Stress Outed

   

     I'm in a good place right now but there have been times of stress.  We all have those times. And some days just seem to more stressful than others.  Hopefully they are fleeting but for some it seems a permanent state. I don't like how stress feels in my body, my mind, and my spirit so I do what I can to embrace it, move with it or through it.  Keys to managing stress are a good support system is it family or friend(s).  Having just one person you can vent to who listens without judgment or trying to fix the problem really helps.  Journaling, blogging, painting, gardening, cooking or some form of creative outlet helps.  Taking time for oneself without feeling guilty is a big step.  Just five minutes of deep breathing, walking in nature or locking yourself in the bathroom to quiet your mind can help. Remembering all that you have to be grateful for can change your outlook.  Some days this is harder than others but the little things do count.  And what do we do to support our physical bodies during this time?

          Try to eat nourishing food, drink plenty of water, exercise and get a good night sleep.  Sounds simple but it is much easier said than done some days.  This is when I turn to my tea cabinet.  Oat straw, valerian, chamomile and nettles, and lemon balm spring to mind.  Ashwaghanda starts to become my night cap.   Just the act of making the tea can be calming. 

          When I refer to tea it is in the traditional sense, the act of making an infusion of herb and water, not a tiny bag filled with black tea.  Put the kettle on, bring the water to a simmer, pour over the herb and let steep for three to four minutes, strain and sip.  Add a little honey or lemon if you like.

Oat straw (Avena sativa) - Most are familiar with the grains that we use as a cereal but the straw can also be used as a tea.  Both are mildly antidepressant, gently raising energy levels and supporting an over stressed nervous system.  They can be used to treat insomnia in those suffering from nervous exhaustion.  A decoction (put herbs in a saucepan of water and simmer gently for 20 - 30 minutes then strain) of the herb can be added to the bath with the added benefit of soothing itchiness and eczema. (Chevallier, 1996, p. 175)

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – For most people valerian works as a relaxant but for a rare few it has an opposite effect. Valerian reduces mental over-activity and excitability for those times when you just can’t “switch off.”  It is perfect for when that causes insomnia.  It has a calming, rather than directly sedative, effect on the mind.  It is used for many symptoms of anxiety, including tremors, panic, palpitations and sweating. (Chevallier, 1996, p. 148)

Chamomile (Chamomilla rectita) – I think of this herb first for helping with colic and children.  It is used for a variety of digestive problems including Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome.  It eases tense muscles and menstrual pain.  It can relieve irritability and helps sleep, especially in children. (Chevallier, 1996, p. 80)

Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) – This seems like an odd choice by most for stress.  It is not relaxing, calming or any of the qualities you would think of as helping.  I add this to the list because it is a tonic, nourishing the body.  It is cleansing and detoxifying.  It is high in potassium content and increases urine production and the elimination of waste products. (Chevallier, 1996, p. 146) It is nourishing as it is high in vitamins, minerals and protein. (Soule, 2013. p. 170)

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – Lemon balm has long been revered for its ability to enhance memory and circulation to the brain.  It also eases stress, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia and general nervousness.  It has been used in the treatment of ADD and ADHD.  It works well for children and adults who easily become overwhelmed or who are considered highly sensitive. Fresh leaves with have more of a lemon taste than the dried. (Soule, 2013. p. 167)

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) – This root has many medicinal values.  One being that it is calming and strengthening to the nervous system without being over stimulating.  It is great for anxiety, nervous exhaustion, impaired memory, insomnia, ADHD, stress-induced ulcers and chronic debilitation that are the result of physical and mental overwork. It calms the mind and promotes a deep, restful sleep.  Unlike the herbs mentioned above this is not used as an infusion.   Each night warm 1 tsp. root powder with 1 cup of milk (cow, goat, oat, nut or seed) sweetened with honey or molasses. It is a powdered root so it will have a little bit of texture but it is a wonderful bedtime ritual. Ashwagandha is rich in iron and can be used to treat iron-deficient anemia when taken this way. Avoid if you are sensitive to plants in the nightshade family, you have hemochromatosis (excess iron), or you have hyperthyroidism.  It can enhance or increase the effect of barbiturates. (Soule, 2013. p. 146)

         

Bibliography

Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Reference to 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments. New York: A Dorling Kindersley Book, 1996.

