It feels like the world has been spinning out of control for the past few weeks. Super storms, trick or treating, nail biting elections, and Nor'easters. No wonder the kids succumbed to the infiltration of the latest virus going around school. Obviously, the Halloween candy did not help matters. First one, then the other of my little ones got hot! Both had fevers that went up pretty significantly. Enough to make my mama alarm bells go off. It's hard to remember that really, fevers are our friends. Fever simply represents our bodies normal response to killing off the virus that is invading our bodies. Raise the temperature of the body, and the virus will eventually die off. Since both of my kids are over one month old (in which case you should go to the doctor if temp is over 100.4 degrees F), I took a deep breath and did what I could to make them comfortable. Nothing quiets those alarms bells like action. I brewed tea. I made them rest. The herb fairy came and sprayed lavender hydrosol and put cool washcloths with peppermint essential oil on their little foreheads to calm them. All the time pushing fluids, fluids, fluids. My herbal ally in this fight: Yarrow. Here's the breakdown: Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium Common Names: Yarrow, Milfoil Description: Stem is angular and rough. Alternate leaves, 3 to 4 inches long and 1 inch broad, clasping the stem at the base, bipinnatifid, the segments very finely cut, giving the leaves a feathery appearance. Flowers white, like tiny daisies, in flattened, terminal, loose heads, or cymes. The whole plant is more or less hairy, with white, silky appressed hairs. Habitat: Grows everywhere, in the grass, in meadows, pastures, and by the roadside throughout N. America and Europe. Horticulture varieties of various color are cultivated widely, but are not as potent. Blooms: June to September Uses: Diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic. Translation: Yarrow helps to raise the body temp enough to break a fever, it can help arrest bleeding, has antibacterial properties, and can even help repel bugs. The whole plant can be used. Truth be told, this one can taste a little bitter. So I made a tea blend with other fever-supporting herbs like peppermint, elder blossoms, lemon balm, and even catnip. My kids drank loads of this tea, sweetened with a bit of honey. Heck, they even bathed in a strong infusion of Yarrow, which brought considerable relief as it opened up their pores. Eventually they cooled down and perked up. My mama alarm bells stopped ringing. And as of this beautiful sunny morning, the world has stopped spinning quite so rapidly. Be Well, K
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I just got back from the American Herbalist Guild Symposium. Even though I had a nine hour drive to process the weekend, I'm still spinning! So much incredible knowledge, support, and love surrounding these amazing herbalists. I spent three days in the lovely Fall cloaked mountains of PA, taking classes, gathering knowledge, and becoming inspired. Truly. There were times my heart felt so full I was afraid it would spill right over into the lap of someone sitting next to me. I am confident I would have been in good hands if it did. The Symposium wasn't just about learning new techniques to treat various chronic and acute diseases naturally (although there were plenty of enlightening talks on these topics). It was about making connections, finding our place in the world, and changing the way we view medicine and how we incorporate it into our lives.
But really, it all comes down to the same thing. Changing how we relate to our medicine. Growing or getting to know some of the plants that can change our health and change our lives. It doesn't matter if it is an entire farm of medicinal plants or a window box with kitchen herbs like rosemary, thyme, and basil (all powerful medicine by the way). It is simply taking the time to connect with these plants. We nourish them and help them grow, and they in turn do the same for us. As we care for our little plots of land, we become all the more aware of the interrelationship of everything. And trust me. That, will fill your heart.
Be Well, Krisitn There he is. There's the little bugger who decided to sting me a few days ago. Okay, so that's not the bugger, but still. Ouch. Actually what was worse than the sting (which was acquired by completing minding my own business by the way), was the sense of betrayal. Bees are my friends. They pollinate all my plant friends, they make the delicious and nutritious honey I use for so many herbal preparations. They even give me the beeswax that I need to make topical applications. I have friends who study you, bee. And I fully appreciate you in all your amazzzzzzzing complexity. So be nice.
