Aloe vera is famous for its soothing properties when applied on the outside of the body to burns, cuts, scrapes, bruises, bug bites, and most especially sunburn. Taken internally, though, fresh aloe has a much broader spectrum of potency. If you’re drawn to enemas and colonics, make aloe vera a part of your life—consuming it offers a colon cleanse all on its own. Aloe is wonderful for relieving constipation.
Aloe vera also possesses more than 70 trace minerals that are grouped into undiscovered medicinal alloys. These alloys work together with the phytochemical aloin to calm inflammation in the gut, which makes it a top aid for IBS, Crohn’s, and colitis. This anti-inflammatory nature rejuvenates the appendix, as well as the ileum—a critical portion of the intestinal tract, because that’s where the body produces vitamin B12 when the digestive system is functioning as it should. That’s not all—as aloe rehabilitates the ileum, it also delivers a very bioavailable form of B12, making aloe an all-around B12 enhancer.
Aloe vera is antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal (including anti-mold), and anti-parasitic (including anti-worm). It is incredibly useful for killing off the pathogens that create colon cancer, stomach cancer, and rectal cancer, as well as eliminating H. pylori and supporting the pancreas. It also has the unique ability to stop the growth of polyps and reduce the growth of hemorrhoids. And if you’re concerned that you’ve been exposed to radiation, turn to aloe—it has beta-carotene combined with lignins that remove radiation from the body.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing aloe vera into your life:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, colitis, any other type of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, Barrett’s esophagus, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), stomach ulcers, urinary tract infections (UTIs) such as bladder infections and kidney infections, bacterial vaginosis, plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, sciatica, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis, sunburn, bruises, cuts, scrapes, hemorrhoids, polyps, diverticulitis, acne, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), eczema, psoriasis, all autoimmune diseases and disorders, E. coli infection, C. difficile infection, H. pylori infection, food poisoning, Barrett’s esophagus, fatty liver, hiatal hernia, herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, human papilloma virus (HPV), jaundice, liver disease, megacolon, MRSA, shingles, strep throat, PANDAS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing aloe vera into your life:
Inflammation, acid reflux, fatigue, constipation, bloating, anxiousness, dark under-eye circles, food allergies, abdominal distension, stomachaches, upset stomach, abdominal cramping, abdominal pressure, dysfunctional liver, stagnant liver, liver heat, pre-fatty liver, hormonal imbalances, appendix inflammation, intestinal inflammation, low hydrochloric acid
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Aloe is perfect for the person who’s just gone through a major transition, such as moving to a new home, and is left feeling empty, nostalgic, alone, and a little lost. This wild food helps you feel at peace with your surroundings.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
Aloe has been in our world since ancient times, yet we often remain unfamiliar with all its uses. Becoming acquainted with aloe inspires us to take a fresh look at the world around us. What else in our lives could serve multiple purposes, if only we pioneer and explore its different facets?
TIPS
Makes 1 serving
In this beautiful drink, the flavors of orange juice and coconut water combine with aloe gel to create a delicious, bright cocktail. Enjoy this drink first thing in the morning, as it wakes up your whole body with hydration and a dose of citrus sunshine.
2 oranges
1 cup coconut water
¼ aloe leaf
Slice the oranges and juice them, which should yield about 1 cup of juice. Transfer the orange juice to a blender. Add the coconut water. Slice the aloe leaf open and scrape 2 tablespoons of the clear flesh into the blender with the orange-coconut mixture. Blend until smooth and foamy. Pour into a glass and enjoy right away.
Sea vegetables (that is, seaweeds) from the Atlantic Ocean are extremely powerful at ridding the body of toxic heavy metals. One of the reasons certain heavy metals are so damaging to our bodies is that they’re neuro-antagonists, which means they disrupt and diffuse electrical nerve impulses and cause nerves themselves to deteriorate. In the process, neurotransmitters burn out and blow out as if they were lightbulbs—which can result in anxiety and depression.
In the ocean, the sea vegetable’s job is to absorb toxic heavy metals, radiation, and other toxins, and render them harmless. When dulse, bladderwrack, kelp, alaria, sea lettuce, laver, Irish moss, or rockweed encounter poisons in seawater, they continuously sponge them up, deactivate their destructive frequency, then release them back into the ocean, where the onetime pollutants can no longer cause additional harm because the seaweed has rendered them inactive.
When we consume sea vegetables, they bring that same miracle sponge-like ability to work for us—with a twist. Instead of releasing the inactivated toxic heavy metals, radiation, dioxins, pesticides such as DDT, and other poisons back into our systems once they’ve absorbed and disarmed them, the sea vegetables’ bioactive phytochemicals lock onto the toxins and don’t allow them to disperse while they’re still in the body (because they’re not in their natural environment). If sea vegetables have any traces of toxins when they enter our bodies, they stay bound to them, collect more along the way, and exit without passing along any contamination to us. They also serve as an emergency backup in the colon, grabbing onto and helping to ensure that any metals (carried along by other detox foods, such as cilantro) actually leave the body.
As they drive out poisons, the only thing that Atlantic sea vegetables leave behind in our bodies is nutrition—in particular, 50 health-promoting minerals. These minerals are ultra-bioavailable and assimilable, helping to nourish whichever body systems have deficiencies. As these minerals help bring you into balance, they also create electrolytes for stress assistance.
This wild food is helpful for any type of illness. It reconstructs damaged DNA, plus seaweed carries the grounding nature of the ocean—grounding that’s transferred to us and can eliminate diseases of all kinds. Sea vegetables are particularly amazing for the endocrine system, because they absorb radiation that can in some cases be responsible for hypothyroidism (low activity of the thyroid) and disruption of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland. Plus, sea vegetables are an excellent source of active iodine to protect the thyroid from radiation and viruses such as Epstein-Barr. Sea vegetables are also especially beneficial for the bones, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, and teeth, and wonderful for addressing any toxic heavy metal–induced illness or symptom such as Alzheimer’s, ADHD, epilepsy, or brain fog.
