tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075585896098925176.post4841315153404211083..comments2024-01-15T13:24:27.718-05:00Comments on Lis Carey's Library: Knowing, by Laurel DeweyLis Careyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11749602147389166862noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075585896098925176.post-33566140099792843622013-02-28T20:05:00.278-05:002013-02-28T20:05:00.278-05:00Roberta, I've just done a little research on S...Roberta, I've just done a little research on Stephen Buhner. He claims exactly zero education in the sciences, some in mathematics, and none in the discipline of history. My previous research on pine needle beer indicates that it was a phenomenon of the northern reaches of Europe, never really popular beyond Scandinavia and norther Scotland. And in those regions, it was certainly never banned, and remained in production in Scotland until late in the 19th century.<br /><br />I can't find any references to the Catholic Church pushing hops to the exclusion of other types of beer except in one discussion thread (at http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/archive/index.php/t-574195-p-4.html), a comment from an individual who admits that superior preservation was another reason, and probably even the main reason--but he likes the story about the Church banning it for reasons of control because it lets him "bash the Catholic Church.<br /><br />Later in the same discussion, someone points out what I hope you know: that hops is the only thing that preserves beer and keeps it stable (and alcoholic) without modern refrigeration technology (enabling conditions of darkness and temps no higher than 35F). Without hops, beer would have been much less available. <br /><br />The fact that Mr. Buhner says something is just not sufficient without real, verifiable sources, especially since he has no relevant qualifications that makes taking him seriously a plausible thing to do.<br /><br />I'm sorry, but I am a librarian--a master's degree in library science, and a bachelor's degree in history, and over two decades professional experience in locating, identifying, and assessing the reliability of sources. Mr. Buhner is serving up woo-woo, with a side order of Catholic-bashing.Lis Careyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11749602147389166862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2075585896098925176.post-33374237726505312442013-02-28T18:27:04.156-05:002013-02-28T18:27:04.156-05:00Hi, Lis.....Love your review. I've read "...Hi, Lis.....Love your review. I've read "Knowing" and remember the segment you're referring to in your pet peeve. I found this info from Stephen Buhner's book, "The Natural Testosterone Plan." Maybe it will clarify what Dewey was saying?<br /><br />[Page 87-88 - Chapter: Testosterone Antagonists]<br /><br />"Most of the hops (used in beer) is a very potent estrogen called estradiol. Estradiol, as it is taken into the male body, causes a direct lowering of testosterone levels in the testes and an increase in SHBG levels, which then binds up with even more free testosterone in the bloodstream. <br /><br />....The presence of this highly estrogenic substance in beer is not an accident.<br /><br />Prior to the German Beer Purity Act of 1516, beer almost never contained hops. In fact, more than one hundred different plants were used in brewing beer.....For the last thousand years of that period, the most dominant form of "beer" was gruit, which contained a mixture of yarrow, bog, myrtle, and marsh rosemary. These herbs—especially in beer—are sexually and mentally stimulating. (It is rare to become sleepy when drinking un-hopped beers.) The Catholic Church had a monopoly on the production of gruit, but competing merchants and the Protestants worked together to break that monopoly and force the removal of all sexually stimulating herbs from beer. They replaced them with an herb that puts the drinker to sleep and dulls sexual drive in the male....."<br /><br />I've also heard Buhner lecture on this subject and I do recall him mentioning something about the "need of the Church" to keep the people "not excited." So, yes, there certainly was an element of control by the Church to make sure the people didn't get too wild. Roberta Lowrynoreply@blogger.com