Randy Buresh (Registered Nurse and Herbalist), is the co-owner and founder of Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Oregon’s Wild Harvest grows, harvests and produces their own medicinal herbal products, many of which use the herbs grown on their certified Biodynamic® and Organic farm in Sandy, Oregon. www.oregonswildharvest.com

If you’ve ever woken up at three in the morning, unable to get back to sleep, or laid awake at night, well after midnight, waiting for Mr. Sandman to arrive in the first place, you are all too familiar with the frustrating, and often debilitating, aspects of an increasingly common condition: insomnia. Insomnia affects about 15 to 20 percent of the population at any one time. The causes are many, and range from temporary stress and anxiety to ongoing chronic problems, or a bad mattress or uncomfortable bedroom.

Insomnia can manifest itself in three ways: difficulty falling asleep, inability to stay asleep, and waking too early.

Chamomile is a traditional herb used to treat insomnia.
Photo by Randy Buresh

Herbal remedies are ideal for many, because few of them interfere with medications. The following supplements have been known to assist in relaxation and the ability to sleep soundly. They should be taken about 45 minutes before bedtime:  

Valerian: Valerian is used as an effective and gentle sleep aid for the relief of occasional sleeplessness. Take 900 mg of the dried herb prior to bedtime. Start with a low dosage and build up over a couple of weeks.

Chamomile: Chamomile has traditionally been used in herbal medicine as a calmative and/or sleep aid. Take two teaspoons of the dried herb in tea, one to three times daily. Take the herbs together for an increased effect of relaxation. 

Skullcap: Skullcap is a traditional nervine, or an herb that has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Skullcap is also a complementary herb that works very well with other herbs.  Take 1200 mg 45 minutes before bedtime.

Ashwagandha : Ashwagandha is a traditional Ayurvedic (Indian) herb used for calming the mind and promoting regular sleep patterns. Take 1200 mg daily before bedtime. Take with milk for improved absorption.

A lack of nutrients can sometimes cause insomnia. Nutrients often needed are calcium, magnesium and vitamin B6 and vitamin B1 (niacin).

Calcium: Take 500 mg with food before going to bed.

Magnesium: Take 250 mg with food before going to bed. Take the calcium and magnesium together; they are sometimes sold as a single supplement.

Vitamins B6 and B1: Take 50 mg B6 and 500 mg niacin taken together before going to bed.

Photo by Randy Buresh

What Else Can You Do?

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time, regardless of the day of the week or whether you've slept.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.

• Have a leisurely bath with several drops of lavender oil before going to bed. (Check out this recipe for a Relaxing Lavender Bath.)

• Put a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow. (Make Jim Long's sleep pillow.)

• Have a bedtime drink of hot milk and honey.

• Do not take commercial sleeping remedies at the same time as herbal remedies.

• Exercise regularly—try forty minutes walking four times a week.

Insomnia can be a temporary but troubling problem; but remember that it can also be a symptom of a medical condition requiring treatment. If insomnia persists for more than a few weeks, be sure to consult your health care provider.

With the help of valerian, chamomile, ashwagandha or skullcap and a relaxing bedtime ritual, sleep should come more easily. When it does, a rested, replenished, restored sense of being can return. Sweet dreams.

*Statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to treat or diagnose any disease or health condition. It is also recommended that patients check with their doctors before taking herbs, to ensure that there are no contraindications with prescription medications.

Think twice about pairing herbs with heart medications. A study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology says that there are about 30 herbal supplements you should avoid if you take blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin.

You can check out the full list of problematic herbs at www.health.com. The list includes herbal favorites, such as garlic, green tea and hawthorn. The study says that when these herbal supplements are taken with blood-thinning medication, it can be hazardous to your health. So let’s break down the more well-known herbs to see what causes the problem.

Garlic is commonly used to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and blood pressure, and is sometimes used as a blood thinner. But according to the study, the risk of bleeding increases when garlic is mixed with warfarin. This is because the anti-clotting agents prevent wounds from closing.

Watch out for the garlic when on heart medication. You shouldn't mix the two.
Photo by CarbonNYC/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/

Green tea’s antioxidants and vitamins help people lose weight, fight cancer, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and increase their alertness. But, when taken with blood-thinners, the results are not so great. The Health article says that green tea contains vitamin K, which can possibly counteract the effect of warfarin.

Hawthorn is a well known heart-helper; it's because of its heart healing properties that it can cause problems with blood-thinning medication. When hawthorn strengthens heart contractions, it can interact and cause problems with people on heart-failure medications.

Hawthorn is good for the heart, as long as you aren't taking a heart medication.
Photo by Durlston Country Park/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/durlston/2806678150/

Remember that these herbs are usually OK to use sparingly in foods. Dr. Gina Mohammed, a contributing author to The Herb Companion, cautions how one may react to this study. "The criticisms of herb and drug combinations tend to refer to herbal extracts and supplements, rather than to the ordinary culinary use of the fresh or dried herb," Mohammed says. "In small culinary amounts, there may not ... be a problem with most herbs. However, eaten in considerable quantities, or used in concentrated form, or in very susceptible individuals, they may be problematic. Some herbs might be advised against, in any amount, for individuals undergoing certain types of procedures or treatments, or subject to certain health conditions, so it's always best to get professional advice in such cases."

If you’re on any type of heart medication, you should definitely talk with a doctor and take some time out of your busy day to carefully go through the full list of herb supplements to watch out for while on heart medication. Even if you aren’t on heart medications, it’s still good to understand what you are eating and how it affects your heart.

Randy Buresh (Registered Nurse and Herbalist), is the co-owner and founder of Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Oregon’s Wild Harvest grows, harvests and produces their own medicinal herbal products, many of which use the herbs grown on their certified Biodynamic® and Organic farm in Sandy, Oregon. www.oregonswildharvest.com

If there is a word that describes the average person in today’s busy, multi-tasking world, that word would be “stressed.”  It is nearly impossible to live without stress.  Stress comes to us in many ways, not only on an emotional level, but on a physical level, through our environment and exposure to pathological invasions, pollutants, and germs. 

While it’s probably impossible to avoid all the forms of stress responsible for our physiological responses, it’s quite possible to support the body’s biological reaction to stress. In addition to getting adequate sleep and exercise, and maintaining a healthy diet, all of which go a long way to reducing the impact of stress, there are herbs which can help. Yes, thankfully, there are ways to reduce the impact stress has on our bodies that do not involve alcohol, cigarettes or other common methods of dealing with stress:

• Skullcap is well known among the Cherokee and other Native American tribes as a strong medicinal herb. It is used to support healthy sleep patterns and feelings of well-being, and to reduce anxious feelings.

Native Americans used sullcap for mental health support.
Photo by Randy Buresh

• Kava is an herb that has been widely used for hundreds of years by native South Pacific Islanders. People who use kava on a semi-regular basis (2 to 3 times per week) report feeling a nearly immediate feeling of relaxation, without feeling drugged. Muscle tension melts away, and a state of peacefulness and contentment takes its place. Kava has been known to produce a feeling of mild euphoria in some people, and a more sociable disposition in others. Mental alertness is usually not affected by kava consumption, except when taken in high doses. However, drowsiness will often occur a few hours after kava is in the system, so it is best to take it in the evening a few hours before bedtime.

• St. John’s wort has been used for centuries to support mental health, in addition to other reasons. Today, St. John’s wort is generally used to support healthy sleep patterns, feelings of well-being and to reduce anxious feelings. Preliminary studies suggest that St. John’s wort might work by preventing nerve cells in the brain from reabsorbing the chemical messenger serotonin. An analysis of the results of 37 clinical trials concluded that St. John’s wort is effective as a remedy to support mood.

St. John's Wort helps support mental health and reduces anxiety.
Photo by Randy Buresh

• Valerian has long been used to support healthy sleep patterns, general sense of well-being and to reduce anxious feelings. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is funding a study to examine the effects of valerian on sleep in healthy, older adults.

With a little herbal assistance, modified diet and adequate exercise, herbs can help provide mental support in times of stress. Herbal supplements such as skullcap, St. John’s wort, valerian, and kava work with your body in many different ways for a calmer, happier you. 

*Statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended to treat or diagnose any disease or health condition. It is also recommended that patients check with their doctors before taking herbs, to ensure that there are no contraindications with prescription medications.

Erin is the Communications Manager at Mountain Rose Herbs and an apprenticing herbalist at the Columbines School of Botanical Studies, where she botanizes and wildcrafts medicinal plants in the magnificent Oregon Cascades. www.mountainroseherbs.com 

I shared the long Memorial Day weekend with friends on 40 acres of Ponderosa Pine and White Oak forest near the Klickitat River. This was my first trip to the rugged Washington wilderness and I found its rocky hills and thick woods crawling with lizards and rattlesnakes and scorpions breathtaking!

It was sunny spring perfection, so we hiked deer trails for hours exploring wild plants like Lomatiums, tasty Alliums, and ripening blackcap raspberries.  A fresh spring trickled from the rocks and we collected cold mountain water to make wild rose tea in the mornings.

Klickitat, Washington.

During one afternoon expedition, we came across a wet patch abloom with yellow arnica flowers. Anyone who has spent time in arnica habitats will know the strong affinity this plant has for mosquitoes. Thousands and thousands of buzzing, blood-sucking mosquitoes! As we gathered to admire the heart-shaped leaves of the Arnica cordifolia, a hungry swarm clouded around us. Thankfully, I was prepared with a strong homemade insect repellent that kept them at a comfortable distance. Thinking ahead, I’d also made an astringent spray and poultice powder to apply to pesky bites, hiking scratches, and campfire burns.

Back at camp, a band of excited children wrapped white sage and cinnamon sticks in newspaper to make fragrant and effective fire starters. They marched triumphantly around the blaze, tooting their horsetail whistles as the herby campfire smoke proved inhospitable to the buggy invaders.

Herbal fire starters are fragrant and effective.  

Anytime I leave for a camping trip, I bring some staple extracts along. This collection usually includes a few of my favorite go-to herbs like skullcap and valerian to help relax my muscles and lull me to restful sleep, Oregon grape root as an anti-bacterial and digestive aide, a good astringent like red root bark (Ceanothus velutinus), and yerba santa to help dry up sneezy, watery allergy symptoms.

Being equipped with my trusty bag of herbal formulas makes handling the unforeseen much easier, and my forest experience that much more delightful.   

My trusty collection of formulas.

Bug-Away Spray 

I’ve read that catnip essential oil can be as effective as DEET, but it can also be expensive. So, I made a tincture of fresh catnip leaf from the garden in pure grain alcohol, which drew out the volatile oils in just a week and produced a lovely emerald extract.

• 4 ounces fresh catnip tincture (95 percent alcohol)
• 4 ounces witch hazel extract
• 80 drops organic citronella essential oil
• 80 drops organic eucalyptus essential oil
• 40 drops organic lavender essential oil
• 20 drops organic rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops organic lemongrass essential oil
• 10 drops organic lemon essential oil

1. Mix all ingredients in an 8 oz spray bottle and shake well before using.

2. Re-apply as often as needed.

Herbal Astringent Spray

This spray is ideal for itchy bug bites, removing sticky pitch from fingers, minor burns, cuts, scrapes, and a myriad of other irritating situations. I used my own tinctures of wild-harvested herbs that are anti-microbial and astringent, but similar herbs that you prefer can be used.

• 2 ounces witch hazel extract
• 1/2 ounces red root bark tincture
• 1/2 ounces Oregon grape root tincture (organically grown goldenseal tincture can be used)
• 1/2 ounces Pipsissewa tincture
• 1/2 ounces Uva-Ursi tincture

1. Mix all ingredients in a 4 oz spray bottle and shake before using.

2. Re-apply as often as needed.

Happy camping!  

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

Now that it's spring, it’s time for me to do an internal spring cleansing. Our bodies respond to the rhythm of the seasons—the waking up of our metabolism is naturally accelerating so that we can grab our spears and hunt buffalo or collect our baskets and gather roots, leaves, twigs, bark, seeds and berries. My favorite springtime tonic is an herb I fell in love with as a child: sassafras. 

Dr. James Duke tells us that sassafras (Sassafras albidum), which was the original herb in root beer, was regarded as a "blood-purifying, all-purpose tonic for whatever ails you...The pleasing tea made it a favored tea on both sides of the Atlantic.” My 1861 US Dispensatory (Materia Medica) notes that the bark of the sassafras root is a stimulant, flavors other teas, renders other teas “more cordial to the stomach,” and has been particularly recommended for "complaints of the rheumatism and cutaneous eruptions.”

Richly colored sassafras leaves make a delicious tea.
Photo by Martin LaBar/Courtesy of Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/

In the pharmaceutical industry’s never-ending quest to discredit the indigenous plants with which humankind has co-evolved over the last one million years, they’ve gone after safrole, one of the hundreds of compounds found in this complex plant, linking exaggerated quantities of a single extract with carcinogenic results. The Journal of the American Herbalists Guild pointed out in Volume 9, Number 1, “These studies were in vitro studies that only used safrole in the testing and did not compare to the effects of whole plant extracts. It should also be noted that water infusions of sassafras, which would have significantly less volatile oil content, have been used on a daily basis by various populations in the Appalachian Mountains with no epidemiological increases noted in liver cancers or hepatic toxicity concerns.” So when great-great grandma made her sassafras tea, or great-great grandpa took her to the drug store for a root-beer float, she felt really good afterwards.

I think I’ll go make some tea right now.

Most of us are familiar with the dandelion as that stubborn plant that, no matter how often you weed your yard, persists to hang around. Let’s not give it a bad rap just yet, though—the dandelion has more than enough good qualities to make up for a bad first impression.

Taraxacum officinale, also known as the lion’s tooth, the priest’s crown, or simply dandelion, grows readily throughout the northern hemisphere. It is speculated to have originated in Europe and Asia, but the jury’s still out on that. Suffice it to say, the dandelion has become very common throughout North America due to its ability to succeed in most soils. It is easily identifiable by its thick brown roots, its long leaves that lay close to the ground, and a purple stalk leading to a single, golden-yellow flower.

The classic dandelion flower.
Photo by Sara Bjork/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarabjork

The dandelion has long been used as an herb for its medicinal properties. This edible plant is rich in vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamin A. It can be applied externally or taken internally to address a number of health problems, most prominently kidney disorders, liver dysfunction and mild digestive problems. Preparing a root infusion or a tonic often aids in strengthening the kidneys and eliminating toxins from the body. The dandelion is also helpful with its powerful diuretic properties, flushing the system without depleting potassium levels.

Fresh juice from the stalk has been used as an antibacterial agent, to help heal topical wounds or scratches. Latex found in the plant sap has been used in the removal of corns and warts throughout history. For those of us looking for beauty aids, a skin lotion can be prepared by distilling the bases of the leaf blades in water. This concoction clears the skin and effectively fades freckles.

If you’re anxious to eat some fresh fruit that hasn’t quite ripened yet, dandelions can help there, too. The flowers and leaves from the plant, when placed in a bag with unripe fruit, release ethylene gas to quickly ripen the fruit. Some other quirky uses of the plant include the dark red dye that can be made from dandelion extractions, as well as a nutritious plant food that can be taken from the roots and leaves.

Dandelion stems and leaves make a healthy salad.
Photo by SomeDriftwood/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arthurjohnpicton/

Now that I’ve won you over with the benefits of the dandelion, here are the most common ways to prepare it. The flowers and young leaves (I wouldn’t recommend using older leaves—they tend to be bitter) can be eaten raw in a fresh salad. The whole plant is often dried to make capsules or extracts. The roots, in particular, can be dried and used to make tea or a coffee substitute. If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can make herbal wine from the fermented flowers.

What do you think? Have you had any experiences with dandelions in cooking or medicinally? Leave me a comment to share!

Resources:
Herbs at a Glance: Dandelion  (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
Dandelion (Alternative Nature Online Herbal)

Randy Buresh (Registered Nurse and Herbalist), is the co-owner and founder of Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Oregon’s Wild Harvest grows, harvests and produces their own medicinal herbal products, many of which use the herbs grown on their certified Biodynamic® and Organic farm in Sandy, Oregon. www.oregonswildharvest.com

Now more than ever we are learning that stress may be a leading cause of health-related problems. It is estimated that 75 to 90 percent of all visits to doctors are in some way related to stress. While stress may be a fact of life, more than 50 percent of Americans report living with high levels of stress. High levels of stress, it seems, are simply part of the American lifestyle. 

The many different forms of stress include biological, chemical, environmental, nutritional, physical, psychological, and spiritual. In most cases, we are all subjected to one of the above. A stressor can threaten normal body functions; chronic stress can wreak havoc on the adrenal glands and immune system. 

There are many plants that provide nutritional support to the adrenal glands and neuro-endocrine system, and have a long history of traditional use to help support the body during stressful periods. One group of herbs that deserves special attention are the adaptogenic herbs. The Great Equalizers. Adaptogens help recharge the body’s adrenal glands, and subsequently increase the body’s resistance to physical, emotional, biological and emotional stressors.

Like the name suggests, adaptogens help the body to better adapt to the conditions it experiences. Adaptogens are unique in their ability to help balance endocrine hormones and the immune system, helping the body to achieve optimal homeostasis. Adaptogens have been used for thousands of years to restore balance to the interconnected and often delicate nervous, endocrine and immune systems. They are also known for increasing stamina and countering common effects of aging. 

