Finals Week: Herbal Remedies for Stress

I live with some weird women.  They read crystal books and give my lavender oils when I'm not feeling well.  I understand there is something alluring to the idea behind herbal remedies, but in a world of antibiotics, do these medicinal alternatives really work?

I thought I'd test some out with an illness most of us are suffering from this week, STRESS.

1. Licorice Root
This root contains a natural hormone alternative to cortisone (according to Whole Foods worker) and this helps the body handle stressful situations, as well as, help normalize blood sugar levels.  In normal terms, it gives you energy to tackle projects while also calming the mind.

I got this in tea form because I am also suffering from a cold.  As much as I hate dark licorice, drinking it warm as a liquid was actually really soothing.  Like a bear hug.

2. St. John's Wort
Lolz.  But listen up, if you are wanting to herbally treat depression there is nothing better.  Some individuals prefer Kava, but this supplement is known to cause liver damange, so stick to St. John's Wort.  Since Renaissance time this was use to treat mental disorders and recently was proven to be more effective than Prozac.  You usually get it in a pill.


3. Lavender
Shout out to my roommate Hannah who swears by this stuff.  Seriously this little flower does it all:

• antibacterial agent
• balances hormones (that special time of the month ladies...)
• stimulates immune system

There are a couple ways to get your hands on this stuff. Like every herb, you can always just make it into a tea, but it's proven to be more effective as an oil or diffuser that you inhale.  I also came across some cool lavender eye pillows.

4. Yoga

This might seem very contradictory on my part because I never donate time to yoga, but there are mountains of research that show the benefit of this activity.  Meditation comes in at a close second as ways to intimately reduce your stress. 

Anyways, if interested in herbal remedies, I would go to your local grocery store or shops like Euphoria and ask around.  For example, at Whole Foods I only needed to say that I was stressed and had a cold and the workers were able to show me a lot of different ways to naturally take care of myself.

Good luck with finals my friends!

Environmental Advertising: A Paradox or Something Real?

Being an advertising major forces me to exist in this limbo world where neither advertisers or environmentalist take me very seriously.

Not looking for a pity party with that statement, those two groups generally just don't mix.  Advertising is usually unethical and used to push a society of materialism that destroys conservation efforts.  You can't be good at advertising if you can't influence buyers.

And yet, I've stuck to my major mainly because of the idea that social change needs advertising to rally individuals around a cause.  I sell the idea and the future that can be attain through these causes.  But is this an actual thing or do I just tell myself this to sleep at night?

Enter Conservation International and their new "Nature is Speaking" campaign.

I hope by now you have been exposed to at least one of these videos.  If not I'm going to force you to at least sit through a couple.  Observe below:

Just watch them all, I know you want to.

Anyways, though these videos have amazing talent and beautiful cinematography, does it actually incite behavior and consumers?

I personally like the relentless tone that "nature" has taken.  We see Mother Nature always as this kind and giving woman, but actually by killing nature, we are killing ourselves.  This is voiced in each video and if anything, is the voice that environmentalists have wanted environmental ads to adopt years ago.

Some issues that might arise from these videos.

1) They don't give any sort of idea on how to help, which might cause individuals to feel helpless (however once they go to the actual website they can see just how Conservation International is working to save the earth)

2) Historically, it is incredibly hard to reach climate-deniers.  This campaign is targeted to bridge that disconnect and prove to individuals how dependent we are on nature, however threatening them with extinction might not be seen as credible by these people.

And though these issues might have some weight, I'm just proud to see an agency go beyond the "polar bears are cute" tactic when it comes to environmental causes.  I also like that it's not necessarily saying, "take care of the earth because it is fragile." Instead, "take care of the earth because it gives you so much you ungrateful human!"

What are your thoughts on these videos humans?  Do you care? Want to visit the website?  And if you are really smart, how would you advertise environmental causes to deniers?

Meatless Mondays: How to be a Nebraskan and Not Eat Meat

Life boils down to two things that humans care deeply about.  They are:

1. Honor
2. Family

and if you are from Nebraska 

3. Bo Pelini

Before now, I never NEVER thought of the idea of Meatless Mondays as anything controversial.  Maybe naive on my part, but I honestly never saw the horrors of choosing to not eat meat one day of the week.  For those who eat meat, can you honestly say you've never had a meal like mac and cheese or a PB&J?  Did you die?  Did the meat industry explode and your iron deplete?

Anyways before I get too sassy, I can only assume the issue behind Meatless Monday arises from the idea of "honor" and "family."  In Nebraska, raising cattle is a tradition that is seen as noble, but also a generational occupation.  Deep and rooted feelings are connected with the work these farmers put into raising their cattle to meet the pressing demands of society.  It is our economy.