Clearly I'm being dramatic. But hey, it was the first time I've even been stung (even my kids were stung before me). So in lieu of screaming and crying, there it is. Luckily, Plantain was there to rescue me! Old reliable plantain. It's everywhere, from the first tentative greens to first frost. Here's the breakdown: Scientific Name: Plantago (various species) Common Names: Ribwort, Greater Plantain Description: Perennial plant, grows to 0--4 meters. Leaves are long, oval, or lance-shaped. Usually plantain has a rosette of basal leaves with one flowering stalk, ending in an oblong spike of small flowers. Flowers are densely concentrated along the spike. Habitat: Almost everywhere. Throughout N. America, Europe and Northern Asia. Can be found on lawns, pastures, roadsides, fields and meadows. It is a common weed on cultivated grounds. Blooms: April to August. But the leaves (which are the most useful) can last through November. Uses: This is a great plant to use externally for general would healing. Bites, stings, cuts, etc. You can also use it internally for for urinary tract infections and inflammation. Externally, you can simply mash up the fresh leaves between your fingers and apply the poultice to the wound. Make sure you get some of that good green juice in there! Hold in place until swelling or pain subsides. Re-apply as needed. The astringent properties help to stop bleeding, and promote the healing of woulds and injuries. The cooling nature of this plant helps to decrease the inflammation and relieve associated pain. To use internally, make a strong tea out of the leaves and drink as needed until symptoms subside. This is one plant my kids know really well! When we are on a bike ride and the inevitable skinned knee happens, we immediately begin to look for Plantain. It not only takes their minds off the owie, but the plant soothes the pain and allows them to enjoy the rest of the ride. See if you can find it growing outside your front door! ~K I've decided that since this site is mostly about herbs and yoga, I should write some specifics on well, herbs and yoga. I am the type of person that loves taxonomy (what can I say, scientific names intrigue me), deep descriptions of the anatomical inter-workings of a pose, and practical breakdowns of how-to-do pretty much anything. This has inspired me to pick apart some of these amazing plants and poses every week. I promise to sprinkle the occasional parenting rants and random thoughts in these post as well, though. It can't be helped. So…..since this particular plant has popped into my life quite frequently during the past few weeks, I decided to first focus on Jewelweed. Lovely name, isn't it? For me it conjures up the image of a green field of tall grasses topped with rainbow colored gems as far as the eye can see. Here are the actual specs on this plant: Scientific Name: Impatiens capensis Common Name: Jewelweed Description: Plants 2-5', stems succulent. Leaves oval or elliptic. Flowers are orange and yellow, solitary, drooping, with nectar spur (which basically looks like tiny little cornucopias or trumpets). Habitat: Moist roadside ditches, woods, and streams Blooms: Summer-Fall Fun Fact: Jewelweed is actually water repellant, so water droplets bead up on its surface. The drops look like tiny jewels on the surface, hence the name. Just another great reason for a rainy walk. Okay, do you have a picture of it in your head? Probably since there is a picture right here. Uses: This is a fantastic anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, analgesic (pain reliever), and anti-itch remedy. Just break open a stem and slather that lovely juiciness onto your cuts, scrapes, warts, etc. This plant is fantastic to treat poison ivy. Trust me, I am nursing a patch right now. Scratch, scratch. For treatment of poison ivy or other rashes, you can simply make an infusion (strong tea), by gathering a nice big handful of Jewelweed, mashing it a bit, and adding a pint of water. Simmer this for about 30 min . It comes out a beautiful orange color! Cool it, then pop it into a spray bottle and spritz when needed. Keep it in the fridge for 7-10 days. If you