Dear Customers,

So many have been asking about what is going on with the Naturopathic licensing in Pa. Well...so far not a thing it seems it is still hung up in the "rules committee" and who knows how long it will take for the Senate to actually see it and vote. In the meantime I still urge you all to contact your local Senators and Congressman and tell them to vote "NO" on Pa house bill 612.It is important we all stand up for what we believe in and have a voice in this country before we can't at all..and that time may well be coming..sooner than we think!
It is up to US the "citizens" of this country to say what we want and don't want. Do not leave it up to someone else or put it off We NEED all of you to act on this!!

Thank you,
  Sharon

March Newsletter

Happy Spring Everyone!!!

So sorry about not getting a newsletter out last month, it was a crazy time here with Mary Beth being off. However she is back in the saddle and all I can say is thank God!!! Her health is great, problem solved!
She is my left and right hand so she was missed terribly by not just me but many of you too I know. We have decided to use our blog to keep you informed and put out our newsletters, it makes a nice way for you to ask questions and keep up better with all the goings on here!!

So lots to catch up on and talk about. First spring is here though it may not look like it and allergy season right around the corner..IF we ever warm up that is!! Wanted to get you all prepared for that before your allergies go bonkers!! So here are some things I suggest to get started on now:

Allergy Fighters by Twinlab: 2 twice daily with meals. This helps as a preventative so get on this ASAP
                                                                        OR
Allergy Essentials by Pure Encapsulation: 2 with each meal: this also does the same thing.

Nettle tea is another good one to start drinking as it also works as a preventative and anti-inflammatory to the sinus's.

If you are not using local honey, I would suggest you do. One teaspoon a day everyday helps to build your resistance to the various pollens and irritants that usually bother you. Basically local honey desensitizes your allergies.Plus it tastes great too and goes well with tea and biscuits or crumpets. LOL That is if your English!

Once allergy season hits and if you are still having some issues I would suggest using any one of these products:

ALJ / this is great for the entire respiratory system.
Sinus Support / works like a antihistamine, helping with sinus drainage, watery or itchy eyes.
Histablock / Opens nasal passages and work as an anti-inflammatory to the sinus's.

All of the above products are by Natures Sunshine.

Many people have also found relief using the Nettie Pots also. A wonderful to clear out the sinus area and if you add colloidal silver to the solution it clears up a sinus infection. As the silver works like an antibiotic. We also carry many specific allergy products in a homeopathic form too which is great for many people as some are sensitive to herbs in general.

Remember allergies are an auto immune issue so avoid Echinecea and Golden Seal. Support your adrenals with B-complex, extra pantothenic acid, Royal Jelly, any adrenal formula and also Grape seed extract. You don't want to stimulate the immune system you want to balance it out!! Now certainly you do not need to take ALL of these, pick one,any one and it will support your adrenals.

With the spring comes also the time to cleanse the LIVER and COLON!!

We have many great products to do that job from just about every line of supplement companies we carry. However if you are NOT a pill taker drinking some Dandelion root tea and Milk thistle is a good way to go to detox that liver .Adding in local honey of course:-) Drink 2 cups each daily for the next month or 6 weeks.
For the colon again we have many combinations here that will do that job nicely and turn those brown eyes blue!! Just kidding, though it may lighten them up a tad. I kid you, but believe it or not at one time my Iris was as black as my pupils. After much cleansing my eyes are more Hazel...so you know what I was full of!! Hey I came from a blue eyed family so there you have it!! Though my mother and one brother had green eyes, this is a sign of serious kidney issues and both of them had a lot of problems. My mother even had one kidney removed and half the other. So eye color mean many things.But that is another news letter in itself...

We also have brought in some new supplements by Barlenes:

 A 1500 mg form of fish oil in liquid citrus flavor. For our arteries and vessels.
 Liquid swirl COQ 10 for heart health and circulation, including blood pressure.
 Liquid swirl coconut oil for brain health and memory
 Liquid swirl CLA for weight loss, especially belly fat.

