Remove Impurities with Dry Skin Brushing
By Jackie Christensen, BS, HHP, NC, MH
Faculty Member of GCNM
Dry skin brushing is a quick, inexpensive and effective way to help the body detoxify. The skin is the body’s largest organ and it is responsible for removing one quarter of the waste from the body. Some sources even refer to the skin as the body’s third kidney.
Dry skin brushing is a technique that has been used by various cultures throughout history. A kese was a type of rough mitt massage, which was performed in Turkish bath rituals during the Victorian era in Western Europe. In ancient Greece and Rome they would use an instrument called a strigiles, which was a small curved metal tool used to scrape dirt and sweat from the body prior to bathing. In Ayurveda the practice of garshan massage is a dry massage using a silk or wool glove. Today to get the same exfoliation properties people commonly use a natural bristled brush, loofah pad or textured washcloth to rid the body of dry, dead skin cells. The health benefits of dry skin massage are copious. It helps to encourage circulation, blood flow, and stimulates the immune system to help detoxify the body. It is also works great to exfoliate and will help to improve the pores and create fresher looking skin.
The ideal time to dry brush is before a shower. This is done so that you can rinse off the impurities loosened by the massage. The entire body should be massaged, excluding your face, chest, and heart. Also avoid sensitive areas and any broken or inflamed skin. Begin at the soles of your feet with circular motions. Work your way around to the tops of your feet and progress to your ankles, calves and thighs, in upward circular strokes. The direction of the stroke should always be towards your heart as this helps drain lymph back to your heart. Use circular strokes on the stomach and joints (shoulders, elbows, knees, wrists, hips, and ankles), and long sweeping strokes on the arms and legs. To aid digestion dry brush the abdomen with circular motions going from the right to the left side. This follows the natural path of the large colon. Stroke over to the hips continuing the upward circular motions. In the upper chest area apply gentle pressure, as the skin there is sensitive. Apply light pressure where the skin is thin, such as the underarms, and harder pressure where the skin is thicker, such as the soles of the feet. Brush up the forearms to the upper arms. Once you reach the shoulders begin brushing downwards towards the heart. Repeat this on your back area. From the neck area, brush down and from your buttocks and lower back brush up. Dry brush massage can be performed daily for up to 5 minutes. Incorporating a dry skin brushing ritual into your daily practice can be invigorating as well as better your skin tone. Another benefit you might notice is a reduction of cellulite as the dry massage loosens the trapped fat pockets.
Be aware that some people have certain health conditions that should not use dry skin brushing. People that have diabetes, high blood pressure, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, skin that is broken, non-healed wounds or skin infections should avoid this health care strategy.
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Book Review
Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside
Edited by Raymond Cooper, Ph.D and Fredi Kronenberg, Ph.D
Our book review this month introduces Botanical Medicine: From Bench to Bedside, one of the eBooks from the Mary Ann Liebert Journals collection located in the GCNM Online Library and Resource Center. Founded in 1980, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is universally acknowledged for publishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals, books, and trade magazines in the most promising areas of biotechnology, biomedical research, life sciences, clinical medicine and surgery, and law. This book is of particular interest and importance to the Master Herbalist students and Grads, and anyone interested in elevating the use botanical medicines to a more highly respected and accepted level in the mainstream medicine of holistic healthcare.
With a Forward written by Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D. and an Introduction written by editors Raymond Cooper, Ph.D and Fredi Kronenberg, Ph.D. this is an exciting compilation of botanical research from more than twenty leading scientific contributors who have collaborated to produce this valuable and informative work about conducting research on botanicals used for medicinal applications. Examined in this eBook are the complexities of Pharmacognosy, or the knowledge of natural products, and the selection and quality of botanical preparations, preclinical and clinical approaches to botanical preparations and the practitioner’s view of the challenges encountered by those individuals interested in botanical preparations.
Chapter one, Botanical Preparations: Achieving Quality Products provides insight into the issues regarding understanding and employing botanical preparations in the modern medical system. The key issues are both the need for clinical trials using high-quality, standardized plant materials to ensure botanical drug standards for safe and efficacious mass manufacturing can be developed, and the ability to demonstrate and indentify safe dosages with consistent results through such clinical studies. The information about the specifications for selecting quality botanical materials for scientific studies, handling and storage of voucher specimens to preserve samples of the materials being studied for later reference, and thorough documentation including the Latin botanical name, details of the plant parts used, collection information including dates and geographical location, descriptions of extraction and drying methods, and method of preparation of the product are all introduced as controls.
