Healing Seekers

NC People with William Friday | Amy Greeson

steviemack — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:29:22 +0000

Healing Seekers also wishes to thank Dr. Bill Friday and UNC-TV for the beautiful broadcast about Healing Seekers. If you missed the airing of the Healing Seekers on NC People with William Friday.

Watch Amy Greeson: Healing Seekers on PBS. See more from NC People.

WXII News 12 – Triad Healing Seekers Search For Cures

steviemack — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:22:49 +0000

Michelle Kennedy introduces us to a local group that travels to rainforests and works with medicine men and women in hopes of finding cures for diseases.

Watch the preview:

Watch the entire story:

NC People | Amy Greeson: Founder and Executive Director, Healing Seekers

steviemack — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:08:48 +0000

William Friday interviews Founder and Executive Director of Healing Seekers, Amy Greeson for NC People.

Watch Amy Greeson: Founder and Executive Director, Healing Seekers on PBS. See more from NC People.

Healing Seekers is Focus of New Short Film by Celine Cousteau

steviemack — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:16:06 +0000

Newsletter for January 15, 2012

Healing Seekers: The Focus of New Short Video produced by Celine Cousteau and CauseCentric Productions

Healing Seekers’ Team, Esteban Barrera, John James, and Amy with Celine Cousteau in remote village along Sepik River, Papua New Guinea Expedition. (Photo taken by team member, Josh Jones)

Watch the Video Now

Healing Seekers is the focus of the new short video directed and produced by Celine Cousteau / CauseCentric Productions. The video brings awareness to the Healing Seekers’ project, its mission and vision. Cousteau, the granddaughter of legendary oceanaut Jacques Cousteau, joined the Healing Seekers’ team on Expedition: Papua New Guinea. Through her nonprofit, Cousteau is bringing greater awareness to projects that strive to protect the environment, species, and indigenous cultures.

James and Glanville Return to Papua New Guinea

Scientists and researchers, John James and Mary Glanville, returned to Papua New Guinea in December to continue the work with indigenous tribes.

Scientists and researchers, John James and Mary Glanville returned to Papua New Guinea in December to reconnect and continue our collaborations with the people of Papua New Guinea. Every relationship formed on an expedition is merely the beginning of a life-long commitment to be of service and do the greatest works possible for the people and for our world. James, an instrumental member of the Healing Seekers Team is the CSO of Natural Discoveries, Inc. The company collaborates with indigenous populations in the analysis of plants for future pharmaceuticals and botanical/ natural products. He is also a scientist with biotech front-runner, Targacept in Winston-Salem, NC. Glanville, a marine biologist and pharmacist from University of California at Berkeley, is certified in Phytomedicinals and Alternative Medicine. She contributes her expertise in several areas, including fungi.

New article released by Healing Seekers Plant Professional, Cheryl Farkas

Healing Seekers strives to make available on our website contributions by specialists in their fields. Cheryl Farkas has just released her latest article, Dirty War: An Exploration of Allelopathy. The article is ideal for students and classrooms studying plants, interactions, bio-terrorism, and ‘survival of the fittest’. Farkas does an extraordinary job at simplifying the complex.

Read the Article

Cheryl Farkas – Healing Seekers’ Researcher

Cheryl is a certified as a Plant Professional and holds degrees in Print Journalism/Mass Communications and Professional Photography. She has written numerous articles in publications specializing in botanical and environmental compounds related to health. She is actively involved in ethnobotany, literature review and research and is a contributing writer. Cheryl is instrumental in the identification of plants discovered on the Healing Seekers’ expeditions.

Would You Please Consider Making a Donation Today?

It is only because of the generosity and kindness of people who share our vision and mission that we are able to continue at such a pace. As a 501(c)3 non profit organization, your contributions are tax deductible. Presently, we have great financial need for continuing the creations of our education materials, our 3 part documentary series, and our upcoming 2012 expedition: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Sponsorships are available, and afford extensive exposure.

Please Donate Now.

