The Sense of Taste – OR – 8 Ways to Reduce Salt in Your Diet
Salt has been with us for awhile.. Go back in time about 6000 years and you’ll find salt being processed in Romania and China. It was prized by Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Hittites and Egyptians.
Historians tell us that salt extraction and rapid rapid population growth happened at the same time.
Salt has a history of being an issue in wars up to and including the 20th century. Governments throughout history have imposed salt taxes on their people…and throughout time people have revolted. Think the French Revolution, and Mahatma Gandhi’s protesters.
Salt has been used as currency. The word salary comes from from the word salt. Salt was traded for gold in some historical cultures.
On a religious level, salt has long been an important part of ceremonies in most of the world’s religions.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used salt and water in their offering ceremonies. Some scholars tell us that this was the basis of the Holy Water used in some Christian ceremonies today.
We know that the Aztecs used salt and salt water in their fertility rites.
Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Shinto followers all use salt in religious ceremonies.
Salt plays a strong part in the Old Testament which has many references to salt. One famous bible story describes Lot’s wife being turned into a pillar of salt as she looked back at the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as they were being destroyed.
The New Testament has references to salt.
Celtic rituals use water with salt added.
We flavor our foods with seasonings in five categories: sweet, sour, salt, bitterness, and umami.
We exercise our sense of taste when we eat food. The sense of taste works with the sense of smell to help us taste food.
As a culture, we have a taste for salt…so much so that some of our citizens suffer with high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease.
All of us, without exception, will improve our lives if we can reduce our intake to one teaspoon of salt per day. So, how do we do this?
Cut Down on Processed Foods. This is easily done by eating less processed food. Cut back on pizza, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, deli/luncheon meats. Buy fewer canned foods such as chili, soups, stews, ravioli. A key here is fresh foods have lower amounts of sodium.
Cook More Meals at Home. When you prepare meals at home, you’re spending less on food and can control what goes in it. Cooking meals at home allows you to limit the amount of salt used in your food..
Eat Veggies and Fruits. Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables naturally have less sodium. Include a vegetable or fruit at every meal.
Cut Back on Salt Slowly, a little at a time. This way you’ll become accustomed to the natural taste of food. Learn to season your foods with herbs, spices, garlic, and lemon.
Read the Labels Many canned goods have more than a daily serving of salt. Find products that are “low salt”, “no salt”, and “low sodium”. A caution here: sometimes the processed foods which are labeled “low salt” are “high sugar”. Don’t trade one bad habit for another.
Skip the “high Sodium” Condiments. Avoid high sodium ketchup, pickles, olives, salad dressings, soy sauce. Choose those seasoned with reasonable amounts of salt.
Hide the Salt. Don’t put salt on the kitchen counter or the table. Use low salt seasonings instead.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Our Skin Protects Us and Guards Us.
The largest organ we have, our skin is our biggest protector. It is a sense organ because it is through the skin that we exercise our sense of touch.
Skin is both emotional and spiritual. When we describe skin, we use words such as protect, nourish, insulate, communicate, heal, give, receive.
Our skin is our boundary so there are many skin issues to deal with throughout life. This blog has already addressed the following issues in previous posts: acne, callouses, corns, eczema, peeling skin, psoriasis, shingles, sweaty feet, and thick skin.
Whew! That says a lot about our skin and the work it does. What it says is this:
Reflexology for the Spirit sessions are very important when addressing sense organ issues in general and skin issues specifically.
When you offer reflexology for a skin issue, please work it holistically. In other words, work to heal the physical issue but also consider where this problem is manifesting itself on the feet. It is also important to help your client partner feel safe for a few moments when you offer a session.
Safety can be suggested through the music used, the essential oils offered, and having enough blankets and pillows on the table. Think cocoon here.
Our skin is very emotional as well as spiritual. Therefore, it reacts to everything that happens to us. Rashes, in particular are emotional reactions to life events. A good example of this is hives. A person suffering with hives may be experiencing fear, irritation, feeling overwhelmed, deep anger.
