Author Archive | Alexander Gardener

  Are You Loving Infusions…

Hopefully this week you had a chance to make an Infusion and experience for yourself the nourishing and healing force that each cup is infused with.

This week I wanted to talk about one of the most healing of all plants especially as an infusion.

Nettles, also called Stinging Nettles!

Anyone who has touched the live plant knows how it got its name.

Nettles is one of those plants that is so rich in nutrients, we could actually live off this plant all by itself.

The benefits of Nettles are due to the plants very high levels of minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, silica, iodine, silicon, sodium, and sulfur.  It is also provides chorophyll and tannin, as well as being a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and the B vitamins.

Nettles also has very high levels of easily absorbable amino acids providing 10% more protein than any other vegetable.

Nettles is recommended when ever the constitution is so low that very powerful help is needed in the healing process.

Through out history Nettles has healed many people whom otherwise may not have recovered.

We have recorded use of Nettles as far back as the Bronze Age.

Nettles helps build energy and stamina as well as relieves anxiety and nourishes the kidneys, liver, colon, and adrenal glands*.

It also supports and improves the immune system.

In fact, one of the most famous
Tibetan Yogi’s and Poets, Milarepa survived for years only eating Nettles during his long retreat
in his cave.

He is actually depicted as being green in many paintings having eaten so much Nettles.

Nettles can be strong tasting by itself so many times it is best to combine it with other more pleasant tasting herbs like Oatstraw and Red Clover.

Another possible infusion combination is Nettles, Red Raspberry, and Lemon Balm.

It does take some time to sense the right proportions for your personal taste.  In the above recipe you might begin with 2 parts Nettles, 1 part Red Raspberry, and 1/2 part Lemon Balm.

Red Raspberry is wonderful for both female and male reproductive organs.  It is rich in vitamins and minerals especially C, E, and a highly absorbable form of calcium and iron.

Lemon Balm, also known as Mellissa is a wonderfully supportive herb.  It helps heal pains of the Heart.  It helps to heal grief, heartache, nervous tension, and anxiety.  It also helps to reduce body aches.

Lemon Balm has been shown to help heal herpes when used internally as an infusion and externally on the wounds themselves.

Today my own infusion is 2 parts Oatstraw, 1 part Nettles, and 1 part Red Clover.  I like to add a little Lemon Balm just because my heart can always use a hug.

For anyone needing acute healing support, Nettles is one herb to have on the top of your list.

You can also use Nettles in tea form and it will still be very beneficial.

But for the deepest healing:

Infuse…Infuse…Infuse!

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

*Nettles is also used for asthma, mucous conditions of the lungs, coughs, colds, and flus as well as for poor circulation.  It has been shown to help balance glandular functions.

Drinking Nettles Infusion is also wonderful for the hair and skin.

Externally the infusion can be applied to wounds, cuts, and burns for its cleansing and antiseptic properties.

Freeze dried Nettles is being used for hayfever and a root extract is being used for prostate cancer.

The list of how Nettles is being used medicinally is much longer than I can possibly address here.

Is there anything Nettles is not good for?

Milarepa would probably smile and just glow green!

We Love Infusions…

If you were to ask me what would be the one thing to add to your health program after organic food, fresh clean water & air, and exercise what would that one thing be?

That would be easy, Infusions*.

Infusions are like tea only much more potent.  Instead of brewing for minutes you let them sit for hours.

Far more nutrients including the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healing properties of the herbs are extracted with infusions.

Having a cup of infusion daily is like taking a multi-vitamin only far more easily absorbable by our bodies.

What You Will Need:
Quart Mason Jar
3/4 – 1oz. of Herb
Strainer
I am going to start by giving you a basic recipe using Oatstraw & Red Clover.  Later I will give you other possibilities, as they are truly infinite.