The term "standardized" is explained as signifying that the information and controls necessary to guarantee consistency were applied, and required a thorough description of the plant material to be used, the extraction process, and factors such as good agricultural collection processes (GACP) and good manufacturing processes (GMP) to ensure the quality and proven results of a standardized botanical product. The National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Center has introduced these guidelines for Alternative and Complementary Medicine (NCCAM) to be used in clinical research on botanical medicines. In addition there is information on how the European Union (EU) defines extracts based on the ability to attribute the bioactivity of an extract to its known chemistry and determine if an herbal substance may be called "standardized", "quantified" or "other".
Chapter two contributed by Joseph L. Evans discusses preclinical and clinical evidence for botanical interventions in Type 2 Diabetes. Evans opens with shocking statistics describing the epidemic of Diabetes mellitus in the USA, 20.8 million, and worldwide 171 million individuals. Table 2.1 shows the global prevalence according to the World Health Organization in 2003 and projected for 2030. Table 2.2 provides details of the most promising botanicals for Type 2 diabetes, some of which have been used since ancient times. Among the noteworthy botanicals are Ipomoea batatas (Caiapo), Coccinia indica (a well known Ayurvedic anti-diabetic treatment), Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek), Opuntia fuliginosa and streptacantha, (Prickly Pear Cactus; aka Nopal), Mormordica charantia (Bitter Melon), Allium sativum and cepa (Garlic), Gymnema sylvestre (Gurmar), Panax ginseng, japonicas and quinquefolius, an Eleutherococcus (Ginseng), Aloe Vera, and Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamom). Research findings for these botanicals and their effectiveness from several studies are presented.
Chapter three contributed by Juliane Reuter, Irmgard Merfort, Ute Wolfle, Gunter Seelinger and Christopher M. Schempp discusses botanicals used in dermatology and skin health and reviews the results of controlled clinical studies. Tables 3.1 and 3.2 provide information on plant-derived compounds already established in Dermatology, and possible claims and targets for botanicals in Dermatology according to their Mode of action (MOA).
Chapter four contributed by Veronika Butterweck discusses the use of St. John’s Wort, the quality issues, active components of the herb and data on clinical safety of extracts regarding drug interactions. The varying quality of SJW extracts and herbs available on the market show differences in their biologically active constituents. Further, the documentation of the preparations in published randomized trials is inadequate according to this author who examines the bioactive components to discover what we can attribute the antidepressant effects to, and provides much biochemistry to explain how the Hypericum produces its anti-depressant result in individuals.
Chapter five contributed by Christina L. Nance and William T, Shearer discusses preclinical and clinical development of Green Tea catechins, Epigallocatechin gallate in treating HIV-1 infection. HIV Infection occurs somewhere in the world very six seconds, 6500 new infections each day. The authors’ focus is on both prevention and treatment of this immune infection through further research into natural products developed from plants that have been proven effective in suppressing replication of the HIV virus and its progress.
Chapter six contributed by Vladimir Badmaev discusses Curcuminoids from Curcuma longa in disease prevention and treatment, with a focus on chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns’s disease, MS, Psoriasis, scleroderma, atopic dermatitis, systemic lupus erythrematosus, Type 2 Diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis, auto immune deficiency disease and various cancers. In table 6.1 he provides a comparison of the incidence of cancers between the USA non-Curcumin users, and Indian Curcumin users and presents findings on treatment of various cancers with Curcuminoids.
Chapter seven contributed by Jerry L. McLaughlin, Gina B. Benson, Tad A. Turgeon and James W. Forsythe discusses case studies on the use of standardized mixtures of Paw Paw extract (Asimina triloba) in late-stage Cancer patients, as allowed by the state of Nevada. Ninety-four patients participated in the study, which provided some exciting observations of increased longevity in the cancer patients over the eighteen-month period.
Chapter eight contributed by Uwe Koetter discusses the synergy, mode of action and clinical evidence of the use of Valerian and Hops as the most widely used herbal medicines to induce sleep and help with insomnia. This chapter provides interesting information on the nature and types of sleep, neurological activity during sleep, and the relationship to homeostasis and our circadian rhythms. The actions of the herbs and preclinical evidence are also discussed.
