Red-Belted Polypore - A Little Treasure In the Forest

Have you heard about Red-belted polypores (fomitopsis pinicola)? They are a type of polypore that grows in the forests in the Northern Hemisphere. They are perennial and extremely durable, they grow additional tubes every year. These mushrooms are often found on dead or dying Hemlock and Douglas fir trees, and they look like shelves rather than umbrellas, their caps are fairly flat with the pores on the underside of the mushroom. Fomitopsis Pinicola is also called Fomes Pinicola by some mycologists. The shape of red belted polypore is half-circle shelving bodies and flat to bulbous, semicircular, or fan-shaped; the surface is smooth but becomes wrinkled with age. The size is about 5-40 cm in diameter, and 0.5-10 cm thick. It has white to creamy flesh; multi-colored with black, or gray-brown on the surface, rimmed with a rust-red color. Even though this mushroom is named after the red belt around its edge, it doesn't always have that red belt.

Although they are not the only mushrooms that grow on trees, once you have identified a mushroom as a red-belted polypore, it is safe to ingest. There is one polypore that is poisonous, which is hapalopilus nidulans, you can identify it by its orange color and fleshier texture. Hapalopilus grows mostly east of the Rockies, though it can sometimes be found in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. Always show respect when you want to harvest the mushroom from the tree, the incredible spirit of the mushroom will infuse into its medicinal benefits more potently when you show respect and appreciation to it. To remove the mushroom, grasp with a firm hand, and yank to dislodge the polypore from its host.  If it is growing out of a log on the ground, you can apply pressure easily to the top and knock it with your hands or a boot to remove it. Red-belted polypores have been used in homeopathy and native medicine for many years. They possess amazing healing powers, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, immuno-modulating, anti-pathogenic, anti-histamine, anti-diabetic. They are also adaptogenic and help boost immunity and detoxify the liver. Red-belted polypores contain a high level of germanium, which is an anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-mutagenic, and oxygen catalyst, it enhances oxygen supply to the body cells and boosts energy production. They also help regulate blood sugar by normalizing and regulating insulin production due to the hypoglycemic glycans in red-belted polypores. They also contain natural steroids that can relieve arthritis and painful auto-immune and inflammatory diseases.

Here are some amazing benefits of red-belted polypores

·        Relieve rheumatoid arthritis.

·        Reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and relieve Crohn's disease, gastric ulcer, and chronic diarrhea.

·        Improve diabetes by regulating blood sugar. 

·        Prevent cancers and inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

·        Contain a very high concentration of phenolic with powerful anti-oxidant properties.

·        Remove toxins in the liver and intestines.

·        Boost immune function by increasing neutrophil count and other white blood cells.

Two simple recipes of red-belted polypore help you enjoy this amazing medicinal fungus.

Fomitopsis Pinicola Dual Extract

Chop dried mushroom and mix with water with a 1:20 ratio (dried mushroom to water) in a pot. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Let it cool down and pour the mixture into a sanitized jar. Add 30% organic alcohol (95%). Shake the jar daily and let it macerate for 3 weeks. Strain the mushroom out and here is your dual extract.  

Red-belted Polypore Tea

Ingredients:  1/2 cups of fresh red-belted polypores (finely chopped) and 4 cups of water. Place chopped polypore in a large pot and cover with the water. Bring the water to a boil and simmer with low heat for 20-30 minutes. Strain through a mesh strainer and enjoy the drink, you can add honey to it to enhance the flavor, place the rest in the fridge and it can last for a few days. It is a good idea to take a small amount of mushrooms (or mushroom extractions) at first, and only try one type of your picked mushroom at a time. Wait for 24 hours before consuming additional mushrooms or mushroom products. Mushroom poisoning and/or allergic reactions can occur. It is recommended not to eat any mushroom that you are not sure whether it is poisoning or not. 

I hope you enjoy the information, for more information on holistic health and nutrition, please visit https://optimalhealthsolutions.ca.

Why Should You Make Your Own Apple Pectin?

