April 1, 2008

Contents:

1. "Wireless: Popular, Convenient & Hazardous" - May 2nd, Vancouver
2. The Kidney System - An Eastern Perspective
3. What is a Pure Essential Oil?
4. Make Factory Farms Report Their Pollution to the EPA
5. Canadian Study: Organic from Niche to Mainstream, 2006
6. Canadian Study: Composting Organic Waste, 2006

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"Wireless: Popular, Convenient & Hazardous" - May 2nd, Vancouver

Hello HANS Members & Friends.

Thanks to all of you who came out for "CANCER - Natural Approaches for Prevention and Healing" last Sunday in North Vancouver. Although it wasn't a sold-out event, we're thrilled by the positive feedback we've been receiving about the well-rounded contents of our speakers' presentations. If you couldn't attend, DVDs will be available for sale in the next few weeks. Call 604-435-0512 for details.

Since today is April 1st. I have to tell you, I got my morning laugh by playing a practical joke on not one, not two, but all three of my very gullible daughters. I hope you had a good chuckle of your own. They say laughter is the best medicine.

And if it's not laughter that's the best, perhaps it's traditional Chinese medicine, or aromatherapy - the subjects of our two feature articles in this e-News. Thanks to HANS Professional Members Avery Yackel of www.ayaacupuncture.com and Klaus Ferlow of www.ferlowbotanicals.com for providing them.

So, what's next for HANS? We're gearing up for our next event "Wireless: Popular, Convenient & Hazardous" with world renowned EMF expert Dr. George Carlo, PhD. You've probably heard of him. He was hired by the cell phone industry to conduct a $28.5 million dollar research project on cell phone safety. When their results didn't match the cell phone industry's expectations, he became a whistleblower.

On May 2, 2008, Dr. Carlo will be talking about electrohypersensitivity, a condition recognized in Europe but not in Canada; honey bee colony collapse disorder; cancer and more conditions connect to electromagnetic radiation. There's also a great article in the April Common Ground Magazine that is a must read for anyone and everyone
"A Conversation with Dr. George Carlo, PhD".

You can order tickets online. $20 advance price; $25 at the door. $5 discount to HANS members.

Kindly do us a favor by forwarding this to everyone you know! Let's pack that room and learn how to protect ourselves and our families from the hazards of wireless technology.

Regards,

Lorna Hancock
Executive Director & Founding Member

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The Kidney System - An Eastern Perspective

by Avery Yackel, RAc

In Traditional Oriental Medicine, the understanding of the organs is different than that of Western medicine. The physical organs, along with their corresponding energetic meridian pathways are never regarded as independent systems but instead, are always viewed in relation to the rest of the body.

Probably the easiest way to get some insight into the influence of the Kidney system as seen by Eastern medicine is to look at the extremes of both a young infant and an elderly person. In the case of the child, the Kidney system is still in development while for the older person, a weakening Kidney function is just a progression of the natural aging process.

Young infant
- bald
- no teeth
- incontinent / bedwetting
- weak back & legs, can't walk
- soft bones, open fontanel
- undeveloped memory
- undeveloped reproductive organs

Elderly person
- bald
- no teeth
- incontinent
- hunched back, shortening of height
- brittle bones
- poor memory
- declining sexual function
- hearing loss

As can be seen from just this brief list, the Eastern view of the Kidney system involves many other parts of the body as well:
- growth and development
- urinary system
- reproductive system
- hormones
- bones & marrow, especially the spine
- brain function & memory
- hearing

According to Traditional Oriental Medicine, the Kidney is also in charge of controlling the Fluid metabolism throughout the body and could be thought of as the coolant system that prevents things from overheating. For example, a condition commonly treated with acupuncture is the typical menopausal woman where the Kidney system is not doing its job of cooling the body. As a result, this extra heat rises up and collects towards the top of the body, producing symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, shoulder pain, and insomnia.

In addition, the Kidney is regarded as a measure of strength of a person's constitution, similar to what Western medicine might refer to as hereditary and genetic factors. For instance, the grandma who has her three gin & tonics every day, smokes cigarettes like a chimney, has never been sick a day in her life, and yet lives to 100 would definitely be described as having a strong Kidney. On the other extreme, the frail, sickly, asthmatic kid who's always coming down with a cold has a weak Kidney and will probably have to work extra hard for the rest of their life just to maintain average health.

