Change First in the Physical Plane

There are many planes of existence. My blog does not center on one plane because each affects or influences the other. Since this is the eve of the new year many people are considering a commitment to a change. Why not start with something easy on the physical level. You may find it begins a ripple that could bring about harmony with other changes you are considering.

Below is a component in a health program I created for people with chronic conditions. My definition of chronic is one that comes on slowly and is long suffering. That definition could fit any number of life imbalances in any plane. But lets just make this small physical change; making a Honduran salsa and eating it with two meals a day.

 

 

Chimol Recipe

Honduran style chimol  is a condiment usually served with grilled meats, but also goes well with other dishes including beans and rice.  My favorite is to put it on top of coleslaw. Alone, it could be used for a delicious salsa.

A raw mix of five colors along with the addition of lemon or lime juice possibly makes this dish a fountain of health. More information on the health benefits of these ingredients follows the recipe.

Ingredients

 

1 medium red or white onion

2 Roma tomatoes

2 medium bell pepper halves (ideally 1yellow, 1 orange)

3 Stalks of celery

Sprigs of cilantro (or culantro) to taste

Juice of 2 lemons or limes

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

Salt or garlic salt to taste

(Additional vegetable options include carrot, green pepper, or green beans)

 

Directions

1. Finely chop all vegetables and cilantro.
2. Mix together in large bowl.
3. Add lemon juice, vinegar, optional salt, and mix until all vegetables have been coated. The more you stir the more liquid created.
4. Cover and refrigerate. Best when chilled 4 hours or more.

Makes approximately 2½  cups.   Keeps well for about a week.

 

About the Veggies in Chimol

 

The father of western medicine, Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food."  There is no clear distinction between food and medicine; they are all part of a vast continuum.  In Chinese herbal medicine, and in Greek Medicine, the higher the nutritive value of the herb or medicine, the more highly it is valued.  The greatest difference between herbal medicines and synthetic drugs is that herbals are food; they have a nutritive value. 

Onions are effective against many bacteria. They contain flavonoids and zinc which have been shown to be effective in  stopping the growth of tumors. They also help heal skin conditions.  These flavonoids also improve the integrity of blood vessels and decrease inflammation. 

Bell peppers  are a good source of vitamin C, and many of the B vitamins.  They also have exceptional antioxidant activity. Bell peppers have been shown to prevent blood clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attacks and
strokes probably due to their content of substances such as vitamin C, capsaicin, and flavonoids.

Celery leaves have a high content of vitamin A; their stems are an excellent source of B vitamins along with rich supplies of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and plenty essential amino acids. They contain polyacetylene which has been found to offer amazing relief for all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis. 

Tomato, best known for its Lycopene content, is an  anti-oxidant that helps in fighting cancerous cell formation. Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health. Tomatoes are also widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content, lowering total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.    New research has found an important connection between lycopene’s antioxidant properties and bone health. 

Lemons are a great source of vitamin C. They have strong antibacterial properties.  Lemon water helps aid in digestion, elimination. Lemon is high in antioxidants. They also boost the immune system and help fight off infections. They are good in preventing several bacteria-caused illnesses so a daily dose can help ward off colds, stomach distress and infection.  

You can find more about these and other fresh fruits and vegetables by surfing on the internet.

Have a question or a comment? Leave it here or visit my website www.MalanaAshlie.com  and send me a message.

Happy New Year.  

 

 

Scents of the Holidays

The last post was about making tea for  physical and emotional health. Drinking the beverage not only warms and stimulates the body systems but the flavors trigger chemical responses through the nervous system. The same thing happens from the aromas.  The affect aromas have on our nervous system is  part of why many scents or incenses are traditionally used in religious ceremonies.   Today is Dec. 21^st. Its is the winter solstice; the longest hours of darkness for the year.  The warming scents of frankincense and myrrh, rosemary and pine were an important part of the ancient rites of calling for the sun to return.



Frankincense is a resin. Its aroma is warm and dry. The affect it has on  the nervous system is  relaxing yet revitalizing. This makes it wonderful for both nervous tension and nervous exhaustion…sound like the Christmas shopping season? Whenever stress leads to depression, restlessness or insomnia look to frankincense to restore balance.

Myrrh is another resin or dry sap from a tree. It has a warm and dry effect. This is especially beneficial in the damp grey days of winter. Often times when a person has a lingering cold or congestion from a cold it is due to weakness in the spleen-pancreas. Myrrh helps the body move the congestion out.

Rosemary is actually an evergreen, one that can grow up to 6 foot tall. It is also one of the most widely used of the medicinal herbs. To the ancient Greeks and Romans the plant was sacred and used at every ceremony where solemn vows were made. It was considered a symbol of loyalty. Its action on the nervous system is to gently stimulate so it aids in concentration and memory.

Pine oil or just the fragrance is another warm dry scent. It  acts as an antiseptic which is why pine oil used to be a popular house cleaning product. The scent of Pine works as an expectorant and supports the body’s efforts to overcome respiratory infection. Many essential oil literature states that pine fragrance restores emotional positivity as well as the ability to process experiences.

