Travels and Herbal Advice

MACAU-- the gambling island Sunday, Jan 20, 2008

If you have been to Las Vegas and /or Reno you have been to Macau. "Same same" as they say in Thailand.
In search of a place to watch the Patriots football game I wandered over to Macau from Zhuhai. It is a beautiful, sunny afternoon-- a blessed relief from the cold, cloudy weather we have had since I arrived 4 days ago. I took a bus to the Sands Casino and drifted through the gambling tables. Boring to a non-gambler. There are few remnants of the "old Macau", just as there are few remnants of the Old Las Vegas. Money has changed the island from "genuine" to "manufactured". Like Las Vegas, it is a big movie set--all fake. An imitation of what was once real.

MALAYSIA : KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesday, Jan 22 and 23

Arrived here in "KL" yesterday evening greeted by a HUGE full moon rising over Malaysia. Sweltering hot (after a week in cool Zhuhai) with fifty pounds of backpack and computer bag. Met a very good and gentle young lady named Huvi (Hoo vee) on the airport bus who was just returning home after 5 months of volunteering for the Mother Theresa Foundation in India. She had been to Darmsala where His Holiness the Dali Lamma has situated. Apparently he had just returned home (sadly, not his Tibetan home) after being away for some time and there was to be great celebrating. Huvi was sad to leave India-- which she thought was amazing, and different beyond words-- but happy to be returning to see her parents. She is an only child.

After 45 minutes of trekking about I found a seedy, cheap hotel in Chinatown and "put in" for the night.
Next day I moved across the road to a backpacker hostel, left my gear, and headed out to see KL. I walked and walked and walked til there were almost blisters on my feet. I found a very nice backpacker hostel on the other side of the city, and will check in there tomorrow. Also found a HUGE bookstore in the Petronas Towers complex and I bought yet another Paul Thoroux book: Hotel Honolulu. Paul (a Cape Cod author, if you didn't know!?) moved to Hawaii some years ago. He was brought up in Medford, went to Umass, Amherst a few years before me,and had a summer place (or lived?) in (maybe) Sandwich, or Barnstable... Fabulous author. Wrote "Mosquito Coast" which was made into a movie. His CLASSICS are "Riding the Iron Rooster", about riding the old steam trains through China in the 1980's; and "The Great Railway Bazaar", which was a long trip on the Orient Express from London to Bangkok.

So now I am biding my time until Monday night when I leave for Australia's Gold Coast. just south of Brisbane.

OK now--LISTEN UP, this is very important! My FIRST job is to take care of YOU !!

I have been following the USA economy from over here in Asia and it is clear that it is going down--you know that. I will not 'get political' on you because I have warned of this for years. But it is time to begin preparing for the "hard times". I hope you will not be upset if I tell it like I see it (and the rest of the world sees it..)

Doctor drugs/pharmaceutical chemical drugs will not get cheaper. Herbal medicines will probably not get more expensive. DO THE MATH. And keep in the forefront of your mind that herbs heal deeply and thoroughly, not just palliatively (try to name ONE pharmaceutical drug that NOURISHES the body!?). Herbal medicine looks for the CAUSE of illness and treats it appropriately.

OPTIMIZE YOUR DIGESTION
Use herbal "bitters" BEFORE meals to assist your digestive system in a natural way. Try two eyedropper squirts of Better Bitters tincture 20 minutes before meals. OR have a bitter aperitif like Campari ; or eat something bitter like arugula, kale, beet greens WITH your meal. HEALTH STARTS WITH A GOOD DIGESTION !!

DETOXIFY and build your immune system.
Daily tea or tincture of simple herbs like dandelion root, burdock root, nettle, oats, astragalus, echinacea, ginger, licorice root and many many others will keep your system running clean and build your resistance to a myriad of pathogens. Try a tea or tincture of Detoxification Formulation , Deep Immune Booster, High Mineral formula; and seasonally nourishing Cold Hold and Snuffle Muffle; Optimum Lung; Flu Fly syrup. A daily cup of Echinacea Ginger Spice tea is not only warming and immune enhancing, but very very YUMMY!!

Eliza, Kari and I are here to help you find your way to the natural substances that will bring you lasting health. This includes medicinal FOODS! The IDEAL medicine IS your food !!

Dandelion greens are one of the best spring cleansers. Rich in potassium, and a stimulating digestive bitter, dandelion greens help to improve sluggish digestion by increasing stomach secretions. Here's an easy and delicious recipe for a cleansing spring dish. Read more of Eliza's journal on spring cleansing herbs especially Dandelion. It's never too soon to think about spring:)

OK.... thanks for listening, and (as I always sign off...)

"Eat well. Be conscious. Recycle/reuse/rebuild. Help one another. Know who your plant friends are-- get to know them. Love health and one another"-- Stephan

Please do write with your comments/suggestions/critiques
... and smiles!!
ginkgo@greatcape.com

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