Dear Friends,

My One of the Spiritual Friends, has started a New Monthly E Magazine named ¨Synthesis ¨,and here I am sharing the link for the Magazine .

This is a link from Word Press.

The Synthesis e-Magazine

http://www.elementalgracealliance.com/synthesismagazines/Volume1March2019Completed/index.html?r=70

You go with the link and try to see this E Magazine.You will like and this is free .

Peter Melchizedek has also written a Book...Elemental Grace Alliance  

He is working with our Ascended Masters and giving us the material for easy Ascension in the Higher Realms.

At present we are working for the New Earth and helping our Planet to Ascend along with Bringing Heaven on our Planet Earth.

What is Divinity and how can we be like God ...working with Elementals, and all the Kingdoms along with heavenly Devas and Angels.

Sohini

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/self-help-pioneer-dr-wayne-dyer-dies-75-n418556

Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Author · 2,435,688 Likes

·

Wayne has left his body, passing away through the night. He always said he couldn't wait for this next adventure to begin and had no fear of dying. Our hearts are broken, but we smile to think of how much our scurvy elephant will enjoy the other side.

We Love You Forever Dad/Wayne

The Dyer Family

More at Link;

8 Steps On The Road To Success (Part 1) 

We all live a life which is filled with ambition based actions which we perform from the morning to the night i.e. every karma either in the personal, professional, social or financial sphere is filled with the energy of an intention or a pure desire that I have to achieve what I aspire or aim for. But things go wrong when the ambition starts becoming an obsession and it starts affecting our relationships, health and mind sometimes individually and sometimes all together. With some people, the desire to succeed is so immense and so obsessive that it tends to influence their thoughts to such an extent that they lose interest in performing any karma which takes them away from this aim. 

They say success for some comes at a price – a broken soul, a stressful mind, an unhealthy body and harmed relationships. For some, life is like a continuous challenge to be overcome. Challenges are good; they bring out the inner powers and help in tapping the hidden potential inside you but a life which eats, sleeps and breathes challenges and goals is the wrong road to success. A main cause of professional burn out at a young age, which is even causing a lot of people to become severely depressive and unenthusiastic, unenergetic and disinterested after a certain period of time in their careers and in other pursuits of life especially in their family lives, is an obsession to achieve and dream big. Many people are taking to meditation and relaxation techniques because they lost the balance at sometime in their lives and left the right road to success with the destination of success remaining away from them instead of coming towards them. 

In the next two days’ messages, we shall explain 8 different steps one needs to take on an emotional level so that success is achieved but without any of the side effects in the form of love lost in relationships and physical and mental illnesses, in short the steps on the road to success. 

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Message for the day 15-06-2015
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Feelings change intentions, thus changing actions too. 

Expression: When there are negative feelings like jealousy or hatred towards another person, those feelings naturally create misunderstanding. Even if the other person has a good feeling while doing something, a negative intention is attributed and this naturally changes one's own behaviour or response making it negative too. 

Experience: When there is the slightest bit of negative feeling within me for someone, it naturally creates further negativity from others too. I find everything I come across to be negative, like the one who wears coloured glasses sees everything to be of that particular colour. 


,8 Steps On The Road To Success (Part 2) 

Just for a minute stop what you are thinking and ask yourself is a goal or an achievement so significant that you do not mind losing some of the beautiful relationships of love of your life, an emotion that is most cherished when in its pure and selfless form. Also, what use is an achieved mission if in the process I suffer sleep disorders or my digestive system is weakened or I suffer from high blood pressure or diabetes or even mental illnesses like depression or sometimes even an end result of attempting suicide when the same purpose of life can be achieved without losing mental peace, even if that means the achievement of the purpose takes place at a date later than the one intended? 

So, the first step on the road to success is revising your purpose to one that can be achieved at a slower speed than the speed we might see others working at. Of course, it’s needless to say that the wrong energy with which we are working that is giving us hurry and worry sickness is nothing but competition. Competition is not at all an un-required energy in mainstream society but when competition is accompanied by or mixed with comparisons, it becomes negative or self-harming. So compete, competition is healthy but do not compare, comparisons are unhealthy. Also, ensure that while moving towards the destination of success it is important to set smaller goals to be achieved instead of targeting directly at the bigger cause. This is important because this keeps us extremely light in our journey and keeps us on the road to success and does not let us become tired when the going gets difficult at times. This is a way of unburdening oneself while travelling on the road to success which can be long at times. Another important feature of a relaxed journey to success is satisfying people who are a part of the journey and not developing cold relations with them. Very often, people are so obsessed with work or professional targets that a 14 hour day at the workplace is a common practice with busy professionals with no time for their family members causing distancing and differences between them and also very often children and life partners being affected negatively by this and remaining dissatisfied. 

(To be continued tomorrow …) 

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Message for the day 16-06-2015
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To be free from weakness means to have the power to mould. 

Expression: When there is a weakness, it becomes difficult to mould according to the needs of the situation. Weakness creates hardness and rigidity not allowing the situations to create internal beauty. So the one who is constantly working with one's own weakness finds it difficult to stop the negativity from being expressed immediately. The weakness is revealed inspite of making effort not to and there is unpleasantness created. 

Experience: To have the ability to mould means to become real gold. I become as flexible and beautiful as pure gold, which is ready to take beautiful shapes when it comes under the influence of the heat of the situation. So I have no hard feelings for having to adjust, but I am able to enjoy the beauty I create and the joy I spread. 


In Spiritual Service,
Brahma Kumaris

   PLANET ALERT JUNE 2015

                           web site: www.mahalasastrology.com            email: planetalert@hotmail.com

Have you noticed how fast time is moving? Pretty soon we will be in no-time and then we will be living in the NOW. The higher the frequency on Earth, the faster time moves. If time continues to move this fast we might just be in the time of no-time by the end of September, and we might find ourselves living on a higher dimension Earth. We do live in exciting times.

There will be four main planetary aspects in June. The first one is that Mercury will turn direct on June 11^th, and the second one will be Neptune turning retrograde on June 12^th for several months. Neptune will be stationary for a couple of months on nine degrees Pisces. The focus of that degree will be ‘Man’s ability to develop powers and skills which by transcending natural limitations allow him/her to operate in the mental-spiritual realms’. This will be a good vibrational energy and will allow us to integrate the strong energy that will be coming in from the Saturn/Alcyone opposition all summer.

The third planetary aspect will be Saturn turning retrograde back into Scorpio on June 14^th, where it will stay until mid–September. Our solar system orbits around Alcyone, the central Sun of the Pleiadean system. It takes approximately 26,000 years for the complete rotation. Alcyone manifests very high energy. We will be bombarded with this high frequency energy for three months. Be prepared for this energy by being calm inside or you may have some challenges with it. It looks like this energy may cause the Shuman Resonance to go really high, like maybe up to 13 Hertz by September. It’s around 9 Hertz right now. It’s my understanding that various parts of the world have different Hertz ratings. Some areas have a low vibration and other areas have a very high vibration.