Chapter nine contributed by Bettina Vinson discusses the development of Iberoglast: Clinical evidence for multi-component herbal mixtures, and provides information on STW 5, an herbal combination product consisting of nine plant extracts developed in Germany that is used to treat functional gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as dyspepsia and IBS. Ingredients include Iberis amara totalis (bitter candytuft), Angelica archangelica (Angelica) root, Matricaria recutita (Chamomile flowers), Carum carvi (Caraway) fruits, Silybum matianum (Milk Thistle) fruit, Melissa Officinalis (Lemon balm), Mentah X piperita (Peppermint leaves), Chelidonium majus (greater celandine) and Glycyrrhiza glabra ( Licorice) root.
Chapter ten contributed by Jess D. Reed and Amy B. Howell discusses the biological activity of Cranberry Proanthocyanidins from the American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and its effects on oxidation, microbial adhesion, inflammation and health.
Chapter eleven contributed by Michael Tempesta and Marilyn Barrett discusses clinical evidence for the use of American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and cranberry products such as fresh berries, dried sweetened fruits, juice and juice concentrates, juice powder and those products sold as dietary supplements, in the prevention of Urinary Tract infections in women.
Chapter twelve contributed by Tieraona Low Dog discusses Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus castus) extract in women’s health, providing a critical review of the popular use of the herbal remedy in all stages of a women’s life.
Students and Alumni have free access to this book in the GCNM online library.
Once you log in with your student ID number go to the Mary Ann Liebert Journals. The access information is there in the library. Each chapter of this eBook is available as a separate downloadable Adobe PDF file.
Other research material and reading included in our Online Library and Resource Center are the journals from the Mary Ann Liebert collection, resources for further reading on Environmental Medicine, Radical Agriculture, The Restoration and Maintenance of Health, Achieving Personal Sovereignty, Achieving Spiritual Freedom, Herbal Medicine, Homeopathy, Multi Media Presentations, several Newsletters, Nutrition, Online Professional Journals, Pediatric Resources, Proactivism Sources, Toxicity and Detoxification, TCM and Acupuncture, Vaccine, Vibrational Healing, Western Disease States-Cancer, and Western Medical Resources.
Reviewed By Moira Khouri NC, MH, HHP, CCP
Faculty Member of GCNM
Exercise of the Month
Exercise Description: Side Bridges
Target Muscle: Core Muscles
Instructions:
Begin the exercise by positioning yourself on your side propped up on your elbow, knees bent and buttock behind you. Lift your hip off the floor and keep your body in a straight line from your head to knees. Return to your starting position and repeat.
Student Profile
Martha Branum, BSHH Student
Interviewed By: Moira Khouri NC, MH, HHP, CCP
Celebrating Life
I live in Lakesight, Tennessee and am eighty-three years old. I have not seen a Medical Doctor in 29 years except for my eyes, only a Chiropractor. Let me go back to my childhood and explain why I am really Celebrating Life. I was born in 1927, so therefore I grew up during the great depression with the bare necessities of life. At a young age I became a little mother for my brothers and sister, and also a little housekeeper. I was the oldest of five children, except one brother who had muscular dystrophy and he passed away at the age of fifteen. I was almost seven when I started going to school. I do not remember much about it though, except I had to walk quite a distance by myself, there were no school buses that ran at that time and I was afraid. When I was in the fourth grade the girls were playing the boys in a softball game. I was the catcher and the pitcher was throwing the ball to me, to get someone out, the batter struck at it and hit me at the base of my skull. I wasn’t knocked out and there wasn’t any bleeding, so I wasn’t taken to the emergency room or to any doctor. I went on and graduated out of the eighth grade with a lot of struggles. I didn’t discover what caused all of my difficulties until July 1970, when a Chiropractor I was introduced to told me I’d had a bad injury to my neck. After I had gone to him regularly for a couple months, I woke up suddenly one night startled. Shortly after that I felt like a woman I had never known before.
