Mysterious Callisia fragrans

Today is a sharing day. Like every day in your lives, because every day you share something or you share your life with others. Whether you are married or single. If you are single and sad today, don’t be. The paradigm of family as the only real close people is ending. You need to get little bit more open and let friends to your life. I mean real friends. People that will support you even you call them in the middle of the night.

Today is a sharing day and I will share what I have learned about the plant I asked the other day to help in identification. It’s worth it.

Thank you so much for helping me to identify the plant on the picture and enlightment that follows. My special thanks go to Rosekraft, Vi and Claude.

I would like to introduce to you her majesty CALLISIA FRAGRANS. A plant rarely to buy in the flower shop or nursery. If you live in 9+ zone it may grow outside, below 9 it can grow only indoors.

As I first saw Callisia fragrans, whithout knowing the name, I was told about it strong remedy to different health problems and the comparison to ginseng in that aspect. My research shows that there really is something special about it. 

1. The first source I’d like to share:

“I have a very healing plant I wanted send to you but I decided ask first if you need it, just as thank you gift to you wonderful souls. First the story. More then a week ago I finally bought cooper pipes. I did put together my CB. It was on back porch, was raining and i not know where to place it yet. On Sunday I made a hole in the flower bed and decided move whole CB ... long story... almost killed myself it was so heavy. It was about 10 am in the morning, I could not turn my body, bend, I could not do any healing work on myself, my whole back was off, in pain.
Now I am sitting in pain and thinking that I am not going pay those doctors, how I can go to work and work and what can I do. First thing came to my mind my plant. I used it many times before and it would take 3-4 days to take care of any inside pain.
Now the plant name is CALLISIA FRAGRANCE. We have many books in Russia about that plant and its healing abilities. “
If youwant to read more click here.  

2. Second is scientific source – results of the research made by one of the universities:

“Callisia Fragrans Family Doctor PlantThe phenomenal healing effect is explained by the bioactive substances contained by the plant. Callisia Fragrance fights various kinds of infection, stimulates metabolism, improves circulation and immune system, purifies the body. Also, it relieves pain, heals wounds and even tumours. In addition, it tackles indigestion and breathing problems. This resource is a guide on using the plant for medical purposes.It is not only a decoration plant, it has wide medicinal use in Europe and Russia. Active biological substances that are in Callisia fragrans can struggle with any types of infections, stimulate metabolic processes, strengthen immunity and circulatory system, has positive influence on growths. Substances from steroid group contained in Callissia fragrans give it these wonderful possibilities. Because of the presence of biologically active substances Callisia Fragrans (Golden tendril) can help fight various diseases. The whole plant posses curative compounds, juice is the same throughout the plant, although it's higher concentration in the stem.'Золотой ус' Zolotoy us’.”

You may read more about it by clicking here.

3. On one of the blogs the author is writing:

“Before leaving Aunt Luba initiated us into the methods of making Basket Plant extract which, as she said, “cures everything, and boosts the immune system.”
Basket Plant – (Callisia fragrans). Also known as золотой ус, or “golden whisker” in Russian.
How tomake an extract you can learn by clicking here. After clicking look n thebottom of the page.

Recommended further reading Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition (Peterson Field Guides)

My garden - My Sanctuary

 Photo by eclectic echoes

I just love my garden.

Everyone has a different reason for loving their garden. Some say it's
because they love being able to grow their own food, while others just love the beauty that all
the green and the flowers bring. Still others just love having a little patch of green in the midst
of a metal, stone and glass city.

As a child, I always noticed that my mother spent hours and hours in her garden and I would be
there too, puttering around with my friends or just helping her. As I grew and started spending
time in my own garden, I realized that it wasn't only the aesthetically pleasing nature of
gardens that drew my mother to them - it was also the energizing and healing properties they
bring. Here are some ways that gardens improve our health physically and mentally.

Mental and Emotional Health

Have you ever noticed how an afternoon of pulling weeds or planting new flowers or
vegetables makes you just as refreshed as you would be after yoga or meditating? This is
because gardening has been proven to help improve our mental health!

• Gardening helps to boost self-esteem and optimism. Serious gardeners tend to be
  people who look to the future with hope (maybe stemming from the hope that their
  azaleas will bloom soon or that they will be harvesting apples in the fall). Also, growing
  plants gives gardeners a sense of accomplishment, boosting self-esteem. Because of
  this gardening has proven to be such a great therapeutic tool that many therapists
  recommend gardening as a way to help patients deal with depression and anxiety.
• Gardening leads to introspection and self-improvement. As we often work alone in our
  gardens, it leaves us a lot of time to spend with ourselves. With no other distractions,
  gardening allows us to get to know ourselves. In the end, a person who takes advantage
  of the meditative opportunities gardening has to offer has a better view of the world
  and may even undertake self-improvement.
• Gardening teaches patience, shows us the beauty in imperfection, and allows us to let
  go of the wheel. These are all things that those of us caught up in a fast-paced world are
  seriously lacking. Because we have to wait for a long time before we see the results of
  our gardening efforts, we are taught patience. We can never really control how exactly
  our gardens grow, so we have to learn to relinquish the wheel. And even when we find
  strange-shaped apples on the tree or flowers we didn't plant, we're still so thrilled at
  having grown these things that imperfections are perfect!

