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  • Guest Post: Reiki Revealed by Sue Ann Seccia-Harnden

    Guest Post: Reiki Revealed by Sue Ann Seccia-Harnden

    Why is everyone talking about Reiki for gaining health and wellness, why do hospitals use Reiki as part of their standard care and recovery practices, why did Newsweek feature a 4-page article on it in March 2016, and why do I love to teach Reiki to people? Let me pull back the cloak a bit and de-mystify what this Japanese healing art is really all about…. For starters,

    • Do you know anyone who is looking for a natural, gentle, effective way to maintain their physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health?
    • Would you like a simple way to tap into your self-healing abilities anytime so you don’t have to run to the doctor or take a pill when you feel unwell?
    • Would you, or someone you know and love, want to experience the feelings of peace, joy, harmony, and balance in their life?
    • Can you imagine any situation where holding a loving presence of compassion would be an inappropriate course of action?
    • What would your life be and feel like if you could just “be”, instead of “do”, all the time?

    All these can be addressed through the practice of Reiki healing. Reiki is a Japanese healing art that uses Reiki energy for the purpose of providing stress reduction and a deep relaxation state that promotes healing. From this deep state of relaxation, the receiver can stimulate and activate their own innate self-healing abilities and possibilities, which are infinite.

    The word “Reiki” in Japanese means spiritually guided life force energy, which implies that this special healing energy has it’s own wisdom about the root cause of the imbalance that needs healing. A Reiki practitioner, using the various techniques taught in the system of Reiki, is not using their own energy, but rather connecting the energy body system of the client with this Reiki. From there the Reiki does the rest, going where it is most needed. Reiki healing can be done in person with hands laid lightly on or over the body, or from afar as a distance treatment. It can be used on people of all ages, animals, plants, and even life situations to improve and balance energy!

    Lay practitioners have been using Reiki for over 100 years, and it’s popularity is growing as a complementary healing approach in hospitals who are seeing faster healing recovery, reduced pain and inflammation, better sleep and appetite, reduction in unwanted side effects of drugs and radiation including chemotherapy, in their patients. There is an increasing body of evidence based research supporting the effectiveness of Reiki across a multitude of healing conditions. There is a fine body of case studies available through the Center for Reiki Research and the International Center for Reiki Training, of which I am an affiliate member Reiki Master-Teacher. Locally here in Hunterdon County, NJ it is offered to patients at Hunterdon Medical Center and the Integrative Medical Center at Hunterdon Regional Healthcare as an option in their care while at the hospital or as an outpatient.

    So many of us are pulled in different directions from the demands on our life as parents, caregivers, spouses, singles, pet companions, students, employees, and business people, that literally on a daily basis our life force energies are scattered and displaced. We get overwhelmed, tired, frustrated trying to “do it all” for ourselves and others. But our body and soul are crying out for some peace, balance, and support in the midst of it all…so we can be who we truly ARE as spiritual BEings having our human experience in a physical body. How do we get that support we so desperately crave at a soul level without adding yet more “to do’s” and stress to our daily list of living activities?

    First, we need a mind shift…to realize something that is not, but in my opinion should be, taught in school. We need to understand the concept of self-care and what it means to us, and those around us, to be aligned, enabled, empowered to take care of our selves physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self-care is NOT selfish! In fact quite the opposite. And, we need to understand that self-care must come first in our priorities, not left to last on the long list of things to do, if there is any time or energy left in the day….a complete 180 degree mind shift for most of us! Practicing daily self-care must become a way of being, an integral part of our routine. We must recognize that without that, we can not be all that we could be – for ourselves, or others.

    A happy, healthy, engaged, awakened, and present person is a joy to be around! We should want that for ourselves and those around us! Encounter this person and their light filled energy can be contagious, lifting up all up to higher levels of enjoyment in life! Conversely, you know how you feel when someone whose energy is low, depressed, angry, anxious enters your space – it takes the whole mood of the room down! We are all sensitive to other people’s energy at some level and can sense this basic difference of happy vs. sad. What we are less aware of is how extensive this energy body system is, and how it needs to be taken care of to keep ourselves in good health at all levels.

    Reiki has been a part of my life since 1999, and has brought me years of wellness, joy, and connection with others. It’s been an amazing experience as a Reiki teacher to guide my students on the path to their own self-care and healing, and give them a life-long skill they can use for their health and wellness. If you would like to experience a Reiki treatment or take a class, give me a call at (908) 730-0658.

