There is more than one choice between modern Western medicine and alternatives. There are three traditions of healing.

The Wise Woman tradition, focusing on integration and nourishment, and insisting on attention to uniqueness and holographic interconnectedness, is another choice: a new way that is also the most ancient healing way known. A way that follows a spiral path, a give-away dance of nourishment, change and self-love. “Trust yourself.”

Alternative health care practitioners usually think in the Heroic tradition: the way of the savior, a circular path of rules, punishment, and purification. “Trust me.”

AMA-approved, legal, covered-by-insurance health care practitioners are trained to think in the Scientific tradition: walking the knife edge of keen intellect, the straight line of analytical thought, measuring and repeating. Excellent for fixing broken things. “Trust my machine.”

The Scientific, Heroic, and Wise Woman traditions are ways of thinking, not ways of acting. Any practice, any technique, any substance can be used by a practitioner/helper in any of the three traditions. There are, for instance, herbalists, and midwives, and MDs in each tradition.

The practitioner and the practice are different. The same techniques, the same herbs are seen and used differently by a person thinking in Scientific, Heroic, or Wise Woman ways.

Thinking these ways does lead to a preference for certain cures. The Wise Woman helper frequently nourishes with herbs and words. The Heroic savior lays down the law to clean up your act fast. The Scientific technician is most at ease with laboratory tests and repeatable, predictable, reliable drugs. But still, the practices do not conclusively identify the practitioner as being in a particular tradition.

The intent, the thought behind the technique points to the tradition: scientific fixing, heroic elimination, or wise womanly digestion and integration.

You contain some aspects of each tradition. And the three traditions are not limited to the realm of healing. The Scientific, Heroic, and Wise Woman ways of thinking are found in politics, legal systems, religions, psychologies, teaching styles, economics. As the Wise Woman way becomes more clearly identified, it opens the way to an integrated, whole, sacred, peaceful global village, interactive with Gaia, mother, earth. As each discipline spins anew its wise woman thread, we reweave the web of interconnectedness with all beings.

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Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081
www.susunweed.com
www.ashtreepublishing.com

Women find their own breast cancers most of the time (90% of the time according to one English study).

Monthly breast self-exam (or breast self-massage) provides early detection at lower cost, with no danger - and more pleasure - than yearly screening mammograms.

Most breast cancers (80%) are slow growing, taking between 42 and 300 days to double in size. A yearly mammogram could find these cancers 8-16 months before they could be felt, but this “early detection” does little to improve the already excellent longevity of women with slow-growing, non-metastasized breast cancers.

The 20% of breast cancers that are fast growing are the trouble-makers. They can double in size in 21 days. Monthly breast self-exams are much more likely to find these aggressive cancers than are yearly mammograms. (A 21-day doubling cancer will be visible on a mammogram only six weeks before it can be felt.) If you massage or examine your breasts even six times a year, you can take action on fast-growing lumps. If you rely on mammograms exclusively, the cancer could grow undetected for months.

In a recent look at 60,000 breast cancer diagnoses in the United States, 67% were found by the woman or her doctor - and over half of these were not visible on a mammogram - while 33% were discovered by mammogram. (This may seem like a substantial number of cancers found by mammography, but the majority of them were in situ cancers, a controversial type of cancer that may - but often does not - progress to invasive cancer.)

Green blessings!

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Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498

www.susunweed.com

www.ashtreepublishing.com

Mammographic screening increases risk of breast cancer mortality in premenopausal women. A Canadian study of 90,000 women (published in Lancet, November 1992) showed a 36-52% increase in mortality from breast cancer in women 40-49 who had annual mammograms.

The Swedish Malmo Screening Trial (as reported in The British Medical Journal, 1988) which also included tens of thousands of women, showed 29% greater mortality from breast cancer in women under 55 who were regularly screened with mammograms. (Studies of women 50-59 showed no difference in breast cancer mortality between women who did and women who did not have regular screening mammograms.)

