If the answer is ‘yes’, please keep reading, especially if you have stayed
away from chocolate because of health concerns or you may feel guilty for
giving in to your cravings. Believe it or not, this is about “Healthy
Chocolate”. You may wonder: is that an oxymoron. healthy and chocolate????
Let me assure you, it’s for real – even for people with milk allergies,
diabetics, vegetarians or vegans.

How would you like chocolate

  a.. that you can eat completely guilt-free…
  b.. that is not only good for you but healing as well…
  c.. that has helped people regulate their blood pressure, influence their
cholesterol, stabilize their blood sugar, get a hold on their cravings for
junk food, even lose weight….
  d.. that tastes divine at the same time!
The ORAC test-Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity-measures the antioxidant
capability of different foods; the higher the number, the more the food can
‘absorb’ or neutralize dangerous free radicals. For example, it has been in
the news a lot that blueberries are high in antioxidants, measuring 2,400
ORAC.

However, unprocessed raw cocoa powder came in at 26,000 ORAC!!! It is the
food with the highest antioxidant value, containing four times the
antioxidants of green tea.

Furthermore, the Brazilian Açai Berry from the Amazon jungle tested at
18,500 on the ORAC scale!!! As the second highest antioxidant food it is 14
times more potent than raw spinach and ten times more than red wine, a real
superfood.

Now you combine these two ingredients together with blueberry powder and you
have Healthy Chocolate!

One small 12g nugget provides 3,120 ORAC, the same value that ½ pound of
spinach would give you or 1 ½ pounds kidney beans or 1+ pounds cherries or
3/4 pound broccoli…

A whole bar of dark chocolate (3.5 ounces/100g) measures 13,000 ORAC but
with it we would also get the refined sugars, mostly unhealthy fats and
other artificial ingredients. In comparison, eating only one small 6g Power
Square of Healthy Chocolate provides the value of 3,582 ORAC-and no
disadvantageous ingredients. The company even put the ORAC score on the
wrapping of each individual serving!

For more eye-opening comparison: you’d need to eat 7 pounds of raw spinach
or 13 pounds of red grapes or 51.5 pounds of tomatoes to get the antioxidant
benefit of 1 cup of Healthy Chocolate.

Typically, most health benefits in chocolate candy bars are lost during the
manufacturing process. In contrast, the patented method of cold processing
preserves antioxidant and nutrient value of raw cocoa during the
manufacturing process. For further benefits, Healthy Chocolate

  a.. Has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
  b.. Has not been alkalized.
  c.. Has been dried and cool-pressed rather than roasted.
  d.. Consists of at least 70 percent pure cocoa.
  e.. Contains cocoa butter instead of milk fats or hydrogenated oils.
  f.. Contains natural, low-glycemic sweeteners-such as raw cane juice
crystals-rather than refined sugar.
  g.. Is caffeine-free as tested by Health Canada.
So now you can have a healthy healing melt-in-your-mouth chocolate treat! Go
to Planet Botanix and find out how delightfully delicious it is to boot.

www.mydrchocolate.com  provides a long list of fascinating testimonials plus
plenty of resources. Enjoy the information.

Also feel free to get back to me to find out how you can order at wholesale
price.

PS: a word of caution, though: science has shown that we benefit most from a
variety of antioxidants, so make sure you include copious amounts of fresh
fruits and vegetables into your diet, too.

Rica Gerhardt
Specialized Holistic Health Kinesiologist & Reiki Master

Actually, it’s more like 7 pounds of lipstick that a woman may unintentionally ingest over her lifetime. Many commercial lipsticks contain toxic substances such as  petroleum oils and  waxes, artificial colours and preservatives that make one shudder.

Nail polishes are of big concern as they contain solvents like acetone and toluene. I work in a lab where we handle these same solvents with gloves and ventilation. And yet, millions of women-and girls- around the world apply both nail polish and nail polish remover without any thought to the vapours. And those cheap nail polishs the kids pick up may also contain other harmful chemicals. My friend Liu,Yingchun founded a company in Guelph which produces water based nailpolish and natural oil nail polish remover that I carry at Planet Botanix. Here is her story:

“Back in 2001, when my then seven-year old little girl first showed interest in nail polish, I took a long, hard look at the ingredients in conventional nail polish, and was horrified to find toxic chemicals such as toluene, formaldehyde releasing ingredients, acetates, phthalate, alcohol etc. As a chemist, I knew how much potential damage these toxic chemicals could do to my innocent little girl.

So I went out to retail stores, searching for a water-based, nontoxic nail polish for my daughter. Much to my surprise however, I failed to find anything at all. There was virtually no water-based nail polish on the market.