One of my favorite adaptogenic herbs is ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Ashwagandha has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to promote good health and well being. It is one of the few calming adaptogens and is helpful for reducing insomnia, anxiousness, bad dreams and nervous exhaustion. It's a great herb to provide nutritional support to the older adult population, improving sleep, yet providing energy and stamina for their daily activities.

There are actually several adaptogens that are great for helping us adapt to our hectic lifestyles:  Holy basil, licorice, astragalus, ginseng, cordyceps and rhodiola.

So along with a healthy (organic, if possible) diet, good clean water and plenty of exercise, ashwagandha will complement even the most busy lifestyle.

Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

An aromatherapy blend can be many things in a single blend. Perhaps that is what I love the most about the art of aromatherapy. You're given the flexibility to create something that is uniquely pleasing to the user with an ability to heal the body and soul in very tangible ways. So much thought goes into the selection of the essential oils of a blend (fragrance, medicinal properties, etc.) that many people forget that the carrier oils used to dilute blends properly add another dimension: they also enhance the healing properties of the oils, provide antioxidants, protection, and vitamins and minerals.

I thought it would be worth exploring some of my favorite carrier oils to help you select the proper one for your blends. Essential oils, with the exception of lavender, tea tree and ravensara, should never be applied directly to the skin. For safety they should be diluted with a "carrier oil" or a "base oil". In aromatherapy these oils are cold pressed and plant based—usually vegetable, nut or seed oils. The premise of choosing a plant based oil over a mineral oil (i.e. baby oil) is simple: essential oils are lipid soluable. We want them to absorb into the skin and work systemically in our system.

Essential oils can be carried throughout the body at the cellular level. In hospitals, mineral-ased oils are chosen for the exact opposite reason—they are blocking the absorption of anything that could threaten the immune system. In a hospital environment this makes sense because you are subjected to pathogens that could harm you (staph infections are rampant these days). But because you are in a somewhat "controlled" environment at home, you will want every healing drop of your essential oil blend to benefit you body. Let's explore a few carrier oil selections to help you pick the correct one each time. Our list includes oils that are easily found.

Courtesy Flickr/Photo by Helena Liu
http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenaliu/

• Sweet Almond Oil (SAO) is obtained from the kernel of the nut. Relatively inexpensive and readily available. It has a sweet light aroma that won't overpower your blend. Sweet Almond Oil is rich with glucosides, vitamins (B1, B6, B2, A, E & D), minerals and is rich in protein. It's perfect for all skin types and helps relive itching, dryness and inflammation. It's perfect for massage oil blends and for facial moisturizers. Massage therapists often pick this oil because it is a medium viscosity based oil and offers a nice 'glide' effect.
Shelf life: 12 months
Note: Persons with nut allergies should NOT use Sweet Almond Oil. SAO is very pale yellow in color and may stain light clothing and linens.

• Grapeseed Oil (GO) is almost colorless, very lightweight and may leave a light oil sheen on the skin. This oil glides readily over the skin and it's price point makes it nice for large applications, such as full body massage oils. It is extracted from the seeds of grapes. Look for cold pressed oils, as many are solvent extracted. Some grapeseed oils are derived from Riesling and Chardonnay grapes and are used in spa treatments as 'Vino Therapies'.
Shelf life: 6 to 12 months. Storing it in the refrigerator may extend it a bit.

Courtesy Flickr/Photo by rkosick
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69194706@N00/

• Apricot Kernel Oil (AKO) is derived from the kernel of the apricot plant and is pale yellow in color. This oil is well suited for aging and mature skin and is a common ingredient in the anti-aging formulas of pricey cosmetics. A drop or two can go a long way with incredible benefits for dry, inflamed and sensitive skin due to the essentiall fatty acids oleic & linoleic acid, and the vitamins A & E. It is light weight and easily absorbs in the skin without a greasy feeling. Use alone or with other carrier oils. A drop of lavender in 3 drops of AKO is a wonderful once a week must for keeping your skin young looking and blemish free. AKO may stain light colored linens or clothing.
Shelf life: 12 months

• Jojoba Oil (JO) is a beautiful golden yellow and hands down my favorite oil to use. Jojoba oil is actually a 'wax' derived from the jojoba bean. It has an indefinite shelf life so can be used for blends that may need to be stored for a longer period. It glides on like any other oil and absorbs into the skin. Jojoba oil mimics collagen and is soothing for sensitive skin, psoriasis, eczema and acne. It can be applied 100 percent or diluted in a massage oil at 10 percent to 15 percent JO and 90 percent other carrier oil to help the glide over the body. We love HobaCare from the Jojoba Oil Company. These products are perfect for everyday use and will also condition your hair and scalp. It relieves babies' cradle cap and is "far more congenial to to the hair and scalp than olive or other vegetable oils or mineral oils," according to the founder Bob Butler.
Shelf life: Indefinite

Courtesy  The Jojoba Company

• Olive Oil (OO) is most often associated with culinary pursuits. However, I've included it here as a "go to" oil when you need something in a pinch. Perhaps at 2:00 in the morning when a little one wakes up with an earache. If nothing else is on hand, OO is a great oil to use. Its strong scent is the main reason you don't see it in more aromatherapy or massage blends, but don't let that stop you from using it. Use 10 percent OO to another carrier oil for larger application. Beautiful green in color and chock full of proteins, vitamins and minerals, OO is soothing for rheumatic conditions, adds shine to hair and is often found in soaps and shampoos.
Shelf life: 18 months

Try these basic essential oil formulas:

Earache

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 drops chamomile oil
• 1 drop lavender oil
• 1 drop tea tree oil

To use: Massage around the ear, up the neck and over cheek bones. May also be used in a warm compress.

Stretch Marks

• 2 tablespoons almond oil
• ½ Tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 10 drops borage seed Oil
• 5 drops carrot oil
• 2 teaspoons wheatgerm oil.

To use: Massage in circular motion daily to help fade marks due to pregnancy or weight loss.

Neck Oil

• 1 tablespoon apricot kernel oil
• 10 drops carrot oil (optional)
• 10 drops rose atar oil
• 6 drops clary sage oil

To use: Apply morning and evening in upward strokes on neck. Note to professional therapists: Be sure to do a health intake form from your clients that include any nut or plant based allergies that could contraindicate an oil blend.

A new discovery is taking opiate production from the poppy fields to bioprocessing labs. This study published in Nature Chemical Biology, says that biologists have successfully isolated the genes that transform poppies into the painkillers codeine and morphine. One gene produces enzymes that lead to the production of codeine, while the other gene's enzymes convert this codeine into more potent morphine. Although codeine is a natural product of poppy plants, much less of it is produced by the plant than morphine, so traditional opiate production required synthesizing codeine from morphine. With this discovery, scientists may be able to limit painkiller production to codeine alone, which will give them a more efficient and controlled system. This leads the way for the possibility that poppy fields, such as the one below, could become nothing more than decoration.

Photo by oindypoind/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oindypoind/

What thoughts do you have about this new poppy discovery? Do you have an opinion about the work of bioprocessing labs or synthesized plant production? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Resources:
The Poppy's Secret: Scientists Find the Genes That Make Morphine  (Discover)
Chemists Pin Down Poppy's Tricks for Making Morphine (ScienceNews)
Poppy Painkiller Properties Studied (UKPA)

Earlier this year I got a nosebleed for the first time. It seemed like a completely random event; I thought perhaps it was because of the dry August weather. But then it happened again in December and then again just a few days ago. Now I’m left wondering what is going on with my nose? 

A bloody nose, or epistaxis, can occur for many reasons: extremely dry weather, use of blood thinners and anticoagulants, traumatic head injuries, or high blood pressure, to name a few. Growing up in Minnesota’s winters, I never had a bloody nose. Also, I very rarely take pain killers (such as Ibuprofen or Aspirin), I don’t have high blood pressure and, to my knowledge, I haven’t recently been hit in the face.

During my search for answers I came across a couple of recent articles on the websites www.about.com and www.consumerreports.org, which suggest that certain herbal supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, may cause episodes of epistaxis because they increase blood flow to the brain. I’ve been taking ginkgo biloba regularly since this summer, so this had me a little worried.

Very little research proves that herbal supplements, such as ginkgo biloba, causes episodes of epistaxis.
Photo by Hawaiian Sea/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/area53/

Before I tossed my pricey bottle of ginkgo in the trash, I searched the American Botanical Council’s Journal for some herbal research. I couldn’t find anything that correlated ginkgo biloba supplements directly with nosebleeds. In fact, the studies that I found said that there was very little reliable evidence connecting ginkgo supplements to spontaneous bleeding.

A 2005 study led by Professor Edzard Ernst of the University of Exeter, systematically reviewed medical databases from around the world, including 9,772 subjects in 44 controlled trials. The study concluded that ginkgo biloba’s ability to inhibit platelet aggregation does not cause bleeding abnormalities. Another study, also from 2005 and also based on a medical database that included 5 million outpatients from more than 1,000 medical practices in Germany, concluded that ginkgo biloba did not increase the risk of bleeding.

So, my only conclusion is that I have no real conclusion. There are probably any number of reasons for the onset of my nosebleeds—perhaps it’s the heating system in my new house causing dry mucous membranes. I do need to be more aware of what I’m ingesting and potential side effects, but instead of just blaming my herbal supplements with insufficient evidence for my nosebleeds, I’ll also try to prevent them by boosting my intake of vitamin C, vitamin K and investing in a humidifier.

Try applying a pinch of powdered yarrow to stop nosebleeds. 
Photo by Dawn Endico/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/candiedwomanire/

Next time you suffer from a nosebleed try applying a pinch of powdered yarrow leaves, shepherd's purse or other astringent herbs to stop the bleeding. 

Have you suffered from nosebleeds before? What do you do when get a nosebleed? Leave me a comment and let me know. 

Now that the holidays are over and I’m back into the swing of things, my eyes are showing it. Lack of sleep and dehydration has triggered the hereditary eye puffiness that I’ve had since I was born – I actually came out of the womb looking exhausted.

And while I know that cucumbers can have an amazing impact on cooling and hydrating my eyes, I don’t usually have time in the morning for a cold cucumber compress. I barely have time to brush my teeth as it is.

Courtesy of www.yestocarrots.com

That’s where this new product, Say Yes to Cucumbers: Eye Love Cucumber Soothing Eye Gel, can help. Like other products in the Say Yes to Carrots line, this eye gel is made from natural ingredients, including dead sea minerals, algae, aloe (Aloe vera), chamomile (Matricaria recutita), broccoli (Brassica oleracea), dill (Anethum graveolens), green pepper (Capsicum annuum) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) extracts – it’s a veritable vegetable feast for your eyes.

Photo by sassyradish/Courtesy Flickr
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I use it at night before I go to bed to prevent puffiness and also in the morning if I need a little boost. For extra coolness you can keep some in your fridge and use it as mid-day pick me up.

In case you’re out of cucumbers and you don’t want to purchase yet another beauty product check out some of our articles with herbal tips and recipes for reducing unwanted eye puffiness.

• Body & Soul: Simple Eye Care Tips, by Janice Cox
• Body & Soul: British Eyebright, by Janice Cox
• Natural Healing: Chamomile Eye Soother, by Laurel Vukovic

Also, don’t give your eyes all the attention. Try some of these cucumber-enhanced recipes to sooth your entire body.

• Cucumber After Bath Splash
• Home Body Wrap 
• Soothing Cucumber Facial Mask

Have you used this product before? How do you get rid of puffy eyes? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Desiree Bell is inspired by botanicals and natural materials. She is a vegetarian who has a certificate in herbal studies and a certificate from Australasian College of Health Sciences in Aromatherapy. When she isn't in her suburban garden, hiking or crafting, she is teaching pre-k with an emphasis on nature and gardening. For more ideas on Simple Living With Nature you can visit her blogs at www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com and www.kidsnaturespot.blogspot.com.

There is a distinct smell this time of year in the town where I live. "Yek," is what most people say. The smell is the sugar beets processed at the Amalgamated Sugar Company. When thinking about what to write this month, a thought occurred to me, "I’ll go get one of those sugar beets off the road and make my own sugar for an article about sugar scrubs." Trucks hauling beets from neighboring towns get off the freeway on their way to the sugar factory and some of the beets from the load fall to the side of the road.

Sugar beets look like very large, cream colored carrots. Sugar is produced in the leaves of the sugar beet plant and stored in the root. They are harvested late-September until mid-February or early March. To process beets into sugar they are washed and sliced into thin strips. Sugar juice is extracted from the strips with hot water. The raw juice is purified with lime and carbon dioxide, then filtered and concentrated. It is then evaporated further in a batch vacuum pan and the sugar is crystallized. Then the sugar crystals are separated in a centrifuge, washed and dried.

Sugar beets can be grown in cooler regions and on land of poor quality, which makes them an attractive alternative to cane sugar because they are cheaper to grow. Sugar cane requires a tropical environment where land is often at a premium in cost.

If store bought sugar doesn't say it's made from sugar cane on the packaging, then the sugar is most likely from beets. Even though they come from two different plants, beet and cane sugar are the same compound. But some say cane sugar is superior to beet sugar.

One cold dreary day after work I headed over to the sugar beet factory, parked my car down the road from the freeway off-ramp and picked up one big beet. When I arrived home I searched the internet on how to make sugar from beets, then proceeded to try and make it. I documented the process with my camera, which is on my blog Beyond A Garden. The sugar didn’t turn out exactly how it was supposed to, but I did use the ¾ cup of brownish, moist beet tasting "sugar" to make banana muffins. The muffins turned out good and with no beet taste.

Here is a beet sugar body scrub I created for dry skin.

• 1 tablespoon shea butter
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 8 ounces beet sugar
• 1 teaspoon glycerin
• ½ ounce sunflower oil
• 1,600 IU vitamin E
• 30 to 40 drops of essential oils (depends on which oils you use)

1. Put the beet sugar in a bowl.

2. Melt shea butter and coconut oil in a small pan on low heat.

3. Remove from heat: Add glycerin, sunflower oil, vitamin E and essential oils to melted shea butter and coconut oil. Mix well.

4. Add the mixture to the beet sugar. Mix well.

5. Use to exfoliate and remove dead skin, which will create soft, smooth and glowing skin. Be aware that you tub or shower will be slippery after you use the scrub.

Before you turn to drugs to treat gynecological conditions as common as premenstrual symptoms or as troubling as infertility, here’s yet another way herbs can help your health. According to an article in Alternative and Complementary Therapies by Tieraona Low Dog, recent studies on the herb vitex agnus-castus, or chaste tree, report that regular doses of chaste tree berry extract can help treat PMS and irregular menses as well as aid infertility. This confirms what previous studies and practitioners of complementary and alternative medicine have known for years.

Interestingly, chaste tree’s efficacy lies in its regulation of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, as opposed to its ancient reputation of ensuring chastity. Steven Foster says in his article "Vitex: A Vital Herb for Women" that ancient Greeks’ understanding of chaste tree was incorporated into festivals honoring Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, fertility and marriage. 

Photo by maggie_and_her_camera/Courtesy Flickr
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German researchers have picked up where the Greeks left off with numerous studies of chaste tree and an approval by the German Commission E for the herb’s treatment of PMS, cyclical mastalgia and menstrual irregularity. A recent study cited in Michael Castleman’s article "Time Tested Herbs" reported that 93 percent of its 1,634 participants experienced partial to complete relief of their PMS symptoms.

As with all medicinal herbs, it’s important to follow the dosage instructions and to realize that it may take some time to experience the benefits. Linda B. White’s article "Women’s Herbal Wisdom" advises that it may take at least three months of a daily dose of chaste tree berry extract before you see any relief.

With the holidays quickly approaching, this time of the season can be extremely stressful. Traveling, cleaning, cooking, and holiday shopping all add extra stress. But if you sit down and relax for a few minutes to eat some dark chocolate, you might just feel better!

Researchers at the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland suggest that eating a few pieces of dark chocolate every day can improve metabolic response for people who are highly stressed.

Sunil Kochhar and a group of researchers studied the metabolic responses of 30 healthy adult volunteers who consumed 20 grams of dark chocolate every day for 14 days. The individuals in the group were classified with high and low anxiety levels. They collected urine and blood plasma in the beginning, halfway through and at the end of the two week period to analyze specific energy metabolism and gut microbial activities.

In the end, the researchers saw that the subjects with higher anxiety had distinct metabolic profiles. With different energy and gut microbe activities, the dark chocolate decreased the amount of stress hormones, cortisol and catecholamines. The chocolate also partially normalized stress-related biochemical differences in energy metabolism and microbial activities. 

Photo by Portal and Friends/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dboz/

According to the findings, published in The Journal of Proteome Research,“the study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 grams of dark chocolate during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of free living and healthy human subjects, as per variation of both host and gut microbial metabolism.” 

Tea, cranberries, strawberries and several fruits all are strong sources of antioxidants, but per serving dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. Antioxidants like flavonoids, epicatechin and gallic acid, all aid in antioxidant activity. Flavonoids, also known as vitamin P and citrin can also help capillary permeability, blood flow, anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Besides containing more stress-relieving antioxidants, you enjoy more health benefits from dark chocolate because it has more cocoa, a lower sugar content, less saturated fat, less cholesterol and a higher iron content than milk chocolate. University of Michigan Integrative Medicine found that milk chocolate does not offer antioxidant activity like dark chocolate because the milk binds to the antioxidants. You have to have 70 percent cocoa solids and no milk for antioxidants to be present.