They are delicious as all their fruit swirl products are. So stop in and see us and oh by the way all products we have mentioned in this newsletter for allergies, liver and colon health are 20% off. So take advantage of this sale and stock up!!

God Bless you all and again Happy Spring and Good Health to all of you!!!

Sharon, Mary Beth and Donna

Sharon Does "House Calls"

Remember the good old days when the family doctor would drag himself out of bed to see to a sick family member?  Well.....those days are long gone.

But, if you would like to share some holistic health expertise with friends, family, co-workers, social groups or anyone else, Sharon does come to your location to do seminars and/or lectures.  She recently had a wonderful time speaking to some AT&T employees as well as a lovely homeschooling group.  She has spoken at hospitals, retirement homes, and schools.  She can do small groups gatherings or large seminars.

Give us a call at 412-343-8156 to discuss having Sharon attend your gathering and we can advise you on scheduling and fees.

In Favor of your Morning Joe

 Coffee.  Depending who you talk to, it's good for you or it's bad for you.  The truth is the health benefits generally outweigh any possible risks.  When we were kids we all heard "Coffee will stunt your growth."  I confess I even tried this line on my kids, mostly because the little heathens do NOT need any help staying awake!  Luckily there is no evidence coffee inhibits development or growth, but it's still probably not a good idea to give the little darlings a stimulant if you'd like them to go to bed at a decent hour, because coffee indeed contains the well known stimulant, caffeine.  Another myth linking coffee to heart disease and/or increased mortality, is an outdated theory, most likely because at the time, it was not taken into account that heavy coffee drinkers were more likely to also be heavy smokers. 

So, on to the benefits!

1)  Caffeine may help protect brain cells from Parkinson's, Dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.  And because coffee beans are in fact BEANS, they contain those lovely plant antioxidants which may also protect your liver.  In fact according to an article published by The American Gastroenterology Association (Gastroenterolgy, Volume 144, Issue 4, Pages 670-672, April 2013), coffee may be a valid adjunct to therapy for liver disease.

2)  Coffee boosts your brainpower.  A cup of java before a big test or other brain intensive task can sharpen your memory and keep you alert.  Millions of college kids can't be wrong!

3)  Coffee may help in weight-loss or weight maintenance efforts.  Caffeine can give your metabolism a boost, increasing your fat burning power.  Decreasing your BMI to a healthy range can prevent Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  Additionally black coffee is one of the lowest calorie drinks you can find. 

4)  There is evidence caffeine can also improve your athletic performance.  Caffeine increases adrenaline levels in the blood. This is the “fight or flight” hormone, designed to make our bodies ready for intense physical exertion.  Caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat, releasing them into the blood as free fatty acids and making them available as fuel for physical activity.

5)  Coffee contains nutrition!  A single cup of coffee contains:

• Riboflavin (Vitamin B2): 11% of the RDA.
• Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5): 6% of the RDA.
• Manganese and Potassium: 3% of the RDA.
• Magnesium and Niacin (B3): 2% of the RDA.

If you are like most people, and drink more than one cup per day, these nutrients add up!

6)  Coffee may fight depression.  Depression is a serious mental disorder that causes a significantly reduced quality of life.  It is incredibly common and about 4.1% of people in the U.S. currently meet the criteria for clinical depression.  In a Harvard study published in 2011, women who drank 4 or more cups per day had a 20% lower risk of becoming depressed.  Another study with 208,424 individuals found that those who drank 4 or more cups per day were 53% less likely to commit suicide.

7)  Coffee is a significant source of antioxidants in a Western diet. For people who eat a standard Western diet, coffee may actually be the healthiest aspect of the diet.  Coffee contains a massive amount of antioxidants.Coffee has an ORAC (Oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value ranging between 15,000 - 17,000 per CUP.  In fact, studies show that most people get more antioxidants from coffee than both fruits and vegetables… combined.

Now go have a cup of java!  It's GOOD for you! We recommend our delicious Ruta Maya 100% organic whole bean coffee. Mmmmmmmmm.
   