I had no choice but to develop a water-based nail polish myself. At that point, I began dreaming of introducing a line of non-toxic, environmentally friendly nail polish products to the market for other women and young girls to enjoy.

Although I have worked as a research chemist for many years, only after I started working on water-based nail polish had I realized how difficult it was to formulate a quick drying, long-lasting water-base nail polish. The current formulation for manufacturing Suncoat water-based nail polish is the result of numerous long days in the lab, many sleepless nights in the office, in the library…”

On my recent holiday to NYC, I prepared in my usual fashion: working until the 11th hour and packing late at night before an early morning. And, inevitably, I forgot the essentials. Essential oils, that is! I realized that over the past 16 or so years that I have been using natural ingredients, living without them was not an option. I consulted with family and was told I might find a distributor on Atlantic Avenue, since there were a lot of ethnic shops in the area. As luck would have it, I found not one but three middle eastern stores stocking perfumes, fragrance oils, bodycare products and essential oils. I was a bit dubious at first, heeding the advice I often give to beware of fragrance oils, to check prices carefully and find out country of origin and Latin name. I was a bit shy about grilling the owner behind the glass counters, as I felt like I had really walked into another country-everyone was speaking Arabic and there were no other Caucasian customers. However, the aromatherapist in me refused to purchase without verifying quality as best I could. I consulted a price list to see if different oils had different prices. I asked the owner the country of origin for every oil I needed.  I asked to smell each oil (hoping my olfactory spidy senses would cooperate). Finally satisfied, I made my choices: almond oil, shea butter, and essential oils of lavender, rosemary, clove and peppermint. Ah, relief!

I picked up some Epsom salts from a drugstore and hurried back home. I had brought two of my kids down to NY with me, and they were feeling the effects of walking-over the Brooklyn Bridge, into Chinatown and various neighbourhoods…a lot of walking. I prepared a foot soak for them by blending almond oil with peppermint, adding the salts and filling the tub with warm water. Happy feet! My sore muscles and spinning mind were treated to a massage blend of soothing lavender, analgesic clove and grounding rosemary. Over the next few weeks, we used our remedies extensively. I had hoped to make a blend with shea butter for my brother. He is a graphic artist whose hands were cramping from excessive keyboard and mouse usage. Unfortunately, he complained that everything smelt like Tiger Balm and would not bend to my will. My final use for the oils was actually not as much fun. I concocted a spray of lavender, vinegar and water to rid my stepmother’s kitchen of geriatric cat incontinence. Well, maybe not fun, but it worked!

When traveling, I would recommend that, at the very least, everyone  have lavender essential oil with them. It is one of the most useful for various ailments-burns, cuts, sore muscles, relaxation…Wherever you go, you can always find a good carrier oil to make your blend, whether it be almond, oil or sunflower. Simple is good. Simple and natural is even better!

Dear Journeyers…

 Energy Medicine is known under many names like shamanic healing or spiritual guidance, and has been known to people for thousands of years. It was practiced as either pure energetic healing or with the aid of herbal tinctures, mixes, and potions. As we evolve, Energy Medicine evolves. In my practice I see people who want to be healed and those who want to heal themselves. In traditional shamanic healing table work or a ceremony will be performed to purify energies, remove blockages, and balance body/mind/spirit. I do use those tools, but I also like more practical approach and that is to teach people how to help themselves, how to be conscious about their healing process, and how to live consciously. I make people work with me during sessions and some of them will even get homework to do.

Shamanic healing involves many different approaches and has many facets to deal with.

I am Inca Shaman by lineage. The Inca Medicine Wheel is very practical tool that talks about Four Directions with relation to four parts of human brain. It depicts development of humanity, and helps us step back to see ourselves from a distance. These days Medicine Wheel is not only a tool used by Indigenous people, but shamans and Energy Medicine practitioners of all races. Chakra energy system correlates with the Medicine Wheel by housing the energy of our issues and thoughts, inner children, shadow aspects of our psyche, and our gifts. When we clear our mind, our chakra system is being cleared, when we cleanse our chakra system we change perception that our mind was projecting out.

Dealing with projections is the most challenging aspect of Shamanic healing.

A woman came to see me for a session. Just as we set down, she looked into my eyes and said that I have lots of sadness and darkness in my soul, and that I need a serious healing. I did take it seriously, and asked what brought her in. We took full hour to undo some of the patterns and believes that were limiting her, and she did move some of her perceptions. As she was leaving my office she looked again in my eyes and was surprised that my eyes were different. According to her there was more peace and clarity. I was glad that she made my work easier by projecting her issues on me and telling me what she needs and why, and made my heart smile when she complemented a work well done. 