Soule, Deb.  How to Move Like a Gardener. Rockport, Maine: Under the Willow Press, 2013.

Vendor Fair

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Noon until 4 PM

Rowley Street, Winsted, CT

Green Building next to the playground

Winsted Fire Department Support Services will be having a vendor fair and I will be there with all of my products.  

Hardy bars of soap in lavender & lime, D's Dirtie Hippie, lemongrass, lemon & poppy seed and more

Lush moisturizing lip balms in yummy scents of  lavender, chocolate mint, orange & clove, and  Bee's Knees 

Deep moisturizing lotion, vanilla sugar scrub, exfoliating cleanser and cuticle salve

The lovely ladies of support services will be serving sweet treats, coffee and tea.  

I'll be preparing a gift bag of goodies as part of the door prizes.

Stop by, I would love to see you.

Soap

 
   I love learning new things.  A friend told me about a soap making class she took and I was intrigued.  I joined another woman for class in a charming barn turned garden shop taught by an extraordinary woman.  Using a hot plate to heat the oils and a bowl filled with ice for the ice bath I began my journey.  There was no store bought soap for me any more.  I learned about the mixture of fats and lye.  I learned about the clay that could be added for different purposes.  I learned about herbs to add or not.  This was more than ten years ago.
     I have played with that original recipe ever since.  It has morphed over time as any good recipe does. It has become my own in subtle ways.  Though I have played with fragrance oils in the past I have come to using only essential oils in my soaps; organic essential oils.  The fragrance oils are too strong, too much like perfume that over powers and I am unsure of what is in them.  I really want to know what I am putting in and on my body and that of my family.
     My first playful combination was lavender & lime.  I gave a few bars out as gifts and it was well received.  Well enough that people started asking for it.  It is my best seller.  My family likes the citrus notes.  Hubby prefers lemongrass and the kids prefer sweet orange.  I'm a patchouli & sweet orange girl myself.  And though my father-in-love doesn't care for patchouli it is my mother-in-love's favorite.  One of my shimmy sisters said her son said patchouli smelled like dirtie hippies and so my favorite scent I call D's Dirtie Hippie.
     The newest combination is lemon & poppy seed.  A fun twist on a common muffin.  The poppy seeds stay intact and suspended in the soap making it lightly exfoliating.. It is great for the kitchen to rid your hands of any linger odors or after gardening to scrub off the dirt.
     I would love to hear what your favorite scent is.  Delight me with a comment.

