The Free Medicine

I believe in humor and laughter.  I am blessed with a fairly decent sense of humor and being a Scorpio, it may even be a bit, "off the wall".  With all of the stress that we encounter today, I am especially grateful for that little thing called, "Humor".  We need to laugh.  Not only every day, but as much as possible in a day's time

Who among us doesn't love a good joke?  Who doesn't have a favorite comedian or sit-com?  I doubt there are many today who don't enjoy either.  I generally use humor whenever I meet someone new who just doesn't seem very pleasant.  Many have been the time that I was able to crack out a smile on some of the toughest people in the office.

There are actual medical studies to indicate that laughter may indeed be a great medicine.  Studies that show that laughter can reduce stress help stabilize your blood pressure, boost your immune system, boost your self-confidence and self-esteem, relieve depression and more.  The act of laughing can also massage your internal organs, stimulate the flow of oxygen and stimulate circulation.

Humor is often used in hospitals and tense situations in order to relieve some of the tension and stress that people are experiencing.  Remember the show, "MASH", where "Hawkeye" explains about how they need to laugh because of the stress they encounter daily?  He has a great point regarding their need for humor, especially in the military, during wartime.

Remember Robin Williams in the film, "Patch Adams"?  Some teaching hospitals are now, actually utilizing humor in their medical teaching.  It increases motivation, improves morale and can promote interest and rapport among students.

If you haven't read, "Anatomy of an Illness", by Norman Cousins, (founder of the "Humor Treatments"), then check it out at your local library.

I am blessed with two beautiful, wacky cats that keep me laughing much of each day.  Not everyone is able to experience that.  Pets are a great way to induce laughter and if you have never had one; I feel bad for you.  They can really pick you up when you're down and they try harder than anyone, to do so.

I find that cats will try to fit into, literally, any sort of container, even if they have to go in headfirst.   If you have never seen the maneuvers made by a grown cat trying to fit itself into a 6" x 6" x 5 1/2" basket, then you have definitely missed something wild.   If you have never witnessed such contortions as they go through, you have missed a fantastic circus act.

Children are another source of laughter; the smaller ones can come up with some great one-liners.  You'd be surprised at what can come out of the, "mouths of babes".  Their young imaginations are sometimes the catalyst for a great deal of joy and laughter.  They are some of the best teachers for showing us sour old adults the value of humor and laughter.  The sound of children laughing is enough to make us laugh.  It's contagious!

One morning I got up and looked out of my kitchen window to see the neighbor's two youngest children in my back yard.  A blanket was spread, their dog and two cats were with them and they were apparently having a pretend picnic!  I watched as the oldest one, prepared a plate, which she then served, to one of the cats.  I laughed so hard that it really made my entire day.

I find humor daily in many things and experiences.  Even something as ordinary as an ant carrying a cotton swab can tickle the ordinary funny bone.  Just looking at close-up photographs of some insects can initiate a burst of laughter.

Anyone who doesn't think that laughter is a great medicine, no doubt, hasn't laughed nearly enough.  Humor helps us to cope with the daily stress.  It's a great way to relax or loosen up a group.  It's a way to connect with others and often a great way to make friends.  It's used every single day by someone, somewhere and I personally am glad that we have it in our lives.

Copyright, M.L. Kiser, 2008

Benefit From Your Dreams and Journaling

I don't recall anything that has changed my life as much as my dreams.  I keep both a daily journal and a dream journal and have for over 3 decades. 

When I was 18, I had a nightmare that initiated my dream work.  I was sitting on my back porch and something made me look up.  It wasn't a sound or a movement; it was just a feeling that I needed to look.

On one side of my back yard was a brick well and beside it stood the Grim Reaper, shroud and all, pouring water from a Grecian type of urn, into the well.

He finished, sat down the urn and with one long, bony finger, motioned for me to come towards him.  I shook my head, "No".  Something held me in place on the porch; I seemed to be paralyzed.  A second and third time, he motioned and I declined; so he began walking towards me.  I tried to get up and run, but was held fast by some strange paralysis.  I tried to cry out, but I had no voice.  Slowly he made is gruesome way towards me and finally he reached out a long, cold, bony hand and touched my left arm.  I awoke at that point, terrified that I was going to die!