Have a pot of boiled water ready.  Measure out an equal amount of Oatstraw and Red Clover.  Place your herbs in the mason jar and fill the jar with the boiled water.  Stir with a chopstick as you are pouring and fill the jar to the brim.  Cover and let sit for a minimum of 4hrs and up to 10hrs.

Strain out the herb and save the liquid.  You can store this jar in the refrigerator for a few days.

You can drink the infusion either hot or cold.  You can add honey and/or lemon.

I always have a cup of infusion every evening and sometimes more often.

Great in the summer with lemon and ice as a refreshing drink also.  Maybe even some fresh mint for fun.

Oatstraw is a gentle herb that strengthens the nervous system and can help reduce anxiety.  It nourishes the heart, liver, and pancreas as well as improves digestion.  It contains a high amount of calcium, B vitamins and protein.

Red Clover is rich in protein as well as
minerals and vitamins.  It is believed to have cancer preventative properties.  Not to mention I love harvesting Red Clover on my land in the spring.

This is just one of many possible infusion combinations.

In the next newsletter we will talk about Nettles.  An amazing plant with super healing properties that makes a wonderful & potent infusion.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

* I am so fortunate to have as my colleague and mentor, Gardenia Gardener who studied the Wise Woman Tradition of Healing and has generously passed on many healing tools and gifts to me, infusions being one of them.

Ahhh! Ginger Baths…

This time of the year the weather changes so quickly from extreme heat to extreme wet, windy, and cold.

And then back again!

I notice people all around getting sick.  One woman called me having had a cold for two weeks now.

And like so many of us money is really tight and though she would love a Lymph Session, she just could not afford one at this moment.

So I recommended a Ginger Bath.  For under $10, she and you can do this home remedy and it works.

I first discovered Ginger Baths in the 80’s when I was studying karate.

I would come home so sore and my body needed to be ready for work the next day as well class again.

Though Ginger Baths are certainly not new I tweaked the recipe and here is a very powerful healing tool.

What You will Need:
Fresh Ginger Root
Epsom, Sea Salt, or any quality Bath Salt
A Tub to Soak In*
An Hour or more of Quiet Time
Chop up the Ginger (about a 1/2 – 1lb. depending on the size of your tub) and simmer it in a pot of water for about a half hour or so.  Strain the liquid and save.

Put about 2″ of very warm water into the tub.  You want to be able to get in so be sure it is not too hot.

Add the Ginger Solution and a cup of the salts.

Now Get in!

You might be saying, “Get into a basically empty tub?”

That is right!

It is nearly impossible to get into a tub filled with hot water.  But you can add hot water to a tub you are already in.

So you are in the tub and lying with your back soaking.

As the water begins to cool keep adding more hot water.  Stop adding when it feels too hot.

And then add some more as it cools again.

Gradually fill the tub with hot water as is comfortable.

At first the solution of Ginger and Bath Salts will be more concentrated.  Focus on parts of your body that might need extra care such as lower back or neck and shoulders.

Once the tub is filled just enjoy your bath as long as you want.  You can bring in your exfoliating gloves that I mentioned in an earlier newsletter and give your body a good massage at the same time.

This bath is excellent for sore muscles, stiff joints, arthritis, and general aches and pains.

And because you are going to get a good sweat going it is excellent for colds and the flu.

You get all the benefits of a wet sauna right at home.

Be sure to give yourself time afterwards to rest.  This bath is not lightweight and you may want to lie down afterwards for a rest or meditation.

If you have a heart condition, get light headed easily, any open wounds or sores, be sure to use caution and check with your health care provider if ginger baths are appropriate for you.

Also do not use this bath if you have a yeast infection, as the heat is not recommended.

I am off to do my own soak right now!
Ahhhhhh, Ginger Baths!!!!!

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

*No bath tub!  Ask a friend who has one and treat them to a Ginger Bath as a trade to use their tub.  They will love you for it!

Need A Little Pick Me Up!

If you are like me, you spend many hours during the day on your feet or perhaps sitting at a computer.

