Amy Wiesner, ND, LAc

Flower Remedies: Another Gift from Nature

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 17:36:44 -0400

Flower Remedies: Another Gift From Nature
by Dr. Amy Wiesner

Flower Remedies are an amazing form of alternative medicine. The first flower remedies were created by Dr. Edward Bach in England in the 1930s to help treat the mental side of physical illness.

Flower Remedies are a form of homeopathy from only flower sources. Homeopathy uses very diluted amounts of substances (such as flower extracts) to help the body heal. The amount of substance left in the medicine is so diluted that it isn’t even traceable, but science has shown for hundreds of years how effective homeopathy is. You can go to the National Center of Homeopathy to learn more about homeopathy and its origins.

Dr. Bach was able to determine that homeopathic forms of certain flowers helped his patients emotionally. Many alternative doctors feel there is a direct link between mental and physical well-being, thus treating the mental aspect should be a fundamental part of any therapy. That is why Dr. Bach started research in this area.

The modern research supporting flower essences is abundant. One study found significant decreases in stress levels after participants ingested Bach Flower Remedies, another summarized the findings from other studies showing they are effective in treating depression. Further, this study found that people in pain were able to have better mindsets, and therefore were more able to deal with the discomfort. And yet another study found that taking the remedies decreased physical stress from environmental factors such as electromagnetic fields (EMF) and fluorescent lighting.

There are many different forms of flower essences today besides those by Dr. Bach--homeopathy for the mental aspect of health. There are remedies from all over the world-Australia, South Africa and the Himalayas, for example. And another great way to use them, in my opinion, is for your pets. If they have anxiety in general or going in the car, for instance, always keep the emergency remedy, Rescue Remedy, on hand!

Shiitake Mushrooms and your Health

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:33:00 -0500

Shiitake Mushrooms and Your Health
by Dr. Amy Wiesner

Shiitake mushrooms have been used for thousands of years in Asia for both cooking and medicine. They are the second most popular mushroom in the world for cooking. They are also becoming more prominent in the alternative health care market thus there has been some research done on them to see where they are best put to use.

Nutritionally, shiitake mushrooms are a good source of B vitamins, iron and other minerals, protein, vitamin D and fiber. They are also low in calories and are very tasty either lightly sauteed or even dehydrated.

Their most known health use is in the treatment of cancer. Lentinan, a polysaccharide found in shiitake mushrooms, has been shown to be both anti-cancer and to improve the quality of life with several types of cancers. The most common way to take it is in pill form, but most of the research is on when it is given intravenously.

Shiitake has also been shown to have anti-viral and immune-modulating properties, which has been put to use in both hepatitis and AIDS patients. This means it not only attacks the virus, but helps to increase the function of the immune system. To help patients with hepatitis, shiitake also helps to keep the liver healthy and protect it from further damage from the virus. Furthermore, shiitake has demonstrated its effects in eradicating bacteria, with a component called cortinelin, and fungi with a sulfide component of the mushroom.

Lipid-reducing benefits have been proven as well. Eritadenine is a component that reduces cholesterol levels significantly. Although more studies have been done on animals than humans to see the effects of the compound, the results are indeed promising. This is thought to be due to the high fiber and low calorie and fat content of the mushrooms.

So, adding shiitake mushrooms to a stir-fry or salad not only is delicious, but is great for your health as well--which has been demonstrated in Asia for thousands of years.

My Favorite Green & Health-Promoting Apps

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 17:35:19 -0500

My Favorite Green & Health-Promoting Apps
by Dr. Amy Wiesner

I have to admit, I am a total Apple geek. I don’t know what I would do without my iPhone. It helps me to stay organized and easily allows me to stay up to date with all my interests. But one of my favorite ways to use the phone is by using the amazing apps that make being environmentally friendly and healthier that much easier. I am not in any way an app expert, but as someone trying to make the world a better place, these are my favorites of the ones I’ve found.

The Greenpeace app isn’t a tool for better green living per se, but it is adorable and they have a news feed. And every download supports Greenpeace, which works for me!
The Dirty Dozen app from the Environmental Working Group is fantastic. The EWG did research on which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticide residues on them and which have the least. The “Dirty Dozen” are the produce they recommend buying organically whereas the “Clean 15” are the ones you can buy conventionally.
The Seafood Watch app helps you identify which are the most eco-friendly sources of fish to eat. You can search by location, ie the Northeastern US, then look up which fish are the most environmentally friendly, which are good alternatives and the types of fish that should be avoided. They also have a sushi guide within the app and important news about ocean conservation.
The GoodGuide is another tool not to live without. It allows you to scan or search products to see how healthy and environmentally friendly the company and its product is.
Green Smoothies are one of my favorite meals--and Victoria Boutenko’s app is based on her many years of teaching and research on the benefits of eating them. This app has good recipes and gives information about each ingredient she recommends.
As I avoid food additives whenever I shop, I don’t really need a list telling me which to avoid, but it does come in handy to help identify something I can’t figure out. It also tells you when an additive is banned in other countries, which I find interesting.
Animal Free lets you scan and search items letting you know if the products have ingredients that are derived from animals.
The TreeHugger app is great for keeping you on top of environmental news. It also helps you to find local places to recycle.

