The notorious ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ rider stuffed into the non-related Senate spending bill may soon be repealed thanks to the massive amounts of activism and outrage that have now amounted into a legislative charge towards action. Action that has turned into legislation progress through Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who has announced an amendment that would remove Section 735 (the Monsanto Protection Act as its known) from the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013 Senate spending bill.

The rider, which almost managed to slip incognito and pass by the alarm system of the alternative media, grants GMO juggernaut Monsanto full immunity from federal courts in the event that one of its genetically modified creations is found to be causing damage to health or the environment. Essentially, it grants Monsanto power over the United States federal government. Thankfully, I was able to get on the subject through news tips and covered the Monsanto Protection Act all the way up until the bill containing it was signed into law by Obama.

Ultimately, as the Monsanto Protection Act became more a hot issue, we had an increasing amount of publicity — but the Senate vote came just too quickly for the attention to put a halt on the rider. But even after its passing, sources like Russia Today, NaturalNews, Infowars, and myself here at NaturalSociety were sounding the alarm big time. Enough so that it even led to an apology from the top Senator who actually ended up approving the bill containing the rider.

Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland actually went and released a statement apologizing for allowing the Monsanto Protection Act through and vowing to fight against GMOs and Monsanto. Ultimately, multiple Senators had entered damage control after the jig was up. That is besides Senator Roy Blunt from Missouri, who actually worked with Monsanto (as in he let them write it while he received funding) on the Monsanto Protection Act rider. A rider he says is perfectly reasonable. After all, why not give Monsanto full immunity from the legal system the rest of us are subject to?

Even Obama was getting blasted on his Facebook page following the approval of the Monsanto Protection Act, with the majority of comments coming into his page criticizing his signature on the bill that contained the rider.

Thanks to this activism, it looks like the Monsanto Protection Act may soon be repealed after this new bill hits Washington. This time, we will have plenty of time to let the Senators know that they are voting against the public if they choose to side with Monsanto. And with such a specific agenda for this bill, I see it doing well in the Senate.

I recently sat down with Nick Bernabe, a director from the March Against Monsanto campaign, to talk about the upcoming event and the massive outcry we’ve seen across the United States from ordinary people who have just about had it with the pervasive existence of Monsanto’s genetically modified organisms within the food supply.

I’ve been vocal about my support towards the March Against Monsanto initiative and its focus, which is rooted in a grassroots operation that calls for worldwide assemblies around the world in protest of Monsanto on this upcoming May 25th. Overall what I like about the campaign is the fact that it is ‘open source’ in that anyone can become a campaign manager in their area and rally at the local court house. From Austin and San Diego to New York City, thousands are already reporting in as attendees for the rallies that we see brewing in these areas.

The ‘master document‘ that holds all of the rallies actually links to the Facebook event pages for each individual city and town, and creates a massive network of anti-Monsanto activism that can now be turned into a rally that I think is much different than your average protests. Not only has there been quite a degree on this movement since it’s grassroots and gaining support from the ground level, but I think it specifically opens up the doorway to similar movements that will take everything powerful about the March Against Monsanto and condense it into another campaign.

Ultimately, it comes down to an open source formula that can be used to highlight and combat key issues. Whether it’s more initiatives against Monsanto and corruption at large, or we see a national march against the mega banks who have been caught funding Mexican drug cartels, it’s highly possible to take the format and apply it to all major issues if the community is there.

I encourage everyone to check out their local March Against Monsanto gathering and hand out information to those who are not familiar with what’s going on. Expect media attention, and don’t be afraid to chat with local stations over what’s going on. Let them know that people are fed up with eating genetically altered food that 34 pieces of peer reviewed research have linked to diseases like Lymphoma and DNA damage. Tell them that this movement is a grassroots initiative to kick out Big Food corruption that we see with biotech giant Monsanto, which is funded by United States taxpayer dollars that we are drained of each year.

Are you familiar with rice bran and rice bran oil? Utilizing rice brain oil is a great way to get rid of anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and anti-hypertension drugs along with a whole list of other pharmaceuticals that can cause chronic fatigue syndrome. Rice bran oil also supports cancer prevention, lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health, just to name a few of its innumerable benefits. For more wonderful rice bran oil benefits, read on:

Rice Bran Oil Benefits

• Rice bran oil is full of gamma-oryzanol, a plant cell offering numerous health benefits that have been clinically supported, including boosting testosterone levels (for athletes) and helping individuals to build lean muscle. Gamma-oryzanol also helps with menopausal-induced hot-flashes, lowers cholesterol, and can help those with anxiety and depression since it increases the brain chemical, norepinephrine.