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing Atlantic sea vegetables into your life:
Endocrine disorders, osteopenia, osteoporosis, bone fractures, injuries, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, migraines, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, thyroid cancer, bipolar disorder, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), radiation exposure (from dental work, medical X-rays, or cancer treatment), epilepsy, anemia, leukemia, bone cancer, brain cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, intestinal polyps, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, reproductive cancers (such as ovarian, uterine, and cervical), Asperger’s, endometriosis, glaucoma, immune system deficiencies, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), lupus
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing Atlantic sea vegetables into your life:
Brain fog; hypothyroid; memory loss; tics; spasms; grand mal seizures; blurry eyes; hair loss; balance issues; nausea; migraines; headaches; constipation; mineral deficiencies; all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest); inflamed uterus, ovaries, and/or fallopian tubes; inflamed gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, and/or colon; Bell’s palsy; outbursts of anger; sluggish liver; tremors
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
For the person whose behavior is unpredictable—someone who frequently swings from up to down, from hot to cold—sea vegetables are an incredible tool. Often when somebody is hypersensitive, rocked easily, or emotionally unstable, she or he is ungrounded. Atlantic sea vegetables are the most grounding food possible. When we eat them, we get the energetic essence of going for a swim in the ocean, a very grounding activity.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
So often in life we absorb the worries, fears, and other stressful emotions of those around us. Left unchecked, these poisonous feelings can eat away at us and interfere with our well-being. Sea vegetables teach us the miraculous art of taking something that is energetically toxic and processing it in a way that disarms it and releases it back into the ether, so it can’t harm anyone else.
TIPS
Nori Rolls with Creamy
Avocado Dipping Sauce
Makes 1 to 2 servings
These beautiful maki rolls are fun to make and have endless possibilities. Don’t be afraid to get in the kitchen and start rolling your own. Fill them with the veggies below or come up with your own options. Just make sure to roll tightly, and they’ll turn out great. Alongside the creamy avocado dipping sauce, they make the perfect lunch, snack, or light dinner.
4 carrots
3 zucchini
1 jicama, peeled
1 bunch scallions, ends trimmed
½ cup dulse pieces
8 nori sheets
For sauce:
1 avocado
1 lime, juiced
¼ cup cilantro
¼ jalapeño
½ medjool date
½ cup water
Slice the carrots, zucchini, and jicama into thin strips or “noodles” using a julienne peeler, spiralizer, or knife. Assemble the rolls by layering the carrots, zucchini, jicama, scallion, and dulse across the bottom of each nori sheet. Maintaining firm tension, roll up the nori sheet. Dip 1 finger in water and run it across the edge of the nori sheet to help the roll stick together. Slice into bite-size rolls, if desired.
For the sauce, blend all the remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour and enjoy!
Burdock root is a force of nature to rehabilitate the liver. Burdock root has a grounding ability that comes from driving deep into the earth. When the liver is filled with viruses such as Epstein-Barr, shingles, HHV-6, and cytomegalovirus, or with unproductive bacteria, worms, fungi, or other pathogens, the liver loses its grounding, negative charge—because these pathogens operate on a positive charge that drains the organ. (For more on this concept of positive and negative charge, see “Garlic.”) Fifty times more grounding than any other root vegetable, burdock reestablishes the liver’s grounding mechanism, which in turn restrengthens and revitalizes the liver so it can push off pathogens.
Over time, if not attended to, the liver loses its sponge-like abilities and becomes dense and hard. Burdock’s dense quality is exactly what’s needed to soften a dense, stagnant liver. Phytochemicals in burdock also support the liver in reducing growth of cysts and adhesions and repairing scar tissue in the liver, plus its vigor at cleansing liver lobules is unmatched. Burdock also has the ability to detoxify the densest core of the liver, and to remove toxic hormones there that have come in from outside sources such as metals, plastics, herbicides, and fungicides, ultimately giving the liver a chance to breathe.
The nutrients in burdock root range from almost every trace mineral in the spectrum to traces of B vitamins, plus vitamins A, C, and K. This wild food also has a unique gift for cleansing the lymphatic system and the blood, enhancing white blood cells and killer cells to keep the lymph nodes strong so they can do their work of killing off pathogens and cancer cells. Plus the enzymes in burdock are highly active, and they work in combination with burdock’s abundant amino acids as heavy metal detoxifiers.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing burdock root into your life:
Gout, liver disease, liver cancer, kidney stones, gallstones, lymphoma (including non-Hodgkin’s), chronic infections, breast cancer, lung cancer, pleurisy, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis (MS), migraines, gum disease, acne, hepatitis C, adrenal fatigue, diabetes, bursitis, celiac disease, all autoimmune diseases and disorders, thyroid cancer, eczema, psoriasis, kidney infections, Lyme disease, worms, yeast infections
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing burdock root into your life:
Scar tissue in the liver, liver adhesions, liver cysts, lesions in the liver, stagnant liver, sluggish liver, gallbladder spasms, food allergies, inflamed appendix, headaches, stomach pain, bloating, constipation, back pain, abdominal cramping, abdominal distension, accelerated aging, blood sugar imbalances, mineral deficiencies (including trace mineral deficiencies), myelin nerve damage, food sensitivities, sensations of humming or vibration in the body, blood toxicity, chemical sensitivities, digestive discomfort, enlarged spleen, inflammation, neuralgia, torn cartilage
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
If you’re looking to cleanse your body, mind, soul, and even the space around you from the ghosts of past experiences, bring burdock into your life for an emotional clearing.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
If you brush against a burdock plant that’s gone to seed, you’re likely to find later that you have burrs stuck to your socks, pants, shoelaces, sweater, hair . . . anything that those tiny hooks could attach themselves to. Burdock burrs stay with you for the length of your journey, until you’re finally where you need to be. This is the burdock plant’s method of preparing for the future—it sends out its seeds with any passerby, so that new plants can take root far and wide. Burdock teaches us to send along our own seeds of hope with each encounter, and to recognize the messages others have sent along with us to disseminate. As our loved ones and acquaintances navigate life, what kernels can we give them to one day plant in the world? And what seeds have we been given to disperse?
TIPS
Makes 2 to 4 servings
This soup is perfect for quiet afternoons and even early mornings. It’s warm and clean and so simple to prepare. It feels like a gentle hug for your whole body. Make a big batch at the start of the week, and enjoy it all week long. Sip it out of a mug or eat it out of a big bowl—enjoy it as a gift to your body and soul.
2 cups sliced burdock root
2 cups sliced carrots
2 cups sliced mushrooms
2 cups sliced bok choy
1 yellow onion, diced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated ginger
½ teaspoon sea salt
Place all the ingredients in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and keep at a rapid simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until vegetables are tender.
