Herbs

Free Herbal and Essential Oil Courses

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Hello! Just a quick post to say that I’ve made all three of my courses free temporarily while I figure out how to bundle the courses with actually getting the hands-on material (herbs, essential oils, base oils, jars, etc) to the people who take the courses. Feel free to share this with anyone who might be interested in taking the courses while they are free since I love getting feedback that I can use to improve the current ones and also the ones I’m working on now. They are under the tab ‘courses’ on the website although I’m thinking of changing that to ‘workshops’ or ‘classes’ because ‘courses’ sounds a bit too time consuming. What do you fine folks think? Here’s a quick link to the courses: Courses They will probably stay free for about a week so enroll quickly if you intend to do so.

Coloring Hair with Herbs

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Henna gets a bad rap. There are real concerns when using a henna based hair dye, which I’ll address, but the truth is that it is a great option for those who want to color their hair but are concerned for the health of their hair, either long term or short term. Blending other herbs with the henna can create an array of beautiful colors, and also enhance the health of the hair, although henna itself is healthy for the hair on its own, and don’t worry, there are mixes out there that already do the combining for you. Not every ‘natural’ hair dye is free of ammonia and other toxic chemicals though, so beware when buying. Hair coloring products should literally only have herbs in them and nothing else to be truly health promoting for the hair, the skin, the respiratory system, endocrine system, and the planet. And yes, all those aspects of health (and more) are indeed touched by the hair dye used, but even so, it’s important to know a few things before committing to herbal hair coloring, the first being that it is indeed a commitment. Henna coats each strand of your hair with color while chemical dyes actually break apart the outer layer of the hair and deposit color (contributing to frizz). This means when you want to change hair color with chemically dyed hair, that is fairly easy to do. With henna, your color is locked in and cannot be broken back up by chemicals. You can go darker (with darker henna mixes) but you cannot easily go lighter, or get any chemical processes on top of the henna, such as highlights or balayage. That being said, there are ways to lighten your hennaed hair a bit, but it takes time and there’s no couple-of-hours-at-the salon option. I have lightened my hair in the summer with lemon juice and there are tutorials on YouTube that cover lightening hennaed hair with olive oil or honey or a mixture of both. Some spices even help lighten hair when used in the honey/olive oil mixtures because they contain natural peroxide, as does honey. Whatever the option though, it takes multiple applications, as in around 6 or more, so if you are the type of person who likes changing their hair color often, then you should probably hold off on henna for now.

Another important thing to consider is that the colors are pretty much shades of red, brown, and black. There is no way to henna yourself to blondeness. You can get an amazing array of colors with the blending of herbs though, and since the color only shows on the hair when the dye is darker than the hair it is going on, you can also have variation in your hair instead of one shade all over your head, if you that’s what you want. For example, my natural color is dark brown but I have a lot of white hair (early greying runs in my family and I’ve been getting whites since I was a kid, so there are plenty there by this point!) When I put the henna blend on my hair, I mix it to be lighter than my dark brown, so that the lighter color shows on my white hairs and the dark brown remains dark brown, so it’s basically natural highlights. The brand I use is Henna Color Lab and it’s only available online. I’ve found that I have to mix a little of the light brown into the medium brown for the perfect shade for me because when I just used the medium brown it ended up getting too dark which is why I’ve done some lemon juice lightening. It’s always a good idea to start with a much lighter shade anyway and see how it goes since you can always go over it with a darker one, but the reverse is not true.

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The first time you color your hair with a henna based mix, you should know that the color continues to change for 24-48 hours. For me, when I first take the color off and dry my hair (heat helps the dye do its thing) the color looks too light and a tad orangey, then overnight it turns much darker and in fact usually looks too dark that next morning. Then the color settles into the normal brown that matches my hair. For me that means about 2 Tablespoons of the light brown and 3 Tablespoons of the medium brown, mixed with warm water (no need to boil) and a drop or two of rosemary essential oil. My friend mixes an egg with her henna mixture for extra nutrients but I’ve never tried that since the smell of eggs is not my favorite and the mixture stays on the head one to two hours. Speaking of smells, the henna mixes have a strong earthy scent, much like a clay face mask. I personally love it but my kids can’t stand it although they complain less when I add the rosemary to it.

hennamix
It’s green!