• There are NO trans-fats in rice bran oil. Trans fats, also known as ‘bad fats’ have been linked to all sorts of diseases, including obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack and clogged arteries.

• Rice bran oil is full of linoleic acid (as is sunflower oil) as well as oleic acid (the stuff also found in olive oil). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to offer a host of wonderful benefits for the body. The substance can: stabilize blood sugar levels, help people lose weight, prevent cardiovascular disease, lower high blood pressure, preserve muscle tissue, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system and help to prevent some forms of cancer, including breast cancer, lung and stomach cancers.

• Further adding to rice bran oil benefits, rice brain oil is full of tocotrienols, a member of the Vitamin E family. Vitamin E is known for preventing many forms of cancer and supporting the cardiovascular system and great skin, hair and nails.

• Rice bran oil has a high cooking threshold so that it doesn’t turn brown, smoke, or breakdown causing carcinogens in your food and therefore your body. It’s smoke point is 490 degrees F, higher than even grapeseed oil. You can fry your foods in this oil to make them taste better, keep the food from sticking to the pan, and enjoy rice brain oil’s benefits simultaneously.

If you’re a fan of rice bran oil, then be happy to know that it has much to offer. In addition to knowing rice bran oil benefits, why not discover the health benefits of other foods? Check out our health benefits page, which reveals health benefits for over 60 different foods and herbs!

As Dow pushes for its new corn called “Enlist” to be approved by regulatory bodies, the USDA is saying it needs ‘more time’ to conduct environmental studies. It will come down to a battle of the public’s insistence verses the coffers of mega-billionaire companies, and we will either see new GMO alternatives or regulatory action. It’s more than this one crop that hangs in the balance, though. Dow first wants to roll out Enlist corn, followed by soybeans and cotton to be used in combination with its new Enlist herbicide that combines the weed-killers 2,4-D and glyphosate.

Since the USDA seems to need some help in making their decision, let’s have a gander at just some of the studies coming out in the past months about the negative impact of GMO on the environment as well as our health. I encourage you to share this article with as many people as you can to get the word out, as well as March on Saturday, May 25^th in the March against Monsanto to help convince our government agencies that we’ve had enough of GMOs . Whether it’s from Monsanto, Dow, or anyone.

Here’s but some of the latest:

• The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently been slapped with a lawsuit because GMO agricultural practices and pesticide use is killing off our bees, a viral part of the ecosystem that helps to pollinate crops.

• GMO corn and the high fructose corn syrup which it is often used to make is killing us at staggering rates. Diabetes and cancer rates as well as obesity can all be traced back to GMO crops.

• The funky DNA in GMO crops is creating super bugs that then warrant more and more chemical fertilizers. When will it ever stop?

• GMOs are hiding in all kinds of foods since our government won’t support labeling, so the cereals you eat, the meals you dine on in restaurants, and even the ‘health’ food you consume is often laden with GMO.

• Organic farming can feed the world, even though we’ve been told otherwise.

The list goes on, ad infinitum. What other proof does the USDA need?

 How to Prevent Gallstones Through Diet

Traditional medicine usually resorts to surgery to remove gallstones or medications designed to dissolve them. The latter method can take days or even months to dissolve the stones. Preventing them first is quite obviously the best option.

A healthy gallbladder depends on a healthy body, and keeping the gallbladder healthy begins with a proper diet. Juicing on a daily basis can help drastically, delivering high impact nutrients in a concentrated and quick form. Several online sources say beets are especially useful in the prevention and even treatment of gallstones or a gallbladder attack. They are even recommended for the pain associated with gallstones.

The American Medical Association suggests that a low-fat, high-fiber diet can also help prevent gallstones. We suggest ingesting fiber from whole plant sources, rather than processed grains, however. Things like leafy green vegetables, fruit, and beans offer some of the best fiber sources. However, opinions diverge on the role of fats in the development of gallstones. Other research suggests that healthy fats like those found in vegetables like avocados or coconut oil could actually help ward off gallstones.

The AMA also suggests nuts can significant reduce your risk of gallstones, while sugar increases the risk.

When you already have a gallstone, it’s suggested that you eliminate it with the use of sunflower or organic soy lecithin. These products are widely available and have been repeatedly proven to decrease size and concentration of gallstones.

And finally, as if turmeric needs any more good publicity, studies have linked this curry-spice to a healthy gallbladder by improving the solubility of bile. Dr. Andrew Weill, M.D. suggests taking curcumin daily to improve gallbladder health. He also suggests adding vitamin C to your supplement regimen.

