Diet & Fitness

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A MERRY TIPPLE OR TWO

Written by Caroline Chaplin Friday, 06 November 2009 07:36

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A MERRY TIPPLE OR TWO
By Michele Slabbert of Green Energy Herbals

Ever since someone “accidentally dropped something into something else” and caused a reaction, which induced a sense of euphoria, we have been indulging in a little tipple or two, or three…

As spring exits into the full bloom of summer, the year end celebrations or holidays begin to take hold of the imagination. Evenings become periods of enchantment as the days lengthen, the heat slowly fades through the darkening sky and the world takes on a hue of expectation. While in this island of contemplation take time to breathe out the day with the fading sun by having a delicately flavoured herbal wine in the company of good friends.

This is the time of year we exchange gifts and a hand made one (or part thereof in this case!) adds a personal caring touch – a small gesture with much meaning. We also over indulge somewhat at this time of year so a gift of an herbal wine makes a great deal of sense. You can pour your finished wine into the original bottle adding a fancy cork and your own designed label and you have a simply delicious gift to give to friends.

The simplest way of preparing an herbal wine is to purchase a bottle of good wine. Slightly crush the herbs you are using in a bowl and pour the wine over them. Cover the bowl well and leave at room temperature for 6 to 8 hours. Taste the wine and if you would prefer it a little stronger, repeat the process but with half the amount of fresh herbs. Strain the herbs and pour the wine either back into the bottle or a decanter. The flavour is improved by slightly chilling the wine.

Should you only have dried herbs to use then use this method. Take 100g of your chosen herb to each 5 cups of red or white wine. Chop the herbs finely and place in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Pour the wine over the herbs, close and let steep for 2 to 4 days. Then strain well and bottle.

A useful hint is to remember that the flowers of these herbs are the best to use as the stems and leaves can make the wine bitter. Red, White or Rice wine can be used. Sherry, Jerepigo and Muscadel are also good base choices. When using raisins always blanche in very hot water for a few minutes and then strain well. For each 750 ml bottle of wine a generous handful of raisins is used.

Flowers should be picked on a sunny morning just as the dew has dried. Please ensure that you use organic plants and that no chemicals have been sprayed on them. Remove the green base of the flower heads.

Here are a few ideas to get you started –

Dandelions, Violets, Elderflowers, Calendula, Rosemary and Rose are just some of the herbs that can be used to make a flavoursome beverage.

A small glass of dandelion wine eases indigestion and associated discomfort; Calendula eases stomach cramps or try a gently flavoured rose wine with a dessert.

A deliciously scented rinse can be made by mixing together ¼ cup each of dried lavender flowers, thyme, oregano and dried orange peel. Pour a bottle of white wine over this mix. Stir in well and then cover well – you can use cling wrap if you wish. Leave this for about 2 weeks in a warm place. Strain the liquid and add a tablespoon to either your final hair rinse or those hand wash clothes. This mix can also be taken internally, using a teaspoon in half a cup of lukewarm water to relieve chest ailments.

Rosemary can be used to make a tonic wine, just the tipple needed for a quick pick me up. Place a handful of fresh rosemary, 2 or 3 small cinnamon sticks and 4 or 5 cloves into a container. Crush these slightly, then add 1 tsp ground ginger, a pinch of grated nutmeg to this mix. Pour over a bottle of good quality red wine. Seal and place the jar in a cool place for 7 to 8 days. Do not leave for longer than this. Strain and store in a well sterilised bottle.

Lemon Thyme and Rhubarb wine. Cut rhubarb into small pieces; chop the lemon thyme finely. Pour boiling water over this and then add a small handful of raisins. Cover bowl and allow to get quite cold. Strain this into a bottle of red wine. Should you wish to add a little sugar then mix sugar with the strained plant liquid before adding to the wine. This is a warming and uplifting tipple!

Nettles produce an effective tonic wine made with the young nettle tops. To a good handful of nettle tops add one small lemon pricked with a clove or star anise and a small piece of ginger. Cover with white wine and leave for at least 2 weeks. This is good to use during and after over indulging!