For me personally, one day I can be on my feet all day and the next sitting a lot.

I first learned about Cupping* many years ago as a treatment to help relieve lung congestion.

Not very long ago, while watching a seminar, the speaker had the whole audience get up and perform the same Cupping from leg to head.

It felt wonderful!

He wanted to keep his audience awake and alert and found that periodically throughout the day performing this simple routine did the trick.

I now incorporate this same technique, sometimes first thing in the morning to help my body wake up, and sometimes just as a pick-me-up during the day.

It is so simple and something you can do anywhere and anytime.  I know people who even do it while sitting at their computer without any one knowing.**

Here’s how to Cup!

Hold your fingers and thumbs together and then have your hand form a cup shape.

Beginning with your legs, use one hand for each leg.   With your hands in the cupped position start lightly slapping “cupping” yourself.

The cup shape of your hands creates a vibration that penetrates deep into the body with very little force needed.

In fact the lighter but faster you cup the better the results.

Gently move up your legs and then alternating doing the same for the arms, shoulders, chest, back (as far as you reach) and any other part of your body that it feels good on.

For those times when you need a little stimulation of your lymph and circulation nothing works better than Cupping!

Try it and see for yourself!

Cupping is also excellent to do before and after workouts to help minimize and relieve body aches.  It will help prepare your muscles for the workout and will help the joints and muscles after the workout.

So stand up (or stay seated) and let’s all Cup.
It will bring a smile to your face too as it stimulates the release of dopamine and endorphins.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

*The cupping actually creates a slight vacuum with the body having a stimulating effect that penetrates much deeper than just using a flat hand.

**This is a great little trick to do on a long car ride or plane flight too.  You will arrive feeling more refreshed. You can always use a restroom for extra privacy since it takes very little space to perform.

The picture is of Wild Irises that fill the landscape this time of year in the Sierra Foothills in California.  Nature’s Pick-Me-Up gift for us all living here.

Spring Cleaning Is Fun!

The part of the Spring Cleaning Program that is most fun is treating yourself to a Lymphatic Massage!

When I first began my training in lymphatic massage in the early 70’s, my teacher Lauren Berry told us how our ancestors would have 2 treatments yearly.

One session in the Spring and one session in the Fall.  These sessions would normally be 8hrs long and would be the primary health care for the individual.

The philosophy was that if you got the body to fully relax any health concerns from spinal misalignments, to organ weakness, to general aches and pains would be relieved.

Though I have at times offered sessions as long as 4.5hrs, I have settled on the 2.5hr format to be the ideal treatment time for most of us.  I also offer a 1.5hr session.

Part of it, quite honestly, is that with all the stress and other factors coming at us so consistently most of us generally do need more than 2 sessions a year to keep our bodies health at its optimum levels.

That said the important times of years to include sessions are Spring and Fall when our bodies are transitioning between seasons.

Most of us do this seasonally with our vehicles.  We do a fall check up to get ready for winter and then again in spring to be sure all the systems are working correctly.

We do brake checks, oil changes, check the coolant system, wind wipers, etc.  In fact we tend to do more regular maintenance on our cars then we do on our own bodies (vehicles).

So do you think it is time for you to PURR for a spell while being pampered with a wonderful lymphatic session?

The Queue For Their Spring Sessions

For session information please visit www.thelymphguy.com
or call me at (530) 277-3127.

In the last newsletter I mentioned having found what I consider the best probiotic currently being offered.  It is called Probacto*.  Each capsule contains 3.4 Billion CFU’s of Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus helvecticus, Saccharomyces boulardii, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, & Bifidobacterium.

It also includes 600mg of Isomalto-Oligosaccharide, a prebiotic.

What makes this product extra exceptional is the inclusion of a digestive yeast cleanse combination of Cellulase, Glucoamylase, Hemicellulase, Amylase, Protease, & Serrapeptase.  All designed to help break down yeast on a celluar level and minimizing die-off reactions.

