A Must-Have When Traveling

The first time I visited Guatemala I made two big mistakes: 1. I didn't bring any herbs with me and 2. I brushed my teeth with the water. By the second week of our trip I was spending so much time in the bathroom I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to leave and it took probably 2 months after returning home before my body recovered completely.

For our wedding in Guatemala I wanted to make sure I didn't make the same mistakes and more importantly, make sure my family didn't get sick either. There is alot to adjust to besides the water. Your body is on a new time schedule even if the clocks haven't changed. The food is prepared differently despite an abundance of U.S. chain restuarants everywhere. There is a whole new culture to acclimate to as well. Just being nervous about being in a new country can bring on tummy troubles.

The Chinese herbal formula Xiang Lian Wan or commonly referred to as Traveler's Aid is a very safe and effective remedy for upset stomach or food and/or water poisoning. The 2 herbs in this formula has an antibacterial affect and is calming to stomach cramping. There are few adverse side effects to taking this formula but it is important to note that this formula should not be taken long term and should be used only as needed.

It is highly recommended to take a bottle with you when traveling. I took maybe 2 or 3 doses while in Guatemala as prevention when I started to notice my stomach feeling a little off and sailed through the trip without any problems.

Sarah Canga-Arguelles (Zender)

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
www.clnap.com
815.893.9825

Welcome Back Mrs. Sarah Canga-Arguelles (Zender)

Seeing that it is thanksgiving this week I just wanted to take this week's blog post to thank everyone for the warm wishes for our wedding on 11.11.11 in Guatemala. So many of you requested we take plenty of pictures of the big day and I thought it would be easiest to show a few here while we are waiting for our prints. Our photographer, Juan Miguel Carrillo made a wonderful slideshow of the highlights.

Don't forget starting this Friday you can purchase 3 gift certificates for your friends and family and get one 1 free!

Sarah Canga-Arguelles (Zender)

Neighborhood Acupuncture Place (NAP)
230 Florence St
Crystal Lake IL 60014
www.clnap.com
815.893.9825

Benefits of Raw Honey

There was an interesting article in Patch.com today about a local beekeeper and the benefits of raw, local honey.  Many of you have been coming in for seasonal allergy complaints. Adding local honey to your health routine may be a great way to supplement your acupuncture treatments. Read the article below and if allergies are an issue make sure to check out the link explaining how to use honey for allergies.

Beekeeper Labors for Sweet Success

Part of a series on local food and suburban farming.

• By Claudia Lenart
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• 6:00am

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For Mark Leider beekeeping is a hobby, a business and an environmental mission.

The Libertyville resident says his primary motivation in beekeeping is to help the honeybees survive.

“Without the bees, we don’t have pollination, and that is what gives us most of our fruits and vegetables,” Leider said.

One-third of our diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and the honeybee is responsible for 80 percent of that pollination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Our dependence on the honeybee as a pollinator has caused many environmentalists and scientists concern about colony collapse disorder, the mysterious and sudden loss of entire beehives.

Falling in Love With Beekeeping

Leider’s interest in bees started about seven years ago.

“I wasn’t getting a good yield with my fruit and veggies, so I thought I should try raising bees for pollination,” he said.

After spending more than three years researching beekeeping, Leider got his first beehive.

“I fell in love with beekeeping; one hive turned into 100,” he said.

Leider started out with hives in his own Libertyville backyard, but when a neighbor complained, he decided to move the hives. He said the village treats beehives as a nuisance; they aren’t a problem until someone complains.

Leider’s hives are located on 10 different properties in eastern Lake County.

Not Your Typical Hobby

Beekeeping is an expensive and time-consuming hobby, he said.

“You can’t just get bees,” Leider said. He said beekeeping requires a lot of knowledge and supplies. Getting started can cost well over $500 in the first year, he said.

Beehives ordered from a catalog can cost $200 to $300. Leider saves money by building his own hives. Beekeepers also need a smoker to drive the bees out of the hive for honey removal, protective gear and various equipment for extracting and preparing the honey.

“It’s like having a dog; you really don’t understand the cost until you get one,” Leider said.

Not only is beekeeping expensive, it also takes a lot of time. “It’s like having livestock. You’re constantly checking the hives to make sure the queen is alive,” he said. Even during the winter, Leider needs to check up on the hives.

From the caring for bees to the careful, slow preparation of the honey, Leider’s hobby takes a lot of his time. He said he spends about 25 percent of his time on his main business, spa repair, and 75 percent on beekeeping.

“It’s one of the most labor-intensive things I’ve ever done.”

Benefits of Raw Honey

Leider can be found at the Libertyville Farmers Market selling a number of products from his beehives, including beeswax candles, bee pollen, which has concentrated vitamins, minerals and amino acids, honeycomb, and two types of honey — spring and summer. The spring honey tastes like liquid candy, he said, while the summer honey has a more traditional, fruity honey flavor.

He tells customers about the health benefits of raw honey and warns to beware of store-bought honey. Chinese honey makers are laundering their products through other Asian nations, according to a Time Magazine article. The problem with the Chinese honey is that it may not be honey at all, but a mixture of honey with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. It also may be tainted with lead.

Local, raw honey is said to offer many health benefits.

“Pasteurization destroys all the good things in honey,” he said. Raw honey is a pure sweetener loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, and it also provides energy, Leider said.

Instead of pasteurization, Leider slowly dehydrates the honey to prevent fermentation and increase its shelf life.

Benefits of Local Honey

Local honey is said to reduce the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies. Since the bees ingest the same pollen that causes allergies, the honey is believed to act as an immune booster. Thomas Leo Ogren, author or Allergy-Free Gardening explains how to use raw honey for allergies.

“A lot of people say they have gotten off all their allergy medicines after taking local honey every day,” Leider said. He said local means the honey should come from no farther than 20 to 30 miles from home.

Leider eventually would like to turn beekeeping into his full-time job, because despite the significant time it requires, he still loves it.

“It’s good for the environment and it’s lots of fun,” Leider said.

Related Topics: Bees