Gallstones are painful. And once you’ve had them, you are at an increased risk of having them again. So, stay healthy and eat right to prevent a reoccurrence of these preventable problems. Let others know how to prevent gallstones as well, sharing which natural solutions worked for you.

Here are a few important ways to support the detoxifying organ, the skin:

1. Eliminate Chemical-Laden Products

Start by eliminating lotions, soaps, and cosmetics that contain toxic chemicals known as parabens. Parabens cause estrogenic activity in the body, which can lead to breast cancer and birth defects if used for multiple generations. They can also lower sperm count in men, and cause reproductive issues in women. There are actually thousands of chemicals you’d rather not put into your body in shampoos, conditioners, soaps and other personal care items, so start with paraben elimination and then think of choosing cosmetics and cleansers that use only (or many) organic ingredients. Here you can find a PDF file that contains the formidable 15 cosmetic toxins to avoid at all costs.

2. Dry Skin Brushing

Dry Skin Brushing is imperative for supporting your other organs of detoxification, like the liver, kidneys and the digestive organs. Dead skin cells and excreted waste from our pores can build up and clog the skin so that it cannot continue to detox from the inside out. We sweat when we participate in sports or other activities, but our skin is ‘clogged’ so that we cannot expel toxins, and so they get trapped in the dermis. This can cause acne, hives, skin rashes and other unsavory effects. Dry skin brushing helps. Always use a natural brush and make sure your skin is dry when you begin, leading in toward the lymph glands and heart. This will also increase lymphatic flow, which helps to detox the body and boost immunity.

3. Sweating

Another way for detoxing the body, sweating is a great way to reduce toxic burdens. Physical activity that makes you sweat is one great way to eek out the toxins, but so is a dry sauna. If you have access to one, make sure you hydrate well, with water or coconut water since it is full of potassium, and then sit in a sauna to undergo thermal depuration, a fancy term that means – sweat plenty. Sweat can contain all kinds of toxins, from heavy metals to pesticides, and as an added benefit, dry saunas can help to break up fat deposits faster where many toxins are stored so that they can be excreted from the body.

4. Stop Bathing in Toxins

Put water purification devices on your shower head or install a water filter in your home that takes the chlorine, aluminum, pesticides, fluoride, and even arsenic out of your municipal water supply. Activated charcoal can take some toxins out, but not all of them because it is only ‘attracted’ to certain things. Try looking into a full house filter if you can afford it, or purchase a smaller unit that really works. Of, and if you don’t think you’re tap water is riddled with gunk, just take a look at this eye-opening video from Anthony Gucciardi.

Implementing these tips is a great start to detoxing and allowing your skin to do it’s job. In addition to these tips, slow down the mind with deep breathing, spending time in nature, and taking a few extra minutes in silent contemplation or meditation so that you don’t create so many stress hormones that need to be detoxed as well. Stress is an overlooked toxin.

Additional Sources:

HealthyHealing

Have you ever wished you could own a parrot that sat on your shoulder and said, “squak! don’t buy that’ as you ambled through a grocery store or retail shop, purchasing something like toilet paper or a box of macaroni shells that would add to the financial coffers of companies like Monsanto, or billionaire industrialist David Koch? While your local grocery store probably wouldn’t let you get much further than the pet food aisle, you can now download an App for your Android or iPhone that tells you exactly when you are about to purchase GMO corn or Dixie Cups, a product of one of the many subsidiary companies of Koch Industries, Georgia Pacific.

Think of the new App, championed by Darcy Burner, a former Microsoft programmer and congressional candidate, like an all-knowing friend who reminds you not to get that pair of yoga pants because Dupont Chemical (also a subsidiary of Koch) makes the lycra in them, or to choose that bag of carrots over this one, because there is no GMO in it. If you thought fair trade hang-tags were a way to keep a watchful eye on corporate greed and environmental negligence, then get a load of the app that just scans a barcode and tells you if its ‘safe’ or not.

In fact, the App will trace the product all the way back to its ‘parent’ company, so you know exactly who you are supporting with your purchases. For example, did you know McNeil Nutritionals is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, who has continued to put carcinogenic chemicals in their products for years?

Related: Top 10 GMOs to Avoid

Even better, you can scan your bag of chips and see if it was made by one of several dozen companies that gave millions of dollars to oppose mandatory labeling of GMO foods, and essentially, boycott them.

The app is similar to the many other initiatives currently mounting against Monsanto, as NaturalSociety Editor Anthony Gucciardi detailed a few days ago in his article ‘March Against Monsanto Is The Beginning of The End For Monsanto’.

