Cat’s Claw

Una de Gato (Cat’s Claw) is a wonder herb that I take everyday to strengthen my immune system.  I have research the health benefits and truly amazed to discover that this sacred herb is a treasure truly beyond measure. 

Cat’s Claw seems to have unlimited therapeutic applications and benefits.  I would like to share information that I’ve discovered to help you with strengthening your body and boosting your immune system with Una de Gato.

The following is an excerpt from the book, Powerful and Unusual Herbs from the Amazon and China:  “Una de Gato from the Peruvian rain forest is a favorite for stimulating the immune system.  World wide research done on this powerful herb has led scientist to patent many of the single chemicals found in it for use in healing cancer, arthritis, AIDS and other diseases.  However, traditional wisdom shows that using the whole plant can be far more powerful than any one isolated ingredient.”

This miraculous herb has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years by the Ashaninka Indians of Peru to stimulate the immune system and treat a variety of health problems.  The native Indian tribes traditionally have boiled the inner bark and root of the herb to make a tea decoction and regard Una de Gato as a sacred medicinal plant. 

The first person outside of the indigenous Indian culture to use the Una de Gato tea was Don Luis, a 78 year-old Peruvian plantation owner.  In 1972 Don Luis was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and sent home to die by his doctors.  One of his sons asked an “old Indian medicine woman” for help.  She told him to give his father Una de Gato tea.  Don Luis drank the tea several times a day.  In six months he had no signs of the cancer.  Her remained robust and healthy, and lived to be 90 years old.

Almost everything we know today about healing the body with chemicals comes from the history and practice of herbal medicine.  Often there are serious side effects from the use of drugs.  They do not treat the cause of disease, but focus on alleviating symptoms.  When using natural foods and herbs the focus is on prevention and treatment of disease by strengthening the body and boosting the immune system through nourishment and detoxification.   Many people are now turning back to nature for safe and effective alternatives for protecting and supporting the immune system and treating illness.   

I am noticing improved health and a boost to immune system with Una de Gato liquid capsules and tea to help me prevent and treat illnesses. 

The following list offers you healthy sources of foods high in calcium:

1. Sesame Seeds

These little white little seeds are very high in calcium, as well as other important vitamins and minerals.

Raw sesame seeds contain almost 1000 mg of calcium per 100g serving. Tahini butter, a popular sesame seed-based nut butter has 426mg per 100g serving.

2. Chia Seeds

Many people are unaware that chia seeds are very high in calcium (as well as the beneficial Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids needed for health).  A 3.5 ounce serving can provide about 631mg of calcium.

3. Dark leafy greens

From greens to spinach to kale, getting our calcium from dark green leafy vegetables is a an excellent health choice.  Spinach ranks very high in calcium, with 291 grams of calcium per cup.  A 100g serving of collards packs a 145 mg calcium punch.  One cup of steamed bok choy has around 158 mg of the mineral.  Kale ranks in with 139mg of calcium and the spicy mustard green has 103mg of calcium per 100g serving.

4. Flax Seeds

Not only are flax seeds high in calcium (256mg per 100g serving), but they are also rich in omega-3 fats.  Be sure to use ground or whole flax seeds, as the refined flaxseed oil loses its calcium levels during processing.  Flax seeds are also a great way to improve your intestinal health.  

5. Quinoa

A light and healthy whole grain, one cup of cooked quinoa offers approximately 60-100 mg of calcium, not to mention a high amount of potassium, zinc and protein.

6. Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap molasses is an excellent sweetener for teas and baked goods.  It is high in multiple vitamins and minerals, one tablespoon of this thick dark molasses will give you 172 mg of your daily calcium needs.  For a change, try it in your morning cup of organic tea or coffee.

7. Oranges

One cup of freshly-squeezed organic orange juice offers approximately 72 mg of calcium.  Not to mention plenty of vitamin c, which will significantly improve the amount of calcium your body absorbs.  Besides vitamin c and calcium, oranges are also a great source for potassium, vitamin A and beta carotene.

8. Beans

Many common beans are high in calcium.  Winged beans possess 442mg of calcium per 100g serving.  Many white beans are very high in calcium.  Most white beans have approximately 175mg of calcium per serving.  Navy beans are also a great source of calcium, with 127 mg per cup.  These beans make an excellent soup base, when our bones most need the support of calcium.

9. Broccoli

One cup of these green florets offers approximately 74 mg of calcium, along with 120mg of Vitamin C which will help your body absorb the calcium.  Broccoli also contains a high amount of vitamin K, vitamin A, folate and dietary fiber.

