Chrysanthemum Tea

 I have joined a Tai Chi class that meets thrice weekly in the park by my youngest grandkids' school. I've been doing Qigong in the park while my grandkids play a little while after their morning school time, then a friend invited me to join the group practice. 

It's been lovely to revisit the Yang Long form, which I first learned nearly 40 years ago, during my massage training. My mentor suggested Tai Chi as a life long practice, and way you learn good ergonomics. She was so right! 

A week or so ago, the friend who invited me brought me this lovely treat Tea Pot and flowering tea from Numi! I often steep tea in a glass tea cup with matching strainer - but this provides such an elegant experience! Each tea "ball" can be stepped several times, and I often as some of my own tea leaves for additional batches.

Tea pot and flowering tea

This little of year I'm often dreaming about new varieties for my garden, and was pleased to find Bo Jo Hua Chrysanthemum tea plants at my friend Melissa's Van Hevlingen Herb booth at the Farmers Market! She had two varieties, which bloom in the late fall like otter Mums. Bo Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum morifolium) doesn't set reliable seed, so is only available as plants - I'm excited to add these to my garden! 

I found several blog posts about these plants and the flowers, which support the liver, eye health, and are good for the heart, type 2 diabetes and easing headaches (Sage Garden Theory) on a Growing Tradition, Thomas recounted his search for the plants and success. 

Bo Jo Hua Chrysanthemum

Melissa said the plants bloom on Halloween, and into November. The flowers are first collected mid day, and dried then stored. I think they will be lovely to steep in the little round pot! 

Self Heal for health

I love Self heal as a flower essence, and this simple, easy to find and identify Tonic herb in the mint family has a long history of herbal use in Native, Western and traditional Chinese medicine. Its gentle healing properties and general safety are backed up by current research. 

This YouTube clip by Herbal Jedi gives a great overview on how to identify, harvest and use this mint relative, Prunella vulgaris, (Western native variety: lanceolata)

* antioxidant and adaptogen

* soothes and aids digestion

* stabilizes blood sugar

* skin: cuts, wounds (staunches blood), bruises, inflammation, sunburn

* mouth sores, sore throat

* calms allergy response - use with nettles in spring pesto or tea (with Reishi, skullcap, etc)

* supports lymphatic health

* reduces arteriosclerosis

* liver and kidney support and detoxification

*enhances protein metabolism

* antiviral - biofilm disrupter like elderberry

* immune support in cancer treatment (natural or medical model)

Self heal's flowers are popular with a wide variety of insects, butterflies, skippers, bumble bees, native bees, and their low growth makes them audible for inclusion in an eco lawn that is occasionally mowed.

Garden Goodness

This year during our time at home, my daughter and son-in love planted a big garden, and I've enjoyed the benefits! They have a large lot, and a lot of familiar crops. 

Last summer, I got a damaged wading pool from our local Toy Store, planning to use it for a raised bed garden ... I found a sunny spot between my garage and apple tree, planted some simple containers in it in June. I also moved in a couple of tomatoes and a Taro. 

I'm enjoying watching seedlings emerge Orach, okra, spicy greens and salad mix, carrots, purslane ...

I recently harvested seed from my perennial spinach and quinoa relative, Good King Henry - Blitum Bonus-henricus, and simmered some with quinoa for a tasty and naturally gluten free porridge. I've had my past colony over a decade, and appreciate it's carefree nature! It is in a corner that rarely gets extras water, is one of the first spring greens, and I'm still harvesting leaves to eat like spinach. I found the idea for porridge on a British blog. 

 

Pollen from GKH has been found in sites back to the bronze age in Britain and Western Europe. The author Alison also enjoys perennial herbs - which with their developed root systems, are often more nutrient dense than their annual counterparts. 