    Sue Ann Seccia-Harnden, RMT, is a certified Usui Reiki Master-Teacher since 2001, and Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA) Animal Reiki Practitioner since 2013. She is the owner of Fifth Dimension Healing Energy, LLC in Clinton, NJ, offering a variety of holistic, energy medicine-based healing approaches for both people and animals. In addition to her private practice, as a weekly volunteer Sue Ann provides Reiki healing, and other holistic energy-based treatments to a wide variety of NJ’s wild animal species that have been injured or orphaned and are recovering at the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Hunterdon County. Her email is: SueAnn@FifthDimensionHealingEnergy.net. For more information on treatments and classes visit: www.FifthDimensionHealingEnergy.net

  • Strawberry Basil Shrub Recipe

    Strawberry Basil Shrub Recipe

    Warmer weather is coming. We are shifting from the heavy comforting flavors and textures of winter staples. The arrival of spring flowers makes us crave all things fresh, crisp and sweet. A Shrub is Colonial-era drink thats easy to make and even easier to fall in love with.

    The term “shrub” is comes from the Arabic word sharāb meaning “to drink”. The drink has been around for centuries to refresh and quench the thirst of warmer days. It’s simple to make. Mash fruit and sugar, then preserve in vinegar as a syrup. Add to sparkling water or use it instead of simple syrup in your favorite cocktail.

    Vinegar is a known preservative, but also as a cooling drink when diluted. Raw, unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar is rich in enzymes and helps balance pH.

    Our version features honey instead of sugar. We used Strawberries and one of our favorite herbs which is, of course, basil.

    Ingredients:

    1 cup organic strawberries

    1 bunch of basil chopped

    1/2 cup honey

    3/4 cup cider vinegar

    1/2 cup water

    In a glass or plastic container with a lid, combine berries and honey. Add vinegar and water and stir gently until honey is dissolved and berries have begun to release juices, being careful not to mash berries. Cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 1 week.

     

     

     

  • New Product Wednesday May 18th

    New Product Wednesday May 18th

    It’s Wednesday: see what we’re putting on the shelves this week.

     

  • Guest Post: Acupuncture, Pain and Opiate Addictions

    Guest Post: Acupuncture, Pain and Opiate Addictions

    Opiate addiction has been in the news lately and is again begging our attention as a nation. Opiates are used in attempts to relieve moderate to severe pain. Opiates have been used for many years, usually prescribed for people with long-term, severe pain and a terminal illness, such as cancer. More recently, they have been used for non-malignant chronic pain. Some medical practitioners and lay people have concerns about the increased usage of opiates due to their highly addictive nature.

    Many major pain clinics now use acupuncture as a treatment for chronic and severe pain. As I hear of the struggles of opiate addiction, including suicide, I get very sad knowing that acupuncture could have helped so many people reduce pain before they were prescribed opiates as an option. Of course acupuncture will not work for all people, but as a practitioner, I have been amazed at the wide breadth of people that it does help. Patients that find no relief with pain killers and have had intense pain to the point of debilitation have regained their lives through the use of acupuncture. It deeply saddens me that more people are not given the opportunity or access to try acupuncture.

    Currently, our medical system offers acupuncture for people in health crisis. We see acupuncture offered in cancer units, pain clinics and detox clinics. I am so happy to see that the medical community appreciates how acupuncture can help these patients in medical emergencies. My question is why wait for a medical emergency to share a gentle medicine that offers great benefit with no side effect? Why not prescribe acupuncture for people with mild conditions? Acupuncture does not interfere with any medical treatments or prescription drugs. Most people enjoy acupuncture treatments, feeling a great deal of stress relief and peace of mind.

    Acupuncture should also be used as a preventative medicine. While acupuncture may have been looked at as financially out of reach for many people, Community Acupuncture now offers affordable acupuncture with treatments costing $20 to $40. Because acupuncture can be affordably offered and has no side effects, our medical community should see acupuncture as a first line of care. Most pain conditions begin to show relief after five treatments if not before. If acupuncture is not helpful within this treatment period, it may be time to try something else that has side effects, costs more money, and has ramifications for the long term health of individuals and our planet.

    Let’s start with the gentlest solutions first. If they don’t work, let’s move on to more aggressive treatments. By offering the gentlest treatments first, we have the opportunity to reduce the chances of opiate addiction, avoid negative impacts on people’s health and the health of planet and most likely save our healthcare system a lot of money.