I only use the color on my roots and while it sits for an hour or two I generally put a deep moisturizer on the rest of my hair, either the herb amla which is especially good for curly and wavy hair or another natural mask such as Yarok’s Feed Your Moisture Mask or Rahua’s Omega 9 Mask. I get the amla from that same henna company as the color dyes. Their herbal masks are listed under treatments. 

FC8D6792-A37D-4F77-8DC3-808324C75670 Since the color is only going on my roots, one package of hair dye lasts several applications and the packages are not expensive at all, so this is one case where the natural way of doing things really is money saving. I really don’t mean to make this sound like an ‘everyone should henna their hair’ post though because it really does depend on some serious factors of time, choice in colors, and ability to change your hair color on a whim which is a valid concern. For me with naturally wavy/curly hair (which is dry), that’s been greying for a long time (grey hair is dry),  and had chemical dyes for years (also drying), it really wasn’t a hard choice for me to decide herbs were the way to go if I wanted healthy hair for the long-term. I’d heard so many bad things about henna though, that it took me a good year of researching different companies and formulas to find one I trust. I’m not affiliated in any way with Henna Color Lab by the way. I just really like their products for their ingredients and the results I get and if you read the reviews on their site, I’m not alone. There are probably other great herbal mixtures out there but when I was looking at hair dyes at natural foods stores I found a lot of ammonia and other unsavory ingredients which is why I ended up buying online.

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Ingredients for the medium brown: Indigo, Henna, Amla, False Daisy Plant, and Neem. No ammonia, metallic salts, gluten, pesticides, preservatives, or synthetics. Cruelty free and vegan
If you are interested in other traditional remedies for thinning and greying hair, this post has some options for working both internally and externally. If you are curious as to what henna dying involves, it’s basically the following:

  1. Wash hair with shampoo
  2. Mix the powdered henna + other herbs mixture with hot water (egg or drop of rosemary essential oil can be added but not necessary)
  3. Put the mixture on the parts of hair needing the color
  4. Put a shower cap on and wait 1-2 hours
  5. Rinse it out with water and then conditioner
  6. Blow dry hair

That’s it. It’s healthy for your hair so you can do it as often as necessary, although the mix does say not to use shampoo for 24 hours. I usually do my roots once every 2-3 weeks. To cover stubborn greys you can do the above procedure until step 5, but instead of rinsing it out with conditioner you just rinse with water and then apply a new application of the dye. This is especially recommended for the first time you henna.

Here are pics of my hair when I first started with the henna, and one from a couple of months ago after using henna for a couple of years. In the first two pics I had put it all over my hair once, then did my roots a few times over the course of a couple of months. That last pic shows my roots right after an application but most of my hair is still wet.

Roots
Color variation
After a couple of years of henna

If you have any questions about henna, feel free to contact me and I’ll either have an answer or help you look for one.

Be good to yourselves, and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty.

Natural Supplements for Osteoarthritis

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When looking for supplements to help ease arthritis pain, it’s important to include anti-inflammatories as well as those that work on cartilage. As far as an anti-inflammatory, turmeric is a proven herb for reducing inflammation all over the body. (That’s turmeric that my friend brought back from Hawaii in the pic up above.) It is usually combined with black pepper for best absorption, although it doesn’t have to be in order to receive benefits, especially if taken as part of a meal in food or drink. If taken in a pill, look for one that does include black pepper such as Gaia’s line of turmeric supplements. Ginger is another herb that can be combined with turmeric or taken separately to ease arthritis pain, and Devil’s Claw is approved as one of those phytomedicines prescribed in Germany that I talked about earlier. (If you missed that post, German doctors have about six to seven hundred herbs they can and do regularly prescribe, as advised by the committee which oversees herbs and supplements and reports to their version of the FDA.) Devil’s Claw is not as popular in the U.S. as it is in Europe, although you can easily find it here. I personally have no history with that particular herb, but turmeric and I on the other hand have a long and happy history because although I don’t have arthritis, I have experienced some pain from joint damage that turmeric has all but erased. When I was pregnant, I had some joint movement in my feet, which is quite common. It resulted in a lot of pain, especially when my feet were stepped on, and let me tell you that happened often when my boys were little. I ended up getting a steroid shot at the base of my big toe to stop the inflammation from all the damage, and the doctor told me I’d probably just have to get one about once a year unless I ever opted for surgery. Sure enough, the pain started to come back after a few months, so I got another shot about a year after the first one. This time I decided to take turmeric daily to help with the inflammation (those first few years with little ones had my brain way too occupied to remember my herbal training but by this point the fog was starting to clear) and I’ve never needed another shot, nor have I been in pain besides rare long nights with crampy shoes. It’s definitely due to taking turmeric consistently and luckily turmeric has benefits for the digestive system as well, and is even touted in the Blue Zones books for being one of the superfoods that slows aging. Not bad side effects!