A planetary aspect can be stationary and inactive in the heavens until a planet or moon triggers an event. This means there will be quiet times in between the trigger points. When the moon will be in Taurus, Aquarius, and Leo, the Saturn Alcyone aspect will be triggered. And when Jupiter moves onto 28 degrees Leo, the first 10 days of August we will see a very strong energy for Earth changes. Now this aspect could cause a large quake in the Middle East, or at the opposite point which is the West Coast of America, or the Leo part which is Japan, the Koreas and that part of the world. On August 7^th Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter will be conjunct in Leo around 28 degrees, the moon will be in Taurus, and Saturn will be in Scorpio. This will make a T cross in the heavens. The declinations of the planets will be on low latitude like 34-40 N. This could mean an earthquake In the Middle East, possibly Iran.

Then on September 23-24 Mars will be on zero degrees Virgo. This is now the degree of Regulus, The Royal Star of the Lion. Virgo is the sign of the Goddess energy. A 2,160 year cycle of Virgo, the Goddess started on July 11, 1991. We have slowly integrated this Goddess/love energy into planet Earth.

This aspect will be right before the fourth red blood moon eclipse. It will be interesting to see what that brings. This might activate an electromagnetic wave like Dr. Simon Atkins talks about on a radio program http://truthfrequencyradio.com/phoenix-rising-radio-51579 He says this wave will hit Earth in September. This could be the time when Mother Earth decides to Ascend into a fifth dimension Earth.

Dr. Atkin's replay half way down on the page. 2015-05-07

https://soundcloud.com/phoenix-rising-29/tracks

We actually lived on a sixth dimension Earth a long time ago, and we fell to a third dimension Earth. This is what the fall of Lucifer was all about. We chose to experience what it would be like to live on a third dimension Earth. It has not been easy and it has taken a long time to raise the vibration of Earth to what it is now. In August of 1987, at the time of the Harmonic Convergence, we moved into a new time-line of a fourth dimension Earth. The fourth dimension Earth is where everything manifests, the good,  the bad, and the ugly. Now we are reaching for a fifth dimension Earth which is one of Unity Consciousness. This will be a much better place to live. Then on to a sixth dimension Earth.

I believe that the sixth dimension Earth still exists and that is what is considered the New Earth, which is one of love. The sound of love is 528 Hertz which breaks down to the number 15 or 6. We have to raise our vibration high enough so we can see the New Earth in order to live on it. It is also the dimension of magic and miracles.

The fourth planetary aspect will be Mars moving into Cancer on June 24^th. Right now Mars is in Gemini along with Mercury and our Sun. Gemini is the sign that rules the area from the Cascade Mountains to the Mississippi River. I received several emails talking about a possible 9 plus earthquake in southern California on May 28^th. I looked at the planets and said ‘this will not happen in California’ because the main energy from the planets is over Texas and Oklahoma, plus other areas of Earth.

There was a 6.7 earthquake on May 28^th off the islands off Alaska. There were also volcanic eruptions in Japan and Chili on that day. And there was a 7.8 quake in southern Japan on May 30^th. The sun and Mars will continue to travel over the Gemini areas until June 21 -24th so look for more earth changes in the Southwest. There will probably be more storms because that is what Mercury rules, and that planet rules Gemini.

The planet Mars moving through Cancer from June 24 to August 8^th may prove challenging. Pluto will turn direct on September 24^th. This means that Pluto will be retrograde all summer. Pluto is always very powerful when it is in the retrograde phase. On the new moon of July 15^th Mars will be opposing Pluto. This is normally a violent aspect and causes events like riots, demonstrations, police action, military action, fires and explosions. There could be lots of fires and heat during this time period. The degree Pluto will be on is ‘A fire worshiper meditates on the ultimate realities of existence’. It looks like we will have a long hot summer ahead of us in various areas. Mars will be affecting the areas from the Mississippi River to the East Coast during its journey through the sign of Cancer.

Uranus is still in Aries and is on 19 degrees. This is a very powerful degree. The sun has always been exalted on that degree. The meaning of this degree is ‘The Magic Carpet and the use of creative imagination’ Uranus will be interacting with Eris and that asteroid can cause a bit of havoc like riots, demonstration, etc.

Then we have the Summer Solstice on June 21^st at 9:38 AM PDT. There is always a lot of energy that comes in during this time period, use it wisely. Actually, I think we are moving into a very auspicious time and if we stay strong and loving we will get through this summer with flying colors. With Saturn retrograde in Scorpio there may be some more stuff coming up for us to look at and release. Those who have finished releasing their challenges can just sit back and enjoy the high frequency energy. People who are living on the fourth dimension Earth may have some problems. The ones who are manifesting fifth dimension energy will be fine.

In September, when Saturn moves back into Sagittarius we will probably see lots of changes in the area of freedom. This sign is very freedom loving and it is hard to keep a Sagittarian down. They bounce right back up. This sign rules the banking system, courts of law, lawyers, teachers, mountains, religion and the higher mind. During this time period is when we will see the manifestation of a new financial system, a new court system, and new governing systems. The old will be gone and the new will arrive. Saturn will be in Sagittarius for two and a half years.

Enjoy your summer and please walk softly on this beautiful planet. We are a beautiful jewel in this solar system and the more light that comes in the more the Earth will sparkle. We create everything by our thoughts and actions so please use your mind wisely and start thinking with your heart.   So Be It!

                                 Love to everyone!                                 Mahala Gayle

2nd June 2015

By Open

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

What the world needs most of all right now, is for the new breed of ‘Spirit Warriors’ to step up and step out. It needs people to dive into centre stream; to take a risk, that we can truly change the worldwide reality by having the courage to change our own.

It is said that madness is doing the same thing day in day out and yet expecting different results. Well, there’s plenty of madness out there right now! So where do you stand?

Are you one of the New Spirit Warriors?

Here’s how to tell…

22 Ways to tell if You are a Spirit Warrior:

1. A Spirit Warrior recognises that they, and only they, create their reality. In other words, they fearlessly embrace every person, situation and circumstance that they have drawn, as their own manifestation. And they’re prepared to deal with that (see Law of Attraction unveiled).

2. A Spirit Warrior realises that ‘fearlessness’ is not to be without fear; rather it is to be continually confronting and breaking through fear in the moment it arises.

3. A Spirit Warrior does not blame or project at others. Not even the crazy situation we now witness in the world. She accepts the outer mirror created by group karma, and works tirelessly to unravel it (understanding karma).

4. A Spirit Warrior doesn’t complain or constantly try to fix the ‘pain’. They recognise that the pain is the place where the light enters, and that transcendence of the physical is the path to immortality. Therefore, of the pain they say… “bring it on!”

5. A Spirit Warrior is not afraid to let go of a creation or manifestation once it has served its purpose. Which could mean moving on from a de-energising relationship, job or location. Even when the path forwards is uncertain, they dive all in (see Manifesting Miracles with White Magic).

6. A Spirit Warrior knows the difference between surrender and giving up. Surrender is aligning with the truth that they can feel unfolding, whereas giving up is being wishy washy, and too easily accepting of ‘anything goes’.

7. A Spirit Warrior knows the difference between judgment and discernment. It’s vitally important to call reality the way it is, in order to navigate the path between the obstacles in life. But to judge another or a particular circumstance as always being the same, is to ‘condemn’ it, and then form a fixed relationship to it (see The Ray 4 Diplomat in You).

