PEace comes from WITHin, do not seek it without.....

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, let my world awake.
      Rabindranath Tagore

The problem is never how to get new,
innovative thoughts into your mind,
but how to get old ones out.
Every mind is a building filled with archaic furniture.
Clean out a corner of your mind and creativity will instantly fill it.
-Dee Hock

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
-Scott Adams

 Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns
in order to look at things in a different way.
-Edward De Bono

You can't separate peace from freedom because no one 
can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
      Malcolm X

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

subconscious is picking up what is happening before it happens..........

 You might paint it, or  you may dream it..............go within when you do paintings.

Boat
To dream that you are in or see a boat signifies your ability to cope with and express your emotions. Pay particular attention to the condition and state of the waters, whether it is calm or violent, clear or murky, etc. Are you "smooth sailing"? Alternatively, you may be ready to confront your subconscious and unknown aspects of yourself. The dream could be telling you not to rock the boat and to stay out of harm's way.

To dream that you are trying to jump off a boat suggests that you want to confront those difficult emotions and approach your problems head on.

 Canoe
To see a canoe in your dream represents serenity, simplicity, and independence. It is also a reflection of your emotional balance. You are moving ahead via your own power and determination.

Ferry
To dream that you are waiting for a ferry signifies unforeseen circumstances might hinder your desires and wishes. It may also mean that you are going through some transitional phases in your life.

Lifeboat
To see a lifeboat in your dream suggests that you need help in coping with your emotions. You want to be rescued from a current situation that you feel is beyond your control.

Rowboat
To�dream that you are in a rowboat symbolizes hard work and perseverance. You are coping with your problems and emotions in your own way and at your own pace. Consider the condition of the water.�

Sailboat
To see a sailboat in your dream represents your emotional persona and how you navigate through the various situations in your life. You need to learn to adapt to ever-changing situations.�

Tugboat
To see a tugboat in your dream indicates that you take pride in your work, even if it is menial or minor work. Alternatively, the dream means that you are looking for a some guidance and direction in confronting your emotions.

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Kjærligheten er fri for forventninger/Love does not have any expectation

 If you expect nothing, you're apt to be surprised. You'll get it.

My greatest Power and my greatest Inner Peace come
when I Intend my future, and when I avoid Expecting it.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I renounce all assumptions and expectations.
I thoughtfully consider all possibilities,
and CHOOSE among them with consciousness.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake,
not by mechanical aid, but by
an infinite expectation of the dawn.
- Henry David Thoreau

Compassion blooms where there is no expectation.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I am the master of my emotions -
I transform fear to love, anger to compassion,
pain to comfort, scarcity to abundance,
expectation to gratitude, and jealousy to generosity.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Our desires always disappoint us;
for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction,
yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.
- Elbert Hubbard

The River of Life has no meaning, no good, no bad,
no better, no worse, no love, no hate, no fear, no anger, no joy.
The River of Life has no judgment, no expectation.
The River of Life just IS. There is nothing to do.
There is nothing to say.
There is nothing to think.
There is nothing to feel.
The River just flows. The River is the source of all nourishment -
the source of all obstacles.
The River is the source of all life - the source of all death.
The River is the source of all joy - and the source of all sorrow.
Yet the River has no joy - and the River has no sorrow.
The River is just the River.
One can flow harmoniously with the River -
or one can struggle fearfully against the River -
and the River just flows.
One can accept the River - or one can deny the River -
and the River just flows.
One can worship the River of Life - or one can curse the River of Life -
and the River just flows. There is nothing to do - and the River flows.
There is nothing to say - and the River flows.
There is nothing to think - and the River flows.
There is nothing to feel - and the River flows.
The River flows - and all else is our drama.
The River flows - and all else is our invention.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

 

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

In everyone's life

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
Albert Schweitzer

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

YOU are LOVED

How do you know you are loved?

My friend,
you are dearly loved.
Even when you don’t feel it
sometimes;
Even when people fail to tell you
just how much you mean to
them;
Even when people don’t express it
the way you want them to.

How do you know you are loved? 

