Staying healthy during the seasonal changes

As the seasons change we need to put in place aids to maintain good health.  For our diets if we can keep our systems free of acidity which means really to have an alkaline balance we may stay free of colds and other illnesses.  Do you find yourself catching colds easily and/or frequently?  Do you notice that your tongue has a grayish coating? Do you notice that you have to urinate frequently? Oftentimes when we do not have the right mineral balance we cannot hold water in our system and we might easily change that by taking Himalayan salts once in the morning and once in the evening.  Himalayan salt crystals have about 108 minerals and the table salt only has 3.  One can take a half teaspoon in warm water and drink a glassful or my preferred way is to use the Himalayan salt crystals that come in a chunk size.  I keep the chunks in a glass jar with water and keep refilling.  I use it to cook with so that I am getting it throughout the day.  This ensures that the water that I drink goes fully into hydrating my cells instead of filling the toilet.  I see many who are athletic who are walking or jogging always carrying water bottles and visiting the bathroom regularly and I wonder why they invest so much for the toilet!   Next do you notice that you are craving sugary, salty and fatty foods regularly…these are telltale signs that our systems are acidic.  Also those who have a high meat/flesh diet often promote acidosis.  There is a cycle when sugar is craved next salt is craved, notice this cycle and know you may put a stop to it easily to prevent your immune system from being depleted and unable to fight off colds, flu and viruses.  When we are ready to break the cycle we can take alkaline foods and juices such as green juices.  Green juices and foods for example are:  kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, ginger, that we may add carrot and a little apple.  Also wheatgrass juice is so packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and most importantly chlorophyll  that builds our cells to its strongest.  For those who are not vegan, meaning they take dairy and meats, try during this time to limit both dairy and meats and stay with more green vegetables and fruits.  Grapes, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, oranges, kiwis are some of the best choices for boosting the immune system and staying balanced.  Do look for my earlier posts about Apple cider vinegar (ACV) (look for September 1st post) and I recommend Bragg products only as they are organic and the highest quality made for this kind of health regimen.  I take 3 tablespoons in warm water along with a half teaspoon of turmeric powder every morning.  This ACV regimen is one of the best ways to make sure we can stay healthy and balanced.  For those new to this I recommend that you take one teaspoon at first to get use to the taste, in 8 ounces of warm water and you could choose to cut that with grapefruit juice to help get used to the taste.  Also some may choose to add agave for a sweetener that doesn’t have the calories of honey.  Honey does have excellent healing properties if it is truly organic and raw, which means you probably won’t find it in the supermarket chains but in a health food store or farmer’s market.  As I am staying with the vegan routine I am only keeping the raw organic expensive honey for emergencies like sore throat.  Being considerate of the bees is another gentler way to co-exist, as the bee population has been plagued by human ingestion.  We have so many other natural plant-based sweeteners like agave and stevia and also moving away from the sweet craving is what the whole post is about to prevent acidity.  When we decide to face our health and make decisions to eat for our health then we can make choices that are flavorful without damaging our systems.  The ACV regimen keeps our kidneys working to optimal levels flushing out toxins so they don’t fester into illness.  Do review the earlier posts about ACV and try to use only the Bragg product.  They have a great website that is packed with volumes of information about health, recipes, inspirational articles.  I often order my products from their website as they have sales regularly.  Do know that ACV is a very inexpensive item in most  stores and one of the best values for a healthy item for your home and body.  Stay well and share this with your friends and family….if we all are healthy there will be less germs spreading!!!! Namaste

