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Greetings!
Here we are approaching the latter part of winter in very
snowy Colorado. This has continued to be the coldest, snowiest
winter that I remember since I moved here 14 years ago!
However as I write this we are having one of our more typical
Boulder winter days, 40 degrees and sunny. We are at the
exact midpoint between winter and spring at the beginning of
February. So while there is a slight sense that the earth is
quickening (even under all of that snow) and my irises are
starting to come up, the sun is low in the sky and shadows at
midday are still very long ( Does this have anything to do with
Groundhog day anyone?). We seem to be at a crossroads
between introspection and pushing outward in the world. It is a
great time of year to tune into your heart, not just the physical
heart but the emotional heart and assess and nourish your
relationships to yourself and others. Thus this months theme:
Heart health and herbal aphrodisiacs! If you are single be sure
to love yourself somehow by doing something nourishing such
as
taking yourself out on a date, or getting a massage or some
such thing! Happy Valentine's Day to all whether you are in a
relationship or not!
| Herbal Aphrodisiacs |
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The mere thought of aphrodisiacs is romantic, conjuring up
images of love potions, sorcerers, and uncontrollable passion.
Shrouded in a mist of myth and magic, the names of certain
herbs are repeated over and over throughout history and
across cultures. Science has finally begun to catch up to
folklore in providing an explanation for the sexually stimulating
effects of some herbs, but for others the ancient knowledge of
what works still outstrips our more logical thinking. by
Meg McGowan
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| Hawthorne Extract Improves Chronic Heart Failure |
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In most herbal reference texts, hawthorn extract (Crataegus
monogyna or Crataegus laevigata) is recommended as an oral
treatment option for chronic heart failure. In Germany, its use
has been approved for use in patients with New York Heart
Association (NYHA) class II symptoms, and the extract is
marketed as a prescription medicine. The extract is believed to
possess positive inotropic and negative chronotropic cardiac
properties, and increase coronary blood flow. Unlike most
other inotropic agents, it exhibits antiarrhythmic properties.
From The Journal of Family Practice
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| The Depression and Heart Disease Link |
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Research over the past two decades has shown that depression
and heart disease are common companions and, what is worse,
each can lead to the other. It appears now that depression is an
important risk factor for heart disease along with high blood
cholesterol and high blood pressure. A study conducted in
Baltimore, Maryland found that of 1,551 people who were free
of heart disease, those who had a history of depression were
four times more likely than those who did not to suffer a heart
attack in the next 14 years. In addition, researchers in
Montreal, Canada found that heart patients who were
depressed were four times as likely to die in the next six
months as those who were not depressed. From Cool
Nurse
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| Naturopathic Licensing Effort Now Underway in the Colorado State Legislature ! |
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Believe it or not the practice of Naturopathic Medicine is not
regulated in Colorado. People with mail order degrees or less
can and DO hold themselves out to be naturopathic doctors
unlike myself and my colleagues who have 8 years of Dept. of
Education approved education and training. This year once
again we are attempting to license our profession so that the
consumer can know that when they are seeing a naturopathic
doctor in Colorado that they have had the requisite training.
Please
click on the link below to find out more about this effort and
how you can support it. Thank you very much! More
Broomfield, Erie, Superior, and Greeley supporters are
especially needed right now so please sign up on the link below
to protect your access and freedom to obtain Naturopathic
Medicine in Colorado!
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Aphrodisiacs: Magic or Medicine? |
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While researching this issue I found so much information on
aphrodisiacs from scientific abstracts to Love potion
number 9 recipes (complete with incantations). I decided to
give
you the link to one of the more science based and tasteful
ones. I found this link on Discovery no less! (though I'm sure
Martha Stewart has one too) I hope that you enjoy it and can
get some good use out of the information. My two favorite
aphrodisiac herbs are Maca and Muira puama, both from the
South American rainforest. Try this herbal tea recipe, share it
with your special someone and ... see what happens! Combine
equal parts Rose hips, Cinnamon, Muira puama, Licorice root
and Maca. Steep 1 Tbs per pint hot water for 10 - 15 minutes.
Sweeten with honey or agave if desired and enjoy!.
Find out more....
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