This DVD Chronicles Six Diabetics Taking the Raw Food Challenge for Reversing Diabetes Naturally & Documents Remarkable Results

Gabriel Cousens M.D, Anthony Robbins, Woody Harrelson, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Morgan Spurlock, David Wolfe & More Discuss the Healing Power of Raw Foods in New Film

WATCH FILM TRAILER HERE

By Jill Mangino

A fascinating, independent film follows the remarkable journeys of six diabetics (Type 1 and 2) for 30 days as they take the “Raw Challenge” to reverse their disease naturally without prescription drugs by eating only organic, vegan, uncooked, ‘raw foods’ despite the American Medical Association’s claim that “Diabetes is a chronic disease that has no cure.” Their physiological and emotional transformations are featured in a new DVD entitled Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days (March 2009).

Set at The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Arizona founded by Gabriel Cousens, M.D. , the film follows the participants as they are challenged to give up their traditional, American diets consisting of meat, dairy, sugar, processed foods, and cooked foods, as well alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, as they continue to reduce their dosages of insulin and prescription medications. The results are astounding.

“One of the most potent, pandemic diseases is Type 2 diabetes affecting 246 million people worldwide. We need to wake up to the possibility that simply changing our diet can significantly reverse and even cure this disease. The results of the participants in this documentary offer evidence of that,” states Dr. Cousens.   The author of There’s a Cure for Diabetes and founder of The Tree of Life, Gabriel Cousens, MD is a well-known holistic medical doctor for 35 years and published authority on alternative healing and raw living food nutritional therapies. He has helped thousands heal myriad diseases through the power of raw foods.

The film also features leading wellness experts, physicians, authors and advocates including Anthony Robbins, Woody Harrelson, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Morgan Spurlock, David Wolfe, Joel Furhman, M.D. and Fred Bisci, Ph.D. who all discuss the curative power and benefits of raw foods.

A diet consisting of plant-source only, raw foods is rapidly gaining worldwide recognition for its power to heal and rejuvenate, as well as maintain health at a high energy level. The raw diet mostly consists of fruits, vegetables, grains, sprouts, nuts and seeds. It is a vegan diet (no meat, cheese, eggs or milk), but with one caveat: It is prepared at temperatures less than between 118 degrees Fahrenheit to preserved the natural enzymes, nutrients and the food’s life-force energy from the sun. When food is cooked, 50 percent of the protein is lost, 70-80 percent of the vitamins and minerals are lost, and close to 100 percent of the phytonutrients are destroyed.

Simply Raw chronicles the transformation of six “real life” participants – with no prior knowledge of a plant-source only, raw food way of life – all struggling with diabetes. Their inspiring transformations are documented over 30 days. Upon arrival at the Tree of Life, the group receives physical exams and medical tests under the care of Dr. Cousens and his staff.  Daily medical discussions and support group meetings teach the participants about food selection and preparation as well as exercise, meditation and yoga. Throughout the film, we witness moments of struggle, support, and hope.  Remarkably nearly all of the participants were able to attain normal blood sugar levels and eliminate their insulin and prescription drug intake they depended on for decades.

This inspiring documentary reveals the wisdom behind the statement, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” stated by Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, two-and-a-half thousand years ago.

The Simply Raw film has inspired a movement www.rdnmovement.com , to bring together people from around the world to reverse diabetes naturally through the spreading of educational resources on nutrition such as the Simply Raw film and “The Ultimate Encyclopedia of the Raw Food Lifestyle”. An RDN Action Day is slated for April 25, 2009.

By US Food & Drug Administration
Posted November 28, 2008

There are lots of things you can do to take prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications in a safe and responsible manner.