She offered a recipe for Khoubiza, a Moroccan warm "salad" - or pesto - made with common mallow and purslane! I loved the idea, and those plants both volunteer freely in my daughter's garden! My younger grandson loves purslane, so I had him keep me gather the leaves. I used coconut oil, and gathered fresh Thai basil and parsley to add to a colander of the wild greens - yum!! 

 I sometimes forget how much flavor pesto adds to a dish - the small dark seeds in the quinoa are Good King Henry, and I added coconut milk yogurt and Khoubiza for a delightful lunch! What's growing in your garden?

T'is May!

As they often do this time of year, my thoughts and hands turn to gardening. It's been sunny the last week, and I've been digging ... 

My daughter and son-in law often have a lovely large garden, and we have two wonderful Farmers Markets, one year round, so I've not done much the last couple of years. There are always tomatoes, and I usually forget to harvest some of the garlic, so I divide and repent clumps in the spring! 

I've got a rather wild front yard (and am always surprised when someone stops to tell me how much they enjoy it! My camas blooms for a little while under a moss Rose and birch tree, a Rowan/Hawthorne cross is full of May Flowers (and produces delicious berries) Wallflower, primrose, flowering quince and calendula are blooming. 

Our local BiMart (NW chain, employee owned) has raised bed kits, and I decided to get one that's 3 x3' for the front, and some soil to fill it. .... There are front yard gardens sprinkled throughout my neighborhood, so I'm in good company! 

I looked up some YouTube videos, both on making and suggestions on filling the bed. 

• Dig out area under bed, remove roots etc
• Set the bed in place
• Cover the soil with Cardboard (barrier to roots, and worms love it)
• 2-3" native soil
• Next in layers: 2-3" potting soil, 1" compost/worm castings and 2" coconut noir (I've had this in bricks that you moisten and break down) and 2 C rock dust ... Mix a bit, add another layer till your bed is full enough. Add other amendments you like - kelp, bone meal, ...
• Water with 1/2 cup fish fertilizer in 5 gallon bucket of water, and let sit a bit

Camas and tulips

By adding nutrients, I re-use potting soil from containers, and will see what's ready to use from my compost bin. I've picked up several herbs, and may include some of those. I've already planted tarragon and thyme in one of the back beds.

What's in your garden? 

Nourishing Broths

Jamie's prompt this week - "How do you wish to be nourished?"

* In a little while, I'm receiving a massage from my coworker, Jackie (my goal is 2 massages each month)
* I love epsom salt baths with candles
* dancing
* meeting with friends
* hanging out with my 21 month old cherub of a grandson
* a luxuriant, abundant garden

* my most recent passion~ brothmaking ~

"Good broth will resurrect the dead"  - South American proverb.

I've always 'occasionally' made stock/broth; Wm Michael & I used to get 'dog bones' & make Dog Bone Soup (more meat than 'soup bones!' & I usually save chicken bones, & add them to my veggie trimmings for stock .... here's an excellent article on 'Bone Broth' from the Chinese medicine perspective! I love the idea of adding adaptogen herbs!  

After 9 months eating 'Plant Strong,' with little meat, I've gone through another shift - still LOTS & LOTS of OG veggies (mostly local & in season) to adding in more meat & fish - & dropping the grains & dry legumes, at least for a time, as many in the GF community feel this enhances healing the digestive system. (Paleo, or low carb, high fat) Gluten Free RN (who went GF ~ 6 years ago) has been eating this way the last 2 years, & shares her favorite resources here. (an unexpected side effect - though I was already ~ my HS weight, I've trimmed down a bit more, & now my 'skinny jeans' are baggy!!)

Cindy Micleu, MTCM, LAc. writes: "Winter is the ideal time for nourishing the Kidneys, and soup is the perfect winter food. Bone broth is prepared in cultures around the world as both a tasty, healthful soup and an easily digested medicinal food. The prolonged cooking of bones in water results in a broth rich in nutritional constituents that promote strength, tonify blood, nourish in times of sickness and rehabilitation, and help to prevent bone and connective tissue disorders.

