Renewing our bodies is a consistent need every season of the year. Spring calls for cleansing and nurturing thus bringing fresh and nutritious foods into our bodies makes great sense.

Super foods like spirulina, kelp, bee pollen, chia seeds, goji berries, coconut oil and coconut water, pomegranate, are some examples of these nutrients. Spring is colorful and so should be our meals. Using a rainbow of colors like yellow, green, red, purple, white, orange, etc. will help to recharge our body in a unique and natural way.

Starting with an internal cleanse is always smart for our bodies to be able to eliminate toxins and better absorb nutrients. In his book Coming Clean Steven Horne, AHG, explains that cleansing herbs are simply herbs that stimulate or strengthen the body’s own detoxification systems. The herbs themselves he says don’t really do the cleansing, the tissues do. What the herbs do is supply nutrients that feed and support elimination functions or they may contain substances that help to activate or trigger different detoxification systems. Tiao He Cleanse or Clean Start are great choices to begin.

During and after the cleanse, our body needs good and easy foods to digest. Besides helping the body with a meal program that combines cooked and uncooked meals. I personally like protein smoothies that are loaded with whole foods. Some nutrients I include in those smoothies are coconut milk, coconut oil, chia seeds, bee pollen, spirulina, kelp, psyllium hulls, soaked almonds and a choice of a frozen or fresh fruit. To this I add Nature’s Harvest and Love and Peas protein powders which are easy to digest and absorb in the body, giving a perfect morning start or it could be a middle of the day little meal to complement your meals. Children love these as well!

Nature’s Harvest provides nutrient-dense plants, fruits and herbs for health and energy. It also provides 75% of the Daily Value for 18 essential vitamins and minerals. Contains green foods, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, nutritive herbs, fiber and more. Provides 13 g vegetable protein per serving. Supports the intestinal and circulatory systems. Is vegan, dairy-free and lactose-free.  To list a few of the ingredients in Nature’s Harvest:

Vegetable Protein Blend (pea protein [from split yellow peas], adzuki beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, rice protein [from brown rice]), Green and Whole Food Blend (amaranth, brown rice grain, spirulina, quinoa, flax seed hull lignans, chia, chlorella, millet, alfalfa, carrot, broccoli, rice bran and rice germ, artichoke, spinach, asparagus, kale, beet, parsley, chlorophyll), sunflower oil, dietary vegetable fiber, pea fiber, bamboo fiber), natural flavors, Essential Fatty Acid Blend (flax seed, borage oil), Antioxidant Fruit Blend (mangosteen, goji, watermelon, blueberry, cranberry, grape skin, grape seed, pomegranate, acerola, lemon bioflavonoid), medium-chain triglycerides, Herbal Blend (ceremonial grade matcha, lemongrass, chicory, horsetail), potassium citrate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, Enzyme Blend (papaya, plant-derived proteolytic enzyme, bromelain) and a whole range of vitamins including vitamin B, A, D and E.

Love and Peas, is another great protein powder made from split yellow peas. According to Herballure Inc Hart Book, Love and Peas protein powder is a great source of dietary fiber and has been shown to provide greater satiety than milk protein or whey protein in healthy humans. Other sources indicate that this split yellow pea protein may support the urinary system and may be effective and helping to maintain blood pressure levels that are already in the normal range. It is dairy free, gluten free and lactose free.

Use raw foods, mix colors, make a rainbow of veggies and fruits, prepare a variety of smoothies, just simply, bring spring into your daily life and enjoy.

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Your nervous system is amazingly complex, especially your brain, which contains about 100 billion neurons, scientists say there are more neurons in the brain than stars in the sky. The brain has a high metabolism and is highly affected by what you eat. Research has shown that food choices made during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood may have long term consequences on a child’s mental development. Other research suggests that good nutrition can improve your brain function (and reduce your risk of brain disorders).

The phrase, “you are what you eat” particularly applies to the brain. A “junk” food diet short-circuits your mental attitude and your emotional responses, creating, in effect, a “trashy” brain!

