Tag: toxic chemcials

NZ Grass Develops Immunity To Glyphosate Herbicide Round Up

Environment

Agricultural Chemicals and the use of Toxic Herbicides and Pesticides In New Zealand:

This post was first published in 2012 on this website and has just been restored.

New Zealand’s TV1 reported on 13th December 2012 that a rye grass grown in the South Island has developed a resistance to the glyphosate weedkillers. Monsanto’s RoundUp weedkiller is one such weedkiller which contains glyphosate.

Good to bring this herbicide into the spot-light again, More knowledge about glyphosate and its harmful effects might cause people to think twice about using it. WHO have declared glyphosate a probable cancer risk since first publishing this article.

Merrilyn’s new book is out on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.ca/Cancer-And-Good-Health-Notebook-ebook/dp/B01DHMH6DG

RoundUp is the one most commonly used glyphosate weedkiller in New Zealand.

These glyphosate chemicals are very toxic things, and cause many illnesses, yet RoundUp is poured around with gay abandon all over the place, as if it was the most harmless thing on earth. It is commonly used by farmers, by grape-growers, kiwi-fruit growers and orchardists, as well as by councils both small and large, in and around our parks and on the grass verges about the towns. Farmers, I know, all seem to relish using RoundUp and the other glyphosate brands, around their houses, and about their farms. Orchardists regularly spray the stuff in between the rows of fruit trees, so they don’t have to bother about weeding anymore.

According to a report which came out in the Scientific American, 23rd June 2009, RoundUp contains inert chemicals which are thought to be more dangerous than the glyphosate itself. The chemicals found in RoundUp and other brands of glyphosate weedkillers have been found to cause the death of human cells, especially the cells of the placenta, the embryo, and the umbilical cord. These findings make RoundUp and the other glyphosate weedkillers extremely risky for expectant mothers, or for those who are contemplating bringing a child into the world.

The solvents which are added to RoundUp, and other such weedkillers, magnify the toxic effect to humans of the main compound, the glyphosate. Research done in 2009 showed that this was the case, and that even in much diluted form other that the potencies used by farmers and orchardists, the residual effect of RoundUp chemicals on food was enough to cause cell damage and even death. One inert ingredient, polyethoxylated tallowamine, known as POEA, was found to be especially harmful to the embryo, the umbilical cord, and the placenta.

The University of Caen in France reported that “This clearly confirms that the [inert ingredients] in RoundUp formulations are not inert……Moreover, the proprietary mixtures available on the market could cause cell damage and even death at the residual levels”…” such as those found on RoundUp treated crops like soybeans, alfalfa, lawns and gardens”, as Crystal Gammon writes in her article for the ‘Scientific American’.

I believe that the mysterious death of pockets of our fabulous KAURI trees could be due to the use of RoundUp or other glyphosate chemicals being used on the walking tracks which run near these trees. It has been proven that bee colony collapse disorder is due to the use of agricultural chemicals: Nicotinoid pesticides, even in such small minute, such as would be considered a homeopathic dose, have caused bees to succumb to the virus which causes bee colony collapse disorder. So Kauri trees might just be as vulnerable to RoundUp and related chemicals as the bees are to these things. Humans are certainly just as vulnerable, but the danger of their use to humans is overlooked whilst the chemical and drug companies continue to reap in those massive profits.

And to all you sceptics who say that ‘there is nothing in homeopathy which works’ – the illustration of the bees which became sick after being exposed to such minute amounts of nicotinoid toxins which could not be detected by any scientific equipment, proves the point that even microscopic amounts of chemicals or herbal substances, such as those amounts used in homeopathic medicine, can have a profound effect on living creatures.

Humans are allowed to continue getting sick from such chemicals as RoundUp, but as soon as the agriculture industry, or the honey-making industry is affected, resulting in less profits for the chemical and drug companies as well as the farmer, then the authorities sit up and listen.

The glyphosate chemicals, including RoundUp, are making giant profits for the chemical companies. Which is why they are dead keen to present this weedkiller as a ‘safe’ herbicide, when the thing is actually not safe at all.

And there you go – Grasses are developing an immunity to it anyway.

Allergy To Printing Ink And Bleached Paper Causes Candida

Toxic Chemicals

I been aware of the toxic nature of printing inks and paper for many years.  The chemicals used in the paper and printing industries, such as chlorine bleach, formaldehyde, and goodness knows what else, can upset the intestinal flora, which can result in candida outbreaks.