Antioxidants in dark chocolate may also reduce risk for heart disease, lower blood pressure, protect from skin cancer and relieve pain. Other studies show that dark chocolate can increase the production of serotonin and endorphins, reducing stress levels and relieving chronic fatigue syndrome.

So take a break and treat yourself to the occasional dark chocolate snack. Don’t stress over the holidays or eating chocolate, it might actually decrease your stress!

Last time I got sick, the constant itch in my throat as I was healing tormented me more than the hacking cough that started it all. For a while after I’d recovered I couldn’t get rid of the menthol taste or the bright red color of my mouth no matter how many times I brushed my teeth. I began to wonder if the cough drops I had been unwisely and obsessively sucking on were only exacerbating my symptoms.

That’s when I wished that I had something a little less medicated and sugary, and a little more natural. Thankfully I ran across this recipe for homemade cough drops from WikiHow, which seems almost fool-proof, although I’m going to replace the sugar and corn syrup with honey.

Photo by ladybugbkt/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/branditressler/

And with the priceless archive of herbal medicine at The Herb Companion, I discovered some of the best herbs to make this recipe even more effective. For instance, herbs with expectorant qualities that help loosen phlegm include aniseed (Pimpinella anisum), elderberberry (Sambucus nigra), ginger root (Zingiber officinale), mullein (Verbascum thapsus), osha (Ligusticum porteri) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris). All you’ll need is a pot, waxed paper and a greased cooking sheet.

Homemade Herbal Cough Drops

• Powdered herbs
• 1 cup sugar, or honey
• ^_1/3 cup light corn syrup, or honey
• 1 ^_1/2 cups water
• Powdered sugar, for easy handling

1. Steep your preferred soothing herbs in 1 _^1/2 cups of water to make a tea.

2. Mix sugar and corn syrup with tea. Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mixture boils.

3. Continue boiling without stirring until the mixture begins to crystallize; reduce heat. Wash away crystals from the side of your pan with a damp cloth.

4. Remove from the heat after a few minutes. Drop some of the mixture from the tip of a spoon onto a greased surface. Allow to harden and cool completely before removing. Roll the candies in powdered sugar and wrap in waxed paper for storage.

For more information on the best herbs for a sore throat, check out these past articles: 

• Seasonal Allergy Help by Kris Wetherbee
• Best Herbs for the Common Cold by Linda B. White, M.D.
• Culinary Herbs and Medicinal Spices by Amy Mayfield
• Herbs to Treat the Common Cold by The Herb Companion staff
• Kids Sore Throat Remedies by Linda B. White, M.D. and Sunny Mavor, A.H.G. 

And try Kathy Azmeh-Scanlan’s recipe for herbal throat drops in Herbal Relief for Seasonal Allergies.

Have you tried making your own cough drops before? What's your favorite sore throat remedy? Leave a me a comment and let me know.

Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

Here come the holidays! For many of us, that means merriment and overindulgence. Try as we might, we find ourselves decking the halls, shopping frantically and attending party after party. To help out with your holiday festivities and the inevitable aftermath let me offer a few ways to incorporate aromatherapy into your holiday season.
 
1. Since much of the holidays are spent indoors, it makes sense to use essential oils to diffuse in the air. Not only can your home smell of wonderful aromas such as cinnamon, clove, sweet orange, fir, or even exotic frankincense, you’ll be protecting your family and guests by inhibiting airborne germs that cause many wintertime illnesses. Take it one step further—wipe down countertops with your favorite fragrance and mix. 

(The Herb Companion loves Homeology’s plant-based cleaning products.)

2. Use ½ cup distilled water with 15 drops essential oil in a glass spray bottle to spray the damp, musty odors from your upholstery. (Always test fabrics and surfaces in an inconspicuous area before using a blend.) 
 
3. With your house in order, you’ll want to send out holiday cards or invitations to your holiday party. Make sure you do one week of planning before mailing them. Use a cotton ball and add a drop or two of seasonal essential oils. (We love fir needle, cinnamon or sweet orange.) Put the cotton ball in the box of cards and close the lid. In one week they will be filled with your fragrance and delight its receiver even more.
 
4. When it’s time for you to open your house to your holiday guests, don’t forget to throw a log or two in the fire. A few drops of an essential oil, such as sandalwood, on each log will impart a lovely atmosphere for guests.

Photo by _christian m/Courtesty Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7908355@N06/

5. Of course, there is always a guest or two (or perhaps the host?) who may overindulge in the “spirits” of the season. To face the next day, be sure to have your aromatherapy-hangover-kit ready to go: Use peppermint or fennel tea to treat nausea; apply lavender at the temples to quiet your pounding head; and bathe with grapefruit, lemon, or fennel essential oils to help detoxify your body by increasing your urine production. Also, drink plenty of water—then solemnly promise to behave better NEXT time!
 
6. Holidays demand gifts. This year, vow not to have gifts break your budget or consume all of your time. Check out your local book seller and find books that use essential oils for making quick, inexpensive, yet personal, presents. Lotions, bath salts and herbal vinegars are just a few ideas to get you started. I am sure you will find many ideas here at The Herb Companion site as well!

(Try giving herbal oils and butters as simple and delicious gifts.)

7. Take the money you saved and treat yourself to a long deserved treat—maybe take in a holiday performance, indulge in a massage or treat the kids to an uninterrupted day of outdoor fun.

Remember, the holiday should be healthy and fun—try to minimize this year and savor the simple things in life. Take a deep breath of your favorite scent before bed each night and reflect on the joys of each day. In this way, your soul is fed as well. Take care and my best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful, meaningful and aromatic holiday!  

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

The holidays, especially New Year’s, always invite us to reassess whatever the heck it is we think we have to reassess about our own cacophonous agendas. I like the Japanese tradition of making New Year’s a time to clean out the closets; a little feng shui de-cluttering sounds like a good start to the new year. ‘Tis also the season of more than enough colds, flus, indigestion, and even a little heartache; add in all the holiday spending we do, and who’s got time to figure out how to stay healthy? 

I was shuffling these (almost) disparate thoughts around, thinking about what to write here, when I opened up my latest email question post to by fellow writers from The Association of Health Care Journalists. I thought the questions represented a good state of art in health care:

“….a story involving a hospital board and its political lobbying, conflicts of interest, illegal awarding of salaries and severances to executives, possible violation of non-profit statutes and IRS codes.  Can you suggest any experts or former attorneys general who advise boards in these areas…..?”

and  

“…in California, people are going to alternative treatment centers to be injected with sodium bicarbonate ‘because their pH is too high.’ Has anyone else heard of this…?”

Whether we are seeing doctors in hospitals or visiting alternative health practitioners, we must be ever viligent about the care we are depending on, seeking and choosing. 

Since it is winter, and we are facing that tricky combination of crowds coughing, flu germs flying on close-quarters sneezes, weakened livers from festive holiday drinking, and sugar-overload from sugar plums dancing in our mouths, it’s very tempting to just grab the first echinacea tea bag and hope it will all go away. At this propitious moment, we need more information to take care of ourselves right. Our health won’t come from any laws passed; by taking the reins, we can give ourselves a blooming health annus mirabilis. The feng shui of our vitamin/herb/nutrition routine is the key; however, the riddle of our story is: Where were you before? 

• Have you been eating cheeseburgers, French fries, and a coke 4 to 8 times a week? (Did you see Supersize Me?)

• Have you been getting frequent colds and flus since you moved to a new place? (Have it checked for mold and other resident bacteria.)

• Did your digestive problems begin when you got back from that exotic vacation to Africa? (It’s nice to see the animals, but many Third World populations hardly receive any vaccines, and frequently, the living conditions breed illnesses we’ve never even heard of.)

• Did you change jobs recently and are now sitting at a new desk in a new room with new people? (You are now in a new germ pool, and when this happens, your body goes through a lot of readjustments.)

Sometimes, taking care of your health means getting to the deeper, deeper layers first—address those issues and then go for the immediate symptoms.

David Winston, founder of Herbalists and Alchemists and the author of many books, has several favorite seasonal supports. I’ve added to some of his.

•  Holy Basil . Long in use in Ayurvedic medicine for the mind and nervous system, holy basil helps lift the spirits, dispel depression, and acts as an antiviral.

•  Schisandra Berry . A powerful adaptogen, schisandra berry helps strengthen the pituitary and adrenal functions.  It is rich in anti-inflammatory flavonoids and is useful for mild asthma as well as cleansing to the liver.

•  Elderberry . Rich in antioxidants, elderberries have been shown in clinical trials to inhibit viruses, especially the flu.  And your great-grandma might have even made some nice elderberry wine for those cold, winter nights.

•  Goldenseal . Goldenseal treats gastric inflammation, upper intestinal tract deficiency, eye inflammations, hemorrhoids, liver congestion and jaundice, sore throats, coughs, and more and more and more. This one’s my favorite and I won’t leave home without it.

So how much to take? It goes back to where were you before? One cup of tea daily or two capsules or fifteen drops of the tincture are usually safe places to start….Where’s my dust bunny?

It may not be the best thing for your breath, but garlic sure does help your heart. The idea of using garlic medicinally is not a new idea. Garlic bulbs were used in China and India as blood thinners and they were also used to treat cervical cancer and dysentery. Also, our March 2009 article, Grow Heart Health, listed garlic as an herbal mainstay for heart health. However, a new study has learned more about this powerful herb.

The Cardiovascular Research Center at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine discovered how freshly crushed garlic, as opposed to dried or cooked garlic, protects the heart. Freshly cut garlic generates hydrogen sulfide. This gas, when used in excess, can become poisonous but, when used sparingly, functions as a compound that can protect the heart.

Health researcher Yulia Berry says that hydrogen sulfide acts as a chemical messenger allowing blood vessels to relax and flow more freely. It usually disappears when garlic is dried, processed or cooked. 

Dr. Dipak K. Das led the study, which published these findings in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The researchers gave freshly crushed garlic to one group of lab rats and processed garlic to another group. They studied how the rats reacted and recovered from simulated heart attacks. “Both crushed and processed garlic reduced damage from lack of oxygen, but the fresh garlic group had a significantly greater effect on restoring good blood flow in the aorta and increased pressure in the left ventricle of the heart,” Das says in the CNN article, Protect your heart with fresh garlic. 

Photo by Marco Veringa/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcoveringa/

Although both groups fared better with garlic the rats given freshly crushed garlic recovered from their simulated heart attacks more quickly and had better blood flow. 

Garlic can help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize blood sugar levels. Garlic can also decrease platelet and blood clotting, two of the most common causes of strokes and heart attacks. 

The American Dietetic Association suggests an individual must take 600mg to 900mg, or 1 fresh clove, a day to see the health benefits of garlic. It's worth the bad breath!

( Herbs for Bad Breath .) 

Incorporate more garlic into your lifestyle with these healthy recipes:

• Creamy Garlic Spinach Dip 
• Raw Garlic Fettunta
• Roasted Garlic 

Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It protects you from infection, excretes waste products and excess salt from your body, regulates your temperature, synthesizes vitamin D and provides the sense of touch. Products that come into contact with skin are easily absorbed into your blood stream. Something to be mindful of when choosing personal products. Read your ingredient labels. Many contain toxins or synthetic ingredients that may block the solubility of necessary nutrients or vitamins essential for good health and well being. A prime example of an oil which destroys fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K & F as it metabolizes is baby oil (mineral oil). Most of us are aware of the carcinogenic risks of parabens and are actively avoiding those ingredients. However, natural skin care is easy and affordable and quite effective with some tried and true aromatherapy blends.

Aromatherapy is based upon the absorption of essential oils through the skin. When choosing your carrier oils for use in aromatherapy care, it is important to choose plant based, cold pressed oils for this reason. These oils (grapeseed, jojoba, almond etc.) also have the natural antioxidant vitamin E which may help rejuvenate your skin . Incorporating essential oils and cold pressed carrier oils are effective and natural ways to heal common ailment and improve the general condition of your skin.

Photo by epicnom/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32627348@N06/

A Quick Tip Sheet For Three Common Ailments

1. Oil Blend For Shingles:

Excess oil, shingles, diaper rash and other conditions which cause redness and itching can often be alleviated with lavender and tea tree. Both will work well on bacterial, fungal, parasitic or viral systemic conditions. Although both lavender and tea tree are safe to use at full strength, it is recommended to dilute in oil, lotion or witch hazel for large areas of application. If in a day or two there isn't significant change and reduction of itching (especially indicated for shingles) add a few drops of frankincense to your blend.

• 1 ounce cold pressed carrier lotion or oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 drops tea tree essential oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil

1. Apply twice daily.

2. Cold Sore Remedy:

A common, but embarrassing, problem for many people is an eruption of a cold sore (Herpes Simplex Virus). These are easily controlled at the first sign of outbreak, usually a tingling sensation, with this formula:

• 8 drops tea tree essential oil
• 15 drops rose geranium essential oil
• 7 drops lavender essential oil
• 8 drops Roman OR German chamomile essential oil
• 6 drops melissa (lemon balm) essential oil

1. Apply at first sensation of outbreak at full strength or combine 4 drops blend in 1 teaspoon jojoba oils and apply directly to area. Keep moist with jojoba oil or a beeswax lip balm to avoid cracking.

3. Facial Toner For Acne Prone Skin:

Skin Care Basics: Many essential oils have the wonderful benefit of skin rejuvenating properties. Applying lavender to a wound not only disinfects the cut but also speeds the repair process of the epithelial tissue. Teens and adults who suffer from acne can help prevent breakouts with a simple solution of distilled water, witch hazel and essential oils of cedarwood, rosemary, lavender and German chamomile. Try the following treatment for a month and notice the difference it can make:

• 2 ounces witch hazel
• 1 ounce distilled water
• 6 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops lemon essential oil
• 2 drops German chamomile essential oil

1. Pour in a glass bottle, shake before each use.

2. Apply with cotton ball two to three times daily.

The main objective of any skin care routine is to stimulate and detoxify your pores. In order to maintain an appearance of youth and health, it is important to not only treat the surface area, but to penetrate the subcutaneous tissues - lucky for us, essential oils do that easily.

I prefer blending small quantities of skin care products as you need them. Once a blend is created, the process of deterioration can occur if stored incorrectly. Although it won't happen overnight, some carrier oils, such as grapeseed and sweet almond, have relatively short shelf lives (12 to 18 months). If you do decide to create blends in bulk, add 1/4 teaspoon benzoin oil to each cup of carrier oil, along with a teaspoon of vitamin E oil to help maintain it's freshness naturally.

Skin care doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Research your skin type and the essential oils best suited for you. Choose oils for your blends based upon your needs and your preferences. Experiment and have fun. Life is beautiful and so are you!

Desiree Bell is inspired by botanicals and natural materials. She is a vegetarian who has a certificate in herbal studies and a certificate from Australasian College of Health Sciences in Aromatherapy. When she isn't in her suburban garden, hiking or crafting, she is teaching pre-k with an emphasis on nature and gardening. For more ideas on Simple Living With Nature you can visit her blogs at www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com and www.kidsnaturespot.blogspot.com.

The ginger root (Zingiber officinale) is actually a rhizome. The word ginger is derived from the Sanskrit word for ginger, sringa-vera, meaning “antler shaped.” It has buds on the top of each of its stubby fingers and grows a mass of thin, tangled roots below. The roots are scraped off before the ginger arrives at the market.

Ginger is 80 percent water, 2.3 percent water, 1 percent fat, 2.5 percent fibrous material, 1.2 percent minerals, and vitamins of B and C. Medicinally, it is used for the circulatory and digestive systems, coughs, colds, aches and pains.

There are two groups of compounds in the rhizome. The essential oil is the liquid found in tiny vessels just under the corky skin, which is collected by distillation. The other compound is located in the cells dotted around the fleshy interior of the rhizome in between the starch cells. It is extracted with alcohol or a solvent.

Ginger does best in a hot, moist climate, with a little shade at noon and well-drained soil. It is grown as a crop in countries such as India, Australia, Jamaica, China and Nigeria. Many years ago I read in the book Herbal Treasures (Storey Publishing, LLC, 1990), by Phyllis Shaudys, how to grow a ginger root inside the house using a rhizome from the market.

Cut a piece of ginger root from the rhizome. Make sure the piece you cut to plant has at least one bud on it. Fill a clay pot with potting soil and bury the ginger root cut side down, bud up, 1 inch below the surface. Place in a sunny, warm window, water well, then keep moist. It takes about a month for the first sprout to appear.

To harvest, pull the plant from its pot 8 to 12 months after planting, cut off leaf stalks, and remove fibrous roots. Cut off as much ginger as you can use and replant the rest. Many winters I have grown a nice looking ginger plants. Try it!

Fresh ginger produces a warm, spicy and refreshing aroma. Its taste is pungent, aromatic, lemony, and slightly bitter. Dried ginger is less lemony and more warm, woody and pungent. Besides fresh and dried, it is used pickled, preserved and crystallized in cooking. Here is a tasty and healthy Indian Lemonade-Ginger Ale recipe I found in a vegetarian magazine many years ago.

Photo by sweetbeetandgreenbean/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetbeetandgreenbean/

Indian Lemonade-Ginger Ale
Makes 8 cups

• 8 cups sparkling water (club soda)
• ½ cup fresh lime juice
• 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 ½ cups maple syrup
• ½ tablespoon freshly grated ginger root
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl.