8. A Spirit Warrior is careful with the word ‘never’, so as not to condemn a particular situation to a particular fate. He is aware that ‘always’ may change.

9. A Spirit Warrior is not afraid to go against the herd, even at the risk of getting trampled by it.

10. A Spirit Warrior is not afraid to suffer, or to die, for a cause greater than themselves.

11. A Spirit Warrior knows that death is merely the passage into a new life. And therefore fearlessly lives the life they now have.

12. A Spirit Warrior is profoundly honest with themselves.

13. A Spirit Warrior is not afraid of the truth.

14. A Spirit Warrior fearlessly expresses themselves, no matter what the outcome. Yes, diplomacy and tact are important to them too, but that doesn’t mean compromising your own soul. It’s all about ‘the dance’, finding the most accessible and appropriate way to express your truth (see The Seven Rays of Divine Impulse).

15. A Spirit Warrior is selfless, yet not afraid to express the self. The self is far from being some bland, colourless or wishy washy existence. It is vibrant, alive, full of animation, charisma, colour and expression.

16. A Spirit Warrior is forgiving of himself and others. She recongises that all life’s circumstances are created for learning purposes: that there is no such thing as evil intent. All create according to the reality model that has been built up inside. Forgiveness helps unravel the distortions that people hold onto (see radical forgiveness).

17. A Spirit Warrior understands the difference between non-efforting and commitment to a cause. Yes, it is essential to let go of struggle and attachment. But nevertheless, it is going to take commitment, patience and perseverance to bring light through the darkness.

18. A Spirit Warrior knows when to put something down, and when to pick something up.

19. A Spirit Warrior lives day to day, moment by moment from their intuition. They’re constantly tuning within and asking “what would you have me do now?” and “how would you have me do it?”

20. A Spirit Warrior is constantly witnessing the objectivity of synchronicity, allowing it to reveal what’s really going on in the moment, not accepting the filter the ego might be placing on it.

21. A Spirit Warrior allows others to make their own mistakes and walk their own path. He may lend support, but doesn’t disempower by taking ownership of their issue.

22. A Spirit Warrior truly understands the nature of love: overcoming that which separates oneself from other sentient life, and instead compassionately embracing that which unites all (see video Who are You, and How to Be That?).

The Spirit Warriors are here!

There’s a new era of Spirit Warriors emerging. These spiritual warriors are not afraid to feel their fear. They have the courage to be vulnerable through the deepest challenges and to be profoundly honest with themselves. They are committed with every fibre of their being to unravel the layers that keep them bound to the lower paradigm, no matter what it takes! They come from all walks of life, of all ages, joining hands, finding a common thread of beingness and are hiding NO MORE!

The question is… are you one of them?

Namaste

21st May 2015

By Paul Lenda

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

How does anything ever change on this planet? Through people empowering themselves with the conviction that one person can make an impressionable difference in something. This internal belief has the power to do everything from disempowering corrupt systems to nurturing consciously evolved social ideas.

Yet, with the awareness of this power should come the awareness that we cannot force sleepers to become awakened. A sleeper is someone who has not yet realized that every single aspect within this vast and infinite matrix of consciousness that observably can be called the Universe/Multiverse is interconnected. Let the sleepers enjoy their rest… their slumber will end soon enough, when the time is right.

This realization can be explosive, and in the negative sense if forced onto someone who is not ready to become awakened. Those minds which are unprepared for this expanded level of awareness should be left alone for the time being. They feel that all their needs, wants, and desires are satisfied by the hallucination of culture and therefore should be left alone for now. Hope however that one day, following their own pace and on their own time, they will feel the pull to take an inner path to self-realization.

With the power that you hold within yourself, do not try to convert; do not try to take off the rose-colored glasses people may have on. As Terrence McKenna said many times, find the others. Find those that have the will, courage, and determination to travel down the path towards self-realization and consciousness expansion. These are the people you should focus on, as they have taken the most difficult step…they have awakened.

Nobody has expressed this undertaking more beautifully than perhaps Pierre Teilhard de Chardin when he said that “there is an almost sensual longing for communion with others who have a larger vision. The immense fulfillment of the friendships between those engaged in furthering the evolution of consciousness has a quality almost impossible to describe.”Remember that everything is energy and if we try to work with individuals who are radiating an energy that is diametrically opposite of ours, serenity and rapport cannot be reached.

Theoretically it may be possible to grab someone by the hand and get them on the inner path (this most often occurs through the use of entheogens). However, the end result is unpredictable and may cost of us more time, energy, and effort than it is worth. Share, support, and learn from other awakened souls who share the same passion, vision, and quest as you do. You will notice very quickly that the more you converge with such people, the faster you will feel that you yourself will rise into the highest echelons of consciousness. Feeding off each others’ energy, you will climb, you will fly, you will transcend.

By realizing that the power you need in order to become consciously evolved and eventually enlightened is within you, no more will you be fooled by others into believing that there is any single belief system or school of thought that has all the answers.

It’s like the Buddha said, “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”

By empowering the infinite explorer that is your Self, you cease living a shadow of what you are and start living as a liberated soul on a quest to experiencing happiness and bliss as a perpetual state of consciousness that helps shift the collective consciousness of humanity to that very same level.

You are the catalyst for change. You are the awakened that will help transform humanity into something greater. You will be an example of what a consciously evolved human race looks like. Be mindful that everyone is growing at their own pace in their own time. There is no need to prove anything to anyone that is not ready for blunt and perception-shifting realizations. All good things come in due time. Seek out the others who have already embarked on the inner path and who no longer wish to be a part of a hallucinatory reality.

They are out there, and their numbers grow every day. Seek them out in any way you are able to. With today’s technology, this is easier than it has ever been in history, period. So go on and find the others who also realize that the power is within them. Together, we can live a future that is based on unity rather than separateness…a future where love is more expansive than hate. Say it can’t happen and it won’t. Turn this dream into a reality.

Previous articles by Paul Lenda:

• A New Worldview is Consciously Evolving Humanity
• Conscious Evolution for the Sake of Our Future
• Where Do We Go From Here?
• 9 Ways to Spot a Fake Guru or Spiritual Teacher
• 9 Healing Benefits of Music
• The Ancient Esoteric Wisdom of the Hawaiian Huna Philosophy
• 8 Ways to Spot Emotional Manipulation.. and Free Ourselves From It
• Accelerating Our Collective Emergence Into a New Paradigm
• 10 Ways to Shift Your Consciousness
• Astral Projection – Going Beyond the Astral Plane of Reality

About the author:

Paul Lenda is a conscious evolution guide, author of “The Creation of a Consciousness Shift“ and co-founder of SHIFT>, a social community of intentional evolutionaries focused on anchoring in the new paradigm and assisting the positive transformation of humanity. With the drive to be aware of and experience the wider horizon of Reality, Paul has developed an extensive background in the spiritual and transformative elements of life; one that is both knowledge and experienced-based.

Paul has spoken at various shows, events and locations including the United Nations and My Spirit Radio, and has had his articles published in magazines and journals around the world.

Connect with Paul at Shift> :

• Online: Shift.is
• Facebook: Facebook.com/TheShiftIsNow
• Twitter: Twitter.com@PaulLenda

The Creation of a Consciousness Shift

From the editor…

Through the power of consciousness we are choosing our own reality, and with that, we have the opportunity to affect a global and transpersonal shift in consciousness that will elevate the human collective to a much higher level of being.