The nervous system consists of your brain, your spinal column and your peripheral nerves, the nervous system helps regulate everything happening in your body, whether it is consciously or unconsciously. Nerves work by a combination of electrical impulses and chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The discovery of neurotransmitters has greatly altered our understanding of nervous system problems. We know now that sleep, mood appetite and behavior are influenced by the different types of transmitter chemicals being released in our nerves and brain. Depression, addiction, mania, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and ADHD are some of the major disorders now known to involve imbalances in neurotransmitters.

Your nervous system is probably the most nutritionally sensitive system in the body. Long before you develop actual physical conditions from poor nutrition, you will feel the mental and emotional effects of a lack of good nutrition. These include fuzzy thinking (“brain fog”), absentmindedness, mental confusion and nervousness. Later they develop into more serious problems such as chronic insomnia, anxiety, depression and memory loss. So, it becomes very helpful to understand how to nourish this important system properly.

The brain is 70% water, so it is very sensitive to dehydration, so if you want to think clearly and protect your grey matter, start by drinking ½ ounce of pure water for every pound of body weight every day. (That’s 75oz or a little more than a half-gallon for an average 150-pound person). Next, 50-60% of the “dry” weight of the brain is fat, with 35% of that fat being omega-3 fatty acids. So, it is crucial to supplement your brain with omega-3 oils from fish like Super Omega-3 or vegetable sources like Flax Seed Oil. You can also find this essential fatty-acids in hemp seeds, chia seeds, avocados, salmon fish, ground flax seed, sardines, black walnuts, to mention a few.

Besides fat, the brain also needs amino acids from protein. The neurotransmitters we mentioned earlier are built from aminoacids. Meals containing adequate protein tend to increase levels of dopamine and norepinephrine (which results in a more alert mind and a better mood). It is also believed that low levels of dopamine can bring tendencies to develop Parkinson’s disease. Protein powders like Love and Peas and Nutri-Burn are high quality protein formulas that have natural occurring essential aminoacids.

If you want to improve your memory and concentration the supplements Mind Max and Focus Attention are smart choices.  Mind Max contains magnesium l-threonate plus gotu kola aerial parts, bacopa leaf and ginkgo leaf—herbs well-known to benefit circulation and brain health—for a powerful brain boost. Between the ages of 20 and 90, the average person loses 5–10% of his/her brain weight, with an accompanying loss in memory, attention and other cognitive functions. Research shows that a decreased number of nerve synapses (the connections between nerve cells) may be responsible for this cognitive decline. Magnesium plays an essential role in nerve synapses. However, magnesium shortages have become common with the increase in processed foods and the lack of magnesium-rich whole foods in the diet. Moreover, most forms of magnesium are not well-absorbed by nervous tissue.

Researchers at MIT have discovered that magnesium l-threonate, a highly absorbable form of magnesium, can easily cross the blood–brain barrier and that it increases the brain’s magnesium level.

Focus Attention is a unique herbal blend that contains Melissa officialis, Ginkgo biloba, DMAE, Slippery Elm, l-Glutamine and Grape Seed Extract. This herbal combination provides important nutrients for normal brain – stimulation levels. It also helps modulate brain activity and energy levels. It also supports blood circulation and neurotransmitters in the brain.

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The Power of Probiotics

The friendly bacteria inhabiting the intestines are called friendly flora or probiotics. Biotic is from a Greek word that refers to life. Pro-biotic means favorable to life. These friendly flora are actually part of the immune system. Friendly bacteria enhance the immune protecting from infections. They form sort of living “blanket” that coats the intestinal tract and inhibits other species of microorganisms from invading the intestinal mucosa. They aid in digestion and assimilation of some nutrients, and may help produce vitamin B-12 for the body. They can protect against diarrhea when traveling or act a mild laxative in constipation.

Steve Horne explains that our “roots”, i.e., the place where we absorb water and nutrients, is our intestinal tract, and bacteria play an important role in our “root” system, too. In fact, there are about three to four pounds of friendly microorganisms living in our intestinal tract, most of them bacteria. A proper balance of these microbes is essential to our health.