    To learn more about community acupuncture or find a clinic near you, visit pocacoop.com.

  • This Week’s New Products

    This Week’s New Products

    NPW 5/11 from Basil Bandwagon Natural Market on Vimeo.

  • 7 Hormone Disruptors that are found EVERYWHERE

    7 Hormone Disruptors that are found EVERYWHERE

    chemicals, poisons, hormones

    There are many things we try to avoid to stay healthy. We try to cut out sugar, steer away from additives, and keep watch on our carb intake. But even with a clean diet, there are toxins that sneak in and wreak havoc on our more sensitive systems. Our hormones are fascinating–they control so many things in our bodies, but hormones are not to be trifled with. Chemicals can negatively effect our sensitive endocrine system. These substances can make your body chemicals overproduce one hormone while depleting another. They can imitate hormones and interfere with signals your bodies needs to perform certain functions.

    Here’s a list of 7 chemicals to watch out for:

     

    Atrazine:

    Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in the U.S. and is found in 94% of the country’s drinking water. An estimated 7 million people were exposed to atrazine in their water between 1998 and 2003. Atrazine has been linked to breast tumors, delayed puberty, and prostate inflammation in animals. Some research has linked it to prostate cancer in people. Avoid Atrazine exposure by buying organic produce and filtering your drinking water.

    BPA:

    BPA is a synthetic estrogen that can disrupt your endocrine system–even in small amounts. It’s been linked to all kinds of issues including: infertility, breast and reproductive system cancer, obesity, diabetes, early puberty, behavioral changes in children and resistance to chemotherapy treatments. In the last few years, people have been more aware of choosing BPA-free products for their homes. Canned food is a source that is slowly becoming BPA-free, but you still have check the label. Avoid plastic containers, especially ones marked “PC” or “Recycling Label #7”. Don’t handle receipts, and never let children play with them. (cool fact— Basil Bandwagon Natural Market only use BPA-free receipts!)

    Dioxin:

    Dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs). Dioxins are found all over the world but they tend to accumulate in the food chain, especially in the fatty tissue of animals. Recent research has shown that exposure to low levels of dioxin in the womb and early in life can both permanently affect sperm quality and lower the sperm count in men during their prime reproductive years. Dioxins can build up in the body and are powerful carcinogens. Products including meat, fish, milk, eggs, and butter are most likely to be contaminated. The best way to cut down your exposure is by limiting these products and making sure they are the best quality.

    Fire Retardants:

    They sound like something positive but the chemicals that are used in Fire Retardants have significant health implications.These chemicals are known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs and have been found to contaminate the bodies of people and wildlife all over the world. These chemicals can imitate thyroid hormones in our bodies and disrupt their activity. While several kinds of PBDEs have now been eradicated, it doesn’t mean they don’t exist anymore! PBDE’s are known for their persistence.
    Avoiding them can be difficult, but using a HEPA filter while vacuuming is a good start. Doing so cuts down on the exposure to dust from upholstery and other household products. Being active in making sure their are laws to reduce these chemicals is another way to decrease PBDE’s influence!

    Lead:

    Another well-known poison, lead, is especially harmful to children. Lead can cause symptoms too numerous to list here. These include permanent brain damage, hearing loss, miscarriage, premature birth, kidney damage and nervous system problems, etc. This might not be new information, but the effect on hormones is not discussed as much. Lead can disrupt the hormone signaling that controls the body’s major stress system (called the HPA axis). To lessen your lead exposure, make sure your house is well-maintained, watch our for old, crumbling paint, and use a water filter to remove it from drinking water.

    Organophosphate Pesticides:

    Neurotoxic organophosphate compounds were produced in World War II as chemical weapons–pretty scary stuff. After the war, these chemicals were used in experiments to create sophisticated pesticides. They are still in use today, even though there have been many studies that show their adverse effects on brain health, fertility, etc.. Organophosphate Pesticides lower testosterone and alter thyroid hormone levels. To avoid this one, buy organic produce and be sure to stay knowledgable on which fruits and vegetable bear the lightest load of pesticides.

    Phthalates:

    Our cells rely on hormone signals to perform all the functions we need to survive–surely you wouldn’t want anything near you that told your cells to die, right? Well, thats something that Phthalates can trigger. It can trigger cell death in testicular cells which leads to low sperm count, birth defects, obesity, etc. Like BPA, you can avoid Phthalates by staying away from plastic containers, plastic wrap made from PVC and personal care items that list added fragrances. Look for Phthalate-free products in containers and body products!