At the age of sixteen I started to work at a textile plant for two years and met my husband to be. We were married at a young age and had three sons. The second died at the age of three, with the third one I had a lot of complications he only lived three days. Five years later I had another son. Through the years I had lived with a lot of fear, which created a lot of bondage for me. I was very self-conscious, and got very nervous when I was around educated people. I had a very bad inferiority complex. On December 19, 1970 my husband, a Minister, suddenly passed away with a massive coronary. He had been taking me to the Chiropractor. His death set me way back again. I felt like I was only hanging on by a thread, and I had a ten year old son to raise. I had to go to the Chiropractor every other day. I told him that I was tired of coming. He told me after six months of this, that I was on the verge of a total breakdown. Through the Grace of God I made it. My husband’s sudden death created a lot of questions about nutrition for me.
My mother had given me a Prevention Magazine, which was a lot different from what they are now. I started studying them and heeding some of the things they said. I then bought their Vitamin and Mineral book, which I still have. Prevention Magazine was the start of my journey to a healthy life style. I kept searching and living in the question with an open mind, and on the twenty-sixth day of September 1988 I became acquainted with Chinese Herbal Formulas that nourish, balance, and cleanse the body. I have used them ever since. "Seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." In 1976 a minister at the age of forty-two who developed colon cancer chose to go totally raw with fresh fruits, vegetables and fresh juices for one year. His body self-healed and he is alive and well today and going strong at seventy plus years of age. He also trains and certifies Health Ministries to do what he does. It was in 1992 that I discovered his ministry and became a part of it.
Then approximately in 2003 I received a cassette tape pertaining to Essential Oils. The more I learned the more I wanted to learn. I find it all very interesting, especially how live (raw) food affects our bodies in a positive way. There are laws that govern all of life and nature and these laws are absolute. "God said, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6." The last several years I have grown a lot more spiritually and this has given me more confidence.
Christmas 2008 and New Year’s 2009 my granddaughter Senior Chief Pamela Ann Branum of the US Navy, was home for the holidays and she asked me what I would choose if I went back to school. I told her Holistic Natural Medicine. After she went back to her post of duties, she requested to go on the USNS Comfort, the Naval Hospital Ship for four months. She left April 1, 2009. They were seeing several hundred patients a day. This had gone on for two months, working very long hours daily. On June 1, 2009 she was supervising a new group of Reservists to their positions. After she had finished their assignments, she went to her cabin to rest and she never woke up. And then on June 10, 2009, the morning my granddaughter’s body arrived here, I got a call from my sister-in-law that my brother had passed away. He was treated with Allopathic Methods and it was horrible what he went through. I became very angry about it. In honor of my beloved granddaughter and beloved brother I took the Quantum Leap and registered for the BSHH program at Global College of Natural Medicine, and I’m glad I did!
Q. Why did you choose the BSHH program over the certificate programs?
A. I found the Global College with the help of my husband Mac who researched it on the Internet for me. I didn’t even look at another college! I signed up for the BSHH because I felt it was more cost effective to take the full program. I called the college several times to get all my questions answered.
Q. What have your experiences with the GCNM staff been like?
A. The staff of GCNM has always been very pleasant and very informative, before and since enrolling. Having a Mentor has been a blessing, to be able to talk things over and get guidance and help when I need it.
Q. What was your experience with the materials provided and information presented in the BSHH degree program?
A. I’m not there yet. I began by working on the Nutritional Consultant program materials first. All I can say is pertaining to the NC course because that is the only one I’ve work on so far, I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve had to do a lot more writing than I thought I would. I prefer books and DVDs, but I’ve made it through the Dr. Weil CDs. I prefer reading books because I can go back over the material. Listening to the CD material over again did make it easier.
Q. What have your experiences with distance study been like?
A. This is my first time. It has been a little frustrating because I don’’ use the computer and if I’d known I was to go on the computer so much I may have changed my mind...but since I got started I’ve really enjoyed it, I’ve got a lot of the hurdles behind me!
Q. What do you plan on doing with the knowledge gained by the BSHH degree program?
A. I have some big dreams that I’ve had for years. I would like to have a Christian school, to teach children how to get good nutrition because that is what is causing a lot of their learning and behavioral problems, and making school/learning so difficult for them. I’m planning on checking into some things, one of the things I’ve been dreaming of is opening up a Wellness Center, like Dr. Weil talks about, to teach nutrition, sell herbal formulas, and help people learn how to prepare foods, to counsel as a Health Minister, and share space with other practitioners. I enjoy using essential oils according to the book Healing Oils of the Bible by Dr. David Stewart PhD & Minister.
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Search online for values in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.