Friendly bacteria even produce chemicals that are deadly to harmful forms of bacteria, so they act as natural antibiotic agents against harmful bacteria. Another well known benefit of friendly bacteria is their ability to prevent yeast such as Candida Albicans from multiplying out of control. Yeast secretes a toxin that weakens the intestinal membranes and reduces the immune response.

Probiotics also help overall colon health. They reduce the risk of inflammatory bowel disorders such as colitis, Chrohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Healthy intestinal micro flora improve the body’s ability to digest fats and proteins, they also help detoxify certain poisons in the digestive tract. For instance, they help break down ammonia, cholesterol, and excess hormones.

The key here is balance. As long as microbes are in balance, they help us remain healthy. Collectively, the microbes of the internal ecology are known as the intestinal micro flora. This internal ecosystem is composed of 400-500 different strains of bacteria and other microorganisms. When it is balanced, it protects against infection and promotes health. When it is imbalanced, it creates conditions that promote disease.

Children benefit highly from Bifidophilus Flora Force. I use this supplement for my children, especially when traveling. There is also a new product for children called Probiotic Power from Sunshine Heroes; they are chewable, just perfect for the little ones.

Probiotic 11: It is a nutritional supplement that provides 11 different strains of healthy intestinal flora. Some of them are: 1.6 billion Lactobacillus rhammosus, 1.2 billion Bifidobacteria Bifidus, 1.2 billion Lactobacillus acidophilus, 1.2 billion Lactobacillus Brevis, 1.2 billion Lactobacillus bulcaricus and six more types of live microorganisms in 1.2 billion and 800 million amounts.

Lactobacillus acidophilus has demonstrated significant antioxidant activity and has been shown to prevent several intestinal pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) from attaching to human intestinal cells.

Diet plays a critical role in keeping the intestinal environment balanced. Excessive sugar, fat, or heavily cooked meat in the diet will encourage the growth of undesirable species of microbes. On the other hand, eating fermented food like fresh yogurt, kefir, kimchi, or sauerkraut can enhance our friendly flora and improve intestinal health.

New research published on 2010 in the Clinical Nutrition Journal shows that “Lactobacillus GG (LGG), a strain of probiotics, may decrease the risk of upper respiratory infections in children attending day care centers. The researchers also found that the rate of absence due to infection was lower in children receiving LGG when compared to placebo”.

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The energy drink industry is growing fast. It is amazing how many Americans depend on caffeine drinks or other stimulants to help them get through the day. Coffee drinks and other sources of caffeine don´t really give you energy. According to Steve Horne a Master Herbalist says that these caffeinated drinks simply stimulate the body to use up more of its energy reserves. Over time, more and more of this stimulation is needed as energy reserves get more and more depleted.

Research in Russia demonstrated that certain herbs improve the body´s ability to cope with stressful situations. These herbs are known as adaptogens because they help the body adapt to both physical and emotional stress. By reducing the output of stress hormones, these herbs enhance athletic performance, physical endurance, resistance to disease and mental function.

My favorite one is Eleuthero root, the first herb identified as an adaptogenic, was shown to help athletes perform better, secretaries make fewer mistakes and office workers to miss fewer days because of illness. Use of Eleuthero dates back at least 2,000 years. According to Chinese medicine, regular use of Eleuthero was believed to increase longevity and vitality, improve general health, provide energy, restore memory, and relieve tension and stiffness in the soft tissue and joints.

In Russia, where most of the research on Eleuthero has been conducted, it is widely used as a tonic to increase resistance to stress and reduce infections. They have used it for their Olympic athletes to improve their training. It even helped Russian cosmonaut s avoid “space sickness” that plagued astronauts during the early days of US space program. Reports also state that following the Chernobyl accident, many Russian and Ukrainian citizens received eleuthero to counteract the effects of radiation.

Adaptamax is a formula based on classic adaptogenic herbs like ginseng, ashwagandha, rhodiola, eleuthero, gymnostemma, suma and astragalus. This blend can help reduce fatigue, enhance immunity, improve athletic performance, reduce stress and increase endurance.