Elderflower Wine is used for hay fever and associated respiratory challenges and can also be used together with other herb wines (such as parsley or mint) as a chest rub to relieve bronchial ailments. You can use either dried or fresh elderflowers. If dried please use whole heads, you do not want crushed flowers. If using fresh, collect on a warm sunny day when the flowers are fully opened. Trim the flowers gently from the stalks. You can add raisins to this mix but first pop them into a bowl of boiling water for a minute or two before adding. Use a white wine for this and should you wish to make the wine stronger, just replace the flowers each day for 3 to 4 days.

Parsley wine makes a really good little tipple. Either red or white wine can be used. A small shot glass as you begin the evening phase of your day’s journey clears the mind. A stronger wine can be stored and used as a tonic during the winter months, but then you need to sieve the wine at least 10 to 12 times before rebottling.

Peaches can be used together with mint to make a crisp wine to have with a dessert, or even as the dessert! All you need is a large tin of peaches, lightly drained. A tablespoon of chopped fresh mint should be sprinkled over the peaches. A white Jerepigo or Muscadel should be used for this one, which also makes a delicious ice cream topping or as a sauce for a baked pudding. Soak the fruit for 48 hours and then remove. Strain well – at least 4 to 5 times before rebottling. The fruit can be used in the baked pudding!

Tea and Raisin Wine; just the tipple for the merry season. Blanche the raisins in boiling water to soften. Use loose black organic or rooibos tea tied in a muslin bag. Do not use teabags. Place in a bowl, cover with a fruity full bodied red wine and allow to stand covered in a warm place for 48 hours. Strain well and rebottle. This tea wine goes well with cinnamon buns.

Lemon Balm with Citrus and raisins is a delightful combination. Use 1 cup of lightly bruised lemon balm leaves, the rind of 1 small lemon and 1 small orange (no pith or fruit), 2 tablespoons of raisins and if you so desire a teaspoon of dark brown sugar can be added. Cover with dry white wine and mix well. Cover and leave to stand for 48 hours. Strain well. This wine is good for indigestion and those bloated feelings

Marigolds soaked in white wine impart a lovely hue reflecting the summer season in all its golden glory. Ensure that you use only the flowers and that no leaves or part of the flower base gets into the wine as this causes the wine to be bitter and unpleasant. Crush 2 cups of fresh or use 1 cup dried petals. Add a sliver of fresh ginger and the roughly chopped thin rind of a very small lemon. Cover with white wine and leave to stand for 12 hours. Strain and bottle.

Rose Petals make an unusual tipple. Gently heat a bottle of white wine (it must never boil) and add 2 cups of rose petals, 2 teaspoons of sugar (optional) and the juice of 1 small lime or lemon. Maintain heat for around 20 minutes and then switch stove off and allow the brew to stand for 12 hours. Strain and bottle. This is delicious with little meringues!

Pomegranate and Barley Wine. Something different! Place the barley in cold water and boil until tender. Strain the liquid extremely well. Crush the pomegranate fruit and stir into the barley water together with a tablespoon of lemon juice. Add a dry white wine and leave to stand covered for 2 to 3 days. Strain very well and bottle. One can almost see Kronos discoursing with Zeus over this one!

There are so many herbs and fruits that can be used to make these different wines. Many can be made stronger to use medicinally but most are just fun to make, are ideal as gifts and usually create interesting conversations.

I have often given rock crystals on a thong to friends and patients, sometimes I have one on hand that responds to their birth sign but very often not, yet each person has responded to the energy interactions and you can tie this little something extra around your chosen container for a deep personal touch. When seeking a rock crystal for a friend concentrate on that person and you will find that there is always a response from a particular stone. Here are some simple ideas.