want it to stick around a little longer, you can make a tincture or salve out of fresh jewelweed. I see a tutorial in our near future! Then you can apply it or take it internally for specific conditions. Of which I'm sure you will research thoroughly. My favorite way to extract the medicinal constituents in jewelweed is witch hazel, however. You prepare it the same as the tincture, but replace the vodka with witch hazel. Don't take this one internally! Added bonus: witch hazel is great for skin conditions, and preserves the medicinal goodness. Apply as needed! This plant is almost everywhere in the country, except the far north and the southwest. Sorry my Flagstaff and Alaska peeps! You'll have to visit to catch this one in bloom. Scratch, Scratch, ~Kristin I'm so in love with the Rosemary growing in my yard right now, I decided to pull this post out of the archives. This is one plant you NEED to know. It's easygoing, always around when you need it, and willing to listen to all of your rantings and ravings. Just like a good friend. :) Whether you choose to put it in a pot or in the ground, it is almost guaranteed to get tall, bushy, and permeate your yard with its amazing scent. Its scent is also great for keeping herb loving insects at bay, so may want to consider planting it around your garden as a natural insecticide. Personally I use Rosemary almost every day in the kitchen, and also use it to make an herbal shampoo that smells divine! Check out the stats of this old friend below and the recipe for the shampoo that follows. Rosemary (Rosmarius officinalis) Description: Rosemary belongs to the Lamiaceae, or mint family, and have square stems, purple two-lipped flowers and abundant fragrance-bearing oil glands typical of many members of the mint family (HerbSociety of America, 2010). Growing Tips: Set out plants in the spring when the weather has warmed. Plant in full sun, but in the warmer climates they will accept some light shade. They thrive in a light, well-drained, soil. During the growing season, pinch back growth tips two or three inches to promote bushy plants; cut back hard only in early spring to allow the new growth time to mature (NGA, 2010). Most rosemary varieties are reliably hardy to only 20°F; however, gardeners in cold-winter areas can successfully grow rosemary indoors in a container with a fast-draining potting soil. Bring the plants indoors at least several weeks before your area's first frost date. Feed the potted rosemary regularly with fish emulsion and provide good air circulation to ward off harmful mildew (NGA, 2010). Parts Used: Leaves Uses: Rosemary is a great treatment for headaches. It is also useful for indigestion, colic, nausea, gas, and fevers (Tierra, 1998). It is also high in calcium and thus is a benefit to the entire nervous system, as well as having antibiotic properties. Rosemary can also be used for the hair and scalp; use as a cooled strong tea as a rinse after shampoo (Tierra, 1998). This herb is used in just about every type of culinary dish with fruit, eggs, salads, sauces and meat. Rosemary Herbal Shampoo 8 oz water 3 oz Liquid Castille Soap 4 TBSP Rosemary Leaf 20-60 drops essential oil (optional) 1/4 tsp organic Jojoba or Olive oil (adjust as needed – use more for dry hair or may omit for oily hair) Make an herbal infusion, or strong tea, by pouring boiling water over the herbs. Cover, and allow them to steep for at least 4 hours. Strain the herbs out and pour the remaining liquid into a bottle, then adding the Castille soap and oils. Rosemary is good for any hair type. It is also effective treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, dermatitis, and hair loss. *This recipe is adapted from Mountain Rose Herbs (2011). References: Herb Society of America.org (2010) Herb Society of America Fact Sheet. Retrieved May 31, 2010 from www.herbsociety.org. Mountain Rose Herbs (2011). Retrieved May 1, 2011 from www.mountainroseherbs.com. National Gardening Association.org (2010) Retrieved May 31, 2010 from http://www.garden.org Tierra, M. (1998). The Way of Herbs. New York, NY: Pocket Books. If you live in the U.S., you know that this summer has been