Allen, a Memory of a Great Man

Personal stories, , , , ,

Allen and Ramona damewood

I have many fond memories of Allen. Today he would have been 58. I miss him, and think of him often. My sister, Ramona and Allen were were married in 1980. I was in high school when they got married. Allen always liked to make light of stressful situations which was helpful in tense moments.

I have been known for not stopping and taking time to smell the roses. The Chevy Chase version of visiting the Grand Canyon, just stopping long enough to take a picture is my version of a trip, (not quite that bad). Allen would go hiking with a field guide so he could identify and truly enjoy everything he came across on his hike. This was a little slow for me. He loved taking it slow, so he wouldn’t miss a thing.

Allen’s favorite thing to do to me was he would tap on my shoulder, and then look the other way pretending to not even notice I was there. I would look at him and he would smile with his impish grin and I would say “the imp is at it again”. We would both laugh. It was almost like a kind of greeting between the two of us that I miss deeply.

Four years ago, Allen was diagnosed with very advanced prostate cancer with a very grim outlook.  He refused to let that kind of news get him down. He started doing all kinds of natural homeopathic things to give him more time. Allen also had good extended family, and friends that gave him all kinds of things that they thought would help him.

One day Allen pulled out a box of everything people wanted him to try. He said if I tried everything in this box all I would do is go from one remedy to another not knowing what would help me the best. He said I pray about it and do the gut check. If it feels right I will try it, if not I won’t. Two things that helped Allen was Frankincense essential oil and the Cellular Complex.

Frankincense is a great oil when you are not sure what will help. This is the Swiss Army knife of essential oils with multiple uses and is known the help people with cancer.  The Cellular Complex is an oil blend that has the abilities to provide antioxidant support for cells and to promote a healthy cellular life cycle.

I would like to think this is one of the reasons Allen lived two and a half years, Much longer than his doctors thought he would live with a much better quality of life. His Doctor’s were always amazed at how well he was doing with his very advanced cancer.  He was hiking the Canadian Rockies the summer before he died.  With his positive attitude, healthy eating and using natures medicine along with using doctors advice, he got the best of both worlds.

Dad Tell Me a Story

Personal stories, Recipes, , , , , ,

Melvin C. Fish

As a child one of my favorite memories was listening to my dad tell stories of his youth and adventures before he married my mom. When he was in his early twenties he went on a 3 year mission to Hong Kong and Taiwan. I felt like I had lived there myself after he would describe in vivid detail how he lived and loved the Chinese people.

My dad told of adventures like how someone stole one of the missionaries bikes. On another day they were riding down the street with many people riding bikes when my dad and another missionary were riding right next to a man riding the stolen bike. So they each grabbed the handle bars on each side and forced him to give up the bike that was theirs.

One thing my dad loves is eating Chinese food. Being the fourth of ten children it made sense to feed the family lots of food from the Orient. There were times when the budget was tight when we ate rice 5-7 days a week. I remember my 8th grade history teacher was talking about China when he said “can you imagine eating rice every day” I raised my hand and said ‘I do eat rice everyday and love It.” One of my favorite dishes is Chinese Won-Tons. For the recipe Click Here

Essential Oils in the Bible

Oils in the Bible, , , ,

Bible“And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.”
LUKE 7:38

Ylang Ylang-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , ,

Ylang Ylang

Did you know Ylang Ylang is the oil of the Inner Child? Ylang Ylang has a strong effect on the heart. It also is a powerful means for releasing emotional, distressing, or disturbing experiences from the past. Ylang Ylang also helps people let go of bottled up emotions such as sadness and anger.

Ylang Ylang is a tall tropical tree that grows up to 65 feet high with large delicate flowers that come in shades of yellow, mauve, or pink. The yellow flowers are preferred for the extraction of the essential oil, which is steam distilled from the freshly picked flowers. It is indigenous to tropical Asia, but the most prized oil comes from Madagascar and the Comoro Islands.

Ylang Ylang means “flower of flowers” or “fragrance of all fragrances.” This fragrance is traditionally used in aromatherapy to sharpen the senses and for various other purposes. For these reasons, the flowers are spread on the beds of the newly married in Indonesia. Ylang Ylang is used to calm breathing, it may help high blood pressure, and also treats impotence (frigidity). Interestingly enough the original wild flowers had no fragrance. The fragrance we know today came from cloning.

Helichrysum-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , , , , ,

Helichrysum Did you you know Helichrysum is the oil of pain? It removes pain quickly with not much effort. It helps people with difficult life circumstances, such as trauma, addiction, loss or abuse. These souls need the spiritual strength that helichrysum offers. It can help teach an individual to be thankful for their trials and face their adversities with courage. Helichrysum brings hope to the most discouraged of souls.

Helichrysum is derived from the Greek word helios meaning sun and chrysos meaning gold? This is a reference to the golden color of many of the flowers from this botanical genus. Helichrysum has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks for its great wound healing ability, and was used often after battles.

The oil of Helichrysum has been found by European researchers to generate tissue. Helichrysum is best known for its restorative properties to the skin. It is used in anti-aging products for its rejuvenating benefits to the skin, liver, and nervous system, circulatory function, helps regulate cholesterol, reduces scarring and discoloration.

Helichrysum is highly valued and sought after for its many health benefits. It’s frequently consumed to help detoxify the body. Also referred to as Everlasting or Immortal Flower. It is anticoagulant, anticatarrhal, mucolytic, expectorant, and antispasmodic. It has been known to help in improving certain types of hearing loss.