Last night a student tried to pass a bill in ASUN (student government) to introduce education about Meatless Monday in dining halls.  The bill did not pass due to extreme opposition from students studying agricultural topics who saw it as a criticism of modern agriculture.

But here's the thing.  No industry is above criticism.  This is not a distopia like in 1984 where the beef industry acts as Big Brother and regulates what information can exist.  Especially information that is backed by *gasp* science!  Some senators openly would not support the bill because it targeted livestock and beef producers.  Once again, I'd like to welcome these students to the real world where there are contrary viewpoints.

Anyways below I have some of the education that you won't find in your dining halls anytime soon:

FACTS

Meatless Monday originated in World War I by the U.S Food Administration in order to reduce use of resources.  Meatless Monday was proclaimed by the government as a way for Americans to do their part.  Over 13 million families signed the pledge to go meatless for one day of the week.  Meatless Monday continued as an effort in World War II as well. Source: History of the United States Food Administration, 1917-1919 By William Clinton Mullendore, Ralph Haswell Lutz  (Stanford University Press, 1941) 

Meatless Monday was then revived in 2003 by former ad man, Sid Lerner, in association with the John Hopkin's Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for a Livable Future.  It was now introduced as a public health awareness act to educate individuals on the health concerns that arise from consuming large amounts of meat.  Some health concerns include:

• atherosclerosis: hardening or clogging of arteries
• increase in nitrosamines (stomach cancer causing toxins)
• increases risk of type 2 diabetes
• increase risk of Alzheimers

Though most of the focus of Meatless Monday has been on health related issues, the environmental advantages are equally relevant.  If you already use re-usable shopping bags and drive a fuel efficient car, reducing meat consumption is another easy personal step.

Here's some numbers.

The popular red meat requires 28 times more land to produce than pork or chicken, 11 times more water and results in five times more climate-warming emissions. When compared to staples like potatoes, wheat, and rice, the impact of beef per calorie is even more extreme, requiring 160 times more land and producing 11 times more greenhouse gases. (The Guardian)

This is NOT AN ATTACK on the beef industry.  It is simple fact. 

Yes there is something called sustainable agricultural practices.  But these practices still result in a release of greenhouse gases.  In fact some sustainable practices erode even more land and release more emissions that factory farming.

And at no point am I trying to say that we can completely eliminate greenhouse gas production, I just want everyone to be on the same page that greenhouse gas is a result of the beef industry.

People get hyped up around food.  Whether you eat raw meat, vegetables, or tofu, let's just agree, for once, that to silence students' voices is wrong.  To eliminate the chance for education in a higher academic setting is ridiculous, and the opposition to a Meatless Monday education bill shows a lack of understanding on our campus.

We are better than that Nebraska.

Guest Blogger: Alyssa Cody on Giving Tuesday

When is the last time you gave back to the planet?

No seriously, think about it.

Every single day, the planet gives us:      

• Oxygen 
• Water 
• Food 
• Fuel to travel 
• Energy to use your phone/laptop/everything 
• Resources to produce your clothes, home, electronics, etc.
• The ability for our loved ones to live
• Cute animals

Obviously this list could go on forever because every single thing we need, want, and own somehow came from what the Earth has so generously given us. Now make a similar list of how you have returned the favor. Have you planted a tree? Voted in favor of sustainable policies? Bought an environmentally friendly product? Eaten a meatless meal?

If you answered yes, pat yourself on the back and keep giving because we always owe the Earth a little more. If you answered no, that’s okay, but I’m here to help you change that.

Today is Giving Tuesday, personally my favorite day of the year. As you’re thinking of all of the worthy organizations to give back to today, I urge you to strongly consider choosing our planet, your home.

Here are some environmentally focused organizations that can better serve the Earth with your donation: 

• Community CROPS: Helps people work together to grow healthy food and live sustainably. 
• Spring Creek Prairie AudubonCenter: Fosters the understanding, appreciation, and conservation of Nebraska’s tallgrass prairie ecosystem by engaging people in the site’s natural and cultural resources.
• Bold Nebraska: Protects Nebraska’s land, water, and climate, especially against the Keystone XL Pipeline. 
• Greenpeace: Largest independent direct-action environmental organization that confronts environmental abuses worldwide. 

Can’t find it in your wallet for a monetary donation? Try to find it in your heart to give back in your actions. Check out the graphic below from Upworthy to make daily lifestyle changes that benefit the Earth.