"Chinese herbs such as Huang Qi (Astragalus) and Dang Shen (Codonopsis) may be added to increase the medicinal properties of the broth. These herbs not only enhance the nutritional status of the broth, but are flavorful and add to the sweet taste. Huang Qi and Dang Shen tonify the qi, support digestion, build energy, and strengthen immune function. Gou Qi Zi (Lycii berries) may be added for additional blood tonification."
(I have a 'soup packet' from our LAc, Lisa Pool, that I'll add to the next batch! Now, to get some *good* bones from pasture raised animals!)

********* Veggie Trimmings

When I lived at Breitenbush in the mid 90s, one of my housemates was a chef, & taught me to freeze my veggie trimmings!  This is great, as in the past, I'd often just left them in the veggie drawer, they they get mushy ....
I save many trimmings:  mushroom ends, peels, carrot tops & tips, beet & leek tops, asparagus ends, parsley & other herb stems etc etc. in a container in the freezer, & onion & garlic skins in a container on the counter. When I'm ready to make stock or broth, in they go! Bones are generally simmered first (the article has excellent instructions) & the veggie trimmings/whole veggies added for the last 1-2 hours.

Fish stock is even quicker - about 4 hours simmer time.

Brassicas (which overpower general soups/stocks) I keep separate, & simmer a brief time, for cauliflower, broccoli etc soup.

Here in the relatively warm Willamette Valley, I have sage, rosemary & even true Bay leaves available throughout the year, & I add some of those, a handful of dandelions & other wild edibles, as well as a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar to the broth as it brews. & I add a strip of seaweed, usually Kombu.

My CSA farmers made the shift to 'low carb, high fat' (rare beans or grains, but they use cream & fermented milk from their own pastured cows) last fall. & commented they're eating EVEN MORE GREENS than they were before! They pour some broth over the greens & let them cook down (40+ minutes), I pour over some coconut milk kefir, while they might add a dollop of fresh cream! mmmm 

Here are some other stock making articles - from the Healthy Home Economist  & Sally Fallon, & a great bit on making 'portable bouillon' from stock! (ever wonder what folks did 'on the road' before cup-o-soup type things?)

May you be well nourished!

Yomogi

I have a new favorite herb - Yomogi, or Japanese mugwort,
学名：Artemisia princeps

A few days ago I bought another Artemisia, Southernwood, from my herbalist friend Kate, & she asked if I might be interested in the Yomogi, which a customer at her other market had brought for her, along with a sheet on its uses. '& I certainly don't need 4 clumps!!' So yesterday she dropped some off (a gift) - & it's lovely! Rounder leaves, sweeter flavor ...

So today I looked up some uses for yomogi - besides the ones Kiyoko listed: 
Fresh YOMOGI juice - 1 Tbsp every morning
(promote health) (high blood pressure)

Yo Mo GI tea 
Yomogi leaf (dry in the shade)
(asthma - hip pain)
& to repel mosquitos, bees, wasps etc - extract elements from Yomogi (Yomogi & Alcohol) 

In the National Geographic 'Blue Zones,' (areas of the world with higher than 'usual' numbers of centaurians) one 104 year old woman in Okinawa said she cooks her rice with a Yomogi leaf or two; so I'd begun doing that, using my Western mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris). The traditional meal blessing is the Confucian-inspired adage "hara hachi bu—eat until your stomach is 80 percent full.” 


Another use of Yomogi - as an ingredient in Kusa mochi, sweet rice desert balls! I found several recipes/methods - from Garden Fairy's rememberance of her 'obaachan's garden, & sending away for Yomogi seed, to the 'old school way,' cooking the sweet rice & adzuki beans from scratch (rather than using mochi 'sweet rice' flour & red bean paste!) ...

To Bunkyo Women's college steaming the mochi then adding the yomogi, & lovely description of gathering: "When the grass and trees in the mountains and fields begin to sprout in the spring, many Japanese people enjoy walking in the mountains and picking wild plants. One of the most famous of these wild plants is yomogi (mugwort)."