As for supplements to target cartilage damage, most people have heard of glucosamine and chondroitin. When I worked at health food stores I talked to many people getting powerful results from these two, if they stuck with it. But there is a best practice to follow when taking this combination because some people have a bit of stomach sensitivity to these pills, so starting below the amount recommended on the bottle is advisable. (Or just follow your doctor’s instructions.) If your stomach handles the lower dose, build up over a few days, adding another pill per day or every few days, depending on your sensitivity. In other words, if the bottle says take three pills twice per day, it’s better to start with one pill twice per day, then if that goes well for a couple of days then move up to two pills for the first dose then one pill for the second dose for a couple of days, and so on. This allows for the digestive system to adapt. It usually takes about six to eight weeks for the effects to really be noticeable, although I got a sample from the New Hope Blogger Box of some chewables that report a much quicker time to relief. Joint Health by Redd Remedies boasts results in an impressive 4-10 days, plus the suggested dose is just one per day and it’s a chewable, making it a nice fit for those who have pill fatigue.

Since I no longer have any joint pain, I’ll have to pass these along to someone and see what they think. Redd Remedies puts a lot of effort into their research with peer-reviewed, published human clinical trials and published safety data, so I’m betting this is an extremely effective product, but I’ll let you know if my tester runs into any issues with it.

Another supplement to consider is Bromelain, the enzyme found in pineapple. To get the anti-inflammatory action straight from the fruit, it needs to be consumed fresh, not frozen or canned, and you need to eat it often. I’ve heard of people getting great results from this enzyme but it really depends on the person and what works best for each individual’s body. Taking bromelain for your joints though has the added benefits of helping to break down protein in your meals so you get the most nutrients from what you eat. Isn’t it nice to hear about beneficial side effects instead of a long list of potential problems that accompany most pharmaceuticals?

It’s never too early to start taking care of your joints, and know that there is help available if osteoarthritis sets in. Take care of yourselves and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this article.

 

 

The Art and Craft of Herbalism

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If you have been visiting this blog for a while now, you may have noticed I’m a big proponent of self-advocacy. We all have the ability to make choices that impact our health, and our lives, in big ways and small ways, and the more we acknowledge our role in how we feel as we age and what options we have for our specific body types and health issues, the more we can then assist our bodies in our natural abilities to heal ourselves, instead of getting in its way. We all know that when we are sick, we are more fatigued, so we sleep more which gives the body time and energy to heal. If we do not rest when sick, the sickness continues and secondary issues are more apt to erupt. The body knows what it needs to heal, and furthermore, the body doesn’t just want to be disease free, we all want to thrive and feel our best for as long as possible. Observing our own health quirks and naturally adding in herbs and supplements that gently assist our body’s healing abilities, is a great way to stay in touch with our own personal needs and help correct imbalances before they turn into a diseases.

When I worked at health food stores, my best guess is that at least 75% of the customers who walked in the doors asked for help. They wanted to know about the latest thing on Oprah or Dr. Oz, or something their friend told them about, or they were searching for help with a new diagnosis whether it was a loved one’s or their own. These people were all of the mindset that there were things they could do to improve their lives or the lives of their loved ones, and they were willing to ask. I think this shows we naturally want to improve ourselves, and the feeling of powerlessness that can accompany a modern diagnosis is one of the most defeating feelings one can have. Nobody wants to be at the mercy of a corrupt pharmaceutical industry nor depending on doctors that can only spend ten minutes at a time with you because of insurance regulations. That might very well be part of your reality, but it doesn’t have to be the whole picture. Whether you are sick or thriving, have mild chronic issues or extreme sporadic ones, you can absolutely assist in reaching your optimal health.