    ~  Mary Beth

Ruta Maya 100% Organic Coffee is BACK!

Back to Basics now featuring...........

Ruta Maya 100% organic coffee

 Stop by today and pick some up!

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired!

 Nature’s Sunshine Seasonal Defense is another great supplement that keeps me healthy all year long.  I have three young children, and let’s face it, kids are little petri dishes.  They bring home every contagious bug out there.  And I might as well set up a looped recording of “WASH YOUR HANDS,” and play it day and night for all the attention they pay me.  Seasonal Defense contains a proprietary blend of 5 immune boosting herbs.

Andrographis is a flowering plant native to Asia and India and is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine for humans and pets.  Andrographis is known in northeastern India as 'Maha-tita', literally 'king of bitters', as well as various other names. It is also known as 'Bhui-neem', since the plant, has a similar appearance and has the same bitter taste as that of Neem (Azadirachta indica).  The Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine, states, "A specific product (Andrographis combined with Eleutherococcus senticosus) may shorten the duration and lessen the symptoms of common cold.” 

Thyme Leaves are beneficial for more than making tasty culinary dishes.  Thymol, the compound in thyme leaves responsible for its aromatic pungent odor (it’s a phenol with similar properties as I discussed in my praises of olive leaf extract) is acknowledged by mainstream medicine to have antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral properties.  In fact, thymol is as effective as bleach solution at killing bacteria and viruses on surfaces, and non-toxic to humans and the environment.  Used since ancient times as a remedy for respiratory disorders, it also offers anti-viral, antiseptic, anti-fungal, antibacterial, antioxidant and disinfectant benefits.  In a 2007 German study, scientists tested a syrup made of extracts of Thyme herb and ivy on children and adolescents with acute bronchitis. Their study concluded that a ten-day treatment of the syrup clearly improved symptoms and, in some cases, cured the illness. Coughing decreased an average of 81.3% by the tenth day of treatment.

Bitter Orange Fruit Extract contains synephrine, which acts as a natural decongestant.  It may also be useful for upset stomach.  D-limonene is the other beneficial component of bitter orange fruit that has been shown to have anti-bacterial properties. 

Eleuthero Root sometimes referred to as Siberian Ginseng (not to be confused with Korean or American Ginseng), is an adaptogenic herb that helps the body deal with stress.  I don’t know about you, but just thinking about catching another cold or the flu stresses me out!  In this case though, Eleuthero is being used in combination with Andrographis for cold virus relief.  According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), when taken in combination with Andrographis, a 2004 study of 130 children (published in Phytotherapy Research) found that an herbal formula containing Eleuthero and Andrographis helped reduce cold duration and severity when treatment was started at the early stages of the cold.

Oregano  Oregano how I love thee, let me count the ways!  Mmmmmm I love homemade pizza sauce seasoned with oregano.  And there’s nothing better than the smell of oregano spiced spaghetti sauce simmering away in the kitchen.  Oregano oil in supplement form (also known as oil of Mediterranean oregano or Oreganum vulgare) is not quite the same as the oregano I love in my spaghetti sauce (Oregano Marjoram).  Mediterranean oregano is effective due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties.  It also contains thymol and is a rich source of Vitamin K and antioxidants.  Portuguese researchers found that oreganum vulgare was effective against 41 strains of the food pathogen Listeria monocytogenes.  Oregano oil is a powerful antimicrobial, because it contains another one of those fabulous phenols called Carvacol.  A team of British and Indian researchers reported that oil of oregano has strong antibacterial properties that can even kill the hospital “Superbug” MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).  Biologists at the United Arab Emirates University reported in the journal PLoS ONE that oregano exhibits anticancer activity by encouraging cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (a fancy word for cancer cells committing suicide).  I could go on and on about the various health benefits of oregano, but in this case, I love it because it helps my body fight the cold and flu viruses flying around this time of year.