& then there's the quick & easy microwave version from 350* oven!

I'm looking forward to getting to know this new plant, ... now, where to put her .... 

 

Spa Water

Happy Easter!!
It's a lovely, sunny day, & I've been playing in my garden .... came in to put on some music, & found this fun post on making your own 'spa water' with fruits & herbs, etc marinating a bit in your water!

A dear harper friend often gathers FLOWERS (edible & OG) & herbs, & keeps a supply of pretty pitchers on hand for gatherings. The first I attended, she sent me out to the garden with a basket to gather the herbs & flowers, then we rinsed them & put into the pitchers with lemon slices for the tables! Beautiful. And tasty!

So if you struggle to drink enough water - try some 'spa water' with flowers & herbs from your own (hopefully unsprayed) yard! Remember to stick to plants you KNOW - here's a nice chart of edible flowers, with some tips on use & cautions.

Prebiotics

The other day I was checking the ingredients on my pup's Grain Free dog food (great for both of us, no gluten contamination for me, better to be grain free for dogs) & noticed Chicory listed as a prebiotic .... hmm

As I posted last week, I have been enjoying the gift of Reishi mushroom, & making some lovely chai. Reishi or Ling Zhi, (spirit plant) has a number of health enhancing properties, hence it's title 'Mushroom of Kings (or Emperors)' Reishi is reputed to "keep the body light and young and to lengthen life."

Dr Josh Axe writes: "Their beta-glucans increase T-cell levels in the immune system which can help people suffering from immune disorders, & can help reduce cancer cell growth and the spread of tumors. They contain ganoderic acids that lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clots and even help to correct arrhythmia, & lanostan, a natural antihistamine that can treat arthritis and muscle aches."

BPC suggests simmering a tsp or two of the powdered mushroom for 15-20 minutes, so I pulled out Rosemary Gladstar's Family Herbal, & looked up the Longevity Chai recipe, which I'd made before. I also pulled out some OG roasted chicory root, to use in place of tea (which I usually steep rather than simmering!)

I had some roasted & ground chicory root in my cupboard, & decided that would be a nice addition to the Rooibos/Reishi (etc) Chai I'd been brewing. Often combined with coffee, chicory adds a a similar taste without the caffeine. If you've ever had coffee in New Orleans, it probably was mixed with chicory. Postem & other coffee substitutes also contain chicory, but often mixed with barley malt (a GF no-no!)

A few days later, I stumbled on the prebiotic info.

So what are prebiotics? Tamara writes: "Prebiotics are simply a specific type of soluble fiber that people cannot digest, but the friendly bacteria in our guts can! In other words, prebiotics are food for “probiotics,” or the health-promoting bacteria that live in our intestines and help protect us from pathogenic bacteria." Now, how cool is that??

She goes on to warn that as that digestive process is going on, gas is a bi-product, hence 'go easy at first' .... this fills in the blank on Jerusalem Artichokes, which some folks don't like, as eating them can trigger excess gas! (they are another source of inulin, this prebiotic fiber)

So what about other root veggies, that can be eaten or steeped? Burdock (Gobo) "In Japan and some parts of Europe, is eaten as vegetable. Burdock contains inulin, a natural dietary fiber, and has also been used traditionally to improve digestion. In fact, recent studies confirm that burdock has prebiotic properties that could improve health."

Burdock is one of Susun Weed's favorite 'tonic' herbs, ones which can be used daily for health & general tonification. Read her bit on 'dirty roots'- burdock & dandelion here! She suggests: "Bring dried root (three teaspoons per cup of water or more to your taste) and water to boil in a covered pan; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for at least twenty minutes. You can strain the roots and use them a second time." It could easily be added to the Chai!