Ivan Pardo, a 26-year old wiz kid is the freelance programmer who created the App. Thanks to inventions like Pardo’s, and the transparency his techno gadget offers, it will be harder for companies to hide behind their web of lies and convoluted oligarchy that allows just a few elite companies to rule the world with chemicals and illegal price-fixing schemes. If everything is rigged in favor of just a few billionaire industrialists, like Monsanto, then educating people about their purchases gives them the power to ‘vote’ with their dollar, and choose to purchase something else, instead. Such a simple way, to stick it to the companies who have been poisoning your food, dumping toxins in your air, water, and soil, and to support those who actually have the modicum of a moral compass when it comes to making a dollar (or several trillion) at the expense of millions of people’s health.

Let’s face it, remembering who the top 10 most unethical companies are when you are just trying to buy some dinner, or a new pair of pants shouldn’t mean you are inadvertently contributing to corporate greed and fraud. Fortunately, there’s an App for that, and it comes out in May, premiering on iTunes and the Google app store. Its free and its name is Buycott.

Background and History

Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean, but now found growing in the wild across the globe, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a member of the mint family (like oregano, thyme, and peppermint, of course). Though while the leaves are shaped similarly to others in the mint family, slightly thickened with deep veins, one thing that sets lemon balm apart is its scent. The herb has a sweet lemony smell, which likely made the plant all the more popular over the years.

In the 17^th century, a concoction known as Carmelite Water, produced by the French Carmelite nuns, contained lemon balm and was used as a “miracle water” for improving memory, reducing pain, encouraging digestive health, and improving mood, among other things. It’s also been used over the centuries as a wound healer and relaxation-promoter. In gardens, it’s always been known as a great way to attract pollinators.

Healing Properties Medicinal Uses of Lemon Balm

As with most plants in the mint family, Melissa officinalis has a wealth of health benefits. Bruise the plant with your fingers and you can smell the oils credited with many of these healing properties. It’s antiviral and anxiolytic properties are of particular note.

As mentioned, lemon balm has always been recognized as a relaxation aid and used to ease insomnia and anxiety. Modern studies have affirmed this age-old use and found that particularly when used in conjunction with other relaxing herbs, like Valerian, it shows promise as an anxiety treatment.

Italian researchers found that lemon balm’s antiviral properties make it a great topical treatment for Herpes simplex virus type 2 (cold sores). Their study suggested the herb doesn’t stop the virus from entering the cells but fights it once it invades. This, they say, justifies the need for future clinical trials on the plant’s antiviral benefits.

There may even be a promising future for lemon balm in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, researchers found that using a lemon balm extract over a period of 4 months showed a significantly better outcome than a placebo in boosting cognitive performance. The extract both improved cognitive function and reduced agitation that is normal in Alzheimer’s patients.

Of course there are other potential medicinal uses of lemon balm that should not be ignored.

Other Potential Benefits of Lemon Balm Include:

• Insomnia treatment
• Digestive aid
• Anxiety
• Indigestion and heartburn
• Wound treatment
• Headaches
• Fever reducer
• Decreased congestion
• Cold sores
• Nervousness

Growing and Harvesting Lemon Balm

Remember, lemon balm is a mint, so like others within the mint family it can and will grow above and beyond. For this reason, it makes a great container plant.

You can usually find small plants at a local greenhouse. Or, you can start it from seed. Make sure you wait until the danger of frost has passed, however, as lemon balm prefers warmer temperatures.

It needs full to partial sun to thrive. If you live in a particularly warm climate, it can cope with more afternoon shade than if you are further north.

Trimming it back occasionally will help encourage new growth and a fuller, healthier plant.

You can harvest when you prune or anytime you want some of the leaves. Like mint, cut the stems back close to the base of the plant. The fragrance and flavor are best from the fresh leaves rather than dried. So use it fresh throughout the summer before drying what’s left just prior to cold temperatures hitting.

How to Use Lemon Balm Medicinally

Lemon balm is most often taken internally through a tea or a tincture. Teas are easiest and involve using 2 teaspoons of fresh leaves (or 1 teaspoon of dried) per cup of water. Allow to steep for 5 minutes before using.

Tinctures are for the slightly more advanced herbalists, but shouldn’t scare a novice off. For a tincture, you cover the fresh herbs with vodka packed into a canning jar and allow it to sit for about four weeks. Strain the herbs off after this period and store your tincture in a dropper bottle or small mason jar, taking drops when you need it.

Because the vapors of lemon balm are similarly soothing, consider making your bathtub into a giant tea. But don’t sip the bathwater while you soak.