2. Serve at room temperature or chilled.  

Thanksgiving will be here soon so I have included a recipe from the book, The Ginger Book (Avery, 1996), by Stephen Fulder, Ph.D., for Ginger Pumpkin Pie. This book was also used as a reference for some of this article.

Ginger Pumpkin Pie
Makes 16 servings

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 ¾ ounce piece fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 ½ cups pureed boiled pumpkin
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup buttermilk
• 7 tablespoons butter or vegetable shortening
• 3 eggs, beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch diameter flan tins.

2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon , and cloves. Add the pumpkin, brown sugar, buttermilk and butter or shortening: beat briefly. Add the eggs and beat again.

3. Pour the batter into the flan tins and place the tins in the oven. Bake until the pies are firm, about 45 minutes. Let cool before serving.

If you bake this pie let me know how it turned out. I have not made it yet.

Happy Thanksgiving….

As I’m sitting at my desk right now, I’m in a lot of pain. My thighs, hamstrings, glutes and feet are in the glorious throes of post-workout agony. 

After a couple month-long hiatus from high-impact workouts, like laps on the track, my chiropractor gave me the all-clear to start running again. But she followed it up with a word of advice—drink cherry juice concentrate. 

Apparently, the micro-nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties in cherries can reduce muscle soreness as well as promote joint function. And because I know how hard it is to start running after a long break, especially thanks to aching muscles, I made sure to pick up Lakewood’s Pure Black Cherry juice on my way home.

www.lakewoodjuices.com

So now in addition to the turmeric supplement I take daily for my lower back issues, I also drink cherry juice before my workout and then add it to a fruit smoothie, or other fruit juice, afterward. The cherry juice is not made from concentrate and is made without any water, so I like to dilute it a little to make it last longer.  

With cherries, turmeric and lots of ice, my painful muscles recover a lot quicker and I’m slowly starting to enjoy running for the first time.

Photo by dklimke/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dklimke/ 

For more muscle recovery and pain relief tips check out these past articles:   

• Body Care for Active People by Laurel Vukovic
• The Best Herbs for Pain Relief by Gina Mohammed, Ph.D.

To learn more about cherries’ many wonders, check out: 

• Berries for Better Health by Kris Wetherbee
• Great Fresh Juice On the Go by Allison Martin
• Meet the Superfruits by Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa

What do you do to relieve post-workout pain? Have cherries helped you before? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

When the herb spirit is alive, roots mature, vines unfold and souls blossom, reaching out with a fragrance of subtle energy. The herb spirit increases with each herb gardening task: planting, tilling, pruning, gathering, infusing, decocting, tincturing, compounding, dyeing and the wistful sundown delight of simply watching the garden grow.

For a millennium, the herb spirit has grown as gatherers have bundled, blended and applied precious herbs. Father Time's laws have never ordered Mother Nature's gardens and so her gardens have continued to grow. Every herbalist carries this intense energy of the vine, which reaches and pushes upward. And when each garden wall is scaled, the vine simply develops, adjusts and flourishes.

Photo by angavallen/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angavallen/

How did our holistic health garden grow? Expo East, an extended vine of the herb spirit, is an annual event in Boston where health food companies can display their wares for the benefit of  storeowners  So in September, several hundred health food industry vendors carried their boxes and set up their displays. Meanwhile, curious independent store owners and chain-store buyers busily sampled new flavors, dabbed crèmes, collected cute samples and carried out stacks of scientific reports. The “old-timers” wanted to show off their newest merchandise while the “newcomers “ proceeded with caution, ever vigilant for the show’s discount specials. The “old, old-timers” mused pensively about the olden days (the late 1960s) when we still sold bunches of wild-crafted herbs from the backs of battered station wagons and traded addresses for where to get authentic brown rice and good local clover honey. I miss the days when our herb-talk was a secret code among friends, who took the time to put their hands in the dirt, do some digging and do some thinking too.

Lo and behold, I found some wonderful, recycled hippies who've kept the faith and turned our evergreen idealism into the kind of small town companies we admire.  Bob MacLeod and SteveByckiewicz  (“two vegetarians”) started Kiss My Face about 25 years ago. I like their products because they feel great and they don't leave any sticky residue from overly processed extracts. Their product line started with a big bar of olive oil soap, but many face moisturizers, shaving creams, shimmers and cosmetics later, they’ve got a charming website (www.kissmyface.com) and the goodwill of customers in 19 countries.

Photo by Timothy Valentine/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/el_ramon/

I chatted with their VP of kissing and telling, Lewis Goldstein, whose “business card” is a coconut-pineapple SPF 15 lip balm. Who says corporate can’t be fun? We wound our way around the conventional business max topics: the roller coaster economy, quick-fix supplements wrapped up in chocolate and educating the next generation. But what made me smile the most was Lewis describing his mother's experimentations with natural remedies.  Growing up, he knew that there were herbal health alternatives for conventional medical and cosmetic trades.  We reminisced about making soups and brewing teas.  We talked about teaching children the right food choices and the early encounters Lewis’s mother had when questioning doctors.  It’s nice to know that there are still good folks out there and that the herb spirit is very much alive.

Now it’s late fall and my herb drying rack is loaded with peppermint, lemon balm, oregano and catnip. I’ve already made my last batches of this healing salve with my freshly picked comfrey and calendula, maybe I’ll run some over to Bob, Steve and Lewis.

Photo by tristrambrelstaff/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tristrambrelstaff/

Marguerite’s Comfrey Salve
Makes twenty, 1-ounce jars

This salve is great for cuts, scrapes, bruises and soothing irritated skin.

• 20 comfrey leaves
• 10 calendula flower heads
• 2 cups olive oil
• ½ cup grape seed oil
• 1 cup lanolin
• ¼ cup of beeswax
• Lavender oil

1. Slow-boil all ingredients in a crockpot for about 4 hours. Periodically, wipe the water off the lid.

2. Strain through cheesecloth into a spouted measuring cup and pour quickly into individual 1-ounce jars.

3. As soon as the liquid salve is poured, add 10 drops of the lavender oil to each jar. The lavender oil is added at the end so it won't evaporate if boiled.    

Michele Tune (a.k.a. Raw Juice Girl) is a freelance writer and blogger. She has lost over 100 pounds and found great healing from natural remedies, raw foods and juices. Read about her journey at www.healingwithjuices.com.

In response from Natural Alternatives: Dry Eye Syndrome Treatment. 

Dry, itching, throbbing, bloodshot eyes are no fun! And, if it’s your job to stare at a computer screen all day, every day, then your eyes are continuously being aggravated—that’s not healthy.

If you aren’t familiar with natural remedies, you may feel your only options for relief are over-the-counter, chemical-laden eye solutions. Sure, some of them may soothe your eye woes for a short time but how many of them are going to target the root cause and truly help you improve the health of your eyes?

If you’re experiencing these irritating eye problems, your eyes need to be lubricated and nurtured—you can do this with natural remedies, both from within and externally.

But first, what actually causes dry eyes to begin with? There are a variety of reasons eyes dry out.

Here are a few:

• Allergies
• Aging
• Menopause or other hormonal imbalances
• Staring at computer screens for too long

 
Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography/Courtesy Flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/pinksherbet/  

Treating Dry Eyes from Within

You may have one or more nutritional deficiencies. For ultimate eye health, you need to take in plenty of vitamins A, B, C, and E. Also be sure to eat foods rich in zinc and selenium (or take quality supplements). And as K.C. mentioned in her recent post on dry eye syndrome, Omegas are fabulous for eye health.

Raw fruits and vegetables are crucial for overall health—including our eyes. You can pack in a ton of extra veggies and fruits by drinking fresh juices and smoothies. For instance, toss a handful or two of baby spinach leaves into your banana (or other fruit) smoothie and the fruit’s sweetness actually dominates the flavor, so it’s a nice way to sneak in those greens you may not otherwise eat.

Some people have noticed improvements to their eye health and vision from juice fasting as well.

Natural Remedy Recipes (for External Use)

Although it’s important to fill our bodies with the proper nutrition that promotes strong, moist, healthy eyes from within, it’s also nice to have safe, go-to natural remedies that can relieve our aching eyes while we wait for the internal methods to kick in. Following are a couple of inexpensive, organic recipes—and they’re both so soothing!

Organic Chamomile Eye Wash

• 2 chamomile tea bags (or spoonful of dried chamomile flower)
• Warm water
• A cup or bowl
• Sieve (if you’re using loose-leaf herb)

1. Add chamomile bag or loose herb to a cup or bowl.

2. Pour warm water on top of it.

3. Let them steep for up to 15 minutes.

4. Remove the tea bags (or strain loose herb with sieve).

5. Find a relaxing position (lay down or lean back in a chair).

6. Close your eyes and cover each one with a tea bag.

7. Leave the tea bags on for up to 10 minutes.

Note: If you’re using loose-leaf chamomile herb, you can put the moistened mixture you’ve strained into cheesecloth (or an empty tea bag you can purchase online or at your health food store) and follow the same steps above.
You can also cup some of the chamomile tea into your hand (or draw it up into a dropper) and wash your eyes out with it. It’s warm, soothing, healing, and safe.

Cold Cucumber Compress

• 2 cold cucumber slices

1. Find a comfortable position.

2. Put a cold cucumber over (closed) eyes.

3. Leave them on for up to 10 minutes.

Tip: Slice an organic cucumber ahead of time and lay the slices flat (not touching) in small plastic bags or reusable containers and freeze. When you need a quick “cold cucumber compress,” you can just grab two slices from the freezer and let them thaw a little. After all, you want relief—not frozen eyeballs!
I have personally followed all of the tips mentioned here for the past several years. The result? I no longer have to wear eye glasses.

References:
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC, Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-to-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies, New York, NY: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 2002
Balch, Phyllis A., CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Third Edition), New York: Avery Publishing, 2000.
National Institute of Health Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Selenium 
National Institute of Health Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Zinc 

Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

This weekend my sister welcomed another grandchild to her family. It’s been a long time since I held my own newborn son in my arms, but as I looked at the pictures of the newest addition to our family online, I began to think…"Is there anything more precious than a newborn baby?" "Is there anything more confusing to new parents?"
This time of wonder and discovery is the perfect time for parents to unlock the benefits of aromatherapy and infant massage. By incorporating touch with botanicals, you increase the bond between parent and child while simultaneously creating a healthy, relaxing environment for bot.

Aromatherapy can be safe for infants and children as long as a few guidelines are observed: 

• Never apply oils full strength to the baby’s skin. Since babies have a smaller amount of resistive tissue, adult doses can be considered toxic. Be sure to dilute essential oils for babies and toddlers to ½ amount of the adult dose. This would be ¼ drop for every 3 drops in a standard blend. Since it is impossible to measure a ¼ of a drop, it is advisable to decrease the essential oil and increase the carrier oil or lotion. Remember, no where in aromatherapy is the ‘less is more’ approach more appropriate than here.

Safe essential oil choices for babies: lavender, chamomile and rose

Children are naturals with aromatherapy. The sweet and floral scents calm them almost instantaneously. Older children who no longer will tolerate a back rub from mom or dad will most assuredly indulge in a foot massage (especially after sports). All ages welcome the addition of essential oils in their bath tubs. Be sure to dilute these oils in an appropriate carrier oil according the recommendations below. Allow some flexibility to adjust the amounts if the child’s body size and weight is above or below average percentile for the child’s age. Your pediatrician can help you with this information.

Children: Factor age vs. body weight
5-8 years: 1/6th to 1/3rd the adult recommendation
8-12 years: 1/3th to ½ the adult recommendation
12-15 years: ½ to 2/3rd the adult recommendation

Safe essential oil choices for children: lavender, tea tree, German or Roman chamomile, tangerine, spearmint, rose, lemon, ravensara, eucalyptus and rosemary

• Avoid the following oils for use with all children unless instructed by a reliable text or a certified aromatherapist. All ‘spice oils’ such as clove, cinnamon, cassia, nutmeg, ginger and black pepper. Other oils which should not be used with children are pennyroyal, hyssops, rue and yarrow.

• Avoid citrus oils if your children are playing out of doors since they may increase photosensitivity.

• Use cold pressed, natural oils. Stay away from  petroleum-, chemical- or mineral-based oils (such as baby oil). These oils interfere with the solubility of vitamins and minerals within the essential oils. An easy rule for oils is if you can eat it, you can use it. (Olive oil and grapeseed are wonderful.)

Photo by ::paqman::/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paqman/

As a licensed massage therapist and a certified infant massage instructor and practitioner, I recommend infant massage for building a bond with your baby. Infant massage is a path that will lead to a lifetime of good communication and closeness. Numerous studies show impressive benefits, such as significant neurological development and absorption of nutrients. Also, parents raise their confidence and sensitivity to meeting their babies’ needs, allowing them to respond appropriately to baby’s cues.  The special time spent together can help promote longer and deeper sleep patterns, help relieve colic or gas and helps babies and children develop a positive body image.  Your touch will help baby relax and release accumulated tension by decreasing the production of stress hormones.

How to give a rewarding infant massage (for you and baby):

• Make eye contact with baby. Watch baby’s expressions and note how your touch affects your child. Smile, sing and whisper to baby as you touch.

• Ask permission of your baby to touch each part. This simple act of respect also encourages verbalization and word associations for your baby and brings the art of a lifetime of communication into play.

• Use a gentle, but firm pressure when massaging. A confident touch is conveyed and baby’s sense of safety and love is reinforced.

Ready to begin?  Enjoy the following formulas for baby.

To promote sleep patterns in well babies:

• 1 ½ ounce grapeseed essential oil
• 1 drop lavender essential oil
• 1 drop German chamomile essential oil

1. Mix ingredients together.

2. Use mix during massage OR use 1 teaspoon in your baby’s bath at night time when you want your child to fall asleep faster.

To allieviate gas and upset tummies:

• 1 drop fennel essential oil
• 3 ounces grapeseed essential oil

1. Mix ingredients together.

2. Apply mix to abdomen only. Use plain grapeseed for the remainder of a full body massage.

To open nasal passages: 

Put a drop of eucalyptus oil on a night light or into a humidifier as baby sleeps. Never apply this oil directly to baby. An aromatic bath for baby can be made by substituting one drop eucalyptus or ravensara for the fennel in the above formula. Use 1 tablespoon of the mixture in the bath.  Hold baby securely when bathing with oils.

So if you are lucky enough to be welcoming  a new addition to your immediate or extended family, pass along this information.  Family bonds begin early and the skills and communications in those formative years can be key to a confident child.  Babies grow up too quickly, take the time now to be as present as possible.  Learn and grow with your baby – and may you be ‘forever young’.

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

My Jewish friends have always found it odd that I'm such a fan of Yom Kippur. I like the idea of taking one day a year for thinking about your mistakes and making yourself a better person. When I was still teaching, I used the occasion to assign this essay thesis statement: If you could take back one thing you did as a child, what would it be? 

The stories were often painful to read. One story was written by an angry, adolescent young boy from the inner city. He wrote about the time he was 11 years old, hanging out with his pals in the garage, and playing with his father's guns. They were each taking turns handling the gun. When it was his turn, he accidently shot his friend, nearly killing him and taking out one of his friend’s eyes.

He never alluded to this tragedy before, masking the emotion he felt. The part that was so painful for him was that he'd never been given the canvas, the paper or the platform to express his feelings and tell his tale.

People are faced with great challenges, and somehow people have to deal with them daily. Reading these painful essays reminded me of how regenerative Mother Nature can be, and how lucky we are to have her abundance to help overcome tough situations.

Although it would trivialize my former student’s situation to imply that a few herbs could take away the pain of his life situation, I do believe that some of nature’s healing plants can help put our bodies and spirits at ease.

Here are some herbal remedies that have specific healing properties for dealing with overcoming sorrow, anger and depression.

There’s nothing like a sip of skullcap tea. Also try a medium green leaf tea, which helps relax nervous tension and is a favorite at the end of a trying day.

Verbena officinalis

Vervain (don't forget to add the honey to this one!) is more “full-bodied” and can help overcome a deeper depression. The secret is in the consistency; you can’t have a “one cup here and a one cup there" approach. Instead, use 2 to 3 cups daily for a couple of weeks, depending on how overwhelming the sorrow is and how many toxins one loads up with. Vervain also acts as a hepatic remedy and helps with inflammation of the gallbladder. In Chinese Medicine, anger is held in the gallbladder.

Next, I suggest picking up a paintbrush, grabbing a pen, or finding a guitar and discovering new ways to express your emotions and overcome terrible situations. Bodies and minds can mend; nature and art can lead the way.

Desiree Bell is inspired by botanicals and natural materials. She is a vegetarian who has a certificate in herbal studies and a certificate from Australasian College of Health Sciences in Aromatherapy. When she isn't in her suburban garden, hiking or crafting, she is teaching pre-k with an emphasis on nature and gardening. For more ideas on Simple Living With Nature you can visit her blogs at www.beyondagarden.blogspot.com and www.kidsnaturespot.blogspot.com.

The common sunflower is an American native plant. The American Indian was the first to use the sunflower, but there is no written record. Sunflower achene’s (seeds) have been found at several archaeological sites in the United States and early explorers notebooks and journals have information about Indians gathering achene’s for food. At prehistoric sites in Arizona, several sunflower disks have been found, as well as designs of the flowers incorporated in their pottery.
 
