Our Pineal Gland.

I must admit that I didn’t know how important our Pineal Gland is or what it does, and I’m sure many of my readers are in the same boat. It is also known as the pineal body, conarium or epiphysis cerebri. It is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. It produces melatonin, a serotonin derived hormone, which affects the modulation of sleep patterns in both seasonal and circadian rhythms.

The famous philosopher Descartes described the pineal gland as the “principal seat of the soul.” You’ve probably heard of this gland being the “third eye,”  a mystical chakra point residing right in the middle of your eyebrows. It turns out these ideas aren’t too far off. The small, rice-sized, pinecone-shaped endocrine organ known as the pineal gland sits alone in the middle of the brain and at the same level as the eyes.

Following is an interesting article by Mark Patellyc, and some links for you to learn more about this subject. Many people with sleeping problems may find this interesting. You will also see the harmful role fluoride plays with this gland. Source: - Werner
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Top 5 Foods for the Pineal Gland.
Calcification is an issue that occurs to everyone, but it’s increased in individuals that eat a poor diet. The problem is that overexposure to fluoride and phosphorus destabilizes your body’s mineral balance. This causes your pineal gland to calcify quickly. Nearly half of Americans experience pineal calcification by the age of 18! This disrupts your natural rhythms and hormones.

The best answer is to eliminate junk foods and limit your fluoride exposure. You need to get enough raw, healthy foods to help decalcify and support the pineal gland. Try these 5 foods for the best pineal gland health.

1. Chlorella
Chlorella, spirulina, and wheatgrass  are great foods packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These and other chlorophyll-dense superfoods remove metal toxins that build up in organs, increase oxygen levels, repair damaged tissue, and boost your immune system. The ability to remove toxic metals from organs aids the body in removing metal build-up. Plus, by boosting oxygen and immune function, it may help your body reverse pineal gland calcification.

2. Iodine
Fluoride from your tap water settles into the pineal gland. Iodine is essential to every organ of the body, but modern iodine deficiencies leave room for iodine’s elemental cousin, fluoride, to take its place. The human body has no use for fluoride so the body isolates it in a calcium husk. Increase your iodine intake and you’ll reduce the effect of fluoride on all of your organs. You can get it from organic dietary sources like spinach, broccoli, seaweed, and fish. You can also supplement with iodine, although I recommend nascent iodine for the best results.

3. Oregano Oil
Research supports oregano oil as a powerful tool against microbes and other harmful organisms. [1] By supporting immune function, your body will more successfully remove harmful organisms before it can attack tissue like the pineal gland. This reduces the chance of gland calcification. Plus, oregano oil cleanses your system so you’ll enjoy better health.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Buy raw apple cider vinegar as it contains malic acid. This chemical compound gives vinegar its sour taste and also acts as a metal detoxifier. Malic acid is well known for its ability to remove aluminum from the human body. [2] Additional health benefits include dissolving kidney stones, relieving gout, lowering blood pressure, and balancing glucose levels.
The easiest way to take raw apple cider vinegar is to mix a cup of water with a tablespoon or two of the vinegar and raw honey.

5. Beets or Beet Juice
Beets, characterized by their deep, dark red colour, contain boron. This element helps balance calcium intake and remove metals and other compounds, like fluoride. Beets are also loaded with B vitamins to help sustain energy and encourage cellular health.

One Final Thought
To restore your pineal gland, you first need to eliminate sources of fluoride and cut out junk foods, especially soda. If you don’t change this part of your diet, you won’t gain any ground by eating these five foods. Other foods like cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, and coconut oil may help you detox. It also may be worth considering a full body detox to reduce your body’s acidity and further cleanse metals and toxins.
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Further reading:Pineal Gland Function.

Why pineal gland and mental health are most important . . .

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My thought for today. – Werner
The human body is the best work of art.’ ― Jess C. Scott

My Grandfathers, the source of my genes.