Through The Creation of a Consciousness Shift, author Paul Lenda shows that such a massive shift is possible.

Paul’s words will stir up a spirit of action and change, make you question the way you think, and challenge your perception of reality. In “The Creation…” Paul offers scientific evidence in support of his message transcendental self-growth, as well as several tools and methods you can use to help facilitate the biggest, most positive change humanity has ever seen – a global shift in consciousness.

“The Creation of a Consciousness Shift” is available on Amazon and Shift.is

e

By Sayer Ji

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

Aspirin’s long held promises are increasingly falling flat. A natural, safer and more effective alternative to this synthetic drug has been known about for at least 15 years!

In a previous article titled “The Evidence Against Aspirin and For Natural Alternatives,” we discussed the clear and present danger linked with the use of aspirin as well as several clinically proven alternatives that feature significant side benefits as opposed to aspirin’s many known side effects.

Since writing this article, even more evidence has accumulated indicating that aspirin’s risks outweigh its benefits. Most notably, a 15-year Dutch study published in the journal Heart found that among 27,939 healthy female health professionals (average age 54) randomized to receive either 100 mg of aspirin every day or a placebo the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding outweighed the benefit of the intervention for colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease prevention in those under 65 years of age.

Of course, aspirin is not alone as far as dangerous side effects are concerned. The entire non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) category of prescription and over-the-counter drugs is fraught with serious danger. Ibuprofen, for instance, is known to kill thousands each year, and is believed no less dangerous than Merck’s COX-2 inhibitor NSAID drug Vioxx which caused between 88,000-140,000 cases of serious heart disease in the five years it was on the market (1999-2004).  Tylenol is so profoundly toxic to the liver that contributing writer Dr. Michael Murray recently asked in his Op-Ed piece, “Is it Time for the FDA to Remove Tylenol From the Market?“

Given the dire state of affairs associated with pharmaceutical intervention for chronic pain issues,what can folks do who don’t want to kill themselves along with their pain?

Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol) Puts Aspirin To Shame

When it comes to aspirin alternatives, one promising contender is pycnogenol, a powerful antioxidant extracted from French maritime pine back, backed by over 40 years of research, the most compelling of which we have aggregated on GreenMedInfo.com here: Pycnogenol Research. Amazingly, you will find research indexed there showing it may have value for over 80 health conditions.

In 1999, a remarkable study published in the journal Thrombotic Research found that pycnogenol was superior (i.e. effective at a lower dosage) to aspirin at inhibiting smoking-induced clotting, without the significant (and potentially life-threatening) increase in bleeding time associated with aspirin use. The abstract is well worth reading in its entirety:

“The effects of a bioflavonoid mixture, Pycnogenol, were assessed on platelet function in humans. Cigarette smoking increased heart rate and blood pressure. These increases were not influenced by oral consumption of Pycnogenol or Aspirin just before smoking. However, increased platelet reactivity yielding aggregation 2 hours after smoking was prevented by 500 mg Aspirin or 100 mg Pycnogenol in 22 German heavy smokers. In a group of 16 American smokers, blood pressure increased after smoking. It was unchanged after intake of 500 mg Aspirin or 125 mg Pycnogenol. In another group of 19 American smokers, increased platelet aggregation was more significantly reduced by 200 than either 150 mg or 100 mg Pycnogenol supplementation. This study showed that a single, high dose, 200 mg Pycnogenol, remained effective for over 6 days against smoking-induced platelet aggregation. Smoking increased platelet aggregation that was prevented after administration of 500 mg Aspirin and 125 mg Pycnogenol. Thus, smoking-induced enhanced platelet aggregation was inhibited by 500 mg Aspirin as well as by a lower range of 100-125 mg Pycnogenol. Aspirin significantly (p<0.001) increased bleeding time from 167 to 236 seconds while Pycnogenol did not.These observations suggest an advantageous risk-benefit ratio for Pycnogenol.” [emphasis added]”

As emphasized in bold above, pycnogenol unlike aspirin did not significantly increase bleeding time. This has profound implications, as aspirin’s potent anti-platelet/’blood thinning’ properties can also cause life-threatening hemorrhagic events. If this study is accurate and pycnogenol is more effective at decreasing pathologic platelet aggregation at a lower dose without causing the increased bleeding linked to aspirin, then it is clearly a superior natural alternative worthy of far more attention by the conventional medical establishment and research community than it presently receives.

Not Just A Drug Alternative

Pycnogenol, like so many other natural interventions, has a wide range of side benefits that may confer significant advantage when it comes to reducing cardiovascular disease risk. For instance, pycnogenol is also:

• Blood Pressure Reducing/Endothelial Function Enhancer: A number of clinical studies indicate that pycnogenol is therapeutic for those suffering with hypertension. Pycnogenol actually addresses a root cause of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in general, namely,endothelial dysfunction (the inability of the inner lining of the blood vessels to function correctly, e.g. fully dilate).[1] It has been shown to prevent damage in microcirculation in hypertensive patients, as well as reducing the dose of blood pressure drugs in hypertensive patients,[2] including hypertensive diabetic patients.[3] It has even been found to reduce intraocular hypertension found in glaucoma patients.[4]
• Anti-Inflammatory Effects: There is a growing appreciation among the medical community that inflammation contributes to cardiovascular disease. Several markers, including C-reactive protein are now being fore grounded as being at least as important in determining cardiovascular disease risk as various blood lipids and/or their ratios, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Pycnogenol has been found to reduce C-reactive protein in hypertensive patients.[5] Pycnogenol has been found to rapidly modulate downward (inhibit) both Cox-1 and Cox-2 enzyme activity in human subjects, resulting in reduced expression of these inflammation-promoting enzymes within 30 minutes post-ingestion.[6]  Another observed anti-inflammatory effect of pycnogenol is its ability to down-regulate the class of inflammatory enzymes known as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).[7] Pycnogenol has also been found to significantly inhibit NF-kappaB activation, a key body-wide regulator of inflammation levels whose overexpression and/or dysregulation may result in pathologic cardiovascular manifestations.[8] Finally, pycnogenol has been found to reduce fibrinogen levels, a glycoprotein that contributes to the formation of blood clots; fibrinogen has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.[9]

Given the evidence for pycnogenol’s pleotrophic cardioprotective properties, we hope that pycnogenol will become more commonly recommended by health care practitioners as the medical paradigm continues to evolve past its reliance on synthetic chemicals, eventually (we hope) returning to natural, increasingly evidence-based interventions. However, it is important that we don’t fall prey to the one-disease-one-pill model, convincing ourselves to focus on popping pills – this time natural ones – as simply countermeasures or ‘insurance’ against the well known harms associated with the standard American diet, lack of exercise, and uncontrolled stress. The ultimate goal is to remove the need for pills altogether, focusing on preventing cardiovascular disease from the ground up and inside out, e.g. letting high quality food, clean water and air, and a healthy attitude nourish and sustain our health and well-being.

Note: Are you suffering from chronic pain issues and looking for root cause resolution of your symptoms using natural interventions? Don’t forget to join the upcoming, free online Pain Relief Project conference. Save your spot by registering for free here.