The next day I bought my first dream book and read it from cover to cover.  I remember that it was a Jungian book and it put me at great ease to know that my dream was not going to come true, as I had seen it played out.

It turned out that it was the beginning of a great deal of healing from my own childhood.  What followed were years and years of dream work and more healing.  As I worked with my dreams, I would have memories of various trauma and abuses to surface in my psyche.  Within 10 years, I had remembered an entire childhood that I had suppressed out of fear, abuse, and rage and even hate.

I incubated my dreams in order to initiate another one the next night.  After each dream and analysis period, some memory would follow and then I would journal out my pain and incubate another dream for the next period of sleep.  I also followed a rigid and daily meditation schedule, which allowed me to come to terms with what I had suffered as a child at a daycare facility. 

I attribute dream work and journaling to helping me to heal and move on in my life.  Up until I began working through my dreams and journaling; my life was pretty much, stagnant.  Everything that I tried, I failed at.  Everything I dreamed of doing, something always prevented it.  My self-esteem was so low that I no longer had the will to try anything and my self-confidence was virtually gone.

People often don't know the harm that they do to children, but others do and seem to revel in promoting fear, even terror in little ones.  It can destroy our lives if we let it.  Dream work and Journaling are just 2 of the healing practices that we can utilize in order to help and defend ourselves.

I have continued to use these practices in my adult life, sometimes to resolve disagreements or difficulties at work.  Other times, they have stimulated my creativity and even solved complicated math and technical programming problems that I encountered in classes and on the job.  They have given me stories and poetry to write and often cleared my artist's and writer's block. 

Mind- body and Spirit medicine is based on the theory that these three parts of us have to work together in order to help us heal and progress in our lives.  I have found dream work and journaling to be major factors that aid in this type of healing.  I recommend it to people all of the time.  Some listen, some don't, but those who have listened and tried it tell me that it has helped them too.

It may not be the answer to everyone's healing, but it certainly makes a difference in your life when you practice it religiously.  And journals are fascinating reading years down the road.  You can't lose if you try it, but you can end up with a great set of stories for your autobiography.

Copyright, M.L. Kiser 2008

Tapping Into Your Inner Spirit

Many people find themselves so scattered today with all sorts of brain "chatter" disrupting their focus.  Daily meditation and prayer can help to alleviate that and it has many mental, physical, emotional and spiritual benefits

While some people are able to tap into themselves naturally just by writing poetry or painting or some other creative task.  Others have a more difficult time.  What is offered here is my favorite method.  It's very simple and can be done easily.

There are those who wonder why their prayers are never answered.  Why they can't come up with that idea that gets them promoted.  Why they simply can't concentrate on their work.  Meditation can help with all of these problems and more.

It's been stated that, "Prayer is talking to God.  Meditation is listening to God."  I find this to be very true in my own life.  You can get instant answers to many prayers during meditation.  Sometimes, we have the answers right in front of us and we don't see them for everything else going on in our lives.  Our focus is so disrupted that we can't see God's response to our prayers.

While there are many meditations that can be done to tap into your inner spirit it can be as simple as the following:

Sit quietly, either on the floor, a cushion or even in a chair.  Feet flat on the floor posture straight and close your eyes. 

Begin breathing slowly, counting from 10-1 with each breath, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.

As you breathe, say your prayer and make your request. 

Continue breathing as you visualize a pinpoint of light above you.  See the light growing, falling slowly down and all around you.  See it forming a bubble of bright white light all around you and hold that vision for as long as you can.

If thoughts arise, note and dismiss them and re-visualize the light all around you.  Keep this focus for 15-20 minutes if you can.  If you can't, start at 5 minutes and work up to 20, adding 2-5 more minutes each day.  Eventually, with diligent practice, you will be able to do this.  This image, will keep you focused and by holding the focus you will be able to be in the "silence" where you will be able to hear a response to your prayers.  It is also practice to increase your focus on a daily basis.

