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It seems to me that we collectively got a fresh start the other day. A friend said that she got in her car and turned on the music and sang and laughed...that she could FEEL the change in the atmosphere. That she could feel the LOVE. That's sort of what this newsletter is about today. It's about the intersection of heart science and hard science. She could feel that love because, according to science, the collective consciousness or the physical patterns of our thoughts and feeling, are real things....not woo woo vibes or wishful thinking. There are lots of dots to connect so let's jump right in!
Joe Dispenza, a thought leader in neuroscience and epigenetics, espouses the theory of heart coherence. Heart Coherence is when your brain (thoughts and decisions) work hand-in-hand with your heart (emotions) and body (actions you take). It is a state of unity between your mind, body, and spirit. If you want evidence that our mind and heart are interwoven, look no further than the well acknowledged fact that stress is a leading cause of a heart attack.
I'll let him explain...
"We know that in order to create a new future, a person needs to marry a clear intention (coherent brain) with an elevated emotion (coherent heart). With the intention or thought acting as the electrical charge, and the feeling or emotion acting as a magnetic charge, this is how we change our energy—and when we change our energy, we change our life. It’s the communion of these two ingredients that begin to produce a clear effect on matter by moving our biology from living in the past to living in the future. Only then can we cease being a victim of circumstance and begin living as a creator of our reality. This is the process whereby we create a new personal reality.
The benefits of heart coherence are numerous, not the least to mention lower blood pressure, improved nervous system and hormonal balance, and improved brain function. The bottom line is, if you can maintain and sustain elevated emotional states, independent of the conditions in your external environment, you can access higher intuitive states that can result in a better understanding of ourselves and others, help prevent stressful patterns that occur in our life, increase mental clarity, and promote better discernment."
The heart is often neglected even though it’s the organ that never rests. People rarely think to take care of it unless it, well, breaks. A broken heart hurts…both versions, the love torn heart and the literal one, with chest pain and a trip to the ER. We live in a competitive, high stress, go go go culture. We view ‘hard charging’ as a badge of honor and are constantly raising that bar and comparing ourselves to the people around us, with little thought to the toll it might be taking. This past year, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, has been extremely stressful. Stress on steroids, really. During the pandemic, if you were single you VERY single (depression has been rampant), if you were married you were VERY married (domestic violence and divorce rates are soaring), if you were parenting you were VERY parenting…I’m sure I don’t need to go on. The point being, might our ever beating hearts need a little more gratitude, support and care right now? Seeing as how heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US and that 1 in 4 people will die of some form of heart disease anyway, I’d say yes.
And in our country, more than others, we don’t do a great job of supporting our heart, vascular and circulatory system. In Europe, Hawthorne is a wildly popular herb and has been very commonly used for centuries as an herbal remedy for digestive problems, heart failure, and high blood pressure. In fact, it’s also a key part of traditional Chinese medicine. They're all hip to the hawthorne scene that the Greeks started way back when. So in this season of new beginnings, new administrations, and new weird viruses I think we should herald the season of the heart, Valentine's, with a little overdue love for our faithful hearts! Here's where we start at Dancing Willow!
I've already mentioned.
Hawthorne: For centuries, the hawthorn herb has been used to treat a variety of health conditions, including digestive problems, kidney stones, and cardiovascular disease. Every part of medicinal hawthorn is used in herbal medicine, including the leaf, root, berry and flower. Hawthorn berry benefits extend past improved cardiovascular health, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Hawthorn may not be a panacea health remedy to cure or fully prevent ailments, but it has been shown to exhibit overall health benefits due to its antioxidant properties is also used to help anxiety.
- Loaded with antioxidants.
- May have anti-inflammatory properties.
- May lower blood pressure.
- May decrease blood fats.
- May reduce anxiety.
- Used to treat heart failure.
Hibiscus: I'd recommend it in a bright and cheery spot of tea on the daily! Hibiscus tea is very rich in a class of compounds known as anthocyanins (responsible for its dark red color) that are commonly found in dark blue and red fruits/berries. On top of being very antioxidant, the anthocyanins in hibiscus have also demonstrated ACE inhibiting activity – just like many drugs people take for hypertension. Hibiscus is rich in various polyphenols, and all of these compounds combined may play a role in protecting our blood vessels from damage caused by high blood sugar or blood lipids – often components in diabetes and metabolic syndrome that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Regular consumption of hibiscus tea could help to prevent complications associated with these conditions such as poor peripheral circulation, retinopathy, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. I say why not? Our High C Tea is loaded with rich ingredients that compliment the the hibiscus.
Schisandra: Schisandra is called the five flavor berry as it's sweet, pungent, sour and salty and bitter. It’s an adaptogen, strengthening the hypothalamic/pituitary/adrenal function and normalizing the nervous system and immune activity.This translates into its ability to help us deal with stress by regulating a cascade of hormones and supporting the adrenals when they are 'under fire'. It mediates our fight and flight response. Schisandra also acts as a mild, non habit forming stimulant. It has the benefit of elevating our capacity to focus with out the jitters of caffeine.
Heart Tonic: We've put together the best of the best in our heart tonic and are proud of this formula that his been in our herbal stable for over twenty years. People come back to it again and again because it helps to manage, naturally, so many of the issues associated with heart disease. It tones and strengthens the heart and helps fight buildup of cholesterol with these complimentary herbs: Hawthorn, Yarrow, Ginkgo, Garlic, Dandelion, Motherwort & Cayenne
If you're looking for a one stop shop for the heart we recommend it!
That was lots of information, but we hope you have a deeper understanding of the fabulous interconnectedness of our bodies and the symbiotic role that plants play in our care. I am ever amazed at the synchronicity of our world and hopeful because I see the beauty of the grand design.
Let's take on February, this often maligned dreary gray stretch before us, with whole and healthy hearts! And stay tuned for a Valentine's day newsletter that will be sure to inspire!
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