Mercury-containing vaccine studies

Studies showing mercury-containing vaccines to be safe alleged to be fraudulent

Be aware,before injecting anything into your blood stream. You and only you are responsible for what you put inside your body...after all it's you're body, the only one you have, so make educated decisions, especially when it comes to your health, and the health of those you care for.

In 2010, the Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs (CoMeD, Inc.) submitted a formal allegation to the Inspector General for Health and Human Services. The Coalition alleges studies that show mercury-containing vaccines to be safe, are fraudulent. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documents show that Danish vaccine researcher Poul Thorsen and the co-authors of "Thimerosal and the occurrence of autism …" concealed the fact that autism declined in Denmark after Thimerosal was removed from the Danish vaccine program.

It is also estimated that Thorsen embezzled at least one million dollars of grant money from the CDC. The Inspector General currently names Thorsen as one of its "Most Wanted" fugitives. A new "wanted" poster featuring Thorsen, suggests that the above-mentioned allegations are credible.

 

Based on few industry-sposored statistical studies including Thorsen's, the United States Government and the World Health Organization defend the ongoing use of Thimerosal, the highly toxic mercury-based vaccine preservative. Mental retardation, however, is listed on the manufacturer's Material Safety Data Sheet for Thimerosal a possible outcome from exposure in utero and in children. Disturbingly and based on Thorsen's public conclusion, however, the former United States Assistant Surgeon General declared that "(Thorsen's) Danish study…provide(s) one strong piece of evidence that Thimerosal is not causally linked to autism." This allegedly frauduelent study also helped the Institute of Medicine reach its 2004 declaration that mercury in vaccines and the autism epidemic are unrelated. 

Children in developed, western nations are receiving mercury-free vaccine formulations. Children in developing countries, however, are receiving many mercury-preserved ones. Rev. Lisa K. Sykes, President of CoMeD, Inc., described this as double standard in vaccine safety that discriminates based on economics and nationality. This discrimination may now also based upon fraudulent data.

Source: http://http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/15/4988696/discriminatory-vaccine-policy.html

Suggested by the author:

• Medscape.com: FDA does not endorse the safety of a new hepatitis b vaccine
• American doctors most dissatisfied, only 15% agree US healthcare system works
• Pharmaceutical company Bayer acquires nutritional supplement company Schiff
• Premature births: Know the symptoms and be aware of risk factors
• British medical journal claims there is no proof that Tamiflu can stop influenza

Natural remedies stop hair loss/damage

top hair loss and damage with these natural remedies

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038081_hair_loss_natural_remedies_healthy.html#ixzz2DLn6vHCZ

Americans are not known for their lush locks and it is no wonder -- their diet tends to be high in harmful fats, laden with sugar and heavy in animal protein along with dairy. All these foods contribute to hair loss and breakage according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Harsh shampoo as well as chemicals in the water aren't helping the matter either. But there's hope. By revamping the diet, adding a few supplements and introducing shampoo-free cleansing, a healthy head of hair is possible.

Want a lustrous mane? Look to the diet

Most don't make the connection between diet and hair loss, but the link is strong. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that immoderate consumption of sugar is the main culprit of shedding hair. This would explain why Americans suffer from the malady in greater numbers than most. Even excessive fruit consumption can lead to thinning hair. Many who embrace a raw food diet have experienced this phenomena. On the other end of the spectrum, overindulging in animal protein and dairy also contributes to balding and weak hair due to acidic blood. Yet another offender, unhealthy fats congest the hair follicles -- encouraging hair loss. Iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism along with dehydration are obstacles to healthy hair too. The best bet for glossy, thick locks is to adopt a whole food diet that is abundant in vegetables, healthy oils like coconut and olive, nuts, seeds, low sugar berries and seaweed. Flax and chia seeds are especially beneficial due to their high essential fatty acid content.