Brrrr it's Cold Outside

 
  It's winter in New England.  It is cold outside (as it should be).  I love the change of seasons and what each has to offer.  The cold for me brings warm comfy sweaters, reading more, needle point, comfort food, slowing down and connection.  Summer is a blur of activity and often times speeds by before I get a chance to sit and say hello to my friends.  Not so in winter.  The energy of winter is slower for me,  time stands still and frees up so I can connect more with myself, with family and with friends.  It is a time I need to nourish all that will burst forth as Spring arrives.  It is a time for me to play in the kitchen for hours without being overwhelmed by heat a time to make nourishing food for the body and soul.  It is my favorite time of the year to make soap as I can use the cool air (and hopefully some snow) as nature's ice bath.
    But, winter has its own health challenges colds, flu, sinus and an assortment of bugs. We are inside a lot more, the air is dry and often stagnant.  Schools and work places are breeding grounds for all sorts of things. So what is one to do?  Wash your hands and keep them away from your face - simple yet often over looked.  And I know I need to make a conscious effort not to rub my eyes or set my head on my hands.  I cook with lots of garlic and onions.  I simmer pots of soups and stews with astragalus root, reishi mushrooms and bay leaves..  I keep a bottle of elderberry tincture on the table as a reminder to add to my daily routine.  I simmer elderberry syrup as a special treat or to assuage that first sign of anything.  I get plenty of sleep. The ginger tea comes out more as well as the lovely chi tea.  Essential oils are at the ready for a steam to clear the sinuses and the netti pot is used more frequently. What I strive for is all the little things I can incorporate into my families daily life to stay healthy.  What is the saying; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
     So. how do I incorporate  the items I listed above into my every day life and how can you?  I love to cook but, even if you don't just adding some onion, garlic or ginger to your recipes will help.  Onions boast a long list of medical benefits including being antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. They are beneficial to the circulatory system and are an expectorant, taken the world over for colds and flu. Garlic among its long list of benefits is anti-viral.  And ginger is an anti-inflammatory.  Anything in my house that simmers for any length of time receives an astragalus root, reishi mushroom and bay leaf.  During dinner I put a bowl on the table and inform the family how many of each they need to look for and add to the bowl. Reishi mushrooms are anti-inflammatory and antiviral among many other health benefits.  Bay leaf adds flavor but is also used as to aid in digestion and the absorption of food.  It assists in the breakdown of heavy foods especially meat. I have heard two theories on elderberry.  Some use it at the first sign of a cold or bug.  Others use it daily during the winter as a preventative.  I work in an office that is comprised of cubicles (think whack-a-mole).  Most can not afford to take the day off with the sniffles or cough.  So, I take a teaspoon a day of elderberry tincture.  I also encourage my daughter to take it as well since schools seem to be a breeding ground for all sorts of bugs.  If you are not in such an environment you may want to just have elderberry on hand.
     I have my cup of coffee in the morning.  I just love coffee - the taste, the smell....  But the rest of the day I drink tea warm or iced.  My go to drink is hibiscus tea.  I make it by the gallon and keep it in the refrigerator.  It has a lovely fruit flavor, is a pretty red and is high in vitamin C.  I must admit I drink this for the flavor and the health benefits are a bonus.  Ginger tea is warming.  It is like a cozy blanket wrapped around you.  It is also good for upset tummies.  And chi tea with all of its warming spices is just divine.
     For sinus issues I love my netti pot.  I find the dry air dries out my sinuses.  I feel blocked up like I have rubber cement in my nose.   Left like this it can cause me headaches or an infection.  Using the netti pot at the first sign of this flushes the sinuses and feels great. It is a weird feeling to get used to at first but well worth it.  Your netti pot should come with instructions.  Basically you are pouring a warm saline solution in one nostril and letting it flow out the other.  The key is to breath through your mouth during the entire process.  On really dry days  I add a little slippery elm bark to some water and let it sit for a few minutes.  I then strain the solution really well and add it to the saline solution.  Slippery elm is very mucilaginous and will moisturize the passages.

Kitchen Play

     I'm on vacation from my corporate job.  And I can think of nothing better than puttering in the kitchen and catching up with friends and family.  My first day off I baked six batches of cookies which seem to be disappearing quickly.  Today I devoted to restocking products and trying new twists.
     I started with two batches of soap.  The first batch is a customer favorite lavender & lime and the second batch is my hubby's favorite, lemongrass.  In the coming week I plan to add  a few more batches to the mix.  Toner was made and bottled and then came lip balm.  I made a fresh batch of lavender lip balm.  It has become the most requested scent. Besides organic lavender essential oil it contains Vitamin E and organic carrot seed oil which is great for the skin and leaves your lips feeling oh so pleased.
     Bee's Knees was next. It's from a recipe I found to recreate that famous bees lip balm. The first time I tried it I made a half batch to see if I liked it.  It was so I good I made a full batch today. It is a lush lip balm made with cocoa butter, organic coconut oil, and organic peppermint and rosemary essential oils.
     Today I experimented with deodorant. I just made one tube to see if I like it.  I had purchased an artisans deodorant on vacation that was scented with rosemary and lavender.  I really liked the addition of rosemary so I combined it with sweet orange for my trial run.  The combination tickled my fancy so I made a tiny batch of lip balm with sweet orange and rosemary as well.  Yum!