Aries             Rosemary or basil                Garnet or bloodstone
Taurus         Elderberry or Mint                  Coral or Lapis Lazuli
Gemini         Parsley or Marjoram             Topaz or Beryl
Cancer        Chamomile or Rose                Moonstone or Pearl
Leo               Calendula or Juniper              Amber or Garnet
Virgo           Fennel or Lavender                  Moss Agate or Kunzite
Libra            Viola or Dandelion                  Carnelian or Aventurine
Scorpio       Basil or Nettle                          Jasper or Blue Lace Agate
Sagittarius Chrysanthemum or Sage       Sardonyx or Rhodocrosite
Capricorn    Borage or Mullein                    Green Calcite or Obsidian
Aquarius     Thyme or Heartsease           Turquoise or Aquamarine
Pisces         Peppermint or Red Roses     Amethyst or Fluorite

Summer is the time when we recharge our batteries, storing energy for the New Year ahead; the time when we awaken to new challenges and are ready to embark on a fantastic voyage into the realms of our own part in the uniqueness of life. May 2010 be filled with the amount of blessings we each bestow on each other.

Green Energy Herbal products are hand prepared by a registered Herbalist. We’ve been making organic herbals since 1992. For more information contact Michele Slabbert on 021 5723717 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Visit our website www.greeneneergyherbals.co.za .

Sound Body Sound Mind

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 November 2009 17:10 Written by Caroline Chaplin Sunday, 01 November 2009 16:17

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Sound Body Sound Mind'
by Keith Sherwood
    Since the seventeenth century thinking and the pursuit of knowledge has been dominated by Cartesian thought. Descartes arranged phenomena in logical order so that it could be analyzed. ‘There is nothing included in the concept of body he wrote, that belongs to the mind and nothing in the mind that belongs to the body.’ Descartes cogito.
   The Cartesian division between mind and body has been responsible for a worldwide technological explosion over the past two centuries. But it has also alienated people from their bodies by trapping them in linear sequential time.
       Unlike western thinkers such as Descartes, the masters of Tantra recognized that there was no separation between mind and body and that people were eternal beings who were not limited by time or space. In fact,the Tantrics teach that past and future spill out of a person's consciousness and colour his-her world. But they are no farther than the present moment. Like the Tantrics you can reconnect with your body and participate fully in the world. But to do that you must reorient yourself in your body by stepping out of sequential time into the ever present now.
Becoming present
        The problem for most people is that they position themselves in either the front or the back of their body. They walk tilted backward or forward. Their breath is shallow and incomplete and their voices don’t resonate from deep within them.
     In the east, adepts observed that if a human positions himself in the front of his physical body-relative to time, he positions himself in the future. And if he positions himself in the back of his physical body-relative to time, he positions himself in the past.These initial insights made it possible for Tantrics to position themselves in the center of their body and squarely inside themselves where there is no past or future-only the ever-present now.
     Like a Tantric adept you can experience the ever-present now by becoming present in your physical-material body and the energy field that interpenetrates it.

Exercise: Becoming present
     The exercise which follows is designed to reposition you in the ever-present now regardless of your physical and energetic condition. The exercise takes about twenty minutes a day. You’ll find it easiest to perform the exercise in the lotus position or sitting upright in a straight back chair.
    To begin, close your eyes and breath deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation. After a short pause slowly count backwards from five to one. As you count backwards, mentally repeat and visualize each number three times to yourself. After you reach the number one repeat this affirmation to yourself, ‘I’m now deeply relaxed and feeling better than I did before’.
    Continue by counting backwards from ten to one-letting yourself sink deeper on each descending number. When you reach the number one   affirm: ‘Every time I come to this level of mind, I’m able to use more of my mind in more creative ways’.
    In many cases physical tension stored within the muscles of your physical-material body will make it difficult to relax and become present. In order to release tension in the muscles, contract your entire body, squeezing the muscles of your face, while you hold your breath. After five seconds expel the breath through your nose and relax.
      When you're ready to continue assert, ‘It’s my intent to turn my organs of perception inward on the levels of my energy field’. Almost immediately you’ll become aware of a large cavity that interpenetrates your physical-material body. This cavity is your energy field which can extend up to twenty six feet, (eight meters) beyond the surface of your physical-material body.
    Once you’ve become aware of your energy field assert, ‘It’s my intent to become present in my energy field’. Immediately your orientation will shift. And from your new vantage point-within in your energy field you will become aware that you are present in the ever-present now.
         Take fifteen minutes to enjoy the experience. Then count   from one to five and bring yourself out of the exercise. You can practice this exercise every day for fifteen minutes. The more often you practice the greater the benefits will be and the easier it will be to remain centered in the ever-present now.
For more about Keith Sherwood go to www.onewholelove.com
Next visit by Keith Sherwood to South Africa March 2010.

