Whose Afraid of the Big Bad...Whatever?
http://www.healityourself.com/articlelive/articles/111/1/Whose-Afraid-of-the-Big-BadWhatever/Page1.html
By Steven H Horne
Published on April 8, 2009
A few years ago there were dire warnings and predictions about a new
strain of Avian or “bird” flu that was threatening a flu epidemic like
the one that occurred in 1918 and killed millions of people worldwide.
After 9/11 there were scares about anthrax and biological warfare. It
seems like there's always something we're being "warned" out in the
news.
Forgive me for being cynical, but do you ever get the feeling that the news media is out to keep everybody in a constant state of fear? Yes, it's true that we could have an epedemic of the flu or some other contagious disease. It's also true that disasters can strike at any time. But if we're prepared with the right supplies, and the right attitude, there's no reason to be afraid.
Forgive me for being cynical, but do you ever get the feeling that the news media is out to keep everybody in a constant state of fear? Yes, it's true that we could have an epedemic of the flu or some other contagious disease. It's also true that disasters can strike at any time. But if we're prepared with the right supplies, and the right attitude, there's no reason to be afraid.
Be Prepared and You Won't Be Afraid
A few years ago there were dire warnings and predictions about a new
strain of Avian or “bird” flu that was threatening a flu epidemic like
the one that occurred in 1918 and killed millions of people worldwide.
After 9/11 there were scares about anthrax and biological warfare. It
seems like there's always something we're being "warned" out in the
news. We continually hear dire warnings about this or that, and very little of it actually materializes.
Of course, I’m sure that dire warnings like this are helpful for the profits of the drug companies (which are now the primary advertisers on radio and TV). I also think there’s an even deeper reason for the constant fear and concern pumped out on the daily news—people who are afraid are more easily manipulated. They’ll buy or do just about anything to restore their sense of security, including gladly surrendering their freedom.
You won’t see me running out to get a flu vaccine; I’ve never had one. I’m also not losing any sleep over purported drug shortages. But then, I’m a radical, free-thinking, libertarian herbalist who prefers, as much as possible, to keep my mind focused on positive things. I like the quote from the Sci-fi novel Dune, “Fear is the mind killer.”
It’s not that bad things don’t happen and it’s not as if a plague couldn’t happen. It has happened before and we’re in a prime position for it to happen again. After all, people’s immune systems are so weakened from stress, poor nutrition and toxicity that they would be very susceptible to some new strain of microbe. It’s also obvious that with modern transportation, it would be very difficult to contain the spread of contagious disease. And problems with hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters have amply demonstrated that Mother Nature can wreak havoc with even our “advanced” civilization.
Be Prepared
There are several reasons why I’m not worried about the Avian Flu, Anthrax, SARS or West Nile virus. For starters, I was raised in a family that believed in preparedness. In fact, my mother was somewhat fanatical about it. We always had a year’s supply of food in the basement, plus water and other emergency supplies. My religion taught, “If you are prepared, you will not fear,” and I have always sought to “be prepared.” (And yes, I was a boy scout, too—Eagle Scout, in fact.) So, there’s never been at time in my adult life where I didn’t have some emergency supplies on hand, including some emergency herbal remedies.
I guess because it was drilled into me from such an early age, I’m surprised by the number of people who have no supplies or plans for emergencies. It’s like most people are living in denial, thinking that our modern technological society means we’re not supposed to be susceptible to either man-made or natural disasters.
Maybe that’s why everyone is rushing to point the finger of blame at somebody when disasters happen, as if it’s always somebody else’s responsibility to be prepared. Even worse, many people seem to think that if we just pass enough laws and set up enough bureaucracies that nothing bad will ever happen.
If anyone’s living in that bubble, then wake up! No amount of legislation, no amount of foresight, in fact, nothing we do is going to stop “bad” things from happening. It’s just part of this life. As the libertarians say, “utopia is not an option,” at least not in this world. So, having recognized that disasters and problems can happen, what are our choices?