Staying healthy during the seasonal changes

As the seasons change we need to put in place aids to maintain good health.  For our diets if we can keep our systems free of acidity which means really to have an alkaline balance we may stay free of colds and other illnesses.  Do you find yourself catching colds easily and/or frequently?  Do you notice that your tongue has a grayish coating? Do you notice that you have to urinate frequently? Oftentimes when we do not have the right mineral balance we cannot hold water in our system and we might easily change that by taking Himalayan salts once in the morning and once in the evening.  Himalayan salt crystals have about 108 minerals and the table salt only has 3.  One can take a half teaspoon in warm water and drink a glassful or my preferred way is to use the Himalayan salt crystals that come in a chunk size.  I keep the chunks in a glass jar with water and keep refilling.  I use it to cook with so that I am getting it throughout the day.  This ensures that the water that I drink goes fully into hydrating my cells instead of filling the toilet.  I see many who are athletic who are walking or jogging always carrying water bottles and visiting the bathroom regularly and I wonder why they invest so much for the toilet!   Next do you notice that you are craving sugary, salty and fatty foods regularly…these are telltale signs that our systems are acidic.  Also those who have a high meat/flesh diet often promote acidosis.  There is a cycle when sugar is craved next salt is craved, notice this cycle and know you may put a stop to it easily to prevent your immune system from being depleted and unable to fight off colds, flu and viruses.  When we are ready to break the cycle we can take alkaline foods and juices such as green juices.  Green juices and foods for example are:  kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, ginger, that we may add carrot and a little apple.  Also wheatgrass juice is so packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and most importantly chlorophyll  that builds our cells to its strongest.  For those who are not vegan, meaning they take dairy and meats, try during this time to limit both dairy and meats and stay with more green vegetables and fruits.  Grapes, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, oranges, kiwis are some of the best choices for boosting the immune system and staying balanced.  Do look for my earlier posts about Apple cider vinegar (ACV) (look for September 1st post) and I recommend Bragg products only as they are organic and the highest quality made for this kind of health regimen.  I take 3 tablespoons in warm water along with a half teaspoon of turmeric powder every morning.  This ACV regimen is one of the best ways to make sure we can stay healthy and balanced.  For those new to this I recommend that you take one teaspoon at first to get use to the taste, in 8 ounces of warm water and you could choose to cut that with grapefruit juice to help get used to the taste.  Also some may choose to add agave for a sweetener that doesn’t have the calories of honey.  Honey does have excellent healing properties if it is truly organic and raw, which means you probably won’t find it in the supermarket chains but in a health food store or farmer’s market.  As I am staying with the vegan routine I am only keeping the raw organic expensive honey for emergencies like sore throat.  Being considerate of the bees is another gentler way to co-exist, as the bee population has been plagued by human ingestion.  We have so many other natural plant-based sweeteners like agave and stevia and also moving away from the sweet craving is what the whole post is about to prevent acidity.  When we decide to face our health and make decisions to eat for our health then we can make choices that are flavorful without damaging our systems.  The ACV regimen keeps our kidneys working to optimal levels flushing out toxins so they don’t fester into illness.  Do review the earlier posts about ACV and try to use only the Bragg product.  They have a great website that is packed with volumes of information about health, recipes, inspirational articles.  I often order my products from their website as they have sales regularly.  Do know that ACV is a very inexpensive item in most  stores and one of the best values for a healthy item for your home and body.  Stay well and share this with your friends and family….if we all are healthy there will be less germs spreading!!!! Namaste

Neti pot time….Ayurveda tune-up for seasonal changes….

This is my Neti pot from Kaivalyadham Ashram, India, its ceramic, small, the right aperture for my nostrils and adorable. (Note: there are some plastic pots which are good for traveling too.)

Ayurveda is the sister scientific practice to hatha yoga.  The science of keeping the life force at its optimal levels with natural tune-ups.  Ayurveda is an intricate mandala (complete circle) of healing practices that braid together and form a potent synergy of rejuvenation and rebirth.  Existing in our body, as well as, in all living organisms are the five elements organized in a particular pattern known as the doshas.  (See the earlier post about how to learn about your Dosha- August 5th.)  There are three main doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha and they relate to: air, fire and water principles.  Ayurveda is a natural science that causes no harm and is used to uplift our own healing powers.  The human body like all living organisms maintains a delicate homeostasis.  This science of ayurveda is a process of balancing the doshas from effects of disease in a systematic act of cajoling, tempering, shocking and nurturing the body.  In ayurveda  excesses are  never forcibly removed.  An intricate weave of knowledge about the seasonal effects on the tissues, the precise time the dosha changes, the overall condition of the person, which phase of the moon is present, as well as the signals from nature all contribute to the findings of one’s constitution: well-being or lack of well-being.  The mandala or full spectrum of practices may include: yoga postures, pranayama, Kriya/meditation, cleansing kriyas and healing treatments,  and diet.  This mandala (all-inclusive circle) of regimen followed with regularity and in conformance with nature (seasons, etc.) will not only restore health but allow us to live life at optimal levels.  When practicing yoga on a regular basis, meaning that some continuity of the sadhana is maintained daily (pranayama, Kriya and/or asana) we then are able to claim our inherent birthright.  Hence: Neti!!!