I also just read about an app that is becoming available in March called EcoSpeed. It helps by telling you the best speed based on your car and driving habits to conserve the most fuel. I will look forward to trying that one out.

Using smart phones to be healthier and more environmentally responsible is an extraordinary use of technology and I for one am grateful for it!

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:31:44 -0500

Ch-ch-ch-Chia!
by Dr. Amy Wiesner

Everybody has probably heard about chia from the little plant “pets” that became popular in the 80s. What is not as widely known is what a great addition to the diet the chia seed can be.

The history of chia, or Salvia hispanica, can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago in Mexico. Chia was one of the staple foods of both the Aztec and Mayan cultures. It was also used as a form of currency and was said to help messengers sustain energy over long distances.

Chia is at the top of the charts in four important areas: levels of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and fiber. In fact, it has the highest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, even more than flax seeds. Omega-3 fatty acids play a large role in cardiovascular health and are anti-inflammatory. Its levels of antioxidants, from flavonoids, are also anti-inflammatory and allow it to have a good ORAC value. It also is free of cholesterol.

Chia is being promoted to improve weight loss, however, there are two studies that are the most referenced showing that is does not have any effect on weight loss, despite its fiber content, which helps with making one feel full. One serving of chia a day provides 11 grams of fiber which is 42% of the daily requirements.

It has, however, shown positive results in studies done on people with diabetes. The patients had improvements in blood pressure and inflammatory blood markers. Once again, however, the trial was small and there hasn’t been more research done in this area yet with humans. There have been more studies done on animals that show it to promote weight loss and improve cardiovascular function.

Another reason why chia is said to help with wight loss is because it helps decrease appetite. This occurs because the seeds absorb water very readily. This helps promote the feeling of fullness, along with the fiber in chia, and also slows the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose. When the seeds are wet, they have a gel-like quality that is great for the digestive tract and bowels.

Chia seeds are also great for pets and have a long shelf life. Because of its levels of oils and antioxidants, it doesn’t require a lot of pesticides when being grown, therefore it has a low impact on the environment.

Despite the inconclusive evidence in human trials, chia’s nutritional components, history of use and broad spectrum usage make it a wonderful addition to anyone’s diet. Almost everyone can use more antioxidants, fiber and healthy oils in their lives.

Socially and Environmentally Conscious Gift Ideas

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:34:09 -0500

Last Minute Socially and Environmentally Conscious Gift Ideas
by Dr. Amy Wiesner

Every year, so much money is wasted on gifts that are excessive and unnecessary. Instead, why not donate money to a great cause in someone’s name? Or "adopt" a wild animal whose existence is threatened for a child? And since these gifts don’t need shipping, you can print out the gift certificate and put it in a nice recycled card instead.

Check out these great organizations that benefit either people, animals or the environment!

For those of us that love animals, there are many ways to help. The American Humane Society has a fund set up called The Second Chance Fund. This fund helps to financially assist rescue agencies that treat and place abused and neglected animals into loving homes. Donate in an animal lovers’ name to make them happy.

At the World Wildlife Fund, you have the opportunity to adopt an animal or animals--and they have over 100 different species to choose from! At the Wildlife Conservation Society you can help save elephants, who are dwindling in number due to poachers.

With the Natural Resource Defense Council, you can choose to adopt different animals, plant a tree in the rainforest or protect a whale nursery, for example. They offer over 50 different types of gifts with which to please even the most discriminating person.

And with Save the Children, you can donate working animals to communities and families to give them opportunities for work and food. Or you could contribute to the education of children in impoverished areas.

Ethical Ocean, a company committed to helping people shop ethically, is selling hand-crafted bowls by HIV-positive women and children in South Africa. Making the bowls assists them in living normal lives. Plus, $6 of each purchase will go towards the Mercy Corps to aid those affected by drought and famine in Africa.

Or if you still need more ideas, check out GlobalGiving.org. They are a “non-profit that gives social entrepreneurs and local charities from anywhere in the world a chance to raise the money that they need to improve their communities.” Look at all the different ways you can help people, animals or the planet by going to their website.

Without a doubt, giving a last minute gift via the internet makes shopping for the holidays so much easier. But giving a gift that helps those in need is the best gift that you can give.

Happy Holidays!