This is why I wrote my latest course, The Art and Craft of Herbalism. Our ancestors knew how to work with medicinal herbs daily out of necessity, just as they knew how to cook out of necessity. This course isn’t for everyone. I understand many people would rather just buy what is on the shelf at their local store, or order something online, just as some people would rather buy their meals rather than cook them. But for those that want to create their own herbal medicines or even just have a better understanding of how it is done, then this course is for you. And for the record, I do a lot more buying off the shelf than making myself, but it is incredibly empowering to make my own herbal medicines when I want something specific that I can’t find, or I’m eager to save money. It’s far less expensive to grow your own herbs that you then use, but I don’t go that far back to basics in this particular course. There is still quite a bit of money to be saved by buying loose herbs instead of ones already boxed or bottled or tableted up for use. It’s incredibly easy to make tinctures, oils, balms, and other herbal concoctions, just as simple, natural ingredients can be put together to make beautiful, nutritious, and delicious meals. Herbal concocting is an art and a craft which lends itself beautifully to the cooking analogy I’ve been employing here, and considering the ‘home herbalist’ is also known as a ‘kitchen witch’, I’m certainly not the first to notice the similarities.

Here’s the promo: https://youtu.be/Iyy7e5fqZYM

If you are a maker, creator, artist, herbalist, or just plain curious, I’d like to invite you to take the course. Those of you who subscribe to this blog with your email address have already gotten a coupon code to take the course for free (let me know if you have not). If you follow this blog in the wordpress reader and would like to take the course for free and hopefully give me constructive feedback, (pretty please), I’d be happy to send you the code. Just send me your email address and let me know who you are in terms of wordpress-land and I’ll email you back with the code and my gratitude.

However you choose to live your life, I hope it is deeply fulfilling to your heart and soul, and blessing you with the thriving health you want. I’d love it if you shared this with anyone who might benefit from it and and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty.

Herbalism Today and Blue Zones

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I think it’s fair to say that there’s been a systematic denigration of the use of herbs in America in the last few decades. Part of this stems from the very fact that herbalism has been in use since the dawn of humanity, and if it weren’t for herbs being used medicinally, I seriously doubt humans would have lasted long enough to have achieved the medical technological advances that we have now. That extraordinarily long history means herbs are tied up with myth, religion, and spirituality, as are all things from the ancient world. The world was not divided as it is now, with spiritual leaders, artists, scientists, politicians, and on and on all leading separate existences. Herbs fed humans daily, kept them alive and healthy, as well as kept vermin and germs away, so of course they were also part of the spiritual customs and traditions of each culture. They were both daily allies and miraculous magic workers. This intertwined ancestry is sacred still to many, but unfortunately others see it as a reason to label herbalism as just ‘old wives tales’ and consider it all ineffective, despite thousands upon thousands of years of use. It’s important to note that other parts of the world still embrace herbs as part of their medical system. According to the World Health Organization, around 75% of the world’s population still depend on herbal medicine for basic health care needs, and we aren’t just talking about third world countries. European doctors regularly prescribe ‘phytomedicines’ alongside other modern medicines, with German doctors reporting along the lines of 80% of them regularly using medicinal herbs in their practices, and in England and Australia both, herbalists are recognized health care providers. Also according to the World Health Organization, Japan leads the world in highest per capita consumption with 80% of Japanese doctors prescribing a traditional Chinese medicine within the last year. This shows that herbs are indeed effective, and they were seen as such in the U.S. too until the 1920s when the pharmaceutical industry really got going. (The numbers quoted above are from a book published in 2007 but seem consistent with what I’ve heard in the last couple of years.)

Another reason that herbs are often discounted is the fact that herbs exist in a different paradigm of health than our modern western view. In our culture today, if we don’t have a disease, that constitutes ‘healthy’ for the most part. We go to a doctor if we are unwell. The doctor runs tests and either offers us a procedure, or a pharmaceutical, or further testing, or if nothing is found than we are told to watch the symptoms and come back if need be. There is not much support for the in-between time in the modern American system, but that is the space where herbs (and other natural medicines) thrive. Herbs work to balance the body’s imbalances before reaching disease state. In this paradigm, health is a state of homeostasis, where minor issues are clues to overall body tendencies, and those can and should be addressed gently and consistently with herbs, and those medicinal herbs also provide beneficial side effects. This is a sharp contrast to what we are used to thinking of as medicine, and the truth is that most people are not in the habit of being self-aware enough to regulate their health before a disease state. Once a disease state has been reached most people want the fastest ‘cure’ which often means a relief of the symptoms, not a cure of the underlying imbalances that caused the issue in the first place. Not that every disease can be avoided with the proper herbs and care, but most people are at least vaguely aware of their personal patterns, genetics, and their weakest body systems that are apt to lead to sickness, so it is not such a far leap to start looking for ways to build weak areas up with herbs, nutrition, other natural products, and activities. It certainly beats knowing your genetic predisposition to certain weakness and yet doing nothing. There are always options. Self awareness leads to self care and self advocacy, and that is a healthy long-term outlook.

