Located in British Columbia is ‘The Great Bear Rainforest’ which is one of the largest coastal temperate rain forests in all of the world. This twenty-five-thousand mile rain forest is filled with densely misted fjords and neighboring islands that are home to one of the most interesting and rare animals in current existence–the Kermode Bear. The Kermode Bear is neither a polar bear nor albino, but rather a rare genetic mutation of a black bear that causes its fur to be fair-colored, seemingly white. There are fewer than 500 hundred of these bears in the world today.

The first inhabitants to live in this nation called the bear mooksgm’ol, meaning the spirit bear. It was highly prized to the natives as one of the rarest and most respected animals to grace the land. The spirit bear was so highly admired by the natives, that they never once spoke of the animal’s existence to the European visitors who hunted the black bears for their fur trade. Even today, it is taboo to mention them to outsiders, let alone hunt them for their fur value.

The rare  mutation is cause by a recessive gene in the bear’s genome, which causes their fur to produce a white tone, similar to the red-haired/fair-skinned recessive gene in humans. This rare gene has proved to be vital in the bear’s evolutionary survival. It allows the bear to be at an advantage during daytime fishing as opposed to the cousin black bears. Mixed with the mist of the forrest and the clear water of the rivers, the spirit bear can easily wade in the water and catch fish without difficulty during certain hours of the day. Although during the night, the black bear and Kermode bear have equal odds of catching native salmon, the spirit bears have a 30% greater success rate of catching the fish during the early hours of the day.

These bears are a product of evolution as they have proved to benefit from their surround environment: the mist of the forrest, the clarity of the water, and the disposition of their color opposed to their black bear cousin. The spirit bear is one of the most prized possession of British Columbia and its neighboring coastal islands. I respect how closely monitored and rarely spoke of the bears were to the native inhabitants which is why this natural beauty is deemed appropriate for this blog.

Thyme:

Thyme is an herb with culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The flowers of a Thyme plant have been commonly used for people with chronic diarrhea, bedwetting, stomaches, arthritis, sore throat, whooping cough, bronchitis, flatulence, and as a diuretic to increase urination frequency. The essential oil of Thyme leaf contains 20-54% thymol–which can be used to reduce bacterial resistance to common drugs such as penicillin. Thyme has been known to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure), protect against foodborne bacterial infections, colon and breast cancers, and common dermatological problems–generally in poorer areas of the world.

Mint:

Mint is the advocate of digestive problems. Mint is commonly known to promote irritable bowl syndrome and Crohn’s disease. This herb is known to flavor drinks, foods, toothpaste, soaps, and medicines. Mint was often used by monks in medieval times for its culinary and medicinal properties. This plant has been used as a tonic, cough mixture, bronchial troubles, and asthma.

Sage:

Sage is used as a rich antioxidant and to lower bad cholesterol. Sage comes from the latin word salvere, meaning ‘to be saved’, as its health benefits have been known to promote the longevity of life by a significant amount. Specifically, sage has been commonly used as an anti-inflammatory–as flavanoids, phenolic acids, and oxygen-handling enzymes give it a unique capacity for stabilizing oxygen-related metabolism and preventing oxygen-based damage to cells. Interestingly, sage has been known to significantly improve brain function and immediate knowledge recall.

Rosemary:

One of the most versatile and powerful herbs of the plant kingdom. Rosemary infused oil prevents foods from going rancid and protects it from oxidation. This wonder-herb has been known to prevent the formation of carcinogenic amines in meat cooked over high heat. Like many other natural herbs, rosemary is known to actively promote antioxidants in the body to help advance metabolic breakdown in the human body. Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may make it useful for reducing the severity of asthma attacks.

Oregano:

Oregano is one of the few herbs that give a stronger taste when dried. Its antioxidant properties have some of the most powerful characteristics of any natural remedies. Oregano oil contains broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, which makes it ideal for fighting against bodily infections. Taking a few drops of oregano oil at the first signs of a cold can help avoid the sickness significantly. This herb has been used by ancient civilizations to help treat a number of skin conditions, such as acne and dandruff.