 Below are some of the things worth exploring:

1. GET A HUG

Nothing can compare to the warmth
generated by a hug.
No person feels as secure, as
intimate, as needed, as loved, as
someone being hugged.
At times I forget the nicest things said
about me, but I cannot forget those
times I have been hugged.
For surely, it brushes away our fears
and turns our tears into waterfalls of
grace.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for it from
those whom you know has great
concern for you.
Oftentimes, people really want to give
it away, but are just afraid to offer it.
Such people would be more than
willing to give to you that loving
embrace if only you will ask.
So why not ask?

A sweet smile,
a warm embrace,
a hand to hold;
small things,
precious things,
joyful moments,
for the one who receives,
and the one who lovingly gives the

2. GIVE OTHERS THE CHANCE TO CARE FOR YOU.

We are so wrapped up
in our independence,
in our pride,
in our self-sufficiency.
We have built a wall around us
to protect ourselves from pain.
But in doing so,
we have starved ourselves
from the love and concern
of those who truly care for us.
The wall we have built
has kept us from
receiving the attention and care
for which our inner selves
have long been screaming for.

Let others care for you.
Ask help when you need it,
and gratefully accept help given you.

There is so much
to love
in each other,
but we are so often blinded
by little moons,
which eclipse
the entire SUNS
of our beings!

Life is not perfect,
but that does not mean
we can never find happiness.
Life is difficult,
but that does not mean
it can never be beautiful!
My friend, do something
for yourself and
for the people who love you:
Believe that you are loved!

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

The Tantric Chakra System and Color Therapy

 Bildet er tilsalgs hos Siv Andersen art gallery i Sandnes ;))

The Tantric Chakra System and Color Therapy

In the ancient Ayurveda medicinal principles, color and the use of color is strongly related to seven chief chakras in the human body. Chakras are chi energy sources that align with the spine, and are considered spiritual centers of the body. If chakra energy centers are in balance, then the human being is healthy, but if the chakra center is blocked or over-stimulated, the individual may exhibit symptoms of disease. Every chakra is associated with a particular color, bodily system, and a bodily organ. The dominant colors of the seven chakra energy system include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, and run in order from the base of the spine to the top of one's head. When these colors are not in balance, color therapy is used to restore the chakras' natural balance.

Red is the color associated with the root chakra, also referred to as Muladhara, and it is the color that is believed to be associated with the feet, legs, the adrenal glands, and the adrenal medulla. This chakra is positioned at the lower base of the spine and to restore balance, the patient would be exposed to red color light therapy.

Orange is the second chakra in the Tantric chakra system, and it is called the sacral chakra or Swadhistana. This chakra center is associated with reproduction, the kidneys, the sexual organs, hormones, and when out of balance is believed to produce mood swings. The patient using color therapy to balance this chakra would then be exposed to orange light.

Yellow is the third colored chakra in the Tantric system, and it is identified as the solar plexus chakra or Manipura. This chakra is said to control digestion, energy levels, deep emotions, the pancreas, adrenal glands, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, and the adrenal cortex. The patient using color therapy to balance this chakra would then be exposed to yellow light.

Green is the fourth chakra in the Tantric chakra system, and it is called Anahata or the heart chakra. This chakra is believed to control the respiratory system, the heart, and emotions that include love and compassion. The green chakra is also believed to control the thymus, to affect the immune system, the endocrine system, and T-cell production. The patient using color therapy to balance this chakra would then be exposed to green light.

Blue is the fifth chakra in the Tantric chakra system and is called Vishuddha or Vishuddhi, or the throat chakra. This chakra is associated with one's ability to communicate and to convey emotions. This chakra is also believed to rule the thyroid gland, thyroid hormones, and maturation processes. The patient using color therapy to balance this chakra would then be exposed to blue light.

The sixth charka is Indigo, and is identified as Anja or the third eye chakra. This chakra is located on the individual's brow, and is associated with pineal gland functioning, consciousness, awareness, and light. This chakra is believed to control and regulate the production of melatonin, sleep, light sensitivity, and intuition. The patient using color therapy to balance this chakra would then be exposed to indigo light.

Violet is the color of the Sahasrara chakra or the crown chakra and this chakra is directly related to consciousness, higher consciousness, the nervous system, the endocrine system, the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus and the thalamus. The patient using color therapy to balance this chakra would then be exposed to violet light.

http://www.squidoo.com/Chromotherapy_Color_Light_Therapy



Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Love anyway. . . for no reason. . . and give. . . just because.