Enjoy the scents of the holidays and whichever your belief, may your holiday be filled with beautiful memories.  Thanks for reading. ~ Malana

Please visit my new website: www.MalanaAshlie.com

The Scents of the Holidays

Three of the things I enjoy most about winter holidays are: the music, lights and the aromas.  The strong aromatics of pine and rosemary, rich camphoraceous scents of frankincense and myrrh, all fill me with a sense of wellbeing. I bring in fresh greens to mix amongst my artificial pieces and burn incense in the afternoons.  The shorten daylight hours and lower temperatures of winter  leave me craving the warming fragrances (and taste) of cinnamon and clove added to the sunny sweet smell of orange. The best way I know to enjoy those is by making tea.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            . Brewing pots of tea is another way I fill my home with aromas that bring pleasant memories of years gone while strengthening my immune system. Only part of this immune benefit comes from drinking the tea, the other comes from the influence its aroma has on the olfactory bulb of the brain and the psychological energetic plane.   The warm sunny aroma of orange conveys joy and positivity. You may wonder what a recipe for tea has to do with a blog about making changes but, sometimes it’s easier to change viewpoints by making simple changes in the environment.  

The instructions for making the tea are simple.
You’ll need a fresh orange ( I prefer organic) Wash and peel it. Eat the orange, save the peel.

2 clove buds

4 sticks of cinnamon

6 tea bags. I use black tea but the Lipton type blends of orange pekoe , even green tea will work.

 To make enough for a 1 liter pitcher put a quart and a half of water in a 2 qt. sauce pan. Place the orange peel, clove buds and cinnamon into a pot of water. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to simmer for 15 minutes.  Remove from heat, add the tea bags and cover so that the tea steeps for 20 minutes.  Remove the fruit peels, tea bags and spices. Sweeten to taste with your personal preference of sweeteners. I like agave nectar.

This can be drunk hot or cold and left-over can be stored in the refrigerator for about 5 days.  

 

Orange peel, especially dried, is an important part of Chinese medicine. It stimulates digestion and relieves spasms. In the early 18^th century sweet orange was reputed to alleviate nervous disorders, colic,  liver and stomach problems.  It helps in the digestion of fats. It was also used  to treat conditions such as coughing, arthritis and sore throats.

Adding clove and cinnamon to the tea expands the possibilities of health improvement. Modern research finds that cinnamon may lower blood sugar in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It helps in cases of depression, the common cold, and can help fight against bacterial and fungal infections. Cloves are anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic. They’re a good source of some minerals especially manganese.  

If you’d like to know about Frankincense, Myrrh, pine and rosemary subscribe to my regular updates. I’ll share what I know next week.
Visit my website to find my other networks: www.wisdompathway.com

 

We Are What We Eat

When given a choice on meals I tend to lean toward that of a lacto-vegetarian. That means I include dairy (preferably raw), eggs and fish in my meals. My husband, on the other hand, is a carnivore.   It has been a 22 year personal conflict for me.  In the last year I have been aware of a lot of information floating the internet about animal treatment.  In this year of CHANGE,  watching my husband suffer through the results of his life choices, I am beginning to recognize this as an opportunity to re-assess my own  values.

 I admire anyone who can abstain from eating the flesh of another. Not everyone can. Some people's glandular chemistry prohibits this. They may try to honor the philosophy but find their health losing ground after a time. We live on a planet where every life force relies on another for its survival. Lions, water buffalo and alligators co-exist sharing the same watering holes...until supper time. Then the weakest or youngest is culled from the group; it maintains a natural balance. Animal waste becomes food for plants.

People who choose vegan as a more humane choice should read a book titled The Secret Life of Plants by Thompkins and Bird. It is filled with fascinating research showing the ability of plants to communicate with us, their reactions to violence  and even how they have mutated to meet 'request' from humans. It leaves the understanding that just because we don't stroke or hear plants doesn't mean they don't have a voice. Just because we don’t see red doesn’t mean they are not bleeding.

So, which species deserves to die and which to live? Which is more important than the other? In nature no species, plant or animal, is better.  Humans are the only species that the planet can survive without; it’s as though we are guest here. We are also the only animal that kills for pleasure or money. Our greed is the disruption to nature. This is one of the subjects looked at in my book- SHIFT: A 5th Dimensional Approach. All of these thoughts added to my husband’s preference are why I have tried to practice compassionate eating (and living).

Eating compassionately is eating when hungry- being thankful not only for the food but for the plants and animals that have given their lives so that we may live- asking a blessing on their spirits- not eating more than  needed nor wasting.

To me the inhumanity comes not from killing to live but from the treatment of animals- whether they are cows, calves, dogs or cats. The animal INDUSTRY of our developed nations is horrible. Visit the 'farms' and see how  animals are treated before they are packed into trucks, herded into lines where they stand watching the animal in front of them tortured, shot or electrocuted. You will refrain from eating meat. We call it meat instead of animal to de-sensitive ourselves.  We call it beef instead of cow, pork instead or pig and milk fed veal instead of 7 day old baby calf. The names and packaging frees us from feeling accountable.  We buy more.

As I witness the violence in our culture, the words “we are what we eat” take on new meaning. Words such as terrorized, abused, and beaten should never be in the same sentence with food we are consuming. Please know where your food comes from and how the animals are treated. Maybe the levels of violence existing in the world will reduce. All life should be honored. Taking one life to save another is a hard call but to me it should be the only reason to kill. Hopefully, all will learn to live gently and not support those who do not. 

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