    Want more info? Check out EWG’s article on this very subject. It’s full of links and info and even a PDF to keep handy.

     

  • Natural Scar Treatments

    Natural Scar Treatments

    We all end up with scars. And while we like to honor life’s journey in these bodies, most of us would prefer to minimize their appearance.

    There are some simple and luxurious ways to treat scras without chemicals. The first recipe is for scars from cuts and scrapes, strecth marks, and incisions.

    All-purpose scar oil

    Ingredients

    • 1/4 cup of your favorite carrier oil (tamanu oil, oilve oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, etc.)
    • 20 drops lavendar essential oil
    • 10 drops rosemary essential oil

    Mix all ingredients and keep in a glass jar (preferably dark glass) and store in a cool, dark place.

    All-natural remedies for scars

    Lavendar is a great go-to oil for any skin issue. Inanition to helping heal scars, it treats acne, burns of all kinds, and bug bites. Rosemary can help skin cells regenerate, which will shrink scar tissue. Helichrysum fights inflammation, heals wounds, and soothes skin.

    Tamanu oil is excellent for healing scars. It has been used traditionally by indigenous people in Polynesia for its tremendous healing properties. It increases healthy cell growth and acts as an anti-inflammatory.

    Easy face mask for acne scars

    Ingredients

    • 4 tablespoons honey
    • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 3 teaspoons plain yogurt
    • 1 egg white

    Combine with whisk or fork in a small bowl. This mixture will be liquid, so soak a soft wash cloth in the fluid
    and lay it over your face for 10 minutes. Rinse with cool water afterwards.

  • Recipe: Date ‘Caramel’ Dip

    Recipe: Date ‘Caramel’ Dip

    This might sound weird, but this stuff tastes like the real deal. It doesn’t keep for long, but once you taste it, it won’t last! You will not miss sugary caramel once you try this.

    Makes about 1 cup

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup soft Medjool dates, pitted
    • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, or more to taste
    • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
    • 1/4 cup almond milk, plus extra for desired texture
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil

    Directions

    Soak the dates in filtered water 2 to 3 hours, until soft.

    Combine all of the ingredients in the blender, and blend until smooth and creamy, adding extra almond milk if necessary to facilitate blending.

    Taste as you go. Adjust with salt and lemon if needed. Chill before serving.

    Serve with sliced fruit, or thin with water to drizzle over baked goods, oatmeal, cereal, etc.

  • A Sign of Early Spring

    A Sign of Early Spring

    Despite the cold temps, Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, like this plant sprouting near Frenchtown, N.J., is looking good! The root of this remarkably beautiful plant can be made into a vinegar-based extract that is a very valuable anti-fungal. It is best used topically, and can be applied to athlete’s foot or other fungal overgrowths, where no open wound exists.

    Studies show the extract can inhibit the deposition of dental plaque, which is why it is used in mouth rinses. It has excellent anti-microbial activity on the mucous membrane tissues. Once again, however, this is a mouth rinse, not to be ingested. Bloodroot has legitimate internal uses, but should not be used this way unless under the care of a qualified health-care practitioner.

    The plant’s most noteworthy physical characteristic is its clasping single grey-green leaf, which wraps itself around the delicate flower when it first appears, later unfurling into a shield-like background for the striking white flower. The small but bulbous root from which the extracts are made contains an acrid red-orange juice wherein lies the medicine. This colorful juice was used as a dye, after careful processing, by Native American people, who adorned clothing and their bodies with it.

  • Medicinal Herbs and Supplements

    Medicinal Herbs and Supplements

    Evidence-based herbal and vitamin supplementation is an achievable reality in our 21st century world. Finding quality herbs and supplements, as well as high-quality information about them, requires experience in the marketplace of natural substances. This is what we bring to the consumer’s table: decades of research into herbal medicine as well long experience working with the finest natural supplement manufacturers in the world.

    There can be a ten-fold difference in the cost of raw materials for good-quality herbs and supplements versus poor quality. Knowing and trusting your herb and vitamin seller is paramount in a world where bargains are everywhere, but information about sourcing can be scarce.

    Taking a degree of responsibility, however small, for one’s own health, is empowering. In addition to exercise, relaxation techniques, and dietary adjustment, herbs and supplements are powerful allies for those seeking optimum health.