 Painting for sale at Siv Andersen ARt galleri, Sandnes

1.  Look at life as a journey and enjoy the ride.  Get the most out of the detours and realize they're sometimes necessary.
2.  Do your best, but if what you're doing has caused you discouragement, try a different approach.  Be passionate about the process, but don't be so attached to the outcome.
3.  Wish the best for everyone, with no personal strings attached.  Applaud someone else's win as much as you would your own.
4.  Trust that there's a divine plan, that we don't always know what's best for us.  A disappointment now could mean a victory later, so don't be disappointed.  There is usually a reason.
5.  Ask no more of yourself than the best that you can do, and be satisfied with that.  Be compassionate towards yourself as well as others.  Know your calling, your gift, and do it well.
6.  Don't worry about something after it's done; it's out of your hands then, too late, over!  Learn the lesson and move on.
7.  Have the attitude that no one, except you, owes you anything.  Give without expecting a thank-you in return.  But when someone does something for you, be appreciative of even the smallest gesture.
8.  Choose your thoughts or your thoughts will choose you; they will free you or keep you bound.  Educate your spirit and give it authority over your feelings.
9.  Judge no one, and disappointment and forgiveness won't be an issue.  No one can let you down if you're not leaning on them.  People can't hurt you unless you allow them to.
10.  Love anyway. . . for no reason. . . and give. . . just because. 

 By Donna Fargo

http://positive-thoughts.typepad.com/positive-thoughts/2012/05/love-anyway-for-no-reason-and-give-just-because.html

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Meaning of the Color Blue

 Maleriet er for salg  hos Siv Andersen art gallery, Sandnes

Meaning of the Color Blue

Blue is the overwhelming "favorite color." Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of sky and the ocean, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives.

As the collective color of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming; however not all blues are serene and sedate. Electric or brilliant blues become dynamic and dramatic, an engaging color that expresses exhilaration.

Some shades or the overuse of blue may come across as cold or uncaring. Blue is the least "gender specific" color, having equal appeal to both men and women.
How the color blue affects us physically and mentally
* Calming and sedate
* Cooling
* Aids intuition

Blue: The color of the throat chakra

Blue is the color of the Throat Chakra, also known as Visuddha.

This chakra is located in the throat.  It is linked to the throat, neck, hands, and arms.

The Throat Chakra is connected with speech and hearing, and encourages spiritual communication.  Opening the Throat Chakra is said to improve clairaudience.

Gemstones that will aid the Throat Chakra include turquoise and aquamarine.
 http://www.squidoo.com/colorexpert#module1517879


Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Et smil til dere alle! / A smile for all of you!!!

 Kunst av Jane Monica Tvedt  hos Siv Andersen Art Gallery, Sandnes.

Et smil til dere alle!

Et smil koster ingenting, men gir så mye.

Det beriker dem som mottar et.

Det tar bare et øyeblikk, men minnet om det noen ganger varer evig.

Ingen er så rik eller mektig at han kan klare seg uten den, og ingen er så fattig, men at han kan bli rik av det.

Et smil skaper lykke i hjemmet, fostrer godvilje i forretninger, og gjør underverker i et vennskap.

Det bringer hvile til den trette, hurrarop til motløse, solskinn til den triste, og det er naturens beste motgift for trøbbel.

Men det kan ikke kjøpes, lånes eller stjeles, for det er noe som er av ingen verdi for noen før det er gitt bort.

Noen folk er for trøtt til å gi deg et smil. Gi dem en av dine,  ja, til de som kanskje trenger et smil så mye og som ikke har flere å gi selv.

A smile for all of you!!!

A smile costs nothing, but gives so much.

It enriches those who receive it, without making poorer those who give.

It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor but that he can be made rich by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters goodwill in business, and is the countersign of friendship.