How to lose weight quickly

Written by Caroline Chaplin Tuesday, 30 June 2009 17:01

How to lose weight quickly
It takes more than just losing a few pounds to truly live a happier,
healthier and more fulfilled lifestyle. That's why the Slim Girl's Box
of Secrets comes with a unique set of benefits that you just won't find
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Future Food

Written by Caroline Chaplin Thursday, 07 May 2009 06:23

Future Food – makes you think!

Governments worldwide are urging us to eat less salt, sugar and fat and consumers are becoming more aware of the need to watch food intake and make choices. This is leading to an increased demand for healthier food and drinks which is not lost on manufacturers. One such healthy eating innovator is Unilever, an Anglo Dutch food company which is opening two new research and development centres this year. This is part of a drive to revamp their food and drink lines and stay ahead of competitors with new brands of low fat, low salt, low trans and saturated fats products. Another project is designed to initiate research into creating lines of products with definite health benefits. For example, tea is a popular drink that most people find refreshing and relaxing. Evidence shows that this effect is due to theanine a chemical contained in teas and Unilever’s research department is working on ways to bring out new products containing high levels of Theanine. Research is also being undertaken to create an ice cream with lowered fat and sugar and raised levels of calcium makes it an excellent alternative to milk itself. (Unilever is the owner of Magnum ice cream)

(ref: IET Jan 09 issue)

Herbal vs. Allopathic Medicine

Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 April 2009 07:04 Written by Caroline Chaplin Monday, 14 April 2008 04:10

The silent ‘battle’ between natural (in this case, herbal) and allopathic (pharmaceutical) healthcare systems has been raging for decades. The primary differences between the two systems is that allopathic medicine is primarily designed to treat the symptoms of disease, and is most effective when treating chronic illnesses and conditions; whereas herbal medicine is effective both prophylactically as well as treating the issue of disease at a grassroots level, and effective at bringing the system gently into balance. Scientists, doctors and patients alike are now becoming wise to the fact that there need not be any conflict between the two systems - both have positive aspects and can be very effectively used in conjunction with each other.

Dr Jean le Roux, a practising general medical practitioner and homeopath committed to the medicinal powers of herbs, advises: “Whereas the allopathic system relies on the wisdom gained by medical doctors in medical school and the efficacy of manufactured chemicals to combat health concerns, the natural healthcare system relies on the wisdom of the natural order of things, as well as that inherent in the system that is our body. One may say there is an element of ‘trust’ in natural medicine, as, by being aware of how our natural systems are intrinsically designed to self-regulate and harmonise themselves, even to the point of ‘self-medication’, by releasing appropriate amounts of naturally occurring healing hormones and chemicals from the brain throughout the body, one is assured that, with a bit of a boost from nature, the body is able to heal itself quite remarkably”. And Dr Jean should know, having many years ago become drawn to the wisdom of nature and the idea of treating patients with a multi-disciplinary approach in order to offer real, lasting and gentle healing. This led to him studying homeopathy, homotoxicology and traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as other related holistic health systems.

“I am not at all saying that there is no place for allopathic medicine,” stresses Dr Jean. “There will always be a time and a place for pharmaceuticals, especially in an emergency situation requiring surgery or immediate and speedy relief, and for ongoing chronic illnesses. What I am saying is that if a person takes responsibility for their health by firstly ensuring they look after their bodies and all of it’s systems; secondly by becoming cognisant of bad behaviours and toxins that may be contributing to disease, and thirdly, by taking supplements and herbal support in order to address and balance a certain issue, then half the battle is already won.”