Chaga mushroom is all about building immunity—something we all want in our lives. Chaga (not technically a mushroom but rather pre-mushroom growth) possesses immune-system-enhancing nutrients that revitalize white blood cell count by increasing the production of lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils, so that your body can battle invaders such as toxins, viruses, and bacteria, as well as fungi such as yeast and mold. This incredible wild food also strengthens red blood cells and bone barrow, balances blood platelets, and staves off cytokine storms, which are the result of the body overreacting to a pathogen or toxin. This type of reaction occurs because the immune system is racing to die out a fire. As when putting out a real fire, attending to the emergency can come at a cost; cytokine storms can result in blood vessels expanding (which can lead to hemorrhaging), hives, rashes, and fever. With chaga on your side, the body is much better equipped to deal with pathogens and toxins.
Chaga is one of the most medicinal tools and overall tonics of the century. The phytochemicals in chaga are wonderful for fighting cancer, regulating blood sugar, boosting the adrenals while regulating the rest of the endocrine system, breaking down and dissolving biofilm (that is, a jelly-like substance that’s a by-product of certain viruses and fungi; more on this in “Rose Hips”), and destroying unproductive fungus in the intestinal tract. Speaking of which, there’s a trending misconception that mushrooms and other edible fungi are bad for you, because people fear that ingesting fungus results in fungal overgrowth in the body. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Mushrooms are some of the best fighters of unproductive fungus that we have.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing chaga into your life:
Bladder cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, leukemia, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, autoimmune diseases and disorders, Lyme disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), hypertension, fatty liver, pneumonia, psoriasis, eczema, Graves’ disease, immune system deficiencies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis, shingles, adrenal fatigue, mold exposure, migraines, anemia, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), celiac disease, gum infections, rosacea, thrush, vaginal strep
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing chaga into your life:
Inflammation, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, neck pain, back pain, headaches, head pain, pre-fatty liver, iron deficiency, joint pain, muscle fatigue, Bell’s palsy, sluggish liver, stagnant liver, fever, rashes, hives, fingernail and toenail fungus, body fungus, hypothyroid, all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest), jaw pain, body stiffness, bruising, dark under-eye circles, eye floaters, foot pain, joint inflammation, liver heat, hyperthyroid, swelling, fluid retention, neuralgia, poor circulation, sore throat
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
For those who feel like they’re missing out on something, who feel trapped in their life’s direction, emotionally stagnant and numb, and can’t make decisions—even when there’s only one decision to make and they don’t like the choice they’ve been handed—chaga is an invaluable tool. Bring it into your life when you need help envisioning what you want for the future, and how to make it happen.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
Chaga lives in harmony with the trees it grows on. Once it takes up residence on a tree, it grows very slowly so as not to disrupt its host. Chaga offers strength to its tree during times of storm and deep freeze, because it provides a living frequency of loyalty. Chaga possesses patience and intelligence of survival, knowing that if its host tree goes down, it does too. We can all learn about loyalty from this wild food. If you believe in someone or something, chaga teaches not to let go. To help our loved ones survive and thrive, we must do the same. When a situation warrants it, go all in and meditate on chaga’s nature to support you. Like the chaga-tree relationship, we must all stay strong for each other—and for the greater good.
(If you’ve heard that chaga has a reputation for harming its host tree, note that irresponsible harvesting of chaga—not the chaga itself—is what so often damages the tree, ultimately taking both down.)
TIPS
Makes 2 cups
This warm and creamy variation of chaga tea is just the thing when you need both strength and comfort. As you enjoy it, think about all that it’s doing for your body as chaga helps you live to your full potential.
2 teaspoons chaga powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon raw honey
⅛ to ¼ cup coconut milk
Boil 2 cups of water. Divide the chaga powder and cinnamon evenly between 2 tea cups; pour 1 cup of hot water into each. Stir in the honey, using more if desired. Stir the coconut milk into each cup or use a frother to create coconut foam on top.
Coconut, especially in the form of coconut water and coconut oil, has enjoyed some time in the sun in recent years. We hear stories about how coconut water was used as IV fluid for wounded soldiers in World War II, and about health miracles people have experienced by incorporating coconut oil into their diets. Everywhere you turn, it seems, there’s a positive claim about coconut—and rightfully so.
Now let’s get down to what hasn’t yet been discovered: that coconut enhances the power of anything it touches. It has an incredible reach. When combined with any healing food, coconut gets in touch with those benefits and supercharges them. For example, if you add coconut water to a smoothie with parsley, that coconut water increases the parsley’s ability to remove unproductive acids from your body by 50 percent and dramatically improves the effects of parsley’s already beneficial trace minerals. Or if you add coconut meat to a salad, everything else in the salad—cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, spinach, anything that has healing properties—becomes more nutritious and life-changing. Coconut drives a food to fulfill its highest purpose by igniting amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients, and in doing so, nourishes you so you can perform your life’s purpose and then some—your purpose-plus.
Though you wouldn’t look at a coconut palm tree and think it has much in common with a human, we’re more connected to these plants than you may realize. For one, as that IV story teaches us, coconut water is remarkably similar to human blood. Secondly, coconut palms are tropical—they need warmth. Though humans are scattered all over the globe, we really are tropical beings at our origins. You won’t find someone surviving in a snowy climate without protective body gear and some source of heat. Coconut puts us in touch with that foundational essence of who we are.
Coconut water provides vital glucose and critical mineral salts, including potassium and sodium, to the bloodstream. This is a fundamental component of our neurotransmitter chemical production. If we don’t have the neurotransmitter chemicals we need, it can lead to insomnia, neurological sleep apnea, and other sleep disturbances. The best thing you can do to avoid these issues is to drink coconut water—it is the best tool of all time for neurotransmitter support.
For those who struggle with infertility or other disorders of the reproductive system, take note that coconut water’s trace minerals and electrolytes nourish your reproductive tissue. Coconut water is also incredibly important for people with hypoglycemia and other blood sugar disorders, including diabetes. It’s critical for people with over- or underactive adrenals. It’s good for every single brain and neurological disorder. Coconut water can greatly benefit people with Parkinson’s, and it’s also a must for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It’s incredible for helping to prevent the onset of seizures and offers special support for eye conditions.
