It’s been estimated that 700 of the 100,000 species of mushrooms known to us are used for food. * Beyond their culinary use, many people associate mushrooms with either potentially poisonous substances or tools for psychoactive experiences, usually invoking raised eyebrows when suggested as part of one’s daily health regimen. In fact, numerous benefits, too many to list here, can be attributed to many varieties of fungi. For thousands of years in the eastern hemisphere mushrooms have been used for medicine. Here in the west, we are just beginning to recognize them for their immune-enhancing and anti carcinogenic properties.

In botanical terms, mushrooms are considered the “fruiting bodies” of spores that are released to wind and weather to find an ideal home for new growth. Fairly recently, mycologists discovered that the medium formed from the spores and out of which the mushrooms eventually grow, called the mycosphere, takes on the important responsibility of transporting minerals and nutrients to the roots of plants. As Paul Stametz, the primary mycologist for New Chapter, describes

“Not only are mushrooms a protein-rich food source for humans, but the byproducts of mushroom cultivation unlocks nutrients for other members of the ecological community. The rapid return of nutrients back into the ecosystem boosts the life cycles of plants, animals, insects (bees), and soil microflora. The soil that fungi produce sustains, ultimately all life. The complex activity of mushroom allies allows habitats to achieve degrees of biological intensity that are absent in fungally impoverished habitats. It is the fungal web that holds habitats together.”**

As modern stress and the overuse of antibiotics weakens our immune systems, humans are discovering their own habitat embedded in this “fungal web” that Stametz mentions. Unlike other plants, whose medicinal qualities are often synthesized into drugs, the active components of mushrooms have a molecular complexity that makes them difficult to reproduce. These complex molecules, known as “beta-glucans,” give mushrooms their immune-boosting, anticancer, and antitumor responses.

Here in the store, customers will often recall a certain time of year when their usual immune supporting supplements fail them, or they are employed in ways that constantly tax their immune system, either through stress or exposure to disease pathogens. At this point, I often recommend an immune-supportive mushroom complex, such as Host Defense by New Chapter, 5-Mushroom Formula by Mushroom Science, or Original Seven by Electic.

At Remedies, we offer mushroom products in capsules (and some liquid forms) from three outstanding companies – Mushroom Science, New Chapter, and Eclectic. Here’s an overview of what we offer.

Mushroom Science (www.mushroomscience.com)

Maitake, Agaricus blazei, Coriolus VPS, Maitake Gold 404 (liquid), 5-Mushroom Formula, Coriolus PSP, Cordyceps, Reishi Gano 161

New Chapter (www.newchapter.info)

Native Man, Native Woman, Mental Clarity, Host Defense, Breathe!, Cordyceps, Reishi, Maitake

Eclectic (www.eclecticherb.com)

Mycetoblend, Original Seven, Reishi, Cordyceps, Shiitake, Maitake

For more specific information about these products, please visit the company websites.

* — [Maitake King of Mushrooms: The amazing broad-range healing powers of an ancient food and remedy, by Shari Lieberman, Ph.D. and Ken Babal, C.N, Keats Publishing 1997]

** — [Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms, by Paul Stametz, Ten Speed Press, 2000.]

Something old in a new way. A teacher of mine once told me that its not about the detox and the stripping away of the body, its about nourishing the body so it might have a better chance at taking care of you. That idea holds a lot of importance to me and I need to be reminded of that once in a while–especially with the lot of detox products on the market, and there overuse a possibility for anyone– I was recently enlightened by an MD friend about the bodies system of checks and balances–its ability to self regulate, which made me want to feed myself good things all the time, I really am the only person responsible for keeping this body I embody in good health. Its a mixed feeling of duty and love and I am now more excited than ever to support myself. Not to say I haven’t got a few vices…but looking at my responsibility for keeping myself in good health, I become more aware of the consequences of those vices, and how they suppress my bodies best working order. Like a mechanic that’s excited to work on their car, I’ve got a broader and better tuned awareness that this is the only body I’ve got, and its got to carry me around for some time to come. Funny how this may not seem like a revelation to anyone else, but I think its something I used to know being introduced in a way that suits me better–Maybe its a good thing to reflect on the ideals we keep  that allow us to maintain ourselves and keep ourselves healthy, as well as the ideals that keep us from doing so. hmm.