Vetiver-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , , , , ,

VetiverDid you know Vetiver dates backs to the 12th century? Vetiver herb and its essential oil have been used in many cultures around the world for thousands of years together. The massive amount of people that use this sacred herb is often attributed to its uplifting, soothing, healing, calming and protecting properties.

Vetiver oil is know as the ‘Oil of Tranquility’ in India and Sri Lanka. Ayurvedic treatments, which are the traditional Hindu system of medicine which are based on the idea of balance in the body systems and the use of diet, herbal treatment, and yogic breathing. This way of life involves the use of this oil to treat the imbalances of an individual’s constitution, and to heal health disorders like muscular aches, fevers, arthritis pain, loss of energy, heat strokes, joint disorders, skin problems, headaches and to cool the body during extremely high temperatures. Vetiver essential oil was also used in massaging brides to sanctify them before their marriage.

A Reflection of my Past

Personal stories, , , , ,

Leonard Fish age 11Several years ago, almost in another lifetime, when I was 11 going on 12. I was on top of the world. I was in sixth grade. This is a pivotal year in school. I was finally king of the school. I had arrived at the top of the food chain as far as kids my age were thinking. I never was a cocky, arrogant, kid wanting to show how big I was to the other younger kids. I was a little awkward socially, never feeling like I really fit in.

One thing everyone had to do in sixth grade was learn how to dance. I remember having a dance teacher that came to our school once a week for a couple of months. After we learned how to waltz we had a school dance where we had to fill out a dance card, asking girls to dance. It was very painful getting 10 different girls to dance with me to fill up my dance card.

When we started learning how to square dance I loved it, except when I was dancing with Wendy Ryan, one of the most popular girls in the school. Her hands were very sweaty. What I liked best was I didn’t have to ask a girl to dance with me. We were just paired up which made it a lot less stressful. For the rest of the story Click Here.

 

Basil-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , , , , ,

BasilDid you know basil is helpful for addiction recovery? It gives hope, and confidence to the tired soul. Basil is the essential oil of renewal, and supports those who are under a great deal of mental strain. Basil oil may strengthen the adrenals, and restore the body to its natural rhythms of sleep, activity, and rest. Basil in summary strongly implies to help those who are tired in mind, body, and for those in need of strength, and renewal.

Basil is contained in Hildegard’s Medicine Book. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was known as the first herbalist and naturopath of the middle ages. Her book documented over 12,000 remedies for symptoms and diseases. Some documented basil benefits, and uses are migraines, insect bites, throat/lung infections, mental fatigue, menstrual periods (scanty), hair (dandruff), aches and pains, insomnia, depression, anxiety, bronchitis, insect repellant (housefly and mosquito) and bites. Basil is amazing.

In Romania there is an old custom that if a boy accepts a sprig of basil from a girl, he is engaged to marry her. It is also tradition that basil was found growing around the tomb of Jesus. In medieval times it was thought that scorpions grew up under pots of basil. in most countries, basil is thought to be a royal herb. “Basil” in Greek, does mean “royal” or “kingly”. This may be because in many regions it was used in perfumes reserved for kings. Basil came to Massachusetts Bay Colony where it was introduced in 1621. From there its cultivation spread through the American Colonies. It has long been used to flavor food in the western world, but was used primarily for its aroma in India.

Basil has a warm, spicy, yet herbal aroma known to enhance memory function while reducing stress and tension. Basil provides restorative benefits to both the mind, and body due to its high linalool content, making it an ideal application for sore muscles, and joints, and to reduce tension when applied to the temples, and back of the neck. Basil is commonly used in cooking. Basil is cooling to the skin, and can be used to soothe minor irritations. When diffused, Basil helps promote clear breathing, and healthy respiratory function while sharpening focus, and lessening stress.

Summer Apples

Personal stories, Recipes, , , ,

Healthy Apples

Summer Apples
I love almost everything about summer, the warm weather, lots of hiking, and yes, an abundance of fruit. This year we have an explosion of apples growing on our tree in the front of the house. There are so many, in fact, there are plenty to share with the birds and worms.

I have a yummy recipe to help me use the apples on my tree.

Healthy Apples
Get any size bowl, fill half full of water cut up apples just enough to eat, not waste.
Add 1 drop Protective Blend essential oil to the water.
Add 1 drop lemon essential oil to the water.
Add 1 drop cassia essential oil to the water.
Put cut up apples in the water, then let the apples sit for a minute.
Drain off the water and you have a tasty treat.

Geranium-Did You Know?

Did You Know, Essential Oil Information, , , , , , , , , , ,

 

 

Geranium

Did you know Geranium is the oil of love, and trust? Geranium brings back the confidence, and the genuine goodness of others, and in the world. It helps bring about trust easier when a person has lost trust in others due to challenging life altering events. Geranium gives support with emotional honesty, love, and forgiveness when there has been a loss of trust with relationships.

Geraniums were discovered in South Africa, the first geranium plants quickly gained acceptance in England in the 17th century. But it wasn’t until Thomas Jefferson shipped the plant from France to America in 1786  that the plant gained popularity in American gardens.

Geranium essential oil is well-known for its deep positive effects on various skin disorders like acne, rashes, eczema, dermatitis, fungal infections, etc. The best thing about the Geranium essential oil is that it is a cicatrisant which means this oil has the ability to address wound issues. So, it can help scars fade away gradually and make our skin flawless.

The Geranium essential oil is a natural cleanser. It can be used directly onto the skin for cleaning or added to the water for bathing. You can have healthy radiant skin both ways. The astringent properties of geranium are also very beneficial  for our skin. Our muscle contractions get significantly boosted with these. Consequently, we get a firm and toned look.