Fall is a season of abundance and harvest. Today, I am going to talk about apples and how to use apples to boost your health.

First, let’s talk about a few health benefits of apple juice. Alkaline in the apples helps the digestive system cleanse and detox. Apple juice is rich in potassium, which is crucial for heart function. Apple juice contains 88% of living water that our body cells can absorb easily for hydration. Apple juice is one of the best hydrating food for your body.

Now let’s talk about the amazing health benefits of apple pectin. Pectin is a naturally occurring gelatinous substance that is extracted from fruits like berries, apples, and citrus.

• ·       A prebiotic that promotes good gut bacteria.
• ·       Improves blood sugar and reduces the risk of diabetes.
• ·       Promotes weight loss by increasing the length of fullness.
• ·       Regulates digestive system and relieves both constipation and diarrhea.
• ·       Helps detoxify the body and removes the toxins inside your body.
• ·       Promotes bone health with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds.
• ·       Improves cholesterol profiles and benefits heart health.

How to make homemade apple pectin with an abundant supply from Mother Nature? Apple pectin is pretty simple to make and quite inexpensive. If you have access to local farmers, you can get lots of free under-ripe apples that fall off the trees, they are ideal because they contain higher levels of pectin. The best apples for making apple pectin are the small under-ripe ones that should be stripped off the tree to allow for healthier, larger fruits. This makes homemade pectin a bonus product from apples that would have otherwise been thrown away and wasted. 

Method One:

Here are the ingredients for 2 cups of apple pectin, 3 lbs of under-ripe apples, and 3 tbsp. lemon juice.

Instructions: Chop apples into large chunks, including the skins and seeds, and place them in a large pot. Add enough water to just cover the apples, about 8 cups, then add lemon juice. Bring the pot to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until apple chunks are reduced by two-thirds to a half, and apples are very soft. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve. You will get about 4 cups of liquid. Return the liquid to a pot and discard solids. Bring the liquid to a boil for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the bubbles are large, the liquid is syrupy. Pour the liquid throw a cheesecloth into a bowl. Gather the corners of the cheesecloth and tie it into a knot. Hang the cheese knot over the bowl to drip overnight to get the most out of it. The remaining liquid you get is apple pectin.

Method Two:

In a large pot, bring chopped apples and water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes or until apples are tender. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool down. Line a large bowl with a dampened cheesecloth. Pour the pulp and juice through the cheesecloth. Gather the corners of the cheesecloth, and tie it into a knot. Hang the knot over a bowl and allow it to drip into a bowl overnight. The next day, port the apple juice into a large pot. Bring the liquid to a boil and cook with low heat until the liquid is reduced by half. The final product is your homemade apple pectin, you can refrigerate and use it within a few days or pour it into containers and freeze for up to 6 months.

It is tricky to determine the level of pectin you have achieved in your liquid. If you want to use your homemade apple pectin for jam, it’s a good idea to test your liquid. The most commonly used test to determine the strength of pectin in your liquid is to mix 1 tsp. of your pectin liquid that is cooled to room temperature with 1 tbsp. of rubbing alcohol, stir the mixture well, and let it sit for one minute. If the mixture firms up to jelly, you have a good strength of pectin.

When making jams and jellies, homemade pectin is a great alternative to commercial pectin because now you know for sure you are using the best organic ingredients. If you have an apple tree in your backyard, it is truly a treasure tree for your health. What do you think? For more information on holistic nutrition and alternative medicine, please visit https://optimalhealthsolutions.ca.

How To Treat Insomnia With Your Hands and More

Did you know that sound sleep is the best medicine? People who sleep peacefully experience boosted energy and lifted mood the next day, but those who suffer from insomnia are a totally different story, they may feel exhausted and lack motivation the next day. The common theme for insomnia is overthinking, the more you think about it, the harder you can fall asleep. Maybe you are angry about something, or maybe you eat too much at supper and your stomach is constantly sending the messages to the headquarter – your brain for directions, your central nervous system is working hard to send commands to the rest of organs including your liver, your stomach, and your intestine to digest the food while you are in bed, how can you sleep? Here is another scenario, maybe you watched a horror movie in the evening and you feel the ghosts in the movie are hunting you while you are trying to sleep, your adrenaline is surging for a fight-to-fight situation and your central nervous system is fully alert, then how can you sleep?

