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 Gingivitis... we found a simple solution. My partner was suffering from an inflamed gum for weeks and went to the dentist who seemed not concerned and said "If it gets worse let me know." Then the inflammation of the gum got so bad that his cheek started to swell on one side and he looked like a chipmunk on that side.  We try to avoid antibiotics because we know that they play havoc with your micro-biome and it takes a long time to reestablish a good bacterial flora in the gut. We went to Grandpa Google and looked at what had helped others with this problem.  From the many suggestions what jumped out at me was TURMERIC and ALOE VERA.... Wow! both are very high in my esteem.  And I also knew that Turmeric even though it is a wonderful medicine, it can be drying and heating.  And immediately my intuitions said "Aloe is cooling and moistening, Let's combine them!"   That is exactly what we did. We put 2 teaspoonfuls of Turmeric in a small dish and made a...

  Recently a friend was telling about his 1 year son being constipated.  It reminded me of working at Children's Hospital as a student and the paste we used to make for constipated babies. It was a mox of prunes figs and raisins.  Also an Ayurvedic recipe my teacher taught me was soaking 4 prunes in 1/2 cup of water over night and blending it with a cup of fresh pineapple chunks and eating that in the afternoon as a snack. The digestive effects of the prunes and the enzymatic action of the pineapple seems to get things moving. Besides fiber, water and exercise being useful for good bowel movements we also need the bile produced by the liver and held in the gall bladder.  Bile is what causes "Peristalsis" of movement of food along the alimentary canal.  Cooked beets are beneficial for bile production and peristalsis. Also anything bitter like greens. A gentle massage of the belly  starting at the lower right hand side going up to the navel and across and dow...

  In the last few years the healing properties of turmeric have come front and center in the alternative healing circles and probably in the world of main stream medicine. As usual the nutraceutical companies have tried to find "The active ingredient" and encapsulate it and sell it in bottles. However the medicine of ancient India cannot be encapsuled in a bottle. It is the medicine that Hippocartes spoke of, saying: "Let food me your medicine and medicine be your food." That is why the food of India is always spiced. The spices add to the beneficial effects of the food and they also carry the medicine. I have the great fortune of studying with Vaidya (wise man) Rama Kant Mishra who carried forward the ancient medicinal wisdom from any generations back. He says his ancestors carried Frankincense and Myrrh to the Christ Child. Be that as it may there is no question that he carries a deep wisdom about spices and herbs and food as medicine. Here is a 8 minute video of ...

  To drink Milk or Not to drink milk? ......That is the question. Milk is considered a nectar in Ayurveda.   It is the loving fluid coming form the mother’s blood carrying immunity and nourishment to the offspring   - whether cow, goat or human or whatever.   When we drink milk within 24-48 hours it nourishes all our deepest tissues. All other food that takes 30 days to reach the deepest levels of our physiology. In other words, to make Ojas or all the neurotransmitter and hormones that are essential for intelligent communication and transformation of all tissues, takes 30 days.   Yes, you heard me. What you eat today is not fully assimilated for about 1 month, whereas milk is assimilated within 2 days.   That is why it is considered a nectar. However there are certain rules around drinking milk.   Firstly the source must be of good quality.   The cows have to be well treated. The individuals caring for the animal but treat it with kindness and re...

 Constipation is problem that needs to be addressed for our own comfort and also our long term health. Vaidya Mishra told a story about asking his father for help in understanding the complexities of health and disease. His father's answer was, "Oh, don't worry, just address the colon and everything else will fall into place." The colon is the seat of Vata dosha.  So anything that balances Vata will help the colon like: regular routine, going to bed before 10 PM, never skipping or delaying meals, never rushing, eating meals that are warm and cooked and moist. Here is a link to a video about Vata pacifying diets.  https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/diet/vata-pacifying-diet/ When you think about how food moves down the alimentary canal and finally to the colon and out through the rectum, its quite an amazing journey.  All the nutrients need to be extracted and toxins removed and finally the colon picks up things back into the body an...