10. Dried Fruits & Nuts

Many dried fruits are high in calcium.  Actually, eating five dried figs per day gives you 135 mg of calcium.  Almonds are also extremely high in calcium.  Raw, or ground into nut butter, almonds hold 266mg of calcium per 100g.

11. Dried Herbs

Who would have thought that adding dried herbs to your dishes would increase your calcium intake?  Dried savory spice holds a whopping 2132mg of calcium per 100g serving.  Other dried herbs that are calcium rich include dill, basil, marjoram, thyme, oregano, poppy seed, mint, celery seed, sage, parsley and rosemary.

Other Sources of Calcium

There are many other ways to get calcium in your diet, besides from the list of foods above.  And you should only supplement your diet with a high-quality calcium supplement.  If you do decide to take a calcium supplement, I recommend taking Coral Calcium.  Coral calcium is the hottest source for one of the minerals most critical to your body’s health.

To Your Health ~

Melissa

www.melissamaze.shopvitamark.com

Are you suffering from allergies?  Or maybe you’re trying to recover from a cold or the flu? 

For many years I had a love/hate relationship with Spring.  Like most people I loved the change of season from winter to spring when the flowers, trees and everything outdoors bloomed and turned pretty and colorful.  But like many people I suffered with allergy symptoms that drove me absolutely crazy!  Since I’m a strong believer of taking natural holistic remedies I had to do my research and determine how to best treat my symptoms naturally without putting nasty prescription medication into my body.

My research helped me to understand that the key to fighting the symptoms of allergies, colds and flu was in finding the best possible solutions for strengthening and building a strong immune system. 

Our immune system is a network of organs and cells working together to defend us against disease.  This system blocks “foreign” proteins, substances not meant to be in our bodies, from entering our body.  When harmful proteins are detected, the immune system sends out soldiers or “antibodies” on “search and destroy” missions.  These antibodies can identify what is a normal cell versus a substances that doesn’t belong, an invader, particularly infections.  Antibodies destroy those foreign invaders keeping us from getting sick. 

How to build a strong immune system:

1)    Reduce stress in your life to help your body maintain not only physical but emotional health.

2)    Get at least 7 – 8 hours of sleep especially during cold and flu season.  When tired the body can’t repair cells and we get sicker more quickly and can’t handle stress as well either.

3)    Choose to have a strong social, emotional, physical and spiritual support system.  Physical touch like hugs and even shaking hands helps us have healthier and happier lives.

4)     Moderate exercise is more beneficial for increasing our disease immunity than working out too much, which actually runs down our immune systems.

5)    Consume foods that have a beneficial effect such as, chicken soup, fish (high in omega 3) fruits and vegetables, especially blueberries and broccoli (high in anti-oxidants), and green tea.

6)    Music.  Studies showed that listening to music has a lasting effect on raising our IGA levels and helping our immune system fend off disease.

In addition to following these steps the following is a natural herbal solution that will help to boost immune defense, accelerate the rate of recovery, help to diminish acute allergy, cold and flu symptoms and prevent secondary infections: 
 
 
1)    Arcozon:  1/2 to 2 teaspoon(s) in water or juice 2 to 4 times daily.
 
2)    Envirozon: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon in water or juice 2 to 4 times daily.
 
3)    Recovazon: 1/2 to 2 teaspoon(s) in water or juice 2 to 4 times daily.
 
4)    Digestazon Plus:  4 capsules, 3 times a day between meals on an empty stomach.  Helps break up the congestion.

5)    Una De Gato Honey Vinegar:  using a medicine dropper, take 2 to 3 drops by mouth every two hours for sore throat, swollen glands and congestion.
 
 
Blend herbal formulas (1,2 &3) together in 4 oz. pure water or juice and drink it all at once.
 
Liquid supplements are more easily absorbed by the body and work faster.  However, if capsules are preferred, 1 teaspoon is equivalent to 1 liquizon capsule.
 
If you wish to eliminate the alcohol in the liquid formulas, put the three formulas in 1 cup of warm water, allow to stand for 10 minutes.  Alcohol evaporates at room temperature.
 
Children’s dosage: give 50% of the above recommended adult dosages.

To Your Health,

~Melissa

www.simplyamazingherbs.com

www.feelingofwellness.com

There is a legend of a man who was lost in the desert, dying of thirst.  He dragged himself on until he came to an abandoned house.  Outside of the dilapidated, windowless, weather-beaten shack was a pump.  “Water, at last!” he thought.  He stumbled forward and began pumping furiously, but nothing came out of the well.

As his heart raced he noticed a small jug with a cork at the top and a note scribbled on the side:  “you have to prime the pump with water, my friend.  P.S.  And fill the jug again before you leave.”  He pulled out the cork and saw that the jug was full of water.