In shadow work we are accessing energies of issues from our past that are not resolved yet. Issues that most of the time we are projecting out on our loved ones, relatives, and complete strangers by pointing out their behaviour, looks, colour of their skin, moral conduct and values, social skills, habits,  and maybe even the family they were born into. If you know of anyone who pushes any of those buttons in you, spend a week with that person to heal what is really unhealthy within you.

Shadow work is challenging but extremely rewarding, and those who have wrestled with their own demons can see how much stronger, grounded, and centred they have become.

Some people are uncomfortable with the term “past life”. In common language past life or a shadow is an aspect of our psyche, thoughts, ideas, and behaviours that can cause us trouble, pain, discomfort and often dis-ease.

Another tool that I use in my practice is over 5000 years old. It is called the Enneagram Personality Type. We are born to experience something very specific in life, and knowing the Enneagram and how it works can save us long hours of searching for answers. The Enneagram is a map that is easy to read, and offers many roads to take towards better physical and emotional health and life.

Recently, I was chatting with a customer who has a lot of allergies to the fragrances etc. in commercial laundy detergent. She had been looking for soap nuts and, luckily for me, came in to Planet Botanix-voila! 

The Soapnut is the fruit from a tree (Sapindus Mukorossi) which grows in India and Nepal. It has been used for many years as an economical alternative to laundry soap, shampoo, skin cleanser, and insecticidal soap. This amazing nut is all-natural and environmentally safe. The nut is the dried fruit of the Rittha tree, a species of trees native to India and the lower forests of Nepal.

The shell of the nut contains saponins which are released in the presence of warm or hot water. In the rural areas where it has been in use for many years, it is highly valued as a naturally produced shampoo and also used for washing woolen and silk garments. Soap nuts are a completely renewable, biodegradable material that can be composted after use.

Because they are natural, they have proven especially good for babies and those with eczema and sensitive skin. People with allergies or dermatitis can do their washing with the nuts as clothes cleaned this way do not irritate the skin or cause itching the way commercial detergents can. The nuts also soften clothes, so a fabric softener is not necessary! Soap nuts also preserve the colours of fabric better than commercial detergents. Whites may become slightly grey after extended use but this effect can be mitigated with the use of an oxy whitener (sodium percarbonate) which is also safe for the environment. Sodium Percarbonate is a biodegradable laundry product which breaks down into water, oxygen, and soda ash. The nuts are economical compared to other brands of detergent: 1 kg of soapnuts can be used for up to 150 loads of laundry.

The purchase of soap nuts also helps to support the local economy of the regions where it is harvested. Families in India often depend on the harvest of their few trees to supplement their income. The nuts are excellent for cottages and campers because one ingredient will do all your washing: from clothing, to personal care and as an insecticidal shampoo for pets.

I have personal testimonials from Mollie and Cooper (my dogs) about the useful of soapnuts-two paws up!

I am often asked why beeswax candles are better to burn than cheaper wax candles.

 The answer is: a difference in your health! Most cheap candles are paraffin based.

 Paraffin is a by product of petroleum refinery. Is is a dark grey wax which then

 has to be bleached and chemically treated. This candle, when burnt, releases all

 the toxins it contains into the air you breathe!

 Beeswax candles, on the other hand, emit negative ions into the air when burnt.

 These ions attach to positive particles like dust, odour and other

 harmful airborne substances. All our beeswax candles are manufactured locally!

 I also carry soy and palm oil candles. The palm candles come from a company

in Montreal. Palm oil is extracted from the fruit of an African palm tree,

elaeis guineensis.  This first quality natural oil is a new generation of candles

made from renewable resources. Soy candles have many benefits including the fact that

they are an all natural, renewable resource, biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

Like beeswax, they are clean burning. They are also soot free and do not pollute the air.

Soy candles produce a brighter flame at a lower temperature and as a side bonus, create

economical growth for the local farmer.

I have recently found myself immersed in the world of equine……everything: behaviour, ailments, communication, nourishment.

This all came about because my 14 year old (Katie) fell in love with a horse (PenPal). Not just any horse, though. A horse who had some serious trust issues. Terrific.

Over the next few years, Katie and PenPal formed a very close bond and now, it appears, we have a new, very large member of the family. One aspect I did not anticipate, which I find exciting, is the chance to practice holistic therapies on horses! The stable where Katie rides already uses the Heel line of homeopathic remedies, which was great to know. I carry the Traumeel (human sized tube) in my purse as a first aid remedy. Turns out, there are many Heel products specific to animals. And they work in gentle, time-proven ways using plant based medicine. Of course, the tube of Traumeel for horses looks like it was created for a giant!

