Living Touch

There are nine species of Echinacea, all belonging to the botanical family Asteraceae, and all native to the United States and South Canada. The name stems from the Greek word echino which means spiny because of the plant’s spiny central disk. And because of its purple flowers, Echinacea is also known as purple coneflower. Native Americans used it as a herbal remedy more than any other plant. It is the best known herb as well as one of the most researched ones for stimulating the immune system. Today, millions of Americans and Europeans take Echinacea against colds, flu, and other infectious diseases.

Dong Quai - angelica root, also known as angelica sinensis, female ginseng, archangel root, wild celery, and dang gui (tang kwei), is a member of the celery family and is native to China, Korea, and Japan. For medicinal purposes its root is used. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is known to treat gynecological problems, fatigue, anemia, and high blood pressure. It is the only non-animal source of Vitamin B12, has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, and sedative properties, and is also used as an aphrodisiac.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a perennial herb which is thought to be native to Europe and Asia, but has now spread to many other places. Considered by many to be a weed and therefore a nuisance, Dandelion is cultivated as an edible salad crop and as a medicinal herb. The leaves are high in vitamin A and C and contain more iron and calcium than spinach. As a medical remedy, Dandelion has been used for more than 2000 years both internally and externally. Its juice has diuretic and laxative properties and was used to treat rheumatism, gout, hemorrhoids, diabetes, eczema and other skin conditions and to prevent scurvy.

Boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, Boswellin and Salai guggal is a moderate to large branching tree which grows in the hilly areas of India and which is known for its fragrant resin. The frankincense mentioned in the Bible is thought to have been an extract from the resin of the tree Boswellia sacra. When the tree trunk is tapped, a gummy oleoresin exudes of which a purified extract is used for herbal preparations. The boswellic acids, a component of the resin, are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and to be effective in treating bursitis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Bee pollen is plant pollens that have been collected by worker bees combined with plant nectar and bee saliva. Bee pollen is gathered from pollen laden bees by a special device which is placed at the entrance of the hive and which is made to brush the pollen from the bee’s hind legs. As bee pollen is rich in vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, trace elements, and minerals, it has become a popular nutritional supplement.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Winter cherry and Indian ginseng, is a plant which has been used medicinally since ancient times. It belongs to the nightshade family and grows mainly in India and Africa. Ashwagandha is Sanskrit and means „horse’s smell“. The name refers to the odor of its root that smells a bit like a sweaty horse. In Ayurvedic Medicine it is used for a wide number of conditions, similar to how Ginseng is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, in fact, some of its constituents resemble the active constituents in Ginseng, both in their action and appearance, which is why Ashwagandha is also referred to as „Indian ginseng“.

The Warrior Diet was created by Ori Hofmekler, a former Penthouse magazine editor and former Israeli Special Forces Soldier, based on his own personal experiences. He argues that in order to succeed in the environment of the time, the historic „warrior“ had a primal need to cycle between undereating during the day, when physical danger was always present and he had to stay alert, and overeating at night, when he could afford to relax. According to Hofmekler, the undereating phase maximizes the sympathetic nervous system’s fight or flight reaction to stress, with the result of energy generation and ultimately fat burning.

The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a closely monitored regime over a two-week period under medical supervision. Weight loss is achieved by limiting consumption to about 1,000 calories a day, composed of 43% protein, 34,5% carbohydrates, and 22,5% fats. Oils, butters, and other fats are eliminated which encourages the body to metabolize existing stores of fat. It does not allow sugar or alcohol. The Scarsdale Medical Diet was developed by cardiologist Dr. Herman Tarnower who had been prescribing a two-week crash diet for his patients for many years before he published the book „The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet“ in 1978. Many believe that it was Dr. Tarnower’s murder in 1980 that made the book a bestseller and keeps it popular today.

Developed by Ron Rosedale and Carol Colman, the Rosedale Diet is a diet plan designed to help control leptin, the key hormone that regulates appetite. It is a high fat, very low carbohydrate, and low protein diet and in that similar to the South Beach Diet, the Hampton’s Diet, and also the Atkins Diet. However, it places emphasis on eating good, unsaturated fats and avoiding saturated or trans-fats. The diet begins with a 3-week phase where all starchy carbohydrates are to be avoided. After that, some starchy carbohydrates are allowed, but only in restricted amounts.