When you are ready to finish, start counting from 1-10 again.  Begin to sense the feeling in your arms and legs, hands and feet.  Wiggle your fingers slowly until you reach 10 then open your eyes.  Contemplate how you feel.

Did you receive any messages, sounds, visions, and any responses to your prayers?  Do you feel calm and relaxed?  Was it a helpful or enlightening experience for you?  With daily practice, at some point, you will begin to experience wonderful periods during these meditations and you will reap wonderful rewards.

There are other variations of this meditation; you can start your focus by looking at a candle flame or a mandala until you can hold the image with your eyes closed.  Then, while you are holding the image, say your prayer and return to the image.  You may have to open your eyes a couple of times to keep the image focused in your mind, but with practice, you can easily do this.

 Copyright, 2008, M.L. Kiser

Expressing Gratitude

It seems that we are bombarded with an overwhelming amount of negative information, from the daily news to our personal lives.   It can become a living nightmare for many of us and interfere with our personal relationships.

TV and film is so negative now, video games, too.  It's so easy to become depressed and despondent with all of the "dark" information that we constantly receive.  Many people don't even consider that every day, but great things are happening all around us, despite what we often hear and see.  Of course, you do have to be open to viewing things in a different light.   Just because a bad experience or event occurs to make you feel down doesn't mean that it doesn't also include something to be grateful for.  In the overall scheme of things, that dog bite that landed you in the ER might have actually been a diversion to be grateful for because it kept you from going to the concert where the building caught on fire and killed dozens of spectators.  Be grateful that the bite will heal; you could have lost your life!

Gratitude is more than saying, "Thank You", it is an attitude, a way of seeing things around you.  It has power.  The power to make you feel good, power to bring up your spirits, your self-esteem, power to help you to draw better energy towards you, to make others feel more comfortable around you.

Make it a point every day to find something to be grateful for.  It's not only a way to uplift my own spirits, but it helps to balance out all of the negative "chatter" that is cast at me from the news and other problems.  Some of my personal "Gratitude Rituals" encompass the simplest of things, for which I can be grateful.

Keep a small notebook handy and write down everything that strikes you as something to be grateful for, e.g., the roof over your head, your paycheck, food, clothing, pets,

Children.  Even the tiniest of things like a dove walking along beside of you in your yard, or the very last rose blooming on your bush in December.

Prayer and meditation is another ritual where you can express gratitude and give thanks.  Prayer is not exclusive to any religion; it is a way of asking the universe for help and showing thanks for its gifts.  It's so uplifting and has a host of other benefits, as well. 

When you accomplish something that you have wanted to do, give yourself credit.  It's a way of showing gratitude for your own accomplishments.  It's not being conceited or egotistical to gratify oneself occasionally.  Remember, you are a person too and you have needs and feelings like everyone else.

Take 15-20 minutes each day to purposely consider the beauty and great things around you that you can find to be grateful about.  Walk outside on your lunch break and look at the beautiful plants surrounding the office or go have lunch in a park nearby and watch the beautiful wildlife and plants that aesthetically grace our environment.  Simply taking the time to read to your child at night is a way of showing gratitude for them being such a blessing in your life.

Write a short thank you note or letter to someone who has been influential in your life or who has been there when you needed them or take them some flowers or vegetables from your garden.  Invite them for lunch or just a cup of coffee.  There are tons of ways to be grateful.  Create your own ritual.

Gratitude rituals are going to greatly enhance your life and lift your spirits if you practice one or more of them every day.  It's one of the simplest ways to combat loneliness and depression and there are not only psychological, but also physical and spiritual benefits.  Now, start that list of what you are grateful for!

 Copyright, 2008, M.L. Kiser

Get More Energy From Common Foods

There are a number of foods that you can put on your grocery list regularly that will provide energy and lots of nutrients. Health doesn't have to taste bland.

For starters, I keep a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar around and take a teaspoonful or two a day for energy in a glass of lemonade or water. You would be surprised at how much energy you get from using this. . I actually found a recipe on the web, for Apple Cider Vinegar Cookies, so look around to see what recipes you can find to make this more palatable.