Finally, Eastern medicine makes special connections between specific organs and their corresponding emotions. In the case of the Kidney, its emotions are associated with fear, shock, and willpower. An obvious example of this would be someone who gets a sudden scare and loses control of their bladder. Another less common example could be someone who experienced a traumatic event and seemed to age overnight as a result. With regards to willpower, references to this exist even in our everyday language, such as describing a weak person with no ability to stand up for themselves as 'spineless' or 'having no backbone', which especially makes sense from the Eastern perspective.

Hopefully, this brief introduction to the Kidney system gives a better understanding of the way Traditional Oriental Medicine views a person and how it interconnects everything together.

Tips for keeping the Kidney system healthy
Stay flexible - because both the Kidney meridian and its related Bladder meridian travel through the back and the legs, maintaining flexibility in these areas is very important. Yoga poses such as Downward Dog and Child's Pose, along with stretches for the hamstring muscles help to gently stretch out and improve the energy circulation of
these meridians. You're only as young as your back!

Keep warm - because the Bladder meridian travels through the top of the head and neck, exposure to drafts can allow cold to enter here, where it can then travel along the meridians and penetrate deeper into the body. For a similar reason, the abdomen and lower back should always be covered up and kept warm (even if fashion trends say otherwise).

Breathe deep - so many of us are shallow breathers, especially when stressed out. By focusing on deep relaxed abdominal breathing, it helps draw energy downwards to help strengthen the Kidney.

Don't stress out - unlike our caveman ancestors who only had to deal with immediate threats such as war or hunting, we have to deal with more prolonged stress since modern society usually doesn't allow us to either fight or run away from danger. This continuous stress builds up in the body and depletes the Kidney. So take some time for yourself, even if it's only for 15 minutes. Turn off the tv. Take a walk. Listen to some music. Breathe. Enjoy the moment.

Avery Yackel - Traditional Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture, Moxibustion, Shiatsu Massage tel: 604-671-4682 www.ayacupuncture.com 15228 Pacific Avenue, White Rock, BC V4B 1P7; and 108 - 2078 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9

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What is a Pure Essential Oil?

by Klaus Ferlow

While Canadians are familiar with synthetic fragrance oils, by and large, they have little or no knowledge about therapeutic health benefits of genuine, pure essential oils. Unlike North America, in Europe, high quality botanical plant derived essential oils are prescribed for internal use by medical doctors in hospitals. In the last decade, essential oils have become a popular item, sold everywhere, which raises the question, "Do we really know what we are getting?"

What is a genuine, pure essential oil?
Essential oils are more than merely plant secretions. The evaporation of essences from a plant surface is a defence mechanism against infection by bacteria, fungi and pests. Aromatic plants have a protective aura of scent, just as all living things have an aura of light. This aromatic aura also protects plants from excesses of heat and cold.

To qualify as an essential oil, it must be 100 percent natural, preferable harvested from certified organic plants or wild crafted, and free of herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. A description of the biochemical compounds (using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry) will confirm if an oil is 100 percent authentic and contaminant-free. There are five different processes for making essential oils:
- Steam distillation (this method produces the highest quality oil, but it must be slow and prolonged)
- Solvent extraction
- Expression
- Maceration
- Enfleurage

Assessing quality
To assess quality, the label and/or therapeutic fact sheet should have these items listed:
- Complete Latin name, genus and species
- The distilled part: it is vital to know which of the plant (flower, leaf, bark etc.) has been distilled.
- The chemotype: recognized internationally, and widely used in scientific publications, chemotypes, are associated with the Latin scientific denomination, allows the perfect comprehension of the mode of action of an essential oil, so an oil can be used correctly. The type of soil, altitude, sunlight, climate, and surrounding plant population are all elements that influence the essence manufactured by the plant.

All essential oils are not created equal. The price reflects many factors, such as the number of kilos of plant materials needed to make an essential oil, which is why they are sold in bottles of 5, 10 or 15 millilitres only. Some oils are even sold by the drop. Why? One kilogram (approx. 1 litre) requires:  6 to 7 kg of clove flower buds, 50 kg of lavendin, 150 kg of true lavender, or 3,500 - 4,000 kg of Damask flower rose (1 hectare of roses)!