Here you will find detailed information on Probacto as well as how to order.

I buy mine the same as you would.  I do not receive any referral discounts or any other compensation.  I just feel when I find the best of anything I would want to offer the same to you.

The product is sold primarily for Candida treatment but I am using it for my own probiotic support.  The Candida program calls for taking as many as 12 capsules a day.  For those of us using it as our general probiotic support, 1-2 capsules a day would be a recommended dose.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

*Probacto must be taken on a empty stomach with 8oz. of water.  You can take an hour before eating and no sooner than 2hrs after eating.  This product is not to be refrigerated.

Spring Cleaning Options!

.   .   .

There are many options for cleansing programs.

Some are very simple and are great for general detox support.

Then there are others that can be quite extensive in their cleansing effect on the body.  These cleansers are usually a disturbance to our day-to-day activities.

And there are now cleansing programs that some practitioners have set up to be a group process.  A number of people are doing the program at the same time and are there as a support for one another.  These are under the supervision of the practitioner and are a specifically outlined program.

.   .   .

Here I want to offer two cleansing programs that are simple to use and can be done by you at any time on your own schedule.

I have found both of these to be less invasive on your day-to-day life.  You do not need to retreat to do them.

There have been cleansers I have done that the very thought of being too far from a bathroom for any amount of time is a concern.

There are certain health conditions that would need such an extensive and powerful program.  But these certainly need to be done under supervision of a qualified practitioner.

.   .   .

The first program was brought to my attention by a client, Anna.  It is a self-contained kit by Integrative Therapeutics called Whole Body Integrative Cleansing System*.

It is a program that consists of 3 products all designed to work together to support and help stimulate and cleanse the liver and colon.  It is a great program that can offer wonderful results!  This is ideal for anyone who wants the ease of a complete system designed as a two-week program.

.   .   .

The next is a general program that I recommend to many of my clients and one I do myself regularly.  It consists of Nature’s Way Super Thysilyn* and Nature’s Secret’s Super Cleanse*.

The general direction for these products is (1) Super Thysilyn (3) times a day with meals.  The Super Cleanse is one you adjust to your body’s needs.  I would recommend starting with 1 before bed and then in a day or two add 1 in the morning.  Increase or decrease depending on bowel stimulation and your day’s schedule.

This program can be used long term for those who are working with a specific health issue or for a short term cleanse.

Super Cleanse is a wonderful combination of western herbs, probiotic, and Ayurveda herbs.

The goal is to stimulate more bowel movements and at the same time have a cleansing action on the liver and colon.

.   .   .

Both of these cleansing programs can be used any time of the year for detox support as well as when you feel the need to have extra support for the liver and colon.

.   .   .

Some basic guidelines when doing a cleansing program:
Drink plenty of water
Restrict your diet to simple healthy foods
Avoid alcohol, drugs, caffeine, sugars, & refined foods
Have your meal proportions lighter than normal
Focus on vegetables, greens, fruits, and simple proteins
Include light to moderate exercise
Skin Brushing and Exfoliating Showers
.   .   .

A wonderful and very simple liver flush you can add to either program or on it’s own is:

First thing in the morning:
Juice of a lemon
1 TBS Olive Oil
Some water to mix
.    .   .

One very important detail is diet during the cleanser.  It is recommended to eat very lightly with meals consisting mostly of vegetables, greens, and fruits.

But it is also important to be aware of your protein needs.  Adding in foods like Kefir, yogurt, hemp seeds, and almonds can be very helpful.

Also it helps if the weather is supportive of the lighter diet.  In colder weather it is hard to restrict the diet to be too light.

I have recently been experimenting with a Candida diet and have found this one to be a wonderful basic diet that can be a support for this cleansing program as well as a base diet to use with many health benefits even if you do not think you have Candida.  For details on the diet you can visit the site here.  Please note that much of the information is given for free but for more information the books she offers are excellent.