The fact is that herbal medicine has been in existence since ancient times and is the oldest system of healing known to mankind. Every culture across the globe was wise to the fact that the plants populating the earth had within them naturally occurring chemicals and compounds that could heal various conditions, and this was evidenced by watching animal behaviour and their intrinsic instinct towards self-medication – now known as zoopharmacognosy – via the roots, leaves, seed and fruit of various plants. One could call this a naturally occurring ‘herbal medicine laboratory’, where by careful observation and recording of the animals eating habits, the properties of certain plants were identified and the dosage adapted for human consumption. This is in sharp contrast to a medical science laboratory, where – even if a medication was based on a naturally occurring plant compound – the medical equivalent is usually synthetically mimicked and the results are tested on the long-suffering ‘lab-rat’ or other animal – only this time without their permission and guidance!

The new science of zoopharmacognosy came about in part due to the observations in 1987 by one of it’s pioneers, primatologist Michael Huffman of the Kyoto University of Japan, of an obviously ill chimpanzee in Tanzania. The chimp, suffering from diarrhoea and it’s resultant malaise, was observed pulling a young shoot off a small tree calledVernonia amygdalina, peeling away the bark and leaves with her teeth and chewing on the pith. After swallowing the juice she spat out most of the fibres and continued eating a few more stalks in this fashion for a half-hour period, whereafter she eventually stabilised and was thus healed. On examination of her dung, it was found she had intestinal parasites, and on examination of the pith, an entirely new class of compound was discovered, which possessed antiparasitic, antitumour and antibacterial properties. The most interesting conclusion was that – as certain substances within the plant were likely to be toxic to chimps and therefore not part of their normal diet - the only chimps who were observed eating the plant were those obviously ill, which reflects that they consumed the plant for it’s medicinal, rather than nutritional properties.

Most especially in this instance, given the established similarities between humans and chimps, what this story very clearly illustrates is that our systems are designed to self-regulate, with a little help from nature, and that if we listen to the wisdom contained both in our bodies and in plants, we will come to a place of healing. The fact is that almost any pharmaceutical medicine one can think of has a natural, herbal equivalent, probably easily available, at a far less cost, and usually with higher efficacy and more controllable side-effects. In fact, Dr Jean’s tongue-in-cheek advice to his patients is that if used responsibly, herbal medicines have no side-effects, only extra hidden benefits!

As a result of his commitment towards natural healthcare and his desire to – insofar as possible – replace any potentially harmful allopathic medicines he may need to prescribe for his patients with gentler herbal alternatives, Dr Jean has been involved in the research and formulation of the ‘Viriya’ range, a 100% natural herbal tonic that not only acts as a general vitality booster, but contains herbs specifically aimed at certain conditions, such as high-blood pressure, diabetes and flagging libido. In fact, he started working on the Viriya formulas as a result of repeated requests by certain of his patients - both men and women – for a natural alternative to pharmaceutical libido, vitality and erection boosters, which are not only excessively expensive but may have unpleasant side-effects. He started his research into herbs used since times immemorial for this purpose, and so the Viriya range – the ‘Viriya Everyday’ daily vitality tonics for men and women and the ‘Viriya Now’ ‘one-hour-before-action capsule – was formulated and has been extremely well received by his grateful patients!

He swears by a daily ‘maintenance dose’ of herbs, citing his own Viriya ‘Everyday’ formulations for men and women as a perfect example - they contain a blend of up to 13 herbs, mostly of Eastern origin, each with it’s own particular benefit and with the collective benefit of stabilising mood and energy levels, supporting hormonal change, improving blood flow, protecting the liver, strengthening the bones and tendons, stimulating the immune system, assisting with joint aches and pains and flooding the body with cleansing antioxidants and adaptogens. Certainly a good way to start each day!

“We’ve come through a time when we raised doctors and the medical profession onto a pedestal and now we are realising that we’ve possibly been ‘worshipping a false god’, so to speak, and that it really does just come down to a case of ‘nature knows best’,” says Dr Jean. “So don’t throw away your GP’s number, but by all means start finding out more about herbs and the wealth of healing they offer, and stock your medicine chest with the bounty of nature’s garden to ensure you remain in optimal health!”

Article supplied by Jade Page-Green of Kezi Communications

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