Speaking of a healthy outlook, my book club is now reading a book on Blue Zones (thanks to Lani for picking it!) which is a concept that’s interested me for some time so I’m excited to delve into it. Since I haven’t actually gotten the book yet though, I got familiar with the topic through this Delicious Living article that gives the quick and dirty on what makes a community a Blue Zone. Below are 9 pillars from the article to give you an idea of Blue Zones, but for the whole article, click the link above or the map below. Also, if you want to join our book club and read the book I linked to, let me know what you think!

bluezonesmap

The Power 9 are the nine lifestyle principles, as outlined in The Blue Zones, that Buettner and his team documented during extensive research trips to the world’s five blue zones—Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Loma Linda, California; Okinawa, Japan and Icaria, Greece. These principles, he explains, are common elements of the lifestyle and diet habits and overall outlook the centenarians share in each location he visited. They’re a recipe for longevity, he says. “But it’s an à la carte menu; you don’t have to do all of them.”

Here’s how you can incorporate these proven principles in your own life and home—or even your community.

1. Move naturally

Be active without having to think about it.

2. Hara Hachi Bu

Painlessly cut calories by 20 percent.

3. Plant Slant

Avoid meat and processed foods.

4. Grapes of Life

Drink red wine (in moderation).

5. Find Purpose Now

Take time to see the big picture.

6. Downshift

Take time to relieve stress.

7. Belong

Participate in a spiritual community.

8. Loved Ones First

Make family a priority.

9. Right Tribe

Surround yourself with those who share your values. (End of article info.)

These seem to be pretty simple concepts that make sense. We all want the same things, to be happy and healthy, to stress less and enjoy more, to be around loved ones and feel our time here is significant in some greater way. Let’s try to make it happen. And if you are wanting to add herbs to your life but are unsure of where to start, adaptogens are a great place. They help the body adapt to stress, and who isn’t overly stressed these days? Check out my free mini-course for more information on adaptogens and keep an eye out for my longest course yet which will be dropping soon. It’s where most of my energy has been going lately and just for a little hint, it’s especially for the makers and creators out there. Take care my friends and remember that you are your own best advocate. Please subscribe (top right) for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this article.

Adaptogens Mini-Course

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To be considered an adaptogen an herb must have the quality of not causing harm. Adaptogens are said to have plant intelligence in the way they support what each individual needs. To learn more about this quality, click the play button on the video below, and to learn more about adaptogens in general, check out my mini-course:

https://botanical-alchemy-and-apothecary.teachable.com/p/adaptogens

Thank you! Be well and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this mini-course.

 

Natural Help for Common Skin Issues

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Many people suffer from one or more of three common skin issues~ acne, eczema, and psoriasis. These can be frustratingly stubborn problems with a series of harsh topicals and prescriptions thrown at the issues with less than stellar results. The reason usually is, although it’s a myth that chocolate causes acne, the digestive system does indeed play a fundamental role in skin health. If you have a stubborn skin issue and haven’t looked into food intolerances yet, well, you are in for a treat because most likely once you get the food intolerances under control, your skin will glow with gratitude. There’s more to healthy skin than just a healthy gut of course, but you aren’t going to have the first without the latter, so step one is just making sure your digestive system is as healthy as can be. This may mean supplementing with bitters, enzymes, and probiotics to help the digestive system be optimally healthy, and if you do have food intolerances, there are other steps you can take to heal your system. By the way, you take bitters and/or enzymes before you eat, and probiotics after the meal is finished. Bitters activate your natural enzymes while taking enzyme supplements help to break down food with the added supplementation instead of boosting your body to make its own enzymes as the bitters do. Probiotics act later and deeper in the process.

Other important things to keep in mind when addressing skin issues are toxins in your food, products, and environments, your hormones (which really means your entire endocrine system), and your overall health which of course includes stress. That’s admittedly a lot to look into, so it might be nice to start with some natural topicals and specific supplementation for acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Delicious Living has a few suggestions to help with getting started:

Problem: Acne.