Okay, so being the people we are here at Rainbow Remedies, we’re all a little skeptical about something that makes bold claims to be “amazing.” Some people (I won’t mention names) have even, I believe, used the word “creepy.” I have tried this product and, although I wouldn’t quite classify it as “amazing” (not yet, anyway), I did find out some intriguing things about what’s in it and what it does, and I also experienced some interesting effects.

What are they?

You use these foot patches by attaching them with adhesives to the soles of your feet while you sleep. The basic theory behind them is that the feet are a “detox portal” where many toxins naturally go to exit the body. The ingredients in the patches supposedly stimulate the nerve endings and acupressure points on the soles of the feet, which then activate the lymphatic system.

I mean, come on, what’s in them?!

I was just getting to that. The primary ingredient appears to be bamboo vinegar. According to Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D, and Director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Portland, Oregon, “The bamboo plant has unusually high levels of acetylcholine (which acts as a neurotransmitter in animals and humans; its role in plants is as yet unknown)… It is conceivable that compounds of similar chemical structure in bamboo may contribute to the effects of the herb and its extracts on brain function.” Also included in the “proprietary formula”:

tourmaline, which stimulates healthy flow of chi throughout the body, calms and relaxes, promotes sleep, and detoxifies;

chitosan, formulated from the exoskeleton of crustaceans, approved for use in bandages to help with blood clotting, and is a natural anti-bacterial;

silicon powder, often used in cosmetic production, and aids with cell regeneration; and

mandarin essential oil, aromatherapeutically used for insomnia and stress, also for scars and skin under duress (like the feet!), firming up skin loosened from heavy use over time.

My only experience after two applications (aside from the brown toxin stains on the patches in the morning!), was a greatly increased dream life, which sort of coincides with the possible internal effects of the bamboo plant on the body. I would have to say, for that reason alone, I would recommend trying this product.

There are many versions of this product on the market. The one we’re currently carrying is by Weight Loss Laboratories, (although the Amazing Foot Patch is not specifically designed to aid weight loss).

The perception of smell consists not only of the sensation of the odors themselves but of the experiences and emotions associated with these sensations. The association of fragrance and emotion is not an invention of poets or perfume-makers. Our olfactory receptors are directly connected to the limbic system, the most ancient and primitive part of the brain, which is thought to be the seat of emotion.

When we smell something, we trigger our olfactory neurons. Molecules of the substance we are smelling travel through the nose and the mucous membranes right to these neurons. From here, nerve impulses travel to the brain and from there to our central nervous system. Therefore, it is possible that certain smells do trigger certain physical events. This is an active field of study for scientists and researchers…

Burning incense is a tradition that dates back thousands of years, in practically all of earth’s ancient civilizations, and is well known for it’s mood-altering qualities. Incense seems to have been used extensively in the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Arabia, Egypt, India, Greece and Rome. Historians have also found references to incense in ancient texts such as the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh and even in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible! It has been used to accompany prayer, to worship the Gods, purify the air, release negative vibrations, induce self-awareness and to uplift the emotional state.

In the ancient Sanskrit texts, there are many beautiful descriptions of festive occasions when incense was burned in the homes and streets, delighting the residents of the city ‘at every step’. Fragrant waters were also used to spray the thoroughfares and scented garlands of flowers adorned and decorated buildings and entranceways. The aromas created by these delightful activities were enough to ‘fill the heart with euphoria and uplift the mind to its highest state’.

“What are probiotics and why should I take them?”

It might be surprising to some that our bodies are not sterile environments. In fact, each of us depends on billions of microscopic organisms to carry out a multitude of processes. Daily stress, allergies, exposure to toxic substances, illness, and, perhaps most damaging, a course of antibiotics, will tend to shrink if not wipe out the colony of beneficial bacteria living in our bodies. For this reason, many people take a maintenance dose of probiotics on a daily basis. Following a course of antibiotics, however, a stronger course of probiotics for a period of time might be recommended.