Another favorite is Mineral Chi Tonic, a liquid blend that contains colloidal minerals, which enhance the body’s enzyme system and help the body with energy production, structural repair and general health. It includes adaptogens and energy balancers including eleuthero, licorice root, reishi mushroom and ginkgo. Mineral Chi Tonic enhances tissue healing, improves mood, reduces fatigue and enhances athletic performance.

If you prefer a fresh flavorful drink there is Solstic Revive, which replaces vital nutrients -including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium- lost during exercise, stress, exertion, dehydration and malnutrition. Revive is perfect for before, during and after any strenuous activity or as a refreshing beverage anytime throughout the day. Solstic Revive also contains 500 mg glucosamine per serving to help support joint and cartilage health. It also provides amino acids for muscular support. Boosts energy and endurance. It helps maintain joint health. It contains B vitamins that help produce energy, metabolize fats and proteins, and benefit the nervous system.

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Eye health is not isolated from general health. According to some researchers, most eye diseases are signs of deeper health problems, such as stress, free radical damage, diabetes and circulatory disorders. Poor nutrition plays a major role in creating the health problems that lead to a deterioration of the eye health. Antioxidant nutrients that counteract free radical damage are essential to healthy eyes. That is why the eyes love the array of vegetable and fruit colors available to us. The purples, yellows, green, blues, red and other bright colors found in fruits and vegetables are full of these nutrients called antioxidants.

I personally like Thai-go juice for its amazing combination of super antioxidant ingredients. Nutrition wise each bottle equals 100 bowls of blueberries and 200 bowls of spinach. It contains high amounts of natural vitamins A, C and E through a selection of the highest ORAC content fruits like pomegranate, mangosteen, acai berry and goji, among nine more fruits.

When vitamins A, C, and E are together they create a strong defense for the eyes, they keep fats in the eye from oxidizing and prevent the eye from dehydrating by helping in tear formation. Adequate amounts of Vitamin E may reduce the risk of cataract production. It also works with bioflavonoids to inhibit macular degeneration. Vitamin C on the other hand, helps protect the capillaries nourishing the eye tissue. It reduces pressure in glaucoma (the second leading cause of blindness), reduces cataract formation and helps rebuild the cornea when it has been damaged.

Herbalist Steve Horne says that many of the eye disorders such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma are probably caused by free radical damage to the eyes. One cause of this damage he says can be the ultraviolet radiation present in natural light, but chemical toxins, cardiovascular inflammation and blood sugar problems are also contributing factors.

The eyes like the brain need the good fats to be healthy too. Omega -3 essential fatty acids, especially DHA, are critical to eye health. DHA helps with communicating information from the eyes to the brain. Good fats also lubricate the eyes and keep them from drying out. Good sources of essential fatty acids for the eyes include deep ocean fish, flax seed oil, walnuts and dark green, leafy vegetables (also sources of carotenoids for the eyes). Super Omega-3 EPA, Krill Oil or DHA are great supplements to promote eye health.

There are other two essential carotenoids for healthy eyes. These are lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein is a yellow pigment found in green leafy vegetables like kale, chard and spinach. It is also found in egg yolks. Lutein is found in the macula (the center of the retina) and has been shown to counteract free radical damage caused by blue and ultraviolet light. It protects against macular degeneration and inhibits the formation of cataracts (the number one cause of blindness in the elderly). Zeaxanthin is also a yellow pigment found naturally in green vegetables, eggs and yellow corn. This pigment protects the macula from light damage and inhibits cataract formation. Both of these carotenoids are found in the herbal combination called Perfect Eyes. People with cataracts are deficient in glutathione, a major antioxidant in the liver and eyes. N-Acetyl Cysteine(an intracellular antioxidant) helps increase glutathione levels, it is also an ingredient in Perfect Eyes.

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When we think of the different organs in the body, the skin might not be the number one in our list. The skin is not only an organ, it is the largest organ, and it represents 15 percent of the body weight. Like other organs your skin is extremely sensitive and it reacts to changes in your diet, your general activity and life style in general.

