masterherbalist

diazbro: Well-said. Very articulate and very informative.

Read the Vegetarian Myths: A classic example of getting documentation together to support "your" theory. The post by simon was very demonstrative of what really works. People who, as Dr. Christopher used to say, "eat under their own fig tree" and eat according to the season. But how many of us really do that? Dot, if you were coming to me for counsel on creating a diet that not only feeds the body but makes you feel good, and tastes good, we would look at the follow: Current diet and health "Upbringing" diet Current lifestyle and exercise Ailments (chronic or reoccurring) Prescription Medications Personal food likes and dislikes A specific program, just for you, with plenty of room to "tweak". A program that changes as your tastes and commitment changes. So a good nutritionist should give you a plan that is flexible but progressive where you should "see" a noticeable change in how you feel. When you are not terminally sick, I don't see ruling out eggs and dairy, nor fish- but strive to get the best. Let's get our blenders out this morning! 8 oz of pineapple/banana juice handful of chopped coconut one whole banana ice as needed for how thick you want it to be. BLEND-drink!!! A Pineapple Colada!!!!!! 8 oz of apple juice (or strawberry-apple combo) handful of frozen strawberries one whole banana ice as needed for how thick you want it to be. BLEND-drink!!! A Strawberry Scream!!!!!!!! (These are not hard and fast recipes- I've seen people add a scoop of sorbet or a scoop of low fat yogurt as well as other berries, fruits)

You had to know that this subject would bring out the masterherbalist. I hate to say that Zixar is wrong, but we are herbavores. Our dental makeup is just like the gorilla who lives substantially on fruit, vegetation, nuts, seeds. Unlike a meat eating animal, we do not have the enzymes in our saliva, do not have the tearing teeth, do not have the digestive make up in the stomach, nor is our intestinal tract as short as a carnavore. Meat eating animals actually have teeth that tear into and grind up their meal. The enzymes assist in breaking down the substance. The amount of time that the meat is actually in the digestive process is very short so that it does not decay and autointoxify. Many of our digestive problems in this country is that we eat so much meat, cook out the enzymes, which might help with the digestion and then it sits in our colons for sometimes days. Now, that being said, there is no truth to the fact that vegetarians cannot be healthy and flourish on a well-balanced diet. The Creator placed the original folks in the garden where they freely ate of the vegetation. Meat was only utilized on the ole Ark because for 40 days and 40 nights and no refrigerator, your fruits and vegetables would note last. But it was a temporary measure. Unfortunately, the suceeding generations kept eating meat and the decline in age from Adam's 900 years to Noah's 600 years declines rather rapidly. There is no other information given for this lifespan declination. Moses lived to be 120 which seems to be the max we can expect now, but we are not even making it close to that. All this being said, I find most of my consultations are really made up of designing nutritional diets. Alot less meat and more of the other stuff. When you are sick, it is best not to be eating meat. Unfortunately, many people equate the declaration of becoming vegetarians with martyrism and starvation. This is not the case. My own family would not have taken to an overnite change. And they didn't. I looked first to add more vegetables, come up with interesting recipes for salads, adding fruits by smoothies and the like. Eventually I found products like Gardenburgers had actually improved taste-wise and I could prepare "burgers". No one knew the difference, except I knew it was better for them. They produce meatballs now and I recently made them in spaghetti sauce. Never revealed to them that I brought them. When they did find out, they were surprised. More choices are out there in breakfast patties, etc., if you want to use them in place of meat. There are a lot of positives to becoming vegetarian, but I know of very few full-time, full-fledged vegetarians. Even the masterherbalist is not a total vegetarian. I do not, however, eat any red meat or pork. I eat a small amount of turkey, chicken and fish. But the majority of my diet is fruits and vegetables. I use a juicer or go to the juice bar and get a smoothie for breakfast/late morning break. I have a salad or juice for lunch and eat a reasonable dinner. I will admit that I have a sweet tooth. See, the key to vitality is to go beyond counting calories, fat content, sodium content or the like. Get with a nutritionist who believes in counting vitamins and mineral amounts and attempts to exceed the RDA accepted levels. A diet which gives the body what it needs to function will actually assist the body in finding its proper weight. I expect many opposing comments here, however, allow me to state that I went to school for nutrition, and natural healing. I have also incorporated these principles in my own life and taught them for years. My goal is to work with the body I have got to be the most vital and energetic. Though I am the masterherbalist, it is alot more than just herbs.