Based on different types of insomnia, there are some important acupoints you can use to overcome insomnia and improve your sleep quality from the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Here are a few types of insomnia and how to treat it accordingly.

Insomnia related to overthinking

The heart is where your soul rests, it is associated with fire based on the Five Element Theory in TCM. Overthinking can trigger excessive fire in your heart meridian, which disturbs the mind and makes you feel restless at night. 

To learn more, please check my video.

 

What Is the Most Important Spot on Your Feet?

Last night, I spent just 2 minutes massaging Yongquan acupoint on both feet, after that, I slept almost nine hours, I was in a rush to get up this morning because I was behind my schedule. This is how powerful this spot is. Yongquan acupoint (KD -1) is one of the most useful points located on the Shaoyin Kidney Meridian of the foot. It is the lowest and most yin part of the body that is in constant contact with the yin energy of Mother Earth. Where is it located? It is on the sole, in depression with a foot in plantar flexion, at the junction of the anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the line connecting the base of the 2nd and 3rd toes with the heel.

When a person lacks stamina or strength, Yongquan acupoint can help him/her draw the vital force from Mother earth to regain strength.

One of the most important relationships in the body is between the kidneys and heart meridians. The Yin energy in the kidney meridian nourishes and calms the fire energy in the heart meridian, while the heat in the heart meridian warms the water nature of the kidney meridian. Harmony between these two meridians can help achieve a peaceful mind and spirit. Therefore imbalance between the kidney and heart meridians can cause a wide range of emotional stress including anxiety, agitation, and restlessness. 

Since the kidney meridian governs our longevity. As the source point in the kidney meridian, Yongquan acupoint can help calm the mind and spirit, it also helps relieve menopause symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, and headaches. Yongquan acupoint also relieves aging-related issues such as memory loss, ear ringing, and nocturia.

Here are some amazing health benefits of massaging Yongquan acupoint regularly, especially in the evening between 7 pm to 9 pm when the energy in your body is peaking in the kidney meridian.

• ·       Detoxify the body.
• ·       Improve sleep quality and treat insomnia.
• ·       Boost your energy and reduce fatigue.
• ·       Relieve headache and dizziness.
• ·       Reduce high blood pressure.
• ·       Relieve sore throat, dry cough, and strained voice.

There is a simple technique from the ancient wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine to treat canker sores, nose bleeding, toothache, and dry coughs.

Take 2 fresh garlic cloves, remove the peels and chop into a fine texture, take half of the chopped garlic and place it on a small piece of cotton cloth, then attach the garlic on Younquan acupoint on one foot and cover it with a piece of plastic wrap to prevent leaking, in order to prevent garlic from falling out, you have to use a few pieces of medical paper tape to stabilize it. Place another half of the chopped garlic on another foot with the same method, leave it for 20 minutes, then remove the garlic and wash your feet with warm water. You may experience blisters at Yongquan acupoint after this treatment, it will fade away in a few days, but this is a very effective approach with no drugs involved, it is worth the effort to give it a try. You can do it once a day for a few days to fully recover from the health challenges I mentioned above. If you experience blisters, it is a good idea to take a break until your blisters are healed. I hope you enjoy the information, for more information on self-healing tips from TCM and holistic nutrition, please visit https://optimalhealthsolutions.ca.

October Full Moon Predictions - the Beginning of the End of What?

The full moon in October is called harvest full moon or hunter full moon, which brings us fruition and celebration. This full moon occurs on October 20^th when the Sun in Libra forms an opposition to the Moon in Aries. 

Numerology Impact

October full moon will fall on Oct.20^th, number 2 is associated with the balance between self and others, and in service to others, number zero amplifies intuition. This full moon calls upon us to be in service of others and follow our inner moonlight to guide us through this challenging time.