Article References

[2] Gianni Belcaro, Maria Rosaria Cesarone, Andrea Ricci, Umberto Cornelli, Peter Rodhewald, Andrea Ledda, Andrea Di Renzo, Stefano Stuard, Marisa Cacchio, Giulia Vinciguerra, Giuseppe Gizzi, Luciano Pellegrini, Mark Dugall, Filiberto Fano. Control of edema in hypertensive subjects treated with calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with Pycnogenol. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2006 Oct;12(4):440-4. PMID: 17000888

[3] Sherma Zibadi, Peter J Rohdewald, Danna Park, Ronald Ross Watson. Reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with type 2 diabetes by Pycnogenol supplementation. Nutr Res. 2008 May;28(5):315-20. PMID: 19083426

[4] Robert D Steigerwalt, Belcaro Gianni, Morazzoni Paolo, Ezio Bombardelli, Carolina Burki, Frank Schönlau. Effects of Mirtogenol on ocular blood flow and intraocular hypertension in asymptomatic subjects. Mol Vis. 2008;14:1288-92. Epub 2008 Jul 10. PMID: 18618008

[5] Maria Rosaria Cesarone, Gianni Belcaro, Stefano Stuard, Frank Schönlau, Andrea Di Renzo, Maria Giovanna Grossi, Mark Dugall, Umberto Cornelli, Marisa Cacchio, Giuseppe Gizzi, Luciano Pellegrini.Kidney flow and function in hypertension: protective effects of pycnogenol in hypertensive participants–a controlled study. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2010 Mar;15(1):41-6. Epub 2010 Jan 22. PMID:20097689

[6] Angelika Schäfer, Zuzana Chovanová, Jana Muchová, Katarína Sumegová, Anna Liptáková, Zdenka Duracková, Petra Högger. Inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 activity by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol).Biomed Pharmacother.2006 Jan;60(1):5-9. Epub 2005 Oct 26. PMID: 16330178

[7] Tanja Grimm, Angelika Schäfer, Petra Högger. Antioxidant activity and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases by metabolites of maritime pine bark extract (pycnogenol).Wei Sheng Yan Jiu.2011 Jan;40(1):103-6. PMID: 14990359

[8] Tanja Grimm, Zuzana Chovanová, Jana Muchová, Katarína Sumegová, Anna Liptáková, Zdenka Duracková, Petra Högger. Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and MMP-9 secretion by plasma of human volunteers after ingestion of maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol). J Inflamm (Lond).2006;3:1. Epub 2006 Jan 27. PMID: 16441890

[9] G Belcaro, M R Cesarone, S Errichi, C Zulli, B M Errichi, G Vinciguerra, A Ledda, A Di Renzo, S Stuard, M Dugall, L Pellegrini, G Gizzi, E Ippolito, A Ricci, M Cacchio, G Cipollone, I Ruffini, F Fano, M Hosoi, P Rohdewald. Variations in C-reactive protein, plasma free radicals and fibrinogen values in patients with osteoarthritis treated with Pycnogenol. Redox Rep.2008;13(6):271-6. PMID: 19017467

Further articles by Sayer Ji:

• Lime Juice Could Save 100’s of Thousands of Lives Each Year
• A Higher Level of Freedom – The Benefit of Cannabis to Health
• Eating Wheat & Cow’s Milk Disrupt DNA Expression & Antioxidant Status
• How WHOLE Turmeric Heals the Damaged Brain
• Fluoridated Water Can Calcify Arteries, Study Finds
• How Monsanto’s ‘RoundUp’ is Cursing the Global Food Supply
• Research Proving Vitamin C’s Therapeutic Value in 200+ Diseases
• Sesame Seeds – Ten Amazing Health Benefits Of This Super-Seed
• Biophotons: The Human Body Emits, Communicates with, and is Made from Light
• 13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil
• The Spice That Prevents Fluoride From Destroying Your Brain
• Turmeric Beats Ibuprofen for Arthritis of the Knee

About the author:

Sayer Ji is an author, educator, Steering Committee Member of the Global GMO-Free Coalition (GGFC), advisory board member of the National Health Federation, and the founder of GreenMedInfo.com – an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. His writings have been published and referenced widely in print and online, including Truthout, Mercola.com, The Journal of Gluten Sensitivity, New York Times and The Well Being Journal.

In 1995 Sayer received a BA degree in Philosophy from Rutgers University, where he studied under the American philosopher Dr. Bruce W. Wilshire, with a focus on the philosophy of science. In 1996, following residency at the Zen Mountain Monastery in upstate New York, he embarked on a 5 year journey of service as a counsellor-teacher and wilderness therapy specialist for various organizations that serve underprivileged and/or adjudicated populations. Since 2003, Sayer has served as a patient advocate and an educator and consultant for the natural health and wellness field.

Visit GreenMedInfo online and on Facebook, or sign up for GreenMedInfo’s e-Newsletter.

13th March 2015

By Open

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

It is absolutely NOT my purpose to spread fear with regards to the very challenging situation Humanity is beginning to face. Quite the contrary, in confronting the truth of what’s really going on, we can confront those limiting fears that may hold back our evolution. Living in some kind of la la land, simply does not work in the long run. Climate change – and the Ascension of Gaia – is accelerating into what appears to be (amongst many other things) a growing global fresh water crisis. Be informed, overcome any fear of what is going on, see the overall Great Realignment that’s taking place, and unleash your soul from attachment and distortion in the physical…

Still climate change denying?

No amount of climate change denying will stop the inevitable process of change that has kicked into gear across our planet right now. It’s a profound shift we’ve addressed in the video below….

Water more important than oil?

Now there’s an idea that could usefully spread!

Gaia is moving on, into the Higher Paradigm, something that’s going to increasingly affect us all moving forwards. Lets’ work to embrace the truth in that, because it is only the truth that can truly set us free.

In that vein, here’s an article that recently appeared in the UK’s Guardian Newspaper about the escalating global fresh water crisis. For me it communicates just how desperate matters are becoming, with people digging into concrete basements and carparks just to get at the water table – now there’s an idea that could usefully spread!…

Water is the driving force of all nature, Leonardo da Vinci claimed. Unfortunately for our planet, supplies are now running dry – at an alarming rate. The world’s population continues to soar but that rise in numbers has not been matched by an accompanying increase in supplies of fresh water.

The consequences are proving to be profound. Across the globe, reports reveal huge areas in crisis today as reservoirs and aquifers dry up. More than a billion individuals – one in seven people on the planet – now lack access to safe drinking water.

Last week in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, home to 20 million people, and once known as the City of Drizzle, drought got so bad that residents began drilling through basement floors and car parks to try to reach groundwater. City officials warned last week that rationing of supplies was likely soon. Citizens might have access to water for only two days a week, they added.

In California, officials have revealed that the state has entered its fourth year of drought with January this year becoming the driest since meteorological records began. At the same time, per capita water use has continued to rise.

In the Middle East, swaths of countryside have been reduced to desert because of overuse of water. Iran is one of the most severely affected. Heavy overconsumption, coupled with poor rainfall, have ravaged its water resources and devastated its agricultural output. Similarly, the United Arab Emirates is now investing in desalination plants and waste water treatment units because it lacks fresh water. As crown prince General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan admitted: “For us, water is [now] more important than oil.”