Happy Birthday, Chatty Cathy! 50 is only mid life! (if the lifespan of a human is 120, which is what it should be). Who needs to be 29 again? Let's see at 29, I had young children, full time job, ran a fellowship, was in twi............ gulp! Now the kids are grown, it's not a job-it's a career, am a living witness, and not in twi!!! So Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Cathy, happy birthday to you!!!

chattykathy: good morning to you. yes ruth eckerd hall is named after the drug dealers, i mean retailer family. i met up with and started corresponding with a band a few years ago called Rebel- Now, they are Trick Pony. 5 ACM nominations! i found it- the concordance that i was talking about was done by beth lowder (color concordance.) probably not the right thread to say this, but (when has that ever stopped the masterherbalist?) one of the things i had trouble communicating with twi leadership is that those of us who are musicians- music is not something we do, it is something we are. it took me years to figure out that musician brains are wired differently. (yes, we do have brains-some have been more chemically fried than others). i wake up with music in my head, go through the day with some melody or beat in my mind, and dream musically. i saw on AOL the other day an article "screaming relieves stress", i thought hey, i don't have to scream-i sing. those who are not musicians, though, are also governed by melody, beat, tone, etc. no one teaches this though. what were those machines that measured bio-rhythms? it's true, that "body clock" you have been told about is the rhythm of your physical being.

HOPE R: You got Dixie Chicks? I would love to see 'em but not at a hockey rink. Now, if they had gone to Ruth Eckerd......... I've got tickets to see Mary Chapin Carpenter (again). Great venue, great acoustics. Trying to get my buddies, Trick Pony to reschedule their Strawberry Festival appearance at Ruth Eckerd. I guess I'll get to find out how close buddies we are if they accept or not. As for music, the most fascinating twi item, for me, was the work that, was her name- Beth? did on color, minerals, notes on the musical scale. I still have a copy of her concordance on the shelf. The furtherest I ever explored the spiritual side of music was that I could not name you an earthly event that was not based on rhythm, tone, etc. Like the rotation of the earth has a certain meter; our heart beats at a certain meter; etc.

jbarrax: didn't mean anything pointed at you- you brought up some valid points that, IMO, needed to be addressed. that is: the credibility issue and that there is plenty of info available. :>)

Credibility etablished based on revealing identities? No, I don't think so. First of all, Hope HAS revealed the name on her Corps name tag- now, do you believe her? Didn't think so.......... Most importantly, use the spiritual perception and awareness you were trained to use! Read the Bible! I personally was not a part to first hand knowledge, HOWEVER, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, has webbed feet like a duck, has feathers and a bill like a duck- I have no problem calling it a duck. A tree is known by its fruit. Observe the fruit carefully- use everything you have. Though they be given a sign (ie a name tag) yet they will not believe.

Antibiotics can work on the way the body works. So does food. If you are not taking in the correct nutritional values that build a body, it will look for it elsewhere. My formula is not just a lose weight scheme. My personal teaching this year is titled "Building a Better Me". The focus should be on the nutritional values, proper hydration, and, yes, exercise- why? Because toned muscle takes up less space that muscle that is lazy. Consequently, there are people I know that once they started seeing the toning effect, were much more encouraged on working on their, gulp, diet. Exercise helps the bones, the immune system, the lymph, etc. THIS should be the prime goal, because the weight loss will automatically happen. One of my herbal teachers worked with models and Hollywood actresses that wanted fad ways of "getting in shape" including taking laxatives and diuretics. At what price to their health and vitality?? Funny that weight problems affect affluent countries, like the US. Peoples who eat their native food and work as their people always do, do not diet. What I am saying is that this sort of project requires a little research. Relying on Atkins and the Zone (both authors are overweight) were not paid to write books because they found the cure all to weight loss. Sure you can glean a thing or two, but, all in all, the word diet has a negative connotation. It breeds the thought process of starvation, doomed to fail, etc. Think vitality, health and nutrition. This is a program that you can live with for the rest of your life.