.    .   .

The last part I want to address is the possibility of having a colonic or doing your own high enema.  If this is new to you, you might want to begin with a colonic with a trained practitioner.

When you look at the diagram at the top of the page you can see how extensive the colon is and how useful a colonic or high enema might be to help cleanse the inside walls.

I offer a high enema kit for those of you that want to do this cleansing treatment at home.  Contact me if interested for more information.

.    .   .

If you feel you need some individualized assistance and support on setting up your own cleansing program I now do offer personal consultations.  For more information!

.   .   .

In the next newsletter I will be focusing on a wonderful new probiotic I discovered that raises the bar on what a probiotic is meant to be!
.   .   .

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

.   .   .

*I receive no compensation for any of the product recommendations or site referrals offered here.  The products I am listing here are easily available either through your local health food store or online at Amazon.

We will spend more time on colonics and enemas in another newsletter and why they are such a valuable healing tool.  If you have any immediate questions feel free to e-mail them to me.

.   .   .

Happy Spring & All The Gifts She Brings

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

Are You Ready for Spring?

Spring is here and everyone is busy getting their gardens ready for planting.  Windows are being opened to let the fresh air in.  Winter clothing is being put away and lighter ones brought out.*

Change is all around and all of life is feeling it.

The sounds and smells of Spring are distinctive.  The birds and land creatures are out and about frolicking and leaping with joy.

Spring is here and Life is being renewed once more.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

Spring and Fall are two major season changes that affect us greatly in many ways.

Preparations must be made for the coming season changes and our bodies are certainly a part of this yearly ritual.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

In the fall we changed our diet and way of life to accommodate the season changes.  And now again we do the same.

The heavier foods with more fats are being replaced with lighter and simpler meals.

Our bodies are needing some “gardening” preparations just like the land.

It is time for a Spring Cleansing Program to help us make this transition.

You might look around and are seeing more people having colds or flus and of course allergies.  You too might be experiencing more mucous than normal.

This is the body’s response to the season change.  It’s own house cleaning has begun.

So how can we help ourselves through this season change and hopefully minimize the symptoms?

Nature in Her perfection gives us just what we need when we need it!

Dandelions are all around.  So beautiful and bright sharing their joy She beckons us to partake of Her healing gifts.

Dandelions** are a wonderful natural liver cleanser and a lot more.

When you can, pick a leaf and chew on her.  Always pick leaves that are free of car fumes and chemicals of course.  And always give Her thanks for this gift.

You can add the flowers to your salads as well as the leaves.  Wild dandelion is a bit more bitter but that is just what we want for the extra Spring healing power.

You can use cultivated dandelion that is now available at many health foods all year long.  So lucky are we!

Make a bed of dandelion greens, baby kale, and spinach on your dinner plate and then put your food on top.  The heat of the food will lightly soften the greens and add nutrients to your meal.

As we move more into summer use this mix as the base for your salads.

There are many cleansing programs available right now and in the next newsletter I will talk about some of these.

But for today I want to keep this very simple.  With dandelions popping up all around it is a perfect time for us all to partake in Nature’s healing gift.

The best part is this gift is free and plentiful.

So grab a bowl and take a walk.  Remember to always give thanks for the plant gifts we take.

Join Life’s choir and sing your thanks as we are now breathing in Spring’s renewed life force.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

*As I am getting ready to send this we are having one of our spring/winter storms.  But the dandelions seem not to care as they keep just popping up all around.

.   .   .   .   .   .   .

**Here is some technical information about dandelions you might enjoy!  You can read the complete article here.

All the above curative functions, and more, have been attributed to one plant known to everyone, Taraxacum officinale, which means the “Official Remedy for Disorders.” We call it the common dandelion. It is so well respected, in fact, that it appears in the U.S. National Formulatory, and in the Pharmacopeias of Hungary, Poland, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union. It is one of the top 6 herbs in the Chinese herbal medicine chest.

