Case No. 6-nyc-08232011 NUMBNESS

Life in the city

has its perks

and inverted, valleys

when sharply jutting

we regret the jumps from above

but still the excitement of falling

into darkness

electrifies , it's an upper 

but those mediocre 

middle grounds,

the gaps between stimuli

in those we suffer ourselves

aging. 

i would take a 

hockey puck to the face

over the monotony of

that same flirtation on repeat 

a line of ladies

in their most subtle 

angle of seduction

there is a right angle

the spokes of my flyer

the nubs of my ears and nose

the grace of my knuckles

wheeling by,

where, where was I between

it wasn't sex and work

there wasn't that rush to get away from one to another, in either direction

must have been home and home

alone, alone

when I grow up, I want to be

a speeding train driven by a lion on ice

i rob a line from the swell season

we all long to steal

my body's uninspired 

by your love

DIS-EASE:  NUMBNESS

REMEDY:   ITAL STEW

The familiar phenomenon we call boredom may be the cause of sluggish bodily function and vice versa. Excitement is experienced in every living cell. In the same way, boredom permeates from skin to bones. Solutions are available to address both the mental and physical causes. Nourish the body to improve function and in so doing, improve sensory enjoyment OR have an attitude change, get excited and the body comes alive. Our subject experiences numbness in his extremities and a general disinterest in his experiential world. Nourishment to increase blood volume may remedy his blasé attitude and his numbness from the inside out. A well balanced spiced root vegetable stew jump starts blood production.


On a winter visit to the Blue Mountains of Jamaica our hosts cracked fresh coconuts and picked chocho off the vine. Yam, thyme, squash and scotch bonnets. All went into a giant cast iron over the fire. The pot simmered for hours while we sipped home grown coffee.

Ital Stew

Fresh young coconuts, butternut squash, yam, kidney beans, yucca, 

green plantains, curry powder, chile, cinnamon, scotch bonnet or jalapeno pepper, 

green onions, thyme, black pepper, salt

Soak beans overnight. Crack coconuts, pour water and scoop flesh into blender. Process until smooth.

Peel and cut squash, yam, plantains and yucca into 1 1/2 inch cubes. Combine all ingredients in a soup pot. Add water if necessary to cover the veggies. Simmer over medium low heat until everything's soft.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

Squash, kidney beans, coconut, and scallions all contain varied levels of three building blocks for blood production: iron, C and B vitamins. 

Case No. 5-jersey-08012011 VERTIGO

she's a one man woman, in love with a one woman man

but for a few more days, a few more hours, she's a polyphony

two hearts, four hands, the prelude of twenty fingers on keys, all sing

a symphony inside her of chords, twills, tempered strings

it's only natural to teeter in transit, to be aflame in fire

legato, adagio, grazioso

the body slows and softens, glows and mends

as if she could be more tender

i laugh

she twinkles

cravings?, i ask

she giggles

ya' never would have guessed 

the not-so-secret love of southern belles

pimento cheese burgers on brioche buns

a spicy painting on her plate

recalls canvas

acrylics and oils long past, 

may be coming back

when four hands become two and two

finger paint smear ebony & ivory

childish dissonance at play

underscores a round, repeats

mother daughter harmony

DIS-EASE:  VERTIGO

REMEDY:  GINGER

Each day of pregnancy there are beautifully orchestrated changes taking place within the mothers body. Blood vessels relax and open and blood supply to the womb is increased. The uterus grows larger and there are shifts in the mothers center of gravity. 

Changes that support the baby can lead to vertigo in the mother. Improved blood supply to the womb may be at the expense of decreased blood flow to the brain and the growth of the uterus can put pressure on blood vessels and effect balance and stability. 

Ginger stimulates blood circulation and will prevent or reduce nausea, motion sickness and the urge to vomit.
   

For a fast remedy suck a slice of ginger without chewing. 