Jala Neti is the classical term for what is  now called  Neti pot use (as Oprah made so many aware and willing to try this safe nasal irrigation practice.  For years I tried to get students to use the neti practice and was looked at like a Martian – I am grateful for Oprah using her celebrity for health benefits.)  It is a vessel that is filled with warm water used to wash/irrigate the nasal passages.  There are plastic, ceramic and metal products on the market.  One can even use a plastic water bottle.  I prefer the ceramic as it can be boiled on the stove easily without any harmful particles breaking down like with plastic.  On YouTube there are hundreds of how-to videos to see how to use the neti pot.  I recommend starting with barely warm water only.  Standing over the bathroom sink hold your head on an angle so that as you pass the water into one nostril a stream will flow out of the opposite nostril.   And reverse for the other side.  Sometimes it may feel like a big relief if a blockage is cleared, sometimes it may be shocking and tears may flow.  The benefits are too many and I will list a few here but no matter what your first experience do try to stick with it as it gets better every time.  Those with structural blockage and regular nose bleeds should not attempt this practice.

Benefits of Neti cleansing are many and include the following.  Removal of mucus and pollution from nasal passages and sinuses which allows air to flow without obstructions.  It helps prevent and manage respiratory tract diseases such as: asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and pulmonary tuberculosis.  It helps to relieve allergies, colds and sinusitis.  Various disorders of the eyes, ears, throat, hay fever, tonsillitis and inflammation of the adenoids and mucus membranes.  Neti cleansing relieves muscular tension of the face, nervous ticks, and Bell’s palsy and helps the user to maintain a youthful facial appearance.  It has a cooling and soothing effect on the brain and useful for those who suffer from epilepsy and migraines.   It alleviates anxiety, anger and depression, removes drowsiness and makes the head feel fresh.  Neti stimulates the various nerve endings in the nose, improving the activities of the brain.  A balance is achieved between the right and left nostrils as well as the right and left brain hemispheres.  This brings a state of harmony and balance throughout the entire body including circulation and digestion systems especially.  It helps to awaken the third eye area for higher powers of intuition.  Note that with regular daily use will bring about the effects stated above, do know that a one time process cannot affect changes so easily.

Now for some specifics on the neti practice.  Remember to pick a pot that will not contaminate the water which is used for nasal irrigation.  But I do recommend that one try with a plastic water bottle or small tea-pot before making any purchases. The Himalayan  Institute has a kit that can be purchased online.  I like the ceramic pots sold by Sinus Support.com (Baraka), as these are like art work – pottery with beautiful colors and the aperture is correct for the nose opening (I have purchased these for family and friends.)  Some health food stores sell products made in China that don’t fit at all….they should have gone to the source India!!! (Once I was visiting a friend in Paris and they took me over to an artist’s home, while there I used their bathroom and was so impressed to see a pure silver neti pot above the sink!!! Of course I asked about it and they said when they were having some custom jewelry crafted in India they had this pot custom-made.)

Next thing is to place in your vessel warm water that is comfortable for your body temperature.   After some time of regular use with only warm water then salt may be introduced.  A special salt, not table salt, as it has to be fine enough to be absorbed  into the fluid.  For this one must purchase online or in a health store.  The amount must be found that will ensure the proper osmotic balance to the body’s fluids so to minimize any irritation to the membranes.  If any painful or burning sensation is felt the amount needs adjusting.  Keep the mouth open while doing the cleansing and hold the head to one side as mentioned above.  No force should be used.  Just try to do a little for one side and reverse and take breaks in between, sit down, rest, blow your nose and continue again.  It’s best to do this first thing after rising in the morning.  It may be practiced twice or three times daily.  Try not to practice directly after meals.  If I notice any congestion beginning or I have been around any germs I want to stay clear of I may  do three sets: water only, then salt and thirdly with a product called Vacho Veda (a Himalayan Institute product available online and in stores).  For those who are yoga teachers, healers, healing therapists who have contact with others energies this is a good clearing tool so that you may stay free and clear, keeping your healing powers untainted and at a high level.  I started my Autumn seasonal regimen today with Jala Neti and will add a few other components in the next few days.  There are many other things that could be written and shared here about the Neti practice but I thought I would start with this, please do share your experiences and comments here.  Do feel free to share this with family and friends so we may keep more folks free of unnecessary illness and discomfort.  Namaskaram

Our magical Tulsi, Know why you need a tulsi plant in your home ?? | Green Yatra Blog

Our magical Tulsi, Know why u need a tulsi plant in your home ?? | Green Yatra Blog.