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Velkommen til Siv Andersen Art Gallery - Sandnes

 Har laget en liten video snutt fra flere av gjestekunstnere hos Siv Andersen art galleri i Sandnes. Her er det mye flott å se. Ta turen innom :))
http://sivandersen.no/gjestekunstnere/



Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

A creative home is not always tidy........;))

 Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.
-Cecil B. DeMille

---

To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.
-Joseph Chilton Pearce

---

The creative is the place where no one else has ever been.
You have to leave the city of your comfort
and go into the wilderness of your intuition.
What you'll discover will be wonderful.
What you'll discover is yourself.
-Alan Alda

 Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher
and pupil are located in the same individual.
-Arthur Koestler

---

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
-Erich Fromm

---

It is the tension between creativity and skepticism
that has produced the stunning and unexpected findings of science.
-Carl Sagan

---

Creativity is the sudden cessation of stupidity.
-Edwin Land

 The key question isn't "What fosters creativity?"
But it is why in God's name isn't everyone creative?
Where was the human potential lost? How was it crippled?
I think therefore a good question might be not why do people create?
But why do people not create or innovate?
We have got to abandon that sense of amazement
in the face of creativity,
as if it were a miracle if anybody created anything.
-Abraham Maslow

---

The things we fear most in organizations-
fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances-
are the primary sources of creativity.
-Margaret J. Wheatley

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Meditation gets to the roots of anxiety

 Heaven is not a place or a condition. It is merely an awareness of perfect oneness, and the knowledge that there is nothing else; nothing outside this oneness, and nothing else within.
 Nothing can hurt you unless you give it the power to do so. -  a course in miracle

Meditation

Meditation gets to the roots of anxiety. Why? Because most anxiety is caused by agitation of the mind, too much information, stimulation, even the energy of anxiety itself sets up a spiral of uncontrolled and unwelcome thoughts that can be very hard to escape from.

When you're feeling anxious it’s not easy to stop everything and just be still, but if you try a simple meditation -  a guided meditation is a good starter,  where someone experienced talks you through what to do in real time, your mind becomes occupied with following the instructions and you can begin to slow down and calm down very easily.


The philosopy  of meditation is very simple, it is the practise that make our body to become restless. I hear daily many people say they cant sit still, they get restless. Well, it is very normal. But dont look at it as meditation, because it is not.

Sit down, and observer your thoughts, there will be about 60 thousand of them in a day, but regular observation  daily will calme them down, and will lead you into meditation.





They key with meditation is to do it regularly, just 10-15 minutes a da, and then you can incrase it up to 30 min twice a day.


Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Love will immediately enter into any mind that truly wants it - A heart within the heart - Abstractions

 A heart within the heart - acrylic paint by Monica

Moment of Love - Every person in the world has a heart. Every heart has a place within that wants only to love and be loved.

 Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists.

Perfect love casts out fear. If fear exists, then there is not perfect love.  

The ego cannot survive without judgment.

Love will immediately enter into any mind that truly wants it. 

 

The ego seeks to divide and separate.  Spirit seeks to unify and heal.

When you meet anyone, remember it is a holy encounter. As you see him, you will see yourself ... for in him you will find yourself or lose yourself.

You have so little faith in yourself because you are unwilling to accept the fact that perfect love is in you, and so you seek without for what you cannot find within.

- words from a course in miracle    

 “Receptivity is your personal effort. You must not try to do anything else,
for in fact, you can’t do anything else. If we are standing in darkness, and do our part
by opening the door, the Light rushes in to meet us.” ~Vernon Howard

 “What we believe to be true moves through the lens of our mind as living
energy and becomes the reality of our lives. If we believe ourselves to be
limited, we get to be right about that — but it is not our ultimate truth.”
~Mary Manin Morrissey

 “Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms.” ~Kahlil Gibran

 “Everything you see is the result of your thoughts.
There is no exception to this fact.” ~A Course In Miracles


Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Very Abstract - Hidden Mystery

 Before I have been study a painting, I can`t always see what is not visible for they eye. But

as more I study, meditate and ponder, most of the time the meaning behind the paint is revealed.

A story, a happening, maybe for me, but most of the time for someone elses will appear

clearly. To read a paint, like you read a book is interessting, just try.......