The advice of, "an apple a day", is the very best. You get a lot of nutrients from apples, including magnesium, of which many people have a deficiency. Really all fruits are great energy foods. They are light and easy to digest so you can get more done, faster.

Spinach, kale, any greens, are great energy boosters and in the right combination, make a great salad. Bok Choy is great as well. These provide lots of calcium and antioxidants, as well as many other nutrients.

Beans and brown or colored rice are some of the best nutritional foods. As a rule, the darker the color; the more nutrients there are in them. These should be eaten 2-3 times a week, or if you prefer, every day.

I love my herbal teas and try to get green tea every week. It is full of antioxidants. Dandelion root tea keeps the water weight off and is an excellent laxative as well. Staying regular can give you energy. Parsley tea is also a great diuretic, but I prefer my fresh parsley in soups and on vegetable or whole-wheat pasta.

Red onions are excellent in everything. They are even great for your blood pressure and your heart. So is garlic, which will ward off nearly everything from the common cold to heart attack and cancer. You can also make garlic tea and garlic cookies. Surprisingly, these are both fairly tasty.

Generally a totally vegetarian diet is the best for optimal health. Dairy can cause allergies and many people are lactose intolerant. Meat is not only hard to digest. I haven't eaten meat or foul since the 1970's. I find that I don't have to use as much deodorant since I quit eating it and I don't feel sleepy or exhausted after regular meals. It is the hardest food to digest and can led to a multitude of problems including heart attack and stroke. And it's filled with hormones. The same hormones that athlete are not allowed using because of the health risks. You can get lots of protein from peanuts, soy and other beans and from green leafy vegetables.

Staying away from salt and sugar is mandatory if you really want energy. Salt and sodium causes water weight gain and sugar can also, but sugar in adults often causes muscle weakness and tiredness.

One last thing, stay away from diet drinks. Yes, artificial sweeteners can cause a chemical reaction in your body that actually may cause weight gain! A recent study at Purdue University found that artificial sweeteners actually confuse the body and can make it harder to burn calories. (Talk about self-defeating!)

Dieting is more hazardous to health than eating right and it also makes you hungry. You can make lots of great sweets from the fruits above and use fruit juices, honey or non-refined sugars to sweeten them. An herb known as "Stevia" is often used today for sweetening pies and cakes. You can buy the extract or brew it yourself and put a few drops in your teas and juices. It's much healthier for you and doesn't cause you weight gain or other problems unless you are allergic and I haven't met a lot of people who are allergic to "Stevia" or other herbs.

With food allergies, a general rule is to try it in small amounts first and give yourself time to notice whether you have any adverse reactions. You can be allergic to almost anything, but as a rule, "natural" is better.

Take care and enjoy your newfound energy and health.

Reduce Your Stress

I think the first thing to reduce stress is to give up Multi-tasking. If you can't at work then do so at home. It's the worst stress-builder, ever created.

There are tons of self-help books on the market, books on visualization, psychology. There are also subliminal tapes. I like to meditate and listen to or play music.

I take time to journal before I go to bed while I drink something soothing like Chamomile tea or one of the nighttime teas on the market such as , "Sleepy time" tea. They are delicious and can be bought at your local health food store. These will relax you enough so you can get to sleep.

Be sure to read the ingredients and check them out in a good herb book before using them. Some contain Valerian that is a highly toxic poison; other herbs you may be allergic to. These are medicinal teas and you should let your doctor know that you intend to use them, especially if you are using any medications that might interact with the herbs. Take your herbal teas and/or your herb digest to your doctor to discuss their use.

If you are artistic or write, try to write or sketch out your feelings and thoughts. Buy yourself a "misery" journal. Also have a "gratitude" journal in which to write about the things for which you are grateful or enjoy.

Keep a "Dream" journal and learn to analyze your dreams. I started doing this when I was around 18 years old. I bought my first dream dictionary and started learning about how dreams affect the direction of our lives. The practice has not only become a great hobby, but it has served me very well throughout my adult life.