Rosemary Gladstar writes in Family Herbal: "Burdock is a superior tonic herb, rich in iron, magnesium, manganese, silicon & thiamine, as well as a host of otehr vitamins & minerals It is simply the best herb for the skin." Young burdock can be grated & sauted with carrots & other roots, or added to soups & stews.

Inulin-and other inulin-type fructans-can also be found in many root vegetables, including onion, jicama root, dandelion root, burdock root, leeks, and asparagus. (George Mateljan Foundation)

Longevity Chai with prebiotic roots

* 2 Tbsp rooibos }

* 2 Tbsp chicory root } - {Rosemary uses 5 Tbsp black tea, which you can certainly do!

* 6 slices fresh ginger root, grated (~ 1/2 "

* a stick of cinnamon, broken into pieces

* 1 Tbsp sliced fo-ti (Chinese longevity tonic herb, longevity & vitality

* 1 Tbsp ginseng root (I get smaller rootlets

* 1 Tbsp licorice root

* 1 cardamom pod, slightly crushed

* 6 peppercorns (I use mixed colours

* 2-4 whole cloves

* simmered in 4-6 Cups hot water 15-20 minutes

I 'give or take' on these, & add other herbs as desired (& what I have on hand!)

* 1 Tbsp dried burdock (or 1/2" fresh

* 1 Tbsp dried dandelion root (or chop some fresh from your garden *

* 8 hawthorne berries (heart health

* 1 Tbsp astragalus (another Chinese tonic herb

* 1 Tbsp shizandra berries (ditto

* 1 tsp fennel seeds

* 1 Tbsp OG carob or unsweetened chocolate powder

I simmer it, then pour some into my little French Press or the basket of my teapot, & from there into my cup. I usually pour the 'dregs' back in the pot, & simmer several more times, adding a bit more chicory & Reishi to successive brews.

Add a bit of coconut milk & honey if you wish.

** Remember, if you increase your use of prebiotics, be sure to get more probiotics to digest them - live culture kefir or yogurt, and/or probiotic powder or capsules.

ENJOY!

Herbs a Planting, gardens a growing

Rain, rain, rain! Those 'April showers' seem to be here already - tho I hear there may be sunshine on the weekend! Yesterday I invited my granddaughters to help me plant the herbs I picked up for the garden out back that I'd been weeding. I practiced restraint, & only brought home a few plants; with the intention of getting them in the ground before buying more!!

Two thyme plants, Lemon Verbena (this one I'll plant in a pot on the front porch - tho it could be in the ground in the summer) & on the Right, Stevia or 'sweet leaf,' good for adding a 'sweet' taste to teas!

Here's the garden plot, almost ready - the sticks help 'remind' my daughter's huskey mix to stay out of the garden, please!! We'll be planting the newly opened area on the top left.




And the big girl; she planted ALL the herbs I brought home! She donned the gloves, chose her favorite tool (mine, too) & we proceeded to dig the holes. She remembered how to coax plants out of their pots, & how to loosen the roots before tucking them in!! Now it's time to pick up more herbs!!!

My plants came from Bi-mart & Incahoots. A local nursery (with an olive press!) Red Ridge Farm is celebrating having reached 300 Facebook 'fans' by offering a 15% discount through the weekend, if you 'mention' you're one.

Anything coming up in your garden yet? Or plants you are working on finding homes for??

Happy Spring Equinox!

We slipped into Aires @ 8:22 this AM - time to get out into the garden!! Here are a few things blooming in my yard - plus a section of the herb garden that's waiting for new plants:)

Peach in bloom - last year I got several LUSCIOUS large peaches from this tree - the blooms are so lovely!


The herb bed is thinned out (lots of lambs ears, quack grass (ugh!) & a sad old rosemary with just one branch - the little tree in the corner is one of my olives!! About 1 1/2' high! The honeysuckle rambling over the bush beside it will flood the garden with fragrance this summer. & the rue in front of the stones is growing up.







flush of Snowdrops










One of my 3 Asian Pears - these 'apple pears' are such a delightful treat - when I can wrest a few for myself - my grandkids LOVE them!!