Well, we can bury our heads in the sand and think, “There’s nothing I can do about it, so why bother preparing? If it happens, it happens and I’ll deal with it then”. We can also think, “I don’t want to think about it, because thinking about emergencies will make them happen.” (This is a logical, but misguided interpretation of the idea that we “create our own reality” through our thoughts.)
We can also go to the opposite side of the spectrum and live in a constant state of preparation, thinking about every possible disaster and problem that might befall us and living in a constant state of fear and paranoia. Not a very good option, either.
We can also take a middle-of-the-road approach and realize that confidence and positive thinking comes from being prepared. Then, we make some basic preparations, and hope and pray we never have to use them.
Physical Preparation
Let me share with you some of the ways I’ve physically prepared for emergencies. I have an emergency space heater in case the power goes out (which I had to use several times until they put new power lines into the area where I live). I have flashlights around for the same purpose and I always know right where they are. I also have an emergency/first aid kit with bandages, herbal remedies, tweezers, scissors, candles, and other supplies. My kit even includes a battery powered flashlight and radio that has a built in, wind-up generator, so I could listen to the radio if the power goes out and have a flashlight with a battery that won’t die on me. All this stuff is conveniently packed in a fishing tackle box for easy transport.
Since I like to go camping, I also have sleeping bags, a back pack, a tent and other supplies that I could use if I had to evacuate. I always keep food and water on hand for emergencies. Some of the food supplies are instant, eat-on-the-run supplies that could be taken with me in an emergency, but I also keep some long-term supplies on hand (grains, beans, honey, some canned goods and other foods that store well for long periods). I know that in the event of an emergency the grocery store shelves can be emptied in just a few hours, so I want a little food on hand if I have to hole up for a while.
On the second page of this article I've put my suggestions for an herbal first aid kit.
Mental and Spiritual Preparation
But, in addition to of all these physical preparations, there are two other forms of preparation that lend me even greater peace of mind. The first is the knowledge I possess. I’ve taken first aid classes. I’ve also studied outdoor survival, so I know how to find food in the wilds if I needed to.
It has long disturbed me that our society has become so far removed from nature that we cannot sustain ourselves without a huge infrastructure to support us. Most people don’t have the foggiest idea how to do the most basic things, such as start a fire (without matches or lighters), mend torn clothes, grow some fruits or vegetables in a garden, or perform other basic survival tasks. In native cultures, children mastered these skills by the time they were 12 or 13, so they knew how to sustain their own lives from Mother Nature’s Supermarket.
So, it’s no wonder people completely panic when cut off from civilization. They have no idea what to do to survive. It’s a shame we aren’t taught these kinds of skills in public school instead of all the worthless information we memorized to take a test and then promptly forgot, never to use it again. But then, people wouldn’t be so easily manipulated by fear if they had the knowledge to be more self-reliant, would they?
But knowledge or mental preparation isn’t the most important preparation either. I think it’s the sense of inner peace I’ve had through prayer, meditation and emotional healing work that has helped me the most. It’s enabled me to learn to feel my emotions, fear, pain, etc., but not react to them, so that I can retreat to the place of inner calm when there’s a crisis.
Action Plan
This article would be just a ranting and raving if I didn’t supply you with an action plan. I really encourage all of you to put together an emergency first aid and preparedness kit. It should contain basic herbs and first aid supplies and items you’d need in an emergency, like matches, a flashlight, etc. Everyone should also have at least a 72-hour supply of food and water on hand for emergencies. It’s not that hard to put something like this together and it comes in handy for day-to-day “emergencies,” too.
More importantly, get some knowledge about how to use this stuff. Take a first aid class if you haven’t done so. That way you know how to do mouth-to-mouth, CPR, apply pressure for bleeding and other basic first aid skills. Go on an herb walk and learn to identify your local herbs. You’re an herbalist, and people should be able to rely on you for help even if the time comes when you can’t order commercially prepared remedies.
Now, to address the specific issue of the flu, let’s remember that even in the Dark Ages, not everyone died when there was a plague. Some people were immune. The flu, like any other disease, is most likely to strike those who are susceptible, which means those whose immune systems are compromised.
