Product Highlight: PM Phytogen

             Menopause has become something of a joke in our current society. If a woman in her mid-forties does something irrational, it’s laughed off as ‘that stage of life’. If she bursts into tears, or starts wildly fanning herself, people smile at the misery as she jokes about her ‘condition’. But the truth is, women who are actually suffering from menopausal symptoms think it’s anything but funny—and their families heartily agree!

           

            Peri-menopause can result in hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, mood instability, insomnia, difficulty thinking, poor memory, weight gain, breast pain, and fatigue. This is due to either an overload or a deficit of estrogen, respectively. 

                       

            Over 700 hundred years ago in the Chang region of Thailand, an herb called pueraria mirifica was brought to the light. The populace of this region experience the lowest breast cancer rate of the world. They experience little to no peri-menopausal symptoms. Women in their 80’s chase their grandchildren, and men far past their prime enjoy active sex lives and long mountain treks. People have black hair well into their late years. The average life span is longer. Like much of Asia, they maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle, and sickness is rarely seen. And they themselves attribute much of their health to this wonderful herb!

Pueraria mirifica, which we will call PM Phytogen, is one of the only substances in the world that has naturally occurring miroestrol. Professor Sayan Sawatsri MD discovered that miroestrol has about 3,000 times the estrogenic activity of soy isoflavones. Miroestrol occupies the estrogen receptors in your tissue. If the estrogen level is high, the miroestrol will compete with the receptors, weakening the effect of the hormones. If the estrogen level is low, miroestrol will exert its estrogenic effect to fill up the lack in the estrogen receptors. Thus, whether your estrogen is too high, or too low, this wondrous little herb will provide a balance for your body. It does not interfere with any hormone production-only what your body receives. By doing this, your body does not become dependent on a substitute hormone, and it is able to relieve the plague of peri-menopausal horrors.

We’ve seen dozens of women experience symptomatic relief from Solgars PM Phytogen. They’ve been able to sleep through the night, hot flashes have vanished, and this difficult entry into a new stage of life has been eased. The clinical trials performed in Asia have corroborated what we’ve already seen to be true.

In addition to aiding those experiencing menopause, however, PM Phytogen is helpful for any individual who has a hormonal imbalance. Women who want to come off the pill without a roller coaster hormone ride may use this to help their bodies remain balanced. Men may even use this at half dose to improve their energy, sexual activity, and general health. It may even be helpful for youth in the midst of entering a difficult puberty. If you are having troubles with your hormones, come on in and we’ll work out whether or not PM Phtyogen could help you regain balance in your life!

Product Highlight: Brain Factors

            This is a gold mine of brain empowering nutrients! In fact, as I began researching the cerebral effect of each of the ingredients within this treasure from Natures Purest, I became convinced that I need this. I NEED this. You probably do too. If you’re dubious, take a look at these highlights of the ingredients in this product and be inspired.

·      Acetyl L-Carnitine: This is a highly bioavailable amino acid that swiftly and easily passes the blood brain barrier to work in your brain as a powerful antioxidant. It helps prevent brain deterioration and it also neuro-protective. Athletes use it to assist with nerve injuries.

·      DMAE (dimethylethanolamine): This assists in neurotransmission. It also increases fluidity of thinking, vigilance and alertness, and has a positive impact on mood. Studies have shown it may be effective in the treatment of ADHD.

·      Huperzine A (natural  sesquiterpene alkaloid): This is currently being researched as a medical treatment for Alzheimers and dementia. It increased nerve growth in studies in China. In a double blind placebo study, it was was touted for its efficacy on improving nerve health without side effects, unlike pharmaceutical counterparts.

·      Alpha-GPC: As a natural choline found in the brain, it will enhance memory and cognition. It’s proven effective on restoring brain health to Alzheimers and stroke victims.

·      Vinpocetine: This increases cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism. It is used in Europe as treatment for age related memory impairment and cerebrovascular disorders. It protects neurons and is anti-inflammatory.

·      Phosphatidylserine: Improves the endocrine response to stress, and blunts exercise induced stress. It also improves cognitive function and has been helpful for those with ADHD.

·      Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract: This improves your ability to focus as well as lengthening your attention span. It also enhances your ability to store information and has been used as possible Alzheimers/dementia treatment.

·      Gotu-Kola: This is an adaptogen which also happens to be antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and a circulatory stimulant. It’s used for hundreds of years in Asia as a cerebral stimulant.

        I can’t imagine there are many of us out there who don’t need at least a little help in memory and mental clarity.  So, whether you’re just working a demanding job, studying for school, or suffering through some age-related memory loss, ponder the benefits you may be missing out on. 

Tea Party: Ginger Tea

            Ginger has been, from its first cultivation to the present, the most widely cultivated herb. It was first noted in Greek chronicles as early as 200 BC. The Chinese record that they began its cultivation in 400 BC. Even Confucius wrote of gingers healing powers as a digestive aid and stated that he’d never take a meal without it. Ancient literature of the Middle East, Asia, and Europe extol its medicinal and economic virtues.