Migraine headaches, poor memory, high or low blood pressure, nausea, nervous twitches and other allergic symptoms can result in sensitive people who become over-exposed to these chemicals.  In time, if exposure to these chemicals continues, then I believe that serious diseases such as multiple sclerosis, parkinson’s. cancer, and arthritis could arise, especially with the synergistic effect of RoundUp weedkiller or other toxic pesticides which people commonly use.

Interesting to note that just last Saturday, I heard the news on radio which told us of the discovery that some antibiotics are made redundant by weedkillers such as RoundUp.

Well, this is no surprise:  I do not talk about using antibiotics much, as I am a proponent of the homeopathic/holistic approach.  But I have found weedkillers and pesticides such as snail bait to cause severe candidiasis when my neighbours have used these chemicals.  If they so readily kill bacteria in the bowel, then they will also be capable of destroying antibiotic medicines.

Studying at university was made especially difficult for me, because of my sensitivity to photocopied material.  Handling photocopies, or handling newsprint on a daily basis caused me migraine headaches, nausea, made my nerves shake, and affected my memory.

Handling cardboard boxes also causes these problems: on the occasions I have been moving house, which has required the handling of a good many boxes over a good many days, I have become sick with the same old allergies.

The allergy to printing inks and bleached papers became even more acute during the time that New Zealand’s MAF was regularly aerially spraying toxic chemicals over much of Auckland, ostensibly to rid us of the ‘apple moth’, around 2003 to 2005.  This spraying of our environment made many people very ill.  Eventually, Victoria |University in Wellington proved that the apple moth poison was most definitely adversely affecting the health of Aucklanders, and so the programme was stopped.

I have found that printing inks and bleached paper if you are exposed to enough of them,  are about as damaging to the immune system as herbicides such as RoundUp, and many toxic pesticides.  They all have the effect of killing off the good bacteria in the digestive system, which causes inadequate digestion and allergies or sensitivities to various foods.

It is a fortunate thing, though, that one can avoid over-exposure to printing ink/paper toxins, and it surely is unfortunate that we often have no choice in the matter regarding our exposure to toxic herbicides and pesticides:  we have to suffer the latter because there is no law which prevents people from poisoning our environment.

But even without harmful chemicals such as ‘RoundUp’, or apple moth spray, printing ink chemicals, and bleached paper still make me sick if exposure to them goes on for long.

Very recently, I was offered a great deal to have the local newspaper delivered, and so |I decided to try it.  I thought that if I was very careful, and kept the newspapers out of the house, then I might be able to enjoy reading the paper each day.

After around two weeks, all the old allergic reactions appeared.  After three weeks or so of continuing to receive the papers, I felt I might have a stroke.  Now I have stopped handling and reading the papers until the alllergy symptoms subside.

Natural Remedies to Counteract Allergic Reaction:  Homeopathic Arnica/Symphytum is working well to reduce blood pressure and relieve the headache.  Thuja on occasion is also good.  Rhus Tox did not work so well, but instead, exacerbated the symptoms of poisoning. Arnica/Symphytum has a very cooling, calming effect, is great for shocks to the system, and so I am sticking to that for the next few days.

Note:  The Arnica was followed by Urtica Urens once it became apparent that I had developed a urinary infection.  Chlorine bleach and formaldehyde, found in printing inks and newspaper, alter  the pH level.  This results in an over-alkaline body which can breed urinary or bladder infections.  I remember this was a problem whilst studying at uni and handling so many photocopies. Photocopy toxins, plus MAF’s apple-moth killing toxic chemicals being sprayed every few weeks over Auckland , resulted in almost continual urinary tract infections.

Three consecutive doses of 2000mg of non-acidic Vitamin C in the one day, plus around 5 doses of Homeopathic Urtica Urens 30C, served to rapidly fix the kidney and bladder infection.

I wondered about my neighbour, who had a mild stroke only a week ago:  He h as a weak heart and is prone to strokes, but he also gets his paper delivered.

Blood pressure was affected, causing the body to overheat, with extreme migraine headache and bloodshot eyes.  The smell of the newsprint seems to have permeated the house, even though the discarded papers are kept outside the back door.

I have stopped the delivery for the weekdays, but have decided to try getting just the weekend papers.  My aim this time is to wear protective gloves so that I do not absorb any chemicals from the paper through the skin on the hands.

I figure if I want to avoid a stroke and memory loss, both of which are healthy concerns to keep with my advancing age, then I it will pay to be extra cautious about the handling of such things as newsprint or photocopied material of any kind:  This is one area of my environment which I do have some control over.