HOT! The Northeast and the Midwest seem to have been especially hard hit the past month or so. Typical forecast: Hot. Humid. And no rain. Can you hear my dog panting? Since most of us in the Northeast don't have central air (or in my case, a window unit or A/C in the car), we have to use other strategies to cool down. Yes, fans are my best friend right now and we have been practically living in the various swimming holes in the area. Here's some other ways we have been keeping cool and keeping sane. 1. Peppermint Mist: Take a spray bottle and fill with water and 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. Shake vigorously, spray, and feel refreshed! 2. Smoothies: If you read this blog regularly, you know just how much my family LOVES smoothies. Any kind will do. Feel free to look up some of my past recipes. Blend yogurt, frozen or fresh fruit, ice (optional), and any other herb or other flavoring you like. Note: These are heaven when eaten after harvesting large amounts of peas and strawberries. 3. Frozen Tea Pops One of my friends passed on the idea of freezing peppermint tea into Popsicles. Genius! I have since been experimenting with a wide variety of cooling herbs. Lemon Balm, Chamomile, and Lavender have been my favorites so far. You can mix in a little honey before pouring into Popsicle molds if you like. Added bonus: Lemon balm helps hot grumpy kids turn into little angels again! 4. Eat Cooling Foods Cucumbers and Watermelon cool me all the way down to my toes. I can literally feel the sensation. Find those foods that do that for you. Yogurt? Melons? Citrus? Try them all. And under no circumstances are you allowed to turn on the oven. 5. Siesta! That's right. Take a nap. And that's an order. During the hottest part of the day, put a peppermint or lavender tea soaked frozen washcloth on your forehead and lay down. I know it's not always practical (I do have 2 little ones), but even if it is for 2 minutes, it gives your body a chance to recharge and cool down. Rain is on the way for us. Hooray! Look for me, dancing around in it. ~Kristin The kids have Spring Break this week, and the beautiful weather has had us out and about quite a bit. Muddy hikes, blowing bubbles in the grass with the neighbors, and even sandy beach fun at the ocean have kept us busy. Technically it's only the second day! All this gallivanting around has given me a rude awakening one byproduct of such fun. Disgusting floors! Yup, it's time to hit the wood and tile. Here's some recipes to make the job a little easier.
Lemon-Scented Wood Floor Cleaner and Polish 1 cup white vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tsp lemon essential oil Mix ingredients together well, and apply with mop or sponge. This combination even makes small scratches seem to disappear. It's magic! Cedar-Scented Kitchen Cleaner 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup water 1 tsp cedar essential oil (Pine also smells great and acts as a disinfectant) Mix ingredients well, and apply with mop or sponge. For tough stains, try mixing a few tablespoons of washing soda into the mix and apply. Voila! Floors you can eat off. And believe me, my children will. Carpet Freshener 5-10 drops of essential oil of choice (Lavender, Rose, Peppermint are all yummy) 5 cups baking soda Mix well. Sprinkle on freshly vacuumed carpet and let sit overnight. Avoid stepping on mixture during treatment. Vacuum up and inhale deeply! So don't be scared of the spring and summer fun! You are now armed with all you need to know on how to do damage control after a few days of outdoor adventure. Get Messy! ~Kristin Henningsen M.S., R.Y.T. The beautiful sunshine today (and large cup of dark coffee) has inspired me to do some major washing. The best part of washing all those blankets, rugs, and even curtains is being able to hang them up on the line. There are few things in this world that beat the smell of line-dried sheets, especially when washed with chemical free detergent. Unfortunately natural laundry detergents can be pricey! Here's a few recipes for easy to make, affordable laundry detergent that will leave your wallet and your skin feeling happy.