Do click the link above to read about the many benefits for Tulsi.  I drink it as a tea almost every morning and when in India I just use the fresh leaves, almost everyone’s home has at least one plant,  to brew my cup of tea.  Organic India has now in the USA many flavored varieties available in stores, in tea bags.  When using herbs remember its like cultivating a garden but within your tissues and cells so it has to be attended to daily to keep the benefits growing in and around the cells.  Don’t ever expect to reap the benefits with a single application, it has to be an ongoing ritual.  Tulsi is a herb and doesn’t have any caffeine or chemicals (unless pesticides were used on the plants).  Thanks to Lalitji for posting this and to Green Yatra Blog for an excellent post!

Here’s to your good health! OM

Turmeric: natural remedy for stopping bleeding from scrapes to reducing cholesterol and much more….

Science Confirms Turmeric As Effective As 14 Drugs | GreenMedInfo.

Please do click the link below the image to read medical data confirming the studies about turmeric’s benefits.  I take a tablespoon or two each morning with my ACV, (apple cider vinegar) for a multi-packed daily regimen…do search  my blog to find earlier posts about the benefits for apple cider vinegar regimen.  Here’s to your good health…and please share with others….Namaste

Staying healthy during the seasonal changes

As the seasons change we need to put in place aids to maintain good health.  For our diets if we can keep our systems free of acidity which means really to have an alkaline balance we may stay free of colds and other illnesses.  Do you find yourself catching colds easily and/or frequently?  Do you notice that your tongue has a grayish coating? Do you notice that you have to urinate frequently? Oftentimes when we do not have the right mineral balance we cannot hold water in our system and we might easily change that by taking Himalayan salts once in the morning and once in the evening.  Himalayan salt crystals have about 108 minerals and the table salt only has 3.  One can take a half teaspoon in warm water and drink a glassful or my preferred way is to use the Himalayan salt crystals that come in a chunk size.  I keep the chunks in a glass jar with water and keep refilling.  I use it to cook with so that I am getting it throughout the day.  This ensures that the water that I drink goes fully into hydrating my cells instead of filling the toilet.  I see many who are athletic who are walking or jogging always carrying water bottles and visiting the bathroom regularly and I wonder why they invest so much for the toilet!   Next do you notice that you are craving sugary, salty and fatty foods regularly…these are telltale signs that our systems are acidic.  Also those who have a high meat/flesh diet often promote acidosis.  There is a cycle when sugar is craved next salt is craved, notice this cycle and know you may put a stop to it easily to prevent your immune system from being depleted and unable to fight off colds, flu and viruses.  When we are ready to break the cycle we can take alkaline foods and juices such as green juices.  Green juices and foods for example are:  kale, spinach, celery, cucumber, ginger, that we may add carrot and a little apple.  Also wheatgrass juice is so packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and most importantly chlorophyll  that builds our cells to its strongest.  For those who are not vegan, meaning they take dairy and meats, try during this time to limit both dairy and meats and stay with more green vegetables and fruits.  Grapes, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, oranges, kiwis are some of the best choices for boosting the immune system and staying balanced.  Do look for my earlier posts about Apple cider vinegar (ACV) (look for September 1st post) and I recommend Bragg products only as they are organic and the highest quality made for this kind of health regimen.  I take 3 tablespoons in warm water along with a half teaspoon of turmeric powder every morning.  This ACV regimen is one of the best ways to make sure we can stay healthy and balanced.  For those new to this I recommend that you take one teaspoon at first to get use to the taste, in 8 ounces of warm water and you could choose to cut that with grapefruit juice to help get used to the taste.  Also some may choose to add agave for a sweetener that doesn’t have the calories of honey.  Honey does have excellent healing properties if it is truly organic and raw, which means you probably won’t find it in the supermarket chains but in a health food store or farmer’s market.  As I am staying with the vegan routine I am only keeping the raw organic expensive honey for emergencies like sore throat.  Being considerate of the bees is another gentler way to co-exist, as the bee population has been plagued by human ingestion.  We have so many other natural plant-based sweeteners like agave and stevia and also moving away from the sweet craving is what the whole post is about to prevent acidity.  When we decide to face our health and make decisions to eat for our health then we can make choices that are flavorful without damaging our systems.  The ACV regimen keeps our kidneys working to optimal levels flushing out toxins so they don’t fester into illness.  Do review the earlier posts about ACV and try to use only the Bragg product.  They have a great website that is packed with volumes of information about health, recipes, inspirational articles.  I often order my products from their website as they have sales regularly.  Do know that ACV is a very inexpensive item in most  stores and one of the best values for a healthy item for your home and body.  Stay well and share this with your friends and family….if we all are healthy there will be less germs spreading!!!! Namaste

Neti pot time….Ayurveda tune-up for seasonal changes….

