Springtime is fast approaching. Embrace the season of renewal; of being able to see things in a new light; of new growth and beauty. Be aware and open to how you are connected with nature, and be willing to grow and change along with it, and if there is anything we can do to help with your personal growth, we are here for you.

Enjoy!

A teenager died after suffering an extreme allergic reaction to toothpaste, her family said yesterday.

In the days before her death, Francesca Sanna, 19, had complained her gums were sore.

She collapsed and died from anaphylactic shock minutes after brushing her teeth while preparing for a night out with friends, an inquest was told.

Francesca--known affectionately as Mim--suffered from asthma and severe allergies which dogged her life.

Her parents believed the newly repackaged Aquafresh toothpaste was the most likely cause of the fatal reaction. But the inquest in Blackburn was inconclusive.

Pathologist Dr. Richard Prescott told the hearing, toothpaste could cause severe reactions.

Commenting on the post mortem findings, he said: "Both lungs were inflamed and the bronchials were plugged with mucus, but she did not die from an asthma attack.

"It could have been a number of different things. People have suffered severe reactions in the past from toothpaste, mouthwash, or even tampons."

Coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a narrative verdict and concluded that Francesca died from an acute anaphylactic reaction and asthma.

She said: "She must have come into contact with or ingested something that caused her death. She was a young lady who was very careful; she knew what she could and could not touch."

Last month we spoke briefly on virtues as a whole. Starting this month, we will go a bit deeper into each of the different virtues and how they can add light to your life.

Virtue number one is Gratitude.

Gratitude is based on believing the saying, "Master prefers what occurs". When we really believe that what life brings to us is exactly what is needed, and we can see things as they really are, we are basking in the warm penetrating warmth of gratitude. How do we know when we see things as they really are? When we have that perspective, our soul is illuminated by peace. We find no objection to our circumstances. Not out of apathy, or giving up, or lack of effort, but because we are sensing the currents of life, aligning ourselves with that current, and joyfully moving in gentle concert with the forces of nature and the divine. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet, but they can be combined in billions of combinations to create a sentence that may cause stirring of gentle virtues, or rumblings of anger, bitterness, and dark depression.

This poem is a wonderful touching example of the power of a subtle shift in perspective.

The Touch of the Master's Hand
by Myra Brooks Welch

------------------------------------------------------------------------
" 'Twas batter and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile:
' What am I bidden, good folks,' he cried,
'Who'll start the bidding for me?'
'A dollar, a dollar', then 'Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three -' But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As sweet as an angel sings.
"The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, 'What am I bid for the old violin?'
And he held it up with the bow.
'A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand? And who'll make it three?
Three thousand , once; three thousand, twice;
And going, and gone!' said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
'We do not quite understand
What changed its worth?' Swift came the reply:
'The touch of a master's hand.'
"And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A 'mess of pottage', a glass of wine;
A game - and he travels on.
He's 'going' once and 'going' twice,
He's 'going' and almost 'gone.'
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand."

You may feel at moments, months or even years in life, that you are battered and scarred, and of no value as you are. But the simple reality is that that thought brings no peace, no love and no gratitude, and as such is not a view of things as they really are. Once we have accepted the influence of that gentle touch that can and does come from the divine, our life, our experience, and our approach will be "as sweet as an angel sings."

Please click on the link below. This is a powerful example of a simple song, simple words, being turned into a powerful message and moving passage.

Our challenge is to find gratitude in each moment, each event, each breath of this frail and brief existence. As we do this, we will find true health in our circumstances.

-Probiotics, such as yogurts containing live bacteria, have a tangible effect on metabolism.

-Probiotics change the biochemistry of bugs known as gut microbes. Different people have different types of gut microbes inside them. Abnormalities in some of these types of gut microbes has been linked to diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

-There is evidence that by adding probiotics, or the so-called "friendly" bacteria to your gut, you can improve your digestive system.

--(Looking for a good source of probiotics? GreensFIRST is your answer! Take a look at the bottom of this email for special savings!)

-A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology said that acupuncture can help relieve menstrual pain and improve the quality of life for some women.

-Almost two-thirds of the women who received acupuncture during the study reported at least a 33 percent improvement in their symptoms.

-A new review of evidence states that trimming damaged tissue through arthroscopic surgery does not relieve pain and swelling in arthritic knees any better than simply flushing loose debris from the joint.

-Possible side effects of arthroscopic surgery include a small risk of infection and blood clots. Moreover, the procedure does not stop the progression of osteoarthritis.

-Dr. Scott Zashin, a rheumatologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, says, "Unfortunately, medical treatments today are limited to relieving symptoms with drugs or surgery. I'm optimistic that more research will be done in terms of preventing further damage and loss of cartilage for those who have osteoarthritis."

-Doctors are to be told to stop prescribing antibiotics for coughs, colds, and sore throats because overuse of the drugs is fuelling the spread of killer hospital superbugs.

-Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, says: "The use of antibiotics do not work on most coughs, colds, and sore throats, and their unnecessary use can leave the body susceptible to gut infections like Clostridium difficile (or C.diff)."

-Overuse of antibiotics, which can only be used on bacterial infections, has been blamed for the rise of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The drugs can strip natural bacteria from the gut and allow C.diff to take hold and kill vulnerable elderly people.

-Children suffered higher rates of fever-related convulsions when they received a Merck & Co. combination vaccine instead of two separate shots, according to a new study.

-ProQuad, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and chicken pox, had two times the rate of seizures in children ages 12 months to 23 months than those who received one shot for chicken pox and another for the other three diseases.

Sincerely,

In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, we are having a sale on our GREENS!

Bring this coupon in during the month of March and receive $10 off GreensFIRST (limit 2 per customer).