• Always read drug labels carefully.
• Learn about the warnings for all the drugs you take.
• Keep medications in their original containers so that you can easily identify them.
• Ask your doctor what you need to avoid when you are prescribed a new medication. Ask about food, beverages, dietary supplements, and other drugs.
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking an OTC drug if you are taking any prescription medications.
• Use one pharmacy for all of your drug needs.
• Keep all of your health care professionals informed about everything that you take.
• Keep a record of all prescription drugs, OTC drugs, and dietary supplements (including herbs) that you take. Try to keep this list with you at all times, but especially when you go on any medical appointment. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a Web site where you can get more information and download a sample medicine record: www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/my_medicine_record.htm

People often combine foods. For example, chocolate and peanut butter might be considered a tasty combination. But eating chocolate and taking certain drugs might carry risks. In fact, eating chocolate and taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, such as Nardil (phenelzine) or Parnate (tranylcypromine), could be dangerous.

MAO inhibitors treat depression. Someone who eats an excessive amount of chocolate after taking an MAO inhibitor may experience a sharp rise in blood pressure.

Other foods that should be avoided when taking MAO inhibitors: aged cheese, sausage, bologna, pepperoni, and salami. These foods can also cause elevated blood pressure when taken with these medications.

There are three main types of drug interactions:

• Drugs with food and beverages
• Drugs with dietary supplements
• Drugs with other drugs

"Consumers should learn about the warnings for their medications and talk with their health care professionals about how to lower the risk of interactions," says Shiew-Mei Huang, Ph.D., deputy director of the Office of Clinical Pharmacology in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).

Drugs with Food and Beverages

Consequences of drug interactions with food and beverages may include delayed, decreased, or enhanced absorption of a medication. Food can affect the bioavailability (the degree and rate at which a drug is absorbed into someone's system), metabolism, and excretion of certain medications.

Examples of drug interactions with food and beverages …

Alcohol: If you are taking any sort of medication, it's recommended that you avoid alcohol, which can increase or decrease the effect of many drugs.

Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice is often mentioned as a product that can interact negatively with drugs, but the actual number of drugs the juice can interact with is less well-known. Grapefruit juice shouldn't be taken with certain blood pressure-lowering drugs or cyclosporine for the prevention of organ transplant rejection. That's because grapefruit juice can cause higher levels of those medicines in your body, making it more likely that you will have side effects from the medicine. The juice can also interact to cause higher blood levels of the anti-anxiety medicine Buspar (buspirone); the anti-malaria drugs Quinerva or Quinite (quinine); and Halcion (triazolam), a medication used to treat insomnia.

Licorice: This would appear to be a fairly harmless snack food. However, for someone taking Lanoxin (digoxin), some forms of licorice may increase the risk for Lanoxin toxicity. Lanoxin is used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. Licorice may also reduce the effects of blood pressure drugs or diuretic (urine-producing) drugs, including Hydrodiuril (hydrochlorothiazide) and Aldactone (spironolactone).

Chocolate: MAO inhibitors are just one category of drugs that shouldn't be consumed with excessive amounts of chocolate. The caffeine in chocolate can also interact with stimulant drugs such as Ritalin (methylphenidate), increasing their effect, or by decreasing the effect of sedative-hypnotics such as Ambien (zolpidem).

Drugs with Dietary Supplements

Research has shown that 50 percent or more of American adults use dietary supplements on a regular basis, according to congressional testimony by the Office of Dietary Supplements in the National Institutes of Health.

The law defines dietary supplements in part as products taken by mouth that contain a "dietary ingredient." Dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbs or botanicals, as well as other substances that can be used to supplement the diet.

Examples of drug interactions with dietary supplements …

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum): This herb is considered an inducer of liver enzymes, which means it can reduce the concentration of medications in the blood. St. John's Wort can reduce the blood level of medications such as Lanoxin, the cholesterol-lowering drugs Mevacor and Altocor (lovastatin), and the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra (sildenafil).

Vitamin E: Taking vitamin E with a blood-thinning medication such as Coumadin can increase anti-clotting activity and may cause an increased risk of bleeding.

Ginseng: This herb can interfere with the bleeding effects of Coumadin. In addition, ginseng can enhance the bleeding effects of heparin, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. Combining ginseng with MAO inhibitors such as Nardil or Parnate may cause headache, trouble sleeping, nervousness, and hyperactivity.