He weighed his options.  Should he pour the water down the pump?  What if it didn’t work?  All of the water would be gone.  If he drank the water from the jug, he could be sure he wouldn’t die of thirst.  But to pour it down the rusty pump on the flimsy instructions written on the outside of the jug?

Sweating profusely, he listened to his heart and chose the risky decision.  He proceeded to pour the entire jug of water down the rusty old pump and furiously pumped up and down.  Sure enough, the water gushed out!  He had all he needed to drink.  With a thankful heart he turned his thoughts upward.  He filled the jug again, corked it, and added his own testimony to the words on the bottle:  Believe me, it really works.  BUT YOU MUST HAVE FAITH!

The people who really succeed are those who dare to risk, who challenge the status quo and push themselves beyond their normal limits.  No person ever fully discovers and develops all the potential within himself until he expresses his faith.

Most people fail to live their dreams, accomplish their goals or be their true authentic selves because they have a fear of taking chances.  But some people have faith and take the risks necessary to get what they truly want out of life.

So, which group do you fall in?  Are you taking risks in order to get closer to accomplish your goals?

To Your Best Life,

~Melissa

You may explore the secret of persistence by uncovering the ten most prevalent causes of failure:

1. Lack of a definite purpose, goal or chief aim.
2. Lack of ambition to move past mediocrity.
3. A negative mental attitude.
4. Lack of self-discipline.
5. Lack of vision and imagination sufficient to recognize favorable opportunities.
6. The use of race, sex, or circumstances as a reason for inactivity.
7. Lack of belief in the existence of infinite intelligence.
8. Ill health.
9. Lack of persistence in carrying through to finish that which you start; unwillingness to go the extra mile or render a service; the habit of running away from unpleasant circumstances instead of mastering them.
10. The desire to get something for nothing.

From birth to death life poses a constant challenge to those who master  failure with persistence, and it rewards with riches the men and women who successfully meet those challenges.  If you accept defeat as an inspiration to try again with renewed confidence and determination, the attainment of your success will be only a matter of time.  If you accept defeat as a final blow and allow it to destroy your confidence, you might as well abandon any hope of success.

I really don’t think of myself as a complainer.  But during the last couple weeks I’ve had some events take place that have really gotten me down.  And even though I’ve tried to stay focused and not complain, I realized that I may be falling into this bad habit.  Like today for instance…the weather was absolutely gorgeous for a Saturday.  I got myself all together and looking forward to a nice day of driving around and enjoying the weather.  But when I get outside my car doesn’t start.  So, I came back inside and prepared to have a ‘pity party’.  Then I caught myself and realized that I needed to re-focus, change my attitude and look at the situation in a more positive way.  It’s really easy to complain about things if you let yourself fall into the habit.  But complaining isn’t natural.  It’s a bad habit that we can change.

So, I spent part of my day inside reading.  And I found a really good article about complaining that changed my thinking and inspired me to write this post.  Basically, our thinking leads to our speaking, and our speaking reveals what we’re going to attract into our lives.  So, in other words when we complain about things like what another person has done that we don’t like or something happening that bothers us, we’re actually attracting more of what we don’t like or want into our universe.  It’s all a part of the law of attraction, what you spend time focusing on is what you bring into your life. 

I’ve decided to try this ’30 Fast’ of no complaining for an entire month.  No matter how long it takes.  Will Bowen has a new book out called Complaint Free Relationships.  In his previous work he challenges people to stop complaining altogether by wearing a purple band on your wrist.  I don’t have a purple band, but I do have a purple beaded bracelet that I really like.  Whenever I catch myself voicing a complaint, I have to move the bracelet to my other hand.  The goal is to go 30 days without speaking a complaint or moving my bracelet.   

From what I’ve read, it takes most people about 6 months to go a total of 30 days straight without any complaining.  Apparently it’s just that hard to stop complaining once you’ve gotten into the habit.  I don’t really see myself as a complainer but I’m going to give this ’30 Fast’ a try.  Since I really don’t believe in complaining this should help keep me focused on my goals and aware of my thoughts just in case the thought of complaining crosses my mind

Wish me luck in doing this successfully for 30 days.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissues, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.  The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially between the ages of 15 and 50, and is more common in those of non-European descent.

Fucoidan is a complex carbohydrate (or sulfated polysaccharide) that comes from brown seaweed.  It is the primary active phytochemical in the limu Mmui sea plant, which hails from the coast of the Pacific island Tonga.  The health benefits of fucoidan have been explored in numerous scientific studies, and continue to be researched extensively.

