I came across this in my wanderings, liked it, and thought you might enjoy reading it too. I found it at curezone.com.
THE SIGNS OF INNER PEACE
Frequent Attacks of smiling.
A loss of interest in conflicts.
A loss of interest in judging self.
A loss of interest in judging other people.
An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
Contented feelings of connecting with others and nature.
Loss of ability to worry.
Increased tendency to allow rather than force things.
Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
A tendency to think and act spontaneously.
An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others.
The uncontrollable urge to extend love all around.
I liked this list. It reminded me of something similar that I'd often heard at church:
When you have the Spirit:
1. You feel happy, calm, and clear-minded.
2. You feel generous.
3. Nobody can offend you.
4. You wouldn’t mind everybody seeing what you’re doing.
5. You are eager to be with people and want to make them happy.
6. You are glad when others succeed.
7. You are glad to attend your meetings and participate in church activities.
8. You feel like praying.
9. You wish you could keep all the Lord’s commandments.
10. You feel in control—you don’t overeat or sleep too much; you don’t feel
uncontrollably drawn to sensational entertainment, lose your temper, or feel uncontrollable passions or desires.
11. You think about the Savior often and lovingly; you want to know him better.
12. You feel confident and are glad to be alive.
When you don’t have the Spirit:
1. You feel unhappy, depressed, confused, and frustrated.
2. You feel possessive, self-centered, or resentful of demands made on you.
3. You are easily offended.
4. You become secretive and evasive.
5. You avoid people, especially members of your family; and you are critical of
family members and Church authorities.
6. You envy or resent the successes of others.
7. You don’t want to go to church, go home teaching, or take the sacrament. You wish
you had another church job or no job at all.
8. You don’t want to pray.
9. You find the commandments bothersome, restricting, or senseless.
10. You feel emotions and appetites so strongly that you fear you cannot control
them — hate, jealousy, anger, lust, hunger, fatigue.
11. You hardly ever think of the Savior; he seems irrelevant to your life, or worse, part of a confusing system that seems to work against you.
12. You get discouraged easily and wonder if life is really worth it.
I've experienced probably everything on all of these lists at one time or another, and I can tell you that it's a lot more fun to have inner peace and feel the influence of the Spirit, rather than the other way around.
It's not that hard, either; it's simply letting go of yourself (humility) and thinking more of other people than yourself (the Golden Rule), and wanting to be more of what God wants for you than what you could come up with for yourself.
It's surprising how good things just seem to flow to us effortlessly when we live life this way.
Labels: Inner Peace
An Israeli virologist, Dr. Medeleine Mumcuoglu (pronounced mum-shu-glu), was interested in studying about the elderberry from the black elder tree. She knew that elder, called the "medicine chest" of country people, had been used in medicine for many centuries. Elderberry wine, for example, has traditionally been used for influenza and the ill effects of the chills.
In 2006, Retroscreen Virology, a leading British medical research institute associated with Queen Mary College, University of London, announced that Sambucol, a supplement made from elderberries, was 99% effective against the avian flu virus, H5N1, and in cell cultures significantly neutralized the infectivity of the virus, which was taken from a strain isolated in Turkey.
Sambucol is known as a clinically proven treatment for regular flu. In in-vitro tests, Sambucol also proved effective against avian flu. Another trial at Hadassah Medical Organization Ein Kerem is expected to confirm these findings.
Sambucol is valuable because, as Mumcuoglu says, "it's the only product that can cut the flu in half, before complications have a chance of setting in."
Mumcuoglu tested her research on patients in the Southern Israel flu epidemic of 1992-1993.
Within 24 hours, 20% of patients taking Sambucol had dramatic improvements in symptoms like fever, muscle aches and pains and coughing. 73% were improved by the second day. 90% were improved by the third day.
In the untreated group, 16% felt better after two days. Most of this group took about a week to start feeling better.
Laboratory studies conducted in 1995 showed Sambucol to be effective against human, swine and avian influenza strains.
A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study done in Norway showed Sambucol to significantly reduce the duration of flu by about four days.
Use of pain relievers and other rescue medication was significantly less in the group receiving Sambucol than in the placebo group.