Ginkgo Biloba: High doses of the herb Ginkgo biloba could decrease the effectiveness of anticonvulsant therapy in patients taking the following medications to control seizures: Tegretol, Equetro or Carbatrol (carbamazepine), and Depakote (valproic acid).

Drugs with Other Drugs

Two out of every three patients who visit a doctor leave with at least one prescription for medication, according to a 2007 report on medication safety issued by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. Close to 40 percent of the U.S. population receive prescriptions for four or more medications. And the rate of adverse drug reactions increases dramatically after a patient is on four or more medications.

Drug-drug interactions have led to adverse events and withdrawals of drugs from the market, according to an article on drug interactions co-authored by Shiew-Mei Huang, Ph.D., deputy director of FDA's Office of Clinical Pharmacology. The paper was published in the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

However, market withdrawal of a drug is a fairly drastic measure. More often, FDA will issue an alert warning the public and health care providers about risks as the result of drug interactions.

Examples of drug interactions with other drugs …

Cordarone (amiodarone): FDA issued an alert in August 2008, warning patients about taking Cordarone to correct abnormal rhythms of the heart and the cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor (Simvastatin). Patients taking Zocor in doses higher than 20 mg while also taking Cordarone run the risk of developing a rare condition of muscle injury called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to kidney failure or death. "Cordarone also can inhibit or reduce the effect of the blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin)," said Huang. "So if you're using Cordarone, you may need to reduce the amount of Coumadin you're taking."

Lanoxin (digoxin): "Lanoxin has a narrow therapeutic range. So other drugs, such as Norvir (ritonvair), can elevate the level of Lanoxin," says Huang. "And an increased level of Lanoxin can cause irregular heart rhythms." Norvir is a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Antihistamines: Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines are drugs that temporarily relieve a runny nose, or reduce sneezing, itching of the nose or throat, and itchy watery eyes. If you are taking sedatives, tranquilizers, or a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression, you should check with a doctor or pharmacist before you start using antihistimines. Some antihistamines can increase the depressant effects (such as sleepiness) of a sedative or tranquilizer. The sedating effect of some antihistamines combined with a sedating antidepressant could strongly affect your concentration level. Operating a car or any other machinery could be particularly dangerous if your ability to focus is impaired. Antihistamines taken in conjunction with blood pressure medication may cause a person's blood pressure to increase and may also speed up the heart rate.

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at

For More Information

FDA's Drug Development and Drug Interactions Web site
www.fda.gov/cder/drug/drugInteractions/default.htm

Consumer Education: Ensuring Safe Use of Medicine
www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/ensuring_safe_use_text.htm

MedWatch
www.fda.gov/medwatch/

Preventable Adverse Drug Reactions: A Focus on Drug Interactions
www.fda.gov/cder/drug/drugReactions/default.htm

A Book Review

By Amy Porter

I rarely review the books that are sent to www.Vitesis.com.  Usually Jill or Hannah read and write the review.  Christine Blevins’ new historical fiction, The Midwife of Blue Ridge caught my attention:  It has a strong female protagonist who is a midwife,  an herbalist, and a wise woman.  Definitively, my kind of woman!

So I will ask you.  When was the last time you read a novel written about a woman who is a member of our alternative health community and the author actually got the information correct?  Midwife of the Blue Ridge, is one of those books.

Blevins’ heroine is Maggie.  She was born in Scotland during the early 1700s, spent her early life surrounded by fighting; orphaned during a raid on her village; then raised by the local midwife; indentured so that she could immigrate to America; bought by a family who lived at the edge of the wilderness; and then spent the next years living on the edge of danger.  Sound exciting.  It was.  It was one of those stories that caught my attention and held it.

I was impressed by how Blevins created a world that accepted a woman as a healer and as a wise woman.  Maggie’s strength is what attracted people to her.  And it never detracted from her femininity.

As a bonus, Blevins wove in her knowledge of herbs and alternative medicine.  Her readers will come away with an acceptance of both midwifery and herbs.  They will at least have a basic knowledge of common herbs – slippery elm, cherry roots and yarrow to name a few. 