        During the Revolutionary War, ginger was included in the soldiery’s diet for its healing and energizing properties. Vitamin C was at one time derived from ginger to supply to seafarers a preventive measure against scurvy.

         Virtually every culture in the world has acknowledged ginger as a most excellent digestive aid, and almost as many praise it as a powerful aphrodisiac. Those gnarled bulbous rhizome’s have a history of influence that spans this millennia—and those roots look old enough to have been growing at the beginning of it!

How To:

            

Tea bag: Use one tea bag per 6oz of boiling water. Let this steep for about three minutes, and remove, squeezing the tea bag to extract every bit of zest.

Fresh ginger: Wash your ginger root and dry. Cut off any dry or bad places on the root, then chop into ¼ inch slices. Boil your water in a pot, and add your ginger. Allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes, then strain.

           

Flavor:

            

Ginger is tangy and spicy! Its bite is energizing, and its heat, soothing. If you find it a bit too intense, sweeten with honey and add a dash of lemon. It’s traditionally sipped hot, but also makes a delicious energizing iced tea for those few warmer months we enjoy in Wisconsin.

What For:

            Ginger has been used for centuries as a digestive aid in soothing nausea, gas, indigestion, heartburn, influenza, morning sickness, and even hangovers.  The Japanese praise its uses for joint and spinal pain. It’s used in America to sooth menstrual pain. It’s universal in its use for relief from motion sickness.

            Because of its use as a systemic tonic, hormone balancer, energy enhancer, and ability to improve circulation, it has a rather obvious value as an aphrodisiac. Consider this a delicious alternative to shake up the red wine and chocolate so associated with the boudoir.

            Other benefits include:

·      The active nutrient in ginger, gingerol, has been put through many clinicals, and emerges triumphant against cancerous cells and tumors, particularly those related to the ovaries and colon.

·      Relieves nausea induced by chemotherapy

·      Relieves vomiting

·      Induces sweating during a fever to help the system purify itself by expelling toxins.

·      Ginger and honey provide excellent relief for sore throats.

·      Helps relieve fatigue.

·      Useful for coughs, bronchitis, and upper respiratory tract infections

·      Helps prevent onset of migraines

·      Mild pain relief for post-surgical pain, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

Minerals:

Iron, calcium, magnesium, silicon, manganese, phosphorous, and chromium.

Vitamins:

            Vitamin A, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Vitamin 9 (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), PABA (para-amino benzoic acid), Vitamin C, Vitamin H (Biotin)

Food Matters:

Food Matters is a well produced, independently funded film that contains fascinating and sometimes alarming interviews with internationally recognized naturopaths, nutritionists, scientists, M.D.’s, and medical journalists. While the title suggests a film entirely on the emphasis of proper diet, it actually encompasses diet, vitamins, possible therapies for cancer and other chronic conditions, agricultural mistakes, dangers of modern medicine, and a history of the birth of pharmaceutical companies.

This is the sort of movie where you should grab your family, your friends, and anyone whose health you care about and watch it together. We live in a nation where everyone has been impacted to one extent or another by cancer, heart disease, immune disorders,  obesity, and our American ‘diet’. It packs a huge amount of information into an easily understandable format that keeps you attentive and open minded.

            I promise you, you and yours will never look at your food, your pharmaceuticals, or your vitamins the same way ever again!

Product Highlight: Cleanse Smart

           Today is the first day of July, and I am guessing that most of us have already accomplished the dreading spring house cleaning. I know! I saw the garage sales, and the piles of debris that follow the tornado of dust mop and cleaning rags. But while your house may still be sparkling clean from the enthusiastic brush up that you gave it a couple months ago, did you consider how much your body may still need a good cleaning?

            http://www.cleanwateraction.org/files/jvickers@cleanwater.org/greencleaning.jpg

      In this current industrial age, we are inundated with chemicals and toxins. Even for those of us making the effort to reduce the chemical intake of fungicides, pesticides, herbicides and pesticides by buying organic, we are still exposed to hundreds of hazardous chemicals daily. It’s in our plastics, our carpets, our paint, our buildings, our cleaning products, our water (fluoride, chlorine, arsenic etc) air pollution, and more. The list of toxicity in America is virtually endless. While recent years have seen a reduction on environmental pollutants, we still have an enormous problem.

            Your body needs help. Once toxins and heavy metals have accumulated in the body, it is very difficult for them to be released from storage and flushed from the body. They are hidden away in our fat, our liver, our muscles, and even our nervous and lymphatic tissue. Their continued presence in your tissues creates an ongoing toxic condition in your body that causes/contributes to poor nutrition, chronic diseases and other health problems.

