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Strengthening and Tonifying Herbs: Unlocking the Levels of Medicine and Treatment
The Difference Between Tonifying and Strengthening Herbs
Herbs play a vital role in promoting health and wellness. Within the context of Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), tonifying and strengthening herbs are two key actions and concepts. But what exactly do these terms mean, and how do they differ?
Tonifying vs. Strengthening:
At first glance, tonifying and strengthening herbs might seem synonymous. However, these two actions have distinct roles in en
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Apr 16, 2014
Is Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) Anti-androgenic?
Reishi, Androgens, and 5alpha-reductase
Reishi ( Ganoderma lucidum) is regarded as one of the most important tonic herbs known. Throughout history as well as today. Reishi is also one of my personal favorite herbs: everything from its lore, to its beauty, to its medicinal and tonic effects, completely and utterly captivates me. There is magic in mushrooms, and there is a lot of magic in Reishi.
Sometimes people are confused that at RAW Forest Foods we carry Reishi. This is because Reishi h
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Mar 30, 2014
Finding a Definition of Jing
What is Jing, Anyway?
Jing—as a word and as a concept—is becoming more and more common and popular in the raw, health, and longevity communities. It is a bit of a one word catch phrase and it is becoming unscrupulously (as well as incorrectly) used to sell products. With the wide use of the word it seems that the concept of Jing is becoming more and more misunderstood, and that the true essence of Jing is either not known or is just unappreciated. In this post I hope to
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Feb 22, 2014
Understanding Tinctures
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Unlocking and Understanding the Potency of Herbal Tinctures: A Comprehensive Guide
Tinctures are a foundational component of Western herbalism and herbal medicine. As we embrace these healing traditions, tinctures serve as a conduit for harnessing the therapeutic potential inherent in plants, mushrooms, fungi, and other beneficial compounds.
My personal journey into herbal medicine began in the mid-1990s with the use of a feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) tincture for migraine prevention.
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Feb 05, 2014
Yunnan Mountain Pine Pollen Harvest
At RAW Forest Foods, we are proud to be able to leverage our long standing relationships with our foragers and suppliers to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality products. Our Pine Pollen is harvested in the Yunnan Province of Southwestern China--an area roughly the same size as California (152,000 sq miles). This is a clean, natural area far away from industry and pollution. Wondering about the pollution here would be like worrying about the pollution from New York C
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Feb 03, 2014
Estrogen Detox and Detoxification
Estrogen Detoxification
It took us approximately about two years to develop and launch our estrogen detoxification product, Estrogen Detox. It took so long because, as if often the case, good things take time.
Why did we develop Estrogen Detox when there are already several "estrogen detoxification" products on the market, and Diindolylmethane (DIM) (an active ingredient in many of the products) is readily available at the health food store?
Because none of these products actually detoxify
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Jan 14, 2014
RAW Brassica Pollen and Prostate Health
Prostate Health, Men's Health, and RAW Brassica Pollen
Personally—and a little selfishly—I'm thrilled about our new Kunlun Mountain RAW Brassica Flower Pollen. I believe it's a compelling reason to include it in our product line at RAW Forest Foods. When we first introduced our RAW Pine Pollen, we were in a similar position: we absolutely loved the product and wanted to share it with others. It was clear to me that it was an important natural medicine and should be readily avail
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Jan 07, 2014
The Low Testosterone and Estrogen Connection
Men, Health and Low Estrogen? A Short Analysis of the News
In the past few days we've seen numerous articles populate the major media outlets ( NY Times, LA Times) questioning the different connections between low testosterone, low estrogen, and men's health. While this information is, for many, confusing, it is also completely short-sided and rather misleading.
For men with low testosterone and high levels of estrogen--or anyone with estrogen dominance--these articles are sure to leave yo
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Sep 11, 2013
The Dairy Estrogen Link
Estrogen and Dairy: What's the Connection?
A hundred years ago none of this mattered. There were other, severely life threatening concerns to worry about. Antibiotics, hand washing, clean water, and wealth have taken care of most of those concerns. But today we have new threats to our health, and I'd argue, one of those major threats in the prevalence of hormone mimickers in our environment and, subsequently, in our bodies.
I state this before writing more about eliminating estrogen from t
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Sep 10, 2013
The Real Causes of Estrogen Toxicity
Rooting out the Sources of Estrogen Dominance
The negative effects of estrogen dominance and estrogen toxicity are wide and far reaching in the body, and a comprehensive, holistic approach is required for safe, effective, and complete estrogen detoxification. Single ingredients like DIM and most of the "formulas" on the market are shallow in their effects and reflect a total misunderstanding of the cause and the physiology of the body. While there are many straight forward answers and solu
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Sep 08, 2013
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