Tooth decay is something you associate with adults, but more and more it’s happening to children. Recently ABC aired a special called Children of the Mountains that dealt with children in the Appalachian region and the rampant tooth decay that is prevalent there. One of the main culprits is the soft drink Mountain Dew. While all sodas have caffeine and sugar, apparently Mountain Dew is more acidic than most and has a devastating effect on teeth when combined with poor oral hygiene and diet.

I’m a recovering Dew addict myself so the story is timely for me. My last new cavity was over ten years ago, but recently I had a stressful situation at home and I fell back into some old habits. End result? A new cavity. It’s not a huge one so I did a bit of research to see if modern dentistry had come up with something other than drilling a bigger hole in my head and filling it with toxic metal.

Do you know you can cure tooth decay with diet? I was blown away after reading that, but apparently it’s true. I found several authoritive sites that talk about remineralization of teeth, but Ramiel Nagel’s book, Cure Tooth Decay gave the best explanation.

We’re taught that bacteria causes tooth decay, but sweets made from refined sugar and flour do not attract bacteria. The nutrients that bacteria like to eat have been removed from sugar and flour so theoretically we could cure tooth decay by chewing on sugar all day—if bacteria were the reason for tooth decay.

Let’s say you place a cup of sugar and some raw meat on your kitchen table. Which will rot? Of course bugs and bacteria will swarm the meat. This disproves the current explanation that bacteria causes tooth decay since bacteria cannot live off sugar. The real reason for tooth decay is malnutrition. Our bodies don’t have the building blocks to build new enamel as it wears away.

In his book, Nagel says that there are several variables for tooth decay such as genetics and even the type of birth control you use, but primarily a lack of fat-soluble vitamins that act as activators for minerals is the culprit. He quotes liberally from studies done by Dr. Weston Price, the first research director of the National Dental Association which later morphed into the American Dental Associaton.

Price spent years doing field studies of indigenous people and their diets. He found common denominators in populations that didn’t even use tooth brushes but have healthy cavity-free teeth. At the end of one study, Price wrote,

Tooth decay is not only unnecessary, but an indication of our divergence from Nature’s fundamental laws of life and health.

Nagel, who is a father of two girls, was prompted to write the book after one of his daughters developed cavities even though her diet was closely monitored for sugary foods. I’m finding it a gem of information and think you’ll benefit as well. At any rate, the cost of the information in the book is far cheaper than what you’ll pay your dentist.

Resources: Dental Care Secrets | ABC Video

Blepharitis is a very irritating eye condition that involves the base of the outermost area of the eyelids, where the growth of eyelashes is located. This is a condition that is known for causing a tremendous amount of discomfort. The most common reasons why this type of condition occurs is when the oil glands of the eyes become inflamed, obstructed, or infected.

A few of the common infections that can lead to blepharitis include seborrheic dermatitis and bacterial infections. The main reason this eye condition results in so much irritation is it causes the eyes to burn, itch, and become watery. Other bothersome problems that are often experienced is crust that forms on the eyelashes, the eyes become red and swollen, and the eyelashes begin to fall out.

There are more people all the time that are making the wise decision to use ayurvedic herbal remedies for the treatment of blepharitis. This is because this particular eye condition does not usually respond very well to treatment options that are conventional. Ayurvedic herbal remedies have been found not only to be effective for treating this condition, but they also work for preventing future problems as well.

Ayurvedic Remedies that are Frequently Chosen over Conventional Options

Gandhak-Rasayan, Arogya-Vardhini, Mahamanjishthadi-Qadha, and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu are a few of the ayurvedic herbal remedies that work best for long-term treatment of blepharitis. Some of the other choices in topical ointments, eye drops, and oral tablets would include the remedies listed below–

• Daruharidra (Berberis aristata)
• Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis)
• Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)
• Chandan (Santalum album)
• Haridra (Curcuma longa)
• Sphatik-Bhasma (Purified alum)
• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
• Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia)
• Rose water
• Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus)

In a majority of cases the above mentioned ayurvedic herbal remedies work very well for treating blepharitis. There are some situations however where the process of healing does not take place as quickly as it should. In cases such as this, it is recommended for the patient to also consider the use of the procedure known as Akshi-Tarpan. This is a special procedure that is used in combination with the above remedies.

The first step is to apply a warm paste around each of the eyes. Next, warm ghee (medicated oil) is placed directly into each of the eyes, which will allow the eyes to become saturated entirely. The severity of the condition is used to determine the length of time the ghee should remain in the eyes. After this time it should be thoroughly drained and the paste removed so the eyes can then be cleaned.