Midwife of the Blue Ridge is available for purchase through Amazon.com and other booksellers. For more information check out BlogStop Booktours or her website, http://christineblevins.com/.

By Sherry Dell
September 2008 Newsletter

Recent research suggests that more than half the US population is now allergic to at least one common allergen. (1) These allergens include such foods as wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, sugar, corn, and peanuts, and such non-foods as dust mites, ragweed, and grass.

Why are we all so allergic?

In adults, allergy-related problems to non-foods are commonly listed as various kinds of upper respiratory discomfort such as sneezing, itchy eyes, running nose, post nasal drip, etc.; symptoms of food allergies are generally thought of as some kind of digestive impairment such as stomach upset or diarrhea. I would also include fatigue, general toxicity, hypersensitivity to prescription drugs, scents, and the environment in general as allergy-related symptoms. In children, allergy symptoms might also include chronic infections, weakened immunity, acute otitis media (AOM which is inflammation of the middle ear), and attention deficit-type behavior problems. In fact, when interviewing adults with allergy symptoms, I routinely question them regarding their own childhood health experiences and almost always learn that they also had some number of chronic ear infections, colds, bronchitis, asthma, and/or plenty of antibiotic prescriptions.

This is no coincidence. The chain of events that results in adult allergies (and ultimately in even more serious immunity & toxicity problems) begins very early in life. The symptom picture generally changes from childhood to adulthood. The ear infections, asthma, and the inability to focus of childhood turn into the seasonal allergies, celiac disease, diabetes, depression/anxiety, or chronic fatigue of adulthood. But the root causes remain the same.

A bit like the chicken or the egg problem, it is difficult to point to a starting point for this cascade of symptoms, but let’s start at birth. A recent review of 52 studies found that the introduction of certain foods to infants increases the risk of food allergies, as well as diabetes and celiac disease. (2) The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization and UNICEF all recommend exclusive breast feeding for at least 6 months, followed by gradual introduction of solid foods in the second half of the first year and continued breast feeding for 12 months and beyond. This means that children who are introduced to formulas and then solid foods too early in life are very likely to put an increased burden on their immune system. The way this works is that a food that enters the human body before the digestive system has developed adequately to process and assimilate it becomes a kind of “foreign invader” that the immune system must react to. Remember, we’re talking about a wee, tiny body and a wee, tiny immune system. It doesn’t take much of a dose or very long for a food that is being seen by the body as an allergen-foreign-invader to begin to burden and tire the immune system. So a daily dose of cow’s milk formula or really any kind of formula is all it takes, and voila, an allergy is born. You can see this on the faces of even very young children by the dark circles under their eyes.

On to the egg and the chicken again. Adult women are exposed to various elements in modern living that, in turn, are passed on to their babies. This may happen during pregnancy and/or breast feeding. For example, as adults we are all exposed to an ever-increasing number of environmental pollutants and toxins. Pesticides. Industrial waste. Pharmaceuticals in the water supply and in the food chain. Preservatives. Some of these chemicals are harmful to our immune systems. It is speculated that the “toxin-soup” effect of combinations of chemicals might simply overtax our immune systems, making them much more susceptible to allergy.

Another way the adult immune system is taxed is via the many processed foods that are made from the same small list of ingredients (wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, sugar, corn). As we eat these same foods over and over day after day, they too can become a kind of “foreign invader” that stimulates the immune system. In other words, the sheer repetitive nature of our diets can become an immune stressor that over time makes our immune systems weaker and again, more susceptible to allergy.

High fructose corn syrup is added to many, many processed foods. If you have a sweet tooth and like to eat cookies or scones or breakfast cereal or have a Starbuck’s latte, chances are you’re eating some high fructose corn syrup every day. Because fructose is a highly reactive molecule that can change the chemical structure of proteins when they are heated in its presence, it is thought that these altered proteins can be much more allergenic than proteins that haven’t been changed molecularly in this way.