There will be more posts in the future about different issues which manifest themselves through the skin.
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Thurman Greco
Eye Infections and Reflexology for the Spirit
Physically, eye infections are caused by viruses and bacteria. Infections usually are found on the surface of the cornea, the lining of the eyelid, or in the sebaceous glands.
When the left eye is affected, I feel that the person has a lack of joy, fun, and creativity. Instead, the person is finding life to be hard, challenging, and a struggle. As these things happen, the sufferer begins to focus on the negativity and “Loses sight” of the positive things in life.
When the Right eye is affected, I feel that the person is experiencing challenges in abundance, relationships, moving forward in life. The person becomes irritated with him/herself and is unable to “see how the situation can be changed for the positive”.
With eyes, of course, it all boils down to how things are perceived. So, with our eyes, we see far more than just the object…unless we don’t want to see. And, our perceptions are all colored by our upbringing, education, learned biases, life experiences.
When offering reflexology to a person suffering with an eye infection, work the urinary system with a focus on the kidney reflexes. Work the sense organs with a focus on the eye reflexes. Work the spleen reflex. Work the liver and solar plexus. End the session by working the lymphatic system.
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Thurman Greco
Sense of Sight – Eyestrain
Physical causes of eyestrain include excessive eye fatigue which can result in headache. Other causes include stress, overuse of eyes at work or at video or computer monitors. Poor lighting, incorrect eyeglass/contact lens prescriptions.
Spiritually and emotionally, vision problems go hand-in-hand with emotional traumas, fear, and rejection of the outside world. It has been said that our eyes are the mirrors of our soul.
Relief is available for people suffering with eyestrain. Better lighting, better eyeglasses, Reflexology for the Spirit sessions. But also, the client partner needs to look at lifestyle issues and work to relieve stress, overuse of eyes.
As you offer reflexology sessions, be aware of the need for homeostasis. Deep relaxation is important.
Work the urinary system with a focus on the kidneys, work the sense organs with a focus on the eye reflexes, work the arm and shoulder reflexes, work the spine reflexes, work the lymphatic system and finally focus on the solar plexus and diaphragm reflexes.
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Thurman Greco
Tinnitus is a Spiritual Event
One way we perceive our world is through sound. This perception is influenced by our emotions and spiritual reactions to life events. We hear things and we also listen to what we’re hearing. We interpret the things we hear and listen to. We not only hear and listen to events happening around us but we also hear and listen to our inner voice.
My conclusion here is that hearing and listening is both highly emotional and spiritual. Reduced to it’s lowest common denominator, the concepts we hear can touch our core beliefs in ways that go straight to the heart and soul. Our attitudes, opinions, and feelings about what we hear may or may not be based on facts, or statistics, or even what’s real. Often, our attitudes cannot be changed by facts, statistics, or information.
Our feelings, beliefs, educational background and training, life experiences, all influence what we feel, see, and hear. Our responses include these influences.
Tinnitus is a ringing, hissing, or buzzing in the ears which has no external origin.
In my opinion, Tinnitus occurs when a person no longer trusts his/her own voice. Tinnitus occurs when your body tells you it’s time to pay more attention to your inner voice, to your feelings, to your inner self.
Reflexology for the Spirit sessions are important in the life of a Tinnitus sufferer.
Work the respiratory system with emphasis on the sinuses, work the sense organs with emphasis on the ears, work the entire endocrine system and finish up the session with working the liver and the solar plexus. Homeostasis is very important here and that is exactly what your sessions will offer.
Peace and food for all.
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Thurman Greco
Reflexology Blog – Ear Infections are common in young children and can be dangerous.
Ear infections are often connected with respiratory tract infections. They can be either caused by bacterial or fungal infections brought on by water or other foreign matter in the ear. They can be either chronic or acute.