What is so beneficial about this unique type of procedure is the process can be repeated a number of times. Not only is it a procedure that is very effective when used for the treatment of blepharitis, but it also works very well for other types of external infections. This is also a popular and useful ayurvedic herbal remedy that lots of people use when various problems cause the eyes or the eyelids to become red and inflamed.

Ancient Greeks and Romans used edible chicory leaves (Chichorium intybus) as a vegetable and in salads. Even further back in history, the Egyptians cultivated chicory as a medicinal plant. More recently, Chicory was widely used during the American Civil War as a coffee substitute when coffee became scarce; surprisingly, chicory does not contain caffeine, and it works as a sedative for the central nervous system.

Chicory is very popular, especially in New Orleans, where the roasted ground chicory roots are blended with coffee to create a Louisiana favorite, “café au lait” along with other coffee flavored drinks. Chicory is also used as a food additive, a flavoring agent, a sweetener and it is used to improves the texture of processed foods.

Chicory is one of the richest sources of vitamin A, which makes it excellent for the eyes. A combination “of carrot, celery, parsley and chicory juice is a very nutritious food for the optic nerve and the muscular system of the eye (Home Remedies Guide).” Consuming one to two quarts of this juice recipe daily has been effective in correcting eye sight within a few months.

Chicory also helps reduce eye inflammation or itchy eyes.

Chicory is a blood purifier and it supports the body’s ability to absorb calcium, a nutrient that helps build and maintain strong teeth and bones. Chicory juice is very good for the liver, gall bladder and is a natural laxative making it beneficial for the treatment of chronic constipation. It aids digestion, helps keep the liver healthy and supports proper metabolism of cholesterol.

The green leaves and roots of chicory can be found in the produce section of grocery stores and is sometimes known as curly endive. It is a leafy vegetable with curly, bitter-tasting leaves that are also known as radicchio, a popular leafy green addition to salads or it can be sautéed and served alone.

To prepare chicory as a tea or infusion: steep one teaspoon rootstock or dried herb with one-half cup of water and strain after ten minutes.

To treat jaundice, spleen problems, gallstones, or gastritis, drink 8-12 oz of chicory tea per day.

Chicory is grown in most areas of the United States, it grows best in rich well drained soil. The roots are harvested by digging them up once the plant is fully grown and the leaves can be picked and used in salads as soon as they are large enough.

Chicory has no known side effects. If you under the care of a physician, consult with your doctor before adding any new food or food products to your diet.

It is not uncommon for people to lose up to 70 percent of their kidney function before developing any symptoms. Many of the causes of kidney failure strike at random, and cannot be predicted or prevented. To look on the bright side, the good thing about having early stage diabetes and hypertension is that they present an opportunity for early diagnosis and prevention of progression of kidney failure to end stage.

The first signs may be general and can include:

• changes in frequency and quantity of urine passed, especially at night
• pain or burning when passing urine
• blood in the urine
• puffiness around the eyes and ankles
• tiredness

There are several tests that can detect kidney disease which can be performed by a general practitioner. These tests include blood tests, urine tests, renal imaging, and renal biopsy. You can protect the health of your kidneys by having a medical checkup once a year. At that time your doctor can screen for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.

There are four types of kidney stones which can develop, but the most common is made of calcium. You can help prevent the formation of calcium types of stones by drinking lemon water. Put a bit of real lemon juice in your tea each morning, or mix it into a glass of water, and drink it when you first get up each day. This small amount of lemon juice will help prevent stones from forming, and it will help dissolve any stones which have already started forming.

In fact, lemon juice is the number one home remedy for dissolving existing kidney stones. Some people mix two ounces of fresh lemon juice with two ounces of virgin olive oil, then drink that down. The pain caused by the kidney stones is usually gone in less than an hour, and the stones dissolve within 12-15 hours after that.

Not everyone can stomach the olive oil though. It makes them very nauseous. Drinking simple lemon juice by itself is usually enough in most cases though, so you can leave out the olive oil if need be.

This remedy usually works with just calcium based stones, and since it dissolves the stones, not everyone will feel the kidney stones pass. Some people feel as if their urine is gritty or sandy though, and this is because the dissolved pieces of the stones are being passed in your urine.

A depressed economy makes people take a second look at being more self sufficient. An easy way to do this is to grow your own food, and chickens fit in nicely with this theme. First of all, chickens are great for backyard ecology. If you’re looking for ways to ditch pesticides and chemical fertilizers, plant your vegetable garden right next to the chicken coop. Chickens will eat insects and produce some nice fertilizer.

Have you seen the price of organic eggs? If you kept two chickens in your backyard, the ladies will probably supply you with more eggs than you can eat on a regular basis. Most people immediately think it would be out of the question to raise chickens because of the noise a rooster would make. Actually, you don’t even need a rooster. Hens will produce eggs without his help.