Frequency of antibiotic use also plays a role in overall immune function in both children and adults. Antibiotics, of course, are used to kill bacteria. This is a good thing when there are pathogenic, harmful bacteria present that are causing illness. However, antibiotics are not “smart” enough to distinguish between the “bad” bacteria and the “good” bacteria. The human gastro-intestinal tract has various strains of beneficial bacteria that play a critical role in overall immune function. Taking antibiotics kills these beneficial bacteria as well as the harmful bacteria. Over time and repeated doses of antibiotics, particularly in children, the immune system can become stressed and weakened, and more susceptible to allergy. One recent study (3) found that asthma was significantly more likely to develop in children who had received antibiotics in the fist year of life. Interestingly, another study (4) found that children with middle ear infections recovered equally well whether antibiotics were prescribed or withheld. And another study (5) found that osteopathic manipulation, in place of surgery, resulted in significantly fewer episode of middle ear infection in children age 6 months to 6 years.

As the years pass, impaired immune function begins to have an impact on the body’s ability to eliminate toxins. In a particularly nasty cycle, as the body becomes more toxic, the immune system becomes even more susceptible to allergy. But we’ll save the topic of toxicity for its own article another day.

What is clear is that as some or several of these experiences begin to effect a child, their immune system begins to be weakened. Depending on their genetic gifts or lack of gifts, the day dawns when allergy or other symptoms begin to appear, indicating that the stressors are getting the upper hand on their little immune systems.

The good news is that the sooner a parent (or an individual in adulthood) begins to see what has happened to their immune function, the sooner they can begin to reduce and eliminate these stressors. In children, I have often seen a few days’ worth of the elimination of dairy or wheat greatly reduce or even eliminate all manner of symptoms of allergy. In adults, the same strategy may be equally important. And both children and adults can also benefit from an increased variety of foods, the replacement of beneficial bacteria, and the elimination of high fructose corn syrup. Adults may also benefit from liver cleansing and support through the use of medical foods, guided detoxification programs, and other nutritional supplements as needed. If you’re an adult who suffers with the kinds of symptoms discussed here, find a holistic health practitioner who can guide you.

By Joseph Mercola
www.Mercola.com

I have received dozens of requests to promote a response to the FDA Guidance for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products issued by the FDA in February 2007. There have also been many people posting about this on Vital Votes.

It has never been my intention to cry wolf and encourage response to any government initiative unless I was convinced it warranted it.

So, I invested in a legal consultation and paid one of the top Washington DC lawyers that defends against FDA actions $500 an hour to review the initiative and provide his impression of the proposal.

After reviewing his analysis and consulting with two other attorneys, my take is that this proposal does not warrant a response.

The primary reason for this? The Guidance does not create any new regulations; rather it’s an explanation of how the FDA applies the existing regulations.

The Guidance explains the differences between foods, food additives, dietary supplements and drugs, and it explains how the same item may be considered a food, a dietary supplement, or a drug depending on the labeling and claims made.

Meanwhile, the Guidance does NOT prevent access to CAM providers, nor does it prevent the use of supplements/herbs by medical professionals in their practice. It also will not directly impact consumers/patients or prevent doctors from recommending the use of healthy foods to patients.

This is not meant to minimize any of the underhanded dealings going on at the FDA (like the fact that the majority of funding for the FDA comes from the very companies that it is seeking to monitor and evaluate), just put our efforts where they’re most needed.

National Health Federation April 27, 2007

My Attorney’s Review of the Legislation

I am rather surprised that FDA issued this guidance document because it does not tell us anything that we didn’t already know, i.e., FDA has the regulatory authority to regulate products and devices that are used in the practice of complementary and alternative medicine.

The key words are “products” and “devices.” FDA stops short of stating that it has the ability to regulate the practice of medicine. For instance, any topical or ingestible product that is market for the cure, mitigation, treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of a particular disease condition is considered a “drug” by the agency. There are numerous cases on this point going back decades regarding FDA’s regulatory authority over such products so FDA’s position is well-founded on this issue.

However, in recent times, FDA has generally ignored this area of medicine and has left it to individuals to pursue the course of treatment they believe is necessary as long as FDA did not perceive that the product or device did not pose a risk to public safety. Thus, this document does strike me to be a new attempt by FDA to reassert itself in this space.

