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5 Herbs That Boost Blood Flow

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All of the cells in our body are dependant on blood and its circulation to provide a steady supply of oxygen, energy and nutrients and to remove waste products.

Heart disease is a silent killer that has claimed more lives than all forms of cancer combined, not just in the United States but in the whole world. It is the number 1 cause of death worldwide, indiscriminate of gender, age, and race. Surprisingly, many people turn a deaf ear to doctors’ warnings. Worse, they tend to ignore the early signs and symptoms that are the body’s way of saying, “Do something before it’s too late!” ^[1]

It’s ultimately beneficial and life-saving not to ignore the symptoms of heart attack such as chest pain, discomforts in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, and other symptoms such as nausea and light-headedness. These symptoms are brought by poor circulation which in effect causes cardiovascular diseases. Suffice to say, improving your blood circulation also improves your overall wellbeing. ^[2]

1) Chilli pepper: Chilli pepper has been used for various medicinal purposes since the early civilizations. The US National Library of Medicine recognizes chilli as an effective spice in preventing and reversing common health ailments. Other than a potent painkiller, toxin remover, and antibacterial, it also boosts blood circulation and feeds the cell structure of arteries, veins, and capillaries to maintain and regain elasticity.
It also acts as a clot buster, making you less vulnerable to arterial blockage. By thinning the blood and increasing blood flow heart attack and stroke are prevented. Because of its compounds that improve blood circulation and reduce blood pressure, chilli is considered a heart food. ^[3]
Warning: Large oral doses is possibly unsafe especially to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Medicinal oils and lotions that contain its extract are possibly unsafe to children under two years of age. ^[4]

2) Cacao: Studies have found that foods rich in flavonoids were associated with a decreased risk of heart-related death in women. Furthermore, the Dutch Zutphen Study provided further data on the efficacy of cacao in lowering blood pressure and reducing cardiovascular illnesses. Flavonoid, the largest family of polyphenols in cacao, is responsible for lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels, and increasing blood vessel health. According to Harvard epidemiologist Dr. Eric Ding, the intake of flavonoid-rich cacao is linked to reductions in risk factors for diabetes, a major cause of heart diseases. Its resistance to the hormone insulin regulates blood sugar levels.

Note that chocolate, while high in cacao content, typically contains sugar. It’s advisable to seek high cacao percentage or even pure cacao – which can be added to smoothies and other recipes. ^[5]

3) Motherwort: Motherwort has a reputation as a heart herb, thus the scientific name Leonurus Cardiaca. Its Chinese name yi mu cao means “benefit mother herb”. The founder of the School of Natural Healing in Utah, John Christopher, N.D., called it “the best heart tonic known” because of its usefulness for shortness of breath and high blood pressure. Its ability to strengthen blood vessels and lower blood pressure is attributed to bioflavonoids, the same compounds found in cacao. ^[6]

Warning: Excess of 3 grams in intake may cause diarrhea, uterine bleeding, and stomach irritation. It should not be given to pregnant women as large amounts may cause miscarriage. ^[7]

4) Hawthorn: Hawthorn has been a treatment for heart diseases since the first century and it can be located in supplement form. Originally, the berries were used as remedy to various heart ailments like chest pain, hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure, and heart failure. Today, people also utilize the leaves and flowers for medicinal purposes.

Studies report that hawthorn contains antioxidants that prevent free radicals from causing cell damage that contribute to early aging, cancer, and heart disease. Like cacao and motherwort, flavonoids are also found in hawthorn. It regains the elasticity and strength of blood vessels and improves blood flow. Studies have proven the efficacy of hawthorn in relieving heart failure symptoms such as palpitations and breathing problems in heart disease patients.
Warning: Do not take in high dosages. ^[8]

5) Ginkgo Biloba: Ginkgo, one of the oldest living tree species, is a top selling herb for improving blood circulation and enhancing cognitive functions. Scientific evidence has shown that ginkgo opens up blood vessels and prevents blood clots. It is also rich in antioxidants which repair the cells and overall body functioning. Its two types of chemicals, flavonoids and terpenoids, have been reported to prevent heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. Terpenoids have been proven to dilate blood vessels and reduce the stickiness of platelets.
Its fruits are inedible and the fruits’ inner seeds may be poisonous, according to studies. Although ancient Chinese herbal medicine uses the leaves and seeds, it is typical in the West to take standardized Ginkgo Biloba extract made from dried green leaves.
Warning: Ginkgo should not be given to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with epilepsy. For safety, consult a physician first. ^[9]

More medicinal herbs are believed to improve blood circulation but scientific evidence is not enough to conclude their accuracy. Like all medicines, medicinal herbs also have contraindications and side effects that one should be aware of before taking. The effectiveness of these herbs goes along with proper knowledge from professionals.

