Monday, February 29, 2016

Natural Health Remedies from the Islands of Tonga

Traditional knowledge passed down from generation to generation is crucial to the survival of the
Noni
people of Tonga. Many have embraced a Western diet, and experienced poor health as a result.

Medicine made the "old way" use trees, gifts of the sea, leaves from certain bushes and roots. Many families in Tonga treat their children with these plants. Most villages also have a person who is known for their success in healing through their natural medicines.

Limu (seaweed) is one of the traditional medicines used in Tonga. Fucoidan is found in the cell walls of limu. Biochemists are finding that it is nutritional, fights disease and builds immunity against sickness. It contains vitamins and minerals and amino acids that support healthy bodies. Much of the food we eat today lacks all the things our bodies need because the soil is depleted of nutrients and artificial fertilizers are being used.

Spinach does not even come close to the iron content found in limu. It is considered a super-nutrient. It prevents anemia, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer. The polyphenols found in limu helps to prevent tissue damage, toxins accumulating in the tissues, degenerative disease and abnormal growths.

Results of many studies on fucoidan can be found at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Medicines are also made out the following in Tonga:
  • Ango hina (tumeric of the ginger family) extracted from the root (used in many curries) for skin sores and rashes.
  • Manonu Tree - the leaves and bark are used for abdominal ailments
  • Fekika tree (mountain apple) - leaves and bark used for digestion problems
  • Siale Tonga - used to treat depression and other mental illness (in Tonga they believe that you are possessed by evil spirits, and this plant can get rid of it)
  • Maile - also used for mental illness
  • Kavakava ’ulie (shrub of the pepper family), Tonu (small green plants that grow close to the ground) - used for skin rashes or as a tea for stomach aches. Leaves can also be crushed and used for boils.
  • Kava (Piper methysticum of the pepper family)- The root is ground and used for ceremonial drinking, and the leaves are used for insect stings or centipede bites
  • Laufale (fern) and lautolu (wax plant from milkweed family) - for very young babies with skin rashes
  • Hehea (Myrtacaeae myrtle family) - bark and leaves for skin inflammation, teething, stomachache and boils
  • Nonu - Probably the most well known Tongan medicine is from the Nonu tree - also called Noni, and it is usually made into a juice. It is used for sores, styes, boils and thrush (infected gums).
I wish I knew the English equivalent to each plant and tree, but I do not, but if you watch the video Kau Faito’o - maybe you will recognize them. There are several more Tongan medicines available here.

My Babies!!

I personally had experience with the nonu tree when I lived in Tonga. I had two small children on bottles. They got thrush, and were unable to eat anything for several days. They also had fevers, because of the infection in their mouths. I was so worried and took them to the doctors at the hospital. They gave me rinses and other medicine, which I used faithfully, but my babies were not getting better. After several days of this without improvement, my mother-in-law came and asked if she could take my babies to the local village healer. I knew that meant they would be given Tongan medicine, but I was so worried and exhausted, that I gave the babies to her with my approval.

The healer mixed several plants together including noni, kava and burnt coconut. They ground it up and poured it into the babies mouths. Of course, they cried and fussed as they poured it into their mouths, but I was so happy when the gums started showing improvement almost immediately. I gained a healthy respect for Tongan medicine from that experience. Their medical knowledge has been passed down orally, and the healers are always willing to help out when anyone is sick.

Mental Illness

One day I went to visit my house girl (most foreigners have a girl to help with the housework, laundry, cooking, and children). She was covered from head to toe with crushed leaves (even in her hair). She told me that she was feeling depressed, and so her mother put the leaves on her. It was probably Siale Tonga or Maile, but I am not sure.

Many people in Tonga grow these plants and trees near their home, so they have them handy when they need relief from sickness. They utilize these Tongan medicines before they will go and see a physician. It is very much part of their culture and tradition.

It is interesting that there has been such an interest lately in natural medicine throughout the world, something the Tongans have known all along, and never stopped practicing in their homeland.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Music's Deeper Meaning

Our grandson in  Hawaii REK

Full Circle

I feel like I have come full circle. For the first 21 years of my life I lived in Utah. Since we were married we have lived in two different countries as well as Arizona and Hawaii. It has been quite an adventure. Now we are back in Utah, and I appreciate all those who have welcomed us back.