Ginger can be added in fresh or powdered form to your favorite recipes. Here's one of ours:

Gingered Rice

In a medium size sauce pan, bring 3 cups of golden rose organic short grain brown rice and 6 cups of spring water 

to a boil. Count ten minutes. Lower the flame to a simmer and count 20 minutes. Keep covered, turn off the flame, 

and let sit ten minutes more. *

Melt a hefty spoonful of coconut oil in a saute pan. On a medium flame, add a handful of each; 

chopped shallots, crushed walnuts, grated ginger and shredded kale. If you like spice, a sliced serrano chile, too.  

Toss and stir to combine well and avoid scorching. The shallots should soften, the walnuts toast and the kale turn a brighter shade of green. Since everything's chopped small, the cooking time is short.

Add a few cups of cooked rice and stir to combine. 

Sprinkle with sea salt or Herbamere seasoning to taste.

  

*Plain cooked rice can be refrigerated for several days and used to whip up this savory recipe in a pinch. 

Case No. 4-tampa-07092011 ALLERGIES

the carpenter painter

knows color as his constant companion

and blends as he builds

with no regard for boundaries

the sun agrees as if to say

nothings too big

his walls hold as much as can hang

and change

like the daytime sky 

a vivid quilt in motion, pictures pile atop each other in crimson, gold, azul 

moved by the best of hands, tiny part of pinky missing, no matter

for the practical dreamer

tiny parts are replaceable 

you know this face

the one that smiles easily but only when its true

and otherwise is thoughtful

stillness instantly turns to action and back again

this is the den of a mountain lion man

firey pacing, he's watching, anticipating his own every move

mastering the cause and effect

of multidimensional descriptions

in shapes that fit 

square or circle 

stitched together are basically the same

not accidentally confined by lines

each one is drawn by choice

he has,  Yes! , a visual voice

DIS-EASE: ALLERGIES

REMEDY:  MINTED BARLEY WATER

The human body's largest internal organ, the liver, has the ability to regrow its own damaged tissue, produce growth hormones for muscles and bones, emulsify fats, metabolize carbs and proteins and detoxify the body.

The magical liver transforms toxins and binds them to various substances in preparation for elimination.  

An overload of environmental toxins*, stale, processed or fatty foods, rage, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs can inhibit the livers functioning and cause it to become inflamed. 

In a weakened state, the liver is unable to render all toxins harmless. 

As a protective reflex,  the body produces histamines and all the symptoms associated with allergies follow. 

  

*An aggravating factor in our subjects condition is his long term exposure to solvents and toxic pigments, like those found in oil paints. 

Minted Barley Water

In a small sauce pan, combine 1 cup hulled barley and 2 liters spring water.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes.

Rest the mint in a bowl with a mesh strainer sitting atop. 

Pour the hot barley into the strainer and let it sit five minutes, 

stirring the barley occasionally to encourage the liquid to drain down. 

Scoop the cooked barley into a container to save.**

Collect the bunch of mint with tongs and squeeze gently before removing. 

Into the barley water, whisk a spoon of honey to taste.*

Drink warm or chilled throughout the day, as you like. 

*For more serious liver disorders, drink unsweetened. 

**Boiled barley makes a delicious cereal. Add almond milk, 

blueberries, a drizzle of maple syrup & a pinch of salt. 

Since ancient times barley water has been used as a general elixir.

In the liver, barley water removes cholesterol, reduces inflammation, and promotes tissue regeneration.

The nectar of honey bees is a medicinal treasure.  

Like an edible salve, honey soothes and relaxes the throat and nasal passages.  

Eating raw local honey can be used as a sort of vaccine, to strengthen immunity to environmental irritants, such as mold & pollen.  

Mint counters the mental irritation common in people with overwhelmed livers. It's aroma promotes optimism and alertness.  

"Art is the elimination of the unnecessary."

