A recent article titled   “Sexual Activity, Erectile Dysfunction, and Incident Cardiovascular Events”, from The American Journal of Cardiology determined that men, who made love at least twice a week were 45% less likely to develop heart disease than those who did once a month or less.   Researchers studied 1,000 men, (sorry girls), and concluded, “that a low frequency of sexual activity predicts CVD, (cardiovascular disease)… and that screening for sexual activity might be clinically useful”.  There are numerous articles floating around that make the same connection; healthy sex drive equals healthy heart.  What is the connection?   In general, we all understand the importance of physical activity, and yes, sex counts as exercise, but researchers also believe that people who frequently desire sex, AND are able to do so, are more likely to be healthier overall.  (See the links below).
From another angle, intimacy within an emotionally supportive relationship can ease stress, and boost endorphins, which makes any negative sensations, including pain, seem to decrease in volume.  The result is better sleep, and a relaxed easy mind; the ultimate medication.  This represents a good example of the overlapping of the two medicines.  In Chinese Medicine, the Heart is the Emperor and, in a sense, represents the brain.  Initially, common symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, or depression begin to develop if the Emperor is disturbed or unsettled, but over time may begin to affect blood pressure or arterial circulation.  The bottom line; sleep well, eat well, exercise, and when possible spend more quality time in the bedroom.

More here…

And here…

Leptin is all the rage at the moment. Talk about this wonder hormone was initially tied to its ability to control appetite and thus manage excess weight.  Now, not only is it relevant in the struggle against obesity, but it seems to have a strong link to reproductive health, fertility, and yes, sexual health.

Leptin is made in our fat cells.  When we eat, this hormone navigates the bloodstream, travels to the brain, and communicates with the hypothalamus, telling our hands to put down the knife and fork.  Normally a big meal means high leptin, which equals reduced appetite, and increased fat burning.  If, and when, we ignore that message and instead fill up on seconds, our cells become resistant to those signals, (much like insulin-resistance), and we will eventually end up with many additional cellular fat storages.

On the reproductive side, rising levels of leptin, in response to an increase in body fat, (as in female puberty), lets the body know that there’s enough energy to sustain a pregnancy.  This explains how a low percentage of body fat can interfere with reproductive success.  According to the Harvard University Gazette, women who lose their monthly cycles, from under-eating, over-exercising, or both, boosted their fertility by leptin injections.  Leptin may also reduce bone loss which would make it even more beneficial to women who chronically fail to menstruate.

If leptin is being researched as a fertility enhancer, who’s to say that it wouldn’t impact one’s sexuality?  I stumbled across this article that vaguely links leptin to libido.

It does make sense that adding good fats to the diet, like omega-3’s, which have been linked to lower levels of depression, will make you happy and put you in the mood.  Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so you might consider feeding the RIGHT FATS to your significant other to get those leptin levels up, ( in the healthy way that does not make love handles).

Try these for starters:

ALMONDS
Through antiquity, almonds were regarded as fertility symbols. The aroma of almond supposedly arouses passion in females. The scientists say that almonds provide high doses of vitamin E, magnesium and even fiber. Therefore, there seems to be something in the almond myths after all.

AVOCADO
Just by looking at the shape of avocado, you will see the reason why it was associated with sexuality. The Aztecs called the avocado ahuacuatl, or “testicle tree.” They thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled testicles. The Catholic priests in Spain found this fruit so obscenely sexual that they forbade it. On the other side, avocado is rich with folic acid, vitamin B6 and potassium. They are also said to boost immune system.
Other examples of good fats include walnuts, coconut, olive, and flaxseed oil, (all cold-pressed organic), mercury-free fatty fish, (sardines are great!).

Eat fat, be happy, healthy, and fertile!

In order to create some context for my experience, let me explain some of the background to why I am referring to Shaktipat as “getting my head cracked open.” Bwiti is a West Central African religion that uses the root of the iboga plant in order to transcend “normal” consciousness. A practitioner of Bwiti is called, also, a Bwiti. The use of the tryptamine-based plant hallucinogen marks the coming of age of a Bwiti and is ingested in large quantities in order to communicate with the spirit world and begin the path of adulthood by inducing a spiritual enlightenment, stabilizing community and family structure, meeting religious requirements and solving problems of a spiritual and/or medical nature. This experience happens over three days and is never repeated as such in the Bwiti’s lifetime. They refer to this event as “having their head split open.”

The form of head cracking I experienced does not use intoxicants or hallucinogens in order to achieve the awakening. Instead, other spiritual tools are engaged for a more benign, yet profound transition to higher consciousness. This is all well and good, but how has it affected me in the past months?