 I have been recommending Magnesium for years. At first orally until I found out it irritates the lining of the intestinal tract and causes all kinds of problems.  Then I found out that the preferred route of administration is through the skin, transdermal application with lotions, creams or in the bath.  And also there is a difference in the type of Mg salt you use. Magnesium sulphate, otherwise known as EPSOM SALTS is excreted rapidly and it benefits are short lived. It has to be metabolized to Magnesium chloride which is better assimilated and penetrates to appropriate sites. Therefore Magnesium chloride is the best way to administer Mg.   But today as doing more research on Magnesium I came across a shocking bit of information. HIGH DOSES OF VITAMIN D DEPLETE MAGNESIUM. I was shocked and immediately became hyper-alert, because everyone is recommending high doses of Vitamin D for prevention and treatment of COVID.  It is well documented that pharmaceutic...

I got a great recipe from an old herbal, that I have used for years to make Mullein syrup,  You take the whole mature plant in its second year: roots leaves stem and flowers and put it into your largest pot. Cover it with spring water and bring to a boil and simmer for 4-6 hours on low.  Strain and simmer until it is down to 1/2 volume. Then add either vegetable glycerin or honey in equal amount and store in fridge. Take 1 tablespoonful 2-3 times a day in warm water or wash it down with warm water. See previous entry about its benefits and how it has helped people in amazing ways.

  In June When the Linden Tree Blooms In June when the linden tree blooms the blossoms drip with honey. The dripping honey sticks to everything even the breeze that sings so sweetly. The need to be touched drips from everything. It is one of the paths to love, one of the paths to a life in bloom. To take this path, know that everything is touching you with blessings, blessings dripping with honey. Barry hunt poet How beautiful.... Linden. When I lived in Penticton they had Linden trees growing in the graveyard which had a view of the lake. We used to go and pick the little Linden flowers that have the helicopter leaves. You can dry them and keep them for a couple of years. They make a wonderful tea that is calming and soothing. My mother taught me that it has been used traditionally for bathing distressed babies. If you goggle "Benefits of Linden" you will find it is calming and mimics GABA (gabaaminobutyricacid) which inhibits excitability in the human nervous system. You c...

I recently had a client with digestive issues and DIGESTION  is a most important topic in Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda. All the food that we eat has to be converted into intelligent blood to feed all out tissue and organs.  In working together for a couple of months with only 30 minutes a week we covered a lot of ground on the basic life style changes that needed to be put in place so that her system could process the food that she was eating. However before we could start talking about life style and food and digestion there was a big piece of the puzzle that had to be addressed and that was her emotional start that was often in fight of flight or freeze and it prevented REST AND DIGEST.  When we are under a lot of stress our body releases Cortisol that then produces adrenaline when shrinks our blood vessels and shuts down healthy circulation. When we sit down to eat we need to be in a restful state. It's most important that we put our undivided attention on our food.  Ou...

I watched my little 5 foot mother shrink as she grew older. At 88 years old she was bed ridden. Thirty years earlier she fell and broke her ribs. That was the first sign of Osteoporosis. It's a disease that baffles modern science. If you are diagnosis with porous breakable bones the doctor will most likely tell you do weight bearing exercise and the prescribe a BISPHOSPHONATE like Fosamax or Actonal. However when the scientific data is properly interpreted, only 3 women out of 100 benefit from taking the Biphosphonates. That is startling considering the millions taking these drugs.  Looking more deeply into the literature you will find that these drugs make the bones harder and more brittle and they continue to break easily. As I approached menopause I was aware of these facts and was looking for solutions so that I could prevent the suffering my mother endured from this disease.  I found many supplement companies that offered solutions. I even got recommendations from friends...