Temporary Allergy To Drying Sage Leaves

Sudden extreme sensitivity to newspaper print caused a sudden allergy to the sage leaves which I picked only yesterday.  They have had to go back out into the garden, along with the newspapers which are awaiting the paper collection on Friday.

Sage is usually OK for me to keep in the house in small quantities.  I had picked several cupsful this time, to dry before the winter.  The effect of having these leaves outside the door in the sun was simply intolerable today, after becoming sensitized to the newsprint.

This evening, I have discarded all the sage into the furthermost point of the garden.    Sage is obviously a borderline item for me, which I am probably best to leave alone, except for picking a leaf or two of fresh sage occasionally, straight from the garden.

Herbs like sage, in quantities far beyond that needed for flavouring one dish, can have a very disturbing effect on the nervous system.

I do not think that I will be dying my graying hair black with sage afterall.

Conclusion:  Herbs in concentration need to be avoided by sensitive people.

Natural Remedies

Culpeper says of Sage that it ’causes the hair to become black’.

Garden sage has many therapeutic uses.

In the garden, its flowers provide medicine and nectar for the bees, as well as a herbal tonic to the neighbouring plants.

It is well-known as an aid to oral hygiene.  It has strong antiseptic qualities and is supposed to whiten tooth enamel.

Sage is still used today in some tooth-pastes.  It is reputedly one effective remedy for bleeding gums,  and improving gum health:  The crushed fresh leaves are massaged several times a day onto the gums and teeth.

The tea is gargled to relieve sore throats, colds and flu,  and ulcers in the mouth.

It can be effective to reduce fevers, and has been used in the past for thyphoid fever. (see ‘Herbal Remedies  and Homeopathy’ published by Geddes and Grosset.)

It is a valuable nerve medicine, and is a useful stomach remedy for improving a weak appetite.

Natural Herbal Hair Dye and Tonic:  Sage can help restore healthy hair and improve the colour.

Strong sage tea encourages hair growth and darkens the hair, if it is used on a regular basis. Many herbalists describe it in their writings:  see John Heinerman’s ‘Encyclopedia of Fruits Vegetables and Herbs’.

Rosemary is another wonderful herb which can help hair growth, but it does not have such a darkening effect on the hair, as sage does.

Recipe For Sage Hair Dye:  Here is a simple, natural hair dye and tonic which you can try.  It is perfectly safe to use, as it does not contain any harmful additives such as you might find in commercial dyes for darkening the hair.

Take two cups of fresh sage leaves and put into a stainless steel saucepan.

Add one cup of dry black tea leaves

Add half a cup of cider vinegar and eight cups of water.

Simmer very gently, with no lid, for one hour on a very low heat.  You should have around half the original quantity of liquid left at the end of an hour.  If you need to add a little more water, make sure you do so well before you finish simmering the brew.  If you add more water at the end of the simmering, then your mixture will not keep so well.

Take off the heat after an hour of simmering.  Set aside to cool.

Once your sage mixture has cooled properly, strain it off.

To the liquid remaining add the same amount of vodka.

Put into a bottle with a screw-top lid and store in a cool place.

Massage around a tablespoonful of the sage infusion into the hair each day.  Use more or less, depending on how much hair you need to cover.

Massage the sage tonic well into the roots of the hair as well, so that it feeds the scalp and hair follicles.  Massaging the scalp with the sage tonic will help the hair to grow again.

The oils in the sage leaves will put a natural shine to the hair.

Once the hair is sufficiently darkened, which may take several weeks, you can reduce the amount of applications each week.  Once or twice a week may be enough to maintain the darker colour.

Sage is really very good for the hair in so many ways.

Alternative Sage Tonic Without Alcohol:  You could make up your sage tea without the alcohol if you wish.  Only, remember that your mixture will not keep for longer than a week, and it must be kept in the fridge.  You could make up a lesser amount, enough to last a week, and then make up a fresh brew of tea for the following week.

