The real debate about counting calories is simple; for humans to calculate food converted into energy makes no sense. It’s a ploy by advertisers to sell products…
Continue readingMYTH ABOUT CBD
For CBD to be effective, it has to be consumed in amounts hundreds of times higher than what is added into gummies, creams, waters and lotions sold on shelves…
Continue readingVAPING & JUULING
Juuling or Vaping Tobacco is devastating to your health!
Sorry if you snoop through this blog trying to find comfort in inhaling artificial fumes, tobacco and THC… Vaping or Juuling of any product is devastating to your health; every other nuance of opinion is just that, an excuse to postpone coping with addiction. This blog requires laying out a few basic structures to help understand the difference between scientific research of a specific product and the implications (while disregarding the science knowledge) into an actual circumstance.
In TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), we comb through the history registered by many people who have documented their findings, ideas, and results and define an early understanding of herbal powers. Rosemary with Arnica, as an example, has been documented as far back as 2000BC for its advantage in reducing leg pain (muscle, tendons ligaments), amongst many other benefits. Crepitus, recognized by a popping or cracking sound in the knee, is helped by rubbing sesame oil atop the joint area…
Druids agreed in all corners of the world throughout history, with doctors and monks that Rosemary oil extract from this plant in bloom – harvested ideally in late Summer – comforts foremost lower-leg pain. Water-steam oil extractions were first documented in 1000BC… Roman soldiers praised Rosemary oils, and today you can find it advertised in a yoga store claiming similar advantages.
Millions of people have used Rosemary remedies, and scholars have passed their refined wisdom down to pupils through modern generations. Today, it is applied for migraines, menstrual cramps, and concentration-remedy (the oil is not harvested in the specific matter mentioned above). Books are re-written about its benefit for hair restoration. Neurological research claims that it cures Alzheimer’s, although that is still questionable… be wary of anyone using the word “cure”! Mediterranean chefs for centuries spiced their pasta dishes with this herb, following an ancient tradition. Candlemakers love Rosemary’s strong scent… its usage seems unlimited.
Today we can DNA fingerprint Rosemarinus Officinalis and compare current research on many levels with past scriptures. Today, we confirm that the human muscular cell structure and blood vessels react positively towards the anti-thrombotic effect towards these oils in preventing blood clots. Rosemary does seem to activate brain memory, as claimed by Shakespeare.
Our nervous system and brain sensors react positively towards beta-amyloid plaques and hence, Rosemary suppresses acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), which are primary causes of Alzheimer’s ataxia and dementia.
We can pinpoint why we feel relieved when rubbing “healing oil” on our skin – we know understand how it is absorbed and what human profiles react positively to its smell, flavor, and essence. We can even demonstrate why plant extract creates adverse reactions in the human body, like burns, numbness, hives, or what causes blistering discomfort.
rDNA and mDNA studies show Rosemary variations have potencies unavailable to science research before, including a current understanding of how it needs to be cultivated, preferably harvested and manufactured. How it could be genetically manipulated to produce vast amounts of concentrations to provide a product as demanded. Surprisingly, the original claims registered a thousand years ago are today confirmed claims; because the documented scriptures of the past result from millions of people being treated successfully. Compare this to modern trial phases, merely requiring a few hundred people within a tiny time span of a few months before medicine is released on the Pharma market…
That’s all about one herb. However, as soon as we combine one with another plant essence, we start a whole new chain of discovery… Triple or quadruple a TCM-mix and the potentiality become complex. True herbology rarely uses a “single application” for prescription use… Furthermore, traditional medicine respects that each body/person reacts differently at various states of age and health and living in many climates. What might feels soothing to one could be life-threatening to another.
Throughout the history of “4000 years of Rosemary-emollient-investigation” – trial tested on billions of people – no significant study has ever suggested that smoking its oil would result in an advantage. None of the respected TCM scriptures suggest that inhaling fumes into our bronchi would treat ailments or benefit human health. None!