Healing Seekers is a project of Healing Education Foundation, a non-profit 501 (C) 3 corporation.
© 2011 Healing Seekers. All rights reserved.

Visit us online at: HealingSeekers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

A Dirty War | by Cheryl Farkas

steviemack — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:20:41 +0000

The first impression is that plants, bushes and trees just sit in one place their whole life minding their own business, growing, shedding leaves, being subjected to the weather, bugs, animals and people right? Well, the one thing science has found for sure, is that some plants just won’t be subjected to another plant’s company. As a matter of fact, there’s a silent, violent, territorial and downright dirty war going on out there that science is learning more about daily. It’s basically ‘chemical warfare’ in the most natural state. Shocking but true!

Here’s The Dirt On It

There really is a term for this, it’s called Allelopathy, pronounced: al-uh-lop-uh-thee or uh-lee-lop-uh-thee. The word is derived from two words, allelon meaning “each other” and pathos meaning “to suffer.” And suffer an innocent plant will, if it tries to grow near a plant that releases Allelopathic chemicals.

A German professor, Hans Molisch created the term in 1937, even though botanists were aware of “pothos – suffering” as early as 300 B.C., first recorded by Theophrastius, then 1 C.E. by Gaius Plinius Secundus who noticed some effects causing scorching. Then Agustin Pyramus De Candolle in 1832 suggested soil sickness from chemicals from crops. Next, in 1907, Schreiner and Reed investigated phototoxic chemicals (the actual poisonous substances). Elroy Rice recreated the notion in 1974 and 1983 by writing a book. This subject has caught more attention in the past 10 years because of the positive effects allelopathic chemicals can be used for in science, such as a natural herbicide in agriculture, landscape maintenance and management.

Dirty Political Powers and Purpose

The primary purpose in this war is to reduce the competition or let your competition work for you. Some plants just plan to impose upon another by stealing vital nutrients from the soil, drinking up all the water and hogging up all the sunlight making it impossible for others to survive. Other plants are welcome because they bring something that is beneficial like a chemical that will kill an unwanted neighbor or a plant that attracts certain kinds of bugs or animals that eat their neighbors. Nothing like using each other for personal gain. So, vegetation ultimately has the ability to alter or control entire areas while summoning particular species. Like a parasite, disease, or animal that kills off certain kinds or amounts of organisms in an environment, therefore defining an entire ecosystem, which is powerful!

The Grit and Grime

There are three main ways in which trees, shrubs, and plants do things. Vegetation and microorganisms interplay and alternate roles depending on their means or intent. Allelopathy can be the interaction and mixture of chemicals too. One way is by means of exuding (discharging) allelopathic chemicals into the soil through their roots. An innocent bystander absorbs the chemicals and it’s simply over.

Another way is leaching, (drains away from) in this way a soluble chemical, which can be an oily or watery substance, is omitted from so many different possible parts of a plant or plant debris an enemy can accidentally intake these chemicals by as many different means and parts. This is a slower death. Some get the last dirt in after death and wait until they fall to the ground and decay and decompose to release. Here the parts these chemicals can be expelled from: Pollen, spores, lichen, mushrooms, flowers, buds, bulbs, berries, flower debris, seeds, nuts, nut hulls, leaves, leaf debris, leaf mulch, fruits, roots, bark, stems and branches.

This is a dirty poster tree that uses this last trick in the trunk, volatilization (gassing). They can release a chemical in a gas form through small openings in their leaves and can be carried a distance by the wind. Lethal!

Dirty Ways and Weapons

There are different reasons why they release warfare into the environment. Some can actually choose which weapon they want to use from their arsenal. This depends on the level of stress or type of threat vegetation is experiencing. It could be lack of water, sun or nutrients.