Thank you Goey for stating the correct answer to this subject: EXERCISE!!!!! The Masterherbalist has been sitting back and reading all these suggestions, just smiling. Back when I was just a baby-herbalist, I took nutrition classes. They taught us the simpliest formula- Intake Calories-Burn Calories= Weight Loss. No other info needed- no blood "types:"; no counting food values; no high carbs; etc. I thought to myself- gee, the Creator could not have made it more simple. But no, "We" have a better idea. Let's try the starvation diet. No Calories-No exercise= Weight Loss? or how 'bout even better No Calories - Exeercise= More Weight Loss. The answer is NO!!! You were created with a body whose #1 priority is to sustain life. The first formula results in the body sensing starvation and will do what it needs to do to survive/ This includes lowering the metabolism and resorting to stored food and if needed to canabalize. I could get into why meat and dairy stinks because it contains the very hormones that caused the animal you took it from to become the size that animal is supposed to be. I could explain why these diets such as the Zone and Atkins are actually bad for your long term heath. (John Robbins in his book Diet for A New America does this rather eloquently). When I am personally consulted about a weight loss program- I analyze everything you currently eat, drugs that you take, activities, etc. Then we work together to customize a program just for you. No two humans are alike so why should one diet plan fit all? The Masterherbalist has spoken.

What a super thread. Boy have I been missing out. Where do I start? Y'a mentioned Paul Vergilio- does anyone remember Ed Fisher who used to sing with him? My personal favorite "ministry" music was Good Seed. Second favorite:Dean Ellenwood I liked Good Seed because they had their own sound and the songs didn't have awkward rhymes. Dean, as far as I am concerned was a pearl. He afforded me several opportunities to talk to him about music. In my experience, this type of open discussion was rare with other musicians in the ministry. They did not come across to me as open to dialog. My musical experience, comes from the home of Little Richard. I was not an Elvis fan or a real 50's fan. But the 60's? Watch out!!! I had been playing since I could remember and wound up in Macon, Georgia. Met people like Johnny Rivers, Sha-Na-Na, Beach Boys, Aretha Franklin, Grateful Dead. I worked for several large bands, learnin' as I was earnin' everything from rewiring microphones, to replacing tubes in amps, balancing per diem, booking hotel rooms, plane reservations, locating music stores. For one band, it was locating health food stores- in the deep south in the 70's. Played in a few bands of my own, a few others and jammed every chance I could in studio work or in clubs. Surrounded myself with blues. Later met Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, and several British power players. What a time. But Ted, in one of his early posts is right. Going to the big time isn't all you think it will be. Sometimes it compromises your music. Some of us just couldn't go there. So, I play and sing and write- mostly country contemporary music. Making demos and working selected gigs. I'm setting my goal to return to singing on the Grand Ole Opry this year. And you thought all the masterherbalist did was...... herbs!!!!

It is amazing how the Hoxsey Formula and Essiac Tea and the Native Americans' tonics are all basically the same. All contain herbs that are historically blood cleansers and astringent. But without changing the diet and changing the lifestyle, the results of the "formulas" are not seeing their full potential. Dr. Christopher's teachings are of a wholesome program. As for trees in the rainforest, it is unfortunate that the drug lords are running things. They are only interested in making money and using the money to obtain political power. But the great thing that the Creator has done is to place plants in each area of the world to use for their purposes. So what is available in the rainforest is actually for those people. We have in our country, plenty of herbs to use. There are THOUSANDS of herbs on the face of the earth and herbalist knowledge is limited to a few hundred.

Watered Garden- Thanks for the information on the "herbal" connection that still exists in the drug business. I would like to comment on the need for some of these elements being synthesized because of the "tree lovers". So I will. Comment, I mean. First, let me say what they make in the lab does not equal the greatness of what the great Scientist already made in the tree. Second, if those who wanted to use the trees would learn how to wildcraft, they could use the trees as much as needed. The problem is that the trees and land are raped and nothing left behind. The Native Americans knew how to take only what they could use, and gave back to Mother Earth for her gift. Wildcrafters understand this concept. However, most money-driven businesses don't think anything about tomorrow. They destroy trees when it is unnecssary to do so. They don't replant trees. Etc.

Thanks Wonton Soup and Watered Garden for your contributions. I began this thread in an effort to share ideas and "what we know". Like Kay 1952, this father is willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to help his daughter survive. The surgeons cut out as much as they could get (75%) and will follow up with chemo and radiation. I have spent the last few weeks reading internet info and reading in book stores everything I could get my hands on. This one internet story was a gentleman whose wife had Type III Brain Cancer. He found a practicioner who believed that cancer is parasitic in nature and could be treated accordingly. I brought this info to the father and told him that I personally could not champion this because I would need more info and do more research before I would be convinced of the validity. But the father said he would do just about anything and would try it. Patrick Quillen, MD has written on Cancer and Nutrition for years and alot of his writing makes sense. Any more ideas out there???