Lemon Scented Laundry Powder 1/2-4 tablespoons essential oil (Rosemary, Lavender, Orange, and Tea Tree also work great) 1 cup Borax 1 cup Washing Soda 1 bar soap 1. Mix oil and borax thoroughly by hand. A blender also works great, but the oil will leave a residue that is hard to clean. 2. Use a grater and shave the bar of soap (I like Dr. Bronners) into fine pieces. 3. Mix above two ingredients with washing soda (available in grocery stores) Note: This is different from Baking Soda! 4. Store in air-tight containers, and use 1-2 tablespoons per load. Rosemary Stain Pretreatment 1/2-4 tablespoons Rosemary Essential Oil 1 cup dishwashing liquid 1. Combine essential oil with dishwashing liquid in spray bottle 2. Apply to stains on damp fabric and scrub gently. Allow to set for 20 minutes, then wash in cold water. *This works great on a number of different stains. Be sure to use cold water, as hot water sets stains. Happy washing! ~Kristin Henningsen, M.S., R.Y.T. *This 3 part series was originally published with the Center for Health and Wellness. Find them here http://www.kaplanhealthwellness.blogspot.com/
It's started. My usual spring-cleaning assault on all the dirt, grime, and germs that always seem to take over my house in the winter time. I'm coming for YOU dirty floors! Perhaps it's the sunshine (and subsequent Vitamin D) that gives us the energy to freshen up our homes in the Spring. Maybe it's that awakening we tend to feel as we come out of hibernation, and we finally see some of the dirt and clutter we've been overlooking for months. It doesn't matter. If you are feeling the urge to open the windows and put the sheets on the line, then go for it! Because the temporary inspiration for spring freshness tends to wither with the daffodils. This week I will be sharing with you some of my favorite natural cleansers out there. They are inexpensive, easy to make, and actually work. And you get to have some creative license in your formulas. Let's start in my least favorite place to clean. The bathroom. I do have a 4 year old! Here it is crucial to have some antibacterial and deep cleaning formulas. Gentle Scouring Powder 1.5 Cups Baking Soda 4.5 tsp's Essential Oil Lavender & Rosemary *Other EO's to try are peppermint, tea tree, or eucalyptus. Experiment! Combine essential oil and baking soda and apply with sponge or scrubber pad. Herbal Window/Mirror Wash 3 cups water 1/3 cup Herbal Vinegar (see Below for Recipe) Mix herbal vinegar and water and pour into spray bottle. Shake well, spray, and polish with clean, dry cloth. Herbal Vinegar 2 cups dried herb 3.5 cups vinegar 1.Place herbs (Rosemary, Basil, Thyme, or Yarrow are good for cleansers) in clean jar 2.Fill the jar with vinegar, making sure all the herbs are covered. 3.Tighten lid and shake the jar 4.Store in cool, dark, place for at least 2 weeks, shaking occasionally 5.Strain and label. Toilet Bowl Cleaner 1/2 cup Gentle Scouring Powder Herbal Vinegar Sprinkle powder into toilet. Spray with vinegar to make a bubbling paste, and use brush to scour. You can also leave the scouring powder in overnight for deep cleaning. Whew! Tired yet? Clean bathroom today, clean ---- tomorrow? We'll see what kind of inspiration strikes! Peep, Peep. _Peep, peep! That's the sound that signifies the sure return of spring for me. Right now the spring peepers are in full chorus in our backyard, singing their tiny froggy love songs for all to hear. Combined with the uncustomary early warm weather, life is good right now in the Northeast.
The sunshine has brought more neighborhood strolls and hilly hikes. Keeping up with two kids and two dogs (often way ahead of me as I meander looking for early spring plants) usually leaves me craving something cool to drink. Yep, it's smoothie season! Last week the kids and I pretended we were mad scientists and created a super yummy herbal smoothie that is a great immune booster as well. I don't know about you, but I always seem to get sick with changing seasons as my body adjusts to the new temps. Here's what we came up with: Elderberry Blast Smoothie 1 cup Yogurt 1 cup frozen (or fresh) berry mix. Ours had blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries 1 banana 1/4 cup Elderberry Syrup or 1/2 cup dried Elderberries 1 dropperful Echinacea tincture 2 tspns Cinnamon Powder -Mix together in a blender or food processor to desired consistency and you have a delicious immune boosting treat. Substitutions and experimentation with the recipe is strongly encouraged. :) Happy Spring! Kristin |
AuthorI am constantly amazed by the healing power of yoga and herbs. They inspire me to heal, to write, to teach, and to keep exploring. Archives
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