 During the winter months the SLESHEKA KAPHA build up in the body. KAPHA is predominantly the earth and water element. When spring arrives and the channels of the body start to open this excess will start to be naturally eliminated.  What we can do to help is add more spicy food like ginger, cloves, pepper, to create more fiery transformative energy to create balance.   Also eliminate KAPHA aggravating foods.  Sweet sour and salty foods.  To Balance the KAPHA DOSHA emphasize Astringent, bitter and pungent foods. So don't be too worried if you get a spring cold or flu. It's Nature's way of eliminating the excess earth and water elements (KAPHA) that built up over the winter. Take extra rest, drink plenty of hot water, eat lightly, go to bed on time.  It's time to take care of yourself. Also the KAPHA DOSHA predominates in the early years of life. So we see plump babies with runny noses. VATA DOSHA predominates in the latter years of life so we see dry s...

  Spring is here and this is the perfect time to detox. I want to offer you an opportunity to learn safe, effective detox from a master of Ayurveda, Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra of the Shaka Vansiya Lineage. Please view the 6 minute video of Vaidya explaining the importance of correct detox   https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=5frLsRw6uW8 The course also addresses emotional toxins through the “Samadhi Set”, where you will dive deeply into the spiritual principles of SVA. View 2 minutes video https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=T9Y3UfbMtdk Join us today April 13 at 3 PM - and April 14 at 3 PM for an intro to the course - you will receive a Zoom link in your email 10 minutes before 3 PM If you miss this time because of my lateness - there will be a recording available - let me know if you wish to view it. --

Let's continue our exploration of bone health. Osteoclast are cells that break down our bone and osteoblasts rebuild.  These miraculous little bone factories are in our bone marrow. There has to be a balance between the amount being broken down by osteoclasts and being built by osteoblast. If bone breaks down too quickly then Osteopenia results which eventually leads to Osteoporosis. The osteoclastic break down takes about 3-5 weeks and blasts takes about 3-5 months to rebuild complete. What is the difference between Osteopenia and Osteoporosis.  Osteopenia is when the bones have less minerals. That is the start of the problem and if the bones become less dense and more porous, that is much more serious and is called Osteoporosis.  It really just a progression of the same problem. Mineralization is important but also protein and good quality fats are important in building bones according to SVA.  When your are diagnosed with osteopenia you probably run to the drugsto...

 I did my first detox attempt 50 years ago at the advice of a physician turned Naturopath. I stopped eating because that is what I thought fasting was - stop eating.  I had no knowledge of the importance of proper supportive protocols. Over the last 50 years I came across many detox systems and 15 years ago found Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda that clarified many important points in successful detox. Let's start with toxins. The industrial age has given us many comforts and also many toxins,  The President's Cancer Panel informs us that nearly 80,000 chemicals  are on the market in the USA. 50 years ago Rachel Carson wrote "Silent Spring" and unfortunately the governments have done little to stop the number of chemicals in our environments.  Ayurved was cognized by the ancient doctors starting about 5000 years ago when there were no industrial toxins in people's lives.  The toxin written about in the ancient texts was "AMA" or undigested food.  Ama is cold and...

 I have been writing this blog for several years and realized that some people are now reading it that might not know me. Here is my story. My story as a healer started early in life. At 15 my first job was as a care aide for retarded children. Then working at children's hospital in Winnipeg as a pharmacy student and after graduating as a Hospital Pharmacist working in large teaching hospitals in both Winnipeg and Ottawa. Four years into my career as a hospital pharmacist I had a rude awakening at work one day. As I was handing a large bag of medications to a man, I looked at him and in that moment "saw" that his mind and the stress in his life was the root cause of his "dis-ease".  That led me on a journey of studying psychology, becoming a teacher of The Transcendental Meditation Program and eventually getting a Master's degree in education from Maharishi International University.  I continued working as a community pharmacist and expanded my scope to incl...