Following is an “excerpt’ from a chapter of my life. - Werner.
My Grandfathers.
My paternal grandfather, Franz, or ”Franz Opa”, as we called him, at the time of writing this, has been dead for over 50 years.  But for me, he is never out of my mind, and that’ll be until I take my last breath. I’m now three years older than my grandfather was when he died and I hope that when I’m long gone, the future generation of the Schmidlin line that I have established in Australia find this story, as well as the many others I have written, interestingly – but sadly, I’ll never know.

Franz Opa was my mentor and my role model,  all in one; he gave me guidance, and he was my companion and my inspiration. Opa exerted great influence on me in my formative years, since at that particular time my father was away as a soldier in the war. I was fortunate to learn a great deal from him and luckily inherited many of his superb traits and characteristics.

Franz Opa was good at everything he touched.  He was an excellent wine and fruit grower, he was good with his hands and enjoyed tampering with all sorts of things, and he liked to make things from wood. He was an excellent letter writer; he was a man with a vision and always looking far beyond the horizon. Opa didn’t suffer fools lightly and his counsel was always sought and appreciated in our village.  He was a man of resolve and perseverance. But he was also immensely practical, mentally as well as physically. There was no doubt, that he was a real “do it yourself person,” able to improvise, skilful with his hands, always ahead of his time in his thinking. If we’d had computers then, grandfather would have been the first to have one.

Grandfather had three hobbies: growing vegetables, flowers and especially the latest roses. Beekeeping was another love; he had more than fifty beehives, which were kept in the purpose build shed in the garden, which we dubbed the “Bee House”. I was involved in all of those hobbies and it was like nourishment for my insatiable curiosity and appetite for learning practical things. He always had to have the latest nursery catalogues and when a new rose variety was released, he bought it. His pride and joy was a huge rose bush on which he grafted fourteen different roses and when they were all in bloom it was a wonderful colour spectacle – and a sight to behold.  Opa also had a great sense of humour and I must have received a large dose of his genes. I am forever grateful to Opa for what he taught me and I always look back to him with great admiration and will always hold him in high esteem.

Opa was also the president of the local rural bank, and was entitled to a fee, but he refused to take it; saying, “I earn money from the farm. I don’t need it”. Who would do this today?

 
In the summertime when the asparaguses were growing, Opa used a special long knife especially designed for cutting the asparagus plants deep down in their mound. It had a handle with a long shaft and at the end it had a slightly curved 5 cm long cutting edge. They were easy to find as they betrayed their presence by lifting the soil on the smoothed-out mound. The mound had to be patted smooth again with a board after every cutting. In their growing peak, they just kept on shooting and had to be cut twice a day. Sometimes, I was the victim of grandfather’s great sense of humour. One day he told me, with a serious mien, that it was too dangerous to go near the asparagus mounds in the garden. I fell for it and asked why, he replied with a broad grin: “Because the asparaguses are shooting.”

Opa taught me many skills and my inquisitiveness must sometimes have driven him close to despair, as I constantly badgered him to know how this and that is done and why that was so. However, I have recognised early in my life that by asking questions is an excellent way to learn. My gift of the gab was well known to everybody, and to shut me up could prove difficult. I remember well, Grandfather frequently remarking, “When you die, they’ll have to kill your mouth separately, otherwise it’ll keep on talking!”

I had known both my grandfathers and to distinguish between the two we referred to the paternal grandfather, as “Franz Opa.” The maternal grandfather, Albert Würz, we referred to as “Würz Opa.” However, Würz Opa died when I was only four years old and most of those years he was sick and bed bound with tuberculosis. It was him who I got in trouble over, because I helped the grave digger with filling in his grave after the graveside funeral ceremony. Picture: Würz Opa with his horse.

However, what I learnt about him in my later years was that he was also a practical, innovative man and also had a great sense of humour. It appears that I have inherited a double dose of humour genes from my two grandfathers.

