New Years Challenge

Start the new year by doing a 3 day cleanse to help you reboot your system for a new decade.

Dr. Christopher's famous 3 day cleanse is a great way to help get rid of cravings, cleanse the colon, feel like a new person, and reboot your system. 

Some benefits of the 3 day cleanse are to 

1. Help with brain fog 
2. Help with digestive disturbances 
3. Help improve energy levels 
4. Improve emotional well being
5. Feel fantastic
6. Eliminate cravings for improper foods

If you have made it through the holidays and have been eating a perfect diet then you may disregard this post. If not then keep reading. 

Let's start the challenge by doing a 3 day cleanse. What it is is a 3 day juice fast.

First: pick a juice that you will be consuming for the 3 days. This can be apple, grape, carrot, or citrus.

Second: Choose 3 consecutive days to consume up to a gallon of juice each day.

Third: Follow the guidelines for the 3 days.

Fourth: Make sure you are close to bathroom facilities for the 3 days. 

This is a serious commitment and is an intense cleanse for your body. It's like changing the oil in your car or spring cleaning your house. You are cleaning out the debris in you colon to allow the rest of your body to cleanse. 

The 3 day cleanse:

• First thing in the morning you will consume 16 ounces of prune juice. This is only consumed in the morning once each morning for the 3 days.
• 1/2 hour later you will drink 8 ounces of your chosen juice.
• The next 1/2 hour you will drink 8 ounces of distilled water.
• 3 times throughout the day you will need to take 1 tablespoon of olive oil. This helps lubricate the bile ducts so the bile can flow freely.
• Continue alternating your juice of choice and water each 1/2 hour.
• Swish each mouthful of juice as if you are chewing it to mix with saliva for better digestion and prevent a blood sugar crash.
• Finish your juice and water consumption at 8:00 PM

You will follow this plan for the next 2 days.

The 4th and 5th day is optional to drink only water if desired. 

After the cleanse you will want to transition into the Mucusless diet which I also call the Mild Food diet. 

An explanation of the diet will be given in the next post.

Any questions are welcome.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe Viscum album

Jo Francks MH

Mistletoe is a plant which grows out of the branches of trees making it a parasitic plant relying on the host tree for its nutrition. In the winter when the tree itself is dormant the mistletoe is a flourishing green. Because it was able to blossom in the frigid winter it became a symbol of fertility in the early centuries.

Mistletoe grows on many trees, especially apple trees, but rarely on oak trees. So the legend goes that the druids revered the oak trees that mistletoe was growing on and considered it a gift from the Divine.

In the Scandinavian legend, Balder, the god of Peace, was slain with an arrow made of Mistletoe. He was restored to life at the request of the other gods and goddesses, and Mistletoe was afterwards given into the keeping of the goddess of Love, and it was ordained that everyone who passed under it should receive a kiss, to show that the branch had become an emblem of love and not of hate.

We keep the tradition going this time of year by using Mistletoe in Christmas decorations. Anyone standing under the Mistletoe receives a kiss. 

Medicinally Mistletoe has been called a cure all by some herbalists. It is currently revered as a powerful nervine and antispasmodic being used for epilepsy and convulsive disorders.

Dr. Christopher taught that Mistletoe is highly valued for its nervine and antispasmodic properties, used anytime there is weakness or disorders of the nervous system. It will quiet, soothe and tone the nerves. It is also useful in female weakness and will incite uterine contractions. It tones the heart and is preferable to the powerful whipping action of digitalis or bromides in cardiac affection. 

The leaves are the best part of the plant to use. There is some indication that the berries are poisonous but so far this is inconclusive. Also it may be advised to not use Mistletoe if there is a condition of hypertension or high blood pressure. Since it is known to contract the uterus it is not advised to be used during pregnancy.

Viscum album is the European Mistletoe. The American variety is Phoradendron flavescens and has similar properties. Most information is for the European variety.

Mistletoe combines well with other nervine herbs and is one of the herbs in Dr. Christopher’s Relax-Eze combination. It’s a nice herb to use this time of year when there seems to be a lot of stress during the holidays.  

Castor Oil Fomentations

Castor Oil Fomentations

Jo Francks MH

Castor oil has been used for centuries as an aid for healing. The most widely used application of castor oil is to use it as a fomentation. Dr. Christopher taught that a castor oil fomentation is used to get rid of hardened mucus in the body, which may appear as cysts, tumors or polyps. He said that a castor oil fomentation over the liver area will open the constipated capillaries within the liver. The fomentation will draw out poisons and flush them out of the liver. A castor oil fomentation can also be used over any part of the body experiencing congestion, pain or stagnation. It can be used over the abdomen for constipation or menstrual cramps, uterine and ovarian cysts and endometriosis. It can be applied to sore or arthritic joints and sore muscles.

Please note that Dr. Christopher never recommended that castor oil be taken internally.

