 4 to 5 days of the administration of chlorophyll, even in those animals that were known to be extremely anemic or low in red blood cell count.

• FERTILITY: Wheatgrass has been used successfully by both farmers and humans to restore fertility.  It has been known to lower FSH numbers, the high magnesium is thought to build enzymes that restore sex hormones.  Additionally, regular consumption of wheat grass helps to balance PH levels in the body to make a more suitable environment for ova and sperm.

• DEODORIZER: Dr. F. Howard Westcott reported that when chlorophyll is taken internally in adequate quantity, it reduces or eliminates offensive body and breath odors. His studies showed it effective in neutralizing obnoxious odors in the mouth from food, beverages, tobacco, and metabolic changes (halitosis). It effectively neutralized obnoxious odors from perspiration due to physical exercise, nervousness, menstrual odors, etc.

• SKIN DISORDERS: The bland soothing effect of chlorophyll (wheatgrass juice) ointments are very beneficial to the treatment of various skin diseases involving the outer and underlying layers of the skin, including: itching and burning of the rectum; ivy poisoning; weeping and dry eczema, and even in conditions caused by insect bites or infection. For first and second-degree burns, the use of chlorophyll has been established as an outstanding aid. Sunburn can also be alleviated by the use of chlorophyll ointment at the time of exposure. This can reduce discomfort, and possibly infection, to a minimum. Applied after severe sunburn, it has the same gratifying results as on regular burns. The same can be said of X-ray burns. Chlorophyll can also reduce or eliminate foul odor associated with burns.

• RADIATION: The United States Army exposed guinea pigs to radiation. Those guinea pigs fed chlorophyll-rich vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli had half the mortality rate as those fed a non-chlorophyll diet.

• DANGEROUS CHEMICALS: Dr. Earp Thomas found that an ounce of wheatgrass juice in a gallon of fluoridated water would turn the fluorine into a harmless calcium-phosphate-fluoride compound. Used in wash water, it adds softness to the face and hands. In the bath, it is most soothing. It stops bleeding, eases itching, and helps sores and pimples to heal. Dr. Thomas further discovered that fruits and vegetables contaminated by sprays were thoroughly cleaned and the negative food transformed by wash water with a wisp of wheatgrass placed in the water.

• ARTERIOSCLEROSIS: Dr. Theodore M. Rudolph says that daily use of chlorophyll is most beneficial, at least to a certain degree, and in combination with other accepted methods of treatment in hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis), high blood pressure (hypertension) and even arthritis. It seems that the ability of chlorophyll to combine with oxygen, and its cleansing ability, contributes much to the removal of foreign matter from the walls of the blood vessels thus bringing the desired relief.

• SINUSES: Doctors E. Redpath and J.C. Davis found chlorophyll packs inserted into the sinuses had a drying affect, clearing up congestion, and gave immediate relief. Congested head colds were cleared up within 24 hours.

• ALLERGIES: Allergies are caused by digestive problems. Everything taken as nourishment has to be assimilated by the digestive process. Enzymes must be present in order for food to be assimilated, and of course, nature provides us with complete foods with enzymes for digestion. Toxemia and Deficiency, especially a deficiency of enzymes, can certainly be seen as the root causes for all disease.

• MISCELLANEOUS: Chlorophyll stimulates peristalsis, improves the intestines, and is a mild diuretic. E. Bircher, research scientist, says chlorophyll increases the functions of the heart, affects the vascular system, the intestines, the uterus and the lungs. It raises the basic nitrogen exchange, and is therefore a tonic, which considering its stimulating properties, cannot be compared with any other. In the investigations of chlorophyll, Doctors Redpath and Davis, Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists at Temple University, treated over 1000 patients ranging in age from very young children to elderly people. They were suffering from a wide variety of ailments such as head cold, acute catarrhal inflammation, hay fever, and acute sinus infections. Dr. Gurskin, in commenting on his associates’ experience with chlorophyll writes, “It is interesting to note that there is not a single case recorded, in which either improvement or cure has not taken place.” For drivers of automobiles, students on the night before exams, or before an evening of entertainment, the chewing of wheatgrass has a tendency to banish fatigue, and to bring a new alertness.

BIBLIOGRAPHY & RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

• “Sprout For The Love Of Every Body” by Victoras Kulvinskas M.S.
• “Wheatgrass Juice Gift Of Nature” by Betsy Russell Manning
• “Comfrey and Chlorophyll” by Vincent Licata
• “The Wheatgrass Book” by Ann Wigmore
• “Rebuild Your Health With High Energy Enzyme Nourishment, Living Foods Lifestyle” by Ann Wigmore
• http://www.wellsphere.com/pregnancy-fertility-article/eat-your-greens-daily-for-fertility-and-health/917367
• http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-wheat-grass/
• Good sources for wheatgrass juicers:
  • Ultimate Nourishment: http://www.ultimate-weight-products.com/wheatgrass-juicer.html
  • Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_24?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=wheatgrass+juicer+manual&sprefix=wheatgrass+juicer+manual

 

Click here to view a current Wellspring Student powerpoint on Wheatgrass Juice
Wheatgrass 101 by AJ Harris

 

Allergy Remedies

THIS IS A NEW CLASS OFFERING!

APRIL CROWELL , Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM), CI (AOBTA) & CHN

Thursday, September 9, 2010 (Boise) 5:30PM-7:30PM

Allergies are a common problem and can be caused by various environmental and dietary factors as well as underlying constitutional considerations. For many they may be predictable yearly or seasonally. Learn how to prevent or reduce your susceptibility to allergies outside of over the counter allergy medications. This class briefly covers the causes and symptoms of allergies from a wholistic health perspective. The class focuses on what you can do at home to prevent or treat your allergies with simple remedies. These include: Foods to include or avoid, nasal cleansing, beneficial teas and simple herbal formulas, Qigong and self-massage techniques and what to do in “non-allergy” season. Handouts are provided. Cost of class: $40.00