Hidden Mystery
By Fred Burks

In the deepest depths of you and me
In the deepest depths of we
Lies the most beautiful jewel
Shining forth eternally

Within that precious jewel
Within that priceless piece of we
Lies a time beyond all time
Lies a place beyond all space

Within that sacred source of radiance
Lies a love beyond all love
Waiting
          Waiting
                    Waiting
Ever so patiently

Waiting for you, waiting for me
Waiting patiently for all to see
The beauty that is you inside of me
The beauty that is me inside of thee

In the deepest depths of you and me
In the deepest depths of we
Lies the love and wisdom
Of all Eternity

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

You Are Amazing

You.Are.Amazing.

As. you. are.
Stronger than you know.
More beautiful than you think.
Worthier than you believe.
More loved than you can ever imagine.
Passionate about making a difference.
Fiery when protecting those you love.
Learning. Growing. Not alone.
Warm. Giving. Generous.
Quirky. Sexy. Funny. Smart.
Flawed. Whole. Scared. Brave.
And so, so, so.much.more.

Be Strong. Be Confident. Be You.

ByTia Sparkles Singh

 Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson.

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

Color: Meaning, Symbolism and Psychology - Red & green

Introducing green

Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors, and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.

The natural greens, from forest to lime, are seen as tranquil and refreshing, with a natural balance of cool and warm (blue and yellow) undertones. Green is considered the color of peace and ecology.
However, there is an "institutional" side to green, associated with illness and government-issued green cards, that conjures up negative emotions, as do the "slimy" or "bilious" greens.

How the color green affects us physically

• Soothes

• Relaxes mentally, as well as physically

• Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety

• Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony

Green: The color of the heart chakra

Green is the color of the Heart Chakra, also known as Anahata.

This chakra is located at the center of the chest area and is linked to the heart, lungs, circulatory system, cardiac plexus, and the complete chest area.

The Heart Chakra bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds. Opening the Heart Chakra allows a person to love more, empathize, and feel compassion.

Gemstones that will aid the Heart Chakra include jade and malachite.

Introducing red

Red has more personal associations than any other color. Recognized as a stimulant, red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element.

How the color red affects us physically

• Increases enthusiasm

• Stimulates energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate

• Encourages action and confidence

• Provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety

Red: The color of the base or root chakra

Red is the color fo the base or root chakra. This chakra is located at the base of the spine and allows us to be grounded and connect to the universal energies.

First chakra, base of the spine. Groundedness, trust, belonging, lessens feelings of mistrust.

Gemstones that will aid the Root chakra include lodestone, ruby, garnet, smokey quartz, obsidian, hematite and onyx.
Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

 Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into.  ~Henry Beecher

Song of The Flower

I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.

- Khalil Gibran

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

LØVETANN - Medisinplante og ugress

  LØVETANN Taraxacum officinale

BOTANISK BESKRIVELSE Løvetann er flerårige planter som inneholder en hvit, bitter melkesaft. Plantene har en lang og tykk pælerot og mer eller mindre sagtaggete blader i en rosett ved grunnen. Den gule blomsten er en kurv som sitter på toppen av en innhul, bladløs stengel. Det vi kaller blomst hos løvetann er ikke én blomst, men mange blomster som sitter samlet i en kurv, og denne blomsterformen er grunnen til at plantefamilien kalles kurvplantefamilien.

UTBREDELSE Løvetann er opprinnelig viltvoksende i Europa og Vest-Asia, men er nå innført i mange andre områder av verden. Ulike småarter av løvetann finnes i Norge utbredt over hele landet, og plantene vokser primært på kulturmark, som i enger, plener, veikanter og på brakkmark. Løvetann anses mange steder som et plagsomt ugras. Kommersiell dyrking av løvetann foregår både i USA og Europa, og løvetann til medisinske produkter kommer hovedsakelig fra Øst-Europa.

DROGER / ANVENDTE PLANTEDELER Taraxaci herba: Løvetannurt. Taraxaci radix: Løvetannrot. Taraxaci radix cum herba: Løvetannrot med skudd. Drogene er luktløse, men smaker bittert. Hele planten samles inn om våren, røtter uten bladskudd graves opp tidlig på våren eller om høsten. Frisk rot anses for mer kraftfull enn tørket rot.Av løvetann lages et homeopatisk preparat som kalles Taraxacum. Det lages ved at hele planten, inklusive roten, høstes når blomstene er i ferd med å åpne seg, for så å finhakkes og trekkes i alkohol før væsken fortynnes og potenseres. Løvetann er i følge Urtelisten fra Statens legemiddelverk klassifisert som ikke legemiddel, og kan omsettes fritt.