After the discovery of America in 1492, the sunflower went to Europe, then onto Russia, and was then reintroduced into America from Russia. Practically all the flowers now cultivated in America were of Russian origin. The Russians are the greatest users of the plant.
 
Sunflowers are known scientifically by the genus name Helianthus from the Greek words helios, meaning “sun” and anthos meaning “flower.” There are around 60 different species, but in this article I am mainly discussing Helianthus annus L. The L. stands for Linnaeus, the great Swedish naturalist of the eighteenth century, who gave this plant and thousands of others their Latin names. This sunflower was the only one known to him and it only lived a single season, so the annuus is for annual.
 
This species of sunflower is extremely variable. There are branched forms with small flower heads, which are common in the wild. Unbranched forms with massive flower heads, which are cultivated for their oily seeds; and still others with red or double flowers which are grown for their ornamental value.

Photo by cobalt123/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/

Sunflowers are related to the daisies, asters, marigolds, dandelions and black-eyed susans, all of which are members of the Compositae family. The stem is thick, hairy and light green with leaves that are large, rough, toothed and heart-shaped with prominent veins. The flower has a ray of petals on the outer part of the sunflower head, and disk flowers in the center. The outer apparently to attract insects since they are sterile. Sunflowers grow from 3 to 15 feet high and the flower heads measure from 3 to 14 inches in diameter. The sunflower is the state flower of Kansas.
 
The first published record of the sunflower appeared in 1568 by the Belgian Rembert Dodoens, one of the famous herbalists of the era. It was not known to herbalists before the discovery of America (1492), which is evidence that the sunflower was of American origin.
 
The greatest medicinal use of the sunflower that has been used throughout the world is for pulmonary afflictions. It was the main medicinal use of many Indians. A decoction was made from the sunflower head, which the Dakota and Pawnee Indians would drink for respiratory ailments, like bronchitis, lung infections and pleurisy.

Sunflower oil is used in salad dressings, for cooking and in the manufacturing of margarine and shortening. It is used in industry for making paints and cosmetics. The roasted seeds make a coffee type drink. In countries where they grow sunflowers the seed cake that is left after the oil is extracted is given to livestock as food. In the Soviet Union the hulls are used for manufacturing ethyl alcohol, in lining for plywood and growing yeast. The dried stems have also been used for fuel. The stems contain phosphorous and potassium which can be composted and returned to soil as fertilizer.
 
The Chinese have used the fiber from stems for fabrics and paper. The pith (the interior of the stalk) is one of the lightest substances known and is used in scientific labs. The plant’s ability to absorb water from soil has been used to reclaim mushy land in the Netherlands.
 
The sunflower is a plant to be valued and appreciated for more than just food for birds or an ornamental fixture in a summer garden. Add a few sunflowers to the next garden you plant and they will put a smile on your face.                              

I’ll admit sometimes I can be over-dramatic when it comes to pain – drama runs in my family. But for the last couple of years I’ve suffered from regular lower-back spasms that can literally knock me off my feet. So yesterday I finally gave in to the sage advice of my family and friends who’ve witnessed my painful collapses and visited the chiropractor.

It’s been over 10 years since the last time I met with a chiropractor, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I was definitely surprised to see a familiar herbal supplement perched on my practitioner’s shelf of featured pain relief supplies – turmeric capsules. Under the bottle was a note suggesting that a daily dose (720 mg) of this turmeric supplement, instead of Ibuprofen, not only reduces painful inflammation but is also healthier for long term use than other pain relievers.

Photo by Carlos Lorenzo/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlos_lorenzo/

Considering how often I’ve popped Ibuprofen over the last couple years after long bouts of sitting at a desk or going for a jog, I was surprised that I hadn’t thought of the detrimental effects earlier.

I already use turmeric in most of my cooking, so instead of adding even more and turning everything I eat bright yellow, I’m going to give these supplements a try. For the sake of my future health, and to aid in the recovery of my abused neck and back from the chiropractic therapy, I’ll put the lid on ibuprofen and open up the turmeric. Oh, and I’ll also be using ice - lots and lots of ice.

Photo by foolsplay07/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wrightguideminiatures/

Have you used turmeric supplements to relieve your pain? How did it work for you? Leave me a comment and let me know.

For more information about the health benefits of turmeric, check out these past articles from The Herb Companion.

• The Healing Plant by Nancy Allison
• Ancient, Pungent Turmeric by Cornelia Carlson, Ph.D.
• Smart Cooking with Turmeric by Cornelia Carlson, Ph.D.
• Ancient Herbs, Modern Uses by James A. Duke, Ph.D.
• Spotlight on Turmeric by Lynda McCullough

Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

It's that time of year again. The kids are back at school and the holidays are looming in front of us. Just when we need all the energy we can muster, IT descends upon us: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For many individuals in northern climates, myself included, the onset of seasonal depression is signaled by a sense of emptiness, fatigue, lethargy, food cravings, lack of concentration and/or disturbed sleep patterns. Once dismissed as 'simply the blues', mainstream medicine has acknowledged that this is a true disorder affecting as many as one in 20 individuals during the fall and winter months. Reduction of sunlight is often cited as a primary cause of SAD. Without the correct full spectrum light patterns that we are used to during the summer months, our neurotransmitter serotonin levels become irregular and an increase of the hormone melatonin (from the pineal gland) causes us to be come depressed at varying degrees.

Most people will 'snap out of it' on their own, others can benefit from holistic care: aromatherapy, light therapy, herbal supplements and a sunny vacation!

(Please note that severely depressed or suicidal individuals should seek the care of a physician and may need to consider the addition of antidepressant care. Never dismiss or self-treat massive depressive disorders yourself or encourage anyone to discontinue medication when being treated by a physician).

As a southern girl transplanted to Ohio, I know only too well how devastating and debilitating this disorder can be. In fact, SAD is what first brought me to aromatherapy. For me it was a natural choice to help prevent the onset of a mild depressive episode. Since aromatherapy doesn't require much time, it is a perfect way to incorporate a feeling of wellness during the bleakest months of the year.

Aromatherapy is using essential oils in massage, inhalation, diffusion and bathing as a way to uplift the body, mind and spirit. The medicinal properties of the oils are absorbed through the skin or through the olfactory system into the blood stream. In addition to their pleasing scents, which calm or stimulate the mind, the body benefits from the natural antiseptic, anti-viral and hormonal regulation of various oils. These properties may help boost the overall immune system. By diffusing fragrant oil in the air you are not only enhancing the emotional and spiritual benefits, but also creating an atmosphere of wellness by combating airborne germs (viral and bacteria).

Since SAD affects the body, mind and spirit, it makes sense that aromatherapy, which works on all aspects of the disorder, can be used alone or in tandem with other medical treatments.  Aromatherapy is a complimentary therapy to traditional and herbal medicines. Here are some applications to incorporate in your daily life to help lift seasonal depression:

Fatigue, Lethargy, Lack of Concentration: The symptoms described are in need of essential oils, which stimulate the mind, activate the circulatory system, and energize the soul. These are the oils to choose when you need to 'wake yourself up' or put in overtime at the office. Any and all of the citrus oils are perfect for office use: grapefruit, sweet orange, tangerine, lemon, lime and bergamot will impart freshness in the air, reminiscent of walking through a fresh orchard. To boost memory and increase your mental clarity you can add a drop or two of peppermint, basil, rosemary or black pepper.

Disturbed Sleep: A client of mine seems to get her days and nights mixed up when she is experiencing her bout with SAD. To help alleviate this we set up an evening and morning ritual to help trigger her brain to function and to rest when it was required. For evening she diffuses calming, sedative scents in the air, bathes in ylang ylang & lavender before bedtime and puts one drop of lavender on her pillowcase to help fall asleep naturally. By using these relaxing scents she has encouraged a reflex response (memory map) of relaxation. The morning, however, required a bit more of a wake up call for her. We added some lemon essential oil to her shampoo, not just to condition her hair, but to give a burst of energy first thing in the morning. We blended a jar of sea salts, jojoba oil and essential oils of rosemary and grapefruit to exfoliate her skin.  Rosemary is used for its stimulating scent and has the added bonus of being a wonderful respiratory oil which helps clear up nasal congestion and fight off colds and flu. In addition she switched to full spectrum lighting with increased wattage at the office and diffuses lemon in the air during office hours. Now she keeps her energy at peak performance.

Cravings & Weight Gain: Essential oils may be used in weight loss and to help curb your appetite. The most common essential oil to combat hunger is fennel. Use two drops in a cup of warm water. Drink before meals. Soaking in an essential oil bath of grapefruit, lemon or other diuretic oils may help increase the flow of urine to alleviate bloating and excess fluids.  Don’t' neglect your daily exercises or diet (using essential oils will only boost your potential) and remember to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water

If you decide to incorporate aromatherapy to help you combat the onset of SAD a few precautions for safety must be adhered to:

• Always use pure botanical oils. Synthetic, perfume and fragrance oils are lovely to smell but have none of the medicinal properties contained from extraction of the true plant.

• Essential oils are potent and should be used sparingly. A few drops mixed in a carrier oils is perfect for massage or bathing. A general guide is 15 drops essential oils to one fluid ounce of carrier oil (almond, sesame, grapeseed etc.). Remember these are therapeutic at low levels and may be toxic at high. 

• Consult a reliable aromatherapy text or Certified Aromatherapist if you are in doubt of the safety of an oil. Check for contra-indications if you are prone to seizures, high blood pressure, heart ailments or are pregnant or nursing.

Suggested essential oils for SAD through aromatherapy:

• Clary sage (mild depression, aggression, PMS)
• Lemon & grapefruit (mild depression, water retention)
• Rosemary, basil (fatigue, mental confusion, respiratory concerns)
• Pettigrain & bergamot (balancing, uplifting)
• Lavender (insomnia, tension headaches)   

Brenda Stansfield is a licensed massage therapist, certified clincial aromatherapist and the creator of the Clear My Head product line, sold in spas nationally at www.clearmyhead.com. She belives aromatherapy should be simple and easy to incorporate into a hectic lifestyle.

Lately, I'm noticing a trend and I'm not liking it either. I watch as so many of us (and yes, I am guilty myself) are overly connected with our electronic devices. Yes, it's often time well spent in front of our computer screens updating our friends through Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, and yes we all get a little thrill when we open our "mail" to find a note (not just a forward, forward, forward) from a good friend. But ask yourself…would you rather have a ::hug:: or a real hug? 

The problem becomes clear as we watch our children communicate through more text messages and spend less time hearing a voice on the other end of their phones. How does one learn social skills or pick up non-verbal cues any more? After all, intonation in a voice can tell you wonders about a person’s well-being. The big question is how do we reconnect with our loved ones? The answer can be, surprisingly, aromatherapy. 

Use essential oil of lavender for a compassionate hand massage.

Over the years in my massage therapy & aromatherapy practice, I've encountered the "disconnect" of families. I've taught many workshops that bring people together and can open up a safe environment for conversations. Here are a few quick tips to help you turn down the electronic clutter in your life:

Children: Small children (3-6 years) are often antsy and on the move. Getting them to focus is challenging (if not impossible). These formative years are also when they are developing good routines and coping skills. A wonderful gift you can give your child is the ability to allow themselves to slow down in the evening. Prepare them for a good nights sleep with four drops of lavender essential oil in a warm bath—this will help them unwind and sleep more soundly. Taking baths are a great time for singing songs and other soothing activities—they'll never know they're getting clean in the process.

Teenagers: Teens are a little tougher to pin down and even harder at times to get to open up. A shame, since this is a time they need the guidance of a parent even more. Boys in particular are very resistant to keeping communication open. A way to get your teen to relax with you, and a nice time to catch up on the day, is with a nice peppermint foot rub (6 drops peppermint essential oil to 1 ounce lotion). The sensation on the feet is exhilarating and they'll sit still for it. Athletic teens and the over-achievers are often very unaware of the toll stress and a lot of activity can take on their body and mind. A 10 minute foot rub will help with fatigue and also teach them about giving to others.  

Our Elders: Often times I've been asked to call on a client’s family member in Hospice or Alzheimer wards. The elderly, and especially those in the last days or weeks of their life present emotional difficulties for both the family and the individual. A wonderful thing happens when we visit and offer a bit of compassion in the form of a hand massage. A suggestion of oils for this would be lavender, clary sage, bergamot or cedarwood (3 drops in 1 ounce). I've always felt in the grace of God during these visits. You needn't be a professional therapist for this. Your touch is comforting to the patient, the fragrance is soothing and the time is well spent. Often, in their final days, our loved ones cannot communicate with us. However, I promise the look in their eyes will tell you what they cannot. You will notice love and understanding and you will reap rewards that will be revealed to you later. It is not uncommon when I create blends for my clients to use with their loved ones that after the person has passed on they tell me that they use the aromatherapy lotion to feel the presence of their loved one again. This is understandable, since our sense of smell imprints emotions into us through our limbic system. Once we "memory map" our essential oils to a specific action, (one that is soothing, calming, joyful, and compassionate) we have set in motion a powerful way to communicate.

So today, unplug the cell phone, turn off the computer, even if it's just for 20 minutes, and go find someone who is getting "lost" in the digital age and bring them back to their senses!

People who suffer from insomnia usually have a difficult time falling asleep or wake up after only a few hours of sleep. Stress, anxiety, depression and grief are a few of the factors that contribute to insomnia. After experiencing a few sleepless nights I read up on insomnia. Through my research I discovered a few herbal remedies to ease the symptoms of insomnia.

Chamomile promotes natural sleep.

These herbs are an insomniac’s best friend!

• Chamomile: This herb relaxes the body and eases tension. Chamomile also helps other parts of the body by relieving indigestion and headaches.

• Lemon balm: Combined with chamomile, lemon balm relaxes the body and helps people fall asleep. By itself the herb has antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Other herbs that induce natural sleep are valerian, lavender, kava, St. John’s wort, passionflower and skullcap.

One product I've found that works great is Sound Sleep by Bath & Body Works ($10). This product, which is made with lavender and chamomile essential oils, is wonderful to use—especially after enjoying a cup of tea.

Have you experienced insomnia and used herbs to fall asleep? Let’s chat about it! Your comments could help other sleepless readers.

As a kid, I actually looked forward to getting hiccups, all thanks to my dad’s distinctive cure. He’d sit us on the kitchen counter, measure a spoon full of sugar and tell us we had to swallow it all. My hiccups routinely occurred around bedtime, so much to my mother’s chagrin, I rarely fell asleep on time after taking my “hiccup medicine.”

I’m not a sugar fiend anymore like I was during my childhood. Nowadays when I get a hiccup attack I hold my breath until I turn blue in the face. Or for a particularly rough bout, I’ll try to drink a cup of water backwards and usually spill most of it on the floor.

By cdw9/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wainwright/

I’d always I thought that, because hiccups are caused by spasms of your diaphragm, you had to alter your breathing pattern to stop them. However, you also need to increase the level of carbon dioxide in your blood, which is how certain herbs can help. 

It turns out that there are as many hiccup remedies as there are hiccups. Traditional herbal cures include eating a whole chervil plant, drinking anise or taking tinctures of mustard or peppermint. Today, many experts recommed specific herbal tinctures to reduce hiccup suffering. For instance, Life Mojo suggests boiling a combination of cardamom and mint leaves.

In his article, Fix-ups for Hiccups, Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa says that there are many herbal hiccup cures but unfortunately not all of them work. Also, if your hiccups last longer than three days you should see a doctor. His holistic recommendations include plain yogurt and salt, honey and castor oil, watermelon, Kaki tea, and fresh ginger. Surprisingly, both white sugar and cardamom were on his list as well. So I guess my dad’s hiccup medicine wasn’t just an “old wives’ tale” after all.

Have you tried herbs to get rid of hiccups? What method works for you? Leave me a comment and let me know!

I tend to go through obsessive routines with food. See, once I’ve found a relatively easy meal that’s tasty and healthy, I make it repetitively until the thought of it nauseates me – then I know it’s time to move on.

About this time last year I made shrimp and veggie stir fry almost daily, but I haven’t made it since. It just seems easier to buy the same groceries, instead of wasting food for meals that I don’t get around to making. This habit drives my friends and family crazy, “How can you eat that again?!”

(Click here to learn how to reel in runaway costs the bistro way.)

My latest addiction is eggs. I had to cut back on my boiled eggs when I realized that the amount of cholesterol in one egg, 213 milligrams, is almost as much as the recommended daily total of cholesterol, 300 milligrams. And now I’ve found another reason to be concerned – excess cholesterol could contribute to weakened memory.

Photo by meonomous/Courtesy Flickr
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For the past few years my short-term memory has been horrible. I remember things from my childhood that no one else seems to and I memorize study-material just fine. However, I struggle with questions like, “What’s the last movie you saw?”

Although I doubt the eggs are a major contributor to my weak short-term memory, I’ve realized that I need to take better care of my brain and find some solutions. Especially when in a recent conversation I was stuck trying to remember the name of the daily supplement I take to improve my memory – oh, yeah, ginkgo biloba. 

Photo by fabdebaz/Courtesy Flickr
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In a study from The Journal of American Medical Association last fall, ginkgo biloba was proven to prevent the spread of existing dementia attributed to Alzheimer’s Disease, but if you have a more casually weak memory, like mine, it may not be the best herbal solution.