So, taking care of your general health is one of the best ways to be prepared. Eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, learn how to manage stress, and take some basic supplements when colds or flu or whatever are going around to help ward them off. I’ve posted my suggestions for an emergency preparedness kit in a separate article.
Forget the vaccines. Flu strains mutate all the time, and they can’t vaccinate you against all of them. Furthermore, all the flu vaccine does is challenge your immune system so it will build up its own defenses. If you’re immune compromised to begin with, then the vaccine can actually backfire and damage your body.
Opponents of vaccines claim that more people die from the vaccines than actually die from the flu, but scare tactics are really useful in selling flu vaccines, aren’t they?
Finally, learn to find the place of inner peace, through prayer, meditation or whatever process your faith suggests. The more you practice going to that inner place of peace, the easier it becomes to go there in a crisis. Of course, it also helps if you have a solid spiritual faith to anchor you in a time of crisis. Bad things will happen in everyone’s life, and in case you haven’t figured it out yet, we’re all going to die someday. But, I still believe that if you are prepared (even for death), you won’t be afraid.
Of course, I’m sure that dire warnings like this are helpful for the profits of the drug companies (which are now the primary advertisers on radio and TV). I also think there’s an even deeper reason for the constant fear and concern pumped out on the daily news—people who are afraid are more easily manipulated. They’ll buy or do just about anything to restore their sense of security, including gladly surrendering their freedom.
You won’t see me running out to get a flu vaccine; I’ve never had one. I’m also not losing any sleep over purported drug shortages. But then, I’m a radical, free-thinking, libertarian herbalist who prefers, as much as possible, to keep my mind focused on positive things. I like the quote from the Sci-fi novel Dune, “Fear is the mind killer.”
It’s not that bad things don’t happen and it’s not as if a plague couldn’t happen. It has happened before and we’re in a prime position for it to happen again. After all, people’s immune systems are so weakened from stress, poor nutrition and toxicity that they would be very susceptible to some new strain of microbe. It’s also obvious that with modern transportation, it would be very difficult to contain the spread of contagious disease. And problems with hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters have amply demonstrated that Mother Nature can wreak havoc with even our “advanced” civilization.
Be Prepared
There are several reasons why I’m not worried about the Avian Flu, Anthrax, SARS or West Nile virus. For starters, I was raised in a family that believed in preparedness. In fact, my mother was somewhat fanatical about it. We always had a year’s supply of food in the basement, plus water and other emergency supplies. My religion taught, “If you are prepared, you will not fear,” and I have always sought to “be prepared.” (And yes, I was a boy scout, too—Eagle Scout, in fact.) So, there’s never been at time in my adult life where I didn’t have some emergency supplies on hand, including some emergency herbal remedies.
I guess because it was drilled into me from such an early age, I’m surprised by the number of people who have no supplies or plans for emergencies. It’s like most people are living in denial, thinking that our modern technological society means we’re not supposed to be susceptible to either man-made or natural disasters.
Maybe that’s why everyone is rushing to point the finger of blame at somebody when disasters happen, as if it’s always somebody else’s responsibility to be prepared. Even worse, many people seem to think that if we just pass enough laws and set up enough bureaucracies that nothing bad will ever happen.
If anyone’s living in that bubble, then wake up! No amount of legislation, no amount of foresight, in fact, nothing we do is going to stop “bad” things from happening. It’s just part of this life. As the libertarians say, “utopia is not an option,” at least not in this world. So, having recognized that disasters and problems can happen, what are our choices?
Well, we can bury our heads in the sand and think, “There’s nothing I can do about it, so why bother preparing? If it happens, it happens and I’ll deal with it then”. We can also think, “I don’t want to think about it, because thinking about emergencies will make them happen.” (This is a logical, but misguided interpretation of the idea that we “create our own reality” through our thoughts.)
We can also go to the opposite side of the spectrum and live in a constant state of preparation, thinking about every possible disaster and problem that might befall us and living in a constant state of fear and paranoia. Not a very good option, either.