-Pablo Picasso

Case No. 3-tampa-07122011 SUMMERTIME SLEEPINESS

respect please

her preserved nature

from sacred earth birth place 

parted locks the sky around her

glowing moon face

drunken eyes, the innocent shines

most vulnerable and when, at last she grows

the strength of seeds transplanted shows

one look at her and syncopation settles

balance beauty benevolence

intelligent's presence flirts with passions, possibilities

rooted in and seeking still 

with endless enthusiasm

she must not tire

on this quest for

communication, education, and if he finds her, the natural man 

precious reminder of our purpose as people

to be singularly godly

side step the seduction, avoid the reduction

on offer each day, instead we could stay

as she does

focused and freely exploring

from Addis Ababa, the rare flower 

explodes

unhindered river flows,

have you forgotten? 

remember now

your birth right happiness

intrinsic and worthy

of humanly being

seated at the crown of self made responsibility

her femininity won't swallow mediocrity

this is it

respect please

your life

DISEASE: SUMMERTIME SLEEPINESS
REMEDY: GOJI WATERMELON STRAWBERRY


Summer weather in New York City* is dominated by a humid sub-tropical climate. For about three months a year a particular breed of drowsiness afflicts many city dwellers.             
Summer drowsiness is the result of hot and wet weather leading to excess dampness in the body. Damp conditions can result in stagnation and a summer long slumber party.

*Our subject resides in Tampa, FL, also a humid sub tropic region.

Goji Watermelon Strawberry
Set 1/4 cup of himalayan goji berries to soak in a cup of cool spring water.
They will plump and soften in fifteen minutes or so.
Meanwhile, clean and stem a half pint of the sweetest strawberries you can find.

Scoop enough watermelon to fill a quart container, keeping the juices also.

Blend watermelon, strawberries, goji and water until smooth.

Take heed, this juice will thicken as it sits, due to the coagulant in the goji.

*Ingredients should be chilled to produce a cool beverage.

Watermelon and strawberries expel excessive heat from the body. Goji berries increase metabolic function and circulation, meaning better blood flow and oxygen distribution especially to the brain.  A glass of Goji Watermelon Strawberry will help to maintain energy throughout the day.

Case No. 2-nyc-06282011 UNHAPPY GI TRACT

square window into open kitchen

sparking embers in the fire

he's the big log thrown on to keep it stoked and the master of the pyre

costillas de cerdo, pimientos de padron

pepper's skin crackles, meat clings to bone

the steels are kept hot, as he is,

outside scorched, insides simmer,

i'm perched at the window like a woodpecker

peeking in, flirting with the edge

between barstool and volcano

chef to chef he speaks

with that familiar grace, touch of vulgarity, dash of insanity

and surprise, the childlike eyes...

they flicker tender and tough

with the knowingness of a shipwrecked captain-

people have been lost. 

That story is written for all to see,

in ink on arms, his armor carved, a permanent tear

i wonder about the pain in piercing the skin, penetrating with color, 

is this body trained to endure, create, re-do

i wonder after he's fed them all does anyone ask

who feeds you

DISEASE: UNHAPPY GI TRACT

REMEDY: ALOE VERA WATER & CARROT APPLE BEET CUCUMBER JUICE

Should the body sue the mind before a court of judicature for damages, 

it would be found that the mind had been a ruinous tenant to its landlord.    

-Essays of Plutarch

Think of the intestines like the switchboard of the body. An idea or feeling in the brain activates the sending of a chemical or neurotransmitter 'message'.  Soon after, in the gut, that message is received. Negative messages such as "this mother@*&#!" drives me nuts" have the effect of hindering proper digestion while positive thoughts such as "damn this salad looks delicious" aide in digestion. 

In effect, the entire nervous system is responsible for gastrointestinal function. 

Identifying and reducing culprits of digestive disfunction (i.e. stress, fear, anxiety and unexpressed emotions) will allow the gut to slowly recover its natural vigor. 

In the morning, prepare the following:

From a litre bottle of spring water, pour yourself a cup and drink.

Into the water bottle funnel a cup measure of chilled organic aloe vera gel and shake vigorously.

Sip throughout the day.

Each morning, for two weeks drink two cups (500ml) 

 equal parts of organic carrot, beet, apple, and cucumber juice.

The best machine for this is the Breville 800JEXL, but Breville also has cheaper models which are perfectly fine.

There may be a juice bar in your neighborhood, happy to juice this for you.