And now, let’s talk about vaping: Basically an electronically heated substance we inhale for pleasure… that is fused with chemically designed oils or artificial flavors to trick our minds into believing it smells like rosemary vanilla or citrus. Keep in mind; the FDA categorizes seasoning differently from nutritional and manufacturing rely on you not realizing misleading labeling and claims. It’s as convoluted as the term decriminalizing Marihuana from legalizing it. It should be decriminalized (and all jailed people for possession must be freed…), but legalizing would saturate the market with concocted products falsely claiming to contain medical benefits (already happening) and bogus products that can be dangerous, even deadly!
Vaping, or vaporizing, is the process of heating raw plant matter or chemical extracts without combustion. Instead of burning weed, tobacco, or hash, vaporizing quickly heats various substances (mixes) to limit the release of harmful chemicals and to maximize the part of the plant’s intended effects. Cannabis is typically heated between >285°F and <450°F, and tobacco vapes between >250°F and <300°F. The smoking point of CBD oil is 332°F (165°C)… (besides, there is no significant benefit recorded of hemp-extracted oil…)
Vapor has more in common with a cloud of steam than with a puff of smoke. And even though vaping reduces the effects of secondhand smoke, it doesn’t mean you’re not experiencing a drug’s effect as a bystander. Most plant oils “burn” and become unhealthy at different degrees of heat (Read: vapor level and smoking points of oils).
Juul vapes heat up to around 420°F…
The properties we absorb while vaporing differ, depending on what you actually inhale. You can inhale tobacco, THC hash, and endless combinations of substances, including orange oils (smoke point 350°F), cinnamon plant-matter, and synthetic additives. Sometimes these substances turn into gaseous form, and sometimes vaping means inhaling liquid particles suspended in the air as they cool after evaporation. Either way, the method at first is the same: Drug molecules, after being inhaled, land on the interior lungs, which have an enormous surface area to catch them. The molecules then pass directly into the blood and bypass the digestive system. From there, the effects hit your brain in about five seconds, which is almost as quick as injecting the substance.
Let’s skip how the lungs cope with getting rid of the “garbage” left inside; just read up on COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
So, Juuling (a brand name adapted verb) is the foremost “goto” tool for teenagers in 2018. They annoyingly blow nicotine-steam lazed with oils and chemicals that “taste” like Vanilla, Rosemary, or fantastic flavors. Even Marijuana-infused e-cigarettes come with chemical-created additives. Although vaping is promoted foremost to a younger generation as a healthy alternative to smoking, statistically, only 2% of cigarette smokers have actually quit through vaping. Actually, 9% admit to smoking “real” cigarettes after starting with e-cigarettes. This five billion vapor industry fails to honestly communicate a science-based message about the known side effects that lack a long-term study and warn about the consequences of this modern diversion accurately. We promote until we know better… (since this blog was published in 2018, the science world has concluded that vaping is no better than smoking…)
In TCM, we promote certain essences to be inhaled through steam, i.e., clearing your sinus – bent over the sink under a towel – inhaling Tiger-Balm (fumes) smeared onto the porcelain below. At the same time, the hot water faucet is fully opened… This does not compare to circumvent what the nose is designed to filter out while inhaling medicinal substance before it coats the surface of our bronchi. Drawing in overheated artificial substances through your mouth without any true purpose (other than getting high…) seems questionable. I’m also not convinced that the vanilla-cloud puffing teen in a restaurant next to me looks particularly “cool” or hip…
Nicotine is addictive. >50% of all e-cigarette contain tobacco. The leaf-drying process had been shown to prevent Tuberculosis in factory workers during the early 19thcentury. TCM respects the healing properties of Tobacco. Throughout South and North America, tobacco is consumed in various ways: chewed, sniffed, smoked, eaten, juiced, smeared over bodies, and used in eye drops and enemas. It still carries a mystic “smoke” of purification spirits after blessing fields and praising Gods.