My new book is available on Amazon:

Arthritis/Cancer From Toxic Chemicals

Arthritis From Insecticides and Weedkillers
Many people could be ‘cured’ of arthritis forever.  For most people who have a good diet,  the simple life changing tactic of avoiding all  insecticides,weedkillers and drugs, including prescription medicines, and alcohol, would see most arthritic symptoms disappear.
In my own experience, herbicides or weedkillers, known also as pesticides or insecticides, have the most profoundly bad effect on the body and its functions than anything else.  Arthritic pain develops even if I am near a weedkiller or pesticide.  With many chemicals, depending upon how long I am kept near them,  I may also experience heart palpitations, or a racing heart, high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea, shaking nerves and hands,  blurred vision, and sudden lapse of memory.  These warning signs are a definite sign for myself that those things must be avoided if I am to avoid serious ill health. If I am not kept close to these chemicals for too long, then all these symptoms will disappear just as quickly as their sudden arrival.
I regard this hyper-sensitivity as being a very fortunate thing, as it enables me to detect chemical hazards in the environment, usually in time to prevent bad consequences, though not always:  I smoked for around five years, which has dulled my senses to a certain extent.
Many people are sensitive to chemicals, and this helps them to stay well, because they learn to avoid the potentially harmful things which make them feel bad.  They are given warnings, by being given a hint of the pain of disease, long before any disease is given the chance to develop.
This sensitivity is something which everyone can develop.
The more you avoid using toxic chemicals and taking toxic medicines, the finer your sensitivity becomes.  You become aware of smells and tastes which you haven’t experienced before, and this newly developed sensitivity will then become useful in detecting chemicals which are foreign to the body, and which cause harm.
All poisons, insecticides, herbicides, medications dull the senses.   The longer you use these toxic substances in your environment, or in your food, the less sensitive you become, and the more likely you are to develop diseases such as arthritis and cancer.
Alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking also damages your senses.  Drinking alcohol on a regular basis has been shown to increase your chances of getting cancer, so a recent Australian study has shown.
The flavour of these poisonous chemicals get to blur your sense of smell and taste, and cloud your judgement to a certain extent.  This blurring of the senses  makes you more vulnerable to exposure to other chemicals, because you most likely will not even notice them.  Then, arthritis pain, and other health issues such a cancer, will not be associated with the true cause, because you failed to notice, or chose to ignore, the initial, small warning signs.
But once you cease using these toxic chemicals, and begin a cleansing diet to get rid of those unwanted poisons in your body, you will find that your arthritic aches and pains have gone.  Another positive effect from avoiding chemicals and cleansing them out of the body is that you  will feel happier, less inclined to depression and tiredness, and your mental alertness  will be much sharper.

Memory Loss

Natural Health

Consider the possible environmental causes – see Merrilyn’s new post, published 12 Feb, 2017:

Global Amnesia Cause Probably RoundUp Glyphosate Formaldehyde

Memory loss is something which concerns many people today.  Even young people can suffer from memory loss.

We are all afraid of getting alzheimer’s disease: when the memory and brain function  have declined so badly that we are incapable of making decisions and caring for ourselves, then we have lost control of our lives, we get put into care, and our active contribution to society ceases. We all wish to avoid this scenario.

There are several main causes of memory loss in people who are not yet old. If you have reason to believe that your memory function is declining, or is impaired, then it would be prudent for you to consider the list below which outlines memory loss factors, then you can begin to take measures which will help remedy the problem.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION can cause memory loss. Lack of sleep makes you feel tired, and it also makes the brain tired. This causes not just short term memory loss, but a general inability to think clearly, to make decisions or string your sentences coherently together. Sleep deprivation can also cause you to become depressed and listless.

DEPRESSION, whether it be from lack of sleep or from a deep-seated emotional cause, or from lack of certain nutrients in the diet, can cause short term memory loss. Addiction to alcohol or other drugs can cause depression.

ANXIETY which is often associated with sleep deprivation and depression, can inhibit brain function, including memory. Vitamins and good nutrition can help enormously in minimizing anxiety, and DEEP RELAXATION exercises which include YOGA BREATHING and YOGA NIDRA do wonders for alleviating stress,  anxiety and depression, thus helping the problem of memory loss. Try to remove emotional factors in your life which could be causing anxiety, or learn, via these yoga techniques, to overcome them.

POOR NUTRITION alone can be the cause of short term memory loss. Lack of IRON is a well known factor in memory loss, poor mental function, and general tiredness. Lack of VITAMIN B complex components, especially NIACIN, and VITAMIN B12, can contribute to temporary memory loss.

A fluctuating blood sugar level (hypoglycaemea) means that the brain is not being fed a constant supply of blood sugar, and this is the cause of many people’s memory loss.

Keeping sugar to a minimum and using other quality foods which help the blood sugar level to be more stable should be the aim. Use  rice instead of wheat products and bread. Eat adequate protein. Include enough good quality fats and oils in your diet:   These things all help improve memory function.