After the initial head-cracking procedure, I felt unusual for about three days. I was advised that this would be the case and it was suggested that I lay low and not make any important decisions until 72 hours had passed. The following morning I felt an intense physical difference. I awoke with my hands throbbing and it felt (and this is as best I can describe it) as though my body were full of light. This is not unusual in the later stages of an acid trip, I was told by a brain specialist. The ergotamine in the hallucinogen causes vasodilation in the extremities, hence the throbbing. There was no LSD, so it had to be a naturally occurring phenomenon. When I arose from bed the following morning, my perception was quite abnormal, as though I were looking through a colorless kaleidoscopic lens. I had only had a few hours sleep but felt extremely well rested. I decided to go to an early morning Tai Qi class in Coldwater Canyon park. This added another dimension to my experience because with the progression of the Tai Qi form I started to feel simultaneously euphoric and somewhat dizzy as I attained an increase in qi flow. The trees began to melt together and bodies of what I can only describe as energy, blotted out the surrounding flora with a white, semi-opaque cloud that seemed to intensify as we very slowly continued in an almost trance-like meditative state, until, as we completed the form, the cloud slowly dissipated.

The next couple of days saw a decrease in the intensity of the perceptual jarring. I was given a mantra to help the settling of the energetic shift, and was informed that I should listen to it for about five minutes a day. At this point there was no going back, and the only control I had was to ease off the accelerator. This is not my way, and instead I jammed my foot down hard and started listening to the mantra up to three hours a day. I found myself to be perpetually thirsty and was drinking in excess of a gallon of water daily and it still wasn’t enough to stop my lips and throat from getting dry.

I used a yantra in meditation for 33 days in order to maintain a consistency over the procession of experiences. The one that I used was the one recommended to me: the Navgraha Yantra. I used the mantra with it for 30 minutes a day or more for the full duration, sometimes going to over an hour. The energetic sediment that was stirred up was simultaneously extremely interesting and very upsetting, but the Siddatech products, “Deep Sleep,” “Rescue,” and “Detox” (the latter of which I had been using for several months) helped to expedite me through this process to no end.

Upon entry into 2010, my perceptual experience had changed. There were more practices to undertake for the new year, and many different avenues to explore and revisit.

Imagine how excited I was to discover one of my favorite condiments, cilantro, both a common and inexpensive herb, also has the remarkable medicinal benefit of being able to leach heavy metals from the body. The detoxifying/ healing property of cilantro was the “accidental” discovery of Dr.Yoshiaki Omura. When treating patients who suffered from viral/bacterial infections he noted how the micro-organisms would use heavy metals like mercury, aluminum, or lead, to protect themselves from the antibiotics. The “accident” happened while he was testing for those metals and noticed the level of mercury in the urine increased after one of his patients ate a nice big bowl of Vietnamese soup (pho), which contains cilantro, (aka coriander). Additional tests showed that eating cilantro also increased urinary excretion of lead and aluminum, and when cilantro was used concurrently with antibiotics or natural anti-viral agents, and/or omega 3 fatty acids the above infection could be eliminated for good.

Today it is nearly impossible to avoid toxic metals given the extent of environmental pollutants contaminating our water, soil, and ocean sourced food, and more than likely we all have some degree of heavy metal toxicity. Yet how great is it to know that there is an easy and inexpensive way to remove these metals from the nervous system and body tissue! So if you are a die-hard sushi fan, like myself, have or have had dental amalgams, or just want to eat and detoxify at the same time, here is a simple and delicious recipe for Cilantro Chelation Pesto, (garlic is also a natural chelator with anti-viral properties).

Cilantro Pesto

1 bunch cilantro (leaves and stems)

About juice of half a lemon

1-2 cloves garlic

About ¼ or more olive oil

Blend ingredients until desired consistency is reached

This recipe is very basic, I’ve made it many different ways by adding flax or chia seeds, Himalayan sea salt, cayenne pepper, walnut oil, additional herbs, jalepeno pepper, (if you like it spicy) and greens, nuts, etc…This is a really powerful tissue cleanser so try a couple teaspoons on toast, rice, potatoes, or steamed vegetables. The natural chelating properties of this pesto are enhanced when combined with a fat and protein, organic eggs are a good choice, since mercury needs something to stick to. Heavy metal poisoning is growing and known to be a major cause of hormonal imbalances, cancer, thyroid problems, neurological disturbances, learning problems, and food allergies.

If you are a fish or sushi lover please visit the Monterey bay aquarium website where they list all the best and worst fish choices by region according to impact on the environment and fish species, as well as heavy metal toxicity.