First to Kay: Thank you for your tremendous story of believing and fighting for Tim's life! I must confess that I did remember your medical background and have been reviewing the lift list information. But see, folks, Kay is EXACTLY what I am talking about. She is not just blindly accepting the statistics. She has done some homework- is there room to improve- always! But to see this kind of fighting for someone's health with this type of compassion is just what I have been trying to stir up. Agree with me or don't, just get MAD and REFUSE TO LOSE!! Goey- the point that the Masterherbalist was making about "believing" and drug therapy was simple. Remember TWI? Remember what you were taught about believing? Ok, enough of that. Kay here got as much info as she could and kept digging and digging and working. This is true believing in action. Also drug therapy will produce results, but my point was at what cost? For example, radiation and chemo by and large poison the body. Sure it "kills" cancer, but it also hurts the body. Many of my students are people whose immune systems are now and require the careful attentiveness to rebuilding by nutrition and by cleansing and rebuilding the liver. I have seen patients "cured" of cancer only to succumb to liver failure (from the treatment). Zixar- I have to say that our Creator was truely smart. He placed those things that we need for our health in our own backyards. No need to go to China for ginseng, we have our own in the good ole US. The Native peoples used what was on their land and were taught from the elders if you could not find this herb, you could use that one. As for standardization: the great thing about that is that the Creator has done that in the herbs in your area. Dr. Christopher taught us a great principle: eat under your own fig tree. The echinacea in my area is specifically for use in our climate and therefore for the inhabitants. Sure Utah echinacea is good, but it differs from ours in that we live in a tropical area and Utah is mountainous- the needs to live in each area are different. What is really amazing is that Hippocrates was right: Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine. Do you realize how many people we have taught principles to who have regained their health just by what they ate? No exotic herbs here. Just good ole "herbs" like spinach, lettuce, peppers, onions, garlic, carrots, etc, etc. Please don't take my handle as someone who is promoting a one-sided; we-all-gotta-eat-herbs-or-else philosophy. To the contrary. What I have learned in 20 years, I do not expect anyone to swallow in 5 minutes on the computer. But, I have to express, I am absolutely blown away and impressed with the dynamic and enthusiam and love that Kay 1952 has put in this thread. It should be its own thread titled: Don't take No for an answer. Our heavenly Father's purposes and ways are truely magnificent. I certainly hope that the readers get out of your posts the inspiration that I have gotten.