Further Tips:

If we focus on improving our circulation, not only will we reduce the risk of diseases like arteriosclerosis but there must be a knock-on positive effect on every organ of the body, improving its function, and it could treat many common health problems at the root. Often the aim of herbalism is to support the body’s natural defences and prevent disease from taking hold.

There is growing interest in herbs and natural remedies that can be used safely without the possible unpleasant side-effects or the unknown long-term effects of modern medicines. Many herbs do not produce instant results but tend to work more gradually.

There is one lesser known activity that will also help to improve your circulation – deep breathing! Regular periods of exercise will help you expand your lung capacity but conscious slow, deep breathing will boost these benefits and will be helpful even on its own.

Also ensure you have enough vitamin E and B vitamins in your diet.

Further resources:
Top 10 Herbs For Circulation
http://www.herbs-info.com/garlic.html
http://www.herbs-info.com/cayenne.html

What Is Gematria?

 

Hebrew numerology, and the secrets of the Torah.

BY HILA RATZABI

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Kabbalah and Mysticism 101

 

The Zohar

Gematria is a numerological system by which Hebrew letters correspond to numbers. This system, developed by practitioners of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), derived from Greek influence and became a tool for interpreting biblical texts.

In gematria, each Hebrew letter is represented by a number (for example, aleph = 1, bet = 2, etc.). One can then calculate the numerical value of a word by adding together the values of each letter in it. In the realm of biblical interpretation, commentators base an argument on numerological equivalence of words. If a word’s numerical value equals that of another word, a commentator might draw a connection between these two words and the verses in which they appear and use this to prove larger conceptual conclusions.

The Hebrew Alphabet in Numerology

1 Aleph א
2 Bet ב
3 Gimel ג
4 Daleth ד
5 Heh ה
6 Vav ו
7 Zayin ז
8 Het ח
9 Tet ט
10 Yud י
20 Kaf כ
30 Lamed ל
40 Mem מ
50 Nun נ
60 Samech ס
70 Ayin ע
80 Peh פ
90 Tzady צ
100 Koof ק
200 Reish ר
300 Shin ש
400 Taf ת
500 Kaf (final) ך
600 Mem (final) ם
700 Nun (final) ן
800 Peh (final) ף
900 Tzady (final) ץ

Who Believes in Gematria?

While gematria was used periodically in the Talmud and Midrash, it was not central to rabbinic literature. The rabbis occasionally employed gematria to help support biblical exegesis, but did not rely on it heavily. They were much more invested in the use of logical reasoning and argumentation to support their positions.

However, gematria is essential to  , the Jewish mystical tradition. The very basis of the kabbalistic cosmological system rests on the belief that God created the universe through the power of the Hebrew letters along with their numerical values. Indeed the many names of God and their permutations in Kabbalah have numerical values that are believed to contain potent power.

Gematria’s Core Texts

The term “gematria” comes from the Greek “geometria,” and the concept can be found in the writings of the Greek philosopher Plato. In rabbinic literature it first appears in the Baraita of the Thirty-two Rules, by Rabbi Eliezer in 200 CE. This text, which no longer exists except in references, elaborated 32 rules for interpreting the Bible. The 29th rule involved the use of gematria.

Sefer Yetzirah, the earliest kabbalistic text, believed to have been written in the 2nd century CE, was the first kabbalistic text to elaborate a system of gematria. This text is concerned with God’s creation of the universe through the powers of the Hebrew alphabet, and with the permutations of God’s name. The mystic practitioner could, it was believed, use this knowledge to harness the powers of creation. Sefer Yetzirah supposedly contains the instructions to create a golem, the legendary creature made out of mud, popularized by the Maharal of Prague in the 19th century.