Coconut meat (and the oil derived from it) is antipathogenic due to its lauric acid content combined with other antioxidants present in it, so turn to coconut when you’re in need of an antibacterial and antiviral food. When coconut drops from the stomach into the intestinal tract, it kills off any pathogen it touches. Plus, its medium-chain fatty acids break loose other fats and aid in pushing them out of the body.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing coconut into your life:
Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS); Addison’s disease; Raynaud’s syndrome; adrenal fatigue; hypoglycemia; diabetes; thyroid cancer; tachycardia; atrial fibrillation; depression; anxiety; bipolar disorder; Asperger’s syndrome; insomnia; seizure disorders; optic nerve conditions; glaucoma; migraines; Parkinson’s disease; Alzheimer’s disease; dementia; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis; HHV-6; HHV-7; HHV-8; HHV-9; the undiscovered HHV-10, HHV-11, and HHV-12; thyroid disease; shingles; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); autism; thyroid nodules; urinary tract infections (UTIs); infertility; low reproductive system battery; sciatica; bacterial pneumonia; Lyme disease; mycoplasma; Chlamydia pneumoniae; parasites; carpal tunnel syndrome; depression; anxiety; hypertension; human papilloma virus (HPV); norovirus; pancreatitis; small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO); sunburn
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing coconut into your life:
Heart palpitations, grand mal seizures, arrhythmia, anxiousness, brain fog, blurry eyes, Bell’s palsy, memory loss, weight gain, food allergies, frozen shoulder, jaw pain, neuralgia, all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest), back pain, blurry eyes, confusion, chemical sensitivities, mineral deficiencies, fatigue, listlessness, malaise, dehydration, headaches, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, connective tissue inflammation, ear pain, foot pain, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, low platelet counts, nervousness, ringing or buzzing in the ears, urinary urgency
Do you know anyone who travels through life reacting to everything with the response, “But how does this affect me?” If so, offer her or him coconut in any form. Coconut is for that person who’s narcissistic, self-consumed, and completely saturated in her or his singular worldview. Coconut opens the emotional channel for someone to let go of the self-addiction and weigh others’ needs and values alongside her or his own.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
Coconut palms are quick to drop their coconuts in a storm. This comes from the trees’ wisdom of survival—they can either hold onto the coconuts and risk toppling as the winds whip through, or they can let go of them, and make themselves less vulnerable. It’s a lesson we would all do well to take to heart. When life gets stormy, we sometimes have to let go of what’s most precious to us, and it can feel like the end of the world. Coconut trees teach us that in the end, the sun comes back out, and what matters most is that you’re okay.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
This rich, complex curry is the perfect dinner for meals around the table with family and friends. The recipe makes a big batch, so you’ll have enough for a hungry crew, or for leftovers to be eaten throughout the week. Yellow curry is mild and warming, with the mingled flavors of ginger, garlic, and turmeric simmered in coconut milk and loaded with potatoes, carrots, and squash. This dish will become a favorite to return to over and over again.
1 small kabocha squash
8 potatoes
8 carrots
1 tablespoon coconut oil
3 onions, diced
8 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons grated ginger
2 tablespoons yellow curry powder
3 cups coconut milk
2 teaspoons honey
1½ teaspoons salt
½ cup cilantro
1 lime
Red pepper (optional)
Place the kabocha squash in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until squash softens slightly. Drain and set aside to cool. Roughly dice the potatoes and carrots and set aside. When the squash is cool enough to handle, slice it in half and remove the seeds. Roughly dice the squash and return to the pot along with the carrots and potatoes. Add 2 inches of water to the pot and bring to a boil. Cover to steam, stirring occasionally. Add more water if needed. Steam until the vegetables are just cooked through.
For the curry, warm the coconut oil in a large pot. Add the onions and sauté over high heat until they are soft and fragrant (about 5 minutes). If needed, add water to prevent sticking. Add the garlic, ginger, and curry powder to the onions, stirring frequently for 1 minute. Add the coconut milk, honey, and salt, and continue stirring. Add the vegetables and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Serve the curry topped with cilantro, lime juice, and red pepper, if desired.
Dandelions come up in the early spring, just when our bodies are due for a spring cleaning. When consumed, the dandelion’s defining characteristic is bitterness, and this is the very feature that lends it restorative properties. That bitterness is medicine derived from plant acids and healing alkaloids. Dandelions shake you out of hibernation, getting your blood pumping and your organs cleaning house from radiation, toxic heavy metals, DDT, and other poisons.
What makes the dandelion unique is that every part of the plant can be used: root, leaves, flower, and even stem. Each bit has a different degree of bitterness, and this corresponds with areas of the body that need different sorts of cleansing. To start with, the flowers (which have some bitterness yet are edging on slightly sweet) cleanse the hollow organs such as the stomach and intestinal tract, gallbladder, bladder, lungs, uterus, and heart.
Then there are the leaves. Phytochemicals in dandelion leaves purify blood and also help bring it to hard-to-reach places, so the leaves are a must for circulatory issues such as poor circulation. The leaves’ bitterness is also geared to squeeze toxins out of the lymphatic system, making them ideal for addressing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, swollen lymph nodes, and edema.
When you get to the stem of the dandelion, which is even more bitter than the flower and leaves, now you’re in the world of cleansing the dense organs such as the spleen, liver, and brain—for example, by pushing out bile that’s no longer useful. I’ve seen dandelion greens, eaten consistently, prevent splenectomies.
And when you get to the dandelion root, you’re detoxifying even deeper into those dense organs. This is the bitterest part of the plant, and it forces the organs to purge on the deepest level for an intensified purification. When it comes to detoxing, dandelion root is not for the faint of heart.
Dandelion is not just a cleansing herb. It’s like a housekeeping service at a fancy hotel that, after tidying up and gathering the trash, leaves a mint behind on your pillow. Dandelion’s parting gift is better than candy, though—it leaves behind vital nutrients such as vitamin A, B vitamins, manganese, iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, silica, and chlorophyll that give you energy and help your body stave off disease. Dandelion is a preventative for virtually any illness, and is especially great for the prostate.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing dandelion into your life:
Lymphoma (including non-Hodgkin’s), edema, prostatitis, skin cancers, ringworm, rosacea, obesity, kidney stones, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, acne, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), migraines, urinary tract infections (UTIs), blood disorders, blood cell disease, digestive disorders, fatty liver, celiac disease, kidney disease
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing dandelion into your life:
Poor circulation; fluid retention; swollen lymph nodes; weight gain; hives; sluggish liver; stagnant liver; abdominal distension; abdominal pain; acid reflux; blood toxicity; congestion; constipation; liver cysts; digestive discomfort; dysfunctional liver; enlarged spleen; excess mucus; pre-fatty liver; fluid retention; high blood pressure; inflamed appendix; inflamed gallbladder, stomach, small intestine, and/or colon; histamine reactions; weak digestion
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
We sometimes feel like we’re missing pieces of ourselves, or our emotions cause us to act out and say things that we later regret and are not even sure why we mentioned in the first place. This is often because we’re out of joint; our soul, spirit, and body are not working as one. For the person who wants to feel whole, dandelion is the perfect unifier, because it is truly all one with itself.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
So often, we get hung up on proving ourselves by being first, and it affects our sense of self-worth. This overachiever mentality starts at an early age: first in line, first to raise your hand, first to hand in an assignment, first one on the bus. Some people feel like they’ll miss out forever on recognition and opportunity if they don’t prove themselves in this way.