 Hello everyone, I recently received a link from a friend saying that there are 3 foods that halt the spike protein.  They all contain a substance called "Shikimic Acid"  the 3 foods are Pine needle tea, Fennel seeds, and Star Anise. Here is the link if you want to read the whole article https://deeprootsathome.com/3-foods-that-contain-shikimic-acid-to-halt-transmission/ I would also like to give you the recipe for a MASALA - spices that I cook with every day that is a balanced mix with fennel that I have used for years.  Funnily enough I never get the flu or colds. Maybe its this blend of spices.  Remember is was the spice merchants that survived the bubonic plague. Use organic Coriander seed and organic Fennel seed. Measure out 6 tablespoonfuls of each and grind. I have a coffee grinder that I use specifically for grinding spices.  It important that you grind your own seeds as the VOC's or Volatile Organic Compounds are the important medicine in spices - ...

 I learned of an interesting product yesterday that would help those with persistent bladder infections.  Its a probiotic specially formulated for women whose bacterial flora needs support in the urinary tract. It made by YARROW and is called FEM-DOPHILUS. https://ca.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-formulas-women-s-fem-dophilus-60-veggie-caps/68259 Also I would like to tell you of another product called D-MANNOSE - which is a natural sugar that attracts bacteria.  Many people know that cranberry juice is good to prevent bladder infections as it prevents the bacteria from sticky to the lining of the bladder and colonizing. However D-MANNOSE works in a different way. It attracts bacteria to itself and then as the person urinates the bacteria are flushed out. Hope you find these tips useful to prevent bladder infections.

 If you find yourself having irregular heart beats it definitely something to go and get checked by a competent physician.  And also it would not hurt to step up your Magnesium levels. With so many people taking Calcium, Magnesium gets out of balance. Also because of our poor food growing practices mineral in our soils are depleted and since Magnesium is needed in about 700 biochemical pathways in the body it is crucial to keep its levels up. The best way to get Magnesium into the body is through the skin. Magnesium chloride is better than Magnesium sulphate (Epsom Salts) as it is better assimilated.  There are many ways to get this.  Also I recently read that homeopathic Magnesium carbonate 30CH has been beneficial in reducing heart palpitations in some people.  No sides effects and inexpensive so it would be worth a try. Motherwort has also been used for irregular heart beats: Here is what Grandpa Google says about Motherwort.  "Motherwort is used for hea...

I received the message below from my friend Blaine, reminding me again about ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA (also known as Kalmegh). Another treatment for virus infections.  Time tested in India, China and Scandanavian countries.  Available in Canada from Sewanti.com as a powder for $26.99 plus shipping.  (150 doses) Dose is only 1/4 teaspoonful in cup of warm water 1-3 times a day. Here's a bit of information from Blaine about the herb: "Andrographis paniculata has as many benefits besides being antiviral.  It is helpful for more than just immune support. The dry and penetrating qualities of the herb help to cut through thick phlegm caused by increased kapha, and it also reduces pitta and kapha in the head and chest, helping to maintain a normal body temperature.  Additionally, it supports a healthy respiratory tract, sinuses, and throat, and can even be used externally to help balance excess pitta in the skin. Due to its bitter and cooling qualities, it helps balanc...

      I first heard about the Comfrey over 50 years ago when my mother and I were visiting an elderly gentleman who used to be a shoe maker. He educated himself and started massaging peoples feet using reflexology. He made the decision to switch careers because he noticed different people wore their shoes out in different ways.   He was a practical man. We trusted him. So when he offered to give us a root from his comfrey patch we gratefully accepted it.   That was my first introduction to the healing capabilities of Comfrey.        My mother planted it in our garden and must of used it over the years but it was only decades later I decided to use it to help good friend.   I was already working as a pharmacist in a big teaching hospital in Winnipeg when a close friend said that her doctor said her sore shoulder was “bursitis” or inflammation of the bursa.   Since it was not healing and she was in a lot of pain the doctor recomm...