INNHOLDSSTOFFER Roten inneholder bitre glykosider, taraxacin, taraxcerin, eterisk olje, garvestoffer, triterpener, steroler, inulin, sukkerstoffer, pektin, kolin, fenolsyrer, asparagin, vitaminer og kalium. Bladene inneholder lutein, violaxanthin og andre karotenoider, terpenoider, bitterstoffer, kolin, vitamin A, B, C og D (innholdet av vitamin A er høyere enn i gulrøtter), kalsium, kalium og jern.

URTENS EGENSKAPER OG VIRKNING Urindrivende, avførende, galledrivende, leverstyrkende, avgiftende, bitterstyrkemiddel, appetittstimulerende, fordøyelsesstimulerende, motvirker tarmgass, nærende, styrkende, slimløsende, antirevmatisk, blodtrykkssenkende, febersenkende og sopphemmende. Løvetann kan bidra til å løse opp slaggstoffer i bindevevet i kroppen.

URTEN KAN BRUKES VED FØLGENDE HELSEPLAGER / SYKDOMMER Leversykdommer, gulsott, hepatitt, gallestein, nyrestein, væskeansamlinger, lungeødem, hovne bein, dårlig appetitt, svak fordøyelse, tarmgass, magekatarr, forstoppelse, overvekt, revmatisme, gikt, leddgikt, åreforkalkning, høyt blodtrykk, høyt kolesterol, anemi, diabetes, hudsykdommer som eksem, psoriasis, akner, byller, vorter, soppinfeksjoner og skader.

Løvetann er både ugras og medisin

Løvetann er en plante som nå er utbredt i de fleste tempererte områder av verden. I vår hjemlige flora er den ikke særlig gammel, men opptrer så tallrikt at den på forsommeren kan farge kulturlandskapet gult. Mens de fleste betrakter løvetann som et plagsomt ugras, ser de som har kunnskap om urtemedisin på denne verdifulle planten med ærbødighet.

Folkemedisinsk tradisjon knyttet til løvetann

Bruk av løvetann har lang tradisjon i folkemedisinen både i Europa og blant nordamerikanske indianere. Det var europeerne som introduserte løvetann i USA, hovedsakelig til Midtvesten, for å ha fôr til bier. Innfødte amerikanere lærte seg raskt å utnytte planten, blant annet mot tannpine, halsbrann og som et beroligende og styrkende middel. Et uttrekk av roten ble dessuten brukt for å fremme produksjonen av brystmelk etter en fødsel.

Også fra Europa vet vi at løvetann hadde sin plass i folkemedisinen. Drukket som te kunne urten lindre giktsmerter, og den fungerte også som et middel mot dårlig fordøyelse. Selv om man i tidligere tider ikke kjente til at løvetann er svært rik på vitaminer og mineraler, erfarte de at urten virket styrkende.

En allsidig medisinplante

Den medisinske virkningen av løvetann er primært knyttet til fordøyelsessystemet og urinveissystemet. Roten av løvetann er dessuten et av de mest effektive avgiftende midlene vi har i urtemedisinen. Urten har stor terapeutisk virkning ved en rekke sykdommer og plager, heriblant forstoppelse, revmatiske sykdommer, væskeansamlinger i kroppen, høyt blodtrykk og hudlidelser som kviser, eksem og psoriasis.

God for fordøyelsen

Løvetann inneholder bitre stoffer som stimulerer den første fasen av fordøyelsen ved å fremme appetitten og øke utskillelsen av magesyre og andre fordøyelsesvæsker. Videre øker løvetann frigjøringen av galle fra leveren og galleblæren. Den økte gallestrømmen skyldes både at leveren påvirkes til å øke produksjonen av galle og at galleblæren trekker seg sammen og således øker strømmen av galle til tarmen. Dette er særlig gunstig hvis man sliter med dårlig nedbrytning og opptak av fettstoffene i maten.