This study concluded that Sambucol stimulates the healthy immune system by increasing production of inflammatory cytokines.
It is believed that Sambucol can combat bird flu, but clinical research into H5N1 is hard to do at this point, becasue there have only been around 140 cases around the world, and the mortality rate is over 50%.
The company will do in vivo studies to look at the effect of Sambucol against the disease caused by avian influenza virus.
Sambucol now controls about 80% of the elderberry remedy market in the United States. This liquid food supplement is distributed by Nature's Way Products and sold at most health food stores.
Another advantage of Sambucol is that it has no side effects, unlike Tamiflu, an antiviral drug. Sambucol can also be given to children, unlike Tamiflu, which cannot be given to children under 12.
Patients have been known to develop resistance to Tamiflu. Sambucol, on the other hand, can treat every type of flu virus.
"Our research has shown that the antiviral effect of Sambucol is not strain-specific," says Mumcuoglu. "It was effective against all influenza viruses tested. The original formulation of Sambucol is the product we have tested in all cases - both in the laboratory and in clinical studies for the common flu. It is what was also used in the recent experiments in London against avian influenza virus thus any Sambucol already on the shelves is the same as any we would produce now."
The results of tests of this natural remedy are very encouraging. This makes me want to stock up!
Labels: Cure for Bird Flu?
It's mosquito season again, as I found when I went out to pick black raspberries. I am sure that there is a reason why some people get bit and some people don't, and I'm not talking about pinning a toxic dryer sheet to your hat to keep the bugs away.
I am going to get to the bottom of this; if anybody knows what it is about certain blood that attracts insects, or how to change our blood so it won't attract them, please enlighten me. In the meantime, I'm going to do some investigating, and I'm going to figure it out!
(Later). Okay, here's what I've found out so far. Mosquitoes are attracted by a lot of things: movement, scent, color, our breath, the heat produced by our bodies (nervous people put off more heat), exposed skin, a high level of estrogen (ovulation, PMS), and high levels of serotonin. Time of day matters (they like early morning and dusk), as well as a high level of humidity.
We can fight back by taking supplements of garlic, vitamin B complex, Thiamine (B1), and the homeopathic remedy "ledum." These give off an undesirable skin excretion. For best results, take supplements several days before exposure and while you're outside, as well.
Alcohol consumption dilates blood vessels and brings the blood closer to the skin surface. Just think of all those mosquitoes licking their chops! I don't drink, though, so that doesn't really apply to me.
This one does, though - refined sugar in all its forms (fruit, juice, cookies, cakes, muffins, etc.) gives the skin a yummy, sweet scent that drives mosquitoes wild.
This tells me that I should lay off the sweets and start eating garlic. A small price to pay, if you ask me!
Labels: Mosquitoes
"Live in each season as it passes; breathe air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines." Henry David Thoreau
This is very good advice, and I should take it.
Here I have been waiting all winter (4-5 months, feels like 8) for the weather to be nice. Now that it's here, all I want to do is get my work done in my house. I have to force myself to go outside. Once I'm there, however, it's bliss. The trees are tall, green and leafy. The pool is blue, sparkling and inviting. The sky is also a beautiful shade of blue. White clouds dot the horizon.
I went out to pick more black raspberries today. They are scattered all over the fringes of my lawn. I picked more than a quart; that makes more than 2 quarts so far.
Tonight I am in the process of making a black raspberry cobbler to take with me when we go to visit friends who are renting a cabin on Lake Angola. I accidentally put the ingredients in wrong, (and left out one real important one, baking powder!) but I don't care, it'll get eaten anyway. I am happy to go outside and breathe the fresh lake air.
Did you know that people who live by the seashore seldom get goiter? They get iodine not only in their diet, but also in the air they breathe. Just another great reason to go live by the seashore!
Labels: Live in the Moment
A woman went to Central America with an explorer, scientists, journalists, and documentary filmmakers to study regions where middle-aged men were four times more likely to live to the age of one hundred.
She found that there are some simple steps that the average person can take to lead a longer, happier life.
