By Harvey Robinson

The name Blackberry (Rubus fruiticous) includes at least 14 closely related species. All of the species are perennial, semi-deciduous, prickly, scrambling, shrubs with stem tips that take root where they contact the ground. They often form tough thickets that can be several feet high. Blackberrys have sharp, brambles or thorns on their stems that grab and tear clothes and skin.

The fruit
The fruit is not a berry, but instead an aggregate fruit of numerous drupelets. The soft fruit changes colour from green to red to black as it ripens. When they are black all over, it is time to eat them. They can be eaten dried, fresh or right off the vine. Each fruit is a collective, of many juicy segments each with one seed. It is a rich source of antioxidants. It is often made into jelly or jam and occasionally wine. The fruit contains Vitamin C, Vitamin A, niacin, malic and isocitric acids, pectin, sugars, anthocyanins, monoglycoside of cyanidin, and flavonoids (kaempferol, quercitin). Its flavonoids are thought to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal and belived to enhance the immune system due to its high content of Vitamin C and bio-flavonoids.

The flowers
The flowers are white to pinkish, 5-petaled, blossoms provide good nectar, which produce a medium to dark, fruity honey. Flowers and fruit are often on the same plant at the same time. The flowers have both male and female organs and produce seed asexually without fertilisation. The seed is a clone of the mother plant.

The root
The root also contains tannin, is an astringent, and is a blood purifier. It can be used to treat diarrhea and dysentery, but do not over do it. Avoid using more than three times a day. People with sensitive stomachs can experience upset stomach.

The leaf
Medicinally, the leaf of the Blackberry is most often used. It contains tannins which are chemical compounds that reduce intestinal inflammation, as well as to constrict blood vessels, which inhibits bleeding. Blackberry Leaf is also used as a tonic and a poultice to promote the healing of wounds and insect bites, and as a wash for oily skin. The leaf can be made into a tea to ease a sore throat. The tannin content of Blackberry leafs make it an effective astringent. The leaves can be chewed to treat bleeding gums and mouth sores.

How to make Blackberry Leaf Tea:
*Pick young tender green leaves either before the plant flowers or during flowering.
*Let the leaves dry completely for at least five days.
*Store in an airtight jar, to avoid mold, aerate frequently.
*Use 1 tsp of dried blackberry leaves per cup of water.
*Pour the boiling water over the leaves, cover and allow to infuse for 10 minutes.
*Sweeten with honey.

Nothing in this essay is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Blackberry has not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of any disease.

About The Author

Harvey Robinson, longtime herb grower and user.
Webmaster of http://eatmoreherbs.com/ and http://yearstoyourhealth.com/

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By Abby Rohrer

Trichotillomania, also known as compulsive hair pulling, is a way some people cope with uncomfortable feelings but it can quickly turn into a virulent habit or addiction.

Hair pullers pull out the hair from their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or other parts of the body, often causing noticeable bald spots. Many do so uncontrollably for hours each day. Hair pulling doesn'’t hurt a compulsive hair puller. In fact, most report that they find the behavior soothing. Trichotillomania is estimated to affect up to fifteen million Americans.

From the ages of twelve to thirty-nine, I suffered from compulsive hair pulling. For the past twelve and a half years I have been successfully healed from this compulsive behavior. Based on my experience, I believe that fully healing from a compulsion or addiction is a universal journey that is available to anyone. It requires that the sufferer look inside, take responsibility for his own problem and remain flexible while following his own guidance.

Along my journey I learned many things. Here are three of the most important.

1. In order to heal, I had to believe that healing was possible for me.

In order to change, I needed to get to the point where I really understood deep inside that my beliefs create my reality. If I couldn'’t believe that it was possible for me to stop pulling, then I would never be able to do it.

Visualization became an important step. Because I could actually see myself on the other side of hair pulling with a full head of hair, I was consciously and unconsciously able do everything necessary to achieve my goal.

I read books like Real Magic and You'’ll See It When You Believe It by Dr. Wayne Dyer, which helped me to incorporate the concept of how my thoughts create my reality. This gave me the tools to align my thoughts with my intention to stop hair pulling.

2. In order to fix a problem, I had to be willing to focus on it. Not just make it a priority in my life, but to make it the top priority in my life until I accomplished my goal.

Can you fix a flat tire without making it the focus in your life; even if just for a few minutes? Although this seemed obvious to me in terms of dealing with any external problem, it wasn'’t obvious when dealing with my compulsion.

Making your hair pulling the only priority in your life takes work and commitment. It takes a conscious effort to bring it to the forefront of your life.

At 12 years old, I put my hair pulling problem on the back burner and decided to get on with my life. After all, there was no known cure–what else could I do? Many of us fear that if we focus directly on a problem like this, it and our inner pain will worsen. So most of us are unwilling to take this risk. This fear is real and justified, but to heal you must be willing to move through this stage. As I began to focus on my hair pulling, my problem did get a bit worse. As I continued to front-burner it, I found that I was strong enough to deal with a temporary worsening in order to reap the greater rewards of ending the problem for good. Hanging in through this process required me to trust in the process of natural healing.

3. Everything in life is a gift - even painful compulsions like hair pulling. Use your gifts to learn and grow.

Hair pulling was not the problem, but a symptom of much larger underlying early traumas that I had endured. I had no memory of many of them. Consequently they remained hidden and unresolved and created a great deal of pain in my life. By facing my hair pulling, I was forced to recognize and heal the other problems in my life.

I learned to maintain a childlike excitement about discovering my repressed feelings even in the midst of pain and sadness. I began to embrace my emotions and to feel that I was on a treasure hunt, knowing that in releasing old feelings, no matter how painful, I could get closer to my goal to end the compulsion. At each step I uncovered clues as to what to let go of and where to look next.

Remember, it isn'’t just about letting go of something from the past; something you may enjoy. It’’s also about reaching out to a new and exciting future. A future that you can choose to live anyway you desire.

About The Author

Abby Leora Rohrer is a consultant and self-healing mentor, and author of What’’s Wrong With Pulling My Hair Out? and of the Pull-Free, At Last! System, a complete at-home healing program for sufferers of Trichotillomania. Visit http://www.pullfreeatlast.com or call 303/546-0788 for more information