We were given two topics to choose from. I chose to give my talk on music. Not because I am an expert in it, but I have been surrounded with it all my life. As I grew up, my father played a reel to reel tape player with beautiful songs sung by Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Neil Diamond and others that had soothing voices and meaningful lyrics. My father also served as chorister for many years. Some of you knew my mother could sing and my two sisters have beautiful soprano voices. My brother hosts a sing-a-long every Christmas at his home.

Surrounded by Music

My husband learned to play the guitar at the Polynesian Cultural Center so he could have a job singing for the tourists. He used his singing in our courting in Provo while he was attending BYU. After we were married I returned to Utah with two of our children for a few months, he then wrote me a Tongan Love Song. My song now plays on the radio station A3Z in Tonga.

We have always been inspired to play music in our home, especially on Sunday. We listen to the hymns or classical music to keep us focused on the Sabbath Day. We have nearly always had musical instruments in our home, at least a guitar, an ukulele and a piano so the children could choose if they wanted to play them.

We often sang with our missionaries in Tonga. The Tongans have a natural ability to harmonize and share the Gospel through music. We taught the missionaries how to sing Love One Another in sign language. Singing it together in mission conferences always brought the spirit to our gatherings. I was asked to teach a small choir at the Tonga Side School once a week. Several of the children were of other faiths. We sang together many of the Primary Songs that we all know and love.

I also worked in the Fine Arts Department at BYU Hawaii. I loved that job. Our building was full of students who were aspiring singers. I could listen to their warm ups and singing lessons every day. It was thrilling to hear them progress in their singing abilities. Each Christmas, the Concert Choir would share Handel’s Messiah. It was a great reminder of the purpose for Christmas.
Whether we realize it or not, our heart is a spiritual instrument. It is always playing"musical notes and songs" which arise to God's ears. They are either pleasant sounds or notes of discord depending on the condition of our heart.

There are many very skilled singers in our world today. Many seek their own glory with their musical abilities. I believe that those who really influence others have a higher desire and recognize where their talents come from.

Our daughter (who is about as musical as I am) is married to a great man who is a member of the Tabernacle Choir. Our oldest son’s children have been involved in international choirs since he serves in the military and has lived in many countries. Our second son, Joel and his wife met through the Concert Choir at BYUH. Her father was one of the professors I worked with for several years. They share their talents at church, weddings, funerals and concerts. Our youngest son, Jacob, is a singer/song writer known as Cubworld who shares his talent with many. So you see, I AM really surrounded by music.

Music is the Universal Language

In Colossians 3:16 it says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” We need not have a trained voice to sing praises to God because he listens to our hearts.

Ephesians 5:19 says to us: "...Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." 

The Psalms of David were actual pieces of music which were sung...Scripture songs to us today. They all came from a pure heart which were voiced through music to God. For us, it is putting God's Word to music which is a pleasant and delightful sound to His ears when it come from a genuine heart. If our heart does not match up with His Word, we are not in tune but rather off key. We should not seek glory to ourselves through the talents he has given us.

Music flows from heaven to the soul. Hymns are songs of praise addressed back to God. I believe we were given music as God’s little reminder that there is something else besides us in this universe. Music is the universal language.

Heart Strings

Our hearts have many "strings" to it which we play upon constantly...our words, our actions, our motivations, our thoughts. In order to play skillfully we must allow the Holy Spirit to bring every "heart string" into that perfect pitch which is a pleasant sound to the Father's ears..."giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

When we lived in American Samoa, we were known in our neighborhood as the “singing family”. The homes were quite open without walls and with floor to ceiling screens to keep out the insects. The electricity would shut off usually in the evenings. To keep the children from being frightened, we would sing familiar songs which would calm them . Sometimes music is the only thing that gets your mind off of everything else.