“Isn’t Yogurt Enough?”

Yogurt and other fermented foods have a relatively small amount of lactobacillus, which is one of the many beneficial bacteria found in our gastrointestinal systems. While these will help to maintain a daily balance, they will not be enough to restore the system following antibiotics.

“Okay, okay! But Which One Should I Take?”

There are literally hundreds of probiotic products out on the market. Here are some questions to consider in reviewing each product:

* Can it be left unrefrigerated? — Some probiotics can survive indefinately unrefrigerated, while others lose their efficacy when exposed to room temperature. If you’re travelling, you’ll probably want one of the former. Here’s what our store offers in that arena:

Jarrow Formulas - Enhanced Probiotic System - $19.95 — found on the shelf just to the left of the protein powders.

Integrative Therapeutics - Probiotic Pearls - $32.05 — behind the counter, ask us for it.

Interplexus - Flora-Elite - $16.95 — We keep this in the refrigerator next to the other Interplexus products.

* How many organisms are there per capsule? And how many different organisms does the formula contain? –

For basic maintenance, a product with just acidophilus or acidophilus and bifidus would be fine.

Rainbow Natural Remedies - Acidophilus (Liquid) - $9.09, (250 Capsules) - $15.85, or Acidophilus & Bifidus (50 Capsules) - $8.59 -- all in the refrigerator.

Lifetime Liquid Acidophilus with Bulgaricus & Bifidus - $9.99 — also refrigerated.

HLC Maintenance - $19.39 — refrigerated.

For post-antibiotic treatment, you’ll want to shoot for a higher organism count per capsule, as well as more variety of strains. These would include:

Megafood’s Megaflora - 60 cap, $32.15 — , 14 strains, 20 billion per capsule

Jarrow Formulas Enhanced Probiotic System — 60 caps, $19.95 — 8 strains, 4.4 billion per capsule

Jarro-Dophilus +FOS –100 caps, $14.95 — 6 strains, 3.4 billion per capsule

PB8 — 60 caps, $13.49 — 8 strains

HLC High Potency Capsules — 60 caps, $29.09 — only Lactobacillus & Bifidus, two strains each, but with 16 billion per capsule.

“What about Saccharomyces boulardii lyo? “

Some folks may have heard of this single strain probiotic, which is actually a yeast. Before you start running the other way in fear of yeast infections, know that Saccharomyces is, unlike other harmful yeasts, considered a “non-colonizing” yeast. But it both feeds our beneficial flora and attacks harmful organisms such as Candida and Salmonella. It has been highly recommended by some naturopathic doctors for those travelling in countries where exposure to these organisms is common.

We have two companies that carry Saccharomyces — both Jarrow (refrigerator) and Florastor (behind counter).

Although most probiotics are grown from a dairy base, we do have dairy-free options, as well as ones designed for infants. Please feel free to ask us for more info.

One year ago a good friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been through surgery and radiation and is now on her way to being cancer free, but her chances of it returning is higher now that she has had it once before. She has no history of cancer in her family, no obvious environmental factors, doesn’t drink or smoke, and eats healthy. So one of the few risk factors she found she can really change herself is to lose a little weight. Frequently weight loss is treated as a superficial issue, not on par with real health issues such as cancer and diabetes (two of Americas most devastating illnesses), yet risks for these two illnesses can be hugely reduced by finding a healthy weight and maintaining it. In fact being overweight can increase your risk for many many dangerous health issues, not to mention less life threatening but frequently debilitating issues such as depression, low immune function, and fatigue.

Of course the first steps to healthy weight loss are eating right, exercise and plenty of water. But there are some herbs and supplements that can help with supporting your body during weight loss, help balance your metabolism, burn fat instead of muscle, and help curb an over active appetite.

Heres some healthy options for those of us that could lose a few pounds, but are having trouble and want a healthy helping hand:

Fiber- many forms of fiber can help to curb hunger while cleansing the intestine so that it can funtion more effectively. We carry fiber supplements in powders and in capsules, as well as in bulk. Fibers can help in many other digestional issues as well as weight loss.