If you find that some days your memory is good, while on other days it seems to be poor, then try a diet which excludes wheat, bread, sugar and dairy products, alcohol and coffee for a while. On the other hand, a quick-fix of sugar, best from fruit or honey, can alleviate a sudden attack of memory loss, but it is best to avoid letting things get to this state of affairs by following a good dietary regime and leading a sensible life style.

ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL OR MARIJUANA OR OTHER DRUGS can cause short term memory loss as well as long term memory loss. Too much COFFEE can affect memory function also: too much makes the brain tired, as it, and alcohol, etc, deplete the brain of essential nutrients, causing a state of malnutrition. Many young people smoke marijuana thinking that they are avoiding the harmful of effects of alcohol – well, alcohol probably affects the liver and nervous system more drastically, but marijuana affects the brain and its memory function much more quickly than alcohol: it doesn’t take very long for a young brain to manifest the memory loss effect of  smoking marijuana. Of course, some people have more resistance to the stuff than others, but there is plenty of evidence to show that marijuana causes memory loss.

DENTURE plastic/acrylic could be contributing to your state or memory loss. Check out the article I have posted on DENTURES which follows this post on memory loss. Dentures should be made of quality materials and really are best, for the benefit of mental function including memory, to be changed for a new set every three years or so. In my experience, the life of a denture is about three years before it begins to affect memory adversely.

DEHYDRATION: Insufficient water causes the brain to malfunction and suffer memory loss. WATER is necessary for a healthy brain. Alcohol, coffee and other drugs and medications can make you dehydrated. Check your water intake: start your remedial measures to counteract memory loss and improve your brain by drinking plenty of water each day.

SLUGGISH BOWELS can, and DO cause memory loss. It is very important to get the bowels cleared of effete matter which causes auto-intoxication. A diet which includes plenty of fresh, raw fruit and vegetables, and which avoids those dairy products which clog the bowel with mucous, is imperative. Using rice, preferably brown, instead of wheat products, plenty of salads with sprouted grains and seeds with adequate proteins will help cure your sluggish bowels.

ENVIRONMENTAL POISONS, such as preservatives in our food, herbicides on grass verges, household poisons such as pesticides and weedkillers, and petrochemicals, are very bad for your health generally: they contribute to cancer setting in, but also affect your memory very badly. Fly sprays, potions which kill fleas on the dog or the cat, are all very harmful for the general health and for the memory, both to your pet and to you. Every time you pat your pet you will be getting a dose of that poison you put there to counteract fleas. Make sure that you buy safe homeopathic or herbal preparations for your pet.

Many hair products, especially hair dyes, could be affecting your state of memory loss.

FORMALDEHYDE is extremely toxic to humans and to animal life. Formaldehyde is probably the most potent of  the chemicals known to cause memory loss. It is found in many products used about the home, and is even found in some cosmetics and balms. It is found in particle board flooring (fake wood, or chip board) and in many synthetic building materials. It is found in many glues,  paints and varnishes. It is found in dyes and in leather-tanning products. Much of our clothing, which comes now from China, is made with cheaper dyes and materials which use formaldehyde and other extremely poisonous chemicals.

If you handle photocopy print, or inks a lot, then beware – many of these contain formaldehyde and other dangerous chemicals.

When formaldehyde first became popular as an antiseptic in the 1950’s, it was used widely in hospitals and dental surgeries in New Zealand and other parts of the world. It was regarded as a best friend to nurses, doctors and surgeons, as surgical objects, after being used on a patient, could be placed in a jar of formaldehyde which would sterilize them immediately. No one was aware of the dangers to the health, especially to the brain. I read an article years ago which documented two nurses who were working in New Zealand in the 1950’s. Their memories were shot well before time, and they attributed this to the fact that they had freely used formaldehyde, even dipping their hands in a bowl of it to quickly kill off all germs, while they had been working in hospitals. They were reported as saying that there was no point in reading a book, as they had forgotten completely what the plot and the characters were all about by the time they had gotten very far along with the story.