We worked in the Oquirrh Temple the last couple of years. Preparation meeting always includes singing hymns. In Matthew 26:30 it tells how a hymn was sung by the Twelve Apostles before the Lord retired to Gethsemane.
Songs are used to comfort the sick and dying. You have perhaps heard of Michael Ballam. He visited BYU Hawaii and gave a presentation while I was there. He is a native of Logan and has performed in several operas throughout the world. At one time, he became very ill and lost his voice. For over a year he was silent.

Many people tried to help Michael, and he was humbled by the selfless service of others. He eventually recovered and vowed to be more in tune so he could help others. He wrote about the Healing Power of Music. He sings for residents of nursing homes and prisoners or others in need. He gives encouragement or solace to those that are in need of it. He is an at-large music missionary - a roving ambassador of goodwill with a tenor voice.

Our granddaughter, the youngest of 12 beautiful children was blessed with a sweet voice. Although she was born with spina bifida and spends most of her day in a wheel chair, she has been singing since she was very young. Her parents encouraged her to keep singing and her voice blesses our whole family and many others.

A picture on the wall at Dad’s quotes Zechariah 2:10 “Sing and rejoice O daughter of Zion. For, Lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord”.

Music definitely is important to our family. I am grateful we have the opportunity to sing the hymns of praise to show our thankfulness for all we receive each day. I hope when we sing our hearts match our voices.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Staying Young and Getting Older

Realization

Four Generation Picture of us - Copyright REK


There comes a moment in time when you realize that you are going to die. For some it comes early, for others later. You can commit to exercising, eating organic healthy food, and thinking positively, but they do not stop you from the inevitable.

My father once told me, "I don't jog because the extra time I live will be spent jogging". We can all reveal our wish for the way in which we will die, but there is no guarantee as accidents, illness, or disease can change all that.

Retirement


If you are lucky, you live long enough to retire. Our latest high school reunion revealed so many of our classmates that have not been that fortunate. After several health issues, including shingles, liver fibrosis, fatigue, and hormone issues, I applied for early retirement and disability. The process itself is very stressful and took over a year. Friends say I look too young to retire, but my body tells me otherwise. A few of my friends and I got together for lunch and we reminisced over our fun times together. One group actually took a weekend to spend together out of town, but I unfortunately couldn't make it.

Reconciliation


You finally realize that you cannot play with your grandchildren as much as you would like. Clothes start to fit better in some places than others. Unless you are blessed with terrific genes, you look for styles of clothes which cover up more than less. Rather than fighting age, you reconcile the inevitable and try to just be graceful. This becomes more difficult as little surprises including vertigo and unsteadiness creep in.

I went to an ENT specialist because of a constant ringing ear and a few bouts of vertigo. The doctor did some maneuvers that gradually helped the room stop spinning. He told me that some little crystals must have got in the wrong chambers of the ear and he had to help them get back to where they belonged (sounded like voodoo).

He also told me that I should sleep with several pillows to elevate my head so it wouldn't happen again. I showed him some ear drops I had purchased online to alleviate the ringing in my ear, and he told me they don't work. Also, someone suggested using Helichrysum essential oil, applying it on the outside of the ear, not inside. I had used both so-called remedies for some time, with no relief.
Because the ringing was only on one side, The ENT suggested a MRI - cat scan of my brain to be sure there was nothing serious causing it. I went into the machine, which is very noisy, I felt somewhat claustrophobic and it took longer than I thought. The MRI was normal. My ear still rings constantly. Some things in life you just have to accept and carry on.

Regrets I Have None


My Dad was recently asked to sing this song "Old Bones" at a talent show. He is 89 years young and although he seems to keep getting shorter, always keeps his sense of humor. His mind is still sharp, and he drives a red Mustang. He is amazing and never lets little things get to him. He still leads the music in church and rides his bike. He misses Mom terribly and can cry just from a reminder of her.
 I have had an adventurous life. I've followed my husband to the beautiful South Pacific and learned about new cultures and traditions. We were able to travel to Scotland (land of my forefathers) and Egypt, and look forward to our next trip. I love my twelve grandchildren, and believe that Grandmas should be a bit chubby to be hugable.

I remember giving one of my grandmothers Oil of Olay for her birthday. She gratefully accepted it. Although there are those who tout miracle products that can reverse aging, I have yet to find it, but I will keep looking.