How serious the agency is about reasserting itself is difficult to gauge because the key to determining whether a product is regulated as a drug, medical device, cosmetic, food, or dietary supplement depends on the products intended use.

Specifically, intended use is generally determined by the product’s label, labeling, and on occasion advertising. Thus, if a company were marketing its dietary supplement product with appropriate structure/function claims, FDA could not seize the product because practitioners are using it to treat their patients.

Moreover, FDA would be hard pressed to take action against a practitioner because how a practitioner uses an otherwise lawful product is within the practice of medicine, which FDA does not have regulatory authority over. With that said, practitioners that have developed their own line of supplements could be challenged by the agency on this issue.

So, I do have some concern that FDA may be indicating that it could regulate transactions between a doctor and their patient. However, this document stops short of stating that FDA would or could.

The few instances that I know of where the agency has arguably attempted to regulate the practice of medicine is with medical devices and controlled substances, in particular hGH. In the 1990′s, FDA went after several doctors who were using TENS units in their practices. The units being used, however, had not received clearance from the FDA.

Thus, FDA’s argument is that it was not regulating the practice of medicine, but rather the TENS unit itself. FDA was successful in eliminating those units from the doctors’ offices because the devices lacked the proper regulatory clearances to be marketed in the United States. It is another matter, however, where a product is properly marketed but a practitioner is not using the product consistent with its intended use. In this latter scenario, the agency would likely avoid taking regulatory action because the status of the product is legal.

For instance, there are now several TENS devices that have been cleared by FDA. If a doctor chose to use one of those devices in a manner not consistent with its clearance, this is arguably not an FDA issue unless the manufacturer or distributor of the device is promoting it for an off label use. Indeed, the courts have generally recognized a physician’s right to use or prescribe a lawful drug for a use not indicated on the particular product’s label or labeling.

I have also seen FDA as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) take issue with the off-label use of controlled substances, in particular anabolic steroids and hGH. However, the Controlled Substance Act does provide a reasonable basis for the agencies to regulate the practice of medicine when it comes to these particular substances. So, I do not consider this situation analogous.

In Summary

While I am surprised that FDA issued this guidance document, it does not contain anything new regarding FDA’s position that the products and devices used by complementary and alternative healthcare practitioners are subject to its regulatory authority. Indeed, FDA has steadfastly taken the position that if these products are marketed to cure, treat, mitigate, diagnose, or cure disease; the products are subject to FDA’s regulatory authority as a drug, biologic, or medical device.

The guidance document stops short of stating that FDA has the authority to prohibit a practitioner from using a lawfully marketed food, dietary supplement, cosmetic, or device to treat or prevent a disease. However, there is some implication that if the product is the practitioner’s own product that FDA could take issue with it even if the product is properly label in the first instance. Whether FDA is willing to actually pursue a practitioner over an otherwise legal product is doubtful because it raises serious issues of whether FDA is attempting to interfere in the practice of medicine.

With that said, if the product is being marketed unlawfully, FDA believes it has the authority to pursue the unlawful use of the product because it is not attempting to regulate the practice of medicine but simply removing an unlawfully marketed product from the marketplace.

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/New-FDA-Initiative-Circulating-the-Net-Does-Not-Warrant-Alarm-or-Action-12707.aspx

By Rev. Kimberly Sharples

IMPORTANT: The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is not intended for diagnosis in treating disease. If you have a serious illness, we recommend you contact a competent health care practitioner before beginning a course of treatment.

Recently traditional and integrative medicines have “discovered”? herbs. This is ironic since herbs have been used for thousands of years. There are numerous references to herbs in the Bible. Most of the herbs mentioned in the Bible were well suited to the dry desert-like conditions. More than 100 herbal plants were mentioned, 27 regularly by the Israelites. In most of today’s biblical translations, the term “herb”? is used over 37 times; however how they were used is not specified.

1 Kings 21:2 speaks about having a garden just for herbs; herbs were an integral part of life.

“Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house”?