According to the USDA Bulletin #8, “Composition of Foods” (Haytowitz and Matthews 1984), dandelions rank in the top 4 green vegetables in overall nutritional value. Minnich, in “Gardening for Better Nutrition” ranks them, out of all vegetables, including grains, seeds and greens, as tied for 9th best. According to these data, dandelions are nature’s richest green vegetable source of beta-carotene, from which Vitamin A is created, and the third richest source of Vitamin A of all foods, after cod-liver oil and beef liver! They also are particularly rich in fiber, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the B vitamins, thiamine and riboflavin, and are a good source of protein

Healing may really be peace,
A peace that comes to rest in the body,
that is a reflection of the
“Peace that passeth understanding”.
We see it come to the body much as peace is
Allowed to come to Earth:
A nation here and a nation there.
When we find real peace in the Earth,
We may see a state of health
Having come to all bodies.
Edgar Cayce
.   .   .   .   .   .   .

A simple & fun way to improve your health!

Did you know you could give yourself a wonderful Lymphatic Massage right at home?

And as often as you want with a minimal cost to you!

It is so easy and you are all ready doing an aspect of it and doing it a several times a week anyways!

This is so easy and feels so good.

What you will need:
A brush for dry skin brushing
A pair of exfoliating gloves
A pure & natural soap
Coconut Oil
A bathtub or shower
Start with a dry skin brushing of your whole body.  This begins to remove dead and flaky skin cells as well as stimulating the lymph and circulatory systems.

Begin your shower or bath as you normally would.

At some point put on your exfoliating gloves. They are available at most health food stores or online.  I use Earth Therapeutics Exfoliating Gloves available for around $5.

I like to add some Coconut Oil Soap to the gloves.  I use unscented NutriBiotic Pure Coconut Oil Soap I get from Amazon.

Now For Some Fun!

I like using the gloves because my hands and fingers are involved and I can work the more delicate areas such as the arm pit nodes, groin lymph nodes and surrounding areas, breasts, abdomen area, head, throat, etc.

Some of these areas are hard work with a loofa.  Also the gloves allow you to feel your body better as well as have more control of the treatment.

Once you have your gloves on add some soap and you are ready to begin.

The general rule is to do what feels good to you.  It is important to be gentle especially those tender areas such as the throat, breast, groin area, and abdomen.

Try out different strokes such as long movements up and down the limbs and then across the muscle groups.  Try circular motions for the abdomen and breasts.  Apply gentle massage strokes around the jaw and throat.

Do not forget your hands and feet!

The important thing is to remember that gentle and easy is better than rough and deep.

Lymphatic Massage does not need to be deep to be effective.

The massage movement stimulates deeper inner body movement!

When you have massaged as much of your body as you can reach you can take off the gloves.  If you have a back scrubber this makes getting to the back areas much easier.

Finish your bath or shower as you normally would.

Pat yourself dry and then rub coconut oil all over.  You do not need much to be effective!

Coconut oil is such a healthy addition to our lives.

Internally it does so much good.  We will be talking about using coconut oil and its benefits internally in an upcoming newsletter.

Externally it is a wonderful oil.  It helps to reduce winkles and well as replacing oils to the skin cells to help you look younger and feel and look more radiant.

Adding this practice to your health regime is going to help you feel so much more alive and rejuvenated.

Works on cellulite
Helps to keep the lymph flowing
Will help to unblock lymph nodes
Moves toxins for release from the body
Excellent for arthritis and other joint pains
Soothes muscle aches
Beautifies the skin
Improves muscle tone
Excellent for circulation
Calms the nervous system
And it just feels great!

Your body is going to thank you over and over again.

Here is where you find more detailed information on Lymphatic Massage.

