AUGUST 22, 2023 HOBBIES AND HAPPINESS


" The surest way to happiness is to lose yourself in a cause greater than yourself."


What is your definition of happiness ? Happiness is smelling the first morning dew of the first spring rain. Happiness for me is doing a hobby. I have many hobbies which many I have written about. One of my hobbies is writing this blog. It is now part of my life. I try to write every day. This is happiness to me.  Hobbies can be addictive if not properly timed or scheduled. I had difficulty with needle point, as I love it so much that this art has been an addiction. As I discuss rotating your foods in your diet --you should rotate your hobbies. I am sure some consider reading, or learning a language as a hobby. I feel a hobby should be creative. It should be a hobby that uses your hands. If you cannot think of one- start by visiting a museum per week, or re learning to play a musical instrument. I feel it should be the reawakening of the boy/girl within yourself.

I hope this blog has been inspirational to some. I hope you have developed a hobby or interest as part of your daily life which can boost your self esteem. I love all the above quotes. To lose yourself in a cause greater than yourself is a way to boost your esteem and can lead to happiness. It can also be the beginning of saving Earth Mother. One of my greatest hobbies has been Bee Keeping. It has now become a passion. I make propolis tinctures from my hives, and candles from the wax in my hives

Some of the Hobbies I have written about and done include:

1. Needlepoint work- cross stitch/bargello
2. Knitting
3. Card Making
4. Updating my website www.oldacquaintances.com
5. Ceramics
6. Bee Keeping
7. Antique Hunting for New York Worlds Fair 1939, Roseville
8. Legos
9. Jigsaw Puzzles
10. Making Plant Medicine
11. Candle Making
12. Gardening

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 21 2023 CLEAVERS

You probable have seen cleavers in your yard You thought it was a weed . It is annoying as your pass cleavers as it sticks to your pants It has many medicinal benefits

It helps with lymphatic stagnation It acts as the best lymphatic dranage herb. It also cools inflammation Cleavers enhances the function f the lymphatic system. I imorives the abiity of the bidy to fush out toxins, decrease congestion and reduce swelling.

This is can help with edema ( fluid buid-up in the legs and does promote urine formation during bladder infections

I prefer to give this herb as a tea or a tincture

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 10, 2023 POISONED

Have you seen “ Poisoned” The Dirty Truth About Your Food ? It is a documentary on Netflix. I highly encourage it , but I warn you — You may not like what you see.

The CDC reports that 1 in 6 Americans (a whopping 48 million people) develop food poisoning each year. The facts in this documentary will surely awaken your senses and might even steer you away from certain foods . We all have read about E coli outbreaks of E Coli 0157.

The book is based on the book “ Poisoned “ Jeff Benedict's book, Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat, chronicled the 1993 E.coli outbreak that killed four children and sickened over 700 people who ate Jack In The Box hamburgers. The documentary then chronicles post hamburger E coli- the E coli outbreaks from Romaine lettuce, eggs, chicken and peanut butter

You will learn about regulations and then about no regulations from various government agencies. It was heart breaking to hear about families who lost loved ones— especially young children due to these outbreaks ( Some which could have been prevented ) I was glad to see ‘ some ‘ justice served.

You will now think twice before ingesting a salad after watching this documentary

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 9, 2023 YOUNG FOREVER

I love to read. I especially enjoy listening to a podcast on my way to New York City I stitch a canvas while listening either to Dr Rangan Chatterjee - Feel Better, Live More or The Doctor’s Farmacy with Dr Mark Hyman. If I read on the train I cannot stitch I save reading for bedtime. I recently purchased Young Forever.: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life by Mark Hyman

There is a lot of data out there about how to ive young forever. However this book dealt with other issues other than medicine that is linked to living a younger healthier life The book discusses mechanisms by which ur social relationships and connections can influence our gene expression and everything from inflammation to insulin resistance. So building relationships and community is very important and far more important than once thought. Possibly this is why herbalists are healthier and younger looking than conventional medical doctors ? Is this why I became an herbalist ! I do know that the commradery and relationships I have built with my fellow herbalists is deeper and more nuturing than most of my conventional colleague relationships.

The book discusses exercise in a different way Mark stated “ Exercise is probably the single most potent intervention there is, other than calorie restriction. “

Buy this book and enjoying reading it. It will give you a different perspective on life

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 8, 2023 TEA

Do you love tea ? I know I do. Where do you buy your tea ? Do you buy your tea in mesh bags, or loose at a tea shop. Since I have loose tea at work sold by Botanical Bounty ( www.botanicalbounty.org ) I am lucky. As a matter of fact, with a recent new kitchen I have a tea rack where I store my tea. The tea rack has 3 shelves where i can fit 5 glass jars. Each jar had a single herbal tea or a blend. Each has been marked on the outside of the jar with a label.

I am telling you about this as mesh tea bags have found to contain 20- 30 % of microplastics and nano plastics, These substances are harmful to our human health. A recent study published in Journal of Environmental Science and Technology discussed microplastics. One standard tea bag made with plastic released 11.6 billion microplastics and 3 billion nanoplastics in one cup of tea

My solutin is safe. Buy loose teas. You can buy them from Botanical Bounty ( www.botanicalbounty.org ) and other tea companies. If you are lucky enough to have a tea shop in your town- suport them I steep all my loose tea with a variety of stainless steel strainers. Even organic teas may still have plastic int heir tea bag. Go with fresh fair trade organic loose teas that are stored in glass jars

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 7, 2023 HERBS and the GUT

A recent journal article published last year i the Journal of Nutrition stated that herbs were the unsung heroes of gut health The study was small involving only 54 obese or overweight individuals aged 30- 75

Akk consumed the same American diet for one month ( 4 weeks ) with one of three daily doses of herbs -0.5 grams, 3.3 grams and 6.6 grams

The herbs were ginger, cumin, cinnamon, tumeric , rosemary , oregano, basil and thyme Fecal samples were collected after the end of each week

The results werre suprising Thoe individuals that consumed 3.3 and 6.6 grams had increased levels of Ruminococcaceae bacteria These bacteria are vital for gut health The highest levels of these bacteria werre fund in patients who consumed the highest levels of spices and herbs.