Gratitude

 

    Yesterday I was at the Spirit of Giving:Marketplace 2013.  It was my first time on the selling side of a table at a craft fair since I was a little girl helping my Auntie in the kitchen at the church fairs.  It was a long day but seemed to fly by.  I was there bright and early to set up.  It didn't take long so I spent the next couple of hours visiting and helping friends bring in their beautiful creations.  Jody from Gifts of a Lesser Goddess, Dawn of Dawn Hill Designs, and Allie from Silver Moon Herbals.  I was set up next to Beeyoutiful Bows and More.  The owner was a delight and her creations made me wish for a minute that my girls were little again.
     I was truly blessed to have my mother and father-in-love as well as my brother and sister-in-love come down to support me.  It was a two hour drive for them so it really was an act of love that I deeply appreciate.  Friends came by as well and I met many new people.  It was a great day.  I had fun talking to everyone and hope everyone enjoys the products and love that went into them.

Soup's On with Astragalus

     

     It’s that time of year; the weather is changing, everyone we come in contact with is sniffling and hacking and we are indoors more where the air is stagnant and germs fester.  It is also the time of year to simmer big pots of soup, stew, and other hearty fare.  This is the time of year my family sits down at the table with a bowl in the center and I tell them what roots and herbs to look for and discard into that bowl.  Bay leaves are a common such herb.  I have friends that only include one bay leaf in their spaghetti sauce and the unfortunate finder does the dishes that night.  We have a system in place to prevent that; I cook, we all load the dishwasher, my hubby washes the pots and my daughter much to her chagrin empties the dishwasher and sink of the clean dishes so I can add lots of good things to my cooking. Bay leaf, reishi mushrooms and my favorite astragalus root go in everything that simmers for any length of time. Garlic, onions, ginger and turmeric make very frequent appearances.

      I learned about astragalus when I was first learning about herbs and was enchanted.   I use them as an immune tonic in cooking.  They are slightly sweet tasting but you will not detect a flavor when cooked with other foods.  They are a slightly warming herb. They help prevent colds, influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia and other such viruses.  They are my alternative to a flu shot. I will not say not to get a flu shot if you have made a conscious choice and feel comfortable with it.  I have chosen not to for myself and my family. 

            Astragalus membranaceua is part of the pea family.  The root is harvested in autumn from four year old plants.  It is sliced and dried.  It is often referred to as a tongue depressor from the shape after slicing.  You can also find it sliced in small rounds but this is really hard to detect until you have it in your mouth.  It’s a root so it is fiberous and difficult to chew. Many use it to stir their tea, keeping the root in the tea and using it repeatedly. These methods work great as an immune tonic.  For other medicinal purposes a tincture of the root or a decoction should be made.

 The Chinese refer to astragalus as Huang Qi meaning Yellow Leader.  The healthy roots are yellow in color and it is a leader in tonic herbs.  It is thought of as a spleen tonic, and can be used for lack of appetite, organ prolapse, fatigue, and wasting and thirsting syndrome.  Astragalus strengthens the lung qi and, because the lungs help create wei qi; it is able to strengthen this qi. Wei qi is the protective energy that helps prevent illness caused by external pernicious influences.  When the wei qi is deficient, people can get sick more easily, sweat too much or not enough, and develop sores that won’t come to a head.  In addition, by strengthening the wei qi, this herb reduces excessive sweating, menopausal sweating, and night sweats and promotes suppuration of boils and carbuncles.[1]

American research has focused on the ability of astragalus to restore normal immune function in cancer patients.  Clinical evidence suggests that patients under going chemotherapy or radiotherapy recover faster and live longer if given astragalus concurrently.[2]

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[1] Winson, David and Steven Maimes. Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2007. pg. 147-149

[2] Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Reference to 550 Herbs and Remedies for Common Ailments. New York: A Dorling Kindersley Book, 1996. pg. 68