The Bible mentions that herbs were used as tithes. Matt 23:23 and Luke 11:42 list mint, anise, cumin and rue were used as tithes. These passages show the value that was placed on herbs, more than justice, mercy and faithfulness.

“You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin.”? Matt 23:23

“For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God.”? Luke 11:42

Biblical Herbs: Listed below are several herbs that have been mentioned in the Bible.

Bitter Herbs: “And the bitter herbs they shall eat”? (Exodus 12:8)
“Bitter Herbs”? is a general term. These include Golden Seal, Milk Thistle, Artichoke, Tumeric, Cascara Sagrada, Yellow Dock, Angelica, Green Tea, Horehound, Sage, Nettle, Yarrow, Clary Sage, and Betony. In addition, Gentian, Dandelion and Cardamom were trusted for digestion. As was Mint – it that was usually eaten after a meal.

Aloe: (Numbers 24:6, Psalm 45:8, John 19:39)
Aloe, which is believed to be the only tree descended from the Garden of Eden, has been historically used with burns, infections, cuts, scrapes, skin disorders, and even as a laxative. It was also known as “Paradise Wood”?. In John 19:39 Nicodemus used Aloe with myrrh to embalm Jesus after his death. In Proverbs 7:17 and Psalms 45:8, aloe was used for its fragrance. Our modern society still trusts aloe, even developing a group known as the International Aloe Science Council to investigate the many healing properties of this herb. It is the source of over 200 nutritional substances, providing anti-inflammatory and analgesic benefits. It helps with digestion, fungal diseases, constipation and can lower blood sugar levels.

Anise: (Matthew 23:23)
Anise was a Biblical tithing herb. Tasting similar to licorice, it helps relieve coughing, fevers, colds, bronchitis, lung problems and nervous indigestion.

Artemisia: (Revelations 8:11, Jeremiah 23:15, Deuteronomy 29:18, Proverbs 5:4)
Artemisia (also known as wormwood), is one of the herbs most frequently mentioned in scripture, perhaps because of its bitterness. According to legend, wormwood grew up in the trail left by the serpent’s tail as it slithered out of the Garden of Eden. It is one of the best parasite cleansers known to man, and expels parasites and worms, soothes inflamed tissues, improves digestion and elimination, relieves abdominal cramping, and enhances the circulation of nutrients to the cells. It is even been known to help in combating yeast infections.

Cinnamon: (Proverbs 7:17)
Cinnamon was a fragrant herb. In Proverbs it mentioned that the bed was perfumed with myrrh, aloe and cinnamon. In addition to being used as a spice, many have used cinnamon to help lower blood glucose levels, a great benefit to those with Type 2 Diabetes. It can increase energy and help with digestion, arthritis, gas, diarrhea and anemia.

Coriander: (Numbers 11:7)
The book of Numbers describes how manna from heaven was like the Coriander seed. Coriander is used for flavoring curry powder and gin. Its fruit also restores vigor, strengthens the heart and soothes the bowels. It also helps with loss of appetite and complaints of the upper abdomen. In Europe it used as a drug for cattle & horses.

Garlic: (Numbers 11:5)
In the Bible people knew that garlic was used for more than cooking or seasoning. While only mentioned one time in the Bible, it was held in great esteem by the ancient Egyptians. Even Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, depended on Garlic for infections, intestinal problems, chest pains, epilepsy, leprosy, toothaches and wounds. Roman armies were fond of garlic, using it to clear arteries, eliminate hoarseness, expel tapeworms, increase urinary flow, and soothe chronic coughs. Historical women have found garlic to be helpful with gynecological or menstrual problems. Garlic can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Hyssop: (Psalms 51:7, Numbers 19:18, 1 Kings 4:33)
Hyssop was often referred to in the Bible. This herb is mentioned in Psalms 51:7 as being used for purification. It was also used to cleanse sacred places. Numbers 19:18 also makes reference to hyssop in purification. Solomon spoke about Hyssop in 1 Kings 4:33. Hyssop has been used for respiratory and intestinal diseases and to improve circulation.