Physical Health

Aside from mosquito bites, two things that I always feel after a couple of hours of gardening is
the sweat and my muscle aches. Gardening is one of many wonderful, free and enjoyable ways
you can get your daily dose of exercise! And much like a gym, gardening offers different levels
of exercise - from the exhaustively back breaking to the gentle stretching.

• Gardening builds muscles. With all the heavy lifting you have to do, this one's almost a
  no-brainer. We lift so many pots of soil, wheelbarrows with multiple plants, gallons and
  gallons of water, hoses, buckets, and tools that we unwittingly do muscle training!
• Gardening burns fat. Oh yes, it definitely does. Running or walking around your plot of
  land is your daily dose of cardio packaged in green leafy goodness!
• Gardening makes you flexible. Notice how you're stretching to reach those high up
  branches and bending over constantly to pick up a tool you need? These simple but
  daily practices make you more flexible, stretching you out and working the ligaments in
  your limbs and core.
• Gardening does your heart and bones good. Because of all the weight training, cardio
  and reaching involved in gardening, your heart muscles are strengthened. Coupled
  with the vegetables and fruits you get, your heart becomes a happy and healthy one.
  All the activity also increases bone density, the main reason why doctors recommend
  gardening for the elderly.
• Gardening builds endurance. We do all of the above for hours on end! It's no wonder
  how after some time, you're able to lift more for longer and walk or run faster during
  daily tasks!

Gardening is also good for the Earth, adding patches of dedicated yet ever-evolving green
to the landscape. So instead of an expensive gym membership or doing other stress-release
activities, simply step outside and garden to work your way to beautiful trees and plants and a
clean bill of health!

This is a guest post by Isabella York - working mother who enjoys the outdoors by spending time in her garden. Along with raising her son, she works for Balsam Hill, a purveyor of Artificial Christmas Trees and Christmas Trees.

What You Should Know About Products That Are Still Being Made With Asbestos

This is a guest Post by Barbara O’Brien from Maacenter.org
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You probably know that asbestos is dangerous. It can cause diseases such as mesothelioma, a deadly lung cancer, and asbestosis, a debilitating disease that interferes with breathing.

You may have heard that asbestos is banned in the United States, but it isn’t. It is still being used in some kinds of flooring and roofing materials; in some automobile parts, such as brake pads; in some fireproof clothing; and in a number of other products. Should this be a concern?

Maybe. It is thought the danger is small, but small is not zero. And asbestos has been banned completely in many other countries. Why isn’t it banned in the U.S.?

Here’s the scoop: In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency drew up regulations asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act. However, two years later, a New Orleans circuit court of appeal overturned the regulations. As a result of the court’s decision, a ban on new uses of asbestos remained in effect, but old uses remained legal.

Asbestos is a mineral that breaks into small fibers when disturbed. The fibers are dangerous if ingested and more dangerous if breathed into the lungs. There are two primary kinds of asbestos, called serpentine and amphibole because of the shapes of the fibers. Amphibole asbestos has been banned globally since the 1980s. It is considered the more dangerous type of asbestos because, if you breathe it, it stays in your lungs longer and causes more damage.

However, serpentine asbestos, especially a form called “chrysotile,” is still in commercial use in the United States and some other countries.

So, asbestos isn’t just something found in the attics of old houses. It might be in a product made this year. Which products should be a concern?

Auto parts, especially brakes or clutch linings. Major U.S. automakers say they do not use asbestos in their parts. However, “aftermarket” suppliers of replacement parts sometimes do use asbestos. If you buy “off brand” parts to save on auto repairs, there could be asbestos in the brake pads and shoes, clutch linings, and other “friction” car parts. Don’t assume asbestos isn’t in auto parts just because it wasn’t listed on a label.

Asbestos in brake pads or other parts shouldn’t be a danger to drivers or passengers. However, auto shop workers and home mechanics do risk danger of exposure to asbestos. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has guidelines for minimizing the asbestos danger of working with car parts.

Construction materials such as roof shingles, floor tiles, cement pipes and boards, caulking compounds, and joint cements. The asbestos in these products is unlikely to break away and become airborne with regular, day-to-day use. If these products someday crumble from age or disaster, however, cleanup crews should take care not to breathe the dust.

Fireproof clothing and protective gear. First, if you aren’t a firefighter, stay away from fireproof clothing or fire protection gear. Especially as the clothing and gear become worn, fibers could break away and get into your lungs. If you are a firefighter, wear respirator masks with approved HEPA filters when fighting fires or training in fireproof clothing and gear.

If you do work with such products, please don’t be complacent just because you feel fine now, seek mesothelioma treatment. It can take many years for symptoms to develop after exposure to asbestos.