Here are just a few things that make a crabby tree. If environmental conditions are threatening they pick up the pace and their speed by inhibiting and controlling root or shoot growth, they can even inhibit and control nutrient uptake and starve their enemy. They can kill their neighbors’ interrelationship they have with other local plants, therefore destroying their food source and nutrients. Jealousy is poisonous! Soil sickness is a common dirty trick. Residue from allelochemicals can stay in soil long after a plant is gone making an area infertile, unable to produce anything for a long time. Mean!

Temperature extremes or other environmental punishments such as hail injury, wind, fire, or ice damage, infections from diseases, insect invasions or injury from an animal throws them into a panic, releasing chemicals implicating and impacting all species around an area even at the same time or just implicating certain parts of a tree or plant.

Dirty Deeds

These nutty trees release an allelopathic chemical that changes the level or amount of chlorophyll, in another plant. If the level is off, it can’t produce food. (Chlorophyll is the molecule that absorbs sunlight and uses its energy to synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water. The process is photosynthesis.)

While they are at it, they can also release a chemical that can stop or just slow down
photosynthesis, water intake and growth process just enough to torture, maim or kill. (Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar.)

Increasing or decreasing activity during a season is a choice they can make, like this choice. Active compounds are sometimes held in forms inside cells or kept in special sealed compartments with passage doors ready to be transported along main routes or oxidized (to combine with oxygen) when needed, injured or threatened. Wow, ectoplasmic!!!! (Ectoplasm is stuff that allegedly oozes from ghosts or spirits and makes it possible for them to materialize and perform super feats.)

Fighting Dirty

Plants have had to live together and tolerate each other for so long they have learned how to evolve and co-exist. One way to make your enemy mad and get them out of your roots is to become immune to their assaults by building a resistance to their toxins or create your own chemical to make theirs biodegrade faster. Ah-huh!

There are different kinds of defenses and the use of materials. To prevent damage and decay of reproductive parts and materials like seeds, nuts or fruit, seems innocent enough, even parental in a way. But don’t get too mushy. In allelopathic terms autotoxicity is a term for killing your own children! Yep, that’s where a species purposely inhibits growth, prevents germination of its own children by causing roots to be swollen, plants to be puny, wilted, sickly and pale in color, whereby reducing nutrient intake. Ultimately reducing competition with their children/species. Selfish!

On the bright and berry side, allelopathic plants or plant parts like buds, roots, leaves and plant tissue, can prevent themselves or other plants from injury, reduce injury, lengthen survival time or inhibit consumption by insects, birds, animals or the environment. They can even release growth compounds from their roots into the ground. Other plants nearby are unable to handle all the sweet, excessive kindness and get sick of it and die.

Dirty Gamers

A large majority of allelopathic substances – chemicals, have not been specifically identified, but there are many that have and the list grows yearly. Controversy surrounds allelopathy as science tries to distinguish the type of competition that is being displayed between plants. Not all plants have allelopathic tendencies though. Some just exhibit aggression and competition without using chemicals, just playing games. The characteristics of the plant world seem to encompass as many of the same characteristics as people possess, reckoning the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree.

More Dirt

For more information on allelopathy visit the website: USDA National Library, National Invasive Species Information Center www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/resources/lists.shtml
For an invasive plant list go to: http://fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/weed/index.html

Celine Cousteau on the Healing Seekers’ Mission

steviemack — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:48:28 +0000

Celine Cousteau, joining Amy Greeson and the Healing Seekers on a recent trip to Papua New Guinea, takes some time to explain the importance of researching and understanding remote cultures and their healing methods.

Healing Seekers | Newsletter for January 10, 2012

steviemack — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:20:30 +0000

Newsletter for January 10, 2012

In every village and with every healer, we solidify our friendship and bond by placing a specially made anklet on them. It represents respect, honor, and a blessing to keep them safe until we meet again.

Healing Seekers Receives Grants / Funding

The Healing Seekers’ Board wishes to extend their IMMENSE gratitude for two grants received in December. Healing Seekers was gifted a beautiful grant from the Emily Millis- Hiatt Donor Advised Fund, which is paramount in the continuing work of creating educational materials for educators and students, locally and globally.

