King James Version

The Book of Genesis

Vegetarian Times
March, 1996

We'll get to specific herbs in a moment, but first some general guidelines for using them are in order. The four Gs are all non-toxic, and are most effective if taken on a relatively long-term basis. Most people use them for several weeks, but you can safely take them for several months. (You could take these herbs for years without side effects, but I don't recommend it. If your need for these herbs is that great, you may need to investigate whether you have other health problems.) You can use any of the herbs individually, but I and most other herbalists have found they are most potent if taken in combination.

The following dosages apply to both single herbs and two or more of the herbs combined in equal parts; these amounts should be enough to produce the effects described later in various studies. For tinctures, take 30 drops (about half a dropperful) two to four times daily. The amount of herb in a capsule or tablet varies from brand to brand, so follow the directions on the label. For a tea, you can purchase the herbs either already packaged in tea bags or loose in whatever amount you choose. For loose herbs, place herb in a cup or glass jar; pour in a cup of boiling water per teaspoon of herb and cover. Let it steep for 15 minutes or so, then strain and enjoy. If you're facing an especially grueling situation--such as an exam or a job interview--you can safely double the dose that day; be sure to take one of those double doses about an hour beforehand.

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) has won widespread recognition as a brain tonic that seems to be particularly useful for decreased mental capacity due to a physical disability or advancing years. The brain requires one-fifth of the total oxygen carried in the blood to function optimally, and if it doesn't get this amount, cognitive abilities decline. The primary reason mental processes decrease as people age is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which slows the flow of blood, and thus oxygen, to the brain. Research has found that gingko increases the ability of the brain to use available oxygen, and it also directly stimulates the area of the brain responsible for memory (Pharmakotherapie, 1978, 1:137-144). Evidently, many people appreciate these effects of ginkgo, because according to the Herb Research Foundation in Boulder, Colo., it's one of top-selling herbs in the United States.

Research currently is underway to see if ginkgo can delay mental deterioration in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, and dozens of studies done in Germany and France during the last decade have found that ginkgo helped people 60 and older feel more alert, attentive, sociable and less moody after just one to two months. In fact, studies have found that ginkgo improved mental and behavioral performance in the elderly as well as such drugs as Hydergine, a prescription medication for treating senility that is the world's fifth most widely prescribed drug. (Fortschritte der Medizin 1990, vol. 108).

1. Schedule time for working out. When you work at home it's so easy to work around the clock. To help avoid this think of yourself as having a traditional "office job". In most "office jobs" when you go home for the night you leave work behind and concentrate on personal things. Even though going home for you may simply be walking down the hall, you need to set boundaries in order to find time for you.
   
2. During working hours, take several 5-10 minute breaks and run up and down the stairs (or even just walk). This will also help rejuvenate your mind.
3. Sitting in front of a computer can be hard on your body, especially your posture. So, find a comfortable place where you can occasionally stand to do your computer work.
   
4. It's not necessary for you to find 30 continuous minutes for working out. You'll get just as much benefit if you break your exercise into small chunks. Try 10 minutes before you start work, 10 minutes at lunch and 10 minutes after work (re-read # 1 above if you just said you have no "after work" time).
   
5. If you don't wan't to spend a lot of time in the kitchen but still want to eat healthy, cook large portion meals on the weekend that you can freeze. Then simply defrost and warm for dinners during the week. This saves you the time of having to make dinner and you don't have to compromise calories as you would if you instead opted for take-out.
   
6. One great advantage of working at home is that you can workout over your lunch hour while never leaving your office plus you don't have to pack your workout clothes and toiletries to take with you to work. This saves you travel time, which you can instead spend on grabbing a healthy bite to eat. And, if you don't have any face-to-face meetings scheduled, then you don't have to worry about looking perfect after your workout.
   
7. If you haven't already done so, invest in a good hands-free headset for your phone. This is a great way to multi-task because your hands are free to do other things while you concentrate on your conference call. You can even do some simple (but worthwhile) exercise moves. Some good choices are squats, tricep dips, lunges, wall push-ups, etc.
   
8. Keep healthy snacks available for when you need an energy boost or simply just need something to chew on to help you get through some tough work. Don' forget to keep water on hand and sip some all throughout your day.
   
9. Purchase an exercise stability ball. While there are dozens of great toning exercises you can do with the ball, it's also beneficial to simply sit on it. Try sitting on it instead of a chair for even short periods throughout your day. This will help build your core strength (your trunk area).
   
10. Don't forget the importance of stretching. Take a couple of minutes every hour to stand up and stretch your entire body.