If you prefer, buy multiple subject notebooks and label each section, "Dream", "Gratitude" or "Misery" and put down your dreams and thoughts. You will be surprised at the amount of weight that leaves your shoulders once you get those feelings and thoughts out of your system and down on paper. Keep your "Misery" journal separate and shred or burn it to relieve more stress.

I suggest that you just begin to explore the things that you either want to do those that you have enjoyed in the past and may no longer be involved with. Even coloring with the kids or coming up with a new trick to teach the dog will relieve a bit of stress in your life. Even if for only a few moments and that is a plus!

While I know that many people have told me that they, "don't have anyone to do things with". There are tons of groups of all sorts out there. Look one up on the Internet or at your local library. If you don't find one, start one of your own. It generates new friends and adds a whole new dimension to your life.

You can advertise at the local supermarkets, pet stores, the town court house; don't be afraid to ask if you can put of a notice or a flier. Why, the owner or manager of the place may be your first new member! Making new friends or getting out with old ones generally relieves more stress than you know.

Take time to play games with the kids in your family. Reviving some of your own childhood joys will really remove a load of stress.

Lastly, what you eat is a major factor regarding stress. Get your vitamins, daily and eat things like red onions, garlic, fresh fruits and vegetables. Season with herbs like, Turmeric, Mint, Parsley, Basil and Oregano. Parsley can remove water weight that can stress your body. Just planting an herb garden can relieve stress.

Create an eye pillow out of lavender, lemon balm, mint and other scented herbs to relax you when you lie down.

Now, lie back in a tub of warm bubbles with some lavender and a glass of wine and consider where you can begin to de-stress.

Copyright, M.L. Kiser, 2008

Natural Treatment For Cancer

Over the years I have watched numerous family and friends die of some form of cancer. No matter how I tried to convince them that there were natural cures, it seemed that they were each that much more determined to trust the doctors and pharmaceutical companies.

My uncle who was married to a nurse, believe that the only answer lay in traditional medicine's chemo and radiation. His daughter believed the same.

My late sister, who died after a 7 year long battle with breast cancer had worked for so many doctors in her career that she also believed traditional medicine to be the only way. I begged her to read pamphlets and information that I had collected over the years regarding natural cures such as Rene Caisse's, Ojibwa formula, Essiac, komubcha mushroom, even shark cartilage. Her repeated response, "I know that if there were natural cures, the doctors, after all of their research, would certainly have them.

Even after I had met someone whose cancer was put into remission by the use of Essiac; my close friend submitted to her third round of Chemo and radiation; passing from a heart attack within 2 years of her treatments because of the strain on her body that the treatments caused.

Why people do not want to open their minds to the possibilities that there are natural cures for everything around us, I will never understand.

The Food and Drug organizations insist that natural cures are dangerous or that they just don't work. Medical organizations and pharmaceutical companies insist that they need money for research to find cures. While money is being poured into these companies and government programs in the name of finding a cure; why is it that none of them will look at the natural cures that are already in existence.

Doctors will endlessly proclaim the successes of their pharmaceuticals, which usually have more devastating side effects. I will never understand the point of taking a medication to cure one ill that will cause at least 3 or more others.

I have to agree with the nature guru's like Trudeau and Wyle and those of similar opinions with regard to the cancer cures among other diseases. Illness is big business! If you have trouble believing that, just consider for a moment, the individuals who would be without a job if everyone were suddenly being cured naturally.

I have been a victim of these chemical drugs, as well. I have cataracts because of migraine drugs that I trusted. I became anemic several times because of medication that I took for my arthritis, which, I might add was mis-diagnosed at least 3 different times.

Employees of pharmaceutical companies, clinics, hospitals, medical research facilities, drug stores; pharmacists, doctors, technicians, nurses, professors, researchers; not to mention the number of clerks and secretaries and other related jobs. Imagine for a moment what that would do the the world economy.

Ever wonder how humankind has survived all of these centuries without our modern medicine and chemical drugs? Well, it didn't just magically happen. We survived with the help of nature.

