Nocturnal Nutmeg: Nature's Sleep Aid

Are you still looking at the clock hours later after trying to go to bed?

Nutmeg is such a wonderful herb that is totally under utilized.  It's not just for spicing things up because it's also great for slowing things down.

Nutmeg works best when it's fresh so simply grind a little bit ( ~ 1/4 teaspoon) and add it to a cup of warm coconut milk with a hint of honey.

 If you're not really into drinking milk you can try taking one capsule nightly and increase your dose by one capsule until sleep is regulated.

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Pretty In Propolis

Lately, I can't get enough of my propolis facial spray!  Propolis is seriously my new secret to glowing skin.  So what it is? ...Propolis is a strong resinous substance from plants, used by bees for sealing hives. You can find sources of Propolis  in various regions including Brazil, Australia, Europe, the United States and China.

My personal favorite is  the Brazilian Green Propolis, collected from Brazil Minas Gerais. This region is home to a unique plant species (Baccharis dracunculifolia) which produces the best grade of propolis with the highest level of flavonoids and Arterpillin-C. The Green Propolis extract is special and the most desirable type because it contains over 70 compounds and about 30 of them have been already patented to be used in medicine for health benefits!

Propolis is very soothing when applied to the skin and has been shown to reduce inflammation, purify the skin, encourage tissue repair & regeneration, and fight acne.

Spring Equinox: celebrating medicinal plants of the season!

Definition: springtime (ˈsprɪŋˌtaɪm): n;the earliest, usually the most attractive, period of the existence of something.

Finally!  the first day of spring is here which means more daylight, warmer temperatures and vibrant colors.

What is the spring equinox? the word equinox means "equal night" where the days and nights are equal.  This occurs when the tilt of the Earth relative to the Sun is zero meaning that our planet neither points toward or away from the sun.

Celebrate spring by learning more about the wonderful medicinal plants of the season!

Dandelion leaves  (Taraxacum officinale)  are best harvested before the flowers appear in early spring.  Adding the bitter greens to a salad is a great way to support digestion while providing nutrients including  beta-carotene,  iron, calcium, vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, inositol, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc!

Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a wonderful plant for detoxification by supporting lymphatic drainage with an special affinity for the cervical lymph nodes .When harvesting,it is important to pick all of the plant that is green, usually about 75%. The bottom portion will tend to be yellow and is of little medicinal value.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)    a very calming plant and also great for an upset stomach, aid digestion, bloating, anxiety, insomnia, and heart burn.

Relaxing Tea Blend

There is nothing better than to sip a relaxing tea in the evening and let all your worries escape while you ease the tension of a long day.

Relaxing Tea Blend

2 Parts Lemon Balm

2 Parts Chamomile

1 Part California Poppy

1 Part Passionflower

Lemon balm will relax your nerves while  california poppy relieves anxiety letting your body relax as chamomile eases stress letting  passionflower  put you to sleep.

Directions:

1.  Combine all herbs (boil 1 quart of water per 1 ounce of the tea blend or 1 cup of water per 1 tablespoon of tea blend)

2.  Heat water

3. Pour over tea blend and cover (make sure you cover the tea to keep all the wonderful oils inside the water)

4. Steep for 10-15 minutes... or longer if you want it to be more potent.

Spice It Up!

Spices have been used as medicine throughout the world for centuries!

Herbal medicine is having a renaissance where the appreciation and healing power of this medicine have re-emerged!

Celebrate the rebirth of this powerful traditional medicine!

Cayenne (Capsicum frutenscens): This hot pepper has many benefits on  the cardiovascular system including stimulating blood flow through mucous membranes  (great for sinus congestion), prevents clot formation, and helps to reduce blood cholesterol level and triglyceride levels.  When applied topically it helps to reduce pain by  blocking the reuptake of substance P (which causes pain) from nerve cells.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa): This lovely root if one of my personal favorites!  Curcumin, turmeric's yellow pigment has been shown to be very effective as an anti-inflammatory agent as well as a strong antioxidant.  There is also much research going on right now using turmeric in degenerative neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Oregano (Origanum spp.): is a member of the mint family and has HUGE antioxidant properties!  42 times as much antioxidant activity as apples, 30 times a much as potatoes, 12 times as much as oranges, and 4 times as much as blueberries.  It's rich in volatile oils (thymol and carvacrol) which powerful antimicrobial properties.