We can also take a middle-of-the-road approach and realize that confidence and positive thinking comes from being prepared. Then, we make some basic preparations, and hope and pray we never have to use them.
Physical Preparation
Let me share with you some of the ways I’ve physically prepared for emergencies. I have an emergency space heater in case the power goes out (which I had to use several times until they put new power lines into the area where I live). I have flashlights around for the same purpose and I always know right where they are. I also have an emergency/first aid kit with bandages, herbal remedies, tweezers, scissors, candles, and other supplies. My kit even includes a battery powered flashlight and radio that has a built in, wind-up generator, so I could listen to the radio if the power goes out and have a flashlight with a battery that won’t die on me. All this stuff is conveniently packed in a fishing tackle box for easy transport.
Since I like to go camping, I also have sleeping bags, a back pack, a tent and other supplies that I could use if I had to evacuate. I always keep food and water on hand for emergencies. Some of the food supplies are instant, eat-on-the-run supplies that could be taken with me in an emergency, but I also keep some long-term supplies on hand (grains, beans, honey, some canned goods and other foods that store well for long periods). I know that in the event of an emergency the grocery store shelves can be emptied in just a few hours, so I want a little food on hand if I have to hole up for a while.
On the second page of this article I've put my suggestions for an herbal first aid kit.
Mental and Spiritual Preparation
But, in addition to of all these physical preparations, there are two other forms of preparation that lend me even greater peace of mind. The first is the knowledge I possess. I’ve taken first aid classes. I’ve also studied outdoor survival, so I know how to find food in the wilds if I needed to.
It has long disturbed me that our society has become so far removed from nature that we cannot sustain ourselves without a huge infrastructure to support us. Most people don’t have the foggiest idea how to do the most basic things, such as start a fire (without matches or lighters), mend torn clothes, grow some fruits or vegetables in a garden, or perform other basic survival tasks. In native cultures, children mastered these skills by the time they were 12 or 13, so they knew how to sustain their own lives from Mother Nature’s Supermarket.
So, it’s no wonder people completely panic when cut off from civilization. They have no idea what to do to survive. It’s a shame we aren’t taught these kinds of skills in public school instead of all the worthless information we memorized to take a test and then promptly forgot, never to use it again. But then, people wouldn’t be so easily manipulated by fear if they had the knowledge to be more self-reliant, would they?
But knowledge or mental preparation isn’t the most important preparation either. I think it’s the sense of inner peace I’ve had through prayer, meditation and emotional healing work that has helped me the most. It’s enabled me to learn to feel my emotions, fear, pain, etc., but not react to them, so that I can retreat to the place of inner calm when there’s a crisis.
Action Plan
This article would be just a ranting and raving if I didn’t supply you with an action plan. I really encourage all of you to put together an emergency first aid and preparedness kit. It should contain basic herbs and first aid supplies and items you’d need in an emergency, like matches, a flashlight, etc. Everyone should also have at least a 72-hour supply of food and water on hand for emergencies. It’s not that hard to put something like this together and it comes in handy for day-to-day “emergencies,” too.
More importantly, get some knowledge about how to use this stuff. Take a first aid class if you haven’t done so. That way you know how to do mouth-to-mouth, CPR, apply pressure for bleeding and other basic first aid skills. Go on an herb walk and learn to identify your local herbs. You’re an herbalist, and people should be able to rely on you for help even if the time comes when you can’t order commercially prepared remedies.
Now, to address the specific issue of the flu, let’s remember that even in the Dark Ages, not everyone died when there was a plague. Some people were immune. The flu, like any other disease, is most likely to strike those who are susceptible, which means those whose immune systems are compromised.
So, taking care of your general health is one of the best ways to be prepared. Eat healthy, exercise, get enough sleep, learn how to manage stress, and take some basic supplements when colds or flu or whatever are going around to help ward them off. I’ve posted my suggestions for an emergency preparedness kit in a separate article.
Forget the vaccines. Flu strains mutate all the time, and they can’t vaccinate you against all of them. Furthermore, all the flu vaccine does is challenge your immune system so it will build up its own defenses. If you’re immune compromised to begin with, then the vaccine can actually backfire and damage your body.