Sleep well and look good: When you sleep seven to nine hours every night, it is one of the best ways to keep the skin young and radiant. When you don’t sleep enough hours, your cells lose the opportunity to repair and rejuvenate. Drink water, preferably live water that has a more alkaline pH than just regular water from the tap. Water will keep the skin hydrated, flexible and soft. Water will also help to eliminate toxins from the body. Avoid Smoking: Smoking deprives the skin from absorbing nutrients and changes the skin tone to a more pale color, sometimes it looks yellow or grey. It also contributes to make more deep and premature lines.

Nurture your skin from the inside out: A healthy diet is important, raw food, specially veggies in all different colors. Supplement your diet with vitamins and antioxidants, for instance, Vitamin E, C and A. It has been shown that antioxidants help to minimize the signs of premature aging, because they reduce the free radical damage, another option for antioxidants is Thai-go Juice, a mix of amazing fruits charged with nutrients. Super Omega 3 Oil are important too, it could be fish or flax seed oil.

Keep Active: Physical activity stimulates the nutrients in the blood flow through tiny capillary vessels in the skin. Regular exercise promotes the production of collagen, which may help diminish premature aging. Using organic skin products is very important as well. I personally like NYR Organics, with natural essential oils that give your skin an amazing touch of nutrition and beauty.

Like the skin, the hair and nails also change as we age. The hair grows slower and starts losing pigmentation. The nails tend to be thinner, they break more easily. There some herbal combinations that can make a healthy hair, skin and nails.

HSN-W is one of my favorite formulas; it is a nutrient rich herbal blend that supplies vitamins, minerals and trace minerals, including calcium and silica, which are necessary for the growth and maintenance of healthy hair, skin and nails. Horsetail is one of the main ingredients. It contains more silica than any other herb in a form that is highly absorbable. Silica, also referred as silicon, is a trace mineral found in highest amounts in the hair and skin. Silicon is essential for the formation of collagen and elastin, which are proteins responsible for the elasticity, tone and texture of the skin. Therefore, silicon deficiency can lead to poor skin quality, as well as dry, brittle hair and soft, weak nails that break or split as they grow. It also contains Dulse, a red algae with high amounts of iron, calcium, iodine, magnesium, manganese and potassium. Rosemary promotes circulation, strengthens the capillary vessels. Sage has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and helps with circulation as well.

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Statistics show that unless we start making important changes in our lifestyle, one in EIGHT women will get breast cancer.

According to some researchers, one of the main concepts we need to learn is that breast cancer is primarily an estrogen-dependant cancer. That means, it is triggered by exposure to excessive amounts of estrogen, not just estrogen our body produces, but environmental chemicals that mimic estrogens. So, the first step is to keep these negative estrogens also called “xenoestrogens” in check. It is also very important to have a healthy diet by eating organic fruits and vegetables, and avoiding meat and chicken treated with hormones and antibiotics. Estrogens are commonly fed to dairy cattle and chicken to increase milk and egg production, this is in addition to pesticides residues that wind up in these foods.

Another source of xenoestrogens based on Steve Horne’s research, is plastics. Some examples are soft plastic toys, soft plastic containers, and water bottles. There are also xenoestrogens in some laundry detergents, household cleaning products, shampoos, perfumes and cosmetics.

Your body has natural means of defense to destroy excess estrogens. The liver is one of the main organs in charge of breaking down these toxins. You might think, then let the liver do its work! However it is not that simple, because the liver has more than 500 different functions, it gets over worked and when it gets full of toxins it is hard to get them out of the body. For the liver to be able to detoxify it needs to get good nutrition to function properly.

Foods high in sulfur are very important, like garlic, onions and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens and turnips. There is also a sulfur compound as a supplement from cruciferous vegetables called Indole-3 Carbinol that is particularly helpful in breaking down excess estrogens. It can be used as a supplement by women wishing to reduce their risk of breast cancer, for fighting breast cancer and other ailments caused by excess estrogen like hot flashes before and during menopause.

Herbal liver cleanses such as All Cell Detox and Enviro-Detox can also help the body breaking down not only xenoestrogens, but other chemicals as well.