Before doing a castor oil fomentation prepare the area you will be laying on by placing some plastic sheeting or some towels to catch any oil that might drip. Castor oil cannot be washed out of any clothing or bedding. A castor oil fomentation is done by placing a natural wool or cotton flannel cloth folded into 3 layers saturated with castor oil but not dripping over the liver and/or abdominal areas. Cover the cloth with a piece of plastic, then a source of heat which can be a heating pad turned to a comfortably warm temperature or a hot water bottle filled with very warm water. Cover with a towel and secure all this if needed with a towel wrapped around the torso and secured with safety pins. This will be left on for at least an hour and can be left for up to 8 hours but usually an hour or two is the proper length of time. If a water bottle is your source of heat it will need to be refilled with very warm water several times to maintain the warm temperature. Another option is to alternate hot and cold while the fomentation is in place. The point is for the skin to absorb the castor oil. Dr. Christopher recommends in The School of Natural Healing book to do the fomentation for 3 days and the following 3 days massage the same area with olive oil in a circular motion towards the heart and rest on the seventh day. The program can be repeated each week for al long as necessary. If the skin becomes sensitive to the oil cut back on days and time to what your body can handle. The castor oil goes through the skin into the liver area and lymph glands and starts drawing out the poisons and flushing them out, while the olive oil goes in and helps heal and rebuild new tissue. The saturated oil cloth can be reused many times. When not in use, store it in a heavy duty resealable plastic bag or a glass jar.

Castor oil has many other benefits and is something worth having on hand when needed. 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D The Sunshine Vitamin

Jo Francks MH

An important part of Dr. Christopher’s Incurables Program is the sunbath.  He recommended that you “take a sunbath each day in the nude and not through glass but in the direct sun.”  There are two types of ultraviolet light from the sun, UVA and UVB rays.  UVA rays are longer and penetrate deep into the skin to produce a dark tan. When in the sun too long they cause wrinkles and sun spots.  UVB rays are shorter and cause the skin to burn. They are also the only rays that make vitamin D. Vitamin D is actually a steroid and is a powerful antioxidant.  It is an important nutrient in preventing cancer including skin cancers. It is important for proper immune function and to prevent autoimmune diseases.  It helps with proper brain function, diabetes prevention and is needed for absorption of calcium and phosphorus.

“Only allow two minutes on the front and two minutes on the back the first day. Then add two minutes front and back each day, but no more.”  You should never stay in the sun long enough to get burned.  The body stops making vitamin D once the skin starts to turn pink. When SPF sunscreen is applied it stops vitamin D production and may make you more susceptible to some skin cancers.

“The sun is the world’s greatest doctor but must be used by building up the exposed time in the sun gradually so as to not burn.”  The best time for vitamin D production from the sun is 11:00 am until 1:00 pm or when the sun is the brightest.  That is when the UVBs are most direct.  They are not as effective when they come in at an angle and they are easily filtered out by smog, pollution, fog, clouds and windows.   

 

“If it is a cloudy or cold day, use a sunlamp, but do not allow a burn.” The best source for vitamin D is from natural sunlight, but in the winter, it is not possible to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from the sun.  Sunlamps or tanning beds are another option and some provide both UVA and UVB rays for vitamin D production. Most salon tanning beds are calibrated to produce about 95% UVA light, but there are some that will produce both UVA and UVB rays.  The same caution should be used with a tanning bed as with sun exposure and they can safely produce vitamin D in the winter months. Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University has shown that vitamin D produced by UVB radiation from a tanning bed maintains longer lasting and more consistent levels of vitamin D than taking vitamin D supplements.  Dermatologists have found that tanning makes the skin give off endorphins which improve feelings of well-being and make you feel happier.

Sources: Herbal Home Health Care by Dr. John R. Christopher

Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora T. Gedgaudas, CNS, CNT

Baby Boomer Diet by Donna Gates

Mercola.com/Tanning-Bed

Peach

Peach (Prunus Persica)  Jo Francks, M.H.

I always look forward to this time of year. Fresh locally grown produce is abundant and I think my favorite just might be fresh peaches. The season seems to go by too quickly and before you know it there are no more peaches to be found. Peaches are rich in antioxidants and other compounds that help prevent and fight various kinds of cancer, lower cholesterol, improve eyesight, reduce inflammation, improve skin health and strengthen the immune system.
The peach fruit is delicious to eat but there are many parts of the tree that can be used medicinally including the bark, leaf, and flower.

Peach bark is used as a nervine and a blood purifier. An infusion or a few capsules are said to stop cases of difficult diarrhea almost immediately. It is also used to relieve morning sickness in pregnancy. It can be made into a tea or a tincture made from the fresh bark in alcohol. The bark is also an agent used for the urinary tract in cases of burning urine and inflammation.
Folk legends say that if you have an upset stomach you should scrape the bark downward from a peach tree, boil it and drink it. If that upset turns to diarrhea you should scrape the bark upward and repeat the process!