I found this to be interesting In fact this should lead more research to be done on each individual herb

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 3, 2023 CABBAGE

Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne (Capitata Group) of the Family Brassicaceae (or Cruciferae) and is used as a leafy green vegetable.


It is a herbaceous, biennial, dicotyledonous flowering plant distinguished by a short stem upon which is crowded a mass of leaves, usually green but in some varieties red or purplish, which while immature form a characteristic compact, globular cluster (cabbagehead).

The plant is also called head cabbage or heading cabbage, and in Scotland a bowkail, from its rounded shape. The Scots call its stalk a castock, and the British occasionally call its head a loaf. It is in the same genus as the turnip – Brassica rapa. The cabbage leaves often have a delicate, powdery, waxy coating called bloom. The occasionally sharp or bitter taste of cabbage is due to glucosinolate(s). Cabbages are also a good source of riboflavin.


Did you ever look at cabbage? I never did. I really do not like cooked cabbage. I love it in its raw form. Cabbage is a leafy, green vegetable that resembles a head of lettuce. The leaves are a denser and lighter in color but cabbage are related to broccoli and cauliflower. There are 2 different types of cabbage, the lighter colored, mild flavored crinkly leafed Savoy and the heavier deep red burgundy colored red cabbage.

They all have the same beneficial cabbage nutrition.Besides the riboflavin cabbage has lots of minerals, vitamins, Vitamin C, niacin and B6. The B vitamins are needed to reduce the cardiac risk factor homocysteine which has been associated with stroke and heart attacks. Also, these vitamins can help break down fats and fatty acids to make them more digestible. They can also help cleanse the body and prevent kidney stones and regulate blood pressure.

There are other vitamins in cabbage including vitamin K, vitamin A, and Folates. There is not enough Vitamin K to interact with the conventional drug, coumadin but I wouldn't eat excess cabbage either. These vitamins are known to protect the heart, control cholesterol and help maintain insulin blood levels. This can help prevent diabetes. But perhaps one of the most important things these vitamins do is to prevent diseases like cancer. Any leafy green vegetable contains cancer fighting agents.

Omega 3 acids are also a part of cabbage nutrition. Many cultures who consume a lot of Omega 3 acids are known to have little or no cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure. Younger children can also benefit from eating cabbage because it promotes healthy development of the nerves, brain and eyes. There was a blog in March 2010 about the benefits of Fish.

Cabbage is naturally low in fat. So if you want a nutritious snack with lots of potential for healing that is low in fat--CONSUME CABBAGE. It contains a large amount of fiber which is beneficial for digestive health to maintain a healthy weight. Everyone seems to be seeking sources of fiber--I usually use cabbage as a fiber in addition to to ther fruits and vegetables. Although it is low calorie, it also contains carbohydrates.What vegetable doesn't contain carbohydrates? The answer is none. All fruits and vegetables contain carbohydrates. But, it is a lot better than consuming bread, pasta, and cake. Since the calorie count is so low, the carbohydrates simply give the person more energy throughout the day. Women with extreme cases of post menstrual syndrome and menopause issues who eat cabbage on a daily bases can get relief from their symptoms. Cabbage has an amount of natural estrogen found in many vegetables. People who suffer from breathing difficulties or asthma seem to do better when they eat cabbage and even depressed people can be cured by eating it. The vitamins associated with cabbage naturally raise serotonin levels to make a person happier.

Eating cabbage everyday is a great way to get most of your daily vitamins in one small, low calorie serving.

Until tomorrow…

AUGUST 2, 2023 BASIL



The plants in this world are a gift from your Higher Power. Love, Pray, water and nourish the plants.

Ocimum minimum is a charming plant in the pots on my patio in Black Rock CT As it blows in the wind, I glance at the other plants in the gardens. When I water the pots it is fragrant of lemon and spice. It is one of the varieties of basil, dwarf basil to be exact. All of the types of basil are popular flavoring herb. I haven't found any medicinal use as I study this herb. The basils are some of the most delightful of all seasoning herbs. I prefer Rosemary and Thyme. It has been said that the Romans thought one should curse and use profanity when sowing the basil to insure its germination. There is a French phrase meaning 'using abuse' -"semer le basile". Pliny, whom I read in Latin class says it is an aphrodisiac and was given to horses at the mating season. In my heritage land of Italy, women are said to wear basil because of its supposed efficacy in engendering sympathy. Perhaps this is why the Itaians are so sensitive and sympathetic to certain things. Bacon said, "It is strange which is reported that basil too much exposed to the sun doth turn into wild thyme"

In general, Basil (Ocimum basilicum) of the family Lamiaceae (mints), is a tender low-growing herb. Remember Lemon Balm, peppermint and spearmint are also in the Mint Family. As most of us know, Basil is a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Southeast Asian cuisines of Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The plant tastes somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. Besides the dwarf basil, there hare many varieties of basil. That which is used in Italian food is typically called sweet basil, as opposed to Thai basil, lemon basil and holy basil, which are used in Asia. While most common varieties of basil are treated as annuals, some are perennial in warm, tropical climates, including African Blue and Holy Thai basil.I thought basil was native to Italy. Of course I did, I am Italian. It is not! Basil is originally native to Iran, India and other tropical regions of Asia.

Until tomorrow…