Healing Seekers was also honored to receive another grant from the Molly Millis-Hedgecock Donor Advised Fund, which will allow us to edit and clip footage with our collaborative project with National Geographic Explorer Karin Muller’s nonprofit, Take2.

The Organization was additionally blessed to receive donations from the John C. and Marsha Slane Donor Advised Fund and The Bill and Lucille Fenn Family Fund. These gifts are absolutely vital for our continued work.

The Healing Seekers’ Board of Directors and the Team would like to take this moment to express gratitude for these life sustaining gifts, and to everyone who is teaming with us, through financial gifts and support. It is only because of your contributions, your kindness and belief in our projects, that together we can make a huge difference in our world. Your support truly means everything to us. THANK YOU.

Healing Seekers’ Founder on UNC-TV: NC People with William Friday

If you missed the airing of UNC-TV: NC People with William Friday with Healing Seekers’ Founder, Amy Greeson, you can view it online at your convenience.

http://video.unctv.org/program/1616436260/

Millions know William Friday from his 30 years as a UNC president. He was appointed secretary of the University in 1955, named acting president of the consolidated University system in 1956, and became president later in the year. Friday served in this position for thirty years until his retirement in 1986, the longest-serving University president of the 20th century.

William C. Friday began his tenure as the host of North Carolina People thirty seasons ago, bringing to audiences the fascinating lives and experiences of North Carolinians. He has become one of North Carolina’s most distinguished television figures, captivating viewers with his engaging interviews.

Would You Please Consider Making a Donation Today?

Please Donate Now.

Healing Seekers is a project of Healing Education Foundation, a non-profit 501 (C) 3 corporation.
© 2011 Healing Seekers. All rights reserved.

Visit us online at: HealingSeekers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

Amy Greeson on North Carolina People

steviemack — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:42:23 +0000

Newsletter for Nov 2011

Healing Seekers Founder to be Guest on UNC-TV: North Carolina People with William Friday

Healing Seekers will be the focus of a December episode of North Carolina People with William Friday. Founder and Executive Director of Healing Seekers, Amy Greeson, will have an intimate conversation with Dr. Friday about the project and its strong missions of education and research. Greeson will also discuss the devotion to bringing newer and better pharmaceuticals and natural products to the world through the teamwork with indigenous people and through the collaboration of Natural Discoveries, Inc.

The Interview is Slated to Air on UNC-TV:

Friday, December 2nd at 9:00pm
Sunday, December 4th at 5:30pm

Additionally, the interview will air on UNC-MX:

Saturday, December 3rd at 3:00am
Tuesday, December 6th at 11:00am and 5:30pm
Friday, December 13th at 11:30am

Healing Seekers Photo Exhibit

The Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro

Photography on Exhibit until December 31st, 2011

330 N. Greene St., Greensboro, N.C.

Healing Seekers, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to exploring remote regions of the world in search of healing therapies, medical treatments and cures, is the focus of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro’s Fall Exhibit. The Foundation is located at 330 N. Greene St., Greensboro, N.C. (beside the Carolina Theatre and across from Deuterman Law). The series of 17 enlarged photographs are taken from the team’s previous expeditions to Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, and the Amazon/Andes region of South America. Educational video materials produced by McWhorter Concepts that Healing Seekers uses in various school systems and with the NC Zoo’s FieldTripEarth will also be displayed on a flatscreen TV.

The Exhibit is open to the public and is on display until December 31st, 2011.

Would You Please Consider Making a Donation Today?

Please Donate Now.

Visit us online at: HealingSeekers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

Healing Seekers TV Series and Bug Buddies, Take a Look!

steviemack — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:18:06 +0000

Newsletter for Sept 2011

Fall Exhibit at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro debuts Healing Seekers’ Project

Healing Seekers is the focus of the Fall Exhibit at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, located at 330 S Greene Street, across from Deuterman Law. Stunning photography graces the Foundation and is accompanied by educational videos, created from the Healing Seekers’ expeditions to the Amazon and Andes, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea. The exhibit will be displayed until December 31st. We especially invite you to join us on Thursday, October 13th for the official exhibit reception. More details to follow.