In the 1200s the Hasidim of Ashkenaz (“German pietists,” a group of rabbis who practiced a mystical and ascetic form of Judaism, not to be confused with Hasidism, which developed 500 years later) used gematria in their mystical writings. Their writings influenced Abraham Abulafia of the Castilian school of Kabbalah, whose meditation techniques included contemplating different names of God. The kabbalist Moses Cordovero of Safed, Israel, in 1542 compiled a handbook called Pardes Rimonim (Garden of the Pomegranates), which includes many sections that expound on and elaborate previous systems of gematria. The Sabbatean movement of the 17th century (the followers of which believed their leader, Shabbatai Tzvi, to be the messiah) and the Hasidic movement of the 18th century built on the kabbalistic tradition, employing gematria as a tool in their mystical writings.

Famous Examples of Gematria-Based Arguments

One famous example of gematria is in the interpretation of Genesis 14:14, which appears in the Baraita of the Thirty-two Rules and in other Talmudic and Midrashic references. This verse mentions the 318 men that made up the household of Abram (later in Genesis, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham), whom he took with him to defeat the armies that had recently attacked his kinsman. The numerical equivalent of the name “Eliezer” (Abram’s servant) is 318; therefore, the text suggests that in fact it was only Eliezer that came with Abram, not all 318 men. A  text, the Kedushat Levi, uses gematria to draw additional conclusions from this verse. This text observes that the numerical value of the word “siach” (Hebrew for speaking or conversing) is 318. Therefore, the text argues that it was through the power of speaking God’s holy name that Abram defeated his enemies.

Much of gematria focuses on the various names of God and the powers of these names. The name Elohim adds up to the number 86, which equals the value of the word hateva (Nature). This equivalence leads to the conclusion that Elohim refers to the divine presence as it manifests in the physical world, as opposed to the name YHVH, which connects to the heavenly universe.

Modern Belief in Gematria

Throughout history, some people have believed that the  contains secrets that can be revealed by gematria and used to predict historical events. This belief continues to this day, and was popularized by Michael Drasin’s best-selling (and much criticized) The Bible Code, published in 1997. Some Hasidic communities that are steeped in the study of kabbalistic literature believe that the Torah, as read through the lens of gematria, contains clues to current events.

Skeptics, however, have noted that gematria can be employed as “proof” to support diametrically opposing positions, depending on the words and phrases one chooses to highlight and calculate. A somewhat tongue-in-cheek illustration of this involved an attempt to predict the 2016 United States presidential election through the gematria of the candidates’ names. The author of the article showed how this line of reasoning could be used just as easily to predict the victory of either candidate. Nevertheless, gematria continues to have an appeal in some quarters.

Jewish Shtetls Endured for Longer Than You May Think

 

By Maddy AlbertJan 27, 2021

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For many American Jews, when we hear the word “shtetl,” our minds immediately turn to Fiddler on the Roof. The 1964 hit Broadway musical and 1971 film is set in Anatevka, a fictional shtetl that depicts an insular, homogenous community in Ukraine in 1905.

It’s no surprise that the story of Tevye and company resonates with so many of us, as it so beautifully details shtetl life but ultimately ends with — spoiler alert! — the family becoming displaced by pogroms and moving to America. Between 1900 and 1924, some 2 million Jews fled to the United States, the majority from the Pale of Settlement — the Eastern European region that included Russian Poland, Lithuania, Belarus (Belorussia), most of Ukraine, the Crimean Peninsula, and Bessarabia. Among those Jews who remained, many fell victims to antisemitic violence, the Holocaust, and the suppression of Judaism in the Soviet era.

But here’s a little — and perhaps unexpected — history lesson: Not every shtetl shared this tragic fate.

No, this isn’t a setup for a novel (though if your interest is piqued, be sure to check out The Lost Shetl, Max Gross’s excellent book about a fictional Jewish town that mysteriously survived the century’s many tumults). Despite the exodus of Jews from the Pale of Settlement in the early 1900s, some Jewish shtetls in Ukraine and Moldova survived until the 1970s — and a few even remained up until the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s.