Today we seem to have more varieties of disease than in the entire history of humankind. Where there was once Hepatitis, now, we have Hepatitis, A., B, C, etc., likewise with the Flu, what used to be simple Influenza has become the Seasonal Flu, the Swine Flu, the Asian Flu, the Avian Flu, which consists of several types in itself, A H5, H7, H9; not to mention the subtypes, H5N1, H5N2, H5N3, H5N9 to name a few, and this seems to be the case with regard to a number of diseases. While doctors insist that we are living longer, we are also living more ill and miserable lives with all manner of infections, ailments and surgeries.

When are we going to band together and stop looking for cures and use what is already there or at least educate ourselves and others about the natural preventatives that we can grow in our own back yards? The money being wasted on these alleged drugs could feed and house the world several times over. Yet we continue to pour money into research for cures that we already have.

While many viruses and germs lie among the beakers and test tubes of endless laboratories and research facilities, just waiting for some researcher to take them home to their families and all in the name of "search for a cure"; we have cures for most ailments and diseases already. Yet, so few will address the FDA or AMA about why these natural cures are not being researched further for utilization. Perhaps because many know the answer already; Medicine today is money and money talks. The more sick people there are; the more money is made by thousands of people. We should all be asking these questions and we should not stop until they are satisfactorily answered.

We should all be doing our own research, deliberately asking our doctors about alternatives and holding them accountable for helping us to find what works best and is healthiest for us. So what if you're not a pharmacist, a researcher or a physician? In this day and age, the best way to survive is to do your own research. No, I don't advocate not going to the doctor; but, at least question the chemicals that they push at you and find your own potential natural cure and then let your doctor have the opportunity to either work with you if you want to try it or lose you as a patient to one who will. I have found that there are a scattered few, willing to at least open their minds to the possibilities long enough to help you get well.

Sure, something is going to get you, someday, but why should it be the medications that you take for that headache or your angina? Why shouldn't it just be old age? I believe that it can.

Copyright, M.L. Kiser, 2007

Lavender and Rose Oil

The next time you are having trouble sleeping, try this.  I rub this oil into my shoulders and arms, have a little Lavender or Chammomile tea and do the sleep meditation below.  This is a very relaxing oil to try; soothing enough to lull you to sleep by itself!

2-3 sprigs of fresh or dried lavender

8 fresh or dried roses (unopened buds are the best)

Vegetable Oil (or essential oil if you prefer)

A clear glass bottle with cork

Cut or chop lavender springs and crush about 2 of the rosebuds. Fill the glass bottle with Vegetable oil and drop in the lavender and rosebuds. Sit in a window where

the sun's rays will fall upon it. Leave 6-8 weeks; the sun's rays will infuse the scent into the oil.

You can use as bath oil or a rub for tired muscles. If you want to give as a gift; melt some candle wax over the cork and lip of the bottle to seal and adorn with a sprig of lavender tied in a ribbon around the bottleneck. It makes a great gift. And lavender oil is an excellent rub for relaxing muscle cramps or tense neck muscles. You can even put a few drops into your favorite lavender potpourri and place it near your bed or in a pillow to help you to sleep.

 Lavender Tea

Use two teaspoons of diced lavender and steep in a cup of boiling water for about 15 minutes. Add some honey for sweetening. Spice it up with a sprig of fresh Peppermint or Spearmint from your herb garden. It makes a wonderful tea and helps you to relax.

Variation

 Use a teaspoon of rose hips and chamomile for a really mild and succulent flavor. I hope you enjoy it as I do.

Disclaimer: I am not a Physician or Herbologist, I am simply someone who grew up using herbs.  As always and especially if you have allergies; check with your doctor if you have never used herbs.  These are natural tranquilizers so they should never be used with prescription or over-the-counter medications.

Happy her-bing!

 Copyright, 2007, M.L. Kiser

Sleep Meditation

Here's a great little meditation to help you fall asleep. You can use it along with lavender tea or oil.

Wearing loose clothing lie down on your bed.

Relax your entire body starting with your feet and working your way up to your scalp.

Take slow deep and even breaths. If it helps to count to 5 slowly as you breathe in and out. Smell the delicious lavender flowers scent as you breathe.

Once you have relaxed all the way up to your scalp; continue breathing and visualize a purple pinpoint of light above you.