Scientific research proposes that many health conditions could be positively impacted by the regular consumption of fucoidan.  Among the conditions that can be affected are: immune system modulation.  One of the primary ways in which fucoidan can benefit your health is in its ability to interact with, and modulate the immune system.  The ability of a substance to modulate the immune system is extremely useful.

Modulation is a term used to describe the process of reducing the extremes of cellular activity – either stimulation or inhibition. Immune modulating substances have the ability to work in both directions. They can boost the immune system when it is depressed (referring to conditions such as chronic fatigue) and can also suppress the immune system when it is over-stimulated (such as in the case of autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis).

Limu Plus is the leading liquid dietary supplement on the market, and a competing limu moui supplement.  Research results obviously concluded that Limu Plus delivers a lot more Fucoidan compared to its competitors. 

Do you know anyone who has been affected with Lupus?  Also, share your experience with brown seaweed or  Limu Plus.

To Your Health,

~Melissa

It has long been used by natives to treat a variety of ailments including intestinal complaints, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, fevers and rheumatoid arthritis.

Uña de Gato (Cat’s Claw) is perhaps one of the best known Amazon Rainforest herbs.  It is widely available both as an individual herb and in combination with others.  The inner bark, stem, and root bark are all used in preparations. 

One of the key benefits of  Uña de Gato (Cat’s Claw) is joint and muscle support.  Research shows that Cat’s Claw is effective as a pain reliever for people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  It is believed to work by switching off the genes that are involved in inflammation. 

The anti-inflammatory properties of Cat’s Claw have proved to be effective in relieving stiffness and swelling often associated with arthritis, rheumatism and joint pain. A 2002 Austrian study found Cat’s claw significantly reduced joint tenderness and swelling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

For the management of joint and muscle health  Uña de Gato can be taken orally or topically. 

If you are experiencing any joint or muscle ailments let me recommend the following products to help relieve your pain:

Uña de Gato

Recovazon

Rainforest Treasure Tea

What are your thoughts and/or comments?  Have you tried Cat’s Claw for managing joint and muscle pain?

To Your Health ~

Melissa

www.feelingofwellness.com

I only see my doctor once a year and we always have these great discussions about drugs and how I don’t believe in taking any.  Also, we have this great understanding of each other.  I understand that she is not going to be satisfied unless she finds something to give me a prescription for; and she understands that although I let her write the prescription, there’s a strong possibility that I won’t take it. 

You see, when I visit my doctor, everything is usually pretty good, no problems or concerns.  But she always finds some excuse to write me a prescription.  I remember gaining 20 lbs in between visits one year.   I already knew what had caused my weight gain.  It was stress from a series of life changes.  Well, I’ll never forget debating with my doctor because she wanted to prescribed diet pills for me to lose 20 lbs.  I had to explain to her that no, I don’t need diet pills.  What I need is to reduce my stress, get back in the gym and improve my eating habits.  She proceeded to explain to me that these were some new diet pills on the market, specifically to help people who didn’t need to lose a lot of weight.  That was amazing!  I couldn’t believe that now there were diet pills being targeted towards people who really didn’t need to take diet pills.  I decided to let her write the prescription and just threw it in the trash when I got to the parking lot.  Fortunately, I have thrown away many doctor’s prescriptions over the years and I’m still alive. 

Well, lo and behold when I went back for my next yearly visit I had lost the 20 lbs plus 6 (26 lbs total).  My doctor was so happy for me, telling me how great I looked.  Then she said “now see…the diet pills worked, didn’t they”.   I had to break the bad news to her, and let her know that I lost the weight on my own and without her prescription.

It really amazes me how a person can be in good health or choose to create a healthier lifestyle, but the pharmaceutical companies out there want to sabotage healthy efforts by creating a pill or drug to target that market for profit.  

The following is an excerpt from ‘Evil Medicine’ that I want to share – - -

Healthy people are a largely untapped market for the drug companies.  Can you picture the marketing sessions where they brainstorm how to get into the “worried well”?

You’ve probably seen ads using celebrities to change public thinking about sexual difficulties, stomach problems, etc.  Brokers match up celebrities & drug companies.  People trust celebrities – - that’s why they’re effective in drug ads.  But the fact is, they’re on the drug company payroll.

Disease prevention in healthy people with so-called “risk factors” like high blood pressure or high cholesterol is lucrative.  Drug companies have redefined these measurable markers to encompass vast numbers of healthy people.

For instance:  drug companies support patient groups like the National High Blood Pressure Education Program in the US.  In 2003, the group announced a new warning about “pre-hypertension”, which ratcheted down the definition of high blood pressure from 140 over 90 to 120 over 80.  So, overnight, millions of healthy people suddenly became medication-needing patients.