To find a practitioner in your area, visit the HANS Wellness Directory Aromatherapist category or contact the following associations:

Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists, #103 – 1200 Centre Street, Thornhill, ON, L4J 3M9, Tel. 519-746-1594 www.cfacanada.com

Alberta Association of Professional Aromatherapists, 21 Martingrove Way NE, Calgary, AB, T3J 2T5, www.albertaaromatherapy.org

Saskatchewan Association of Professional Aromatherapy (SAPA), 207 Nelson Ave., Kipling, SK S0G 2S0, s.hassler@sasktel.net

British Columbia Association of Practising Aromatherapists, 511 Gourlay Place, Ladysmith, B.C., V9G 1W7, Tel. 250-245-7370, www.bcapa.org

British Columbia Alliance of Aromatherapy, #206- 1554 George Street, White Rock, V4B 4A5, Tel. 604-515-2226, www.bcaoag.org

References:
The Art of Aromatherapy, Robert Tisserand, ISBN 0-89281-001-7
A guide to essential oils, Jennie Harding, ISBN 0-75257-783-2
Essential oils, Sara Rose, ISBN 1-84273-441-5
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, Gabriel Mojay, ISBN 0-89281-887-5

Klaus Ferlow, traditional herbalist, innovator, lecturer, researcher, writer, founder, president and co-owner of FERLOW BOTANICALS, Div. of Ferlow Brothers Ltd, Vancouver, BC. Manufacturing/distributing organic toxin-free medicinal herbal and personal care products to professional health and wellness practitioners and selected stores with holistic practitioners on staff in Canada and parts of USA since 1993.

This information is offered for its educational value only and should not be used in the diagnoses, treatment or prevention of disease. Please contact your health care practitioner.

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Make Factory Farms Report Their Pollution to the EPA

by Food and Water Watch

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule that would let factory farms get out of reporting their releases of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and other toxic air pollutants caused by the breakdown of animal manure in massive lagoons. We have a right to know what toxic chemicals we're being exposed to. Make Factory Farms report their pollution to EPA.

Not surprisingly, this is something agribusiness has been pressuring the government to do for years.  Instead of getting into the fine print of the proposal, here's a description from a recent Washington Post article that sums it up pretty well:

"Under pressure from agriculture industry lobbyists and lawmakers from agricultural states, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to drop requirements that factory farms report their emissions of toxic gases, despite findings by the agency's scientists that the gases pose a health threat."

One giant dairy in Oregon, home to more than 50,000 cows, reported that it releases more than 15,000 pounds of toxic ammonia into the air every day. Often these reports offer the only information neighbors of these facilities get about what they are being exposed to.

The public has a right to know what factory farms are releasing into the air and EPA has no business letting these polluters off the hook.  Tell the EPA that factory farms shouldn't be above the law.

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Canadian Study: Organic from Niche to Mainstream, 2006

by Statistics Canada

Consumers by now are used to seeing a range of organic fruits and vegetables for sale in their local grocery store, but the most common certified organic product reported by Canadian farmers is probably not what they think.

In fact, the most commonly reported certified organic class consists of field crops and hay, according to a new study published in the online version of Canadian Agriculture at a Glance. The study analyzed the evolution in the organic farming sector in Canada between 2001 and 2006.

The study, based primarily on data from the 2006 Census of Agriculture, showed that 2,462 farming operations reported growing certified organic field crops and hay, nearly half of them in Saskatchewan.

Canada has a competitive advantage for growing grains and oilseeds because of the climate and large expanses of cropland suited to mechanization. So it makes sense that organic field crops and hay would be the most common certified organic product.

Many of the field crops grown organically are sold internationally - not processed, sold or eaten in Canada.

In 2006, the Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada oversaw a study on sales of certified organic products through traditional mainstream supermarkets. It found that in spite of impressive growth, sales of certified organic products accounted for less than 1 percent of the $46.5 billion Canadians spent in national grocery stores in 2006.

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Canadian Study: Composting Organic Waste, 2006

by Statistics Canada

While diversion of all waste materials is on the rise, the Canadian compost pile is growing particularly rapidly, according to a new study.

From 2000 to 2004, composting at centralized facilities increased 70 percent to 1.7 million tonnes, according to data from the Waste Management Industry Survey. The average Canadian sent 51 kilograms of organic waste for composting in 2004, compared with just 32 kilograms in 2000.

Nationally, close to two-thirds of the diverted organic waste was generated by the residential sector. The study, "Is composting organic waste spreading?" is published in EnviroStats, Statistics Canada's quarterly bulletin on environmental and sustainable development statistics.

Along with recycling, diverting organic waste for composting is a way of reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfills and incinerators. Materials such as food waste and leaf and yard trimmings can be composted. Most households still compost in the backyard, but the use of curbside collection systems is growing.

According to data from the Households and the Environment Survey, 27 percent of Canadian households composted their waste in some way in 2006, compared with 23 percent in 1994.

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