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Herbs for Sore Throats
| Posted on September 28, 2011 at 5:29 PM |
comments (251)
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HERBS FOR SORE THROATS It's
that time of the season when the temperatures are quite erratic, our
clothing choices may not be warm enough for the cooler temperatures, our
lives speed up after the lazy summer season, & the resulting stress
can weaken our immune systems quite dramatically. Fall colds are very
common & they often begin with the feeling of knives in the throat.
Often, if we address the symptoms at this stage with herbs, healing
foods/drinks, & rest, we can stop them from going any further.   SLIPPERY ELM: This plant is one of the "demulcent" herbs, meaning
it forms a gluey coating that soothes inflamed tissues. Slippery Elm
can be purchased in its bulk powder form. There are many on-line
recipes for making your own lozenges with the powder, or you can buy
them pre-made at health food stores.  SAGE: Ever had laryngitis? Herbalist David Hoffmann recommends
gargling with Common Garden Sage: "Put 2 tblsps. of Sage leaves into
500 ml cold water & bring to a boil. Cover it & let it infuse
for a further 10 minutes. Reheat the mixture whenever needed &
gargle often". |
HERBS FOR THE MAMA TO BE
| Posted on June 15, 2011 at 12:11 PM |
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HERBS FOR THE MAMA TO BE By Angie Jenkins, Wolfville's Belly Dancing Herbalist  Is
it just me or are there pregnant goddesses everywhere lately??!! The
following herbs are ones that can generally used by women throughout
pregnancy to tone, nourish, & relax, & to help promote a happy
childbirthing experience & ample breast milk for the new babe. I
have chosen the ones below because of their accessibility (either
native plants which can be wild-crafted or are very easy to grow in
Nova Scotian gardens). As a safety precaution, please check first with
your health care provider before using any herbal medicines.  Raspberry LeafStrengthens & tones the uterus, contains "fragrine" which
encourages the uterus to contract more effectively during labouring,
may ease morning sickness, is a pleasant tasting tea.  Nettle (aka Stinging Nettle) Leaf Is an excellent source of plant-based iron, improves the quantity &
quality of breast milk, may reduce hemorrhoids, may slow down
postpartum bleeding, may help slough off excess weight after the baby
is born, may be eaten as a green or prepared as a tea.  Partridge Berry (aka Squaw Vine) Leaf Was first used by Native American women who had previously experienced
difficult childbirths, strengthens & tones the uterus, is commonly
found in our forests!  Lemon Balm Leaf Is a
relaxing nervine for stressful pregnancies, aids digestion & eases
some cases of morning sickness, has gentle anti-depressant properties
for melancholic days, makes a delicious hot or cold tea. If you would like more specific info on how to use the above herbs, please contact me through: www.sisterlotus.com or call 680-8839.
Also, I am at the Wolfville Farmer's Market every Saturday & am
available for quick questions. If you are in need of a Complete Health
Programme created for you, please see my "Consultations" page on my
website. |
HERB OF THE WEEK: NETTLE!
| Posted on May 3, 2011 at 6:06 PM |
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HERB OF THE WEEK: NETTLE! By Angie "Oriana" Jenkins, B.A., Wolfville's Belly Dancing Herbalist  Nettle
(or "stinging nettle" as it is also known) is popping out of the ground
& wants you to celebrate spring! Though its stings may be
intimidating to some, nettle is an amazing plant which can be used as a
food, medicine, cosmetic, & material fibre. When harvesting &
handling the plant, be sure to wear protective gloves. If you happen
to get stung regardless, look nearby for Yellow Dock leaves. Add
moisture to the Yellow Dock & place over the sting & you will
soon feel relief. Remember this old saying: "Nettle in, Dock out!"As
a food, it makes an incredible steamed green resembling the flavour of
spinach. Once steamed, there is no longer a sting so don't fret! Try
it in soup, spanikopitas, or even lasagna. Susun Weed, in her book Healing Wise, dedicates a whole chapter to nettle with an abundance of fun recipes to
try. This plant is a rich source of iron, calcium sulfur, B complex
vitamins, & other nutrients. Medicinally, nettle leaf is a
specific for many female ailments. In menstruating women, it will curb
profuse blood flow while providing the lost iron. Pregnant women
benefit from the consumption of nettle as their need for calcium &
iron increases. Traditionally, the plant was administered by midwives
to women who were at risk of hemorrhage in the last trimester of
pregnancy. After babies are born, mothers can continue to include
nettle in the diet in order to improve the quantity & quality of
breast milk. By acting as a mild diuretic, it will also help her to
slough off excess pounds she may have gained during pregnancy. All
genders will notice this common beauty herb will have a beneficial
effect on the hair, skin, & nails when taken internally as tea,
capsules, or tincture or when used topically in the form of a hair
rinse, cream, or ointment. As allergy season begins to hit, remember
that this plant has an anti-histamine effect & is one step in
lessening common hayfever symptoms. Men are commonly prescribed nettle
root by herbalists for prostate issues. One of my early
teachers taught me how to make nettle string. What a time-consuming
activity! During the world wars, when Germany was cut off from cotton
sources, uniforms were made from the fibers of this very durable
plant. So, go get your gloves on! Eat, drink, & make string! |
Wild Spring Herbs!
| Posted on March 28, 2011 at 11:25 AM |
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WILD SPRING HERBS Here is a list of wild herbs to start looking for very soon!  Coltsfoot: *Flowers will appear first, followed by leaves later on in the season (hence one of its names, Son-Before-the- Father"), *Is a wonderful medicine for the lungs  Dandelion: *Very recognizable to most *The root is a potent liver tonic while the leaves are great for the kidneys *The flowers are used to make dandelion wine  Horsetail: *Contains silica which is known to be the beauty mineral for hair, skin, & nails *Is a tonic to the genito-urinary system  Wild Violet:*Has edible flowers *Can be used internally & externally for many types of skin ailments  Nettles: *Though they sting when touched, they can be steamed into a very delicious food *Contains a high amount of iron & other nutrients *May improve the quality & quantity of a new mother's breast milk To learn more about the culinary & medicinal uses of these plants, please join me for a "Wild Spring Herbs" Workshop at Avalon Gardens at 1199 Russia Rd. in Black Rock (contact me for more directions). Sunday, May 1, 2011, 12-2 pm. Cost: $20. To register: 680-8839, [email protected], www.sisterlotus.com (Pay Pal available). |
ANGIE'S HERB PICKS FOR THE UPCOMING GARDENING SEASON
| Posted on March 8, 2011 at 2:02 PM |
comments (521)
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Purple Hollyhock: stunningly beautiful, has edible flowers that grace the top of a cake quite nicely  Tulsi
(aka Holy or Sacred Basil): much easier to grow than regular basil,
has strong medicinal properties, revered in India by the spiritual
communityNasturtium: super easy to grow & germinates quickly,
has bright cheery flowers that are spicy & delicious in salads,
leaves are also edible  Red Bergamot: has hot pink flowers that
smell & taste gorgeous, leaves & flowers may be added to black
tea to give an earl grey-like flavourHorehound: leaves have a very interesting texture, can be made into delicious lozenges to treat coughs Luffa:
yes, like the sponges! A friend of mine successfully grew & dried
her own luffas & they look just like store-bought ones! Chocolate Mint: need I say more??  Nigella:
very easy to grow, has very beautiful alien-like blue flowers that can
be dried & applied to herbal wreaths, has edible seeds Perilla
(aka Shiso or Japanese Basil): easy to grow, a delicious addition to
sushi & salads, an often effective treatment for seasonal allergies Happy Seed Hunting! |