What are your plans this lovely spring day??

Among the herbs

Lovely day for being outside, again!
I putzed around in the kitchen for awhile, reorganizing my herb/spice rack, & clearing off that counter. Doesn't it seem like things like that take an inordinate amount of time?? But so nice when done!
I made yogurt out of the last of the goat's milk - will see how my grandkids like it! It's easy - & the milk is available from a friend - nice option. The 'milk' kefir cultures so well on the coconut milk - nice & thick, plus tasty!
It's funny - I ordered a case (12 cans) of the coconut milk, but I've noticed that it takes awhile for the message to get to the right folks at the natural foods store!! I saw 'more cans than usual' on the shelf last week, & asked if my order had come in - the checker went & looked (in the back) . . . . No . . . .
Last year I asked for them to carry the coconut OIL I like in a larger size - & there were several quarts on the shelf before I got called to say 'it's in.' So my sense is, when the 'special order' comes in, they just shelve it, unless it's the person who took the order doing the stocking! So I need to ask again, (seems like they were extra busy or I was in a hurry when I did ask) & suggest they come up with a more consistent system?

Meanwhile, yesterday a friend mentioned having smudged her yard, & I mentioned my 'land clearing process' as another option - so sent her the link to my post on that - tuning & clearing! It will be nice to get her feedback - I love doing it! In the afternoon, I began weeding & trimming my herb garden. Some of this garden was already in place when I moved in, & I've added to it over the years.
Lavender, sage, rosemary, bronze fennel, lemon balm, a vitex & a grape, rue, several Thyme plants, chives, catmint, parsley & feverfew (that self sew) . . . with a border of lambs ears that gets bigger every year, & stones. I trimmed lavender & thyme, pulled some weeds & roots, & decided to use a bit of that in the ground edging I got a few years ago at a master Gardner event as a border, & ripple the edge of the garden a bit.

I got quite a bit done before the light faded - plus had phone calls from two old friends that I hadn't heard from in awhile :) More tomorrow, weather allowing!

Thots on Health & Flu

So today I was with my galfriends at a great summer afternoon 'pool party' (why didn't we do this when it was 106* out?? Fairly cool today!) & talk around the snack table turned to wondering about the next flu vaccines. Several of the gals are teachers, & I recall a few years ago I was the only one (of 8, now 9) who wasn't getting a flu shot! Blagh!!

Never have, don't see the need to . . .

During the 'swine flu' frenzy last winter, I came across a lovely article written by an adjunct prof from Seattle's Naturopathic school, Bastyr, about the contrast in small percentage of deaths among homeopathy users during the 1918 flu epidemic. I mentioned this to my friends, & they asked me to send them the info.

Ah yes, here's my *disclaimer* - please don't take this as medical advice!! More as grist for your mental mill - & if in doubt - seek the aid of a trained medical professional - hopefully a Naturopath, Osteopath, or Accupuncturist!

I've used the over the counter homeopathics, & take things like emergen-C & drink Ginger teas, etc. when I'm exposed to stuff. I also keep charcoal caps on hand, & take those if I'm exposed to a flu or food poisoning.

Homeopathic remedies stimulate your body's own defenses, are taken under the tongue ~ 20 minutes away from any liquid or brushing your teeth. Brittan's royal family uses Homeopathy, & it's highly respected in most of Europe. Homeopathic remedies are available over the counter at Natural food stores, or directly from Naturopaths. You can get cute little blue box 'sets' - there are several options, inc. remedies for kids. The box holds 3 remedies, & is easily refillable with your personal 'favorites.' (they also come empty, but are often a bit less $ filled!)