Watch the light slowly enlarge and come downwards to you; the light will surround you.

Imagine that outside of the purple light is a white light coming down in the same way towards you until it has surrounded you.

Feel the warmth of these lights; feel them warming to your bones. Your organs become bathed in the the purple light.

Now, imagine the purple light releasing the tension in your muscles. They go limp and the light warms, smoothes and soothes them.

Keep breathing the same slow and even breaths as you feel yourself drifting off to sleep. Completely relaxed and soothed. You have no worries, no tension. As you sleep, the light will

continue to warm you and release tension.

Believe it or not, you will enjoy this experience. And you are likely to have a wonderful night's sleep.

Copyright, 2007, M.L. Kiser 

The Benefits Of Dandelion Tea

When you hear the words, "Dandelion Tea", you might think of "Granny Clampett" out by the "Cement Pond" with her pot of steaming hot concoctions? But, the fact is that Dandelion Tea is a quick wonderful way to reduce those unwanted pounds of fluid without chemicals. Made from the root of the Dandelion, (yep, those little uninvited green thingies that grow all over the yard, better known as "weeds"), are a natural diuretic and laxative. Safer than prescription and over-the-counter diuretics. I've had guinea pigs that ate nearly a quarter of their weight in them.

Fluid is quite a problem for us women and especially if you are close to or actually enjoying the many adventures of menopause. You know what I meanthe little ankles that in minutes turn into huge softballs around your ankles; the stomach that yesterday felt fine and today seems to weigh an extra 30 lbs.

A life of bloat is no fun, but you can lose the bloat with dandelion tea. As little as 1 tsp. of dried, ground root infused in a cup of hot boiling water with some fresh lemon juice and honey, can shed that excess fluid. Voila! No more swollen ankles!

Now, you may think to yourself, "Hey, if a teaspoon full takes the swelling out of my feet; I'll bet I could lose a ton of water if I used 3 or 4 teaspoons!" Well, it doesn't quite work that way; you could end up with some serious "runs" for a few days because it is also a rather effective laxative. If you've ever too many peas or prunes; the overuse of Dandelion is much more powerful.

Naturally, if you are going to use Dandelion to lose water weight, you will not want to take Fluid Pills and just as with any medicinal herb you will want to learn all you can about it and check with your doctor before embarking on your "weedy" adventure. Most herbs have medicinal properties and you don't want to end up over-dosing yourself.

I started drinking Dandelion tea a few years ago when it suddenly dawned upon me, how much liver-damaging acetaminophen I had taken over the years, for headaches and migraines. I read all about the detoxifying properties of Dandelion tea and figured that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying it for the bloat. After all, dandelion greens were good in salads.

Since I tend to bloat very badly, especially once a month, the first thing that I noticed was the decrease in water weight and bloat that I was experiencing. I felt good! My back didn't hurt nearly as much and I didn't have to lie down on the bed to get into my jeans. The second thing that I noticed was that after losing the fluid, I didn't feel as exhausted or tired as I did when taking chemical diuretics.

Dandelion's rather strong, earthy taste can be a bit too much for many people, so, I always add lemon juice to take the edge off of the flavor and sweetener, sugar, stevia or honey. Besides being packed with lots of minerals; Dandelion can also minimize the formation of kidney gall stones. For centuries, it has been used to treat liver and spleen problems; it's a great liver cleanser. I use it to detoxify. It's also been used to relieve heartburn, gout and women who are lactating can use it to increase the production of breast milk. No fluid pill can do all of that!

Most over-the-counter and prescription diuretics can be dangerous because they flush way too much fluid out of your system, often flushing out too many electrolytes. Dandelion will too, if not used moderately, but, it has more benefits than chemical diuretics. If you have to lose fluid, wouldn't you prefer to gain nutrients? Dandelion is full of antioxidants, so, you will always gain something beneficial by using it.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I speak from personal experience and having grown up using herbs and alternative medicine. As always, learn about alternatives; research them before using them and talk to your doctor. There are many Integrative Physicians who will gladly work with you and alternatives in order to ensure your best possible healthcare.

Copyright, 2007, M. L. Kiser