Greens supplement- Vitamineral Green and Barleans greens are our most popular green supplements, add them to a homemade diet shake to keep up nutrient levels and energy without consuming fat or carbs.

Cayenne- studies have shown that adding cayenne to your meals reduces hunger after meals and reduces calorie consumption in subsequent meals. A tea of lemon, ginger, and cayenne can be an effective way to supplement your diet as well.

Green tea- studies have shown that fat digestion may be inhibited and calorie burning increased with supplement of green tea. it is also a great antioxident, and can help decrease hunger between meals.

Chromium- for those of us with a sweet tooth, this can help to maintain normal blood sugar levels and thereby decrease sugar craving. There is also some evidence showing that chromium may help dieters to lose more fat and less muscle when they exercise.

Blue green algae and kelp- there is minimal research done here but there is some evidence to show these can help with weight loss and metabolism balancing.

Amino acids-(L-Tyrosine and Arginine) there is some evidence that taken as a supplement these can help decrease body fat, but these should be supplemented carefully as there has been little long term studies conducted.

We also carry a couple of blends to help with weight loss: Tattva’s herbs’s Lean plus, and the herbalist tincture blubberwack both use herbal ingredients to raise metobolic rates and help lose unnecessary weight.

Good luck to all, and may we all find balance and health and happiness in all that we do!

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan,

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver, and

The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved, by Sandor Katz

Inspired by such early food movement luminaries as Frances Moore Lappe with her 1970s Diet For a Small Planet, which made vegetarianism a nationwide fad for nearly 30 years, contemporary writers are forging ahead with a new and urgent mandate to avoid ecological and social disaster. Americans are finally learning that those essential nutritious substances that come in packages from well-lit warehouses we call “grocery stores” actually begin with farmers working along with the earth. According to each of these books, the future of our life on this planet will require us to consider this important link to the source of our basic sustenance.

For Michael Pollan, humans are naturally omnivorous, as determined by our history of food choices. However, amidst the current environmental degradation, a point made ironically in a book supposedly about the vexation of omnivores, the dilemma we face most is not so much what we consume, or whether or not to eat animal products, but where our food comes from. Under what conditions was it produced? And, perhaps most importantly, how much energy was required to bring it to our table?

With the onslaught of a “global” economy, our tastes have spread far and wide, and our desire for “fresh” produce out of season, tomatoes in the dead of winter, for example, has brought us to ridiculous feats involving the burning of copious amounts of fossil fuels, the use of toxic fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides. Pollen brings to light these excesses our cultures reaches in order to feed our voracious appetites for what we want when we want it at a cheap price; and he does so without a hint of judgment, but, rather leads by example, trying something new, even for himself – a simpler approach to feeding ourselves. In the end, he introduces us to what he considers the “perfect meal,” which he praises for its “almost perfect transparency,” the “brevity and simplicity of the food chain that linked it to the wider world. Scarcely an ingredient in it had ever worn a label or bar code or price tag, and yet I knew almost everything there was to know about its provenance and its price.”

Barbara Kingsolver delivers a parallel message but from the skill of a novelist with a knack for narrative. She takes Pollan’s idea that the “perfect meal” is not by any means the one we make by ourselves for ourselves. To the contrary, Kingsolver inquires if we are to sacrifice some of our wants and desires for the good of the rest of society, then why not do it together? It’s better to approach such ascetic endeavors in the company of family and friends than to make a go of it alone. So, she embarks on an ever-evolving journey with her family, two of whom – her older daughter and husband – contribute substantially to the body of the book, adding startling tidbits of information, as well as heartwarming tales of living locally, which means excluding many of the things we have come to take for granted – bananas from Ecuador, olive oil from Italy, tomatoes from California. Interspersed throughout are scrumptious-sounding recipes to help you on your own journey toward food awareness. Filling the void of luxury food items, the partaking of food in Kingsolver’s home becomes an excuse for celebration and a time to show appreciation for the abundance our planet provides.