Instead try rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), which can improve memory by stimulating the immune system, or bacopa (Bacopa monnieri), which works to ease anxiety and decrease blood pressure. The best way to improve memory retention is to reduce stress, but sometimes stress just isn’t avoidable. So if you want additional help, take a look at the list of alternative herbs I’ve compiled below.

Maybe, with the help of these herbs, my conversations will finally stop including, “I’m sure you’ve already told me about it, but could you tell me one more time?” or “You never told me that!” – Only to be proven wrong once again.

Photo by Lorianne DiSabato/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zenmama/

Herbs to magnify your memory:

It’s that time of year again. Going back to school means late night cram sessions, unhealthy eating habits (coffee and chocolate anyone?) and mind and body exhaustion. Try these herbs to help relieve stress, accelerate energy and induce sleep.

Photo By sobriquet.net/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sobriquet/

Herbs for Stress

When all of the tasks start to pile up at once and it seems like you can’t get anything done, try these herbs to calm your nerves.

• Chamomile: Make a chamomile tea to calm nerves and relieve stress headaches. After, put the warm tea bags on your eyelids to relieve tired eyes.

• Lavender: Use lavender to help concentrate on a task. Sniff the dried flowers or lavender essential oil to stimulate your brain when you’re down.

• Geranium essential oil: Before going into an exam or giving a speech, sniff some geranium essential oil to relieve butterflies in your stomach.

Herbs to Accelerate Energy

Lay off the coffee and energy drinks. They may increase energy for a while, but you’ll be sure to crash after the caffeine high wears off. Try these herbs for a natural way to boost energy.

• Rosemary: Increase your energy with an invigorating bath. Combine ½ cup rosemary, and ½ cup ground almonds and 2 cups plain rolled oats in a terry cloth bag or washcloth and float in the bath.

• Thyme: Get the energizing scent of thyme by filling a spray bottle with 2 or 3 drops of thyme essential oil and a ½ cup of water and spraying it in the air. Thyme’s also delicious with meats and sauces.

Herbs to Stimulate Sleep

With a thousand different worries popping up in your mind, getting sleep can be difficult. Try these herbs to get some rest.

• Anise: Chew the seeds by themselves or add them to hot milk to make you sleepy. Also try filling a small bag with anise seeds and place it by your pillow so you can breathe in the scent.

• Linden: Brew linden flowers in a tea to induce sleep. Or find linden flower tea in health food stores.

How do you cope with the stress of school? Have any herbal tips? Leave me a comment and tell me about them.

Sarah Powell, an herbalist, medical anthropologist and proprietor of the natural bath & body business, Lilith’s Apothecary. Find her shop at www.lilithsapothecary.etsy.com and her blog at www.lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com for more natural body care tips and recipes. 

If it is one thing we can all agree on, it is that having clear, glowing skin is the most important factor to your appearance. Clear skin boosts one’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and certainly makes us all feel good! Our skin is also a great reflection of what is going on internally, especially if we are experiencing an imbalance of some kind. A healthful life usually results in healthy skin.  However, normal hormonal changes, dietary problems, and toxic drugs or chemicals can certainly take their toll. 

This is the first in a series of posts devoted to caring for one’s skin naturally, and here we start with caring for the skin from the inside out.  Skin estheticians will acknowledge that healthy skin is directly related to proper skin care, which includes good nutrition. Skin is nourished by the bloodstream, which gains nutrients from the gastro-intestinal tract. In conversation, Mary Friehofner, a Philadelphia esthetician and acne specialist, told me about a persistent denial in the medical community of any special correlation between sugar and acne. As someone who has suffered with acne herself, Mary said, “I know that I could almost feel and fuzzy or prickly feeling in my chin and jaw area (where I used to break out with acne) almost immediately after eating very sugary foods. Now western medicine has documented a release of hormones by the liver associated with intake of sugar and these hormones in some people initiate acne.”

So yes, yet again, the message is that “you are what you eat," or at least you are certainly affected by it! Herbalists have for centuries treated skin conditions with liver supportive and detoxifying herbs, as the liver is the responsible organ for processing fats, sugars, hormones, and chemicals we ingest, even if herbalists didn’t traditionally have the ‘science’ to back it up. There was plenty empirical evidence to suggest that supporting the liver can help correct many conditions, including eczema, psoriasis and acne. Skin conditions that result from hormonal imbalances, a common cause of acne, may require further hormone regulators in an herbal compound, but thankfully, we have many such allies to help with problem skin.  We will delve further into the treatment of skin imbalances with herbs in later posts in this series.

Nourishment on the inside should be the first step in treating the outside appearance. We often see topical products on the market promising clear, even skin tone, regenerative powers, or other chemicals and even toxic ingredients to cause skin ‘plumping’ to make the skin appear healthier and younger. It’s true that there are ingredients added to skin care products that can help prevent the development of fine lines and wrinkles and certainly there are others that may cause some regenerative ability, but flawless skin starts with what you put into your body.

The skin is an incredibly complex organ –your body’s largest—and contains several layers: the epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous, all of which have functions that keep our skin fed by the bloodstream and enervated by our nervous system, protected from the outside, acting as a barrier to protect our vital internal organs from the outside. It is a somewhat permeable barrier, however, and what we put on the skin’s surface may or may not penetrate to our bloodstream below. This is why some chemicals, such as propylene glycol, that facilitate absorption of harmful compounds are so problematic and should be avoided. Our skin performs vital functions that include maintaining the body’s temperature, protecting us from biological invaders and physical, chemical, thermal, and electrical damage. It regulates moisture, excretes toxins via sweat, secretes sebum—our natural ‘moisturizer’ –which lubricates skin and keeps it from drying out. It metabolizes and stores fat and also converts ultraviolet rays into vitamin D, which enhances calcium absorption (Tourles, 1999).

One of the first steps we can take towards achieving beautiful skin includes making sure we ingest the most vital vitamins and minerals for healthy skin. Vitamin A (beta-carotene) is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is essential for growth and maintenance of skin tissue and proper functioning of mucous membranes. Vitamin A also speeds healing of acne and boosts the body’s immunity. B-complex vitamins are water-soluble and should be taken as a ‘complex’ rather than in isolated parts. This is what some call the ‘anti-stress’ vitamin that helps prevent acne and premature aging. It promotes healthy circulation and metabolism, and is also essential for wound-healing. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that helps produce collagen in connective tissue, strengthens capillary walls, speeds healing, and helps protect against environmental stress. Vitamin D is a fat soluble nutrient that when combined with vitamin A, helps treat acne. It is gaining much recognition as a more important vitamin than we have realized in recent years, and recommended doses are currently being evaluated by regulatory bodies. Vitamin D, not even really a vitamin, may be more beneficial in much larger doses than we are accustomed to. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that oxygenates tissues, protects tissues, speeds healing of chronic skin conditions, and may decrease scarring. Mineral iodine aids in healing skin infections, increases oxygen consumption and metabolic rate in the skin; silicon aids in collagen formation, keeps skin taut, and strengthens skin tissues. Sulfur helps keep skin clear and smooth, while zinc promotes cell growth, boosts immunity, and helps treat acne along with vitamins A & B (Tourles, 1999). 

Fat is an essential component to your skin’s health and beauty. Without at least a thin layer of fat providing padding to support your skin’s structure, it can’t be beautiful! For years, we have been told by mainstream dieticians and advisors that fat is “bad” and should be avoided, and now it appears the health gurus are changing their minds! Mother Earth News published a great article outlining this debate, one subscribed to by the Weston Price Foundation for nearly a century.  Soy-based beverages are made with unfermented soy milk, which has its own controversy surrounding it, as indeed  its high content of phytic acids may block the uptake of vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc.  In line with more whole foods, local movements, I prefer sourcing locally produced raw or minimally processed milk and certainly drink whole milk and full fat cream as much as I desire.

Whether we are talking about the fat on our bodies, or the fat we ingest, we’ve been ‘trained’ to think of all of it as bad, but without fats, we can’t have well-lubricated, glowing skin with the roundness and shape we associate with beauty.  Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature and include animal fats, coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter.  Monounsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature, including oils of olive, avocado, cashew, salmon, and halibut. Polyunsaturated fatty acids are also liquid at room temperature but have a different molecular structure; they include oils of walnut, flax, safflower, sunflower, and corn.  Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are vitamin-like substances that have a protective effect on the body. Your body cannot manufacture them, but you must obtain them from the food you eat. As little as 2 to 3 teaspoons per day will provide you with the EFAs you need. Omega-3 fatty acids are the super stars we hear so much about, and truly, with their potent anti-inflammatory abilities and superior healing qualities, these are an essential addition to our diets. Cold-water fish such as bluefish, salmon, mackerel, and tuna, as well as freshly ground flax, walnuts, and brazil nuts are all good sources. Omega 3’s provide wound-healing, arthritis relief and relief of other inflammatory conditions, healing for eczema and psoriasis, and assistance in balancing sebum production. We need them! Of course some fats are bad, but the only fats that I consider bad are the hydrogenated oils that dominate our processed food supply. Avoid those processed and ‘fast’ foods as much as possible, and you’ll be avoiding so-called ‘bad fats’ too.

Now that you have this information, what can you do with it?  While a multi-vitamin is often touted as a good idea in theory, it is much better to get your nutrients from natural sources, preferably whole foods, herbal infusions, and if necessary, bio-available liquid extracts. Most pill-shaped supplements are hardly bio-available at all, and most people don’t take the multi- vitamin with the necessary fat  that would provide absorption of many fat-soluble vitamins in the first place. Do your best to consume whole, unprocessed sources, of which there are myriad; many on-line sources identify superior sources of all the nutrients outlined above. Super-food supplements like spirulina, blue-green algae, dulse flakes, and bee pollen are a great addition to juices and smoothies. Nutrient rich herbal tonics—intended for regular, long-term use—are an even more wonderful choice for bio-available nourishment.

Remember that your skin basically shows what it takes in. The more refined sugars, ‘bad’ hydrogenated fats, caffeine, alcohol, pharmaceutical or narcotic drugs you ingest, the worse your skin will look. It goes the same for lack of sleep! When you don’t get your ‘beauty rest’, your skin will show it first with break-outs, bags under the eyes, or tired, dull skin tone. Check out the recipes below for boosting your body’s nutrition and contributing to healthy, vitalized skin. A regular smoothie, a multi-grain omega-rich muffin, fresh local plain yoghurt sprinkled with ground golden flax, or a bowl of pre-soaked, cooked oatmeal sprinkled with fresh, raw almonds or walnuts and plump goji or blueberries are all ways to boost your nutritional intake alongside your daily herbal infusion. Try the recipes below to begin to move towards creating healthy skin from the inside out:

Skin Food Smoothie

• 1 banana
• 1 cup strawberries or other berries, frozen or fresh
• 2 cups milk
• 2 teaspoons blackstrap molasses, rich in iron
• 2 teaspoons golden flax seeds, freshly ground
• 10 raw almonds, preferably blanched and skin removed
• 10 raw walnuts
• ¼ cup cooked oatmeal, pre-soaked,
• 2 teaspoons honey, preferably raw and locally sourced
• ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 to 3 ice cubes (if not using frozen fruit)

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth for 30 to 60 seconds. 

2. Drink throughout the morning or drink half in the morning and half for a snack later on. Makes approximately two  1½ cup (375 ml) servings.

*Inspired by Stephanie Tourles’ Skin-So-Smoothie (Tourles, 1999)
 
Fantastic Skin Herbal Tonic 

You can try this yummy infusion using tablespoons to measure each herb, but it’s even better to measure in ounces, store in a covered container and use for medicinal infusions consistently, over time. True medicinal-strength infusions use a lot of dried herb combined with a long steeping time to achieve optimum extraction of vitamins and minerals. 

• 1 tablespoon nettle leaf
• 1 tablespoon oatstraw
• 1 tablespoon alfalfa
• 1 tablespoon dandelion leaf
• 1 tablespoon red raspberry leaf
• 1 tablespoon rose petals
• ½ tablespoon rosehips
• ¼ tablespoon cinnamon chips, not the powder (or substitute 1 part spearmint)

1. Measure 5 to 6 tablespoons of the mix into a glass, heat-proof mason jar or similar container with a tight-fitting lid. 

2. Pour boiling water over the herbs and steep 4 -8 hrs or overnight.

3. Strain herbs and drink infusion either throughout the day or in 1 cup amounts. An infusion will last 3 days when kept refrigerated.

Herbal Sources:  Mountain Rose Herbs or Pacific Botanicals. For more on making herbal infusions, pop on by my blog at http://lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com/2008/11/05/herbal-infusions-part-ii.

References: Tourles, Stephanie (1999). Naturally Healthy Skin: Tips and Techniques for a Lifetime of Radiant Skin. MA:  Publishing .

I know a few guys and gals—I won’t name names—who are obsessed with enhancing their athletic performance and physical health. From protein drinks to creatine powders and quercetin supplements, they’re always out for the latest breakthrough in athletic technology. I have been caught up in this sporty fervor myself and been forced to drink protein concoctions from time to time. As long as they’re mixed with tasty fruit juices and yogurts, I’m fine, but protein powder and water – no thanks.

I begrudgingly agree that drinking protein powders after my workout does seem to help my energy and stamina. However, after reading Don Matesz’s article, Natural Healing: Making a Fresh Start, I realize that I might be getting more protein than I really need. I don’t need as much because my workouts are usually fast and furious rather than long and intense. I’m reluctant to rely on manufactured supplements, anyway. I’d prefer to get the most out of a good, healthy meal, instead of abstaining from calories and chugging protein.

Photo by size8jeans/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/newbirth/ 

To improve your game, you don’t necessarily have to look ahead for the next scientific supplement, just look around you. Researchers for The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research found in a study this year that consuming black currants before and after your workout can decrease muscle damage, reduce inflammation and boost immune systems. 

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Another popular herbal classic, ginseng, is also a great natural supplement. Ginseng’s expansive family, Siberian ginseng, American ginseng and Asian ginseng, to name a few, can all help your performance. Although, a study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, also done this year, didn’t find any conclusive evidence of ginseng’s performance enhancement, ancient practitioners from locals such as Russia and China, have consumed ginseng to enhance productivity, increase stamina and improve the immune system because of its adaptogen qualities.

Photo by whitney waller/Courtesy Flickr
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Astragalus and schisandra are two more great options for herbal athletic enhancement because both exhibit adaptogen potential similarly to ginseng. Astragalus is especially beneficial to reduce inflammation and strengthen natural immunities.

I find the option of drinking a cup of tea made from any one of these herbs vastly preferable to the drinks I’m choking down after the gym right now.

Photo by meeg-el/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meeg-el/ 

What works best for your workout? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Although we all love the summertime feeling of freedom and warmth, we don’t always love what it does to our hair and skin. During the summer, we have to take extra care of ourselves to look our best. The chlorine and sun dry out our skin and our hair and sometimes it seems that we sweat all day long. A few of these recipes may prevent the summer from limiting our natural beauty.

If you’re having trouble staying clean because of your many hours spent having outdoor adventures, try the Rose Hip Mask:

This facial treatment of pureed rose hips and plain yogurt will leave your skin soft and smooth. Dried rose hips are available in many grocery and health-food stores. Simply soak them in some warm water for 15 to 20 minutes to rehydrate them and then follow the recipe as written.

• 10 fresh rose hips from unsprayed shrubs
• Water
• 2 tablespoons plain yogurt

1. Remove the stalk and blossom ends of the rose hips. Rinse the hips, place them in a small saucepan, and cover them with water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, then pour the rose hips into a blender or food processor and puree. Let it cool, then mix with the yogurt.

2. Spread the mask on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and pat your skin dry. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for as long as 2 weeks.

Photo by Carmen Sotuela/ Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carmensotuela/

When the weather gets hot and humid, stay cool by smoothing on some Cooling Peppermint Body Powder:

The fresh, clean scent of peppermint is an instant energizer. Mixing the essential oil into cornstarch makes a refreshing body powder.

• ½ teaspoon peppermint oil
• 1 cup cornstarch

1. Place the peppermint oil and cornstarch in a plastic zip-close bag or a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake the container well to combine the ingredients. Store the scented powder in a clean container with a lid. A large saltshaker makes a good dispenser.

2. Shake the powder on clean, dry skin or apply it with a powder puff.

Humidity can really get your hair on the fritz; keep it in place with Summer Braid Gel:

The small, shiny brown seeds are the source of linseed oil. When soaked in water, they form a gel that gives hair extra body and lift.

• 3 tablespoons flaxseed
• 1 cup water

1. Mix the flaxseed and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Off heat, let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. Strain out the seeds and allow the jellylike liquid to cool completely. Pour the gel into a clean container and cap it. The mixture will continue to thicken if left uncovered.

2. Apply a small amount to wet or dry hair as you would any other styling gel.

How do you keep yourself clean and gorgeous during the summer heat? Leave me comments and let me know!

A year and a half ago my boyfriend and I fell in love with Addi, a 1-year-old Queensland Heeler, from the pound. The first month was a little strange as I had never owned a dog before and my pet resume was limited to cats. Fortunately, my boyfriend grew up around dogs, specifically Australian Heelers. Since reading articles about herbal pet care written by Randy Kidd, D.V.M. on The Herb Companion website, we have tried to treat Addi with natural, herbal remedies.