This is my Neti pot from Kaivalyadham Ashram, India, its ceramic, small, the right aperture for my nostrils and adorable. (Note: there are some plastic pots which are good for traveling too.)

Ayurveda is the sister scientific practice to hatha yoga.  The science of keeping the life force at its optimal levels with natural tune-ups.  Ayurveda is an intricate mandala (complete circle) of healing practices that braid together and form a potent synergy of rejuvenation and rebirth.  Existing in our body, as well as, in all living organisms are the five elements organized in a particular pattern known as the doshas.  (See the earlier post about how to learn about your Dosha- August 5th.)  There are three main doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha and they relate to: air, fire and water principles.  Ayurveda is a natural science that causes no harm and is used to uplift our own healing powers.  The human body like all living organisms maintains a delicate homeostasis.  This science of ayurveda is a process of balancing the doshas from effects of disease in a systematic act of cajoling, tempering, shocking and nurturing the body.  In ayurveda  excesses are  never forcibly removed.  An intricate weave of knowledge about the seasonal effects on the tissues, the precise time the dosha changes, the overall condition of the person, which phase of the moon is present, as well as the signals from nature all contribute to the findings of one’s constitution: well-being or lack of well-being.  The mandala or full spectrum of practices may include: yoga postures, pranayama, Kriya/meditation, cleansing kriyas and healing treatments,  and diet.  This mandala (all-inclusive circle) of regimen followed with regularity and in conformance with nature (seasons, etc.) will not only restore health but allow us to live life at optimal levels.  When practicing yoga on a regular basis, meaning that some continuity of the sadhana is maintained daily (pranayama, Kriya and/or asana) we then are able to claim our inherent birthright.  Hence: Neti!!!

Jala Neti is the classical term for what is  now called  Neti pot use (as Oprah made so many aware and willing to try this safe nasal irrigation practice.  For years I tried to get students to use the neti practice and was looked at like a Martian – I am grateful for Oprah using her celebrity for health benefits.)  It is a vessel that is filled with warm water used to wash/irrigate the nasal passages.  There are plastic, ceramic and metal products on the market.  One can even use a plastic water bottle.  I prefer the ceramic as it can be boiled on the stove easily without any harmful particles breaking down like with plastic.  On YouTube there are hundreds of how-to videos to see how to use the neti pot.  I recommend starting with barely warm water only.  Standing over the bathroom sink hold your head on an angle so that as you pass the water into one nostril a stream will flow out of the opposite nostril.   And reverse for the other side.  Sometimes it may feel like a big relief if a blockage is cleared, sometimes it may be shocking and tears may flow.  The benefits are too many and I will list a few here but no matter what your first experience do try to stick with it as it gets better every time.  Those with structural blockage and regular nose bleeds should not attempt this practice.

Benefits of Neti cleansing are many and include the following.  Removal of mucus and pollution from nasal passages and sinuses which allows air to flow without obstructions.  It helps prevent and manage respiratory tract diseases such as: asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, and pulmonary tuberculosis.  It helps to relieve allergies, colds and sinusitis.  Various disorders of the eyes, ears, throat, hay fever, tonsillitis and inflammation of the adenoids and mucus membranes.  Neti cleansing relieves muscular tension of the face, nervous ticks, and Bell’s palsy and helps the user to maintain a youthful facial appearance.  It has a cooling and soothing effect on the brain and useful for those who suffer from epilepsy and migraines.   It alleviates anxiety, anger and depression, removes drowsiness and makes the head feel fresh.  Neti stimulates the various nerve endings in the nose, improving the activities of the brain.  A balance is achieved between the right and left nostrils as well as the right and left brain hemispheres.  This brings a state of harmony and balance throughout the entire body including circulation and digestion systems especially.  It helps to awaken the third eye area for higher powers of intuition.  Note that with regular daily use will bring about the effects stated above, do know that a one time process cannot affect changes so easily.