             Our favorite cleansing kits are through Renew Life—many of you already purchase their high quality probiotics! I have done several of their cleanses, and experienced wonderful results. Cleanse Smart is an excellent cleanse for beginners or for those who don’t have  serious medical problems. It is a 30-day program taking supplements both morning and evening. It also has a very helpful cleansing guide included in the kit that outlines possible diet adjustments, water consumption, and exercise. In addition, if you have any questions or concerns that aren’t answered in the guide, you may go online to renewlife.com and there you will be able to contact the ReNew Life specialists for answers. Of course you can call us too!

           If you’re a pro cleanser, or simply interested in taking your cleansing power to a higher level, it is very beneficial to enjoy a sauna, skin brushing, or hot bath while cleansing. This allows your body to push toxins out through your skin as well. Exercise, whether vigorous or gentle, activates the muscles and lymph in your system and is super powerful in ramping up your cleanse. Rebounding, walking, running/jogging, bicycling, active games with the family, playing with your dog, dancing, Wii games, even running up and down stairs with the laundry are all good ways to include a little more activity.

            Listed below are common symptoms of those who have a high toxicity level or a Candida/fungal overgrowth. If you have several of these symptoms, cleansing may be an excellent option for you!

• Depression
• Irritability
•  Numbness, tingling in hands and fee
• Frequent urination
• Chronic fatigue
•  Insomnia
• Poor circulation (cold hands and feet)
• Kidney/liver damage
• Poor memory
• Constipation and/or diarrhea
• Leg cramps
• Heartburn
• Skin rashes
• A metallic taste in the mouth
• Joint pain
• Rapid heart beat
• Excessive itching
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Twitching of facial and/or other muscles
• Abdominal bloating
• Impaired immunity
•  Constriction of vision
• Diminished hearing
• Speech disorders
• Shaky movements or unsteady gait

Product Review: Acure Argan Oil

I am very picky when it comes to my face. I have combination dry/oily skin and have struggled for years with finding a moisturizer that doesn’t make me oily, but actually hydrates at the correct pH. Because I have oily/dry/acne prone skin, I never even considered using an oil on my face. However, after watching a webinar on the AMAZING brand of Acure for skincare, I was intrigued.

The webinar went into detail about this ‘liquid gold’. It is incredibly rich in Vitamin E, Essential Fatty Acids, and Omega 3 and 9. It fends off fine lines by improving your cell regeneration. It helps your skin naturally retain moisture, so your face can remain hydrated and smooth on its own.  The natural fatty acids provide anti-inflammatory support to lessen the swelling of blemishes and relieve redness. The high concentrate of Vitamin E feeds oxygen into the pores of the skin. Oxygen destroys acne-so, for those of you fighting acne, despite your natural disinclination for oils, this is actually one of the best acne fighting products available. 

I haven’t had acne in months. My skin is brighter, clearer, and I no longer get painfully dry and flaky. I love it! You will too. I promise.

This article was contributed by Rynn Jacobson, an Apple Wellness employee. Rynn is going to school for herbology and natural medicine, and will be sharing some of her knowledge on various topics.

Tea Party: Part 1

This article was contributed by Rynn Jacobson, an Apple Wellness employee. Rynn is going to school for herbology and natural medicine, and will be sharing some of her knowledge on teas and their healing properties. Follow along as she welcomes us into the world of healing teas.

 

 I love tea. Passionately. It is coming close to an obsession these days. I have tea 

in the morning with my breakfast, in the evening after dinner and as a reward for finishing my housework.

 

I suspect there are those of you thinking, “Meh, I’m a coffee lover. Who has time for tea? Tea is for people who can’t handle the magical energizing mania of caffeine.” It may surprise you to know then, you coffee-obsessed, that just a short time ago I was a stoic follower of those magical beans as well. What happened? You may ask—

 

My doctor happened. She told me in no uncertain terms that coffee was allowed only as an occasional treat for me, and in small amounts. (This isn't to say that everyone should cut out coffee from their diet--this was advised due to a medical condition.)

 

You see, both my husband and I spent some time as barista’s and developed a distinctive coffee snobbery. You know the type, right? We chatter excitedly about organic fair-trade perfectly brewed and locally roasted blends and visit only the local coffee shops at which, “They know what they’re doing…” 

And so, about eight months ago, I found my days dreary and dim without my crisp cuppa' joe. My afternoons were dismal without my delicious pick-me-up. The full flavor, the acidic, energizing intensity of a mug of coffee made it difficult to appreciate the soothing, beguiling subtleties of an aromatic tea. 

But gradually, I realized I was being romanced by my tea pot. 

I’m going to say something that may seem shocking. Compared to tea, coffee is simply boring. Tea is an adventure. And there is something else about tea that intrigues. Tea is something that coffee can never compare to. Tea is healing. 

 

There is a tea for every ailment of the body, a warm beverage for every wrinkle in the mind. Tea can soothe your aches, energize your muscles, purify your blood, clean out your intestines, relieve your fever, clear your congestion... Let me prove it to you.

 

We are going to be launching the weeks together with a cup of tea in our mornings. Each week, we’ll have a tea to review. I’ll tell you how to prepare it, what it tastes like, and what it’s good for. Consider yourself cordially invited to our tea party.