I want to thank my business partner and friend Gardenia Gardener for bringing this wonderful practice to my attention so that I too can share it with you.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

“Pain is the hammer of the gods to break
A dead resistance in the mortal’s heart,
His slow inertia as of living stone.
If the heart were not forced to want and weep,
His soul would have lain down content, at ease,
And never thought to exceed the human start
And never learned to climb towards the Sun.”
Sri Aurobindo’s SAVITRI
.   .   .   .   .   .   .

Some simple & easy tips to improve your health.

Most people living in our modern world are having digestive difficulties.

And of course this makes perfect sense living with the stress that is all around and eating foods that are usually deficient in nutrition while we are in a hurry to keep up.

So what can we do?

There are of course digestive aids that can be of great help.

But here are a couple very simple things you can do to improve your overall digestion.
Drink 8oz. of water 15min. before each meal
Eat only the highest quality foods
Learn about food combining
Sit and relax while eating
Drink Your Food & Eat Your Drink
Avoid drinking anything while eating
Take some digestive time after the meal
.   .   .   .   .   .   .

Drinking 8oz. of water 15min. before a meal gets the stomach juices ready for food to come.

Some foods are digested in the mouth (starches) with chewing while others in the stomach (proteins) and still other foods (fruits) pass right through to the intestines.

So if you eat melon that wants to go right to the intestines but is held up in the stomach while proteins are being digested then that melon will throw off the digestive system. You may then experience bloating, gas, and other symptoms.

The Stomach has no teeth!  A shocker I know!

So if we do not chew thoroughly the stomach has to work harder to break down the food particles (if it can) before even being able to digest and absorb the nutrients.  Also the parotid gland in the jaw is what mixes digestive juices with the saliva to begin the digestive process.

When we drink with our meals we are diluting the digestive juices and if it is a cool beverage we are putting out the digestive fires that we are relying on for digestion.

Peppermint tea is extremely beneficial to the stomach and digestion.  It is excellent to drink before bed to ease any stomachaches or bloating and to help relax the nervous system.  It is also an alkaline drink and contains no caffeine.

Relaxing for a few moments after eating just makes good sense!

Chewing on parsley leaves after a meal is wonderful for both digestion and our breath.

Obviously we are only skimming the surface here.  There are so many factors that affect digestion.  But these are basic tips to integrate to improve digestion and get more out of your food and life.   And before spending money on digestive aids these simple practices will make a difference.  If you are taking digestive aids for support then you would want to support the supplements with good eating habits.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com

On any journey we take there are preparations to be made; supplies to be collected, maps are needed, skilled guides to lead us.

I speak a lot about how this health process is an adventure.
That the journey is the goal!
And after all without our bodies this journey here is over!

Sometimes the most wonderful adventures are the ones that take us off the common road traveled and we find ourselves somewhere we never knew existed.

What if the bodies “dis-eases” are leading us on this adventure to a new destination, a new consciousness,
a new life!

Welcome to the first Lymph Guy Newsletter!

What does being healthy mean to you?
How do you relate to your dis-eases?
How do you relate to your body?
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Healing journeys can be difficult ones to travel!

We have become so distant from our bodies that getting back to ourselves is not always so easy.

For some it is also a very lonely path to travel.

I hope you will find these newsletters to be a friend and a comfort for you.
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One simple and easy tip to improve your health.

Drink Plenty Of Water!

Did you know that 95% of us do not drink enough water each day?

Our bodies are nearly 90% water at birth, 70% at adulthood, and 50% in our senior years.
Our bodies can survive for days without food but not so without water.
A 5% drop in body fluids can equal a 25 -30% drop in energy.

Water is essential to Life!

So grab your water bottle and keep it close.

Start with a goal of 2 liters a day.  Depending on the season and your personal needs this amount can vary between 2-5 liters per day.

You will be doing so much good for your body, mental state, digestion, elimination, lymph support, and….Yes!  Even your creative self will “flow” easier.

Together Our Hands Are Joined To Heal One Another…

Alexander Gardener
The Lymph Guy

Got Lymph?

thelymphguy@gmail.com