Peach leaves are used as an excellent gentle laxative in cases of constipation. They have been used to expel worms. A tea of the leaves can be used to calm the nerves and to relieve coughing spasms. The bark and leaves have many of the same properties. They are used as a sedative and expectorant. All coughs can benefit from using peach bark or leaf. Gather peach leaves in the late summer when still green, dry them and store them to use as a tea through the winter. 

Peach flowers are good for the skin and have been used for skin cancer. The flowers can be made into a tea and taken internally or used topically as a fomentation. The fruit can be blended and used as a mask on the skin and has been beneficial in removing dark circles.
Enjoy eating peaches while they are ripe. A great way to preserve them is to dry them or freeze them. I have made canned peaches for many years using concentrated frozen apple juice as a sweetener instead of sugar. We enjoy making peach cobbler, peach ice cream (dairy free), smoothies and many other recipes using peaches.

The Urinary Tract

The Urinary Tract

Jo Francks MH

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, bladder, ureters and the urethra.  The kidney function is to remove waste from the blood and regulate fluid levels.  The kidneys process about 200 quarts of water per day and excrete about 2 quarts of waste products and extra water through the bladder per day in the form of urine.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common type of infections in the body and account for over 8 million doctor visits per year.  UTIs can happen anywhere in the urinary tract but most common is the bladder.  Women are more likely to develop a UTI than men.  One in five women will suffer from a UTI and about 20% of those will likely have another bladder infection.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection may include cloudy urine, foul smelling urine, a reddish color if blood is present, painful or burning sensation during urination, frequent urge to urinate, and a low grade fever.  If the infection reaches the kidneys, other symptoms may appear such as pain in the lower back or side, nausea and vomiting, chills or fever, tired or general ill feeling.

Herbal treatment for UTIs:  In her book Dr. Mom’s Healthy Living, Sandra Ellis claims she has never seen the following treatment fail.  Take 2 capsules of Dr. Christopher’s Kidney Formula with 1 capsule Solaray Cranactin 3 times a day, and drink a gallon of distilled water per day.  Sandra says “There is an ingredient in cranberries that keeps the bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, the kidney formula kills the infection, and the gallon of distilled water flushes it out.”  Dr. Christopher’s Infection formula can be added to the above treatment if necessary.  Take 4 capsules 3 times a day.  Other herbs that could help with a bladder infection include dandelion which acts as a diuretic and blood purifier, buchu which helps relieve the burning sensation, uva ursi is a strong diuretic and helps to dissolve stones, marshmallow root to help soothe the irritation, astragalus to boost the immune system, garlic to fight infection and boost immune function, cranberry juice, rose hips, yarrow, couch grass,  juniper berries, corn silk, and hydrangea root to dissolve stones.

Prevention is the key, especially if a person has experienced a bladder infection in the past.   Don’t  resist the urge to urinate, and make sure the bladder is completely empty each time.  Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering  the vagina or urethra. Take showers instead of baths.  Drink a gallon of distilled water every day.  Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, sodas, and sugary drinks, and processed foods.  Eat more green foods (try a green smoothie) and fresh fruits and vegetables.  Carrot juice, lemon juice and apple cider vinegar are all good to help change the Ph of the body to  more alkaline.  Disease can’t grow in an alkaline environment.

GREEN SMOOTHIE RECIPE

In a blender add a ripe banana and a pear or any other fruit you would like such as grapes, apple, berries etc.  Now add leafy greens of your choice to fill the blender to the top.  I like kale and spinach mixed.  Try fresh dandelion, plantain, alfalfa, comfrey, amaranth, lambs quarter, collard etc.  Add water halfway to the top and about a tablespoon of agave, maple syrup or honey (optional).  Cover with lid and blend for a minute or two until it is smooth.

Anise Hyssop

Herb of the Year 2019

Jo Francks MH

This year’s international herb of the year is Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Anise Hyssop is a native plant of North America in the mint family and has a flavor and scent of licorice and mint. It is a very attractive plant to grow in any herb garden and will act as most mints and spread itself out and take over if left to its own devices. This plant has attractive purple spike flowers which bloom from June to September and will attract visitors such as bees, butterflies and hummingbird and the scent of the leaves will deter unwanted munchers like deer and squirrels.

Native American tribes had many uses for this plant. It was used as medicine for diarrhea, coughs and fevers and also as a flavoring for food.

It can be used externally as a tea or poultice on wounds or burns, rashes, insect bites and itching. A salve can be made from the leaves and used for the same purpose. There have been cases where it has been helpful for poison ivy exposure. Anise Hyssop is a wonderful cardiac tonic and mood enhancer.

I’m excited to add this plant to my herb garden this year. I plan to harvest and dry the flowers to make sleep pillows or potpourri. I’ll harvest the leaves for tea to use as a cough medicine and a diaphoretic tea. I’ll also use the leaves to make an ointment for the skin. Anise Hyssop has many uses and seems to be a great option for use in a medicinal herb garden.