UK’s Guardian Newspaper

Water more important than oil? My God, perhaps this Great Realignment is beginning to knock some sense into society!

Article image source

Previous articles by Open:

• Intervention on Earth: An Interdimensional Opposing Consciousness
• Understanding the Root Cause of Depression So We Can Deal With It
• The Importance of Redefining Our Relationships in 2015
• Breaking Through the Pain of Existence
• Meditating on the Inner Flame
• Breaking Through Limitation: “I Can, I Will, I Must”
• Discovering the Purpose of Your Incarnation
• Learning from and Communicating with Animals
• Kundalini Activation – Reclaiming Your True Nature
• Positively Thriving Through the Collapse of Civilisation

About the author:

Openhand is the name we’ve given to the Benevolent Consciousness of the Universe. It is that energy which works within the weave of the fabric of life, helping to unravel karmic blockages, infuse soul and thereby catalyse spiritual evolution. Openhand works as a synchronistic mirror, revealing what is holding us back and how we can take our next evolutionary leap. Openhand Foundation works on behalf of this energy, helping ground its presence in this realm.

Connect with Open at OpenhandWeb.org and Facebook.com/OpenhandFoundation.

10th March 2015

By Andreas Toupadakis, PhD

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

Are you doing what you always wanted to do? Are you doing what you believe in? Do you live the life that was meant for you to live? From where do you seek approval? Are you looking inward?

There are millions of people around the world who eagerly wait the weekend every week, the summer vacation every year, and later on, long before the age of retirement, they fantasize about that good free time during retirement.  If you ask these people how much they like what they are doing for a living, they will typically answer that their work “pays the bills.”

On the other side of the river, there is a different community of people. When you ask them what they will do on the weekend or after they retire, they will simply state that they are already on an eternal weekend and timeless retirement, that their summer vacation and their vocation are both 365 days long every year. These people do not have to prove that what they are saying is true about themselves. Every time you meet them, they radiate joy and truth. They are content. They have time for others, not just outside their work time, but any time. Interestingly enough, all of their bills are paid and in fact, some of these people are financially rich.

The way of the heart is not limited to leading us to enjoyable and fulfilling work, it is also the way for making every major or minor decision in our lives.

Creating Your Future

You can cross the river from the cloudy, muddy and rocky shore to the shore of sunshine and green pastures. You can make that trip, just as not only famous people have done, but also as simple every-day people have done and are continuing to do every day. If you sense that there is something missing in your life, and you do not look forward to going to work when you wake up in the morning, your chosen vocation very likely does not fulfill your needs. And you can change all that.

First, there are several questions which need to be answered, because the answers will encourage and direct us towards the path we would like to be on. By examining critically the different causes which on a daily basis keep our bodies weak and tired, our minds confused and restless, and our hearts sad and fearful, we will learn how to avoid such a way of living and see the alternative, the green pastures on the opposite shore.

Next, we should examine how and with what materials we will construct our own boat to be able to cross the river. We can gain wisdom by meditating on the words of the wise people of the past. We can see how they also crossed the river, and we can be inspired by their examples.

What are the reasons why some people are so content in life while others are not? Why do some people seem happy when they are very absorbed in their work but lonely and miserable when they are away from their workplace? As for the people who are radiating timeless joy, not just at the work place but also everywhere else, were they born that way or did they become that way? How? What is the way of thinking that causes people to do work which doesn’t use their talents and which does not express their individuality, or their values and ethics? Where does this way of thinking – which enslaves people – come from? Is it possible to adopt a new way of thinking which will enable us to break loose from our enslavement?

Coming to know ourselves in order to create an enjoyable future is not a process that takes days, weeks, months, or a few years. It can take our whole life, but we should always remember that being on the right path and aiming for our distinct identity and distinct role in life is what makes us happy. Enduring and timeless joy is not found only upon reaching selfhood, it is planted and harvested in the process of trying to achieve it. You will have to act in order to place yourself on the right path towards self-realization.

From a Small Seed…

Take as an example a farmer who has just one olive seed in his hand. He looks at it, knowing it is strong and healthy, and he looks around and sees the majesty of nature. With awareness he accepts the fact that the same power that has brought him into existence has also provided the seed and the soil, the sun and the water. That is, the farmer knows himself; he knows who he is and what he has for use at his disposal. How wise that farmer is when he looks at the seed and he sees not only one, but thousands of seeds. That is imagination. Now he must take out the weeds and prepare the ground, and trusting the powers of the universe, he then buries the seed in the soil. Before he sees the grown tree and is rewarded with its precious olive oil, most likely he will often experience some fear and doubt.

How does he know if the weather will help the growth? How does he know if an animal will not eat the seed while it is in the ground? He must simply wait and believe for the best. He has no other choice but to act, and then wait. This time of waiting and wondering while the seed is buried in the ground could be the most frightening experience during the process.

Nevertheless, a farmer who knows himself and trusts other people for help if something goes wrong will enjoy the whole process, not just the olive oil he will obtain. He finds reward in every step he takes, from observing to preparing to gathering. At this point, the farmer has created his future; simply, in this case, he has produced his physical food. Finally, he will truly enjoy the product of his labor — the olives and the olive oil.

The same cycle of observing, preparing, and gathering will again take place the next year with even more joy and less fear. Now he has in his hand not just one seed but many.

It is essential to realize that this is our everyday life. We gather what we plant. If we plant in joy, we will gather it with more joy, and by knowing and trusting ourselves, the powers of the universe, and other people, we continue the cycle of planting and gathering with increasing joy and satisfaction for every new cycle of life-planning.

The Materialization of Fear

It is characteristic of our industrialized societies that it makes us lose our individuality, and so we become only a tiny part in the social machine. It is therefore of great importance that we keep in mind that such a way of living is foreign to human dignity and to our own happiness. By working just to pay our bills, we are missing the meaning of life. Sooner or later, we will have to lose ourselves in order to find ourselves, not for the sake of the machine but for our own sake, and therefore, for the sake of the whole world.

The increase in violence and environmental degradation observed in our days is the materialization of our unfulfilled hearts and unjustified fears. Only happy people, content with themselves and in harmony with others and nature, can lead the world to peace and environmental sustainability. The world needs more happy people. It needs more people who work using their talents, who earn their living by doing what they love, and are passionate about. These people have found their true self, peace, and joy. They are fulfilled and in harmony, knowing who they are and what they do in their life.

Spiritual Poverty

During my teaching experience at several colleges and universities in North America and Europe, I have met hundreds of students and I have heard their stories. The statement “I am working on this degree because of my parents” is so common and illustrates a degree of tragedy — because we should not live the unfulfilled dreams of our parents. Most of us mistakenly choose careers based on status, salary potential, or the pressure we receive from our well-meaning parents. Unfortunately, this is not usually what we are most capable of doing or what is the most fulfilling for us.

My heart goes out to all these young boys and girls who are filled with beautiful dreams and who need encouragement to fulfill them, and to all those people who already have a career but who would also like to make a transition to fulfill their dreams. I wrote these words for you.