Opponents of vaccines claim that more people die from the vaccines than actually die from the flu, but scare tactics are really useful in selling flu vaccines, aren’t they?
Finally, learn to find the place of inner peace, through prayer, meditation or whatever process your faith suggests. The more you practice going to that inner place of peace, the easier it becomes to go there in a crisis. Of course, it also helps if you have a solid spiritual faith to anchor you in a time of crisis. Bad things will happen in everyone’s life, and in case you haven’t figured it out yet, we’re all going to die someday. But, I still believe that if you are prepared (even for death), you won’t be afraid.
Suggestions for a Natural First Aid Kit
People don’t get sick at convenient times. You can’t always run to the health food store or herb shop when something happens. So, it’s wise to make up a home preparedness kit so that you have the tools on hand to be ready to take care of injuries and illnesses as they arise.
I keep my home health care kit in a large tackle box. This gives me various compartments for bandages, herbs and other supplies, making them easy to locate. I think of it as my home healthcare toolbox.
Here are my recommendations for what to put in your home health care kit.
General Activator
You want to have at least one herb or formula which you can administer which stimulates the energy of the body. You use this at the first sign of colds, flu or other acute illness and administer it in small, frequently repeated doses until the body reaches the disease crisis. I like to keep Herbal Crisis on hand for adults and Children’s Composition for children, but at the very least you should have some capsicum powder and extract.
Antispasmodic Herb or Formula
An antispasmodic relaxes muscle cramps of spasms and can be used to ease pain, relax the body during anxiety attacks and stress, ease asthma attacks, and relieve tension headaches. Lobelia can also be used as an emetic to induce vomiting in cases of food poisoning or flu. It is my preferred remedy in this category, although Blue Vervain is a milder alternative some people prefer for young children.
Immune Stimulant
It’s good to have something to stimulate the immune system. This can be used for fighting infections, but it can also be used for prevention. Take the remedy when colds or flu are going around to “immunize” yourself and your loved ones. Echinacea is a good single herb for this purpose but I also like Nature's Sunshine's Immune Stimulator formula. You should take an immune stimulator whenever anything is "going around," to keep your immune system strong.
Natural Antibiotic
I always keep raw garlic on hand to use as a natural antibiotic for fighting infections. For long term storage, I also keep Garlic oil and Nature's Sunshine's High Potency Garlic in my home health care kit. I think Silver Shield is a must for a first aid kid. You should have both the liquid (preferably a couple of bottles) and the gel. The liquid can be used to treat water for purification or storage. The gel can be put into open wounds to prevent infection. Both work against all harmful microbes, including antibiotic resistant ones.
Astringent
It’s a good idea to keep at least one astringent in your home health care kit. My personal favorites are yarrow, bayberry and white oak bark. Astringents help arrest bleeding and diarrhea. They are also useful for swelling and insect bites and stings.
Activated Charcoal
I believe every home that ever has small children in it should have some activated charcoal on hand for use in case of poisoning. It lasts forever, so there is no worry about it going bad on you. Charcoal is also good for diarrhea.
Topical Analgesic
Many of the self-help pain relief techniques can be enhanced by the use of a topical analgesic oil. Tei Fu oil, Tei Fu lotion, Deep Relief, Olbas, Tiger Balm or another similar remedy will work here.
Rescue Remedy or Equivalent
A flower remedy for shock and injury should be part of any first aid kit. It helps with both emotional shock and physical injuries. Rescue Remedy is the original. FES Services has their Five Flower Remedy and NSP has Distress Remedy. All of these work great, but Distress Remedy is better for tissue healing applications.
Expectorant/Decongestant
Although Herbal Crisis, Children’s Composition and Lobelia all have an expectorant and decongestant action, it is best to have a formula that is more specific to clearing excess mucus from the lungs and sinuses. AL-J is my personal favorite, but for dry climates like the one I live in now, Chinese Lung Support is better.
Aloe Vera Gel
A high quality aloe vera gel is useful to keep on hand for burns, sunburn, abrasions and other skin irritations.