After dandelions’ spring growth has died down in the heat of the summer, the plants aren’t finished for the year—dandelions frequently reappear in fall. If you’re someone who feels incomplete or less-than if you aren’t the first on the scene, this is an important lesson to take to heart. Dandelions come back around again—and in this way teach us that we can find contentment and solace in not always being first, because there are new chances around the bend.
Dandelion Green Juice
Makes 1 to 2 servings
Dandelion greens’ strong taste is tempered perfectly in this mild green citrus juice. Enjoy this refreshing drink as the perfect way to make dandelion greens a part of your day.
1 head of celery, stalks separated
2 cucumbers
2 medium oranges, peeled
10 dandelion leaves (with stems if you have them)
Run all the ingredients through a high-speed juicer. Add more dandelion according to taste. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
While you’re not likely to find nettle leaf listed elsewhere as an adaptogenic herb, it is a star adaptogen, ideal for supporting our bodies through periods of stress. Nettle leaf contains a vast ocean of more than 700 undiscovered phytochemicals. It is life-giving and life-lengthening, an amazing anti-inflammatory for tired organs, and contains healing alkaloids yet to be discovered through scientific research.
In women’s health, the ovaries get a lot of attention for producing the reproductive hormones. This means that when a test shows that a woman’s hormone levels are deficient, health-care professionals tend to blame the reproductive system, which sometimes results in a prescription for unnecessary hormone replacement. In truth, the adrenal glands share the job equally of producing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in women. Low hormone test results often mean that the adrenals are either overactive (and therefore the excess adrenaline’s corrosive nature is interfering with accurate readings) or underactive (and therefore they’re not keeping up with production of sex hormones). The only way you can get an accurate reading from a hormone test of how the reproductive organs are doing is if the adrenals are perfectly healthy and balanced. So many women in their 20s and 30s are being told they’ve entered perimenopause, when the real cause of their suffering is adrenal fatigue. In countless cases where a woman’s reproductive system is considered the problem, it’s really the adrenals that need help—which is where nettle leaf comes in.
This anti-radiation wild food is amazing for pampering the adrenal glands and other members of the endocrine system that are overburdened, overworked, and overfatigued. And since the ovaries are part of the endocrine system, nettle is a win-win—it helps address multiple sources of hormone disruption at once. Nettle leaf is the ultimate reproductive herb of all time, especially for women. It enhances egg production by supporting the follicle-stimulating hormone that’s integral to producing an ovum, and also rids the body of toxic estrogens that have entered from outside sources such as plastics and pesticides.
Rich with bone-building and bone-protecting herbs such as silica, nettle leaf also has more than 40 trace minerals in their most bioactive, bioavailable, and assimilable states. All of this, plus nettle is a potent pain reliever that enhances our ability to thrive.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing nettle leaf into your life:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) such as bladder infections and kidney infections, interstitial cystitis, reproductive cancers, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, uterine cancer, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), shingles, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), laryngitis, low reproductive system battery, acne, eczema, psoriasis, infertility, all autoimmune diseases and disorders, alopecia, anemia, anorexia, anxiety, depression, bladder prolapse, breast cancer, edema, endocrine system disorders, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), vaginal strep
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing nettle leaf into your life:
Underactive/overactive adrenals, adrenal hormone imbalance, anxiousness, inflammation, reproductive hormonal imbalances, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, vaginal burning, menstrual pain, menstrual cramping, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, rashes, headaches, food allergies, menopause symptoms, abdominal cramping, accelerated aging, scar tissue, bloating, cold hands and feet, swelling, incontinence, irregular menstruation, low cortisol, mood swings, moodiness
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Nettle leaf is a wonderful centering herb for anyone who is highly distractible and scattered.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
When nettle first starts to sprout in the spring, it just seems like another bit of new growth in the garden bed or field—we tend to appreciate the bit of greenery and not think much more of it. Then suddenly, nettle shoots up, fills out, and makes its presence known. When we’re not being mindful, it announces itself with a little sting when we brush against it. People who’ve had painful encounters like these tend to identify nettle as a weed, and that first nettle spotting of the season comes with a bit of dread. For those who’ve learned to approach nettle with respect, though, and who are tuned in to its many benefits, there’s a little thrill that goes with seeing a new nettle plant take off—it’s like reuniting with a long lost friend. Nettle teaches us to keep our eyes out for these sparks of gratitude everywhere. What else in your life have you treated with disregard, when really it’s just a matter of learning to be open to it, work with it, and appreciate its true nature?
TIPS
Nettle Tea with Mint and Ginger
Makes 3 to 6 cups
Nettle’s adaptogenic qualities help us get in touch with our intuition. As you sip this invigorating tea, reflect on your intuitive abilities—how they’ve served you in the past and what they’re telling you right now.
2 tablespoons nettle leaf
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint
2 teaspoons grated ginger
Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Boil 4 cups of water. For each serving of tea, use 1 teaspoon of the tea blend per 1 cup of hot water.* Steep for 5 minutes or more.
*If a stronger, more medicinal tea is desired, use 2 teaspoons or up to 1 tablespoon of the tea blend per serving.
If you feel out of touch with miracles, then reacquaint yourself with honey. Unprocessed honey in its raw, living form is nothing less than a miracle from God and the earth. Honey has saved human life during drastic times of starvation, and it will become critical again in the future as a food for our survival. You don’t need to be in dire circumstances to benefit from honey, though. Take a moment to think about what this wild food really is: nectar. It is liquid gold that can turn your life around.
For those who are afraid that honey is just pure sugar and therefore should be avoided, put your worry aside. If you turn your back on honey, you’re missing out on its amazing health benefits. The sugar in honey is nothing like processed sugar—don’t confuse it with table sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. Rather, because bees collect from plant species far and wide, the fructose and glucose in honey are saturated with more than 200,000 undiscovered phytochemical compounds and agents, including pathogen-killers, phytochemicals that protect you from radiation damage, and anti-cancerous phytochemicals. When drawn into cancerous tumors and cysts, this last class of phytochemicals shut down the cancerous growth process—meaning that raw honey can stop cancer in its tracks. Honey’s highly absorbable sugar and B12 coenzymes make it one of the most powerful brain foods of our time. Plus, raw honey repairs DNA and is extremely high in minerals such as calcium, potassium, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, chromium, molybdenum, and manganese.