Drink the juice like medicine, all in one sitting. The vital nutrients don't last.  

At once soothing and nourishing, aloe gel takes to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract like an edible salve.

It's almost as if the human body recognizes it as it's own and immediately uses aloe to patch up wounds. 

The inner lining of the aloe vera leaf contains anthranoids, which prompt the secretion of water and electrolytes in the large intestine. 

Aloe is popular in both traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. The Chinese describe aloe’s skin and the inner lining of its leaves as a cold, bitter remedy which is downward draining and used to clear constipation due to accumulation of heat (fire)4; the gel is considered cool and moist.  

Carrot juice contains antioxidants, iron, cobalt, and copper. 

Fresh apple juice (unfiltered) contain malic and tartaric acids, which reactivate beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Beet juice is the best juice for improvement of blood and formation of red blood cells. It is also a wonderful organic cleanser for liver, kidneys and gall bladder and stimulates activity in the lymph in the body…clears blood vessels and plays an important role in treatment of hypertonic and anemia.  (NOTE**beet juice should always be taken in small quantities, in combination with other juices. alone it is simply too powerful)

Cucumber juice strengthens the walls of blood vessels and stabilizes the work of the heart. A high potassium level makes cucumber juice very useful in normalizing blood pressure. 

Case No. 1-nyc-06122011 AVERSION TO SEX

The air is carved around her, six inches from her skin 

an air of precisely calculated elegance. 

And under that a pulse of hip. 

Two hips, yes, but a tight beat, a short set metronome. 

Click clack would go her shoes, but they step quiet instead; 

if this be a flame, it's set low and steady for the night. 

A lantern in wartime, chocolate melting slow.

Dark jeans hug her and black silk billows above. 

A flash of leopard print escapes the back slit, her bra closure 

dancing into the light every other step. 

I'm following her, a few steps behind 

and though she'll never know it 

there's a nearly constant companion 

to my thoughts. 

Does she have all she needs in this world?  

No matter how fiercely I pursue the other side of success, 

self centered and heady as I may be, 

there's a mother in her life every day, 

in the form of me. 

With that much affection and that little distance, 

comes this diagnosis of her current condition, 

and this proposition of a cure.

DISEASE: AVERSION TO SEX

REMEDY: POMEGRANATE  &  DANCING TO EXHAUSTION

From sexual aversion to sexual addiction, the pendulum of sexual imbalances may have similar root causes. Sexual imbalance may be emotional in origin. Likewise, there may be an organic cause such as hormonal imbalance, blood stagnancy or general poor health.  Stress, depression, alcohol and drug use all can cause aversion to sex.   Sexual trauma or violence, fear of pregnancy and fear of intimacy are also causes of sexual imbalances.     

Energy is generated and concentrated in sexual organs and glands.  Hormones produced in sex glands support cell & tissue regeneration and mental & physical performance.

Sexual energy can be likened to creative energy and the desire to create (or pro-create).

Pomegranate helps to maintain balanced hormone levels and sex drive. The fruit and its juice have been used to increase fertility and contain vital nutrition for pregnant women.

Pomegranate is packed with anti-inflammatory flavonoids that help blood vessels open allowing blood to flow freely to all areas of the body. 

Pomegranate wine is delicious and a particularly effective aphrodisiac. 

"Dancing can be magical and transforming. It can breathe new life into a tired soul; make a spirit soar; unleash locked-away creativity; unite generations and cultures; inspire new romances or rekindle old ones; trigger long-forgotten memories; and turn sadness into joy, if only during the dance." - American Association of Retired Persons

Dance has long been recognised as a way for prospective partners to select each other. Isadora Duncan said of dance that it needed 'the highest intelligence in the freest body'. Recent studies show how much can be conveyed by dance:

An article in Nature 'Dance reveals symmetry especially in young men' shows that dance in Jamaica seems to show evidence of sexual selection and to reveal important information about the dancer.[17] [18] Professor Lee Cronk at Rutgers says: "More symmetrical men put on a better show, and women notice". Symmetry is a strong indicator of fitness as it shows developmental stability.