Arnica
Arnica tablets and/or arnica oil are useful to have on hand for treating bruises, sprains and other related injuries. NSP has it's Healing AC Cream, but I think homeopathic tablets of arnica are also good to keep on hand. I wouldn't be without this remedy in my first aid kit.
Other Supplies
You will also wish to keep some of the following in your home healthcare kit.
I keep my home health care kit in a large tackle box. This gives me various compartments for bandages, herbs and other supplies, making them easy to locate. I think of it as my home healthcare toolbox.
Here are my recommendations for what to put in your home health care kit.
General Activator
You want to have at least one herb or formula which you can administer which stimulates the energy of the body. You use this at the first sign of colds, flu or other acute illness and administer it in small, frequently repeated doses until the body reaches the disease crisis. I like to keep Herbal Crisis on hand for adults and Children’s Composition for children, but at the very least you should have some capsicum powder and extract.
Antispasmodic Herb or Formula
An antispasmodic relaxes muscle cramps of spasms and can be used to ease pain, relax the body during anxiety attacks and stress, ease asthma attacks, and relieve tension headaches. Lobelia can also be used as an emetic to induce vomiting in cases of food poisoning or flu. It is my preferred remedy in this category, although Blue Vervain is a milder alternative some people prefer for young children.
Immune Stimulant
It’s good to have something to stimulate the immune system. This can be used for fighting infections, but it can also be used for prevention. Take the remedy when colds or flu are going around to “immunize” yourself and your loved ones. Echinacea is a good single herb for this purpose but I also like Nature's Sunshine's Immune Stimulator formula. You should take an immune stimulator whenever anything is "going around," to keep your immune system strong.
Natural Antibiotic
I always keep raw garlic on hand to use as a natural antibiotic for fighting infections. For long term storage, I also keep Garlic oil and Nature's Sunshine's High Potency Garlic in my home health care kit. I think Silver Shield is a must for a first aid kid. You should have both the liquid (preferably a couple of bottles) and the gel. The liquid can be used to treat water for purification or storage. The gel can be put into open wounds to prevent infection. Both work against all harmful microbes, including antibiotic resistant ones.
Astringent
It’s a good idea to keep at least one astringent in your home health care kit. My personal favorites are yarrow, bayberry and white oak bark. Astringents help arrest bleeding and diarrhea. They are also useful for swelling and insect bites and stings.
Activated Charcoal
I believe every home that ever has small children in it should have some activated charcoal on hand for use in case of poisoning. It lasts forever, so there is no worry about it going bad on you. Charcoal is also good for diarrhea.
Topical Analgesic
Many of the self-help pain relief techniques can be enhanced by the use of a topical analgesic oil. Tei Fu oil, Tei Fu lotion, Deep Relief, Olbas, Tiger Balm or another similar remedy will work here.
Rescue Remedy or Equivalent
A flower remedy for shock and injury should be part of any first aid kit. It helps with both emotional shock and physical injuries. Rescue Remedy is the original. FES Services has their Five Flower Remedy and NSP has Distress Remedy. All of these work great, but Distress Remedy is better for tissue healing applications.
Expectorant/Decongestant
Although Herbal Crisis, Children’s Composition and Lobelia all have an expectorant and decongestant action, it is best to have a formula that is more specific to clearing excess mucus from the lungs and sinuses. AL-J is my personal favorite, but for dry climates like the one I live in now, Chinese Lung Support is better.
Aloe Vera Gel
A high quality aloe vera gel is useful to keep on hand for burns, sunburn, abrasions and other skin irritations.
Arnica
Arnica tablets and/or arnica oil are useful to have on hand for treating bruises, sprains and other related injuries. NSP has it's Healing AC Cream, but I think homeopathic tablets of arnica are also good to keep on hand. I wouldn't be without this remedy in my first aid kit.
Other Supplies
You will also wish to keep some of the following in your home healthcare kit.
- An Assortment of bandages, gauze pads, and other dressings for wounds
- Tweezers and a nettle for extracting slivers
- A small pair of scissors
- A flashlight