I had peritonitis when I was about five years old, in early 1955, the year of my sixth birthday. I remember the glass of formaldehyde which sat beside my bed in the hospital where the operation to save my life had been done. The smell of the glass of formaldehyde made me feel sick, but the worst thing was the thermometer which permanently sat in the fluid. The nurses would come around, take the thermometer out of the liquid formaldehyde, give it a quick flick, and put it straight into my mouth. I was getting dosed, inadvertently, with formaldehyde.  I quickly began to associate the ‘white outs’ in the brain, when it was apparent to me that  not only could I not remember anything, but it seemed as if I did not exist at all; and confusion and drowsiness, the heavy sleep which followed, with the stuff in the jar, as these things happened to me straight after each thermometer reading. I therefore began to scream loudly every time they came to take my temperature, and to fight them off, but to no avail, of course. I was simply held down and forced to take the thermometer. I remember, after returning home from hospital, screaming hysterically every time my mother opened the bottle of dry cleaning fluid, which was carbon tetrachloride: I feared that this might put me to sleep just as the formaldehyde had done, as it smelt similar. I suspect it probably is just about as bad in its effect on the memory, but I never waited to find out. I would run out the door to gasp at the fresh air outside. Because of this early experience which sensitized me to formaldehyde, I have to be very careful with anything containing formaldehyde, or indeed most chemicals, as they can cause  complete memory loss. But fortunately, once I get onto a fasting diet and the offending toxins are removed from my body, my memory improves again.

Vitamin C in mega doses is one of the best things to get rid of toxins from the body and the brain. 1000 mg of ester C or another non-acidic type of Vitamin C such as calcium ascorbate, work wonders. You can take a 1000mg dose once, or twice, or even three times a day in  cases of acute poisoning.

ELECTRO MAGNETIC RADIATION. This is affecting people’s memories today. Cell phones, cell phone towers, electricity transformers which are located near your home, electricity meter boxes which are too close to your bed or working space, TV aerials too close to where you sleep or work, an environment which is too well-circuited with electricity wires and plugs, such as apartment buildings where you have a super-charged electrical environment because of the TV upstairs and below and to the side of you, and all the wiring to go to stoves, meter boxes etc above and all around you: all these things affect your brain function, including your memory.  Apartment buildings are bad also because of the clusters of cell phones being used all about you: this energy is intensified with more cell phones being in use together.

MENTAL STIMULATION: It is important to stimulate the brain on a regular basis. Crossword puzzles, chess and card games, writing short essays on chosen topics, reading stimulating books, learning new pieces on the piano or another instrument, and conversing with people, all stimulate the brain. Communicating with people and interacting socially is very good for mental function as well as the emotional state. It is amazing how quickly you can lose confidence in communicating verbally with people if you are living in isolation. The brain becomes really slow at responding if it is given a chance to be idle for too long. Keep the brain active by enjoying activities where you get to talk to people, about meaningful things, or simply just in a caring way, to friends, family and neighbours.

CONCENTRATION: Make sure that you concentrate totally on the task in hand, or on the conversation you are having. Do not allow yourself to daydream whilst you are talking to somebody, or, say, listening to the news.  How can you remember the important things people tell you if you are not listening with full attention? Day dreaming is OK too, but day dream with your full attention, and not too long at a time. Try to have a  half hour of snoozing/daydreaming, or meditating, and then get straight onto a specific task which you will give your full attention. Give yourself projects which you find exciting:  having goals is a great thing for encouraging the memory to perform well.

EXERCISE: Physical exercise, whether it be from yoga, or light jogging, playing tennis, swimming, or such-like, cannot be underestimated in the beneficial effect on the physical body and the brain. Memory loss can be helped enormously by taking up an exercise such as these listed above, especially if they are done daily, or at least three times a week. Working up a bit of a sweat helps eliminate toxins from the body and the brain. Physical exercise also helps move the lymph around the body and to the brain: this is important in helping your brain to function optimally, as the nutrients are carried throughout the body and brain, not just via the blood, but via the lymph.

SAUNAS are very useful in helping memory loss. Saunas will help your body to sweat out all those toxins which are impairing your mental function.

Modalities such as MASSAGE, ACUPUNCTURE, ACUPRESSURE, HERBAL MEDICINE, HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE, and AYURVEDIC MEDICINE can also have a beneficial effect on the brain when the right treatment is given.

GINKGO is reputed to help people with memory loss. However, I find that I cannot ingest the stuff, as it has the effect of lowering my pulse rate too much, which makes me feel terrible. Funnily enough, though, I picked up some fruit of a giant ginkgo tree in Remuera yesterday, which I took home to have a go at growing from the seed inside. Just handling and smelling these pale, lemon coloured fruits has had a definite positive effect on my brain and powers of recall. But I have kept them outside to avoid a negative effect which could result from having too much of the stuff around me.