Franz Opa was born on the 18th of January 1874 and died on the 23rd of August 1947. I never forgot the day he died. My parents and we three kids were up since 5 am in the morning to catch the 6 am train to Freiburg, where we had intended to go to the circus, which was performing for the last day. Oma came up to us on the second floor to inform us that that Opa had just died. Needless to say, we didn’t go to Freiburg. It was a great shock for me to lose my friend and my mentor, but nevertheless, death is inevitable, and what a wonderful way to go - going to bed to sleep and never waking up. He will never be out of my mind as long as I live.
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My thought for today: - Werner
Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
Albert Einstein

The Onion - a real tear jerker.

There is more to this vegetable than meets the eye.  Whoever has cut an onion and shed a tear would have thought that they hold something special.  Interestingly, onions, like garlic, belong to the lily family.  Onions come in different varieties, such as white, brown or red. Red onions are milder in flavour than white or brown onions.

All I knew about them was that they are healthy and taste good either raw or cooked. However I came across an interesting article, which to my surprise, showed me that there are other ways onions can be used. I thought to share it with you.

Onions are a vegetable that would be present in almost every kitchen, but what I just learnt is that they also have curative powers, making them an important medicinal plant.  I have read  that the reason the onion is so much more active in its raw state than when cooked, is that it contains a variety of organic sulphur compounds, contained in a volatile oil, that provide the health benefits. These are partly destroyed by heat. When eaten raw, its juice can act as an irritant and some people find it difficult to digest. Those who are not tempted by the idea of eating raw onions can follow simple cooking methods that may make them more palatable. For people with sensitive stomachs, this is a more suitable way to enjoy the health benefits of onions.

Quite apart from its medicinal properties the onion is simply delicious. It forms the basis of so many dishes - whether raw, sautéed, baked, steamed or boiled, that it would be difficult to imagine the cuisine of any country without it.  Onions baked in their skins, in a similar way to baked potatoes, are also delicious. This method of cooking keeps all the goodness inside, but the resulting flavour is milder and more aromatic than that of raw onions. I know of people who absolutely hate onions, and I feel sorry for them, as they don’t know what they are missing. I love eating onions, and use them in variety of ways, mostly raw. I love to cut up an onion and mix it with French salad dressing, and use is as a side dish with lunch. So, you may find the following article about this not so humble vegetable, quite interesting. - Werner
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Surprising Ways Onions Can Be Used as a Medicine.
The onion is a staple ingredient of a whole variety of dishes around the world. However it also offers a wealth of health benefits that most people don't know about. Its medicinal qualities have been recognized for centuries and it has been used for its healing powers by a number of cultures and civilizations. If you didn't already know about the incredible healing powers of the humble onion, then prepare to be amazed! There are many good reasons why onions should be used as part of your diet. Studies into its nutritional value have concluded that they have a number of health benefits and are effective in:
Lowering your susceptibility to Colon Cancer
Lowering your susceptibility to Prostrate Cancer
Lowering your susceptibility to Stomach Cancer
Helping your sleep patterns and improving your mood
Providing strength and structure for your skin and hair

Onions can be incorporated into a wide variety of dishes, so it is easy to fit them into a weekly dietary plan. Eating onions just two or three times a week can make a big difference. However, including them in your diet is not the only way you can use onions to positively affect your health. They have a number of medicinal and healing properties that can be used to fight various ailments. We fully expect some of them to surprise you!

Which Properties of an Onion make It such an effective Healer?
Onions are packed full of a compound called Quercetin which has both strong anti-bacterial properties and the ability to fight harmful toxins. It is a powerful antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and a lowerer of cholesterol levels. The densest concentration of Quercetin is found in the outer rings nearest to the bulb's skin as well as the part of the onion that is closest to the root. This goodness is found in both red and white onions, and both types can be used as part of these natural remedies.

1. Onions Can Heal Cuts.
Onions are effective in the treatment of cuts to the skin. If you nick yourself with a knife cutting one, try applying a slice of the onion to the injured area immediately. The raw onion will prevent infection and clean the wound. Next, take a piece of the onion's skin and place it over the top of the wound, sealing it with an adhesive. You should find the bleeding stops quickly and the wound looks clean. If you have a larger cut or graze, use gauze to fix a piece of onion over the top of it. You can keep the onion on the wound for as long as required, just make sure you change the gauze regularly.