Clogged skin gland follicles lead to acne, the nation’s most common skin condition.

Cause: Pesky pimples are just part of the problem. Acne indicates any number of deeper health issues: hormonal imbalances, digestive upset, overactive oil glands or bacteria buildup, says Kate Tackett, ND. Although the condition is most common among 11- to 30-year-olds (approximately 80 percent of people in this age group experience it), many adults never outgrow acne and others may even experience acne for the first time in adulthood.

Topical solution: Look for serums and washes that use antimicrobial ingredients, such as tea tree oil, witch hazel and willow bark. Recent research also supports thyme for its acne-fighting properties. Salicylic acid (from willow bark) remains an effective go-to for alleviating inflammation and irritation. Green tea and neem may also help.

Try: Derma e Very Clear Acne Cleanser

Supplements: Use vitamin A to reduce sebum production; vitamins C, E and selenium to support skin “immunity” and skin cell repair; and probiotics to restore digestive imbalances. For severe redness, Benyamin recommends a high dose of 50 mg zinc (avoid long-term use at this dose; reduce it once redness subsides to avoid copper imbalance).

Try: Terry Naturally Acne Essentials

Problem: Eczema.

Eczema, from a Greek word meaning to “bubble or boil over,” is an itchy, red rash that can appear anywhere on the body and affects more than 30 million Americans. Although there is no cure, there are various ways to manage it.

Cause: As with acne, eczema triggers are vast—and vary from person to person. Common causes, according to Tackett, include excess stomach acid and leaky gut syndrome, candida overgrowth, food sensitivities, stress and contact with irritants found in cleaning and personal care products. Skin’s moisture loss can greatly exacerbate the condition.

Topical solution: Use gentle, nontoxic lotions that contain nourishing, plant-based oils and extracts. Research has shown that shea butter and sunflower seed oil can control and soothe dermatitis- related skin issues. Avoid “fragrances,” which are common skin irritants.

Try: Salcura Bioskin DermaSpray

Supplements: Probiotics balance gut bacteria and fight eczema-related inflammation. Omega-3s and hyaluronic acid restore moisture from the inside out.

Try: SeabuckWonders Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil

Problem: Psoriasis.

Less common than acne and eczema (10 percent of people inherit one or more of the genes that eventually lead to psoriasis, but only 2 to 3 percent of people develop it), psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly skin patches.

Cause: One main cause is silica (a trace mineral) deficiency, says Benyamin. Other triggers include genetics, leaky gut and diminished liver function.

Topical solution: Products that use salicylic acid can reduce scales and soften lesions, according to research published in Canadian Family Physician. Research has also shown that using aloe vera for four weeks can reduce psoriasis irritation. Jojoba moisturizes and soothes, while apple cider vinegar and capsaicin (the active ingredient in chili peppers) may alleviate itching and pain.

Try: Jason Natural Soothing Aloe Vera 98% Gel

Supplements: In addition to omega-3s and probiotics, look for beauty supplements that contain silica, with additional skin- and nail-supportive nutrients such as collagen and biotin. Tackett also recommends milk thistle for liver support and fiber to help eliminate toxins from the body.

Try: BioSil

If you like to drink herbal infusions, there are several blends that address skin health and usually focus on liver and blood cleansing herbs like burdock root and/or nettles. My favorite is Yogi’s Healthy Skin Tea with cinnamon and vanilla which is delicious and along with nettles has great digestive herbs and beautifying schisandra to support a healthy glow. There are plenty of other combinations out there if cinnamon and vanilla do not sound like your cup of, well, tea (oy!) and also green tea is always a great choice for skin health with all those antioxidants. Other herbs that are particularly healthy for the skin are Turmeric, Neem, and Amla, and be sure to drink plenty of water daily.

Wishing all of you skin that radiates your optimal health and natural light, and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this article..

