Grow Your Own Drugs: Easy Recipes for Natural Remedies and Beauty Fixes by James Wong.

In his book, James share many homemade and economical recipes for both health and beauty fixes.

James Wong likes to think of herbs as your very own pharmacy (although few would think this). As mentioned by Wong from The Times Online:

“The problem, Wong believes, is that there’s a big cultural dividing line between conventional medicine, which is thought of as effective, proven and serious, and herbal medicine, which has the reputation of being a bit flaky.”

James also goes to explain that up to 50 per cent of over-the-counter medicines are based on chemicals that are extracted from plants. Aspirin, though now synthetic, was originally derived from willow, meadowsweet and the shrub spirea. Morphine-based painkillers are based on opium from poppies. And the birth control pill was originally isolated from the Mexican wild yam. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 per cent of the world’s population still rely on plant-based medicine as their way of health care.

Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda is also gaining more popularity in the west as more people look into alternative therapy.

Photo from Amazon.

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I am looking forward to catching the PBS special on April 7th - Prince Siddhartha of India. The documentary will look at the life of Prince Siddhartha, or more commonly known as the Buddha.

The bodhi tre and leaf is an important symbol in Buddhism.  As Buddha achieved enlightenment while sitting under a bodhi tree.  I took this photo many summers ago at a Buddhist temple in northern California.

The reclining statue of the Buddha in Uttar Pradesh. - Photo from PBS, The Story of India. There are also statues like this found in many Buddhist temples in Laos and Thailand.

Here is a little synopsis of Buddha’s life from the University of Minnesota, Mankato:

“The historical Buddha was born Prince Siddhatha Gotama in Kapilavatthu, near the present-day border of India and Nepal, on the May Full Moon day in 623 B.C. His parents, King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, had waited for a child for a long time. Everyone in the kingdom rejoiced at his birth.

At this time India already had a rich spiritual heritage. It had been prophesized there would soon be an ascetic who would realize the ultimate truth and become the greatest teacher. According the Hindu tradition, five days after his birth seven Brahmin priests came to the temple to name the baby using astrology and forecast his future by reading his body signs. Each of the Brahmins said this baby would become a universal monarch or leave his princely life to become a world spiritual leader. The youngest priest, Kondanna, was so confident that this was the future Buddha that he left the priesthood to wait in the forest for his future teacher.”

And here is the preview. Check your local listing here mark your calendar!

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I would love to have my own potted lemon tree.  Beautiful European gardens always have rows of lemon or other citrus.  And it’s such a welcome sight to see the bright fruits in the middle of winter.  Although I’ve noticed some variety that bear fruit all year.

According to Sunset’s March 2010 issue, one of the most popular potted citrus tree of the moment is the “Eureka”.  Photo from Four Seasons Growers.

Four Seasons Grower recommend this type of plastic terra cotta color pot. As a black container would end up heating the root.

And here are more good advice from them for successful container growing of citrus:

1. Select the right size pot with adequate drainage holes.

2. Use a soil mix that is lightweight and drains well. If the mix is dense or contains peat moss, amend your soil mix with 1/4-1/3 volume of 1″ redwood shavings.

3. Develop a watering schedule so the tree stays on the dry side of moist.

4. Provide 8 or more hours of direct sunlight or grow light per day.

5. Plant the tree so the root collar is above the soil line and the top of the root crown is barely below the soil. Do not cover the trunk with soil at all.

When young, the fruit of the Eureka lemon is green but streaked with gold.  It then matures to pale yellow and has pink flesh.  This sounds like a cross between a pink grapefruit and lemons.

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Lately I’ve noticed lots of fruits, especially citrus just ripening on the tree.  And was wondering how anyone could actually eat or pick them all.

Sometimes I think I wouldn’t mind asking for permission to pick some of the fruits.  But I just can’t help feel like I’m intruding on someone’s life.  Maybe even being seen as strange for not wanting to just buy the fruits instead.  As it seem people believe only good fruits come from the supermarket.

Back in January, residents of Echo Park (in LA) were lucky enough to get free fruit trees.  A great idea to have residents growing their own food and maybe sharing them too.  Photo source.

California law states it’s OK to pick any fruits hanging over the fence.  The people in LA even have a website dedicated to foraging for these urban fruits.  Even then, I still think it would be nice to ask.  It would seem too rude to just show up at someone’s front yard and start plucking their over hanging fruits.