I’m sure you’ve seen the reports that show the horrific conditions some commercial chickens live under. Often they are cramped into cages so small they never get to spread their wings. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Chickens are actually very easy to raise and don’t require much equipment. You can build your own coop or easily convert a dog house into a chicken coop. Your choice of breed will depend on whether you want chickens for meat, eggs, or both. Once you decide to raise chickens, there will be a few decisions to be made–

• Hen house options

• How to move young birds to a yard

• Brooder preparation

• Unpacking mail order chicks

• Choosing chicks for a backyard flock

• Treating chick health problems

• Flock and parasite management

• How to spot diseases

• Grooming chickens for show

• Basic butchering

If you’ve never had home grown eggs you’re in for a treat. Home grown eggs taste much better because you control what the birds eat. You won’t believe the difference in taste. You’ll also notice the yolks are not yellow, but golden. Check with your homeowner’s association though, before making a purchase. You may find that you enjoy raising chickens enough to show them.

Resources: A Self Sufficient Life

Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture

Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards

Although many Tibetans have lived in exile since  the Tibetan Uprising in 1959, the tradition of Tibetan medicine is still taught and practiced. Their traditional system of medicine is rather like traditional Chinese Medicine but with some important differences. It has been practiced for around 2,500 years. The headquarters of their Medical Institute is in Northern India, where their doctors are trained. Doctors of Tibetan Medicine are required to study for a minimum of seven years, where they learn not only the basics of their medicine, bit are required to learn poetry as well.

Tibetan Medicine is called “gSoba Rig-pa” (which translates as the science of healing) and virtually all of it is based on herbal remedies. They also make a type of pill(s) from precious metals which has had good results with the treatment of ailments such as arthritis, asthma, and ulcers, just to name a few.

Karen Sanders Interviews Yandron Kalzang

Tibetan medicine teaches that all suffering is caused by one or a combination of three poisonous ways of thinking — wanting, dread, and denial. This makes perfect sense when you think about the medicine in context with Buddhist philosophy, which teaches that these are the very three concepts that the Buddhist aspires to relieve themselves of.

“Cures” are based in the elimination of urine, feces, and sweat. When the good elements of the body all work together in harmony, the patient begins to feel better. The long term causes of sickness are one of the “three poisons”, which are believed to be caused by imbalances of time and season, poor diet and improper behavior. (Please note that this article has been extremely over simplified.)

Rlung is to the Tibetans what the Qi is to the Chinese, the life force which flows through us all and the universe. There are five types of Rlung;

1. “life grasping” which is located in the brain and controls intellect, swallowing, sneezing, and breathing.
2. “Upward moving” is in the chest and controls speech, stamina, and diligence.
3. “All pervading” Rlung is located in the heart, and controls movement, such as walking and the opening and closing of the orifices of the body.
4. “Fire accompanying” Rlung is responsible for digestion and metabolism, and is in the stomach.
5. The “downward cleansing” Rlung expels everything-feces, urine, menstrual blood, babies, and semen. This Rlung resides in the rectum.

With regard to what causes sickness-time and season, improper lifestyle or other imbalances-spirits are thought to cause the sickness if the time and place is disturbed. Different spirits can be disturbed during different times of the day or year, and consultation with a tantric practitioner is needed to determine if angry spirits are responsible for the patient’s ailment(s). If this is the case, chanting, meditation and prayer can be used to return the spirit, and herbs are used to alleviate-for example-pain, curing the symptoms as well as the dis-ease.

It is interesting to note that with regard to the sicknesses involved with an imbalanced diet, Tibetan Medicine does not recommend only raw foods, only certain foods, etc. The teaching is very strict with respect to a balance of all foods. They do not say to never eat butter, for example, but to eat a balance of raw and fatty foods.

Diagnosis is done primarily by testing urine and looking at the patient’s tongue. Heavy, thick, yellow or dark urine with a strong odor indicates a “hot” sickness, while clear, thin, or white urine indicates a “cold” sickness. The patient’s tongue is tested for color, smoothness, and hydration. The doctor will then take the patient’s pulse, and like in acupuncture, can tell much about blood flow and blockages by the number of beats and strength.

At the conclusion,  there will be a long list of questions to be answered by the patient, and treatment will consist of one of four recommendations, advice on diet and behavior, which is the first step of treatment, and/or prescribing medicine or surgery. Usually a change in diet or behaviors helps tremendously, to the point that medicine — other than symptom relieving medicine or surgery is not needed. Many patients use Tibetan Medicine as a preventative to stop disease in the very early stages.