Focus on hair-enhancing supplements like B vitamins (especially biotin), zinc, iron and calcium. It is also important to inhibit hair thinning DHT which is derived from the hormone testosterone. Natural remedies that block DHT include saw palmetto, stinging nettle, green tea, pygeum extract and pumpkin seed oil. 

Environmental enemies of healthy hair 

Two chemical culprits found in city water, chlorine and fluoride, weaken hair -- leading to breakage, clogged follicles and shedding. Both irritate the cuticle on the hair shaft too, thereby creating dull, lifeless locks. A trusted shower filter is a must for healthy hair.

Shampoo is antagonistic as well. Filled with harsh cleansers and additives, hair doesn't stand a chance. Even when natural brands are used, hair is stripped of natural oils and subsequently revolts against the abuse. Conditioner is then required to tame the disorder. Follicles are subsequently clogged -- triggering fallout. To avoid this anarchy, a simple and cost effective remedy is available: baking soda and vinegar. Hair settles down, loss is minimized and luster restored. To cleanse the hair with baking soda, mix one tablespoon of powder to one cup of water in a squeeze bottle. Shake well and apply to the roots, massaging for a minute or two. Rinse well. Next comes the vinegar wash which conditions, calms and boosts shine. Mix a quarter cup white or apple cider vinegar with one cup water. Pour over hair, avoiding the face and eyes. Rinse thoroughly with water.

A full head of hair need not be a pipe dream. By choosing a nutrient rich diet, supplementation and shampoo-free cleansing, tiresome hair frustrations can be laid to rest.

Americans are not known for their lush locks and it is no wonder -- their diet tends to be high in harmful fats, laden with sugar and heavy in animal protein along with dairy. All these foods contribute to hair loss and breakage according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Harsh shampoo as well as chemicals in the water aren't helping the matter either. But there's hope. By revamping the diet, adding a few supplements and introducing shampoo-free cleansing, a healthy head of hair is possible.

Want a lustrous mane? Look to the diet

Most don't make the connection between diet and hair loss, but the link is strong. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that immoderate consumption of sugar is the main culprit of shedding hair. This would explain why Americans suffer from the malady in greater numbers than most. Even excessive fruit consumption can lead to thinning hair. Many who embrace a raw food diet have experienced this phenomena. On the other end of the spectrum, overindulging in animal protein and dairy also contributes to balding and weak hair due to acidic blood. Yet another offender, unhealthy fats congest the hair follicles -- encouraging hair loss. Iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism along with dehydration are obstacles to healthy hair too. The best bet for glossy, thick locks is to adopt a whole food diet that is abundant in vegetables, healthy oils like coconut and olive, nuts, seeds, low sugar berries and seaweed. Flax and chia seeds are especially beneficial due to their high essential fatty acid content.

Focus on hair-enhancing supplements like B vitamins (especially biotin), zinc, iron and calcium. It is also important to inhibit hair thinning DHT which is derived from the hormone testosterone. Natural remedies that block DHT include saw palmetto, stinging nettle, green tea, pygeum extract and pumpkin seed oil.

Environmental enemies of healthy hair

Two chemical culprits found in city water, chlorine and fluoride, weaken hair -- leading to breakage, clogged follicles and shedding. Both irritate the cuticle on the hair shaft too, thereby creating dull, lifeless locks. A trusted shower filter is a must for healthy hair.

Shampoo is antagonistic as well. Filled with harsh cleansers and additives, hair doesn't stand a chance. Even when natural brands are used, hair is stripped of natural oils and subsequently revolts against the abuse. Conditioner is then required to tame the disorder. Follicles are subsequently clogged -- triggering fallout. To avoid this anarchy, a simple and cost effective remedy is available: baking soda and vinegar. Hair settles down, loss is minimized and luster restored. To cleanse the hair with baking soda, mix one tablespoon of powder to one cup of water in a squeeze bottle. Shake well and apply to the roots, massaging for a minute or two. Rinse well. Next comes the vinegar wash which conditions, calms and boosts shine. Mix a quarter cup white or apple cider vinegar with one cup water. Pour over hair, avoiding the face and eyes. Rinse thoroughly with water.