The Theme of October – Justice

At the beginning of October. Mercury in Libra formed a T- square with Aries and Pluto, which set up the tone for this month. We see the power struggle in communication between alternative media and mainstream media. Justice and transformation through initiatives will be the theme for this month. With Mercury retrograde, there may be a delay for the truth to come out especially on the subject of mandatory vaccination. The transformative energy of Pluton also brings deeply hidden secrets to the light. The momentum in September was slow because of lots of planets retrograde. In October, the momentum starts to pick up as planets change directions from retrograde.

What is the prediction for October Aries Full Moon? please click here to read more.

We are living in a world that two timelines are running spontaneously right now, one timeline is for ascension, and another timeline is for destruction, it is important to tune into the right timeline and stay on your ground. Information is power and disinformation is a weapon. Telegram is a new social media, just like Facebook, but it is uncensored. I created this news channel to share the truth and upcoming changes in health and finance as well on a global scale. You could download the telegram app on your phone, tablet, or your computer. Here is the channel I created and you are welcome to join and surf on the daily news that I posted: https://t.me/optimalhealthsolutions, I hope you enjoy it. 

Wild Yam - A Wonder Food for Women

Autumn is here, it is a great time to fill your plates with root vegetables including yams and potatoes, wild yam is even better. Wild yams have been in use for thousands of years as natural progesterone for reproductive health issues for women, such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, menopausal symptoms, and natural hormone replacement therapy. They’re often mistaken for sweet potatoes. However, yams are less sweet and starchier. They have a distinct brown, bark-like exterior. The flesh can be white, yellow, purple, or pink depending on the maturity of the yam.

There are more than 600 varieties of wild yam, but only a dozen or so are considered edible. However, their tubers are valuable due to a chemical compound called diosgenin, which is a phytoestrogen that replicates the actions of human hormones. Diosgenin is a precursor to certain steroidal hormones such as progesterone -  an important hormone for boosting female reproductive health. Diosgenin also promotes neuron growth and enhances brain function. 

If wild yam is not available in your area. The yam you grow or purchase are also very nutritious. They are not only an excellent source of fiber but also high in potassium and manganese, which are important for supporting bone health, metabolism, and heart function. They also provide decent amounts of other micronutrients, such as copper and vitamin C. Copper is vital for red blood cell production and iron absorption, while vitamin C helps detoxify your liver and boost your immune system. Studies have shown that a yam-rich diet significantly reduced colon tumor growth. The antioxidants in yams may help reduce chronic inflammation in various diseases, such as colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stomach ulcers. Using wild yam cream on the skin is also believed to be an effective anti-inflammatory remedy. 

The health benefits of wild yam include the following:

• Relieves premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as cramping and heavy bleeding.
• A natural hormone replacement.
• Minimizes menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, mood swings, and night sweats.
• Prevents infertility and miscarriage.
• Lowers the risk of developing osteoporosis.
• Reduces the risk of breast cancer and uterine cancer.
• Help treat gallbladder problems and diverticulosis.
• Regulates blood sugar and helps stabilize the mood.
• Prevents vomiting during pregnancy and eases painful labor. 
• Improves digestion and helps regulate cholesterol levels.  

There are many ways that you can enjoy this nutritious healing food, such as yam fries, yam chips, yam salads, yam soups, or baked yam with other ingredients. Here are a few examples:

Mashed yam – Vegan sausage with peas and mashed yam is delicious.

Yam roasties – A mixture of yam and sweet potato roasties adds a more interesting flavor.

Yam wedges – chunky yam wedges are delicious with hummus dip.

Yam curry – Chunks of yam and chickpeas make a delicious sweet curry.

Sweet potato soup – Yam chunks with carrots and butternut squash and warming spices such as cinnamon and ginger in a vegetable soup create a healthy soup in cold seasons.  

You can bake, roast, and steam them and fully enjoy this amazing food from Mother Nature. I hope you enjoy the information, for more information on holistic health and nutrition, please visit https://optimalhealthsolutions.ca.