Now for some specifics on the neti practice.  Remember to pick a pot that will not contaminate the water which is used for nasal irrigation.  But I do recommend that one try with a plastic water bottle or small tea-pot before making any purchases. The Himalayan  Institute has a kit that can be purchased online.  I like the ceramic pots sold by Sinus Support.com (Baraka), as these are like art work – pottery with beautiful colors and the aperture is correct for the nose opening (I have purchased these for family and friends.)  Some health food stores sell products made in China that don’t fit at all….they should have gone to the source India!!! (Once I was visiting a friend in Paris and they took me over to an artist’s home, while there I used their bathroom and was so impressed to see a pure silver neti pot above the sink!!! Of course I asked about it and they said when they were having some custom jewelry crafted in India they had this pot custom-made.)

Next thing is to place in your vessel warm water that is comfortable for your body temperature.   After some time of regular use with only warm water then salt may be introduced.  A special salt, not table salt, as it has to be fine enough to be absorbed  into the fluid.  For this one must purchase online or in a health store.  The amount must be found that will ensure the proper osmotic balance to the body’s fluids so to minimize any irritation to the membranes.  If any painful or burning sensation is felt the amount needs adjusting.  Keep the mouth open while doing the cleansing and hold the head to one side as mentioned above.  No force should be used.  Just try to do a little for one side and reverse and take breaks in between, sit down, rest, blow your nose and continue again.  It’s best to do this first thing after rising in the morning.  It may be practiced twice or three times daily.  Try not to practice directly after meals.  If I notice any congestion beginning or I have been around any germs I want to stay clear of I may  do three sets: water only, then salt and thirdly with a product called Vacho Veda (a Himalayan Institute product available online and in stores).  For those who are yoga teachers, healers, healing therapists who have contact with others energies this is a good clearing tool so that you may stay free and clear, keeping your healing powers untainted and at a high level.  I started my Autumn seasonal regimen today with Jala Neti and will add a few other components in the next few days.  There are many other things that could be written and shared here about the Neti practice but I thought I would start with this, please do share your experiences and comments here.  Do feel free to share this with family and friends so we may keep more folks free of unnecessary illness and discomfort.  Namaskaram

The Truth is…..

This entry is the last of the five Yamas- Satya, truth.  (the next two posts from John McAfee’s book ” The Secret of the Yamas” will delve a bit deeper into the guidelines of self-discipline).  Here is a quote from this chapter: “…Love eradicates all personal hatreds and jealousies, and where jealousy or possessiveness exits, love cannot.  Yet, we still insist  to ourselves and to others that we love.  But if we look deeply enough, we will find that the root of our supposed love is our individual need for security, contentment or pleasure,  or that it keeps fear or discomfort at bay.  We use the object of our love as a distraction against the unpleasant, or as a stimulus to pleasure.  Cruel words perhaps, but please don’t simply reject them out of hand.  Look into yourself, without judgement or condemnation, but with simple observation.  It is our condemnation that has originally created this inability to see the truth in ourselves…”

Thanks for taking the time to listen, read and be a part of this stream of consciousness.  Namaste

Be careful of using mouthwash that contains alcohol…

Last year I served on a grand jury panel and one juror showed up for the first time after the panel had already been in place for over 5 days.  Curious about the absence, as the court is very strict about absence from this duty, we inquired and found out that this individual’s brother had died of throat cancer and he himself found out after the funeral that he too had the same cancer.  The doctors attributed both brothers cancers to daily use of alcohol mouthwash.  Shortly after this time I met a woman who was introduced to a group I was joining on a theater outing and after being introduced she announced to all that Australia had banned all mouthwashes containing alcohol.  She got everyone to agree they would search online about the relationship between use of alcohol mouthwash and cancer.  After I did my reading I was astounded.  I again saw the industry pandering to the dental professions and big advertising that make us all think how critical this is for daily hygiene.  To play this all forward I hope you too will do your homework about the dangers of using mouthwash with alcohol.  We were led to believe that strong burning sensation was cleaning up the germs, viruses and bad breath.  In fact it is burning the tissues creating oral sores and often cancerous tissues.  When smokers use this alcohol laced mouthwash it increases the effects of damage more so.  So you are asking what’s my option?  Alcohol free products are safer.   I try to stay with companies that have a good track record producing  natural products.  There is another natural suggestion to use fennel seeds.  You may notice at Indian restaurants they have some seeds for mouth fresheners (some have colored candies that are full of sugar, so stick with the plain fennel seeds in hindi called sounff).  A suggestion for home use is to make a pot of herbal mint tea (or other herbal variety) and steep the fennel seeds until boiling.  Keep the seeds in this tea and chew throughout the day(s).  It helps reduce colic,  burping, gas and indigestion along with making your breath fresh.  Here’s to your good health!! Namaste.