It is important to nurture your body with pH balance nutrients and antioxidants, like Ultimate Green Zone and Thai-go or Super Orac. You also need good fats in your body from nuts, avocados, deep ocean fish and coconut oil, or supplement with Flax Seed Oil or Super Omega 3. New research shows the importance of supplementing with Vitamin D. Researchers at the University Of Rochester Medical Center followed 155 breast cancer patients months before and after surgery. Low vitamin D levels were seen in the presence of biomarkers of aggressive tumors. Women with triple-negative tumors were three times as likely to have low vitamin D levels when compared with other breast cancers. The best ways to increase your vitamin D levels is to absorb the sun’s rays and to consume it through food and high quality supplements.

Also enhance the health of your breast by making sure your glandular system is working properly and your hormones are balanced. For starters, experts recommend getting an adequate intake of iodine. The thyroid is the bigger user of this awesome nutrient. The second user is your breasts. Natural sources of iodine may help women with breast cysts as well. Iodine can be found in supplements like Kelp, Dulse and concentrated Black Walnut. I personally like the herbal combination Master Gland; it has these nutrients and more to support the entire glandular system. Pro-G-Yam, a progesterone cream helps to balance hormones and block the action of xenoestrogens. Also, the use of underarm antiperspirant deodorants blocks the release of toxins from sweat glands in the armpits and contributes to lymphatic stagnation. Try using your favorite essential oils or a natural organic deodorant from NYR Organics.

Last but not least, keep your lymph moving! The breast is part of the lymphatic system, it is very important to keep it clean and moving. Exercise, especially jumping in a rebounder is very helpful. Also realize that long periods of worry and anger can be internal toxins, draining your health. Take some time to experience joy, laughter, love and peacefulness through relaxing with friends, family and companion animals, spending time in nature, walking, dancing, yoga, tai chi or other forms of movement (like Zumba Fitness), watching funny movies, meditating, drawing, painting or using your creativity in other ways

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A nutrient-dense, brown sea vegetable. Kelp has long been used as food and medicine. As a food, kelp is usually eaten is small quantities; it is also used as condiment. Kelp is harvested from oceans around the world. Many different species and varieties are used, but all have essentially the same properties.

Kelp’s primary taste is salty, due to the fact that sea water dries on the leaves and adds a small amount of sodium chloride to the herb. It is also salty due to high potassium content. The secondary characteristic is that the plant is mucilant and slightly bitter. Seaweed is warming (due to its action on the thyroid) and cooling to tissues (due to its soothing mucilaginous nature).

Kelp is one of the richest sources of the element iodine, which is needed by thyroid hormones to help regulate the body’s growth and development. It has been only in recent years that this seaweed has been consumed by peoples other than the Japanese. Studies have proven that there is a significant correlation between the Japanese intake of kelp and the country’s dramatically lower rates of breast cancer, obesity, heart disease, respiratory disease, rheumatism and arthritis, high blood pressure, thyroid deficiency, infectious disease, constipation and similar gastrointestinal ailments.

By the 18^th century doctors began to notice that people who lived along the Atlantic Coast rarely developed enlarged thyroid glands, known as goiters. They realized that this was because people along the coast consumed seaweed regularly. Iodine can also protect cells from damage by radioactive substances and heavy metals. It is beneficial because its ability to combat radiation exposure and heavy metal toxicity. A chemical in Kelp called sodium alginate prevents the absorption of radioactive strontium 90. Strontium 90 is a byproduct of nuclear explosions and nuclear power and weapons facilities and has been linked to a number of ailments including cancer and leukemia, bone cancer and Hodgkin’s disease. One study has shown that alginate supplements can reduce strontium 90 absorption by as much as 83 percent. Sodium alginate helps to prevent the absorption of newly-ingested heavy metals.

Native Americans also recognized the benefits of Kelp, saying it prevented a condition they called “big necks” (goiters). Those who suffered from a lack of iodine were given kelp. Some of the Indians, especially those living on or near the seacoasts, found kelp beneficial in helping burns and scalds. In the 1860’s, physicians in Britain and France noticed that people who consumed iodine seemed to lose weight more easily than most people. They discovered that iodine stimulates the thyroid, which in turn boosts the body’s metabolism rate. As a result, the body is able to burn calories more quickly.