“Bugs are my Buddies” – Healing Seekers’ Educational Exchange to Highlight the Work of Rick Miller

Expanding on Healing Seekers’ Educational mission to broaden perspectives and invite new world’s of discovery, we are thrilled to be partnering with our friend, Rick Miller. Rick is an English/Humanities instructor with a Master’s Degree in ESL (English as a Second Language). He has traveled the world, having lived in the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Republic of Niger. His love of insects has been inspired by a lifelong fascination with little critters, and he enjoys exploring and taking photographs of the smallest insects he can find. We believe that you will find his perspective as fascinating and intriguing as we have!

Healing Seekers to Create 3 Part Documentary Series, Made for Television

Healing Seekers, through its collaboration with McWhorter Concepts, will begin creating a series of 3 one hour long documentaries. The documentaries will follow the team’s explorations and discoveries on expeditions. A blend of science with cultural and spiritual practices will allow others to journey with the team in an immersion of diverse cultures and environments. The films will be geared towards the educational PBS, with the intention of reaching classrooms as well as the general public. Sponsorships, both private and corporate, are available and will be given tremendous exposure.

Educational Exchange Features Contributors Julie and Alexi Callinicos

The Educational Exchange link on our website is an opportunity for Healing Seekers to team with like-minded individuals who are artists, poets, researchers, etc. All ages and educational backgrounds are encouraged to submit. This month we are proud to highlight the works of Julie Callinicos and her daughter, Alexi. Please visit the website and explore this new world within their poetry.

Founder, Amy Greeson, to Speak at the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center in Chapel Hill

Healing Seekers (and its collaborator, Natural Discoveries, Inc.) will be the topics of a lecture given by Founder and Executive Director, Amy Greeson. “A Global Quest for Medical Treatments and Cures” will be on Thursday, September 15th at 2:30pm at the Robert and Pearl Seymour Center in Chapel Hill. It is open to the public.

Healing Seekers wishes to thank Walter Mack and Nancy Alton for their kindness, and the wonderful privilege to be included in their lecture series.

With Gratitude, the Board of Directors Wishes to Thank Rives and Associates, LLP

The Board of Directors wishes to thank Rives and Associates, LLP in Lexington, NC for their tremendous in-kind donations in assisting with our accounting needs. It is because of the strength and professionalism of our partners that our non profit continues to thrive on such a strong solid foundation. We wish to especially thank Chris Chesson and Sara Messer for their untold gifted hours and unending kindness. Healing Seekers is honored to be affiliated with Rives and Associates, LLP.

We also wish to thank Diana Hartje for her many hours behind the scenes gathering information and organizing data. Thank you!

Would You Please Consider Making a Donation Today?

On this note, we would like to extend our deep gratitude to the Molly Millis-Hedgecock Donor Advisory Fund and the Emily Millis-Hiatt Donor Advisory Fund, for gifting us two vital grants this year which allowed our work to continue uninterrupted. We have proudly completely these grants, and the educational videos may be viewed on www.healingseekers.com, on YouTube, on FaceBook, and on the NC Zoo’s FieldTripEarth.

We also wish to extend our gratitude to Dennis and Nancy Franks and Dennis Franks Marketing, for donating the marketing materials for our donor packets. And we would like to extend our appreciation to Lindsay Burkart and Lindsay Realty for sponsoring our Healing Seekers window decals/bumper stickers. Thank you!!

Please Donate Now.

Visit us online at: HealingSeekers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube

The Foggy Foggy Forest | A poem by Alexi Callinicos

steviemack — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:30:33 +0000

Like the mists of Avalon foggy, beautiful
Forest with emerald evergreen trees
Dancing in the fragrant wind
With the war of gray and blue
Tidal ocean sky
Stirring star trees
Where the abdicating sun leaps back
To her place in the foggy foggy forest