Addi already knew basic dog tricks when we got her—sit, stay, etc.—but we decided to teach her a few more, like how to high five and how to play dead. Rather than buy dog treats, I decided to bake them knowing I would have control over which ingredients would go in and more importantly, which ingredients stayed out. I used Janice Cox’s recipe for Basic Doggie Biscuits from the September 2008 article Body & Soul: Pet Treats.

Basic Doggie Biscuits

Makes about 2 dozen biscuits  

• 1¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 1¼ cup oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix dry ingredients together, then pour in oil and water.


2. Mix well until dough is firm. Roll dough out on a floured board and cut into shapes.


3. Grease a cookie sheet. Use a spatula to carefully transfer biscuits to cookie sheet. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until biscuits are golden brown.


4. Cool. Store leftovers in an airtight container in a cool place.

Clearly Addi hates baths. Although we live where fleas and ticks are rare, we treat Addi with an herbal flea repellent rinse after her much-dreaded bath. Some flea collars contain tetrachlorvinphos or propoxur. Both are harmful chemicals that can damage a dog’s immune system, nervous system and brain. Luckily there is another option. Kidd's herbal flea remedy works great on Addi and isn't harmful to her health. We combine lavender (Lavendula angustifolia), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) to make this herbal remedy.

Do you have a great dog or cat? Have you tried any herbal pet remedies? Drop me (or Addi!) a comment and lets chat about it.

With a cat, a sink full of dishes and teeming garbage, my house is in constant need of air freshening. My stand-by method of air freshening was burning incense, but I quickly run out of incense to burn. As a resutl, I decided to switch to a plug-in air freshener. Although I’ve missed the relaxing waft of incense smoke, I haven’t missed dusty ashes covering my book shelf. The absence of visible smoke, however, does not mean that my air is clean. The invisible chemicals ejected into the air from my plug-in air freshener may be just as harmful as the smoke was, if not more.

Photo by CM Sims/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragmentsofsobriquets/

It turns out that some automatic air fresheners emit chemicals such as phthalates. According to a 2007 study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, these chemicals can disrupt hormone levels and lead to reproductive abnormalities.

I don’t think I’ll revert back to incense with gusto because a recent University of Minnesota study indicates that excessive usage can contribute to respiratory tract cancers. 

Instead, my new favorite freshening friend has become a potted chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemums, as well as other indoor plants, offer a number of health and freshening benefits. Specifically, they can neutralize airborne chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide. In a clean air study, done jointly by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, houseplants were proven to effectively remove up to 87 percent of air borne pollutants within 24 hours.

Another alternative to mainstream air fresheners are pure essential oils. These oils can be used with diffusers or nebulizers found at your nearest health food store or online.

While I will give household plants and essential oil diffusers a try, I can’t completely give up incense; it is just too much a part of my cleaning routine.

How about you? Have you found any natural air fresheners that work great at your place? Leave a comment and let me know!  

When the weather gets warm, my socks and shoes come off. I like my feet to feel free and therefore spend most of my time barefoot during the summer months. But the constant wear from my lack of shoes leaves my tootsies dry and callused.

If you go barefoot like me and your feet need some TLC, or if you just want your feet to look great in some strappy sandals, try this five-step natural pedicure.

Step One: Soak and Relax

Light some candles and unwind by soaking your feet in a bath of warm water for 10 minutes. Add 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of borax to soften calluses to remove rough skin more easily. For a fresh scent, also add a few drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or peppermint.

Step Two: Deep Cleanse

After soaking, soap up your feet and thoroughly scrub them with a natural bristle foot brush. To make a revitalizing foot soap, combine 4 ounces of unscented liquid body soap with 10 drops each of rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil in a plastic bottle.

Photo By Diva Bex/Courtesy Flickr
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Step Three: Smooth Your Feet

Finish the foot bath with an exfoliating scrub. Try this Peppermint Foot Scrub.

• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon almond oil
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil

1. Combine the ingredients and add enough warm water to make a thick paste. Massage your feet with the scrub, paying special attention to rough, callused areas.

2. Rinse well with warm, soapy water.

Step Four: Moisturize for Soft Feet

Pat your feet dry and slather them with a rich moisturizing cream. Massage a small amount of the cream into cuticles and nails or use this cuticle and nail butter. Gently push back cuticles with the blunt end of an orangewood stick; don’t cut cuticles, they help protect the nails and keep bacteria out.

Step Five: Trim, Shape and Buff

Trim toenails straight across. Prevent ingrown toenails by not cutting nails too short and rounding the corners of the nails. File toenails with an emery board in one direction, following the natural shape of your toenails. Finish by buffing nails with a nail buffer. 

This easy (and inexpensive!) do-it-yourself pedicure will leave feet soft and refreshed.

Do you have any tips for keeping feet from getting dry and callused during the summer? What are your natural foot care remedies? Tell me about them in the comment section.

Growing up in Hawaii, I would camp on the shore, hike around volcanoes, relax at the beach, swim in waterfalls, kayak and bike down beautiful trails. (It was a rough life, but someone had to do it!)

Unfortunately, despite my previous experiences, I always seemed to return home with a pink glowing aura around my burnt body. The Hawaiian summer sun is relentless! Before I could even step out of the car, my mom would fill my ears with her endless speech on the benefits of using more sunscreen. She said I didn’t use enough sunscreen to start out with and that I had neglected to reapply. Nonetheless, the damage was done.

Once I got home the “ritualistic process” would begin: My mom would start a cool shower for her burnt, crispy daughter and then I would douse myself in aloe vera.

Aloe was my number one remedy as it would soothe my skin and cease the burning sensation. What more could you ask for when you feel like you’ve been deep-fried? The miracle plant also relieves thermal burned skin and it stimulates wounds to heal quicker.

There are a plethora of aloe plants throughout Hawaii and extracting the gel is as easy as snapping off a leaf. The aloe leaf is like a hallow tube and clear gel occupies the space. If you extract aloe for skin related purposes, make sure the gel is clear and not yellow. The yellow juice is found in the resin canal cells of the plant and acts as a laxative.

Even though I currently live in Denver, I still do many of the same activities I did in Hawaii. With the high elevation and the summer sun, I still manage to get burned (regardless of the amount of sunscreen I use). Fortunately, a bottle of aloe vera is always close by. 

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

It's officially summertime. The fish are jumping, the catnip is high, the birds and the bees are busy gathering, the plants are busy growing and some herbalists are busy brewing up herbal recipes for skincare lotions and creams. But what about taking care of your skin from the inside?

In The Practicing Herbalist, master herbalist Margi Flint does an outstanding job of explaining Chinese Facial Analysis, illustrating how the laugh lines around your mouth and the lines across your forehead are reflections of a backed-up colon. Other lines are also connected to toxic body sites.

Here are a couple of my favorite herbs that work from the inside to help your skin shine on the outside. 

• Burdock (Arctium lappa). My favorite blood cleanser, with an affinity for the epidermis. So good, it helps with psoriasis and poison ivy. 

• Red clover (Trifolium pratense). An antibacterial agent. It’s been effective with many skin disorders including athlete’s foot.  It also helps with cough, colds and burns. 

• Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). A safe and effective laxative; also useful for clearing impurities out of the blood.

• Boldo (Peumus boldus). A gentle remedy for the liver, gallbladder and digestion.  
          
Helping to clean the digestive system and liver will assist clearing the body of toxins so that epidermis eruptions, pimples, and rashes don’t have a chance collecting and dispersing on the skin.    

Marguerite Dunne is a city girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

In 2003, one week after 23-year-old rookie Baltimore Orioles pitcher Steve Belcher died, Mark Blumenthal, the founder of the American Botanical Council, the première non-profit research and education organization that is “passionate about helping people live healthier lives through the responsible use of herbs, medicinal plants,” came on my radio show to dissect the misinformation being funneled to the press about the cause of death and the effects of the herb ephedra.

I had used ma huang, ephedra, a highly respected herb in Chinese traditional medicine with 5,000 years of empirical research, for 20 years every spring for my hay fever. One cup in the morning and my runny nose and itchy eyes dried up. One of the 200+ chemicals in ephedra is ephedrine, an “upper,” which 21st century snake oil salesmen have extracted to rev up their over-the-counter diet pills. (In a cup of the tea, you feel less of a “wake-up” than with a cup of decaf coffee.)

What we brought to light on-air was that Steve Belcher had a heart condition, was on four to five presciption drugs, had been told to lose ten pounds quickly, had hardly eaten for days, and he’d been standing in the 104 degree-Florida-sun for a couple of hours when he collapsed. Yet, the mainstream press kept playing it that the herb ephedra was “the bad guy.” The ABC is dedicated to providing accurate and reliable information for consumers about herbs, and Mark’s job regularly includes debunking these negative reports.

Who is the expert they’re going to call in to blast the medical practitioners who allowed Michael Jackson to take three different narcotics daily?  He was on Demerol, Dilaudid and Viodin—any one of which could have been deadly. Michael Jackson was also on Soma, Xanax and Zoloft. Explain to me how this is a good health regimen. But the pharmaceutical industry buys too many ads in newspapers and on television, therefore, this issue’s investigative journalism will be meek and buried in the back pages.

By December of 2003, the FDA announced its intent to publish a rule banning the sale of ephedra-containing products. But the agency didn’t clarify the details; the subsequent ban only curtailed ephedrine from weight-loss products—there was no mention of the fact that ephedra is still the key ingredient in most OTC products for hay fever and colds, including Allegra and Sudaphed.  

I am saddened by Michael Jackson’s death; let’s use this as a teachable moment to discuss good and bad health protocols with herbs and with drugs.

I plan to go camping this summer but don’t want my fun ruined by bug bites, bee stings or poison ivy. With my luck though, I’ll spend most of the camping trip itching my legs rather than enjoying the wilderness. Preventive measures – bug sprays and campfires – can only go so far; try our herbal remedies to soothe those common camping complaints. 

Camping Ailment #1: Poison Ivy  

Prevent poison ivy rashes by learning how to identify them. Poison ivy grows as a vine or a shrub. Most often it coils around trees or along the ground, but it can also form into upright bushes.

The leaves of poison ivy consist of three pointed leaflets. The leaves have a reddish color in the spring, are green in the summer, and have various shades of yellow, orange or red in the fall.

If you do catch poison ivy, try these herbs to soothe the itching:

• Grindelia, also known as gumweed, contains resins and tannins that help relieve pain and itching. Apply a grindelia tincture or spray directly to the rash.

• Jewelweed tends to grow near poison ivy. For instant relief, pick a branch, crush it and apply the juice directly to the rash. To keep jewelweed handy, make this jewelweed vinegar, which stays good for about a year.

• Oatmeal also works well to soothe irritated skin because it pulls out any remaining toxins. Use oatmeal for rashes that have already set in. Try adding a pot of oatmeal to a bath or grind together oatmeal and cold water to make a paste to spread onto the rash.

Photo by Colin Purrington/Courtesy Flickr
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Camping Ailment #2: Poison Oak

Poison oak grows mainly in the western United States. It usually grows as a shrub but can also grow as a vine.

Like poison ivy, poison oak usually has three leaflets; sometimes it has five. Its leaves are green in the summer, but red or pinkish in the fall.

The remedies for poison ivy work equally well for poison oak.

Camping Ailment #3: Bug Bites

To prevent bug bites, try diluting these herbs with vinegar or oils such as olive, almond, grapeseed, sesame or walnut, to deter mosquitoes, chiggers, gnats, ticks and biting flies.

• Lemongrass
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Lemon Thyme
• Mountain Mint
• Citronella
• Sandalwood 

Unfortunately bug sprays don’t repel against all bugs all the time. Plus they evaporate quickly and require frequent reapplication. If you get bitten, try these herbal remedies for itching relief.

For mosquito or chigger bites, rub tea tree oil on the affected area.

For other bites, try peppermint essential oil or witch hazel extract. With its high concentration of menthol, peppermint works to curb itching caused by bug bites. Distilled witch hazel has astringent, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which help soothe insect bites.

Lemon juice also relieves itching from bug bites. The juice works against bug saliva, the source of the itching. Baking soda and apple cider vinegar work similarly.

Photo by da100fotos/Courtesy Flickr
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Camping Ailment #4: Bee Stings

Apply the end of an onion (any type works) to an insect sting. The onion draws out venom and creates a soothing sensation.

Plantains also soothe stings. Crush a few leaves of the plant and apply the juice to the affected area.

Lotions or creams that contain calendula or chamomile can also soothe mild stings.

Enjoying the great outdoors can come with an itchy price. I hope these herbal remedies help. Do you have any natural remedies for soothing common summer ailments? Tell me about them in the comment section.

During the summertime, the living is easy; but what is the only unfortunate part about summer? Bug bites. Apparently, I have sweet-tasting blood that mosquitoes love to dive into, causing tons of bug bites all summer long. Repelling insects is a crucial strategy during the summer, especially to gardeners. Fortunately, there are great herbal bug repellent and itch-relief remedies that can easily be made at home. Be careful! First, try allergy tests to see how your skin reacts to some of these strong herbs.

Photo by James Jordan/Courtesy Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesjordan/

Next, try these two skin oil formulas:

Antiseptic Insect Repellent Skin Oil

• 1/2 cup almond, walnut or grapeseed oil
• 6 drops oregano, thyme or tea tree oil
• 4 drops each of up to four insect repellent oils (click here for a list of oils)

1. Add oil to a small clean bottle, preferably dark glass. Drop in the essential oils of your choice and shake well.

2. Label and keep in a dark, cool place.

Insect Repellent Neat's-foot Oil

• 1/2 teaspoon each orange, eucalyptus and citronella essential oils
• 7.5-ounce bottle neat’s-foot oil (available in sporting goods stores)

1. Add the essential oils to the neat’s-foot oil bottle and shake well.

2. Apply to boots as directed on bottle.

You can also try these two vinegar formulas. Use them separate or mixed together:

Herbal Insect Repellent Vinegar

You can pour vinegars into spray bottles for easy application.

• 2 cups fresh insect-repellent herbs (click here for a list of herbs)
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar

1. Crush herbs with a mortar and pestle. Place herbs in a glass quart jar and cover with vinegar. Use a plastic lid to seal the jar (vinegar corrodes metal).

2. Shake every day for 3 to 7 days. Filter vinegar within a week and use within the year.

Jewelweed Vinegar

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) grows in the wild, wet places in the eastern United States. The juice of the plant is a traditional remedy for all sorts of skin ailments. To use it, simply crush the leaves and stems and rub the juice on itchy spots. To preserve and keep it handy, make this vinegar.

• 1 cup fresh crushed jewelweed
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar

1. Place jewelweed in glass quart jar. Cover with vinegar and seal with a plastic lid. You can leave the herb in for up to four weeks. Pour vinegar through a cheesecloth-lined strainer.

2. We add insect-repellent and antiseptic essential oils to the vinegar, 10 drops to a one-pint sprayer. Vinegars are good for about a year.

Finally, you could also try this formula for a foot powder:

Gardener's Foot Powder

• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 10 drops each lavender and tea tree oils

1. Put cornstarch and baking soda in a jar; add essential oils and stir.

I am a big coffee drinker. I need the caffeine to keep me going while I’m at work and when I’m pulling all-nighters for papers and tests. As a result, I admit, I can get bad breath. Sure, I could brush my teeth 10 times a day, but who has time for that? Luckily, Health 911 and MotherNature have some herbal remedies to assist me with solving the issue.

Parsley is particularly high in chlorophyll, so there’s no doubt that it’s a great mouth-freshener. Parsley is often used as a garnish on platters when you’re out to eat, so take advantage of this free breath mint. Effective mostly against garlic and onion, munching on this herb after your meal will give you instant fresh breath. If swallowed, it will digest and can keep your mouth fresh for hours. Personally, this is my favorite post-meal freshener.

Photo by Sarah Norden

Like parsley, dill is also high in cholorphyll and has antibacterial, digestive and diuretic properties, making it a boon to any meal. Simply chew on some dill seeds or make a cup of tea with 1 to 2 teaspoons of leaves for each cup of boiling water.

Chewing on some sage helps to neutralize mouth odors because of its essential and antibacterial oils. You can also gargle sage tea to freshen up or to help heal mouth sores.

Anise is known to eliminate the bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath. Chewing on some anise seeds will get rid of the bad smell and it tastes like licorice. You can even boil it into a tea and drink it or use it as a mouthwash.

Photo by Whirling Phoenix/Courtesy Flickr
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The oil from cloves is a strong antiseptic. Boil it into a tea or let it steep in some vodka to create a potent and effective mouthwash. Chew on a bit of clove to get a quick breath freshener as well.

So if you think you’re too afraid for the up-close-and-personal moments, just give one of these homemade herbal remedies a shot and let those concerns fade. Leave me a comment and let me know how you solve your daily bad breath!

Whether you have children, a fast-paced job, or classes to take, we all lead hectic lives. The stress from our lives can bring on a lot of anxiety. As a student, I get stressed and anxious fairly often, but there are many herbs that can help ease this anxiety. Some of these herbs include kava kava, valerian, St. John’s wort, bugleweed, ginseng, and chamomile.

 According to www.iampanicked.com, kava kava can ease your anxiety level in just one week and can also help you sleep.

LoveToKnow tells us that valerian is very effective when it comes to healing anxiety. Valerian works as a sedative and seems to have the least amount of side effects of any anxiety-healing herb. It also can work within a week of consumption.

