Mint (Mentha spp.) is a well-known herb that is a common flavoring for gum, mouthwash, & toothpaste, as well as foods and beverages, like ice cream & tea.
If you have an established mint patch, you likely have an abundance of mint, and may be wondering how to utilize it. This sauce is super quick & easy to put together and is a tasty way to use fresh mint from the garden.
Continue reading “Mint Yogurt Sauce”
Morning sickness is one of the most common issues that pregnant women deal with during their first trimester. For many women, morning sickness occurs anytime or is an all day problem, not just something they experience in the morning.
Herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar, explains, “a combination of factors, including sudden hormonal changes, shifting dietary needs, an insufficient amount of B vitamins, and/or low blood sugar, give rise to morning sickness. In particular, a rapid increase in the hormone chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during the first few months of pregnancy is thought to be a cause of the complaint.”
Thankfully there are many safe natural remedies that can be helpful for easing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Hummus is a delicious Middle Eastern dip that is typically made with blended chickpeas and tahini. It pairs well with fresh veggies or pita bread, and is a great accompaniment to many different dishes.
Hummus is also a great source of plant-based protein, making it an excellent option for vegetarians and vegans. And it’s packed with nutrients, including iron, folate, phosphorus and B vitamins (Raman).
Another great thing about hummus, is that it goes well with many different herbs and spices, meaning you can easily customize it. In this post, I’ll share three different tasty variations of hummus. Continue reading “Homemade Hummus —Three Ways”
“Herb teas, properly prepared, are warming and soothing to the soul. They provide essential medicinal qualities and healing energy. Preparing and drinking herb teas involves us in the personal process of healing and teaches us to be conscious of the role we each play in our well-being,” says herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar.
Certainly, herbal teas are an important part of boosting and maintaining health. If you’re new to herbalism, they are a great way to get started. Making tea is one of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to prepare herbs medicinally. There is no complicated equipment or processing required. In fact, you probably already have all the tools you need in your kitchen.
Today’s world is a fast paced one. People are often on the go, and many don’t have or take adequate time to really relax and recharge. A lack of proper nutrition and unhealthy sleep patterns can also contribute to various nervous system issues, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, volatile emotions, chronic stress, pain, and more. Furthermore, poor nervous system health can create other imbalances in the body, such as digestive problems, high blood pressure, and palpitations.
Herbs that help to ease insomnia, pain, depression, anxiety, & other nervous system issues and have a direct benefit on the nervous system are often called nervines. These herbs will not deaden the nerves and senses like allopathic medications with the same aim will. Instead, they aid in relaxation, gently lifting the spirits, and working on a physiological level to strengthen and tone the nerves and brain.
This tasty and uplifting tea blend will give your body & soul a boost. It’s formulated with new moms in mind, but is beneficial as a relaxing, digestive boosting tea for men and women of all ages.
In our modern culture, motherhood can be an isolated and stressful experience. Simple rituals, like a soothing cup of tea at the end of a long day can help to ground us, and ease the worries of the day. While you sip, take a moment to breathe & quietly reflect or write in a journal.
Herbs are a natural, gentle way to support and nourish a breastfeeding mom and baby. Certain herbs, called galactagogues, actually help to encourage and increase breast milk. Many of these plants also provide essential vitamins and minerals to help keep mom healthy and relaxed through the stresses of breastfeeding and infant care.
Fire ciders are a well loved folk preparation that have been used traditionally to boost digestion, aid healthy body processes, warm one up on cold days, and help to ward off illness. Autumn is the perfect time to make a big batch of fire cider so that it can be used to promote health throughout the winter months.
Fire cider is simple to prepare, but it does need to infuse for some time before it’s ready. Depending on who you ask, the exact recipe varies, but the basic formula remains the same: vinegar + health boosting herbs + honey.
If you notice a frequent need to urinate, pain or burning during urination, and/or a feeling of incomplete urination these are good signs that you have an infection of the bladder and/or urinary tract. The usual allopathic method for treating urinary tract & bladder infections is antibiotics.
However, most bladder infections can be easily resolved with natural remedies when treatment is started early. If you have any of the above symptoms starting the following program as soon as possible can keep the infection at bay.