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A recent study by the The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry noted six scents that helps soothe away stress.

The scents include lavender, lemon, orange, grape, mango, and basil.  Each of these fruits and herbs contain linalool, which is a chemical that appeared to offset the effects of stress. Linalool provides a calming effect on the limbic center of the brain, which is involved in processing emotions.

I’m surprise peppermint didn’t make it on the list. Peppermint is great at relieving headaches and also very uplifting. I always feel more relaxed and calm after being around peppermint.

The scent of any fruit makes me happy. Especially guava, but mangoes come out second. There is actually a tree that grows in my mom’s yard with leaves that smell very much like green mango. The young leaves are edible and taste just like tangy green mango! I don’t know the name of it, but will have to take a picture of it when spring arrives.

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In every city I’ve ever lived in, I try to find out where the local library is located and make sure to pay a visit. And best of all - it’s free! It’s also a plus if it’s located in nice building too.

This is the Chicago Public Library where I like to visit if I am ever in the area again. One thing I remember about Chicago was that it was one windy city!

It’s a beautiful building we don’t usually see in the west coast.  It is design in the Beaux-Arts Classicism revival style. This style is an academic classicism taken from the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

This building was the first permanent home of the Chicago Public Library in 1897, it is now the Chicago Cultural Center.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1976.

Image source:  Mary Ann Sullivan of Bluffton University, Ohio.

In case anyone is curious, here is a list of the top 10 largest libraries provided by American Library Association, www.ala.or , Aug. 2005.

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I love the artwork by George Barbier.  Here is two I’ve managed to scan from my note cards.

George Barbier was born in Nantes, France in 1882.  He was a popular fashion illustrator and costume designer during the 1920’s Art Deco period.  His illustrations were usually found in French fashion magazines and now can be found in art museums (as well as stationary).

“Voice me ailes!” - Look at my wings! This artwork was first printed in 1922 in French fashion magazine.

The drawing really brings you back to a different era. From the fashion to the sailboats in the background. I also like the simple yet elegant black dress, but can’t imagine looking like this all the time.

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When I first heard about Silk Moon Gallery, I really wanted to visit the place. They are located in Sebastopol, just north of San Francisco. It has been years since I’ve made any trips up to that part of the state. So maybe when the weather gets better a day trip will be in order.

Beautiful jewel colors of Lao silk. Artistic composition of the objects taken by American Jon on Flickr.

I have always been in awe of the beautiful patterns found in traditional Lao/Thai silk skirts and shawls. It could be that I come from a family of silk weavers.  My grandmother was very talented in silk weaving and design. As my maternal grandmother raised her own silkworms. I was told she loved them like they were her children.  Hopefully someday I will be lucky enough to learn the art of weaving as well.

Here are other things you can do with Lao silk. They are suppose to be lotus blossom, an important flower in Buddhist celebration. I took this photo at a Lao Buddhist temple in northern California.

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I’ve always loved penguins.  There is just something neat about a bird that can’t fly, but loves to swim underwater.  Can live in freezing temperatures and depend on other penguins for warmth.

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When it comes to meditation, people usually think of Buddhism. Meditation is a good way to relax and connect with your inner self.

Mediation has been used with integrative medicine to help people cope with chronic pain. Even those with mental issues can benefit from meditation as well.

And some people, such as my mom, meditate for spiritual enlightenment. It’s a way to calm the heart and mind. I have tried meditating once at a Buddhist temple retreat. But group meditation just isn’t for me.

This beautiful lotus blossom is from horizontal.integration, taken via Flickr CC.

Recently I came across Metta Meditation. It is more of a loving-kindness meditation that you chant to yourself. It’s suppose to help you overcome fear, anger, and other negative feelings. As you practice Metta Meditation, you also begin to radiate feelings of warm and happiness. Something many of us could use during this hectic holiday season.

It’s easy to do since you can practice in a formal sitting meditation or while walking. Or even when doing your daily chores, for me it would be doing the dishes.

Acharya Buddharakkhita recommends, “To begin, take a few moments to quiet your mind and focus your attention on the experience of loving kindness. You will begin by offering Metta to yourself. If distracting thoughts arise, acknowledge them, make a mental note to return to them after your Metta practice, but quickly move them aside to maintain concentration.”

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