The 'basic' all around flu remedy (take at the FIRST sign) is Occilocoxcinum. It comes in packs of 6 small tubes, & you can take 1/2 tube at a time, with doses ~ 6 hours apart. A patient of the Doc in my office buys several boxes each fall, & keeps them on her desk for ANYONE in her office to take at the first sign of a 'bug.' She says it really pays off in fewer 'sick' days for the whole staff. She also gets his nurtitional I-Vs periodically when exposed to bugs.

The good Doctor (an ND) also carries a remedy that is compounded from the current season's flu strains, which is taken for a few days (3?) at the same time each month throughout 'flu season.' I think it's Influenzinum. I've never taken this route, but several folks in our office do, inc. the Doctor.

Here's a great article that came out during the swine flu outbreak. The Author, Melaine Grimes, is an adjunct faculty member at Bastyr University (Seattle's Naturopathic college)

A stunning quotes from the article: "Ohio reported that 24,000 cases of flu treated allopathically had a mortality rate of 28.2% while 26,000 cases of flu treated homeopathically had a mortality rate of 1.05%" You can see by these figures that NDs & homeopaths were very popular, & effective, at that time. (MDs practice 'allopathy' - against the symptoms).
One could write a tretis (Suzanne Sommers has!) on how the pharmecutical companies & their 'backers' wanted more of the market, so managed to shift things like hospital priv. toward the MDs, & make the other docs less available.

For general prevention/health, Melanie Grimes suggests: "certain nutrients have been shown to help enhance the immune system, such as echinacea, vitamins C, E and beta carotene, zinc, and elderberries."

During that 1918 epidemic, the remedies most often used were Gelsemium and Bryonia.
Gelsemium is one of my personal favorites, & one I carry in my purse (along with Arnica & Hypericum). It's package 'blurb' suggests use for 'stage fright & anxiety.'
It's useful for headaches that begin in the neck/back of head, & may turn into stomach upset. I've used it for headaches (rare) since the mid to late 80s. Taken at the first beginning, it's even stopped my daughter's migraines a few times.

Each tube costs ~ $6, so it's pretty darn cheep preventative medicine!!

Occilicoxcinum is a bit more, since it's a pack of tubes! The 'small' box of Occilicoxcinum is ~ $12, & the double size ~ $22. It's well worth while to keep a box on hand! & tho an expiration date is printed on the tube, they are 'good' for much longer (USDA requirement)

Arnica is the remedy for the first 24 hours after an injury, or when you are going to do something out of the ordinary - a long bike ride, a hike, a full day in the garden. The midwives gave it to my dau-in law during labor, to help ease pain & speed recovery! You can take it along with something like Ibupofrin - just take the arnica WITHOUT water (& ~ 20 min after drinking or eating) & the Ibupf. with, a few hours later!

Hypericum (St John's Wort) is especially helpful for nerve pain; dental work, a smushed finger or toe (lots of nerve endings) & even things like Sciatica!
Both Arnica & Hypericum can be used externally as well, Arnica in a salve, & Hypericum in tincture, oil or salve.

A Naturopath or Homeopath can help fine tune what you need for something specific - say a cough (is it dry or moist? Deep in the chest . . . ) but the remedies I've mentioned are all available over the counter, & have WAY fewer negative side effects than 'drugs!'
Rarely will you keep taking something that's not working for you - if it isn't effective, you stop taking it! At times, your symptoms will seem to get worse, then you'll feel better. The philosophy isn't supressing symptoms, but going beneath them, to treat the cause! & triggering your own immune system to counteract the 'dis-ease.'

When my oldest granddaughter took an unknown quantity of her (homeopathic) teething tablets, Mary called Dr D & he just laughed! "nope - it won't hurt her!! She could be a tiny bit sleepy - but prob. not even that! . . . now if it were asprin, . . . "

USUALLY, you take the remedy several times, & stop taking it as soon as symptoms abate. Some of the flu remedies are best taken 'preventatively' - both at the first sign of symptoms, or if someone close to you is already beginning to get sick!! You can often fend something off, simply 'almost' feeling sick yourself!