Continue reading “A Holistic Treatment Plan for Bladder & Urinary Tract Infections”
Herbs are a safe, natural way to support new moms emotionally and physically during labor. If you plan on having a natural childbirth, or just want to reduce the medications that your infant is exposed to during the birthing process, herbs are a great, effective alternative to pharmaceuticals.
The last few weeks of pregnancy are a great time to start putting together your herbal birthing kit. Having everything in order can help set your mind at ease as your due date approaches. The following preparations are helpful to have on hand for a smooth, natural child birth.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you know how frustrating the symptoms can be. Dealing with watery, itchy eyes and a runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing can make life very uncomfortable. Unfortunately, prescription allergy medications can leave you feeling groggy and tired. There are ways, however, to treat allergies holistically. While the results may not be immediately effective, when the treatments are done faithfully, you may find permanent relief from seasonal allergies and better overall health.
Continue reading “A Holistic Treatment Plan for Seasonal Allergies”
Herbal teas are wonderful for goats and my girls love them. This particular blend is one of their favorites and is a good all-purpose tea to help tone and strengthen their systems. I like to make up a batch for them periodically, especially during more stressful times — like heat, baths, hoof trimming, or transport — or during the changing of seasons to help give their bodies a boost during wet or cold periods.
The ingredients in this tea are naturally soothing and nourishing. Chamomile is a gentle sedative and anti-spasmodic. It also tones the digestive system and helps to relieve constipation and expel gas and worms. It is a natural pain reliever, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and helps to heal wounds (making it great for external use too!). While it is a very mild, safe herb its use should be limited with pregnant goats.
Purple Dead Nettle (Lamium Purpureum) is a lovely and useful herbaceous plant. It grows abundantly around our site in Southwest, Michigan and I see it popping up all over this area. It can be found throughout the US, Canada, and many other parts of the world. This hardy weed thrives in lawns, roadsides, and can grow in a variety of conditions. It is also frost tolerant. It is most commonly found growing in loamy or sandy soils, but will also do well in clay soils. It is an self-seeding annual. Each plant produces lots of seeds (it’s estimated to be several hundred to several thousand) and those seeds can germinate year round.
Purple dead nettle is considered to be an “invasive species” due to its ability to thrive and reproduce in many environments. In fact, much of the literature available on this plant is geared towards methods of eradication, including pulling up the herb to control its population. It is interesting to note that purple dead nettle seeds germinate better when the soil is disturbed. “Invasive” plants like purple dead nettle often grow in places where humans have disrupted the natural balance. These plants are simply trying to restore equilibrium to their environment. When we pull and spray these plants we are further disturbing the areas where they grow and actually increasing their ability to return and spread.
Continue reading “Purple Dead Nettle: More than an Invasive Plant”
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a lovely little plant that grows abundantly in meadows and along roadsides here in Southwest Michigan and in temperate regions across the world. It is a favorite among farmers, foragers, and herbalists. In his book, Back to Eden, herbalist, Jethro Kloss, called red clover “one of God’s greatest blessings to man.” And for good reason! This wonderful legume is edible, medicinal, and extremely useful in the garden.
We planted red clover heavily this year at the Augusta Creek Permaculture site to aid in the transition from lawn to forest garden as it helps to force out unwanted weeds and grass. It also loosens poor, rocky, or clay soil and fixes nitrogen. We chop and drop it throughout the season to prepare areas for planting and feed other plants. It is a low-maintence, easy to grow perennial and is a favorite cover crop among farmers because it easily adapts to a variety of climates, grows quickly, and has few issues with diseases and pests.
This past winter was long and cold — as Midwest winters often are. To cope, I cooked a lot of soup for about five months straight. Now that the weather has been warmer, I have been taking a break from this comforting dish. But, some chillier temps and cool spring rains have had me craving a warm bowl of soup again.
This light, spicy soup utilizes one of my favorite foraged springtime greens, nettle. Fresh nettle greens are quite delicious and extremely nutritious. But, if you don’t have any or don’t know where to get them, you can substitute any other spring greens you have on hand, like spinach, chard, collards or kale.
mama libélula 