A full head of hair need not be a pipe dream. By choosing a nutrient rich diet, supplementation and shampoo-free cleansing, tiresome hair frustrations can be laid to rest.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038081_hair_loss_natural_remedies_healthy.html#ixzz2DLlGjCrX

Reason to Avoid Fast Food & Popcorn

A Newly Discovered Reason to Avoid Fast Food and Popcorn

Perfluoroalkyls, which are chemicals used to keep grease from leaking through fast food wrappers, are being ingested by people through their food and showing up as contaminants in blood.
 
Perfluoroalkyls are stable, synthetic chemicals that repel oil, grease, and water. They are used in surface protection treatments and coatings for packages.
The specific chemicals studied were polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), which are the breakdown products of the perfluorinated carboxylic acids used in coating the food wrappers.

Common Dreams reports:

"The researchers used the PAP concentrations previously observed in human blood together with the PAP and PFCA concentrations observed in the rats to calculate human exposure to the chemical perflurooctanoic acid, PFOA."

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Perfluoroalkyls, which are chemicals used to keep grease from leaking through fast food wrappers, are being ingested by people through their food and showing up as contaminants in blood.

Perfluoroalkyls are stable, synthetic chemicals that repel oil, grease, and water. They are used in surface protection treatments and coatings for packages. The specific chemicals studied were polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), which are the breakdown products of the perfluorinated carboxylic acids used in coating the food wrappers.

You know that eating fast food is not good for you, but now you have a new reason to avoid it as it turns out that even the wrapper used to store the food until you eat it is toxic.

You may not realize it, but you and your family are continually exposed to a hazardous class of chemicals called perfluoroalkyls, which include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).
Common, everyday sources of exposure include:

Drinking water	Air
Dust	Food packaging / Fast food wrappers
Microwave popcorn	Non-stick pots and pans
Cord blood and breast milk	Stain-proof clothing
Carpet and fabric protectors	Flame retardants

According to recent survey results, these chemicals can be detected in nearly all people in the US, including children! 

And it's not just PFOA and PFOS that show up. The CDC's Fourth National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, 2009 (which is considered the most comprehensive assessment to date of the exposure of the U.S. population to chemicals in our environment), detected a total of 12 different types of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in Americans tested.

I've written many articles about one of the most common sources of these hazardous chemicals, namely non-stick cookware. But the study above brings up yet another pervasive source – fast food wrappers!

Regulators' Assumptions Proven All Wrong – Again!

Three years ago, environmental chemists Scott Mabury and Jessica D'eon established that food wrappers are indeed a source of perfluorinated chemicals, specifically polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters, known as PAPs.
PAPs are byproducts of perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs, which include PFOA), which are commonly used to coat different types of food wrappers.
In this study, the pair shows that these chemicals can, and do, transfer from the wrappers into the food, and that food wrappers are in fact a source of human exposure to PFCAs, including PFOA.

According to Madbury, our regulators made three assumptions about these chemicals, all of which have now been proven wrong:

1. The chemicals will not migrate from the paper into the food
2. The chemicals will not become available to your body
3. Your body will not process these chemicals

 

The Many Health Dangers of PFCs

These chemicals are part of an expanding group of chemicals commonly referred to as "gender-bending" chemicals, because they can disrupt your endocrine system and affect your sex hormones.
But researchers have also linked them to a range of other health dangers.
In animal studies, PFOA has been associated with:

• "Significant increases in treatment related deaths" in rat offspring at doses that did not affect the mothers
• Serious changes in the weight of various organs, including the brain, prostate, liver, thymus, and kidneys
• The deaths of a significant number of rat pups of mothers that had been exposed to PFOA
• Damage to the pituitary at all doses in female rat offspring (The pituitary secretes hormones that regulate growth, reproduction, and many metabolic processes. Change in pituitary size is associated with toxicity)
• Tumor development after prolonged exposure

Other studies have linked various PFC's to:

• Infertility -- A study published in the journal Human Reproduction last year found that both PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), dramatically increased the odds of infertility.
  