Kay, Thank you for your thoughts and experiences. I am sorry that they are not more positive. It is not my intention to get this thread off-track, it's intention was for folks to share what they know. However; I must take issue with your belief that your husband is overcoming his dis-ease with drug therapy and believing. As we were all taught in the ministry, and in the Corps, God is a God of principle and the world was formed on principle. Not chaos or whim. Adhere to the principles and you reap the benefits, attempt to break the principles and you will reap the results. For example, the "law of gravity". You may temporarily live above it from time to time in different activities, but ultimately all life must yield to gravity here on earth. Same with oxygen, you can hold your breath for a while, but sooner or later, in order to sustain life, you must breathe. I like you, at one time believed in medical science and in "believing". I fellowshipped with many nurses and doctors. But, especially, after my training in the ministry, I REALLY BELIEVED THAT HEALING SUCH AS THOSE HEALED AT THE SHADOW OF PETER IN ACTS WAS AVAILABLE. My studies in the ministry were healing, the use of the word physician, how diet played an integral role in the 40 years Israel spent wandering ( and there was not a feeble knee among them.) I studied what was the original diet (in the beginning and in the garden of Eden); I studied the use of herbs, shrubs, trees used in the BIBLE. Somehow, going forth as a leader and worker, I could not see "our people" our family exemplifying the health that is apparently promised to us as believers. I still prayed for the same number of people, had lift lists with requests for terminally ill relatives (and believers). I continued to ask, why, if we were tapping into the greatness of the revelation given to us, now Sons and Daughters of God, why weren't we any closer to making the Word a reality? WHY?????? I asked leadership more senior than myself and their reply was that we weren't believing big enough. What???? C'mon, that can only suffice as an answer for just so long. I asked my Heavenly Father for help- why, why, why? I was like a 2 year old. Why? What are we missing in this very life-threatening area of our lives? I make no claim for snow and gas pumps here, I just kept going back to one word "knowledge". Peter states God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness- well, if that is true, why are we still praying for things?????? Ephesians prayer that is that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened with the knowledge... Hosea- For my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. It kept coming up and I then asked God to work with me to obtain the knowledge. My journey has not been one of being gullible, or flip, or easy. I have spent 18 years apart from the ministry work I did on healing researching and practicing- mostly on myself and then family. I took this undertaking with the same commitment of being a sold out doulos bond slave for God (a dog soldier). Due to ministry commitments, I could not obtain employment which provided affordable health insurance, so "believing" was all we had. I remember a Corps person stating, "well do what you have to in order to feel better- remember dr. wierwille said i don't care how the baby's born, just show me the baby!" I have given you this above information for two reasons- one: most drugs and medical therapies violate the principle of the human body. There is always a trade off. Always a compromise that must be made maybe not right away, but somewhere down the line in that person's life, they will succumb, in part or whole to the drug or therapy's actions many years ago. For every medically approved methodology, there IS a natural remedy. And I believe, that God will show you if you ask him. But it takes persistance, because it flies in the face of the adversary's steal, kill and destroy plan. We as a society ASKED the medical community and drug manufacturers for this "cure in a bottle" in the 1900s. They gave it to us- but did not know or tell of the price we would pay beyond the prescription cost. It has only been in the last 10 years particularly that the public has now cried out, refusing to accept side effects and after effects. Twenty years ago, the AMA and drug manufacturers laughed off the philosophy that diet determines health- now they are no longer laughing, but publishing in JAMA that a diet that has fruits, vegetables, less meat, has shown positive results in extending life and lowering illness. They have also gone as far as stating that most of our modern diseases are of our own doing. They are also now promoting the benefits of exercise, deep breathing, laughter as great "medicines". It would be my prayer that you rejoice in your husband's healing, but that you make it your believing (action) to research how to avoid creating this disease again by proper nutrition, etc. The patient of whom this thread is about is not as fortunate as your husband- all books and research state that the medical field can do little on this cancer- that it is terminal. Period. So, "why sit we here till we die? arise therefore." So when you state that there are herbs that are poisonous, most pharmaceuticals are too. Second: I want it understood that I appreciate your poor experience with "herbalists". I know they are out there- un-schooled and un-Godly. And this is why I made the decision not only to be educated and prayful in my work. This does not however, limit our Creator, nor does it invalidate what He has left us here on earth for health and healing. Please do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Our natural instincts gave us the ability to discern the herbs and plant life for our needs. Being civilized has robbed us of this natural ability. So, I have spent years researching ( I learned alot about research in the ministry) herbs; studied under learned herbalists; grew my own; made my own teas, etc. I do not post at the Greasespot to convert anyone or to change anyone's mind. I am not here to get any glory; nor to obtain your blessing for my knowledge or belief. My teachers Dr. Christopher and Richard Schulze both taught me that all you can do is offer the opportunity for those who want what it was that I wanted when I started. From the e mails I received, there are a few people. I do not have a terminal illness. Neither does anyone in my family. We have not required prescription medications, doctors or hospital services for years. I continue, every day to change those habits which detract from my vitality and continue to learn about true "food" for the body as well as herbs. My prayer, Kay, is though this response may be a little wordy, and a little pointed, that you ask the Father for knowledge in the area of life and health for your family. The AMA, to some people's thinking is the same as God-their sufficiency when it comes to this area. Break principle by not caring for and properly feeding the body and run to Dr. Fix-it to cut it out surgically or remedy it by drugs. I realize that my work is different that what everyone normally has accepted. However, it does not mean that it is necessarily wrong. Our philosophy is simple- empowerment of the patient. You are taught and you take back your own health rather than relying on someone else.