Statins are now prescribed for healthy people as a preventative.  The American Diabetes Association has recommended that all diabetics start statins, in case some benefit is someday discovered!  Statins cause dangerous side effects.  They lower cholesterol by interfering with liver function.  It’s not something to mess with.  You can easily wind up with new symptoms or disorders, go to your doctor, and get diagnosed with another disease.  Result?  Another prescription drug, and more nutrient deficiencies.

It’s called “upselling” – getting the same customer to buy more stuff, increasing your profit margin.  Perfect business model for office supplies, maybe.  Not so good for your health, however.  As you recognize what the drug companies do in their marketing, how comfortable do you feel letting them make your health care decisions for you?

So, what do you think about that?  Amazing isn’t it?

Well, if you’re looking for more amazing information to help you further understand the big business of drug companies check out one of my favorite books about pharmaceutical companies  ‘Selling Sickness:  How the World’s Biggest Pharmaceutical Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients’ by Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels.

To Your Health ~

Melissa

www.feelingofwellness.com

Everybody experiences stress.  Stress is normal.  There’s good and bad stress, right?  Well, I attended a seminar today and gained some new insight about stress and stress management.  The first thing that the facilitator shared (from his perspective) was that there was no good or bad stress.  What’s important is how you respond to stress and how your body handles stress.  Ok, this makes perfect sense to me. 

I enjoy working out in the gym with weights.  However, weight training causes stress on the body because you’re actually creating muscle tears in your body.  Is this good or bad?  Depends on how I handle my workouts.  If I’m lifting properly, feeding my muscles with proper nutrition and protein along with rest then I think I’m handling this particular stress pretty well.  But what if I attempt to workout and don’t know what I’m doing, lift too much or overdo it by not feeding and resting my muscles properly. 

There have been many different definitions of what stress is depending on who is giving or using the definition.  Maybe the one problem with a ‘single’ definition is that stress is made up of many things and different people identify with different definitions.

So, let’s look at stress and define as follows:

• Emotional/mental:  anxiety, work, deadlines, demanding bosses, finances, family
• Physical:  falling, injuries, surgery, poor posture, continuous sitting, spending too much time on the computer, bone fractures
• Chemical:  substances that we are exposed to or put into our bodies that can cause stress, i.e., caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, sugar, drugs, eating fast food

When the combination of emotional, physical and chemical stressors is more than your body has capacity to handle, the body starts to break down.  First of all, your immune system becomes compromised.  Your body then becomes susceptible to break down by developing illness and disease.  Most people develop illnesses and believe they are breaking down because they are aging.  In reality they are breaking down because they have more stressors affecting their lives than their bodies have capacity to handle.  Today we are experiencing records numbers of obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other illnesses.  Many years ago we existed in this world without all the toxins, fattening and fast foods, computers and technology.  People were active by doing more physical labor, ate wholesome foods, and spent more quality time with family and friends.

3 secrets to stress management:

1. Manage the stressors coming into your body:  identify all of the stressors that are affecting your life, i.e., alcohol, coffee, fast food, cigarettes
2. Increase your capacity so you can better handle stress:  by reducing or eliminating one of your stressors (not all), you will make room for your body to handle the other stressors that you did not eliminate or reduce, i.e.,  if you normally drink a 6 pack of beer eliminate 3.
3. Choose your response to how you handle stress:  choose to adopt a healthier lifestyle, improve your immune system, and build stamina so that you will have the ability to survive stressful situations.  Follow steps 1 and 2 each week and eliminate stressors from your life for 4 weeks.  At the end of the 4 weeks you will notice a significant and lasting effect about the way you feel about stress and how to handle it.

7 ways to increase your capacity for managing stress:

1. Communication:  listen to your gut and that inner knowing
2. Rest:  make the time to do absolutely nothing
3. Fresh air:  take full deep breaths of fresh air everyday
4. Food & water:  drink more water, and eat food that is pure and fresh for ‘your’ body
5. Sunlight:  get your vitamin D from healthy amounts of natural sunlight
6. Physical & mental activity:  choose a physical activity that you will actually do, and stimulate you mind by reading, playing games, etc.
7. Conciousness:  pay attention when you are doing other things, be aware of doing 1-6 on this list

Think about your stressors.  Are you experiencing emotional and mental stress and managing that stress with chemical stress?  If so, you may think you’re eliminating stress but you’re actually increasing the stress on your body.  Many times we over eat or make bad food choices to manage stress.  Poor nutrition leads to obesity and health problems.  Your organs become overloaded and your stamina is reduced.

So, how do you manage your stress?

To Your Health ~

Melissa