Today, the same tobacco companies – denying for decades that smoking caused cancer – now aim to hook teens on vaping. We adapted against their efforts that smoking was the foremost cause of lung-, bone-, gum-cancer and birth deformities but now allow to hold a truth that inhaling steam derived essence is less dangerous. We have to willfully ignore modern studies that the use of smokeless tobacco include: Mouth-, tongue-, cheek-, and gum cancer.
Surely, bi-products inhaled by burning wrapping papers and fillers are more unhealthy than flavored vapor steam. The new expensive studies claiming that juuling is harmless are sponsored by companies that denied cigarette smoking caused cancer. We are smarter today than we were yesterday, right? Nicotine addiction prevented smokers in the ’80s from giving up their habit while dying of cancer in their hospital beds. Tobacco addiction is the culprit here, not the method in which we ingest the essence! Got hooked?
TCMchef Raphael
HOW TO MANAGE DEPRESSION
DON’T WAIT ANY LONGER: TREAT YOUR DEPRESSION RIGHT NOW!
On my travel out to New York, I sat in the plane next to a lady who, after a quick introduction, involved me in a deep discussion about “food and depression.”
It was not one of those agonizing in-flight stories; Actually, I would have loved to converse with her for hours more! People living in busy urban environments all know of others suffering from loneliness, having introverted torturing thoughts, and being pained with inadequate feelings… I, too, sometimes feel “downtrodden” or not as perceptive as I know myself to be. However, I have several methods of “coping” with the onslaught of depression. One of them is changing the “interior monologue” from bad to positive: Instead of allowing my thoughts to assume negativity, I willingly adapt to “correct” my dark spooks. I point in the mirror and say: ‘Hey you, I love you! I will make you laugh’. When I frown back, I actually crack a smile…
In TCM, we recommend taking a daily cold morning shower, meditate. Adapt a two-minute yoga stretch because these actions initiate change; simply getting out of bed, opening the windows, allowing oneself to be happy by not drowning in “darkness” changes the path. Instead of watching NEWS listen to your oldies (loudly), take a quick dance step, lift your chin high and say something nice about yourself: “Hey! I’m the shit!” Talk to your plants. Point at your pet and tell them they are loved!
DO NOT sleep with your cellphone next to you. Please turn it off when you go to sleep until you’re up, out of bed, and awake!
We are clearly the result of what we do and what we eat. Food is a major factor in how we feel; here is your blog that might encourage you to change a few things to curve your mood and for the wise one to avoid losing your mind.
First off, if you are a moody person, cut back on sugar and never, NEVER consume anything that contains Aspartame. Let’s learn something about the chemistry that directly influences our neuro-receptors in the brain. This is important to understand when activating your full brain function while studying or preventing inherited genes from “freezing” our mental capacity. Whilst we are at the NEVER consume power-drinks named fittingly “Monster” or “Booster” – you kinda know they are bad. It’s just not totally respected how horrible their side-effects are. Manufacturers quickly jump onto modern science to create supplements based on isolated information. They will express (advertise) that we are all made from the same matter and react uniformly. These drinks are especially horrid when you’re depressed!
That’s when I am telling you to turn the NEWS back on and realize we are NOT the same. Made of equal matter, similar prepositioned in mobility but limited by genes and gravity – certainly not similar when acting outside human compassion towards others.
“Brain foods” are obtained from eating high protein such as meat, dairy, avocados, soy products, and certain nuts and seeds. What makes them ideal for mental health is their high content of phenylalanine that, through proper combination and digestion, convert into tyrosine (another amino acid) used in protein synthesis. For the few I lost above: A healthy brain needs Kefir, hard cheese, avocado, lentils, chickpeas, seaweed, pumpkin, non-heated coconut fat, cold-pressed oils, and black sesame seeds. For the lesser vegetarian, there is lots of phenylalanine in meat, fish, and eggs. Artichokes, parsley and oregano (extract) contain apigenin, an antidepressant, and broccoli will help keep your liver healthy and detoxify.