Critics of these studies claim that newer mammographic equipment uses less radiation. This belies the point that mammograms are inherently dangerous. Orthodox medicine tells me again and again to overlook the harm that it has done to women and promises a future where the machines will be better calibrated and safer. But what of the harm that has been, and is now, done?

Mammographic screening is not and never will be a safe way to find breast cancer. Although safer after menopause than before, mammography is never without risk entirely.

Why I haven’t had a baseline mammogram: The idea behind having a baseline mammogram -that there will be a norm to refer back to - is erroneous. Breast tissues are constantly changing as menstrual, ovulatory, pregnancy, lactational, and menopausal hormones change. Science, the constant straight line, meets woman, the ever-changing spiral. And younger breast tissue is especially sensitive to radiation. According to J. W. Gofman (M.D., Ph.D., authority on dangers of radiation exposure), a 35-year-old woman whose normal risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 1500 increases it to 1 in 660 by exposing herself to the radiation of a baseline mammogram. The National Women’s Health Network says baseline mammograms should be abolished.

If you’ve already had a baseline mammogram and now feel worried, make yourself a soup of lentils (to restore damaged DNA to normalcy), seaweed (to remove radioactive isotopes), and carrots (to support your immune system). Season with miso and tamari (to stop the promotion of cancer cells), and thyme, rosemary, and garlic (to further strengthen the immune system). Breathe in, relax, don’t worry.

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Green Blessings.
Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com. For permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.com

If you’re new to flavored teas, no doubt you’re wondering how to choose flavored teas of the best quality. The variety of the tea, the country in which it’s grown, the way it’s processed, the time it’s harvested and the way it’s flavored all affect the way a flavored tea will taste. In many varieties of tea, the time of harvest is particularly important, and can be difficult to understand and determine.

Following is some information that can help you choose the best flavored teas based on their harvest time. Flavored teas come in white, green, black and oolong varieties, and all varieties have different harvesting requirements for the best flavor.

Green tea –Flavored green teas have a very natural and mild flavor and brew to a pale green or light amber color. They are often somewhat sweet, and are described by many to be grassy in flavor. Many people who don’t particularly like the flavor of plain green teas, love flavored greens, because the flavorings mask the grassy taste while leaving the lightness that makes green tea so tasty.

Green tea harvesters often pluck green tea multiple times during the growing season. However, the first pluckings, or the “first flush” green teas will always be the best. This is because this first flush is picked in the spring, before the weather gets too hot. Tea that is plucked later in the growing season has baked in the heat and sun before harvest, which compromises the tea’s flavor.

White tea- All white tea is first flush tea. White tea is, by definition, picked only in the spring, when the tea plant blooms for the first time of the growing season. The tea is harvested before the buds are fully opened and while they’re still covered with a fine white hair, which is why it’s called white tea. One of the reasons that white tea is the rarest of all teas is because it can be harvested just once during the growing season. Flavored white teas are not yet common, but they are gaining availability. White teas are the mildest and sweetest of all teas, and absorb the fragrances and flavorings very well.

Black Tea – Most flavored teas are made from black tea, though other varieties are growing in availability. The best flavored black teas are also made from the first flush, for the same reason that was mentioned about green tea. Later flushes of black tea have been exposed to more heat and sun, and their flavor may have been compromised. The exception to this rule is Assam black teas, grown in the Assam region of India. The second flush of Assam black teas are said to be the best of the season. So, if you find an Assam flavred tea, look for second flush of the season.

Oolong Tea –Oolong teas are semi-fermented, meaning that they go through a fermentation process like black teas, but for a much shorter period of time. Most oolong teas are fermented to about 30%, unless they are pouchong oolong teas from Taiwan, which are only about 15% fermented. The longer an oolong tea is fermented, the more it tastes like a black tea. Therefore, pouchongs are much closer in flavor to a green tea. As with green and black teas, oolong teas are best from the first flush, when the weather is milder and the tea has had more rain.

Oolong teas have a fruity flavor and a very smooth finish that pairs beautifully with many fruit flavors. When choosing a flavored oolong tea, be certain to check as to whether it is a true oolong or pouchong, if you have a preference for a tea that is closer to green or closer to black.

