SPLEEN & GUT HEALTH

FOCUS THIS WEEK

Physically: Spleen & Gut Health

Emotionally and Mentally: Joy & Love

I have a basic understanding of anatomy and encourage you to do your own study of the spleen. The internet is a fountain of information.

The spleen for me is important to assist me combat any infections and cleanse my blood. Therefore, I needed to learn to care for it - the natural way.

As usual, I can only write about what I do, and I encourage you to do your own ground work to find what is comfortable for you.

I will give a brief explanation on the focus and then the recipe. (My recipes aren’t to tantalise the taste buds they are to nourish and keep my body healthy…. yep, you can do the eyeball roll!)

The grocery shop stocks fennel bulbs and fresh asparagus at the moment, and I usually eat whatever is in season and go with the natural flow of the seasons.

FENNEL

Fennel is not only known for its health benefits, but mentally and emotionally linked to courage, energy and physical endurance, etc. It is written that Roman soldiers would eat fennel before battle, and now researchers are confirming this from evidence by uncovering and excavating human waste from ancient roman cities. An article written by National Geographic in 2011 article “Stacks of Human Waste Reveal Secrets of Ancient Rome” confirms fennel played a large part in the Roman diet.

It stands to reason - if fennel was a good analgesic anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, disinfectant, tonic etc it would serve its purpose if they were injured in battle. They would have a better fighting chance of healing from any wounds incurred.

A herbal writer of the 12th century related fennel for strengthening the brain, heart, hearing and eyes. Apparently some people also like the increased metabolism for the slimming effects. Emotionally it made one feel happy. If you like the full expose of the all the benefits I highly recommend Isabell Shiphard book “How Can I Use Herbs in My Daily Life”.

I also found out it fennel also benefits intestinal flora. I always prefer sourcing my medicine through foods where ever I can. I don’t take any of the processed and manufactured gut health liquid bottles nor the gut health tablets.

Many concoctions focus on using fennel seeds. As we are in the tropics, I would have to purchase fennel seeds out of a supermarket packet. Therefore I purchase the fresh vegetable.

Again I am looking at the whole body when I choose my foods.

The next ingredient for the soup I want to make is Asparagus - fresh in the supermarkets at the moment. No fresh organic asparagus is available -   I wash the stems throughly.

ASPARAGUS

Over the years  - one vegetable which keeps being highlighted is Asparagus. Dr Theodore Baroody in his book “Alkalise or die”. States Asparagus is a powerful acid reducer, and a known therapy for cancer. And another Doctor - Dr W. R Kellas says “The pH factor is important to rid the body of mercury and other toxins”

Another article written about the benefits of asparagus for cancer, was printed in the Cancer News Journal dated December 1979 and written by a biochemist. Who studied Asparagus and treated a person with Hodgkin’s disease who was completely incapacitated. The article states that within one year they were unable to detect any sign of cancer.

This will depend on what other foods you have in your diet, and other toxins in your environment.  I don’t have alcohol, and no sugar apart from an occasional sweet treat, which I allow now - being on the maintenance diet.  (Never, feeling as well after wards, but that is learning to weigh up and evaluate the pleasing of the taste buds over not feeling as well for a couple of days, the choice is always mine)

Asparagus has been used for bladder cancer, skin cancers and inoperable kidney stones.

I use it because it not only is anti cancer but strengthens bone and good for back pain and is an excellent pro-biotic. Excellent for Candida - another common ailment of people fighting cancer.

Which brings me to making my meal which delivers health benefits.

 FENNEL & ASPARAGUS SOUP

I am one of those cooks who rarely measure anything.

 I go on instinct, so will give the approximate amounts.

2 Fennel Bulbs

3 bunches of asparagus

2 potatoes

4 cups of water

*2 teaspoons of Coconut Amino Sauce

Herbal Salt to taste

*This is the only added processed food ingredient I used, It is an Organic Coconut Amino Sauce which serves as a substitute for soy sauce. It is a non-soy - all purpose seasoning sauce. I purchase from Go-Vita the local vitamin shop.

Cooked slowly for about 3/4 hr. When cooled pureed in my blender. It makes about 3 decent meals for me. 

Again do what is right for you.

Emotionally and mentally when my thoughts started wandering into dark places. I kept bring my thoughts back to focusing on joy and love. Associating images which bring me joy  - and images which bring love into my life.

Stay Strong!

Karen

POINT OF VIEW

My primary focus of my blog is to give other people in my situation HOPE. When no one else will step outside their comfort zone or having no experience of what we face on a daily level can hope to understand.

A topic which has been on my mind for some time and I trust my readers will grant me this very strong point of view, with a great deal of passion thrown in for good measure!

Writing from my point of view…. I was in the medical system for 18 months when first diagnosed with terminal, incurable cancer. In that 18 months there were countless blood tests, PET scans, x-rays, heart scans, scans with dyes scans without dyes. Thousands of dollars spent on physiotherapy learning to walk again (not covered by the private health insurance). We had been in the highest private health insurance money could buy.

I was repeatedly subjected with being told I would to die shortly by doctors and nurses, given NO HOPE from all sides of my world.

I was to believe all the medical science and all the expert medical opinions. Where with one blood test they could tell me what I pill or drug I should take next.

NOW the kicker was after we had purchased the burial plot, and we approached the insurance company. I had over 12 months of medical scientific proof of my so call terminal cancer condition, and they treated me as a fraud, and a person who couldn’t be trusted. So they didn’t have to pay the insurance, and there wasn't anything anyone could do.

From their limited point of view how could someone with so much damage still be alive? I had to be a liar!