Deciding early on the right training for the right vocation for healthy living in the future has now become even more crucial than in the past. There is an apparent trend in many work places for longer work hours, yet more people feel less secure now because many are losing their jobs overnight. But people who have realized their inner strength and unique talents can create or see opportunities for work any time, and stay above the water.

With every passing day, it is becoming more obvious that those who will have job security and peace in the future will not be those who are working for corporations; it will be those who have realized their inborn abilities and not just the skills acquired through education. As computers continue to replace more workers every day and as unemployment rises, people will be forced by the need for survival to do work much different than they were educated and trained to do. Thus it is crucial for people to become more active and decisive in seeking a personally satisfying career.

I myself had felt the urgency and had heard the clear inner voice years ago telling me to change the type of work I was doing, to go from research to teaching. I waited for many years before taking that little step onward, for reasons that each one of us would find very justifiable based on our world’s standards and fears. But our soul is eager to find full expression and to devote itself to serving others by using the gifts and talents that have been bestowed on us. Suppressing that force can lead us not only to inner turmoil and unhappiness, but even to the loss of our health. Not only was my mind in confusion and my mood bad day after day, but also my body was experiencing terrible pain. I was simply miserable all that time, trying to avoid the calling of my heart. I was in spiritual poverty and I was creating spiritual poverty for those around me.

Jumping Into The Unknown

Do we have to reach the bottom before we awaken and realize the meaning of life? It need not be that way. Quitting my role in government nuclear labs and jumping into the unknown transformed my inner life and influenced many of the people around me in a beautiful way. Searching for the truth and speaking it is our first vocation, and without it, we can never fulfill our destiny. Following the inner voice to abandon familiar waters and false security is no less than speaking the truth to the whole world and to ourselves.

The decision to work on what seemed to me as natural as breathing – teaching – was the best decision I could have made for my whole life span on this planet. To revise my career has been the most frightening experience I could ever have imagined; nevertheless, it has also been the most elevating and exciting experience that I could have possibly expected. I know that this is also true for many people who have dared to try the experiment.

The road to happiness is always the road towards the unknown. Our culture today promises security, but we know well that what we need is inner security, which comes only from knowing our true selves and from knowing our magnificent talents, potential, and abilities. The path we need to travel is not reached by receiving security from the work we do at the command of others, but instead, from the work we do at the command of our deepest yearnings for self-expression, by simply doing what we most enjoy. It is the way we can never fail.

Our motto should be, “We work for ourselves in order to serve others” instead of “We work for others in order to serve ourselves.”

After you finish reading these lines, what will you do about the calling of your heart? Will you postpone the day of your freedom? You are not alone. Ask the advice of a wise friend; it is the easiest and most inexpensive way. Or read another book on this subject. Perhaps, visit a counselor and pay attention to his/her advice. Attend a lecture or a workshop where an inspiring speaker could provide the spark you need to take the step. Usually speakers on this subject are people who have done just that in their own lives. At an early age, they may have stood up strong before family, friends and society to choose their own destiny, to do what they enjoy most, or maybe later in their life, they took the leap of faith to change careers and do what they really love. Allow them to transfer their flame to your heart so you can also take the leap of faith you need to take.

Just as a car needs to have gas in order to keep moving, you may need a good counselor, a good book, and a good friend to stand by you, inform you, and encourage you. But for a car to start moving, it needs a spark; even with the tank full of gas, it will not move without it. As important as the gas is, so is the spark. A great inspiring lecture or seminar will take you emotionally to higher places, but soon you will feel hopeless and flat again. That is why you must patiently and constantly strive for the change in your life.

Arise Great Warrior, Arise!

People without career satisfaction can hardly be in peace. It has been said that the grand total of peace in the world is the total sum of the peace of its people. For thousands of years, many cultures have used the olive branch as a symbol of peace and goodwill.

Wars will continue to take place, machines will keep breaking down, things will keep getting lost, and many people will keep becoming more fearful of the future. But butterflies will still keep moving from flower to flower, and the fragrance of basil and orange blossoms will still give inspiration to anyone of us who want to live with joy. Only happy people can lead the world to peace.

During your lifetime on this planet, you are like a warrior in a battle against all kinds of cultural barriers and spiritual wounds, which prevent you from reaching selfhood. Fear no more, for endless joy is your final end. You must “fight the good fight” in your lifetime in order for your inside to come into harmony with your outside. Therefore arise, great warrior, arise!

Previous articles by Andreas Toupadakis:

• Unifying The Global Peace Movement – Challenges and Solutions
• The Real Face of The Empire
• Science, Secrets and Corporate Slavery
• Crisis in Science: Scientists’ Responsibility for the Survival of the Human Species
• Quitting the Nuclear Labs – a Scientist’s Plea for World Peace
• Civilization Is for Making Peace, Not War
• Wisdom and Compassion Need to Become Action

About the author:

Andreas Toupadakis received his Ph.D in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1990, and spent his career in industry, academia and two US Government laboratories. His career included roles at Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of Crete, and Dow Corning, where he honored with an ‘Inventor’s Award” in 1994.

In 1998, Dr. Toupadakis was appointed to a classified position in the nuclear ‘Stockpile Stewardship Program’ at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California. Through this work, he soon realized that environmental and nuclear non-proliferation work was an illusion, and that purely academic projects are sustained in order to lure well-intentioned young scientists into the national labs and then steer them into weapons development programs.

In January 2000, Dr. Toupadakis resigned his position at LLNL and took his story public. His landmark resignation is a rare and inspiring case in which a scientist has left a weapons program to actively contribute the peace movement. Currently a lecturer for U.C. Davis Department of Chemistry, Andreas continues to shine a light on what he calls “the world behind the security fence”, lecturing on environmental issues and peaceful solutions at universities and colleges, including MIT, the University of Notre Dame, San Francisco State University, and Waseda University in Tokyo.

This article © Andreas Toupadakis.

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

When it comes to essential oils, you will find that everyone has their favorites.  There are so many to choose from that deciding which ones to use on a regular basis can be rather daunting.  The ultimate selection is further complicated by the fact that many different essential oils have the very same qualities when it comes to healing and other uses.

For me, the deciding factor has been multifold.  Therapeutic benefit, healing ability, fragrance and cost have played a role in determining what to include in my own collection of essential oils.  You already know about two of my favorites, tea tree oil (melaleuca) and clove oil.  Today I would like to introduce you to a third favorite, namely lavender oil.

Lavender was the very first essential oil I purchased when I first became familiar with essential oils in the late 1980s.  As someone who is always getting cuts and scrapes as well as burns from careless cooking techniques, lavender used topically has always been my first aid treatment of choice.  As a natural antibiotic, and antiseptic, it has promoted healing and I truly believe that it has prevented scaring.  It also seemed to calm the frequent migraine headaches that thankfully, I have now outgrown.

What is Lavender?

So what is lavender?  First and foremost, it is a lovely green plant with fragrant purple flowers. It is native to the mountainous zones of the Mediterranean where it grows in sunny, stony habitats. Today, it flourishes throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States.  The oil in lavender’s small, blue violet flowers gives the herb its fragrant scent. The flowers are arranged in spirals of 6 – 10 blossoms, forming interrupted spikes above the foliage.