1. Lead a simple lifestyle and eat a simple diet that includes nuts, whole grains, and a whole lot of legumes (beans).
2. Eat a plant-based diet with a wide variety of colors. Also, eat very little meat.
3. Be very active and have a strong sense of purpose in life. She found very elderly people living a life of exuberance and fun.
4. Cultivate and maintain a strong social circle. Get active in your community. Ideally, live around family. This makes sense, because, as my husband pointed out, when you get in trouble, your family is much more likely to help you than anyone else will.
I am going to start making a few changes in my diet and lifestyle. I am going to eat more wholegrain foods, more colorful fruits and vegetables, help more in my community, and try to stay in closer contact with family and friends.
You can watch the video at this site:
http://health.yahoo.com/aging-videos/5-simple-steps-to-a-long-happy-life/capessa--142-1_elizat.html
Labels: Increase Longevity
There is a vegan restaurant in San Francisco that uses affirmations for its menu items. It boasts dishes with names such as: "I Am Thankful," "I Am Lusciously Awake," "I Am Giving," "I Am Vivacious," "I Am Friendly," "I Am Fabulous," "I Am Passionate," "I Am Magnificent," and much more. The waitress comes and asks you what you're grateful for. Even the restroom has a sign: "I Am the Restroom."
I think this is funny and fabulous!
Catherine Price (at http://www.dreammanifesto.com/gratitude-key-health-happiness.html) wrote that her "cynical side continues to dream of opening a rival restaurant next door called the Cantankerous Café, with menu items like “I am depressed” and “I am resentful.”
Reading about things like this make me laugh!
Labels: Cafe Gratitude
Somewhere along the line someone put the thought in my brain to pray and meditate about the the things I'm thankful for. I am sure glad I did. Several times lately I have taken about ten minutes to just close my eyes and start thanking Heavenly Father for all the little and big things I'm grateful for....
Just to name a few....my nice comfortable bed, and comfortable pillow.....good books....my good friend Susie who inspires me....a husband who knows how to fix everything....the beautiful green grass and leafy trees, that just got greener with the rain....our beautiful blue pool in our back yard, with the shining water....my delicious chicken and cilantro soup that I love to make (and eat)....my beautiful and talented children, not to mention my wonderful stepchildren!!....toilet paper and tissues...good ideas...people who take the time to do something nice for me....and so much more.
When I take the time to thank Heavenly Father for all these things, it leaves me with such a good feeling, and makes me so much MORE grateful.
I quote from a nice website I found (http://www.balancedlifecenter.com/273-keys-to-happiness-gratitude/):
"Gratitude is the cheapest, most effective way to happiness."
"Gratitude affords you the opportunity to live in a positive mental state regardless of the appearances. You’re not living in denial when you choose to be thankful for what you love about your life. You do actually love it. There’s no need to falsely convince yourself that you are thankful for things you don’t want. What you do is focus almost entirely on the things that bring you joy.
"When you shift your focus and start practicing gratitude, you’ll find that you have even more to be thankful for. The more you give thanks, the more it expands. Soon you will look around and find that you have less and less in your life that you don’t want, and more of what you do want.
"Giving thanks reconditions your mind towards hopefulness and optimism. It clears out the sludge that is blocking your good from coming to you. It aligns you with Spirit and the Source of who you are. It reminds you that you will have all that you need."
I couldn't have put it better myself.
I am so happy to have found this simple, easy way to bring almost instant happiness into my life. Give it a try!
Labels: Gratitude
The Evil Weed
Two years ago I missed my family reunion because I had poison ivy on my upper lip.
I had been working out in the garden, pulling out weeds, wiping the sweat from my upper lip, and sure enough, not long after, the whole area under my nose swelled up and pretty soon my upper lip was almost below my lower one.
This was quite embarrassing; I went to church anyway and endured the chuckles of others, but couldn't bring myself to travel two states away and endure it from my extended family.
Jewelweed, or "Touch-Me-Not"
I didn't know that wherever poison ivy lurks, an antidote can also be found. I am talking about a plant called jewelweed, (impatiens, or "touch-me-not"), which can be found along moist woodland edges, usually near poison ivy. You snap it off and dab the sap on the poison ivy to relieve the itching. This neutralizes the urushiol in the poison ivy plant. You can simply take the entire plant, roll it into a ball, then dab, (not rub or smear) it over area that was exposed to the poision plant. Tinctures made from the plant are only about 20% as effective as the real thing.