In humans, phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that must be obtained from the diet and not from an isolated source (sorry, most isolated products have minimal benefit…). In contrast, tyrosine can be synthesized in your digestive tract from phenylalanine and is considered a non-essential amino acid. Both compounds can be altered into chemicals that affect mood and brain functioning by controlling the “side-dishes” you swallow simultaneously. We eat terrible combinations of foods; they are often deprived of natural sources for phenylalanine and tyrosine, so frequently, we take them as nutritional supplements. This is not ideal; it’s like a chest implant; it might look nice, but there is no strength or actual physical function. Juicing and fasting during depression is NOT healthy!
L-Phenylalanine turns into L-Tyrosine that is converted into L-Dopa (dopamine), which stimulates the brain to either “like” or “crave”… A healthy brain needs this to function! And here is a dilemma, it can be abused to make you addicted to the wrong foods if viciously added. Industries (as do drug dealers) keep you hooked when promoting you to consume a chemically altered substance… Some people suffer from a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU), in which phenylalanine is not metabolized. It can build up to toxic levels and cause retardation and death. The artificial sweetener Aspartame is one of the modern spikes for growing brain illness in babies! A combination of aspartic acid and phenylalanine is a common component in diet sodas. I have clients with serious mental problems consuming daily sodas, popcorn and artificially enhanced products while medicated to prevent losing their minds. We are a weird species! I have a doctor friend that drinks diet coke daily and claims he is totally healthy…
Anyone with a family history of Alzheimer’s. Amyotrophic (ALC) Lou Gehrig’s and neurodegenerative diseases should never consume artificially modified food products. These restrictions include ALL artificial sweeteners… yes, Stevia included! Before you run to the health store and buy DL-phenylalanine synthesized supplements, try eating accordingly. Nature is chock full of healthy solutions that are tasty and cause no side effects. Health food stores hype their products with unlimited shelve storage dates and are far revoked from “natural” (even though it’s printed BOLD on their packages).
Changes in dopamine levels can benefit mood disorders such as depression and diseases such as Parkinson’s. People with PKU or who take antidepressants and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take supplements of phenylalanine.
Start your day with a positive thought! Drink a glass of room temperate water with a slice of fresh ginger in it (ginger significantly enhances cognitive function) and eat bran cereal or oatmeal that is only slightly sweetened (honey). Eat plenty of berries and fruit but do not eat totally white bananas. They are not healthy and do not contain as much phenylalanine compared to “spotted” ripe bananas.
It would be best if you ate an avocado every week, increased your consumption of pumpkin, blanched kale, cooked broccoli, and bruised spinach. They are tough to digest raw! Eat chickpeas, hummus, lentils, and pumpkin seed whenever they are presented; It’s super-rich in brain oil. Consume a few sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, or any (unsalted) nuts; when feeling like “snacking,” they curve appetite and nourish your skin and lungs. Pumpkin seeds and freshly pressed oils are ideal if not roasted or baked… Avoid popcorn, sodas, and anything that is lazed with sweetener; it will probably block good dopamine effects and is merely designed to keep you hooked. When fermented (cheese, some yoghurt, and butter), dairy products are healthy and rich in brain-fatty acids. Milk is not. If you are already affected by a neurological disorder, you need to avoid too much soy product, avoid artificial starches (bread, pasta, pastries) and consult with your doctor about foods that might interfere with your medication.
I am working on recipes, specifically targeting foods that benefit the brain…
Until my flight back to Los Angeles… Enjoy and share!
TCMchef raphael
HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
If you suffer from lack of insulin response – your hunger hormones are not telling you to stop overeating – you keep eating – your liver will store excess sugar as fat – mostly in the liver and you become unable to reduce sugar levels in your blood.
Continue readingADDICTED TO PAIN KILLERS
We are addicted to Pain killers. But we trust the doctor prescribing us meds, encouraged by Pharma reps, endorsed by commission and bonus – even if there is scientific study pending on drug interaction. (No, this is not about Covid vaccines!!)
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