Our immune systems are constantly adapting to whatever microorganisms we encounter—which is why raw honey, one of the most adaptogenic foods on the planet, produced by bees, one of the most adaptogenic beings on the planet, is so important for supporting immunity. Honey in its raw form is a secret weapon against infectious illness. When you’re dealing with weakened immunity and feel like you’re extra susceptible to catching colds, flus, stomach bugs such as norovirus, and food poisoning, raw honey assists your body in keeping a strong first line of defense by strengthening neutrophils and macrophages so they can fight off pathogens. (It’s not yet documented by medical science that these and other white blood cells feed off of immune-stimulating phytochemicals.) These properties also make raw honey anti-inflammatory—because it inhibits pathogens from procreating and thus releasing toxins that elevate inflammation. Honey is truly medicine for our planet.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing raw honey into your life:
Sinus infections, ear infections, diabetes, hypoglycemia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), allergies, sties, eye infections, MRSA, staph infections, mystery infertility, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), low reproductive system battery, insomnia, adrenal fatigue, colds, influenza, norovirus, all types of cancer, bipolor disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, all autoimmune diseases and disorders, parasites, food poisoning, respiratory infections, colds, influenza, bronchitis, laryngitis, thrush
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing raw honey into your life:
Sore throat, postnasal drip, inflammation, canker sores, sleep disturbances, bacterial infections in the gut, all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest), body odor, dry skin, cysts, eye dryness, dizzy spells, earaches, ear pain, eye floaters, fever, headaches, hot flashes, joint pain, lack of energy, loss of libido, fatigue, memory issues, memory loss, sinus issues, shortness of breath, stomachaches
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Honey’s sticky nature isn’t just a physical trait; it also applies itself on an emotional level. If honey is in your life, then when you experience something good—something that lifts you up and feeds your soul—that memory sticks to you, and you don’t lose it among the negative experiences that threaten to distract you.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
If you could trace your family lines back to their oldest days, you would find ancestors who subsisted on honey. Raw honey was not a survival food in the sense that it simply got people by until something better came along. Rather, it was (and still is) incredible medicinal nourishment. Honey is written into our lineage. Who we are—our souls, our DNA—in a sense derives from honey. This means that if we avoid honey, we’re shutting off a part of ourselves that connects all the way back to the beginning of human life. Trends that cut us off from honey go to show how disconnected we can really become. Connecting with honey puts us back in touch with ourselves. It prompts us to ask what else we’ve turned a cold shoulder to that made us who we are today. What else deserves reevaluation?
TIPS
Makes 2 to 4 servings
Fair warning: This ice cream recipe is dangerously good. It only takes a few minutes to prep with an ice cream maker, and in under an hour, you can have ice cream that is cleaner and way more delicious than anything available in the store. As a bonus, you’ll have some leftover almond milk that you can use in smoothies or enjoy cold from the fridge.
1 cup almonds
2 dates, pitted
¼ inch vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1½ cups coconut cream (from approximately 2 13.5-ounce cans of refrigerated full-fat coconut milk)
⅛ teaspoon sea salt
⅛ cup raw honey
¼ cup chopped almonds (optional)
First, make the almond milk by blending the almonds, dates, and scraped seeds from the vanilla bean with 2 cups of water until smooth. Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag or cloth and set aside. Then, open the cans of coconut milk, being careful not to shake them. Separate off the heavy cream from each can. (See the Berries and Cream recipe for guidance.) In a medium bowl, mix the coconut cream with 1 cup of almond milk, sea salt, and raw honey until combined. Pour into the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer’s instructions.* Serve the ice cream topped with chopped almonds, if desired, and a drizzle of raw honey.
*Without an ice cream maker, freeze the mixture in a bowl and stir every 30 minutes until set.
It’s not just the rare and hard-to-find that has value. The very accessibility of some resources—think sunlight, air—makes them miracles in and of themselves. Red clover, one such wonder, is thought of as a common weed, when it should be heralded as a king. On top of red clover’s generosity of spirit, it has a sympathetic energy; it actually cares about the person who’s consuming it.
Red clover is the most powerful herb of all to support the lymphatic system and cleanse lymph fluid, and it can be effective for addressing any type of cancer. This generous wild herb—you can use both the flowers and the leaves—is a diuretic and the ultimate blood builder for those who are worried about virtually any type of blood disorder or disease, including leukemia, multiple myeloma, or just toxic blood overall due to the pancreas or liver not functioning properly.
Red clover is loaded with a bumper crop of nutrients and disease-fighting alkaloids. You can get more out of red clover than any multivitamin on the shelf. If you or your doctor are concerned that you have nutrient deficiencies, drink three cups daily of red clover tea. It is the ultimate tool for remineralization and an amazing replenisher of deficiencies specifically in molybdenum, manganese, selenium, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, B vitamins, cofactors of vitamins (phytonutrients that are not yet on the radar of medical research), and more. Plus, red clover’s alkaloids work hand in hand with its amino acids to break up and reduce stored-up, unnecessary fat, so it can be flushed out of the body. It’s one of the ultimate drivers of weight loss of our time.
Red clover also has an energizing effect, making it a stellar herb for someone who’s feeling exhausted, fatigued, or depleted. You can have the best smoothie packed with fresh fruits, veggies, and superfood powders, and it likely won’t match the replenishing nutrition contained in one cup of red clover tea. All of this combined with red clover’s ability to cleanse toxic heavy metals and pesticides such as DDT makes this herb truly a must for survival in this century.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing red clover into your life:
Blood cell disease, B cell disease, leukemia, blood toxicity, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, blood cell cancers such as multiple myeloma, anemia (including sickle cell disease), liver disease, adrenal fatigue, low reproductive system battery, allergies, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)/mononucleosis, acne, herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2), infertility, shingles, transient ischemic attack (TIA), salivary duct problems, celiac disease, eczema, psoriasis, Lyme disease
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing red clover into your life:
High blood pressure, stagnant liver, sluggish liver, chronic diarrhea, chronic loose stools, constipation, hormonal imbalances, enlarged spleen, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, menopause symptoms, food allergies, hives, rashes, blood sugar imbalances, melancholy, swollen lymph nodes, poor circulation, histamine reactions and sensitivities, dry skin, blood in the urine, calcifications, chemical sensitivities, body fungus, brittle nails, bruising, headaches, weak digestion, weight gain, sweets cravings
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Red clover is for people who live in the past, almost to their own detriment. When you find yourself trying to relive long-ago days because you’re nostalgic for feelings of happiness and contentment you felt back then, turn to red clover. This herb helps bring these sustaining emotions into the present, so that you can feel joy and satisfaction in your current life.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
While red clover is used agriculturally in crop rotation, so often when we see it pop up in our lawns and gardens, we consider it a weed. Red clover can grow almost anywhere, and it doesn’t care that it’s stepped on, even though it should be considered royalty. It is a very forgiving plant that grows vigorously, with great tenacity. You can mow it, stomp on it, cut it down, and still it comes back over and over, providing hope and abundance. Where in your life have you been beaten down by adversity, and yet you still have so much to offer? Red clover teaches us to keep on going.