Women’s breast is the second biggest user of iodine and many breast ailments can be helped by using an adequate intake of iodine. All tissues of the body need iodine, but the parts of the body that suffer the most from iodine deficiency (beside the breast and thyroid) are the skin, eyes, prostate and uterus.

Kelp is found in various Natures’ Sunshine formulas. Kelp is an ingredient in Adaptamax a remarkable formula that I personally like a lot. Adaptamax is part of the Glandular System Pack which also includes Master Gland and and Adrenal Support. This Glandular system pack provides nutrients to nourish the body’s glands, support positive mood, promote energy and strengthen the body’s ability to regulate stress. It supports the natural defense mechanisms against all types of stress, along with antioxidant-and-nutrient rich herbs and whole foods to enhance the immune system, increase energy levels, and promote mental and physical well- being. Kelp is also found in Thyroid Activator, Thyroid Support, Energ-V, Heavy Metal Detox, Herbal Trace Minerals and Target TS-II.

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Continuing with Steve Horne’s presentation of Flower Essences: Remedies for Grief, Desire (Love), or self-destructive behaviors.

Just as our body contracts to push things away, it expands to let things in. When we “love” something, our blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow to the senses and skin. As a result our skin “glows,” our eyes “sparkle,” we are “warm” and open to embrace life. Desire allows us to say “yes” to what is pleasurable and good for us, both physically and emotionally. This same energy allows us to more efficiently digest nutrients, pull oxygen into the body and provide oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

Healthy Grief- Grief is more than crying, it is sobbing, wailing, moaning, sighing and even screaming.  These actions forcefully redistribute blood to the surface of our body so we can experience pleasure again.

“Release it Remedy” Helpful for people who are going through breakups, divorce or death of loved ones. Also helpful for people who are “victims,” who complain a lot, blaming others for their lack of success and problems. Helps people find comfort, let go of the past and have hope and confidence to face the future

Its flowers are:

Self-Heal – helps a person find their own inner strength and healing. Love-Lies-Bleeding – for melancholy and anguish of the soul, helps one find meaning and purpose in one’s suffering. Chicory – for possessive, needy, demanding love, helps transform it to self-less love, given freely. Bleeding Heart – teaches the lesson that love must exist in freedom, we can’t control what we love, helps a person “let go” after divorce, death or other losses. Chrysanthemum – for fear of mortality and aging, helps a person identify with their spiritual, rather than physical nature and accept the temporal (i.e., temporary) nature of the physical world. Borage –  encourages hope and optimism.

“Open Heart Remedy”

For people who are “hard of heart” because of unresolved wounds from childhood and previous relationships. Helps a person face their suppressed pain and grief and find healing. Helps them open up to love, warmth and vulnerability again. Increases compassion, empathy and trust in relationships. Some of the flowers in this remedy are: California Wild Rose – opens and comforts the heart, primary remedy for healing the heart. Baby Blue Eyes – helps with defensiveness, cynicism and lack of trust, helps one rediscover innocence, the ability to trust and receive love. Yerba Santa – internalized grief and sadness which causes constricted feelings in the chest, helps a person open up and acknowledge painful emotions, helps them “breathe freely” again. Evening Primrose – helps people who avoid commitment in relationships to commit to the process of love.

Remedies for Fear: Fear is the energy we feel when choices need to be made, that have the possibility for great reward and/or great pain. Fear strongly affects the systems that regulate body functions, such as the glandular system (particularly the adrenals and thyroid) and the nerves. When this energy of fear is channeled into constructive action through exercising courage, it builds excitement and self-confidence.

“Be Courageous Remedy”

For people who allow their fears to paralyze them in life and give up control to authority figures instead of trusting their own judgment. Helps people make their own decisions. Helps with the development of courage to act in the face of fear and self-confidence to pursue the goals and directions they desire in life. It has: Mountain Pride – helps a person confront and transform challenging situations. Aspen – for fears of the unknown, hidden fears and anxiety, promotes trust and confidence to meet the unknown. Scleranthus – hesitation and indecision, wavering between choices, promotes decisiveness and resolve. Mimulus – for facing known fears, promotes courage and self-confidence. Cerato – for people who are overly dependent on the advice of others, helps people to trust their own inner knowing. Blackberry – for the inability to translate goals into actions.

