BotanicWise was founded by Charis Lindrooth with the intention of providing a forum where plant wisdom can be shared and where like-minded people can connect and build a community to steward land, medicinal plants, and supportive relationships with each other. Inspired by the work of Rosemary Gladstar, David Winston, United Plant Savers, and many internationally acclaimed teachers and organizations in the herbal renaissance, BotanicWise strives to create space for land and plant stewardship, with an inner mission to cultivate alliances between plants and people, and between people and people. We are grateful for all who participate in this expanding green movement that invites perspective on the transformation of modern health and health care in this country.
Paul Bergner’s harrowing story of being poisoned
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Hello Reader, Today, I want to share a potent story by one of my herbal mentors, Paul Bergner…“I've never felt old before, but this is the month I finally got old,” I said to my wife one February, a few months after turning 74. My vision and hearing were declining; I felt unusually tired, couldn’t exercise, and, even more concerning, began to struggle with cognition and focus. And so began a long journey through the depths of severe disease and recovery. Not from aging. I was being slowly poisoned by low-level carbon monoxide from a leak in our furnace. More than a year later, when we finally discovered the leak, I had retinal damage, cochlear damage, the equivalent of mild traumatic brain injury, chronic fatigue, a loss of athletic capacity, muscle and connective tissue pain, mast-cell activation syndrome, and was disabled, without the strength even to make a circuit around a grocery store. I have seen similar symptoms in my patients with conditions like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, post-influenza syndrome, chronic Lyme disease, mast cell activation syndrome, histamine intolerance, and long-Covid. “Healer, heal thyself!” as the saying goes. My condition plunged me into the realm of groundbreaking science on mitochondria and their dysfunction – the common denominator to all these chronic conditions. 👉 Learn more about mitochondrial health Everything I was experiencing pointed to mitochondrial damage from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide binds to and disables the energy-transporting iron enzymes in the mitochondrial wall, and switches them from producing energy to making pro-inflammatory substances. Anyone with my condition needs to regenerate their mitochondria, a year-long process. Often, symptoms remain after 2 years! The burning question in my mind became, “What can promote the restoration and recovery of mitochondria?”The answers from today's science reinforced my years of practice and brought me full circle back to health. I still suffer some effects of 2 years of disability and inactivity, but I diligently follow a science-based protocol and have reclaimed high-level mitochondrial function, aerobic capacity, and brain health. Now, at age 78, my VO2max—a measure of mitochondrial aerobic capacity—is about 40, good even for a forty-year-old! My daily brain health exercises—language studies, chess, and music practice—offer useful feedback that my brain is back! I even scored in the top 2% of participants worldwide on chess.com. I don’t say this to brag, but rather to convince you that tending our mitochondria is essential when addressing chronic inflammatory conditions. This is not a quick fix or silver bullet approach. It’s a protocol that becomes a way of life with the ultimate reward of reclaiming health and vitality.I’m ready to share what I have learned with you and pass on what my research and personal experience have taught me. Join me for a deep dive into mitochondrial health and energy production in a 2-part workshop... Yours in Health, Charis Lindrooth BotanicWise |
BotanicWise
BotanicWise was founded by Charis Lindrooth with the intention of providing a forum where plant wisdom can be shared and where like-minded people can connect and build a community to steward land, medicinal plants, and supportive relationships with each other. Inspired by the work of Rosemary Gladstar, David Winston, United Plant Savers, and many internationally acclaimed teachers and organizations in the herbal renaissance, BotanicWise strives to create space for land and plant stewardship, with an inner mission to cultivate alliances between plants and people, and between people and people. We are grateful for all who participate in this expanding green movement that invites perspective on the transformation of modern health and health care in this country.
Hello Reader, Do you still have questions about joining Paul Bergner's upcoming workshop, Reclaiming Energy: A Holistic Approach to Mitochondrial Health? Here are a few answers… Do you offer a payment plan? ✅ Just choose Partial.ly as your payment method at checkout. Payment plans are completely customizable; you choose the payment plan that fits your budget. Is the program really risk-free? ✅ Yes! We offer a 100% “Worth It” guarantee. We are so confident in our programs that we provide a...
Hello Reader, Paul Bergner’s new workshop on energy and mitochondrial vitality starts this week. Let me clarify what this is all about… This workshop is a 2-part series, taught live with replays available afterward. In Part 1, Paul shares recent research on how fatigue, burnout, and chronic inflammation are connected to mitochondrial health. Mitochondria, tiny “powerhouses” of our cells, do far more than generate energy—they shape how we age, how we heal, and how resilient we feel in the face...
Hello Reader, Every day is a balancing act since I have been challenged by Parkinson’s. My energy reserves have shifted, and when I don’t get it “right,” I can have a really tough day…like a stuck-in-quicksand kind of day. Have you ever pushed yourself to work out, only to feel like doo-doo afterward? I totally get it. And I’ve learned a bit about energy production in the brain and body along the way… First, a thriving neuron depends on healthy energy production by the tiny mitochondria...