TIPS
Makes 4 cups
When you wake up in want of a fresh beginning, drink a cup of this flower tea in the morning. You’ll notice how the day starts to seem newer and brighter.
2 tablespoons red clover blossoms
1 tablespoons chamomile flowers
¼ teaspoon lavender flowers
Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Boil 4 cups of water. For each serving of tea, use 1 teaspoon of the blend in 1 cup of hot water.* Steep for 5 minutes or more.
*If a stronger, more medicinal tea is desired, use 2 teaspoons or up to 1 tablespoon of the tea blend per serving.
We tend to forget about vitamin C unless we’re trying to fight off a cold. Even though we’ve read in the history books about sailors who used to contract scurvy on long voyages without fresh fruit—so we’re familiar with the concept of vitamin C deficiency—it drifts off to the parts of our minds where we store information about DDT, mercury, and other dangers we think are set firmly in the past. Truth is, vitamin C deficiency is still a reality today, and it can contribute to almost any disease. Vitamin C is a critical part of how we survive here on earth—which is why you want rose hips in your life.
The vitamin C in rose hips is the most bioidentical, bioavailable form of vitamin C in existence—that is, the most usable form for our bodies. Plus, the vitamin C in rose hips has the power to transform other vitamin C found in the system from other foods you eat into something bigger and better. Vitamin C is anti-inflammatory (and the vitamin C in rose hips is more anti-inflammatory than from any other source); helps increase our blood’s white count by strengthening our neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and macrophages; and generally boosts the immune system against viruses, bacteria, yeast, mold, and other unwanted fungus. Rose hips are a particularly helpful catalyst for battling virtually any type of infection.
When a virus such as Epstein-Barr is active in the body, it often gives off damaging neurotoxins and dermatoxins, and in the process, a jelly-like substance called biofilm forms from the virus’s debris. This biofilm is not only like a petri dish for unproductive microorganisms such as bacteria in the body, it can also gunk up the works of critical organs. The liver acts as a sponge, absorbing this biofilm in an effort to protect the body, however the biofilm can break loose into the blood, and then, because the heart draws much of its blood from the liver, this sticky jelly residue can get caught in heart valves such as the mitral valve. This is a hidden cause of mystery heart palpitations, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and arrhythmia. The vitamin C in rose hips can stop this from occurring. It has a dissolving effect on biofilm, helping to break up deposits of it and ultimately give relief to the person who suffers from irregular heartbeats.
Rose hips are amazing for alleviating UTIs—much more powerful at the job than cranberries—and for healing skin conditions. They also have a higher ratio of antioxidants than most healing foods, and contain a wide variety of antioxidants (many of which are still undiscovered) in addition to vitamin C. Roses’ roots go deeper into the soil than many other shrubs. Because of the depths to which they reach, they’re able to work their way into clay and loam, and draw up nearly every type of mineral, including critical silica. Even when you grow roses in your backyard, the resulting rose hips are still a wild food. Grafting, hybridization, and cultivation cannot take the wildness out of the rose—these powers never waver.
CONDITIONS
If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing rose hips into your life:
Ear infections, dental issues, gum disease, gum abscesses, urinary tract infections (UTIs) such as bladder infections and kidney infections, diverticulitis, diverticulosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), laryngitis, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, colds, influenza, sinus infections, acne, vitiligo, skin infections, staph infections, strep throat, sties, eye infections, MRSA, toenail and fingernail fungus, adrenal fatigue, herpex simplex 2 (HSV-2), all autoimmune diseases and disorders, chronic bronchitis, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hemorrhoids, psoriatic arthritis, internal bacterial infections, seizure disorders, diabetes
SYMPTOMS
If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing rose hips into your life:
Sore throat, canker sores, heart palpitations, stagnant liver, sluggish liver, constipation, rashes, excess mucus, fever, all neurological symptoms (including tingles, numbness, spasms, arrhythmia, enlarged spleen, twitches, nerve pain, and tightness of the chest), blurred vision, frozen shoulder, hot flashes, blisters, body pain, itchy skin, listlessness, brain lesions, mineral deficiencies, cough, dizzy spells, ringing or buzzing in the ears, dry skin, eye dryness, malaise, neck pain, nervousness, shoulder pain
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Have you ever felt like someone had it out for you? Like you were under psychic attack? Do others’ negative opinions affect your state of mind? Rose hips are critical to protect you against this sort of ill will. Whether people are upset that you’re pursuing natural approaches (such as natural childbirth or breastfeeding for a long period), laying down the law at work, or following your conscience when they wish you’d compromise your morals, bring in rose hips to block out the naysayers so you can pursue your path.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
The fleeting beauty of roses gets a lot of attention. What about when the petals drop away? It isn’t cause for melancholy, or reflection on how we’re at the mercy of time—it’s cause for celebration. That big, showy, fragrant blossom was just the invitation; the party really gets started once the rose fades and the flower’s fruit, the rose hip, begins to ripen. The same is true of people. Getting older isn’t a reason to mourn—our younger years are just the beginning. As we age and our experience grows, we gain our real value: fruitful wisdom that we can share and use to nourish each other. What else in your life are you writing off as an end, when really, it’s a beginning?
Orange Rose Hips Iced Tea
Makes 2 cups
When you have a spare moment to wind down, turn your mind to rose hips, and brew up a batch of this sweet, light, and refreshing iced tea. As you take time to enjoy it on your own or with a companion, bask in the drink’s benefits and the simple pleasure of nourishing yourself.
2 teaspoons dried rose hips
½ cup orange juice
Boil 2 cups of water. Steep rosehips in 1½ cups of water for 5 minutes or more.* Place the tea in the refrigerator to cool. When cool, add ½ cup of orange juice. Serve over ice and enjoy!
*If a stronger, more medicinal tea is desired, use 2 teaspoons or up to 1 tablespoon of the tea blend per serving.