An intriguing new documentary by Katya Ustinova, Shtetlers, paints a picture of what life was like in these forgotten Jewish towns, as told through the eyes of nine people who lived in them. The film, which premiered this week at Russian Film Week USA, explores a history that is both revelatory and tragic. Ultimately, Ustinova shows that shtetls were a place of deep culture and of “neighborship,” as she called it.

“I hope Shtetlers would attract people interested in their East European Jewish roots,” Ustinova told Kveller. “After all, 75 percent of people identifying as Jews came from this region.”

See the trailer here:

Ustinova, a New York-based filmmaker with a degree in Social Documentary from the School of Visual Arts in NYC, grew up in Moscow in what she calls a “literary family.” While her playwright grandfather was Jewish, her family did not engage with their Jewish identity much until her father, a businessman and art collector, founded the Museum of Jewish History in Russia in Moscow in 2012.

Upon discovering modern artifacts from Jewish shtetls, Ustinova and her father realized that shtetls lived and thrived longer than they had realized. Paraphrasing Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, Ustinova told Kveller “some stories are just waiting to be told.”

She added: “No one in the U.S. would think to tell stories about shtetls.”

But Soviet Jews, Ustinova realized, were eager to share their experiences with shtetl life. And so, in 2015, the filmmaker visited several shtetl residents who have since scattered across the globe.

The first couple that Shtetlers focuses on — Volodya and Nadya — are not Jewish. They are Ukrainian farm workers who still live in a former Ukrainian shtetl. They had such fond memories of their neighbors that they began to adopt Jewish customs, like making matzah brei. Now in their 70s, they live in a home that used to belong to Jews — they even kiss the mezuzah when they enter. Volodya reminisces that his Jewish neighbors were “the first to help” with matters of intellect or money. (Yes there may be some stereotyping there — perhaps due to faulty translation, as the film Russian with English subtitles — but aww.)

Another character, Vladimir, converted to Judaism after his mother, who is honored in Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial as a Righteous Among Nations, sheltered dozens of Jews during the Holocaust. He reflects on spending lots of time with his Jewish neighbors in the shtetl, and how Jewish culture was so central to his own community that his non-Jewish mother baked challah while he was growing up. Vladimir now lives in the West Bank and began an Orthodox Jewish family, which now includes grandchildren.

Isaac, who was 95 when he was filmed, grew up nonreligious with Jewish roots in a Ukrainian shtetl. While Isaac was a “pioneer” — or, member of the Communist Youth Organization — which forbade any practice of religion, his Jewish grandfather insisted that he have a bar mitzvah ceremony. Remarkably, Isaac also fought for the Soviet Union during World War II — eventually a chief of staff of a battalion, fighting on the same front as his brother, Boris. Isaac notes, “More than 200,000 Soviet officers were Jewish. It just got acknowledged recently.”

Incredibly, Isaac did not share the fate of many fellow Jews during this era — like Emily, who tells the story of narrowly escaping a concentration camp during the Holocaust. She grew up in a Ukrainian town, Khmelnik, whose Jewish community dates to 1565. In a clip on the Shtetlers Instagram page, Emily tells of the loyalty of her friend, the non-Jewish sister of a Ukrainian police chief, who brought her family food while they were in hiding.

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A post shared by Shtetlers (@shtetlers)

Sadly, in the five years since most of the filming took place, many of Shtetlers’ subjects, including Emily, have passed away. As such, Ustinova feels even more lucky to have captured their words and faces on camera. Ultimately, the film celebrates the spectrum of experiences of Soviet Jews, and as Ustinova said, it demonstrates to American audiences “that the world of their ancestors actually outlived Fiddler on the Roof and the war and the Soviet Union.”

Ustinova is hosting a Q&A with Russian Film Week today, Wednesday, at 8 p.m. which is free to register for here. While the film is still in the festival run, you can see it by registering for Russian Film Week, and Ustinova hopes the film will be released in Video on Demand in the US soon. To watch more clips from Shtetlers, including some that didn’t make it into the film, you can check out the film’s Instagram page here.

Header courtesy of Russian Film Week USA