On the lift list posts, WYOMan wrote: grade 4 astrocytoma is the most malignant type of astrocytoma and usually spreads quite quickly to other parts of the brain. For this reason it is a difficult tumour to treat. It is not uncommon for it to come back after initial treatment and further treatment will probably be necessary. Who gets an astrocytoma? People of all ages can develop astrocytoma but it is more common in adults, particularly middle-aged men. Astrocytomas in the cerebellum are more common in children or young people. Glioblastoma multiforme is the commonest type of primary brain tumour in adults. What causes an astrocytoma? Like most brain tumours the cause of astrocytoma is unknown. Research is being carried out into possible causes. Well for those of you who might think the Masterherbalist's experience is limited to in-grown toe nails, my latest family counseling is with a 23 year old female, mother of a 6 month old child, who has been diagnosed with Grade 4 Astrocytoma. All the information available was depressing: with treatment, she may live 52 weeks, without it 2-3 months. Her family has opted for conventional treatment first- she had surgery where 75% of the tumor was successfully removed- now they will follow up with chemo and radiation. The doctor's prognosis is still only two years maximum. So, my thought was, why not have a post where folks can contribute alternative therapies, ideas, success stories and the like so the information is in one place. So, I'll start: Wheatgrass contains abscisic acid and B 17 (Laetrile) both are anti-cancer agents. Chlorophyll increases red blood cells and blood cleansing. Otto Warburg MD(Nobel Prize winner) stated that his research showed cancer cells thrive in an oxygen poor environment. He believed that cancer was not a virus but cell mutation caused by oxygen deprivation at the cellular level. Garlic has agents in it which have been shown to also prohibit further cellular growth. Your turn..............................

Once upon a time there was a child who looked up at the stars and enjoyed babbling brooks and springs and talked to God as if he was right there. The the child grew and his prayers were his songs and playing of his musical instrument. And someone approached a young adult musician and said that the Bible was literal and that it could be taken at face value. Allow me, the tunesmith said, to devote time, money, blood, sweat and tears to learn and apply and then to teach others this news. After doing so, it was apparent to the musician that something was missing between what was taught, "it is written" and serving "god's people" who were still as sick as "unbelievers". So the musician said, well, great creator, what am I missing here because I sure can't figure it out. Although the study of herbs and natural remedies continued to come before the eyes of the musician, it was dismissed. One day, while being one of the "success" stories of the ministry; a leader; the musician was sick and couldn't "believe" his way out of a brown, paper bag. Couldn't read enough scriptures of deliverance; couldn't get ministered to by a more believing believer, and still, went to the physicians and paid enough money..... only to have the same sickness reoccur weeks later. It took a believer WITH a medical background to point the musician "Back to Eden". Sickness cured. Several other opportunities to apply these herbs later, it became apparent that there may be a tie between the Creator's written Word and nature. After all, it says we WERE healed; it says that we have already been given "everything pertaining to life and godliness". So why are we sick? In revisiting the Old Testament and looking again at Ephesians (breakfast of champions) it finally went off in the musician's mind. God built the earth and the universe on principle- we work the principle, we reap the benefits; we break the principle, we reap the benefits. What are we doing wrong? Must need KNOWLEDGE! "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know..." Signed up for the School of Natural Healing where Dr. Christopher had the knowledge and the reverence and respect for the Creator. Experimented on friends, family- made tinctures, teas, poultices. Then took nutrition courses and yoga- YOWEEEEEEEE!!!! We are designed by the Creator to live a VITAL life and most of our dis-eases are man-made! Thought to myself, if ANYONE should be shared this information, it should be those of my spiritual family, whose hearts love the Creator, but lack the knowledge to live ABOVE the circumstances of this world. Living in this world but not OF this world. Response was slow to this service, at first. But as the media and the medical field have begun to bow to good ole common sense and prove results by going back to basics, response has picked up. And of course, the proof is in the pudding.

Well, healing and health was my main study in TWI, including going WOW during the Year of Healing 77-78. But I was frustrated that the results of prayer and ministering (as a leader) were not more consistent. I found it hard to believe that we all were "just not believing big enough" or not "renewing our minds". My path to herbs and natural therapies came from a fellow-laborer (remember that term?) whose background was nursing and the fact that money was not in abundance. After all, had a family, abundant sharing, Corps sponsorship, running a twig and never had the training nor kept a job long enough to get benefits. So, after "spending all her money on doctors" and still having the issue of blood (illness), I asked God what I was missing. KNOWLEDGE was the one word answer. So I went on a quest that has gone on for 17 years in addition to the ministry time. I never made the "whos-who" list of names most people would know in the ministry. So most of you would not know who I was if you knew my real name. Sure would like one of those icon thingies under my name, but I AM computer illiterate. This was fun!!!

I returned home to Florida after my WOW year in 77-78. Since they lived at the beach and I lived in town, hadn't seen much of them. Over the years, less and less did their name come up.

it is sold encapsulated as well as in a salve form.