Additional Sources:

University of Maryland Medical Center

Livinin the Green

MS is considered an auto-immune disease, where the immune system attacks the nervous system. A definite cause is unknown, but symptoms can vary from mild (numbness, tingling, tremor, etc.) to severe (extreme weakness, loss of vision, electric-shock sensations, slurred speech, extreme fatigue, and limited mobility). Usually, the symptoms come and go. In most cases, the disease worsens with time, with periods of remission getting shorter or nonexistent as the disease progresses.

Because the disease is a bit of a mystery, so is treating it. Of course, Big Pharma has come out with prescription solutions, but they are very expensive, come with a long list of side effects, and aren’t guaranteed to work. Fortunately, many people with multiple sclerosis have found relief through natural means.

Some Potential, Natural Solutions for MS

Because the disease varies widely, so too do the solutions. MS patients are cautioned that what works for one person, may not work for them – not so surprising. However, these potential solutions have had success in many people who suffer from the potentially debilitating disease.

• 1. Practice Healthy Living - While this tip may seem vague, things like stress and lack of sleep can worsen the symptoms of MS. For that reason, it’s important to take care of yourself. Exercising regularly, meditating, and sleeping on a set schedule could help to minimize your symptoms. Don’t sit around all day, and try not to fill your day with stress and anxiety.

• 2. Eliminate Some Foods - Some foods have been shown to aggravate the symptoms of MS. These include highly processed foods, polyunsaturated vegetable oils (like those in margarine), artificial sweeteners and preservatives, and gluten. For many, eliminating grains altogether seems to lessen symptoms markedly.

• 3. Add Other Foods - Other foods have shown promise in healing the body and reducing MS symptoms. These include: foods rich in Omega-3 fats (fish, nuts, etc.), grass-fed proteins, healthy fat sources (coconut oil, olives, avocados, etc.), and fermented food and drinks (kefir, apple cider vinegar, kimchi, and sauerkraut).

• 4. Use Herbs - Anti-inflammatory herbs may help when symptoms are at their worst. Some helpful herbs and spices that are easily added to foods are turmeric, ginger, thyme, cinnamon, oregano, rosemary, and clove. Evening primrose oil, more difficult to find, may also help because of its concentration of gamma-linoleic acid, which helps optimize nervous system function.

In addition to these changes, a vitamin D supplement may help with MS. Some research suggests there is a link between low vitamin D levels and the rate at which MS patients experience relapses. The best vitamin D source is regular sunshine, however, you can also get a D3 supplement if you fear you are deficient.

Another study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry found that a cannabis extract has positive effects on the treatment of multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Natural treatments for multiple sclerosis depend mostly on living a healthy lifestyle and abstaining from highly processed and dangerous foods. This can be done with a significant amount of determination and motivation. And when the symptoms of MS are at their peak, they provide a serious amount of motivation to maintain even tough lifestyle changes.

Additional Sources:

NaturalNews/036983

MayoClinic

Known as falcarinol, this secret weapon acts to protect carrots from fungal disease. It’s a natural defense mechanism for the vegetable, and when eaten, it becomes a natural defense mechanism against cancer.

Researchers with Newcastle University’s School of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development have led the way on falcarinol research. They found that rats who ate feed with falcarinol equal to the amount in carrots were one-third less likely to develop “full scale tumors” than those who didn’t have facarinol. These were rats who already had pre-cancerous tumors.

“Our research allows us to make a more qualitative assessment of the vegetables we are eating, rather than quantitative,” explained lead researcher Dr. Kirsten Brandt. “We now need to take it a step further by finding out how much falcarinol is needed to prevent the development of cancer and if certain types of carrot are better than others, as there are many varieties in existence, of different shapes, colours and sizes.”

Additional research from Dr. Brandt and her colleagues found that whole carrots contain more benefits than sliced carrots. Boiling whole carrots, they found, increased the falcarinol concentration by 25%.

The researchers say this is because although some nutrients are leeched out in the cooking process, keeping the carrots whole helps prevent this. In addition, the heat from boiling decreases water retention in the vegetable, increasing concentration.

On the other hand, boiling sliced carrots for 12 minutes reduces the concentration of falcarinol by about 70%, according to researchers with Harvard University.

The lesson here is, if you like your carrots cooked, keep them whole. If you prefer them raw, you can slice them all you want. But, no matter how you eat them, you are receiving some anti-cancer benefits – at least according to this study and other research.

While beta-carotene and alpha-carotene also have anti-cancer properties, Dr. Brandt says the anti-cancer activity of falcarinol is even more powerful. She recommends eating one small carrot daily—certainly an easy prescription.

The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.