  PFOS increased the risk of infertility anywhere from 70 to 134 percent, while PFOA was linked to a 60 to 154 percent increase in the chance of infertility.

• Thyroid disease -- A study published in May of this year in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that PFOA can damage your thyroid function. Individuals with the highest PFOA concentrations were more than twice as likely to report current thyroid disease, compared to those with the lowest PFOA concentrations.
  
  Your thyroid contains thyroglobulin protein, which binds to iodine to form hormones, which in turn influence essentially every organ, tissue and cell in your body. Thyroid hormones are also required for growth and development in children. Thyroid disease, if left untreated, can lead to heart disease, infertility, muscle weakness, and osteoporosis.

• Cancer -- PFOA has been associated with tumors in at least four different organs in animal tests (liver, pancreas, testicles and mammary glands in rats), and has been associated with increases in prostate cancer in PFOA plant workers.
  
  The EPA has ruled PFCs as "likely carcinogens," and has stated that PFOA "poses developmental and reproductive risks to humans."

• Immune system problems -- Several studies by scientists in Sweden indicate that PFC's have an adverse effect on your immune system. As described in a report on PFC's by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), PFOA was found to decrease all immune cell subpopulations studied, in the thymus and spleen, and caused immunosupression. 

• Increased LDL cholesterol levels – A recent study in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine implicates both PFOA and PFOS. Children and teens with higher PFOA levels had higher levels of total cholesterol and LDL or "bad" cholesterol, while PFOS was associated with increased total cholesterol, including both LDL cholesterol and HDL or "good" cholesterol.

For more information on the studies linking PFC's with various health problems, please review the Environmental Working Groups extensive report on this topic.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Health?

I strongly recommend avoiding any product you know contain these toxic compounds, particularly non-stick cookware, but also foods sold in grease-proof food packaging, such as fast food.

Clearly, if you're eating fast food, PFC's from the wrapper may be the least of your problems, but I think it's still important to realize that not only are you not getting proper nutrition from the food itself, the wrappers may also add to your toxic burden.

Most important of all, however, is ditching your non-stick cookware, because they're a MAJOR source of PFC's, particularly PFOA. The moment you heat them, they start to liberate fluoride vapors that are so toxic they will kill small birds!

Every time you cook with them, you inhale these chemicals, and the food in the pan absorbs them too, turning every home-cooked meal toxic...
As for identifying other products to avoid, the Environmental Working Group has done an extensive search for common products containing PFC's. You can look through their listings here.

Keep in mind that avoiding these products is especially crucial for pregnant women or couples who want to have children, since PFC's can have a serious impact on your fertility, and on your baby's delicate hormonal system.

Natural Detox

A wonderful article from theverybestme.com

We live in a modern world filled with chemicals where we are exposed to a steady flow of large amounts of toxins every day. Scientists have already detected up to 300 different toxic chemicals in the average person’s blood and studies of newborns have found the presence of an average of 200 industrial chemicals in their blood. Most of these toxic chemicals are found in products that we all use every day, such as household cleaning products, cosmetics, soaps, personal care products, food, medications, alcohol, tobacco, drugs and even the air we breathe and the water we drink.
 
Our bodies have a limited ability to filter out and eliminate these toxins and are being overwhelmed by the large amounts that exceed our capacity to detoxify naturally. Clearly, we need help to keep our bodies clean so that we can remain healthy and disease free. We must detoxify ourselves by avoiding these toxins to the best of our ability and by using natural methods to cleanse our bodies. I say “natural” methods because I don’t believe we should be putting more toxins in the form of pills into our bodies, which will only make matters worse. Natural means just that. It means absolutely no man-made chemicals and no pills. 