Thank you Kay for pointing out that I omitted stating that SOLELY telling a depressed person "keep your chin up" is worthless. That was the intended communication. I would never NOT implement positive thinking in a WHOLE program. I can see how that could have appeared differently. Also, I would never state that I knew "everything". My efforts to contribute on this forum are the result of 10 years ministry training, leadership of various fellowships, etc. with a particular study of health and healing. Another sixteen years of devoting study to herbs, studying under Bernard Jensen, as well as ministering to people with solar therapy, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, herbs, food and nutrition, prayer and ministering with the Creator's guidance. The masterherbalist is so named because the difference between an "herbalist" and the masterherbalist is one of them knows the Master. He is my sufficiency and strength; my teacher and my Daddy. I ask Him first before I look to my experience or learning for help. Never my intention to cause division or anger here- I only hope to contribute something that may help someone gain the vitality and zoe (life in all its ways)that is theirs. I apparently inadvertently triggered the opposite effect. My apologies for anyone who was so offended.

For my two cents, this is one dis-ease that radically demonstrates how the body is one but many members. The diet, exercise, soul life, sleep, breathing, etc. all play an integral role. If there is lack in any of these areas, it will definitely manifest itself. You gotta ask yourself: when the Creator made formed and created Adam (man) was depression (long-term) in the design of things? If your answer is no, then we need to look at ALL of you- body, soul and spirit. Yes, I am aware that physicians are trained and utilized chemicals to alter the chemicals in your brain. And I am not suggesting anyone just stop their 'scripts'. However, with the right help, the "why sit we here til we die" feeling can be changed. This help has just GOT to come from the diet. Plus empowering the patient is the biggest key I see to long term change. I spoke with someone last night who realized that the Creator provided us with a body whose sole purpose is to heal and sustain vitality. She really did not know that. She felt trapped in her own skin-powerless. So before anyone misunderstands the masterherbalist, there is no magic herb, no magic pill here. No easy, quick answer. It takes time and sometimes a lot of work. Sometimes depression occurs over time, sometimes it is 'inherited' as the sins of the fathers (like the Hemmingways) and takes a lot of work to get it out of the succeeding generations. Telling you 'chin up' etc., is worthless. I am telling you that just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, getting home may be just as close as clicking the heels of the ruby slippers that you have always had. Get involved with a nutritionist or a schooled natural therapist or herbalist that will work with the whole person. And of course, it goes without saying, I pray for you upon every rememberance of you. God speed.

Ex-10, I agree there is no need to debate. I may be wrong here but Fasteel said he just wanted our take on drugs and what we were taught in twi regarding "witchcraft". Right after his first post in which he stated that he just wanted to "iron out" a few things with his family, a PHYSICIAN told him he was depressed. After the first response post, Fasteel reinterated that he was NOT depressed. That was and has been my whole point. The patient knows best. I did not object to folks taking what they believe or have been led to believe will help them. However, when I KNOW that my Creator has made it available to have it all, then there is no need to settle for less. I have worked with folks who take medications which are designed for a certain ailment, but the side effects and after-effects and long-term effects are not, what one could consider a bargain. Plus, in specific cases of depression, etc., how many psychologists, etc are trained in physiology and nutrition? Yet, my Bible says the body is many members and one member is not more important than the others. It is near-sighted at best to accept that the drug companies have the remedy in a bottle. And you are right, there is no one herb in a bottle to make that claim either. The point to my response here is just to say that TRUELY listening to the patient is the first step. You must HEAR what they are saying. I fear that this art is lost in the doctor's office.

Ya know the ole masterherbalist had to contribute to this one. I think Fasteel, you hit the nail right on the head when you said THEY SAID you were depressed. Only you know what is best for you- no matter what anyone says. My problem with the AMA and drug industry is that the love of MONEY is what runs the thinking and not Hypocrates Oath. All I know after 20 years of researching healing, etc., is that it was obviously a cultural thing for the soldiers to offer up an offering of hyssop and vinegar, which Jesus declined. This combination was a pain reliever. I have no problem with our foods being our medicine and our medicine being our food. What I have a problem with is the just say no to drugs campaign which made you think that the threat was only the street drugs---heheheheh, ironic to think that they never meant lilly, merck, sharp and dome, etc, but where is the real harm to our society? How many people do you know who AREN'T on some sort of prescription drug? I think when we give up our healthcare to someone other than ourselves, we are asking for trouble. How many people are being told, well your condition is such and such and let's temporarily use this drug until we get your diet and health program to encourage the body to cleanse and repair itself and then you won't need this drug anymore. WOW, now that's a thought!!!!