It’s name comes from the Latin lavare, which means “to wash”.  It is believed that lit was first used as a bath additive to help purify the body and spirit in ancient Persia, Greece, and Rome.

Historically, lavender has been used as an antiseptic and as a remedy for anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression, headache, upset stomach, and hair loss.  It is a key component in aromatherapy, where the scent is used for both healing and relaxation purposes.

How is it used?

From a prepper’s point of view, lavender has three primary uses, as an antiseptic, a topical anesthetic, and as a sedative.

Antiseptic.  Used alone or in combination with carrier oils, lotions or creams, lavender is used on the skin to treat abrasions, cuts, burns, and inflammatory skin conditions.  Lavender helps promote healing and is one of the few essential oils that can can be safely applied to the skin in it undiluted form.

Topical anesthetic.  As a topical anesthetic and pain reliever, lavender oil can dramatically reduce the sensation of pain from burns and insect bites.

Sedative.  Lavender promotes a sense of calm and relaxation and can assist in combating sleeplessness and insomnia.

Beyond these broad uses, there are also many practical applications of lavender essential oil.  Each of the 25 uses below will foster self-sufficiency not only now, but in a survival situation.  They are presented in no particular order.

25 Uses of Lavender Oil for Survival

1.  First Aid.  Use on burns and scalds to avoid the formation of blisters and decrease the pain.  Also use on minor scrapes to prevent scarring.

2.  Stress and anxiety.  Soothe anxiety and stress with the calming effects of lavender oil.

3.  Sleep aid.  Get some sleep by rubbing some lavender on the bottoms of your feet before going to bed.

4.  Menstrual cramps.  Relieve menstrual cramps by rubbing lavender oil over the cramping area of your abdomen

5.  Headaches.  Rub oil on the temples and forehead.  Also try a combination of peppermint and lavender oil for even greater relief.

6.  Bleeding.  A few drops of  lavender will help stop bleeding on small cuts and wounds.

7.  Chest congestion.  Relieve chest congestion the next time you have a cold or the flu by adding4-6 drops of lavender oil to a bowl of hot water. Place a towel over your head, and inhale the vapor slowly and deeply.  Just be careful that the water is not too hot or you will burn yourself.

8.  Muscle pain, sprains.  Add lavender oil with a carrier oil (such as coconut oil or other vegetable oil) and rub on sprains and muscle pains for soothing relief.  This is a great thing to do at bedtime.

9.  Nocturnal foot and leg cramps.  Before bed, rub lavender oil onto the ball of your foot and on to your big toe.  If you wake up with a cramp or charley horse, rub additional lavender oil on the affected area until the pain is gone.  (I have been doing this for about three weeks now and it is working!)

10.  Insect bites. A drop of lavender oil on insect bites helps relieve the itch and help them to heal more quickly.

11.  Insect repellent.  Add lavender to a carrier oil and rub on to your arms and legs for a great insect repellent.

12.  Remove splinters.  Apply a few drops  of lavender to a splinter.  Wait for it to swell and the pesky splinter will be easy to remove.

13.  Fatigue.  Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bath water to relieve fatigue.

14.  Fevers.  Add some drops of lavender oil to a cool washcloth and rub gently on forehead, neck, and trunk are to cool down the body. Alternatively, you can also use lavender in a steam vaporizer to bring the comforting warmth to a chilled body.

15.  Exfoliating hand cleaner and scrub.   Make your own bath scrubs. Use sugar, olive oil, and lavender to create a wonderful exfoliating scrub for rough skin.

16. Ingredient in DIY cleaning products.  Add lavender to Dirt Cheap Soft Soap, your homemade spray cleaner, laundry soap and other DIY cleaning products.  (See Prepper Checklist: DIY Cleaning Supplies.)

17.  Calming children.  Put some oil into a diffuser and place it in a child’s room to help them sleep. Or add oil to a carrier oil and rub on the bottom of their feet anytime you want to calm down your child.

18.  Acne. To reduce the swelling and inflammation of acne and to reduce the risk of an infection that could lead to scarring, add 5 drops lavender oil to 1 teaspoon warm water and stir. Dip a clean cotton ball into the mixture, and hold to the head of the pimple. Repeat as often as desired.

19.  Sunburn.  Treat sunburn by making a soothing skin toner of 2 drops lavender oil with 1/2 cup witch hazel, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon rosewater. Apply after cleansing.

20.  Footbath.  Footbaths can be a powerful remedy for headaches. The hot water draws blood to your feet, easing the pressure on the blood vessels in your head. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a footbath to provides soothing relief for a headache.

21.  Itchy scalp.  Mix lavender oil with water and massage into the scalp. You can also add a few drops to your favorite conditioner after shampooing your hair.

22. Moths.  To repel moths in the closet, make a little sachet of cotton balls doused in lavender oil.  Or if you are lucky enough to grow lavender in your yard, make up a little bundle of dried lavender leaves and flowers to to keep the moths away.

23.  Solvent.  Lavender oil can be used as an organic solvent that will rapidly help remove grease, glues and paint from various surfaces – and all the while with a much more pleasant odor than other chemical solvents.

24.  Air Freshener. Add 5 to 6 drops lavender is a small mason jar.  Add some baking soda then punch holes in the lid. Place in smelly areas (near the garbage can and laundry hamper, for example) and shake the jar often.

25.  Scented candles. Add lavender oil to your homemade emergency candles for a nice calming scent when you need it most.

THE FINAL WORD

Essential oils have been a part of my life for close to 25 years. I use them neat (topically applied directly to the skin), as a lotion or cream mixed with coconut oil or other carrier, as a scrub in my hand and foot cleaner and as a component to my DIY cleaning products.  In addition to lavender, I regularly use peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, clove and varying types of citrus with my current favorite being orange.  I also have an abundant supply of both lavender and rosemary in my yard and enjoy their fragrance as I walk up the front stairs to my home.

Shopping for essential oils can be expensive.  Without hesitation I recommend that if you only afford one, make it lavender!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!

Gaye

Further articles by Gaye Levy:

• Vermiculture: How To Build A Worm Bin the Cheap and Easy Way
• Spices for the Survival Pantry

• 39 Ten-Minute Prepping Tips from “Backdoor Survival” Readers

• 21 Home Remedies for a Toothache Emergency
• 7 Last Minute Prepping Items
• The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival
• 26 Five-Minute Prepping Projects
• 10 Simple Steps Toward Self-Sufficiency
• Creating a Healing Garden: 9 Healing Herbs You Can Grow Yourself

About Gaye Levy

Gaye Levy, also known as the Survival Woman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and has moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable and self-reliant lifestyle through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com.

At Backdoor Survival, Gaye speaks her mind and delivers her message of prepping with optimism and grace, regardless of the uncertain times and mayhem swirling around us.

You can find Gaye through her website at Backdoor Survival, on the Backdoor Survival Page on Facebook, and as Survival Woman on Twitter.

If you have not done so already, please be sure to like Backdoor Survival on Facebook to be updated every time there is an awesome new article, news byte, or free survival, prepping or homesteading book on Amazon. In addition, when you sign up to receive email updates you will receive a free, downloadable copy of Gaye’s e-book The Emergency Food Buyer’s Guide.