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Ageless herbal newsletter

September 2000

Underneath is the main part of the newsletter that was sent out, excluding special offers or items that were being promoted during that month. To access any previous newsletters, please click here, or if you want to sign up for our free newsletter, please click here.

facial, massage, ideal, body, weight

In this issue:

Fennel

This graceful perennial is often referred to as the "fat burning herb" and is widely used for digestive problems. In appearance it very closely resembles dill, but has a very distinctive sweet anise smell.

Historically the Greeks saw fennel as a symbol of success and it is used today for a variety of problems - from cramps, indigestion, constipation, fevers, rheumatism, obesity as well as diabetes. Fennel seeds are used to clear toxins and poisons from the body.

A lotion made by boiling, and then cooling, 45 grams (3 tbsp) chopped fennel leaves to 1 liter (4 cups) water is great for bathing tired eyes, and a glass of the same mixture taken per day, is a good general tonic which is purported to help memory.

Chopped leaves, applied as a poultice, are sometimes used by traditional healers to assist with clearing up problematic wounds with a tendency to fester.

In helping to curb obesity, fennel is often successful when taken as an herbal tea, especially when used in combination with aniseed. This should be taken three times a day to help allay hunger.

Breast-feeding mothers could also consider having some fennel tea, since it is traditionally used to increase the flow of milk in lactating mothers.

The heart of fennel can be used as a vegetable, and is most appetizing when steamed and served with a white or cheese sauce.

For complete information on fennel and other herbs, please look at our herb index by clicking here.

Recipe for herb quiche

Ingredients

  • ¾ lb basic pie dough made with 2 cups flour and 1 egg yolk

Filling:

  • ¼ lb sorrel
  • ¼ lb spinach
  • 1 ½ cups parsley
  • ¾ cup watercress
  • ¼ cup chopped mixed herbs of tarragon, chervil, burnet and dill
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups light cream
  • freshly ground sea salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon mustard (Dijon)
  • ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Line a flat pie pan with the pastry, weight down and bake for 10 minutes in a moderately hot oven (about 200 C / 400 F) and remove from oven. Brush the pastry all over with beaten egg yolk and place in oven for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let it cool down.

Wash and drain the sorrel, spinach, parsley and watercress, place in pan with boiling water and let it boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain excess water by pressing out the moisture with the back of a spoon or large fork. When cool enough to handle press out excess water with your fingers and add the mixed herbs.

Beat the eggs and add the cream, salt, pepper, mustard and the Parmesan cheese. Mix the egg/cream mixture into the herbs and mix well. Pour into the pastry shell and bake in a moderate oven (180 C/350 F) for about 30 minutes.

What is my ideal body weight ?

Who decides if we should be classified as overweight or obese - is it simply our over-critical self or is it rules imposed by society? Today we consider being ultra-skinny as the norm of perfection, whereas the rounded and curved figure was seen as most desirable some centuries ago.

But no matter how we would like to view the pro's and con's and what should be seen as carrying extra weight - one truth remains - carrying extra weight does carry a host of health problems and risks. Being too thin also has its down side, but as we grow older we tend to err on the side of carrying excess weight than being too slight.

Normal weight tables, also referred to as "standard weight tables" are great to look at, but they unfortunately have limitations, since they are normally to rigid to determine the optimum weight for a broad spectrum of society.

There is a selection of other ways to determine your ideal body weight and even the circumference of the wrist is used by some to determine body weight, since that is said to bring your type of body frame into the equation.

Weight by wrist circumference

The way in which the wrist circumference ideal weight is calculated works in metric terms as follows:

(2.54 cm = 1 inch  /  2.2 pounds = 1 kg)

  • Ideal weight = height - 100 + 4x circumference of wrist divided by 2.

If you take an example height as 170 cm and circumference as 13 cm, then the formula would be as follows:

  • 170 - 100 = 70
  • 70 + 4 x 13 = 122
  • 122 divided by 2 = 60 kg.

A far more popular way to determine your ideal weight is to refer to the BMI - the Body Mass Index.

Body mass index

Here you multiply your height by itself and then divide your weight with the result - in metric terms it would be as follows, when using the height example of 1.68m (168 cm) and the weight as 63 kg.

  • 1.68 x 1.68 = 2.82
  • 63 divided by 2.82 = 22.34
  • The BMI in this example will then be 22.34

Where you fall within the BMI indicators should give you a fair idea of your body weight status in relation to your build.

  • Lower than 20

Your weight is considered lower than the norm

  • 20 - 25

Your weight is considered normal in Western society

  • 25 - 30

You are considered moderately overweight

  • More than 30

You are considered overweight.

Should you decide that you would like to lose some weight, please be sensible about it and do not take harmful diet pills or appetite suppressants.

Also have realistic expectations on what you can achieve - and what you can maintain.

Facial massage and puffy eyes

Facial massage, and specially massage treatment around your eyes, can assist in draining excess fluids from around your eyes. Although massage can be most beneficial - it must be done correctly, with concentration and not be rushed through.

First clean your face well and then use a very light textured oil or cream as massage medium to prevent stretching or stressing this fragile skin. You might want to consider almond oil, since this oil is wonderfully emollient, without being heavy or greasy. You can have a look at www.ageless.co.za/almondoil.htm

Another oil that you might want to consider is jojoba oil, but because of the high cost of pure jojoba oil, it might work out a bit expensive - you can read more at www.ageless.co.za/jojobaoil.htm

You could also look at massaging with plain aqueous cream, since it is very economical and is also great to work with.

When doing facial massage, please keep your touch SOFT and do not stretch the skin - it must be done gently.

If you have long hair, tie it away from your face before doing any facial massage to prevent the oil or cream getting into your hair.

When you are finished doing the massage, remove the oil from your eyes by gently washing the area with a very gentle cleanser, or remove the excess oil by blotting it with a tissue.

Make sure to remove excess oil or cream from the corners of your eyes, or else that in itself could cause your eyes to become baggy or swollen.

Massage # 1

Place the ring finger (because it is not too strong) of each hand into the inner corners of each eye (#1 on the sketch) and press down gently to the count of three seconds, relax and then slide the fingers gently underneath your eyes towards your temples (# 8 on the sketch). When reaching the temples, gently massage in a circular movement. Slide your fingers back gently to the inner corners of your eyes again and repeat seven times.

Massage # 2

Place the tip of your right hand middle finger gently where your nose starts (point # 2) and slide it up and down to the tip of your nose (point # 3) and back 10 times. Then, by using the fingertips of both the middle fingers, gently press towards your face on the point on your cheek and nostrils meet (point # 4). Release the pressure, and with small circular movements, softly massage all the way up to your temple, following the bone structure under your eyes - taking about 10 seconds to do so. Massage your temples for 5 seconds and then slide your fingers, going back the same way, back to the starting point and repeat the exercise 5 times.

More tips on how to fight baggy eyes can be found at www.ageless.co.za/baggyeyes.htm

If you are looking for a VERY affordable eye gel to assist you in fighting baggy or puffy eyes, please have a look at www.ageless.co.za/eyegel.htm

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You are as young as your faith, as old as your fear and as long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur, and power - from the earth, from man and from the Infinite - so long will you stay Ageless.


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