Ear infections are so common that about half of all visits to pediatricians are for their treatment. This is an important statement because spiritually, ear infections occur when a person is having trouble hearing what is going on around them. Children sometimes have difficulties expressing feelings.
So…what might a child be hearing that will distress him/her to the point of an infection? Abusive language, people shouting at one another, bullying behavior. An earache suggests that the subject is very disturbing to the child. It represents a pained heart or mind.
Adults dealing with ear infections have the same spiritual issues. Words that come to mind here are resentment, unsteadiness, being judged, blame, frustration, anger, arguments.
And, of course, the most difficult voice to hear sometimes is that of the inner self.
That being said, ear infections can be very serious. Ear infections are potentially dangerous health events and need to be supervised by a physician.
The bottom line here is this: If someone has an ear infection, s/he needs to seek medical care to take care of the physical aspects of the disease. S/he also needs to deal with the painful sounds and events in life which are stressful enough to contribute to ear infections.
Reflexology for the Spirit can help, but not replace the medical attention needed. When working the feet, focus on the sense organs with emphasis on the ears, work the spleen, work the lymphatic system, and complete the session by working the liver and solar plexus. What you will bring to the table, which is very important, is relief, calm, homeostasis, an encouragement of the body systems to fight the situation.
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Thurman Greco
Ear Disorders are Both Physical and Spiritual
Physically, ears have many disorders.
Outer ears have infections, cuts, burns, frostbite, ruptured eardrums.
Middle ear problems go with upper respiratory infections. Young children suffer with ear infections. Some of these infections are connected with respiratory-tract infections as well as infections resulting from water or other foreigh substances entering the outer ear.
Inner ears suffer with allergies, infections, reactions to medications.
Spiritually, people have health issues with the ears when a person has difficulty coping with what s/he is hearing. Our ears help us maintain our balance. Listening is very challenging if the subject matter causes pain or discomfort.
At times, it is difficult to hear one’s inner voice. Listening to one’s inner voice may, at times, be more difficult than listening to someone else’s voice.
When offering Reflexology for the Spirit sessions to a person with ear disorders, it’s the goal to offer the client partner an opportunity to experience grounded listening.
Begin the session by working the sense organs focusing on the ear reflexes. Focus on the spleen and liver reflexes. Move to the lymphatic system, and finish the session with a focus on the solar plexus.
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Thurman Greco
Reflexology Blog – Dizziness
Dizziness is a sensation of whirling or light-headedness which can cause a loss of balance. Physically, dizziness has several causes: inner ear infections, sudden movements, drug reactions, and nervous disorders affecting the motions of the liquid in the inner ear. These motions of the liquids control the body’s equilibrium.
Spiritually and emotionally, a person suffering with dizziness is going through a period in life where s/he is feeling overloaded, and off balance. There is a sense of vulnerability caused when the person feels unsafe and scattered at the same time. Dizziness sufferers want to be somewhere other than where they are. The person feels as if s/he is living a life going around in circles. Often, the necessary changes needed to straighten out the situation are totally unknown to the dizziness sufferer.
When offering a Reflexology for the Spirit session to a person suffering with dizziness, focus on the following reflexes:
Begin by working the brain reflexes, then move on to the sinus reflexes. The third step is to work the sense organs with emphasis on the eye and ear reflexes. Finally, work the liver and solar plexus.
Be sensitive to the realization that your client partner is feeling very vulnerable when having a dizzy spell. Know that your sessions will offer centering and peace.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Reflexology Blog – 18 Essental Oils, 45 Foods Boosting the Sense Organs
ESSENTIAL OILS that benefit the sense organs include cedarwood, clove, frankincense, geranium, German chamomile, helichrysum, lavender, orange, patchouli, peppermint, Roman chamomile, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme, vetiver, wintergreen.