It’s easy to get swept up in the belief that the ultimate healing food is hiding somewhere in the tropical wilds. We read about researchers who scour the jungle for miracle roots and berries, and we see exotic dried fruits for sale at the grocery store with packages proclaiming them “superfoods.” Maybe one day, we tell ourselves, a true miracle food will be discovered out there in the rain forest—the root or berry or herb or nut that will save humanity.
While of course the rain forest has potent medicine to offer, that’s not where scientists will find the most valuable food that can save us. The world’s most powerful food is hiding on low, scrubby bushes in plain sight. I’m talking about the wild blueberry. There is not a cancer that wild blueberries cannot prevent, nor a disease known to humankind that wild blueberries cannot protect you from.
Do not confuse wild blueberries with their larger, cultivated cousins, which, while great for your health, don’t offer even a fraction of wild blueberries’ power. The difference between cultivated and wild blueberries is the difference between farm-raised salmon and wild salmon, or between industrial, grain-fed beef and free-range, grass-fed beef. Bringing cultivated blueberries into your life is like drinking from a paper cup; bringing wild blueberries into your life is like drinking from the golden cup that Jesus once drank from—the Holy Grail.
Wild blueberries hold ancient and sacred survival information from the heavens, going back tens of thousands of years. They have adapted to every fluctuation in climate over the millennia. Their innate intelligence has prevented them from accepting a monoculture; instead, they thrive with more than 100 variable strains that look similar yet have different genetic makeups, so that these plants can never be eradicated, no matter what comes in the future. While other food plants can only continue after a fire if their seeds survive and are replanted, wild blueberry plants can be burned to the ground, and they will come back stronger than ever. No other food on the planet has the ability to thrive in such trying conditions. It is the number-one adaptogen, period—even though it is not recognized as an adaptogenic food at all.
Currently, wild blueberries are acknowledged by nutrition experts for their sky-high levels of antioxidants. It goes beyond that—they have the highest proportion of antioxidants of any food on the planet. On top of that, these tiny jewels have a plethora of undiscovered qualities. For one, they’re armed with dozens of antioxidant varieties that science does not yet know about, along with polyphenols, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, dimethyl resveratrol, and as yet unknown cofactor adaptogenic amino acids. When you eat these berries, their innate intelligence reads your body, searches out potential disease, monitors your stress and toxicity levels, and figures out the best way to heal you—it is the only food that does that.
One of the most effective heavy metal detoxing foods, wild blueberries are fantastic at removing all other Unforgiving Four factors, too. Wild blueberries are also the most powerful brain food in existence, the most potent prebiotic there is, and a star at restoring the liver. Essentially, this fruit offers a benefit unobtainable from any other source for every part of the body. There is more information in one wild blueberry plant than there is on the entire Internet. If researchers had the technology to decipher what’s inside wild blueberries and how to use it all, they would develop cures for every condition. One hundred years from now, medical science will use the wild blueberry as the key to unlock the secrets of how to heal disease.
This is the food you want in your life when you’ve been through the unthinkable and need the support to rise up again. It’s also for anyone who needs a physical boost or strives athletically—wild blueberries in the system could mean the difference between life or death for a rock climber in a perilous situation. Wild blueberries are the sole food on the planet to contain the full power of the divine, the Holy Source, the universe, and they are revered by the angels as the key to keeping the human race alive in the coming times. Wild blueberries are, above all, the resurrection food.
CONDITIONS
If you have any condition, particularly if it’s cancerous or related to the brain and/or nerves, try bringing wild blueberries into your life.
SYMPTOMS
If you have any symptom, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical, try bringing wild blueberries into your life.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
Wild blueberries have more inspiration to offer us than even the best motivational speakers on the planet, because they mend us on an emotional level. Wild blueberries strengthen the very fabric of who we are so that we won’t be so susceptible to punishment, rejection, scorn, humiliation, devastation, and degradation. If you’ve struggled with feeling criticized, depreciated, discredited, mistreated, or neglected, this is a holy, healing food for you.
SPIRITUAL LESSON
I’m sure you’ve had an experience in life that leveled you. Something, whether an illness, troubled relationship, or tragic event, that brought you to your knees and practically annihilated your sense of self. Wild blueberries understand what you’ve been through. They know who you are, the damages you’ve dealt with, and how to help you rise again. Native Americans observed early on that when wildfire occurred, the only thing that would grow in its path afterward were wild blueberry plants—in fact, they would come back stronger and healthier than ever before. This is the source of the wild blueberry’s power: not only can it rise from the ashes, it uses those ashes to its benefit.
And when frozen, because they are true adaptogens, wild blueberries don’t lose their nutritional value as some fruits and vegetables do; their nutrition increases. The challenge of withstanding the freezing process pushes the fruit to perform at the top of its game, providing you with greater nutritional force and bioavailability.
On both ends of the spectrum, in fire and ice, wild blueberries don’t just survive; they triumph. They take an adverse circumstance, meet it, and become better for it. When you eat this supernatural fruit, that indestructible essence becomes a part of you.
Lastly: We all hear a lot of talk about having the right mind-set to attract abundance, shaping our thoughts and actions to manifest the lives we want. This can be very helpful. A person who feels positive is more likely to make choices that lead her or him to more positivity. Sometimes, though, the subject tears us down. The last thing someone who’s sick, suffering, or in otherwise unfortunate circumstances needs is to feel like they somehow created, attracted, or brought it upon themselves. If you want to know one of the secrets to manifesting abundance, it’s the wild blueberry. I know, that’s not what you’d expect! And yet it’s true. These little berries are that powerful. When you are striving for anything, when you want to live a life of bounty and blessings, turn to wild blueberries and watch the magic happen.
TIPS
Makes 4 to 6 servings
Loaded with juicy wild blueberries that burst in your mouth and are piled into a sweet cashew crust, this pie is as simple and perfect as it gets. It takes only minutes to make—and about that long to disappear, too! Enjoy it for dessert, breakfast, or any time the urge strikes you.
⅓ cup cashews
⅓ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
4 cups dates, pitted
20 ounces frozen wild blueberries, thawed
1 mango, diced
For the crust, process the cashews, coconut, and 3 cups of dates in a food processor until thoroughly combined and smooth. Press the crust into a 9-inch pie dish. Cover and refrigerate.
For the filling, process half of the wild blueberries, the remaining cup of dates, and the mango in a food processor until smooth. Stir in the other half of the blueberries. Pour the filling into the pie crust and allow to set in the refrigerator for at least 40 minutes. Serve the pie cold and enjoy!