A Personal Note

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This blog has been trucking along for a while now, so I thought I’d check in with a personal note on the goals and philosophy for this space. It might seem a tad erratic with herbal tutorials here, food recipes there, and ready-made product information, but to me the goals are the same. My main interest is to empower people with the knowledge of what is out there in the natural world, whether that means their garden, their spice cabinet, or their natural food store, that can enrich their life and enhance their health. I’m a big believer in the idea that we are advancing in technological ways faster than we can humanly adapt, a concept that has been around for decades but has been mostly conveniently ignored, and this is my small way of grounding myself and anyone else who is interested back to the real world, the actual earth we inhabit, the roots that have brought us to this crazy point, and the traditions that have made us communal creatures. So much is lost each day to isolation, stretched schedules, imitation foods, and processed products, that the richness of life is threatened in the push towards better, faster, easier. But for what end? The Slow Foods Movement is a beautiful example of people taking a stand and saying we’ll take the more nutritious meal over the faster one, and that same idea can be applied to just about every aspect of life. Technology, and especially social media, are pushing images and information onto us and into us at an ever-increasing rate, leaving everyone a little on edge, if not completely frantic, and feeling always and forever behind. The laws haven’t kept up so how could our long-evolved emotions, our sense of time and space, our ideas of community, morality, humanity? They haven’t had the time and the future certainly isn’t carving out space for us to collectively take a time out and regroup, unless something major happens which certainly wouldn’t be pretty, so the best thing I can think to do is to try to be mindful of it all and not get swept up and away into the vacuum of a false reality. For humanity’s sake, for the plants’ and animals’ sake, and for the earth as a whole, we need to remain thoughtful. Humans are so darn proud of their capacity for higher thinking, yet we collectively choose to dull it on the regular. We must be mindful caretakers of each other and the earth we inhabit because it is quite simply our birthright. We can step up, or not, but the consequences of ‘not’ are unfortunately extreme.

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I engage in social media reluctantly, which is why I don’t do all the regular things bloggers generally do. There is a formula for it actually, the whole blogging thing, and I’ve studied how it’s done as is my nature, but I’ve decided against the things that do not resonate with me, which is most of it. This may very well mean this space will have to evolve into something else, but for now I’m happy to connect with people in a way that feels somewhat natural though it does involve the very technology and social media that I just now protested. It’s a complicated world and a strange time to try to fit into it in an organic way that embraces long held values, addresses fears, and is done in an effort to try to share in an authentic and positive way, but this is what I’m working towards. I guess this is just a meandering way of saying what Shakespeare said so succinctly: “Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t.” Hamlet (2.2.204-09).

Thank you, very sincerely, for being a part of my world and allowing me to be part of yours. You are a true gift and a treasure.

All the best to you and yours.

Gum Recession

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Between gum disease, grinding teeth at night, and possibly brushing too hard (though that cause is up for debate), gum recession is incredibly common. It generally shows up after age 40, though it most likely started years earlier. It’s a slow, gradual process which can eventually lead to tooth loss, so it’s no small matter. Depending on how far along the recession is, a dentist may do a deep cleaning that involves cleaning below the gum line, which is different than just the normal twice a year cleaning, or suggest a mouth guard to stop grinding teeth at night. There doesn’t seem to be a modern medicine option for actually rebuilding the gum tissue and overall oral health, but luckily for us, there are natural products out there to help do just that.

Uncle Harry’s is a natural products company that was actually founded due to gum health concerns. You can read about that history here, or just check out their products that are based on Ayurvedic principals for keeping the mouth healthy and thriving. Their anise toothpaste is my personal favorite, but they have several flavors to choose from such as the more common flavor of peppermint. You dip your toothbrush right into the jar and the essential oils make sure that the jar of toothpaste stays free of bacteria, viruses, and germs of all sorts. The toothpastes help the mouth keep a proper alkaline pH, have no sweeteners or fluoride, and naturally fight gum disease while offering the gums and teeth herbs and essential oils that build them up. They also have a powder to help soothe sore gums called Inflamed Gums, with numbing and healing herbs and essential oils in it.

Another great company, Herb Pharm, has a mouthwash called Gum Guardian that is full of gum healing and building herbs. Use this after brushing and flossing, just as you would a conventional mouthwash, though this one is more medicinal in nature. It’s an extract so you have to just add a dropperful to a small amount of water to swish it around.

Wishgarden Herbs has a Gum Strengthener that can also be used as a mouthwash, but alternatively it can be massaged directly into problem areas. If the whole mouth is a problem area, it can be administered all over with a toothbrush. Another similar product is by Herbs Etc and is called Mouth Tonic which has great reviews. Actually all these herbal extracts have great reviews and all are quite similar in terms of the herbs used (read the ingredients lists and count how many times you see Myrrh), so you can’t really go wrong.