St. John’s wort can provide long-term treatment for anxiety according to LoveToKnow, although it can cause interference with some prescription drugs such as anti-depressants, birth control pills, cyclosporine, digoxin, and wafarin.

Photo by Cactusbones/Courtesy Flickr
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Holisticonline.com says that bugleweed can help soothe nerves as a way to treat anxiety.

Ginseng has stimulant properties, can help reduce anxiety and give you an extra energy-boost, according to iampanicked.com.

According to holisticonline.com, chamomile has a few anxiety-healing properties. It gently acts therapeutically on your nerves and can help to soothe an upset stomach.

Photo by Matsuyuki/ Courtesy Flickr
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Instead of risking addiction to anxiety drugs, try herbal treatment! Create teas or take capsules of these herbs for treatment. You can pick these herbs up at your local organic market.

Marguerite Dunne is a c ity girl and traveler. Visit her website at www.herbs-on-hudson.com or listen to her radio show, The Urban Herbalist, on www.wtbq.com. Marguerite was also the third place winner in The Herb Companion's essay contest, "Looking Forward to Herbs."

A friend asked me to be a guest speaker in her college class one night, with the noble task of explaining to her students how to get started using medicinal herbs. Twenty intelligent adults leaned forward as the spotlight was on me and I told the tale of how I got started with herbs. I talked about how the doctors had pumped me with drugs, which made me feel worse, and about how herbal roots and leaves were what gave me back my body.

One flustered 40-year-old lady raised her hand. She described, in scathing detail, her arthritis, hip replacements, autoimmune diseases and the various failing pill protocols the doctors placed her on and off and on and off for the past five years. She raged over a lopsided conversation she’d had with a young clerk in a health food store. Pounding her fist into her hand, to the beat of every spoken word, she intoned, “How do I know I’m getting the right medical advice when I go into a health food store?” 

What I would have liked to have said was, “So, you want to make sure this 18-year-old young woman in a health food store can give you the proper diagnosis to your illness, which three medical doctors and, collectively, 55 years of graduate medical school, have failed to correctly analyze? Did I get that right?”

It’s frustrating as heck when your body is going one way and you want it to go the other and nobody, but nobody, is giving you the right information and you just want some answers; when it isn’t like anything you or your friend has experienced before; when you did all the things the doctor told you to do! I remember how sick I was for three years after I stopped taking birth control pills: I lost my period, gained 30 pounds, got all kinds of allergies and suffered from 104 degree fevers for days. I went in for all kinds of tests and got all kinds of pills and shots from nine different doctors—nobody could tell me what was wrong with my body.

That was when an old and dear friend, turned me on to herbs. My friend took me to a chiropractor who adjusted my back and suggested I use aloe root and blue cohosh. Within two weeks, I got my period back for the first time in nearly three years and fifteen pounds fell off of me. I was sold!

My very first herb book, which I still recommend and now holds the highest place of honor on my bookshelf, was the original 1939 version of Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss (Lotus Press, 1997). Yeah, I know there are thousands of scientific studies about herbs and all kinds of texts with annotations written and efficient, systematic technobrews that have been sliced-and-diced-analyzed, investigated, footnoted, and refined, but after 30 years as a practicing herbalist, I still prefer the sweet sensibility of the wise, old healing shaman of the village. I learned so much from trying each herb. Sometimes, there is no exact name for one disease to explain all the knotty symptoms your body is showing. Locate which body system feels the most affected, and begin there. When anyone asks, I just say, “Start with one herb related to one health issue you want to work on.”  Jethro Kloss would approve.

Sarah Powell, an herbalist, medical anthropologist and proprietor of the natural bath & body business, Lilith’s Apothecary. Find her shop at www.lilithsapothecary.etsy.com and her blog at www.lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com for more natural body care tips and recipes. 

At the first mentions of swine flu, I was busily boosting immunity with the many herbs in our anti-viral, immune-boosting arsenal by way of homemade herbal syrups. I work in the field of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, believe it or not, and I’ve spent years at least tangentially involved in pandemic flu planning. However, few in the general public are thinking about herbal remedies when preparing for a biological event. Herbs might not be adequate to fight infections on the level of the especially virulent Spanish influenza that devastated the globe in the early 20th century, but I believe in bringing out all the available supports, whenever necessary. And let’s be honest, swine flu is clearly not the pandemic of those proportions. The fact is that regular influenza strains wipe out 36,000 people a year in the United States alone, on average. Truth be told, there are herbs that assist us in disease prevention, no matter what the foe, and these herbs can become part of your regular cold and flu first aid kit.

It is a good idea to have multiple herbal syrups at your disposal. Syrups are a great vehicle for delivering extra strong, perhaps unpleasant tasting herbal decoctions to those adverse to those medicinal flavors. Children, especially, tolerate herbal syrups much better than their derivative decoctions or tincture cousins, and will happily take a spoonful of Echinacea or Astragalus syrup without batting an eye. Even better, syrups prolong the shelf life of your precious immune boosting or anti-viral herbal decoctions by at least a year.  There is no doubt that there is a lot of sugar involved, but a spoonful of sugar does indeed help the medicine go down, and in this case, it’s probably worth it.

Herb Companion has provided previous resources on helpful herbs to fight colds and flus.

(Click here to read more about preventing and treating the common cold.)

Although medicinal mushrooms are probably not a good choice for herbal battle against strains of flu that could cause of cytokine storm in the body, as their immune-fighting effect is to help the body do just this. A boost in cytokine activity, in the specific case of these extra-virulent influenza  strains, is what creates a powerful immune reaction that could be to the detriment of the flu sufferer, and is cited as the reason why Spanish influenza resulted in so many deaths for young, healthy adults with strong immune systems. That said, commonly used preventative herbs such as astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) seem an ideal choice. This Chinese herb is part of the famed  ‘Jade screen’ (Yupingfeng San)  formula, c. 1481, used for immune defense.  Though I have little personal experience with it, AHG herbalist Michael Tierra writes about osha (Ligusticum porteri), a Native American  herb apparently used by the native population with “noticeable benefit during the 1917-1918 Spanish flu pandemic that killed tens of millions of people. Those who took these native herbs only got a relatively mild case of the flu which was deadly to most others.” Herbs such as echinacea root, ginger root and thyme also provide great anti-viral action once those early signs and symptoms start to make themselves known.

Making an herbal syrup is relatively easy once you decide which herbs to use. James Green, author of The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual (2002, the Crossing Press), an invaluable resource for kitchen medicinals, instructs us to use a 2:1 simple ratio of sugar to strong herbal decoction, and this has resulted in excellent preservation and shelf life in my own syrup-making. It’s important to work in as clean an environment as possible, including using dry, sterilized bottles for syrup storage.

(You can incorporate herbal syrups into your cooking! Click here to learn more.)

Step 1: Measure your herbs 1 ounce by weight per liter of water. Simmer herbs in water for 15 to 30 minutes minimum and allow to steep a further 30 minutes or more for a strong decoction. I let the water continue to evaporate via a temperature just under simmering until the decoction is even more reduced and concentrated.

(Learn more about decoctions.)

Step 2: Strain and measure the decocted liquid. Using a 2:1 ratio of sugar to liquid, measure out the necessary quantity of sugar and stir into the liquid until it is dissolved.  White sugar, brown sugar, rice syrup or honey can be used. If you want a thicker syrup, allow the liquid to simmer further for another 20 to 30 minutes. If your sugar component is honey, simmering with destroy its enzymic activity, but with the current strain on honey bees, I would advocate against using honey right now. 

Step 3: If desired, add 6 to 8 tablespoons of brandy per pint of syrup. This will help preserve the syrup and also helps to act as a mild relaxant for painful coughs.

Step 4: Once the syrup is cool, essential oils such as peppermint, anise, cardamom, or ginger can also be added. Add 5 drops TOTAL per pint of syrup. Add one drop at a time, and each time, test the flavor, as essential oils are extremely potent and must be used with extreme moderation. Further information also exists about the use of oregano oil as a potent anti-viral and antibiotic remedy, a helpful addition to an already potent syrup. 

Step 5: Bottle the syrup in clean, dark glass bottles for storage. If made properly, syrups should keep just fine at room temperature. If you are concerned, store in the refrigerator to ensure preservation.

Have fun experimenting in your syrup production; try a variety of herbs with activity to assist with painful coughs, excess mucous production, and other uncomfortable symptoms to prepare you for colds and flus at any time of year. Simple elderberry, ginger, and echinacea syrups (Ecinacea Summer Tincture) are on their own, veritable powerhouses sure to get you through the worst!

Sarah Powell, an herbalist, medical anthropologist and proprietor of the natural bath & body business, Lilith’s Apothecary. Find her shop at www.lilithsapothecary.etsy.com and her blog at www.lilithsapothecary.wordpress.com for more natural body care tips and recipes. 

Each year by the end of March, I have run out of my precious oil infusions of fresh plantain leaves, fresh violet leaves and delicate violet blossoms. In early spring, I am nearly chomping at the bit to see the first tender violet leaves poking through the soil in garden or woods, the first wide blades of plantain peaking out absolutely everywhere you look. In my neck of the woods, violet will not be flowering until at least late April, at which time I will begin to prepare my favorite herbal salves. Herbal infused oils, usually olive, grape seed, or sweet almond, are indispensible in the creation of many salves and oils specific to the healing power of vulnerary, or wound-healing, herbs that you use.

Plantain (Plantago major)

Plantain (Plantago major) is one of my favorite vulnerary herbs. Its gentle astringency makes it wonderful for blisters, insect bites, rashes and hemorrhoids. You can pick a leaf of this plant while hiking and put it in your shoe to help with blisters. I find it also to be an absolutely ideal diaper rash treatment and include it in all the baby balms I make to use on my toddler or sell. It’s readily available for wild crafting and a wonderful addition to any infused oil or salve.

Violet leaf (Viola odorata) is highly demulcent, which means that it contains significant amounts of mucilage that help soothe the skin, reducing inflammation, redness, and cooling irritated tissue. Violet is also antiseptic, and this combined with its soothing relief, makes it a wonderful infused oil to have on hand. Susun Weed (Healing Wise, Ash Tree Publishing, 1989) writes about ‘Aunt Violet’ as a wonderful remedy for breast inflammation, mastitis, cancer and cysts, and a water infusion made of fresh or dried violet leaves can soothe inflamed throats during a cold or flu.  Violet’s mild taste makes it palatable to children, and indeed, violet leaves and flowers are wonderful when freshly picked and added to a spring salad.  A salve made purely of the oils of these two plants combined with some natural beeswax is all I need to combat diaper rash in my household, and there is lots left over for myriad other uses.  

Violet leaf (Viola odorata)

When it seems that the world is lush with violets and plantain, it’s time to go wild crafting. It’s best to find a spot, perhaps by a wooded stream, where the leaves are wide and healthy looking, clearly well nourished and relatively free of dirt. Plantain and violet are often found growing near each other, and while you can pick plantain all summer long, I find that I prefer taking advantage of that early spring growth, so full of energy and healing potential.

Using garden scissors, snip the violet leaves where the stem meets the leaf and take the flower tops when you can, being careful not to overharvest the plant in one area. Rather, take a long walk and snip herbs here and there so you never deplete the supply in one place. Thank the plant for providing its bounty to us and take pleasure in the environment in which you discover this plentiful harvest.

Violet and Plantain Infused Oil: 

Step 1: Gather approximately 2 cups violet leaves and flowers and plantain leaves (either the narrow or wide leafed varieties).

Step 2: Try to clean off the leaves as much as possible without washing them. If they must be washed, do so, but be sure that the leaves are thoroughly wilted and absent of all moisture before adding the oil. Putting the oven on the lowest possible heat, arrange the herbs on a tray, preferably with the oven door open, and allow the leaves to wilt until you are sure no moisture remains. You are not diminishing the healing power of the herbs but rather, just removing more of the water content.

Step 3: Put the wilted leaves into a clean, very dry glass mason jar, or similar container, and fill to the top if possible. Then add the oil of choice (olive, grape seed, sweet almond, sunflower and safflower all work well) until you have filled the jar. Stir with a long spoon or chopstick until all bubbles have risen to the surface. Add a bit of Rosemary Oil Extract to prevent oil rancidity and further protect the oils. Just remember that water causes mold, so the drier your herbs and containers are, the more protected your oil is. Place some wax paper over the top of the container and then cap with a canning lid. Be aware that the oils may ‘weep’ while it steeps, so you may want to put a cup saucer under the jar.

Step 4: Place jar in a cool, dark place. Occasionally turn the jar upside down and then right side up to move the oil through the herbs and to try to keep all parts of the herbs covered with oil. Feel free to open it up and check on the herbs. If you see leaves poking through where there is some mold growth, remove the leaves and discard. If mold grows throughout the oil, you’ll have to toss the whole batch, as there is no saving the oil, even if it is heated. Steep 2-6 weeks.

Step 5: After 2-6 weeks, strain out the herbs using a cheesecloth and pour the infused oil into a clean, dry jar for storage. A dark glass container is best. You can keep this in the refrigerator for better storage or just store in a cool, dark place.

Violet and Plantain Herbal Salve: 

• 1 cup infused oil
• 1 ounce natural beeswax or beeswax beads, grated
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E (to preserve the salve and prevent rancidity)
• 1 teaspoon rosemary oil extract, optional (to further antioxidant protection)
• 20 drops tea tree oil (to add antifungal and antiseptic strength)
• 10 drops lavender essential oil (to offer topical pain relief)

In a double boiler or a saucepan on lowest possible heat, melt the beeswax into the oil. Add the additional vitamin E and rosemary oil extract, if using, and gently stir the oil with a wooden or stainless steel spoon. Remove from heat and add the essential oils. Pour immediately into a cleaned, very dry glass or aluminum container. You can also put this salve in lip balm pots to create a healing travel balm. If looking for a hard salve, test the consistency by putting a spoonful of the melted oils & beeswax into the freezer. If it is not hard enough, add a bit more beeswax until you reach the desired consistency.

Enjoy!

For muscle and joint pain, my homeopathic remedy is arnica (Arnica montana). Applied topically as a cream, gel, ointment, tincture or salve, arnica relieves soreness and reduces swelling.

In junior high, my dance teacher made it a requirement to bring arnica cream to class in case of an injury. Audrey, my instructor, would rub the cream on her ankles before and after class. When a dancer would fall, someone would run across the street to grab ice and everyone else would grab arnica from their dance bag. Audrey would always scold the students who didn’t bring their arnica cream, as if they had forgotten their jazz shoes.

Photo by Luberon/Courtesy Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarvadon/

Helenalin is a compound found in this daisy-like mountain flower and it’s responsible for the anti-inflammatory affects of arnica. Dr. Andrew Weil says arnica is toxic if it gets inside the body and it shouldn’t be applied to an open wound or any form of broken skin. It’s a mild pain reliever so it should only be used for acute conditions.

Using arnica externally is recommended for muscle and joint injuries, sprains, bruising and swelling. Whenever I take a dance class I bring my arnica in case of an injury. Like Audrey, I massage it on my ankles before and after class to reduce inflammation and relieve any pain.

Have you every used arnica ointment, cream or salve? If so, for what? Share your experiences with me by posting a comment!

Sometimes, cleaning is my escape from stress and other responsibilities. I spend an hour or an afternoon taking everything off my floor and tables, and scrubing every counter until it is shiny clean.

But most cleaning products can be bad for you to breathe in, and the smell of ammonia isn't very refreshing, either. What starts as a relaxing hobby could quickly become an unhealthy chore.

So what are some eco-friendly alternatives? Here are some common concerns when it comes to cleaning products and habits, and what I suggest you do to make positive decisions regarding your cleaning supply closet.

Are there any ways to use produce in my cleaning? 

Lemon, lime and grapefruit juices, fresh or in concentrate, are acidic and antibacterial and can be an addition to any cleaning formula, according to our story "Clean Deep, Clean Sweet with Herbs."

Here's a recipe for lemon-mint window wash, to get your sliding doors, windows and mirrors clean.

I have some essential oils but no use for them. How can I make my own cleaning products with oils?

Essential oils are good for so many uses, especially cleaning. But be careful to dilute them a lot. A little goes a long way with essential oils.

Lavender is a disinfectant. Tea tree is effective against bacteria, fungus and some viruses (use when you or someone you live with are sick). Eucalyptus is a disinfectant and helps relieve stuffy noses (use if you are fighting a cold). Pine is a degreaser and slightly disinfects (it also stimulates alertness). (All of these tips are courtesy of the same article: "Clean Deep, Clean Sweet with Herbs.")

This general cleaning spray uses eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree essential oils.

I don't have time to make my own cleaning products, or I want to buy them as a gift.

One of the cheapest and best cleaning companies to buy from is Mrs. Meyer's. Last time I went grocery shopping, I even saw them in the herbal section — so their products should be easy to find.

Mrs. Meyer's cleaning products come in fragrances such as basil, lavender and lemon verbena. The company uses "naturally derived ingredients whenever possible" and obtain "materials from renewable plant resources such as olive, coconut, corn and soy," according to their Web site.

Do you regularly use herbs and natural ingredients in your cleaning? Share your tips and recipes with our other readers in the comments! Or if you have any other questions about how to get started, leave me a question.

— Jessica is an editorial intern at The Herb Companion.