The safest and most effective way to detox is by eating the right organic, hydrated foods and by keeping your digestive system clean with regular hydrotherapy. A raw food plant-based diet is rich with water and fiber that will help keep your intestines clean and functioning properly but, even with that, small buildups will still occur and they will require help from hydrotherapy to be eliminated.

The average person is carrying at least ten pounds of accumulated toxic waste in their colon that comes from a lifetime of coatings on top of coatings of the toxins that our body is unsuccessfully trying to expel and the dead cells that our body constantly eliminates. Ten Pounds! Pick up something that weighs ten pounds and feel how heavy it is. That’s how much (or more) that is in your colon right now!

3,500 years ago, the Greeks witnessed the long legged cranes standing in the water and squirting water into their rectums. Why would they do that? It didn’t take long for the Greeks to figure out that this was nature’s way of cleaning the crane’s colon to keep them healthy. This was the beginning of colon cleansing for good health and it was inspired by mother nature.

Since then, hydrotherapy has advanced to the point where we can now safely cleanse our colon with periodic treatments insuring a clean and healthy colon that will serve us well to keep us healthy. 

Because many of us consider our colon an unpleasant topic, we tend to forget about this most important organ that detoxifies our body from toxic waste generated from our body itself and from our external environment.
Today, however, there is a new awareness about the importance of the colon and more and more of us are taking advantage of the tremendous service being offered by skilled hydrotherapists performing colonics.
Over a period of time, we develop a thick layer of fecal toxic matter that coats the colon. It hardens and becomes impacted, reducing the efficiency of the bowel and, in some cases, severely obstructs normal elimination of waste matter from the body. The colon then loses its ability to properly eliminate waste from the gastrointestinal tract.

Removing the layer of fecal matter that is coating the intestines allows detoxification and improved assimilation of the nutrients from foods and can alleviate symptoms of vitamin, mineral and other nutritional deficiencies.

When the colon becomes saturated with these accumulated buildups of waste matter, harmful toxins get absorbed into the bloodstream and expose the person to serious health risks.

The conclusion is that every single one of us should make every effort to get past our avoidance of this issue and insure that we stay healthy by regular colon hydrotherapy or a colonic. It’s far better to be alive and healthy rather than gravely ill or even dead.

The well known Dr. Norman Walker, who is a strong advocate of keeping our colon clean, suggests that a schedule of 6 colonics spaced over two weeks, twice a year is ideal and that it should be followed by at least one colonic per month for proper maintenance. I recommend reading these books by Dr. Walker and The Inside Poop by Scott Webb.

These books will give you the insight you need to better understand the importance of keeping your colon clean.

You will be amazed at how much better you will feel and how much healthier you will become when you get rid of these poisons. I have a saying that goes, “get rid of your toxins, before they get rid of you”.

There are plentiful choices for you to select a qualified and experienced hydro therapist. Just go online and google “colonics” in your area for a list of experienced and certified technicians and make an appointment today. Your body will thank you immensely by giving you greater health and life quality for taking this specific action to eliminate these deadly toxins.

Avoiding toxins is also something we need to be aware of. There are strong toxins in the regular everyday cleaning products we use. Read the labels on the products you are using now and if they contain chemicals, replace them with non-toxic natural products.  For your convenience, our store carries a broad line of natural, eco-friendly products that are compatible with life.

Read the labels on everything you buy that comes in contact with your skin or that you eat or breathe.  If they contain chemicals, they should be replaced with 100% natural products that are not harmful to you or your family.

If you live close to a heavily traveled road, you should consider relocating to a quieter location where there is less pollution in the air.  Exhaust fumes from cars and trucks and microscopic particulates from tires are very toxic and should be avoided.  Protect yourself with air filters and move to a safer location when you can.

Avoid breathing second hand smoke because it is just as dangerous.
All municipal tap water should be avoided from drinking or coming in contact with your skin because it is treated with strong chemicals. If possible, install a filter for your drinking, bath or shower water.

Just reading labels and being aware of these simple things can greatly reduce your exposure to deadly toxins that can accumulate in your body over the years and cause life-threatening disease.