Mint: (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42)
The Bible mentions Mint being used for tithing. Mint helps liver and gallbladder problems, nausea, vomiting, morning sickness and respiratory infections.

Mustard: (Matthew 13:31)
While most are familiar with the parable of the mustard seed and faith, Mustard is also known to help ease a congested chest. Cover the chest with a mustard plaster to warm the chest, and open. Plasters made with black mustard seeds have been used to help relieve arthritis, rheumatism, toothaches, soreness and stiffness.

Because the mustard seed powder can burn the skin, always put the mustard paste on a sheet of paper or cloth, never directly on the skin. Remove the paste if the skin or other body parts becomes uncomfortable or burn.

Small doses of mustard seed have aided digestion. Larger doses can induce vomiting and irritate the stomach and intestines. The mustard seeds can also be used as a laxative.

Nettles: (Proverbs 24:31)
Proverbs mentions that the ground was covered in Nettles. It is also called Stinging Nettle, and it can be used for infections of the urinary tract, rheumatism, kidney and bladder stones. Stinging Nettle is also high in calcium.

Olive Leaf: (Deuteronomy 8:8)
Olives are mentioned so often in scripture that they seem to be one of the most common foods of the time. The disease-resistant plant is known to withstand a variety of bacteria, fungi, microbes, and viruses, and can offer those same properties to those who use it as an herbal tonic. Many scientists say it helps ease both infections and degenerative diseases. Some researchers credit it helping with many infectious diseases, including HIV as well as it having anti-inflammatory properties that work wonders on rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Pomegranate: (1 Sam 14:2)
In 1 Samuel, we read that Saul sat under a c tree. The fruit is used to quench thirst and the rind was used to make dye and medicine. Pomegranates are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C and potassium. They have been used for diarrhea, parasites and hemorrhoids. New research indicates that Pomegranates may help with the brain and other dysfunctions of the brain.

Rose Bulgaria: (Isaiah 35:1)
Through the ages of time, the rose has been known as one of the most famous and expensive fragrances in the world. But its value is not only in its smell. Rose oil is virtually non-toxic, with antiseptic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory properties that are highly prized in skin care. It helps the cells to regenerate, and is particularly beneficial for aging skin, slow-healing wounds and scars, and for preventing stretch marks. It is also a relaxing herb, verified by studies as far back as the 1920’s that indicated it produced a sedative effect.

Rosemary:
It was said that the Israelites used rosemary to season their food. This herb is a symbol of fidelity and remembrance that was once used in the holiest Wedding and Funeral Christian ceremoniesl. For centuries, people thought rosemary would never grow higher than six feet in thirty-three years, so as not to stand taller than Christ. Rosemary is a powerful herb that acts as an effective inhalant. Aestheticians, cosmetologists, and dermatologists have long used rosemary for its rejuvenate powers on hair and skin, and its ability to stimulate circulation to the skin and scalp. It has been known to help heal burns, and has been tabbed by the British Journal of Phytotherapy as an antiviral. It is so potent that it is even know to safely purify and deodorize the air we breathe. Rosemary has also been said to help with memory, blood pressure and rheumatism.

Rue: (Luke 11:42)
Rue was used as a tithe. Rue was also used as medicine and in cooking. It is aromatic and a stimulant. It is also known as the “Herb of Grace”?. Brushes made from Rue were used to sprinkle Holy Water at mass. It has been used for menstrual disorders, skin inflammations, earaches, toothaches, diarrhea and parasites. Rue used internally should be under the advice of your health care practitioner.

I hope you enjoyed reading about a few of the herbs from the Bible mentioned here. It is interesting to see how many of the herbs we use today have been in use since Biblical times.

Some Websites to view:

http://nene.essortment.com/herbsbible_rjro.htm

http://www.home-remedies.org/herbs.htm

http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/bibleherbgarden.htm

http://newage.bellaonline.com/articles/art7494.asp

http://www.herbsociety-stu.org/bible_herbs.htm

http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000225.htm

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/100-199/nb188.htm

www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/corian99.html