[RASE]

Juicing is good. Grow your own if possible. Forage when you can find an unpolluted site. I forage extensively for fresh plants all summer and dehydrate them myself. That way I know exactly what I'm getting and from where. By summer's end, I typically have a dozen or so of the 2 gallon tin cans (like the kind they sell popcorn in during holidays) filled with dehydrated medicinals collected. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is very plentiful around here and is an excellent base for tea. It's really good for respiratory system. Sassafras, sasparilla, and licorice root are great for natural sweeteners. Roots boil for 10 minutes, turn off heat, add blossoms and leaves and steep for 5 then cool by putting the pot in a sink and running cold water around the outside. I use a 2 gallon stainless steel stock pot to make about 21 of 20 oz bottles of tea. These I freeze and then take a couple to work each day.

Make sure you're getting lots of zinc. RDA is 15 milligrams, but that's just a subsistence level. Us older farts need lots more. I take between 30 and 100 mg/day. Digestive problems often disappear with proper intake of zinc. Magnesium is good for heart and blood pressure. Just be sure to get enough copper, since Magnesium tends to deplete trace copper.

The subject is extensive. I urge you to find a society of herbalists to learn from. Some masters take apprentices. For those of you in the Indianapolis area, I know of an excellent one.

One more thing. In the coming days, if a total breakdown does occur, it would be good to know how to use the flora native to your area. Most of them have some kind of medicinal value. I was amazed. It's a fun hobby too. Could be of value sooner than you think.

Regards,

RASE