Studier både på mennesker og dyr viser at inntak av løvetannrot kan være gunstig ved sykdommer som hepatitt og gulsott, og at urten kan bidra til å forebygge dannelsen av gallesteiner. Løvetann kan også virke bra for andre problemer forbundet med en dårlig fungerende lever, som for eksempel tretthet og irritabilitet, hudproblemer og hodepine. Den stimulerende effekten til løvetann omfatter også bukspyttkjertelen, hvor den øker insulinsekresjonen, noe som kan være til nytte ved diabetes. Roten av løvetann virker ellers mildt avførende. Psykisk hjelper løvetann kroppen med å frigjøre seg fra sinne og frykt, følelser som setter seg fast i lever og nyrer.

Urindrivende virkning

Den urindrivende effekten av løvetannblad er dokumentert gjennom flere studier. Som urindrivende middel fjerner løvetann ikke bare væskeoverskudd, men stimulerer også saltutskillingen. For mye salt i kroppen binder som kjent væske til vevene, og bruk av planten kan derfor føre til vektreduksjon. Bruk av mange av de konvensjonelle urindrivende midlene kan gi kaliummangel i blodet. Løvetann har imidlertid et stort innhold av kalium, noe som gir en nettogevinst av dette mineralet. Et avkok av rot og blad av løvetann kan brukes for å løse opp mindre nyresteiner eller nyregrus. Bladenes urindrivende virkning illustreres i det folkelige engelske navnet ”pee in the bed” og det franske ”pissenlit”, som begge kan oversettes med ”sengevæter”. Løvetannblad er et trygt urindrivende middel som kan brukes også ved vannansamlinger som skyldes hjerteproblemer. Både roten og bladene av løvetann virker blodtrykkssenkende.

En rensende urt Løvetann er kjent som et mildt styrkemiddel som renser kroppen ved å øke utskillingen av giftstoffer, avfallsstoffer og forurensinger både via leveren og nyrene. Bitterstoffene i løvetann stimulerer dannelsen av fordøyelsesvæsker, garvestoffene virker bindende, og de organiske syrene virker, sammen med slimstoffer i urten, mildt avførende. Ettersom urten har en vanndrivende virkning og stimulerer utskillingen av urinsyre fra kroppen, er den nyttige i bekjempelse av urinsyregikt, leddbetennelse og revmatisme. Den stoffskiftestimulerende virkningen av løvetann har dessuten en svært gunstig effekt på bindevevet i kroppen, og på dette området er løvetann bedre enn de fleste andre medisinplanter. Roten har dessuten en mildt betennelseshemmende virkning, noe som støtter den tradisjonelle bruken av løvetann i behandling av revmatisme. Alt dette gjør at revmatikere bør være flittige brukere av løvetann. Anvendelse og dosering Løvetann kan inntas som urtete. Man tar 1-2 teskjeer finsnittet droge til en stor kopp vann og lar det få koke ca. 1 minutt. La det hele få trekke videre i 10 minutter før urten siles fra og teen drikkes. Drikk en kopp av denne teen en halv time før hvert måltid, to til tre ganger om dagen. En rensende vårkur, som kan være spesielt nyttig for revmatikere, leddgiktpasienter og pasienter med andre leddsykdommer, er å drikke en kopp av dette avkoket morgen og kveld i fire til åtte uker. Spiser man i tillegg en del friske løvetannblader, vil det forsterke virkningen. Siden løvetann ikke har noen skadelige bivirkninger, kan en slik langvarig kur anbefales. Har man tilgang på løvetanntinktur (1:5 i 25 % sprit), er daglig dosering 2-5 ml. Av friskpresset saft av løvetannblad kan man innta 5-10 ml daglig. Løvetann i homeopatien Det homeopatiske middelet Taraxacum benyttes bl.a. ved fordøyelsesbesvær, betennelse i galleblæren og ved gallestein. Symptombildet kan være leversykdommer som hepatitt og gulsott, magekatarr, urinveisproblemer, krampesmerter og hodepine i forbindelse med mageproblemer. Kjerringråd Melkesaften i stengelen på løvetann er blitt brukt til å fjerne vorter, men saften kan fremkalle ubehag, særlig hos barn. Kontaktallergi forårsaket av seskviterpenlaktonene i melkesaften opptrer imidlertid sjelden. Uttrekk av bladene og blomstene av løvetann er fint å vaske sår og hudplager med. Et kjerringråd sier at hvis man har brent seg på brennmanet, kan man bryte av stilken på en løvetann og smøre på plantesaften, noe som sies å gi øyeblikkelig lindring. Løvetann som mat Løvetann er en god og svært næringsrik plante som gjerne kan brukes som mat. Planten er rik på mineraler, særlig kalium og jern, og på vitaminene B, C og betakaroten. Den friske urten har vært brukt til å behandle skjørbuk. Blomsterknoppene kan stekes og brukes i for eksempel omelett. På våren er det fint å anvende de friske bladene til en smakfull salat, eller de kan kokes som spinat eller brukes i supper og stuinger. Røttene kan vaskes, kokes og spises som gulrot. Løvetannbladene smaker bittert, og for å dempe noe av bitterheten kan man forsøke å bleke bladene. Det kan gjøres ved at man på et sted med mye løvetann fjerner bladene og deretter dekker plantene med svart plast, sand eller lignende. De nye bladene som vokser opp er lyse på farge og forholdsvis milde på smak. Det dannes nemlig mindre bitterstoffer når lyset ikke slipper til. I tidligere tider, bl.a. under 2. verdenskrig, ble roten ristet og brukt som kaffeerstatning. Og som sikkert mange kjenner til, kan løvetann brukes til vinlegging. Da er det bare det gule i blomsten som benyttes. Det trengs ganske store mengder til en ballong med vin, så det å lage løvetannvin er ingen lettvint affære. Annen bruk av løvetann Løvetann regnes som et ypperlig fôr til husdyr. Hos kyr øker den melkeavsondringen, noe som i Tyskland har gitt opphav til navnet "Kuhblume". Her i landet kalles planten noen steder for saueblom fordi sauene setter stor pris på den. Det sies dessuten at hvis høner fores med løvetannblader, fremmer det eggleggingen. Både blad og røtter av løvetann kan brukes til plantefarging. De gir en lys, gyldenbrun farge.