Jewelweed Soap
There is even a soap made with this plant in it; it is said that if you wash with it during poison ivy season, you won't even GET poison ivy. Get it at http://store.altnature.com/poivre1.html
Instructions on making a jewelweed tincture are below.
At any rate, what I'm getting at is, I believe that God gave us a remedy for every ill. We just have to find out what it is and use it.
Other Poison Ivy Antidotes:
Drip the juice of the milkweed plant onto the rash
Green bean tea used as a wash
Beech bark tea (used topically?) - this grows in my garden
Cattail flour - we have cattails all over the place
Goldenseal root extract
Vitamin C, taken both internally and externally
Gooseberry berries and juice - Indian gooseberry (amla) can be bought in an ayurvedic vitamin paste called Chawanprash, found in Indian stores- use internally and externally and it's supposed to destroy poison ivy within 4 hours
Oak (bark?) tea in baths
Okra used with slippery elm and white oak bark as poultice
Crushed leaves of plantain - (rub in longer than jewelweed)
Crushed boiled sage leaves with whole wheat flour used as poultice
Solomon’s seal root tea used topically (this grows in my garden, too)
Sumac tea used as skin cleanser (this grows, unwanted, in my yard)
Watermelon flesh applied directly to skin (I WANT this to grow in my garden)
Yellow dock leaves and roots used as a substitute for jewelweed
As you can see, there is more than one way to get rid of poison ivy, and a lot of them can be found nearby. Too bad I didn't know even one at the time!
Jewelweed Tincture
Jewelweed is a green plant with colorful bell-like orange or red "jewels" toward the top of the plant. We have some right by our creek. If you can figure out which plant it is, you can make a jewelweed tincture. Make it before the first killing fall frost so it will last for the winter. Keep it refrigerated, and after about six months or so discard it and make a fresh batch.
Fill a sterile 8-ounce jar with freshly picked, clean jewelweed plants (blossoms, leaves, and stems--not the roots). Press the plant material down till the
jar is full. Cover the plants with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. Cover tightly and shake gently. Label and date the jar. Let it rest in a dark, cool place for a 7-10 days. After straining, it's ready to use.
Labels: Poison Ivy
I have taken this recipe and started a new blog. Come see it at: denisehokiepokie2.blogspot.com. I've also started a blog called "Musings," at denisehokiepokie3.blogspot.com.
Labels: Blog Addresses
This week, I challenge you to nice things for almost everybody you come in contact with. These people shouldn't be expecting anythng, and you should have no thought of reward.
Here are some ideas. Let's say you're in the supermarket. There are a lot of things you can do or say.
You can smile and say, "excuse me" when walking in front of someone. You can get something on a high shelf for someone in a wheelchair, and treat them like a human being.
You can help someone find that elusive "something" that they're searching for. You can remark to the lady next to you how pretty her hair (or dress, or nails, or anything you're impressed with) looks. You don't have to make it up; you just show appreciation for something you already appreciate, so they know you appreciate it.
You can tell the produce manager how impressed you are with the way things look and how easy it is for you to find things. You can tell the store manager how impressed you are with the produce manager! You can compliment the cashier on how fast and efficiently she bagged your order.
You don't have to stop with the grocery store. The list is endless of all the positive interactions you can make with people, all day long. Once you get in the habit, you'll find more and more ways to brighten someone's day. Then you can come home and do the same thing with your family. If that doesn't give you a good feeling, I don't know what will!
The best thing is that when you're brightening someone else's life, you're also brightening your own just as much, if not more.
If you do it right, you can start a chain reaction of kindness and goodness and appreciation that will continue all day long for lots of different people. Wouldn't that make you feel like you really did accomplish something?
I guarantee you that if you ever get down, all you have to do is do something for someone else, and you'll instantly feel better. And making this a habit will give you a GREAT feeling 100% of the time. For try it for one day - you'll see what I mean!
Labels: Acts of Kindness