This summer my dau. & I got 'food poisoning' - that knocked us out for a day.

We sent each other text messages as we spent the morning in & out of the bathroom. We took charcoal tabs, we drank water, about midday I pulled out a favorite herb book & made some yarrow tea for me, & later took some over to her . . . .& I think about that time took some occiloc. . . . & I began drinking my 'standard' (for upset tummy) vinegar & a bit of honey or agave nectar in water. By the next day it had passed, tho feeling a bit 'off' persisted for a few days.

Herbalists inc. Susun Weed suggest eating the tonic herbs daily, & using the heavier hitters only occasionally, when you really need them. Her Healing Wise is a great compendium of some of her favorite dailys. Lalitha Thomas '10 Essential Herbs' is another great story book that reminds us how simple health care can be. Isn't it about time to take back our power & touch into some of these simpler ways of caring for our bodies?

Tea Time

Today on facebook my friend Gwynn shared her entry in Teavana's Tea Master Challange - '10,000 Blessings Tea' - which is also the name of her Feng Shui business. Gwynne lived in England for a bit, studying acting at the Guild Theatre School, & adores tea! Especially Earl Grey Tea in the morning. When we lived at Breitenbush, we often dressed up with hats & gloves, & had tea parties with Gwynne.

I visited the site & couldn't resist concocting my own blend: 'Gypsy Rose Tea.' The contest runs thru the 17th of August (OK, some of the teas have over 1000 votes, so we prob don't have much chance of 'winning' the GC or a blend of 'our' teas . . . ) & you can vote once each day!!
Of course I also had to pour a cup of iced rooibos/herb tea as I contemplated these blends.

I really intended to vote for Gwynn's tea - I will tomorrow!!

Growing up, my mom & I drank green or black tea when we went to Church or Grange, she wasn't a coffee drinker! I later began enjoying herb teas. When I discovered the South African Rooibos & Honeybush teas, I was delighted to add these high antioxident, flavorful teas to my rep!

A tea shop owner told me her (diabetic) mom began loosing weight & her sugar levels stabalized when she began drinking a quart of rooibos tea (various blends) daily! Since it doesn't *require* sweetening, it's a great choice for diabetics. Another friend asked what *mom* had been drinking before - probably diet pop!!

I enjoy browsing in the garden for tea leaves, like this sweet Pineapple Sage (yes, I watered it after snapping the photo!)

My 'Gypsy Rose Tea' combines Rooibos Rose Garden, Sweet Fruit Garden Herbal, & Raspberry Sangria Herbal Teas, with a touch of Winter White Honey. Doesn't that sound good??

OK - I have a tiny confession - I haven't tasted these teas!! Yikes! I may have to go to the mall & taste my blend!! :) If Gwynne likes them, they are high quality & delicious!!

So go over & cast a vote, won't you???

Grandma Mary Irel

With this week's election, my daughter reminded me that my mom Lois was 8 when women 'got the vote.' My grandpa Mel drove the buggy to town, so grandma Mary could regsiter; in the opposite party - & she voted as she pleased! My daughter recalled Lois saying "not all men allowed their wives to do that!"

Mel & Mary had a farm/ranch outside Sisters, & Lois said her mother enjoyed her garden more than she did cleaning - a trait I have shared! She knew herbs, growing valerian, among others, & spoke 'Chinook Jargon,' the trade language used by the NW Native Americans.
My mom recalled going with her mother in the evening, to visit the NA camped on their land ('of course you can camp where you always have, we have cattle, so please close the gates') . . . did she trade tales & herbs? She told Lois 'not to bother them in the daytime, they have their chores, too' but she could play with the kids while her mom visited.

Now, as I work on clearing clutter & tidying my space, I think of my grandmothers, & invite their assistance. May I unearth treasures, & pass on what I no longer need. As I play my harp, I wonder if my grandmothers enjoyed music as much as I do? I know they both quilted, & had a good sense of form & pattern.