Some of the best tea gardens only sell first flush black, green and oolong tea. Tea gardens that do harvest their tea all throughout the growing season should label their tea according to the harvest from which it was plucked, so there is no confusion about which teas are the best of the year. First flush teas are typically priced higher than teas harvested later in the season.

To choose the best quality flavored teas, you need to consider all of the following elements:

• The grade of the tea – this indicates the quality of the leaf itself.

• The tea plucking – this is a good measure of the tea’s flavor, as earlier pluckings are more flavorful.

• The quality of the flavorings – You should always choose teas flavored with all natural ingredients over those that use artificial flavorings.

By considering all of these elements, you’ll be able to choose a delicious, high quality tea, whether it’s green, black or oolong. Shop with tea merchants that specialize in only the very best quality of flavored loose teas, regardless of the variety.

Flavored teas are a wonderful treat. The combination of your favorite flavors with your favorite tea varieties makes for a great beverage, whether hot or cold, morning or evening. And, if you’ve never compared the taste of really high quality teas with that of inferior teas, you’ll be very surprised at the difference. High quality flavored teas are well worth the trouble and expense you’ll go to finding them!

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Jon Stout is Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. For more information about tea, black tea and wholesale tea go to www.goldenmoontea.com

Devil’s claw has been used by native African tribes for centuries to treat rheumatism, arthritis, lower back pain, tendonitis, and dyspepsia. Harpagophytum Procumbens, also known as Devil’s claw, is found in South Africa and used by locals to treat fever, blood disease, sores, skin ulcers, and sprains.

Devil’s claw was first discovered by Germans in the mid 1900’s, who introduced it to Europe as native medicines from the Bushman. Studies were done on devil’s claw in German universities over forty years ago. Studies are still being conducted on the healing properties of devil’s claw even to this day. Devil’s claw is one of the herbs approved by the German Commission E and the European Scientific Cooperation of Phytotherapy (ESCOP). Devil’s claw has been deemed by both organizations to be a safe and effective treatment for rheumatism, arthritis, osteoarthritis and tendonitis because of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties it possesses.

Studies have shown that with continued use, devil’s claw can successfully reduce pain and improve mobility in patients suffering from rheumatic and arthritic conditions in just a few short weeks of use. Devil’s claw is known as a bitter herb, several studies have shown devil’s claw to have hypotensive and anti-arrhythmic properties and aid in relieving minor stomach complaints and discomfort.

The scientists involved these devil’s claw studies believe it to be more effective as an aid against chronic conditions like arthritis and back pain as to conditions of an acute nature. Many studies have been conducted and results do vary, but one study in particular demonstrated a reduction in back pain by 20 percent compared to 8 percent in the placebo group. The study used the standard lower back pain index for its results.

In Europe, doctors use devil’s claw with traditional medicine because there are no known side effects reported and no drug interactions reported between medications and devil’s claw. The only side effects reported were mild gastro-intestinal discomfort like diarrhea. Devil’s claw has a mild gastric stimulating effect and is not recommended for patients who have ulcers.

The active ingredient in devil’s claw that causes these beneficial effects on the body is called iridoid glycosides. All the studies conducted used dosages of this active ingredient ranging from 20mg to 1200mgs of herb per kilogram of body weight. If you’re considering devil’s claw as an alternative or complement to standard medications already prescribed always consult your doctor first before taking matters into your own hands. Even though devil’s claw has been approved in Europe for symptoms listed above, in the United States the FDA has not approved this herbal supplement to help treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before starting any new herbal supplement along with medications prescribed. Effective preparations of devil’s claw consist of liquid infusions, capsules, tablets, and liquid extracts. When shopping for devil’s claw at your local or internet health food store, always read the label and look for an herbal product that is guaranteed or standardized to the active ingredients.

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Visit VitaNet Health Foods, VitaNet sells high quality herbs like Solaray Devil’s Claw to help fight inflammation. Please link to this site when using this article.