I take Nature’s Sunshine Seasonal Defense in a similar manner to olive leaf extract.  I take one a day all winter long to maintain my immunity and bump it up to 2 or 3 a day when I feel “under the weather” or if I’m outright SICK.  

~  Mary Beth

January Newsletter

Happy New Year Everyone :-)

Well another year has come and gone and I hope this year is your best year ever!!!! :-) I have had a wonderful year, lots of changes both good and bad but then that is true for all of us. Thank you all for continuing to be a part of my life and I look forward to continuing to serve you. We are always looking for new and wonderful products or services to help you regain or maintain your health. It is our mission, my life and our belief to bring you the best. So of course I have some new ones to share with you.

For you ladies, well I suppose men too. I have come upon something fun and wonderful. Many of you have heard of body wraps over the years, which basically help reduce water weight in the body and loose inches. They do work but I have found something even better. This botanically-based body contouring treatment helps to detoxify, tighten, tone and firm the body. Minimize the appearance of cellulite and even help to repair skin and rebuild collagen anywhere on the body including the chin and neck area. This wrap does not contain any mineral oil, lanolin, artificial colors, fragrances or animal products, nor has it been tested on animals. Now the aging process is going to get us all in the end. But I for one want to go out as gracefully and youthful as long as possible. I am 92 you know!! Just kidding. So as an introduction to this new product I am holding a FREE WRAP PARTY on Saturday February 8th from 1:00 to 5:00. I hope you can come and join us. Please dress comfortably, allow 45 minutes per wrap and we will make sure you drink plenty of water and are comfortable. The wraps will be done in private in my office. Walks in welcome!!

The skin is our largest organ. So what you put on it is absorbed. So be careful to use only natural botanical products of any kind,including deodorants,shampoos etc., makeup and skin care.There are many things to help maintain beautiful skin and a youthful look. First:the skin needs plenty of water to keep it's elasticity, prevent dryness and to hydrate every cell, organ and gland in our body. It is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. I see clients almost daily and this is one of the biggest issues. Dehydration!! Secondly: keeping a healthy diet is another. Plenty of dark leafy greens, small amounts of animal protein, lots of berries, all kinds. Avoid white sugar, white flour, preservatives,hormones and antibiotic injected meats, food colorings, GMOs, MSG. In other words if God made it eat..if man made it don't. I know you have heard me say this before but it is so important to avoid bad foods. Eat as much organic as possible.Thirdly: Keeping the colon and blood clean  is also very important for skin health not to mention the rest of the body. Fourth: Plenty of sleep, at least a good 8 hours. Fifth: good old exercise!! Some added things are massage, or acupuncture, very helpful and also a huge stress reliever, not to mention relaxing.

BPX and All Cell Detox are two excellent products for cleansing the skin and body. BPX I have used for years with teenagers for acne it clears the skin up very quickly. Both these products believe it or not are great if you run into poison ivy or poison oak as they keep it from spreading and actually clear it out of the system. Many have used them for ridding the body of toxins from medications and or surgeries. So they work on many issues not just the skin.
Collagen with Vitamin C by Neo Cell has been touted by Dr. OZ who by the way annoys me to no end!!!Anyway I have been a huge fan of this product for years. It can be taken in liquid form or tablets. Great for rebuilding collagen in the skin also. In fact we begin to loose collagen at about the age of 35 or younger so replacing it early helps prevent the skin from aging too quickly and maintain a youthful look.
Thai Go a liquid product made entirely of berries such as Goji, Mangosteen, Red Grapes, Blue Berries, Acai, Raspberries and many more including green tea is one of the most power antioxidant formulas there is out on the market. It fights free radicals, pain and inflammation, high in Vit C. Great for vision, hair, skin, nails and many auto immune disorders like arthritis and fibromyalgia.

We only get one body so we need to take care of it. Many people take better care of their pets and cars or grown up toys than they do themselves. Now taking care of those things is good too especially our pets, but we must come first!! I hope to see you all on Feb. 8th, please bring a friend if you like, we will have fun!!

God Bless and good health!! :-)

~  Sharon