This is when my fight started in earnest. This is when the quiet achieving person, who was happy to please everyone and do anything for anyone. Became an angry uncooperative person.

If you are reading my book and have cancer. I understand and know what you are facing, being caught between the medical insurance, life insurance, Medicare and the so-called brilliant medical system we are living under in these trying times.

I have learnt to fight for the right to live and to hell with the medical system, insurance scams, and anybody else who tries to tell me when I should live or die and whether I am a liar or a cheat.

I will be abrasive as sand paper to get my point of view across, and if that means mocking the medical system and all it stands for then I will do that too.

What people are being subjected to in our current Australian medical system is inhumane. Especially people struggling with cancer. You see it all the time in aged care facilities. Where the residents are prescribed upto 20 different prescription drugs. They are too weak and old to put up any resistance and are easy pickings.

All in the name of medical science.

If everything has to be scientifically proven to enable these people to write and prescribe these drugs. Why? When a drug is scientifically proven to cause cancer, suicide tendencies or dementia they do not take it off the market, to save people's lives? Where are the class actions? Where are the formal inquiries?

Yep… you guessed it greed!

Isn't it amazing that in the past 10 years and with all those scientifically proven blood tests, scans and other scientific evidence which was accumulated while I was in the care of the medical system.

There is not one product or item I have been able to claim on Medicare or the private health insurance, which has assisted with my fight with cancer. 

I ask the following questions.

Is our whole health and insurance system so broken and fatally flawed?

Is all the expensive medical equipment really trustworthy?

Or could it just be the insurers don’t want to pay their claims?

As cancer people we end up not only fighting for our right to live, but we fight the whole damn system. 

Keep up the good work!

Stay Strong!

Karen

PS. I really am a peace-loving, sensitive person living in very trying times.

BOOKS RELEASED

PHYSICAL & MENTAL LEARNING

This week is focusing on the physical and adding in a mental exercise for you to explore your own mental powers and willpower.

As adults, we learn that our mental state of mind will impact our physical body. A quick example is someone who is struggling with depression which can result from drugs prescribed or physical pain being endured. Resulting in - not having the positive, happy face which is only acceptable in our politically correct society. They don’t want to go out. People don’t want to talk to them.

I am in tune when I speak to people who are struggling with cancer and the see-saw emotional roller coaster ride.

Here is a list of natural herbs, you can look at to see if they can improve and assist in the emotional roller coaster ride. They come with many other healing benefits from healing eye problems to memory improvements.

●       Alehoof

●       Brahmi

●       Chamomile

●       Chervil

●       Dill

●       Fennel

●       Goto kola

●       Herb Robert

●       Mustard (plant)

●       Passionflower

●       Sage

●       Skullcap

●       St Johns Wart and

●       Valerian

These are just a few to assist with the emotional lumps and bumps. I often make a tea with freshly picked leaves or dry the leaves in the oven and then placed in the refrigerator to protect against mold in our tropical climate.

I encourage you to do your own research and see which one of these works for you.

For example Chamomile benefits a more relaxed sleep at night, another bonus is elevating your mood. The downside of having too much chamomile is creating a restless night because of too many dreams, also for some, it can cause a rash.

People have asked me how do I know what to take when and how much? This is a difficult question, but the answer is simple. Listen to your body. If you are taking too many things at once, you won’t know what is working and what isn’t. Try to keep everything simple. I understand in the early stages of learning many new things. It can become a little overwhelming, and you want to throw everything at your body at once. Just to get rid of the damn cancer out of your body.

To give you an example of what I do, then you can sense and feel what your body is telling you. (It is a way of learning to trust yourself.)

Recently I had difficulty sleeping this often happens around full moons and eclipses. For 3 nights, I had organic chamomile tea. Sometimes I will have 2 tea bags and sometimes I will only use the one. (Depending on how tired I am, and how much I am craving sleep).  When the dream activity starts to go a little overboard. I know to cease and go it alone. The additional benefits of being happier because I have had improved sleep and feeling more relaxed to go about my daily life is confirmation. The herb has done its job. I don’t take it on a daily or nightly basis.

The Goto Kola I had to my banana smoothie using 3 - 4 freshly picked leaves. The added benefits of using this herb, is arthritis and pain associated with rheumatism, improved brain capacity. Good for healing nerve damage and healing wounds as well. So many benefits from such a simple plant.

Goto Kola

This is why it is good to keep a diary and journal to see what is happening.  A pattern emerges for you to understand your body and its vibrational, magnetic and energy rhythms.

If you would like to challenge yourself to a mind exercise this week ?

Mind exercise.

 I am fortunate to have a timer which dings at every 2, 3, 5-minute intervals, depending on how I set it. A mobile phone can be used and set to a five minute or ten minute alarm to assist until you find your comfort zone.

Step One. Relax yourself in a comfortable position, away from distractions and noise.

Step Two. (if you are comfortable….?)  8 counts for the in-breath and 12 -16  counts for the out-breath.  Repeat until you are feeling - focused in mind but your body is feeling more relaxed.

Step three. Remove all thoughts from your mind. How long can you do it?

This is like holding your breath for a certain count. But in this case you are freeing the mind and the agitation of thought. How long can you hold this emptiness without stress or straining?

If you find this easy to do? You can test yourself in a crowded shopping mall. Sit on a seat and see how to empty the mind of all thought and hold that emptiness while the hustle and bustle of life surrounds you.

This little exercise will show how agitated your mind is, and can be used as a gauge to understand how your body will naturally respond by being agitated.

Hope this bit of insight helps on your healing journey?

Stay strong!

Karen