So the herbs for horses title? Well, a couple of years ago, I created a salve for dogs and cats (Pawpurri). It didn’t contain any essential oils, because most dogs and cats (or at least cats) have a smaller body mass and metabolise ingredients differently than humans. In addition, any injury is usually licked day and night, and I didn’t want any ingestion of essential oils either. So, I was very cautious. Instead, I used organic olive oil infused with herbs and beeswax. The beeswax is a semi-permeable barrier and helps seal off the area to allow more efficient healing. And guess what?!!! It is great on horses and now very popular at the barn (although I think I will have to make pail sizes soon).

Penpal also has allergies to goldenrod which manifests as small hive-like bumps under his skin. We used witch hazel and calendula tea to reduce the swelling and speed healing. Finally, something the teen and I can agree on! Witch hazel acts as an antidote to most reactions and my supplier is organic-lucky horsey! Calendula is the most awesome annual ever: I have used it to cure conjunctivitis (pink eye) and soothe every skin irritation the kids have ever had.

There is a whole new world of horse training/treatment out there: Katie has already done something called Natural Horsemanship (I think it’s like the Horse Whisperer), there is Bowen therapy, acupuncture for equines…what next?! I suspect PenPal will be the guinea pig for many herbal experiments in the years to come, from concoctions to make his hooves stronger to treating muscle aches and pains. Again, lucky horsey!!

As reported in reuters.com

This is pretty cool: finally something so main stream, so…well, let’s just get on with the news! We know aromatherapy is practiced worldwide: in Japan to increase productivity in factory workers, in Italy to relieve depression…Now the military take a look at alternative therapies!

Pentagon tries aroma therapy to ease combat stress

U.S.  |  Health

He said the experiments showed promise.

Gates touted possible treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during a meeting with the wives of servicemen at Fort Riley, Kansas, when one woman asked him to explain why chiropractic and acupuncture therapies were not covered under her military health care plan.

“We have an experimental unit … treating soldiers with PTS (post-traumatic stress) and using a number of unorthodox approaches, including aroma therapy, acupuncture, things like that, that really are getting some serious results, and so maybe we can throw that into the hopper as well,” Gates said.

The Pentagon has seen a sharp increase in the number of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder during and after long deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The disorder can cause flashbacks, edginess and emotional numbness. The risk depends on the type of traumatic events a person is exposed to.

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine in January found that U.S. combat soldiers in Iraq who received a shot of the painkiller morphine within an hour of being wounded were less likely to develop the post-traumatic stress disorder.

(Reporting by Adam Entous; editing by Todd Eastham)

Many people seem to be confused about the difference between pure essential oils and other oils. The distinction is whether they are plant based and therefore have therapeutic properties , or are synthetically derived fragrance oils.

A rule of thumb when purchasing what you hope are pure essential oils is labelling: the package should say pure essential oil. If it says fragrance oil or for example, rose oil, ask! Rose oil is one of the more precious essences, and the price reflects this. So if you pick up two bottles, one of rose and one of lavender, and they are the same price, alarm bells should be going off!

I feel very fortunate that I am an aromatherapist. All the oils I import are in bulk so I can pass any savings onto the customer. And yes, they are therapeutic grade! Why is that important? All plants have medicinal properties. Some are stimulating, some are anti bacterial, some are anti-congestants. We can benefit from these properties when we use essential oils through inhalation or topically. 

Take lavender, for example. This popular plant has analgesic and skin cell regenerating properties which make it wonderful for burns of any kind. It is also an uplifting and calming oil, very good for cheering the spirits and allowing most people to experience a sound sleep.

If you want to find out more about these useful ingredients, come to my Creams and Lotions workshop next Sunday, June 27th from 10-12. Participants have the opportunity to experience the more than 100 oils in stock and create personalized blends!

Mad mats and miles

I am always on the lookout for earth friendly,people friendly products, but it is harder than you might think to source them out! I recently asked one of my distributors if his products were considered fair trade. Unfortunately, he didn’t  know the difference between free trade and fair trade! Ouch! One of the products I am thrilled to carry is a recycled plastic carpet made under fair  trade conditions in Thailand. These mats come in all  sorts of vibrant colours and patterns and will not mould like rush mats because…they’re plastic!  Good for you, good for the earth (keeps the bottles out of landfull) and good for the people who make the product. I carry a variety of sizes (from 3×5 to 5×8) and patterns  -come check them out!