FOODS that nourish the sense organs include almonds, avocados, beans, bell peppers, black tea, blueberries, Brazil nuts, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrots, citrus fruit, collard greens eggs, fish, flaxseed, garlic, grapes, green beans, hot peppers, kale, leafy greens, leeks, lemons, melons, onions, oranges, oysters, peaches, peppers, pineapple, poultry, pumpkin, raisins, raspberries, salmon, seafood, spinach, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, water, watercress.
Of those 45 foods, the following list is those foods which are also included in Johnny Bowden, Ph.D.’s list of the 150 healthiest foods on earth.
almonds, avocadoes, beans, blueberries, Brazil nuts, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, collard greens, eggs, fish, flaxseed, garlic, grapes, green beans, kale, leeks, lemons, onions, oranges, oysters, peaches, peppers, pineapple, poultry, pumpkin, raisins, raspberries, salmon, squash, strawberries, sweet potatoes, turnips, water, watercress.
These are really two lists. I hope this is not too confusing.
IMPROVEMENTS to be expected from sessions to the sense organs:
Regular sessions focusing on the diseased or distressed sense organs can improve the body on both a physical, emotional and spiritual level.
Our eyes are the mirrors of our souls. Working the eye reflexes has a direct impct on spiritual issues that are troubling you.
Skin diseases and issues reflect problems in all aspects of our lives. Repeated, regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions assist in the resolution of many of these problems.
Because the ears deal with balance, regular sessions can help a person experiencing problems in this area. This is significant because people suffering with balance issues begin to lack confidence in the body’s ability to return to “normal” (homeostasis). Regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions offer the return of confidence.
Skin and hair condition are improved with regular Reflexology for the Spirit sessions.
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Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Reflexology Blog – The Sense Organs are Very Spiritual in Nature
Our sense of smell is not as sensitive as that of a dog, cat, or wild animal, but we do smell many things. Our sense of smell is both highly emotional and spiritual. We recall memories and emotions from deep in our past through the sense of smell. Inflammation in our nasal passages and infection in our sinuses prevents us from smelling as well as we should. There are also spiritual reasons why we don’t smell as well as we should. I believe we begin to lose our sense of smell as we deny our intuition. We can also begin to lose the sense of smell as our bodies shut down from being surrounded by too much environmental toxicity.
The body’s largest organ is the skin. Some people believe that the majority of skin problems are emotional/spiritual in origin. The best way to tackle skin problems is to treat them holistically and seek out the cause from within rather from without. Begin by working the digestive system and then go to the lymphatics. Include the liver and solar plexus.
Callouses, corns, and rough skin patches offer valuable insight into the challenges faced by our client partners. the location of these patches on the foot is important. For example, a callous on the part of the foot where the shoulder reflex point is has significance. Is s/he having shoulder problems? Is the weight of the world resting on those shoulders?
A callous on the heel area indicates that the person is dealing with core issues and beliefs.
Skin is protection, pure and simple. Our skin forms a protective barrier around our entire body. We allow the world to know us through our skin. And, our skin reveals much to the world: the state of our health, how much sleep we get, whether we drink alcohol and/or take drugs, how much and what kind of food we eat, what our lifestyle is.
Our sense of touch is revealed through the skin. As humans, we are tactile. Touch has powerful effects on us. We communicate through touch. On the positive side, touch is a hug, a kiss, a caress. Touch is communication without the spoken word. Through touch we offer comfort, reassurance, uplifting support. On the negative side, touch can be traumatic: pain, abuse, fear.
Skin is all about boundaries. Skin issues often arise when our boundaries have been invaded, penetrated.
Our sense organs are closely connected with our psychic and intuitive skills. We react quickly when danger is sensed or when unknown elements are sensed before they are actually seen, heard, smelled, or touched. We often read about someone “sensing danger” in books. People will also refer to having “goose bumps” or “experiencing one’s hair standing on end.”
The sense organs are very spiritual. Work them holistically, from within, realizing that when a person undergoes strong spiritual changes, the senses change. Homeostasis is encouraged when the senses work together to help our physical wellbeing, our emotional health, and our spiritual awareness.
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Thurman Greco
