The Bible refers to the olive tree as the "tree of life". Olives, the ripe fruit of the tree, yield healthy monounsaturated fats and phytochemicals that act as potent antioxidants. Research on the benefits of olive oil abounds in scientific literature. Yet, people are still not aware of the amazing healing powers of another component of the olive tree, the leaves. From Health Talk Website

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb astragalus-common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Native to China, astragalus has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. In the United States, the herb gained popularity in the 1980s. There are actually over 2,000 species of astragalus; however, the two related species Astragalus membranaceus and Astragalus mongholicus are the ones primarily used for health purposes. From the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Derived from the cap and stem of the mushroom. The active constituents are thought to include both beta- glucan polysaccharides and triterpenes (1). Reishi mushroom is used as an immune stimulant by patients with HIV or cancer. Extracts of Reishi can stimulate macrophages and alter the levels of TNF and interleukins (8) (10) (11) (12). In clinical studies, Reishi increased plasma antioxidant capacity (14) (15) and enhanced immune responses in advance- stage cancer patients (13). Reishi was also shown to inhibit platelet aggregation (2) (4) (9). Studies done in rats have shown that reishi extract may alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea (17). Adverse events reported include dry nose and throat, nausea, vomiting and other GI symptoms. Theoretically, Reishi can interfere with the actions of immunosuppressants, anticoagulants, and certain chemotherapeutic agents. From Sloan Ketterling

Even though doctors have all but rejected the idea that going out in the winter with wet hair causes colds, many mothers still insist it's a recipe for illness. Those moms may soon have data on their side from some new research linking stress and the immune system. From the American Psychological Association

I have had a pretty decent pumpkin year in my smallish garden! I have several small to medium pumpkins turning more orange by the day! While I love making pies out of them, I decided to branch out to soups after becoming very fond of a pumpkin coconut soup from Whole Foods last winter. So here are some recipes and we can try them and compare! From Cooking.com