To have a healthy life, it is essential to avoid toxins through a proper organic raw foods diet and through regular colonic hydrotherapy visits.

Protein

Where Do I Get My Protein?

Proof that protein is commonly misunderstood is the fact that most of us still believe we only get protein from meat and dairy products when in fact it comes from both plants and animals.

       
It is important to know that protein is made up of amino acids and what our body needs is the amino acids and not the full proteins.  When we eat protein, our body has to work hard to disassemble the protein so it can capture the amino acids and then reconstruct them into a new protein that is required by our body.  This is a complex process and can become extremely hard on our body if the protein is complex or long in length.

Protein comes from both plants and animals and is very different in composition.

Example of simple protein	Example of complex protein

The protein from plants is a very simple or very short protein that is easy to disassemble and reconstruct while the protein from animals and dairy is complex and very difficult for our body to disassemble and reconstruct.

It’s also important to know that plants have the perfect amount of protein in them.  In fact, they contain about 8% protein that happens to be exactly what our body requires.  Animal based foods like chicken, meat and dairy contain higher amounts of complex protein that is now known to cause most disease like cancer, heart disease and obesity.

Protein from plants is far superior to protein from animal based foods.  If you have any doubts, read “The China Study” by T. Colin Campbell that is the most comprehensive nutritional study ever undertaken and funded by our own National Institutes of Health and every other top rated cancer and heart association in the country.

The evidence is overwhelming that meat, dairy and processed foods are the biggest problems in our diet today and they are causing cancer and heart disease to soar out of control.

Another great reason to get your protein from plants rather than animals is that studies repeatedly show that vegan athletes are bigger, stronger, faster and have more endurance.

It is also important to know that there are certain high protein plants like hemp seed that are available if you want to increase your protein intake safely.

The main message is that our bodies require amino acids to make the protein we need and it is optimum if the amino acids come from very simple plant protein rather than protein from meat and dairy.

4 power herbs for females

4 power herbs that banish female gynecologists

Indeed women are complicated. That much is obvious. By both natural design and the acknowledgement of even prehistoric, mythological culture, the life-bearing ways of the female human creature are both intricate and mysterious. But did you ever wonder why it seems women are always more susceptible to biological vulnerability?

The reasons are multi-fold. With so many biological conditions necessary for the effective functioning of the female reproductive system - from menstruation and fertility, to conception and child-bearing - women can be particularly sensitive to both internal and external stimuli. And current culture certainly offers plenty of health challenges from which to choose. If a woman has a poor diet, inactive lifestyle, a stressful career and is not well rested, for example, she may not only feel tense and physically congested, but also find she is at greater risk for complication. This is because these behaviors affect the metabolic rate and hormonal imbalance of the body, resulting in breast tenderness, skin blemishes, food cravings, lowered immune function, decreased resistance to pathogens and infectious germs, and any number of gynecological disorders.

To combat these unwanted developments, it is important for women to understand their bodies first from a holistic perspective, to acknowledge, regardless of the symptom that arises, that such symptoms are merely superficial indicators of a much deeper imbalance - one that requires meaningful lifestyle shifts related to diet, activity, etc. From there, to compliment the beneficial behaviors already in place, a woman may desire to seek additional therapeutic support from various herbal remedies, applicable toward everything from regulating and balancing hormones to relieving tension and pain.

Dong quai

Most popular for its success in relieving menstrual complaints and menopausal symptoms, this pungently sweet Chinese herb is also commonly applied in cases of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and is useful in addressing irregular cycles and cramping. Naturally high in vitamin B-12, Dong quai contains ferulic acid, a muscle relaxer and pain reliever, as well as blood-thinning chemicals known as coumarins, which work to improve circulation and ensure blood flow to female reproductive organs. Dong quai should be avoided by pregnant women and those suffering from either diarrhea or endometriosis.

