Summertime is the season for weddings, vacations and family reunions. This can mean lots of traveling. But for me, the stress of traveling, along with unhealthy eating and germ-infested airplanes often leaves me exhausted or sick.

Try these tips to stay healthy while traveling this summer.

Use herbs to stay healthy while traveling.
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Traveling Problem #1: Jet Lag

The symptoms of jet lag – fatigue, irritability and disorientation – are caused by your body trying to reset its internal clock to a different schedule.

Try to avoid jet lag by staying hydrated and flying during the day, if possible. Once you arrive at your destination take a walk and try to go to sleep on your local schedule. The next morning, get as much sunshine as possible. Sunlight works to reset your biological clock.

Also try eleuthero or melatonin to prevent jet lag. Take ½ to 1 teaspoon of eleuthero liquid extract three times a day, three days before traveling and three days after the flight. Or take a 1-mg tablet of melatonin one hour before bed for several days after your arrival.

Traveling Problem #2: Motion Sickness

Try ginger to combat nausea associated with motion sickness. Take 500 to 1,000 mg of powdered ginger 30 minutes before traveling, followed by 500 mg every couple of hours. Or chew on a yummy piece of crystallized ginger as needed.

Traveling Problem #3: Colds and Flu

Traveling can mean coming into contact with lots of germs. Take preventative measures such as washing your hands regularly and eating healthy.

If you still start feeling sick, try echinacea and elderberry extract. This can help prevent and treat respiratory infections. Echinacea boosts the immune system and elderberry disarms virus cells. When you first feel yourself starting to get sick take ½ teaspoon of echinacea extract and ½ teaspoon of elderberry extract five times a day.

Also try to amp up your garlic intake to boost your immune system before traveling.

What are your tips for staying healthy when traveling? Leave me a comment and tell me about them!

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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.

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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!