Before going any further I should say that vitamin C is the most important vitamin for gum recession issues. Most people get enough vitamin C in their daily diet and possibly a multivitamin, but a little extra doesn’t hurt when fighting any kind of disease or infection. Just something to keep in mind.

Oil pulling is a technique from Ayurveda that seems to be growing in popularity. It involves swishing sesame oil or coconut oil in one’s mouth for 10-20 minutes, then spitting it out. To be honest, I’ve not tried this yet because the thought of holding the oil in my mouth that long doesn’t seem appealing when there are herbs in extract form that will aid oral health in an easier way, but then again I generally always choose the herbal options. To each his own though so if you try it, or currently do it in your oral health regimen, let me know because I want to hear about it! Here’s a good article on how to do it if you need instructions.

Green tea is known for its many benefits from its antioxidants to its fat burning properties, and one more benefit is oral health. Drinking just one cup of green tea a day is enough to increase the health of gums and mouth. Green tea is so versatile, you can add it to your skincare products, drink it for a multitude of health benefits, and add the room temperature tea bags to your eyes for help with puffiness and dark circles.

I just love how the natural world so quietly and competently has so many options for improving our health and daily life. Long before “there’s an app for that” became the modern mantra, “there’s an herb for that” prevailed, and still does, but you often have to look beyond the noisy world to find the right ones for you. There are always options so don’t let an ‘incurable’ condition such as anxiety or hair loss get you down.

Happy Summer and please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this article.

 

 

Brain Health

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While creating a mini-course on adaptogens, I’ve been thinking about putting together a blend focused on brain health for my sons who are students and will be for many more years. The adaptogenic herbs I’m thinking of including are Ashwagandha, Tulsi, Gotu Kola, and Rhodiola. This would be a great mix for long-term energy and stamina, with herbs specifically targeting brain health, focus, and stress management, with anti-depressant and anti-anxiety action. This seems like an optimal mix for a student, or for anyone looking for long-term brain support. As we age it is especially important to make sure our brains get the best nutrition and care we can provide. No one else can do it for you~ this is self care at a fundamental level.

Here is an infographic from Delicious Living that has other ways to improve brain health on a daily basis. These tips are not only good for brain health but overall health and wellness in general, and they really aren’t hard. It’s a nice reminder of how eating more fruits and vegetables, reducing stress, exercising, and consciously limiting toxins improve every part of daily life. I’ve been thinking lately how the ripple effects of our thoughts and actions can be either be beneficial and building a better future, or damaging. It’s hard to always choose wisely, but self care can never be detrimental.

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Nutritious foods don’t have to be boring. The New Hope Blogger Box has some foods this time around that make superfoods snackable and drinkable. This Beet Latte from Raw and Root has goji and maqui berries along with the beet root to make this a deeply nourishing addition to any daily diet. This combination offers support for energy, heart health, weight loss, and more. Check out their website to see all the benefits of these three superfoods. This powder is going in my morning smoothies.

This dried Dragon Fruit from Jungle Orchards  has only 6g of sugars per package, plus 2g of protein. Dragon fruit is considered a superfood for its many benefits without the excessive sugar that many fruits have, especially dried fruits. This would make a great healthy snack for kids’ lunch bags when you want to send them off with extra fruit but not extra sugar. To learn more about the many benefits of dragon fruit (it was all new to me!) then check out this article which talks about weight loss, lowering cholesterol, improving energy, and more.

Avocado is delicious but has the one overwhelming flaw of being seriously high maintenance when it comes to catching its perfect ripeness, and also you can’t take an avocado anywhere without bruising. These freeze-dried avocados from Senor Avocado take the guesswork out of avocado ripening and they are fully transportable so lunch boxes can carry them. The healthy fats are still there, and the taste is the same as a fresh, but the texture is slightly different so no avocado toast with these. Instead, throw them on salads or soups, or just eat them as a snack or as part of healthy meal. There are different flavors but I really liked these Peruvian Pink Salt ones.

Enjoy the upcoming Memorial weekend (for those here in the U.S.) and be sure to take good care of yourself with some healthy delicious foods, some fun activities, and plenty of rest. Your body and brain will thank you for it. Please subscribe for weekly posts about herbs, natural health, and green beauty, and please share with anyone who might benefit from this article.