Blue cohosh

This Native American medicine works primarily to help tone and strengthen the uterus. It contains an alkaloid called methyl cytosine, which is believed to be antispasmodic. It also combats painful menstrual flow irregularities by dilating blood vessels in the uterus, allowing for increased circulation in the pelvic area. Women who are pregnant; however, should take care to avoid all products containing blue cohosh. Large doses of the herb were once used by Native American tribes to prevent conception, though modern herbalists now consider it unreliable for that purpose.

Cinnamon bark

Look for medicinal quality cinnamon, known as Rou Gui, in either Chinese herbal pharmacies or health foods stores. Its pungent sweetness makes it the ideal warming ("yang") tonic for relieving menstrual cramps. Women who find they are chronically cold ("yin"), dry or frail and who may routinely be afflicted with osteoarthritis, asthma or digestive problems will enjoy the greatest benefits from this herbal remedy. Though its side effects are few, be sure to use cinnamon with caution during pregnancy.

Chaste tree berries

Reportedly used by monks back in the Middle Ages to help curb their sexual appetite, this herbal remedy may occasionally reduce sex drive in women, but not to the extent suggested by its clever name. These days, it plays a significant role in hormone regulation, acting directly on the brain's pituitary gland. Flavonoids present in chaste tree are known to slightly increase women's progesterone production, a lack of which is often the cause of menstrual complaints, infertility, heavy bleeding, excessive periods, irregular periods, no periods and PMS. Chaste tree is a bitter-tasting, slow-acting herb, but over several months, can prove helpful with all these conditions as well as premenstrual fluid retention and even acne. Due to its direct involvement in these hormonal processes, chaste tree is not recommended for use by pregnant women.

Mantras in Mediation

Although there are many different meditation techniques, methods, and theories, the end goal of meditation is always the same: to quiet the mind and establish a closer connection with your true Self (or soul or God). If you are not spiritual in any form this still applies, and can be befit you, as you de-stress your mind in the quite of your mind no matter what your belief system is. There are different schools of thought on what exactly the most efficient ways to do that are. 

As a refresher, the value of quieting your mind is that you are consciously (even if it’s for a short while) redirecting energy away from negative thoughts or beliefs that are not serving you. When you withdraw your focus and energy from negative thoughts, you immediately shift into a more positive, higher energy field. When you stop thought, you stop negative thought, and your energy frequency naturally rises. 

This has beneficial effects on both the body (lower blood pressure, deeper breathing, relaxation of muscles, healing in cells, lower anxiety levels) and the mind (increased clarity, focus, and concentration, as well as better sleep and improved mood). 

So how do you get to a place of non-thought? Then, once you’re there, how do you maintain it? This is something the yogis of thousands of years ago struggled with, and out of which the knowledge of mantras was slowly developed. Thus it's a tool, not an essential...just a tool.

“Mantra” is a Sanskrit word comprised of the root “man” which means mind and “tra,” or instrument. So mantra literally translates to “instrument of the mind.” Mantras were a tool that the yogis used to get from a place of scattered thought and outward focus, to stillness and inner focus. Turns out, focusing on a single thought or phrase that is neutral in nature (meaning it doesn’t bring up strong emotions or connections to anything in the physical world), is an excellent way to begin to focus and tone the mind. 

Repeating a mantra especially during the beginning of a period of meditation allows you to focus on a single thought or idea, which naturally prevents distraction from other random ideas, thoughts, and emotions that may keep cropping up. I personally found this very helpful for me, as the thoughts of my day or what I planned to do the next day etc always seemed to creep up on me and linger. Also, it is infinitely easier to focus on a single thought and slowly slip into a state of thoughtlessness than to try to get to a place of non-thought immediately. 

Mantras act as an effective tool to help you focus, calm, and train your mind so that you can free yourself from outward concerns, and connect to an inward space of infinite stillness, silence, and love. This can be either in word form, or image form in your mind.  Try a few out, and see what works for you. Other techniques include focus on the sound of your breaths in and out, any single thing you can focus on can transition you into the space of thought absence.