Advarsler, bivirkninger og kontraindikasjoner  Løvetann blir betraktet som en svært trygg urt å bruke, også i store mengder. Ingen giftvirkning er blitt rapportert, verken ved utvortes eller innvortes bruk. Å bruke løvetann skulle derfor ikke medføre noen stor risiko for bivirkninger. Løvetann anses som trygg å innta også under graviditet og amming, og urten er heller ikke kontraindikert for barn. Melkesaften til frisk løvetann kan fremkalle kontakteksem, og pollen fra løvetann kan muligens gi allergiske reaksjoner hos personer som reagerer allergisk på planter i kurvplantefamilien (som f.eks. burot). Bitre urter som løvetann kan fremkalle syreoverskudd hos enkelte personer. Løvetann er kontraindikert hvis gallegangen er blokkert. Ved tilfeller av gallestein bør bruk av løvetannblad og løvetannrot bare skje under legetilsyn. På grunn av urtens høye innhold av kalium, bør løvetann brukes med forsiktighet av pasienter som tar medisiner kjent som ACE hemmere, og pasienter som har nyreproblemer eller diabetes. Dette skyldes at løvetann kan påvirke opptak og utskillelse av kalium hos slike pasienter, noe som bør overvåkes nøye med laboratorieprøver.

 http://www.rolv.no/urtemedisin/medisinplanter/tara_off.htm

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!

La oss dele noen ord - Inspiration

 Ord.
La oss dele noen ord
med hverandre.
Gode ord, som gir
oss glede.
...
La oss øse ut godhet,
vakre ord, som varmer
våre hjerter, som får
gleden til å juble inni
oss.

du er VERDIFULL

ArtWords

The artwork informs
The canvas reveals
The mind then knows
What the heart feels

The faces in the painting
The pictures of my life
Where love was a saviour
Where love caused much strife

This process uncovers
Those parts of our lives
To show us the truth
To make us more wise

It’s possible to know
It’s possible to forgive
I’ll never forget you
As long as I live

By Ken Chawkin

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
-Dr. Seuss

Nå har jeg registrert meg på Bloggurat. Jeg har plassert min blogg i Sandnes på norske bloggkart!