“Be Respons-Able Remedy”

Helpful for people who get caught in addictive, obsessive or self-destructive behaviors. Helps them get in touch with the inner emotions that are driving their behavior. Promotes greater self-awareness and self-responsibility. Helps a person be true to themselves and move their life in a more positive direction. These are some of the flowers in this combination: Milkweed – overcomes tendency to dull consciousness through alcohol, overeating and other addictions. California Poppy – helps those who chase glamour, fame and “glitter” to find the true “gold” in their heart. Agrimony – for people who hide their pain, fear and anxiety behind a mask of cheerfulness, promotes emotional honesty.

What is a Flower Essence? According to Steve Horne, Flower essences are vibrational (homeopathic-like) remedies made from the flowers of plants. Most are made by soaking flowers in water in the sunlight, then into a mother tincture. The mother tincture is then diluted to create the final remedy for the client.

Dr. Bach was an English medical doctor who also practiced homeopathy. He was dissatisfied with how medicine treated symptoms, while ignoring the welfare of the patient as a whole. In his search to find a gentler method of healing he created the original 38 Bach flower essences and a blend called Rescue Remedy. Horne explains that “plants have to overcome challenges in their environment, just like we do. Plants, like people, have personalities which help them rise above these challenges. Horne affirms that associating with a person with positive personality traits can help you learn how to meet life’s challenges in a constructive way”.

A flower essence continues Horne…”captures the “vibration” of the plant’s personality, which helps your own emotional energy “learn” how to acquire that same personality trait”.

Distress Remedy my favorite one. It has amazing properties to help in situations of sudden emotional or physical trauma. It helps to promote tissue healing and a sense of calmness. It contains the following according to Horne’s description:
Arnica – for disassociation during shock or trauma, restores awareness and presence. Star of Bethlehem – heals shock or trauma, helps a person find spiritual guidance and comfort. Rock Rose – helps a person find courage to overcome fear, terror and panic. Impatiens – helps overcome impatience and irritability, helps a person flow with life and others. Clematis – helps a person be fully awake and focused in the present moment. Cherry Plum – overcomes fear of loss of self-control and emotional breakdown, promotes trust and surrender. Red Clover – keeps one from getting caught up in panic or hysteria, promotes calmness in the midst of a crisis. This is my favorite to use on my children since they were toddlers. It is almost magical. They love it!

“Keep Cool” Remedy – helpful for people who feel irritated, impatient and easily lose their temper. Helps a person be more receptive to other people’s points of view and work for cooperation rather than competition. Promotes forgiveness, tolerance and acceptance of others, and open and loving communication. Horne explains the content of this remedy as follows:
Calendula – helps a person become aware of how their words wound others, promotes warmth and receptivity in communication. Snapdragon – overcomes verbal aggression, promotes balanced communication. Impatiens – relieves irritability and impatience. Vine – helps people who are domineering and controlling to find greater tolerance for others. Willow – helps overcome bitterness and resentment, helps a person be flexible and forgive others. Holly – for those who feel jealous and cut off from love, helps open one’s heart to feeling love. Tiger Lily – softens aggressive and competitive personalities.

“Find Strength” Remedy – Steve Horne describes this one as helpful for people who are “people pleasers” and enablers. Helps people who are being abused to recognize the abuse and stand up to it. Helps people to set healthy boundaries for others and have the courage to communicate openly and honestly in relationships.
Mariposa Lily – heals the wounded child, helps a person feel worthy of love and the good things they want in life.
Pine – for people who suffer from excessive guilt, blaming themselves for the faults of others, promotes self-acceptance and self-forgiveness.
Scarlet Monkey flower – for people who are afraid of their own anger, helps a person face and accept their angry feelings, promotes honest communication.
Centaury – for people who have difficulty saying no and serve others out of fear, helps them find strength to say no and serve from their own inner strength.

To be continued…