Good day to you! Today I start with 2 short research ideas for your good health.

1. I know it is not exotic but water has been used as a 'general cure all' since ancient times. In Japan it is popular to drink water immediately after waking up each morning. The Japanese medical society says water can be used as a 100% cure for: Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases.

Two quarts are advised - but if you more weight than the norm, you may need more. Here is a web site that gives more information, directions about Japanese usages:

http://www.unp.me/f150/water-a-medicine-itself-43189/

NOTE: If you drink caffeinated beverages, you need 2 cups of water for every cup of caffeinated beverage. Why? Caffeine is a diuretic.

Viral illnesses are in the news

1. A 2013 study showed Olive leaf improved insulin sensitivity in middle aged, overweight men.

2. It is neuroprotector. Olive oil phenols "have various protective role in the brain - post hypoxia-reoxygenation [cerebral ischemia brain damage after hypoxia reoxygenation and aging."

3. Another study reported oleuropein decreases or even prevents Aβ aggregation, which is inherent to Alzheimer’s disease

4. HIV is a viral infection. A scientific study showed that large doses of olive leaf acted as an effective treatment.

5. Olive leaf has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties. AND recent studies have show that it increases bone density and reduces systolic blood pressure. There was a scientific study showing that olive leaf can be an effective treatment for blood pressure.

My own experience with the latter came before I knew about Olive leaf's effect on blood pressure. I had been taking fairly large quantities of olive leaf but stopped last Spring.

This summer I noticed my blood pressure medication did not seem to be working very well. Took me awhile before I figured out what might be going on. Olive leaf had been reducing my systolic (top number) blood pressure. Guess who started using olive leaf again.

End of year 'feel good' tool

Good memories. You must have a few.

Revel in them - write them down, draw or paint them. Sing them. Create hand puppets to dramatize them. Such memories can help you feel good as you go about boring tasks or deal with difficult people.

Then, ask yourself how you - now that you are an 'older person' can create some really good memories for 'younger folks' - whether a child, an usually grumpy clerk, a friend or even care giver. (I have become aware the staff in nursing homes and many other facilities are often poorly paid, under appreciated and are stressed out much of the time by having to meet business goals while working with human beings)

Good memories can sustain them....AND us. Let's use them with wild abandon....wild, profligate abandon!

Thanks

BUT...BUT for me this season IS a time to give thanks. And you, who read this newsletter, are among my end of year Thank You. It is a privilege to write this newsletter and to know that you might read it.