 2. Onions Can Lower a Fever.
Here's an odd one for you, but an onion in a sock is a surprisingly successful means of lowering your body temperature when you are suffering from a high fever! Socks. Chop up some potatoes and slice an onion in half. Put one half of the onion into one sock, and the other half into another (with some potato slices in each of the socks as well). Next, put the socks on your feet trying to ensure that the mixture is pressed against your soles. You should find that your temperature lowers in a relatively short time - it might sound crazy, but there are many examples of success stories!

3. Onions Can Cure Earache and Help Remove Wax.
An onion's anti-inflammatory properties make it a powerful defence against earache and they can also be used to soften ear wax, making the wax easier to remove. If you are suffering from an earache, chop up an onion, take the inner part (that is the hard section at the 'heart' of the onion) and place it in your ear for remedial relief. You will achieve best results by completing the procedure shortly before you got to sleep. If you are someone who suffers from regular, excessive wax build-up, then you might want to perform this trick regularly.

4. Onions Can Fight the Common Cold.
One of the oldest recognized uses of an onion is its employment as a weapon to fight the common cold. If you feel you are developing the tell-tale signs of a coming cold (sniffles, sore throat etc) then raid your cupboard for an onion. It is most effective when eaten raw, and you should try and eat a whole one (perhaps chop it up and mix it in a salad to make to the process more palatable). Alternatively, boil the onion and use it alongside ginger and honey to make a tea. It will raise your defences and help you fight off the cold.

5. Onions Can Sooth Burns.
Onions are incredibly effective in soothing small burns, and the recipe for doing so could not be simpler. If you have burnt yourself in the kitchen or garage, simply take half a chopped onion and apply it directly to the wound. Hold it in place for a few minutes and the pain should quickly start to ease. For further relief, whip up two or three egg whites in a bowl and use them to cover the affected area. Hold the mixture in place using a breathable bandage and you will have a natural, protective layer that will quicken your recovery.

6. Onions Can Provide Cough Relief.
Onion Mixture. The use of onions as part of a cheap, effective cough remedy is another practice which dates back centuries. It is best employed with a few other basic ingredients and there are a couple of things you can try. Firstly, you can peel a red or white onion, and cut it into large slices. Layer the slices in a sealable jar and place brown sugar on top. Close the lid of the jar and let it sit for some time (around 6 hours is optimum). Syrup will form in the jar. Take a spoonful of the syrup as regularly as needed. The brown sugar makes the syrup more palatable and the resulting mixture does not taste too bad. Re-make the syrup every couple of days, replacing the old mixture with new. If you want an alternative, pour honey over the sliced onion instead of the brown sugar (use both if you have a particularly sweet tooth). Add a sprinkling of grated garlic for an extra health boost.

7. Onions Can Remove Eye Irritations.
An onion's ability to remove eye irritants is derived from its most widely known feature - its ability to make our eyes water when chopped. This is a great property if you need to form some liquid in your eye to flush out an unwanted bit of dirt, a pesky fly or any other small irritant before it turns your whole eye red. Simply chop an onion and let nature takes its course! It is important you make sure you don't touch your eye after chopping the onion though - that will add to your pain. Wash your hands thoroughly before you do so.

8. Onions Can Fight Insect Stings.
Here is where the antihistamine properties of an onion come in handy. If you are stung by a bee, or a wasp; then a bit of crushed or grated onion applied directly to the skin can be extremely beneficial for pain relief. The antihistamine will prevent an allergic reaction while the anti-inflammatory qualities of the onion will reduce any associated swelling. Keep the onion in place until the pain has subsided by using a breathable bandage that you should replace regularly.
Source: Click here.

More reading.
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My thought for today. – Werner
"Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time; and sometimes you weep. - Carl Sandburg,
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