Leading us on a great adventure of food awareness, Sandor Katz takes us a step beyond Kingsolver’s warm heart and toward the rage against the machine, with the notion that a little of both will be necessary if we are to successfully revolutionize our approach to feeding ourselves. In his introduction, Katz sums up the underlying themes of all three of these important books. “Far from comprehensive,” he writes,

“this book aims to inspire you to become a food activist yourself, and in that process to become more connected to the sources of your food and water. The food system on whose fringes we are all doing our work may seem monolithic and indomitable, but we are nourishing ourselves and one another by our actions, and creating exciting alternatives.”

Focusing on food movements – slow food, raw food, and veganism are some of the many categories – Katz inspires the reader to take action and at the same time reminds us of the joy that comes with a life of integrity. Like Kingsolver, he also includes recipes. However, recipes, he concludes,

“offer step-by-step instruction, and some people want that very badly. Beyond food, people love recipes for health, wealth, spiritual well-being, sexual prowess, and a better world. I’m afraid that in the end I have no easy-to-follow recipe to offer my readers for how we can go about taking back community control of our food and water and, more broadly, our power and our dignity.”

It could be argued that the foundation of a complete society evolves out of the roots of its food system. While these authors fail to offer (or, perhaps, intentionally omit) bullet point instructions for redesigning the basis of our food system they leave us with a clear sense of what to expect in the future if we continue to ignore the facts of that which is unsustainable, and even more poignantly, unjust. While there is a distinct tone of despair and outrage in each of these books, each author tempers this sourness with his or her own style and flavor of hope and sweetness. And that is about as close to a recipe for establishing a new foundation of feeding ourselves as one can expect.

You can find these books and other related ones here at our store – Rainbow Natural Remedies.

-BA

yoga.  natural birth control!  herbs. victrola coffee-green tea and vegan wheat-free brownies. oh. man. glitter. school busses. and people who live in them. vegan cooking. elderberry honey syrup. brewing kombucha. alot of kombucha. climbing trees. books. smoothies! food not bombs. acupuncture. mmm. goji berries. sunshine!

so….it would seem that by now i would remember that i have a period…but it catches me by surprise every time! so i never had tampons on hand and it was truly tragic until i discovered the diva cup….and i am soo hooked. at first it was awkward, like learning to use a tampon all over again…but now that i’m used to it, i’ll never go back. it is so convenient, living in its precious little bag until i need it, and so ecological-no more cardboard boxes, no more tiny plastic wrappers. and if you’re not a tampon kinda gal, or if you want a little extra protection, moon pads are awesome! hand made, mostly organic, reusable, and super cute…what more could you ask for in a pad? menstrating can make being a chica seem like such a burden sometimes….let’s make it easier on ourselves and celebrate being the lovely women that we are!

and gentlemen, you are all pretty rad as well

i watched tv (i am not saying what - that would be an invitation to mockery) last night and OH MY GOD could there be any more ads for quitting smoking and weight loss products?! none of which will probably work, by the way - (and the list of likely side effects makes a girl wonder…)but someone will be making alot of money…. so it made me think of the advice i most often give this time of year, which is - just relax! most people need to recuperate from the crazy hectic holiday season, and while i am a big fan of not smoking,exercising and eating well, i am a much bigger fan of not setting yourself up to fail! easing into long lasting sustainable changes almost always works better than the overwhelmingly stressful project of suddenly trying to reinvent yourself. if you must quit smoking cold turkey, at the very least get some acupuncture to help with the cravings and the jangly nerves. if you are trying to change your eating habits, start with what you like and make it healthier, rather than suddenly trying to eat in a completely different way. and if you have not been exercising, start slow and make sure you stretch alot so you don’t cause yourself new injuries certain to keep you from working out for the rest of the year. most importantly, get lots of sleep and go outside whenever possible. yes, it certainly is dreary this time of year - but we still live in one of the most gorgeous parts of the country - and if you go put your eyes on something beautiful, stand under the little bit of light that gets through the sky and get some fresh air - you will feel better without having spent a penny!