Sunlight, Bones and More
May 30, 2013
I always appreciate Vivian Goldschmidt’s timely, simple and effective advice about Bone Health. Everyone has become so afraid of the sun. Many never allow the sunlight to touch their skin. Vivian reminds us: don’t burn, but do take sunlight for Vitamin D.
Check out her 5 simple things to do this summer.
Hat Tip: saveourbones.com
Mama’s Calendula Skin Food
February 14, 2012
Here is the recipe I created for “Mama’s Calendula Skin Food 2011”:
Wonderful for cuts, scrapes, chapped skin, lip balm, burns, cuticles, rough skin on heels and more.
¼ c Calendula infused grapeseed oil
.5 oz beeswax
1/8 t unfiltered honey
½ t cocoa butter
½ t sea buckthorn oil
20 drops peppermint, lavender or Thieves essential oil
Slowly melt beeswax in double boiler. (I used a pyrex measuring cup in a pan of water)
stir in honey, cocoa butter, and oils. Do not boil, just warm until melted.
When all liquid, turn off heat, add drops of essential oil and stir, pour into little containers and allow to cool.
Motherwort Tincture
July 2, 2011
It is time to harvest and tincture one of my herbal allies, motherwort, Leonurus Cardiaca, also called Lionheart. This herb grows where she wants in my garden and I never know from year to year where she’ll show up – here is motherwort with the day lilies.
Years ago this tincture was recommended to me by Susun Weed to help me with sleep issues. Over the years I have used it to calm menstrual cramps, calm anxiousness. It can be dried and used as a smudge along with sage and mugwort. It makes a bitter tea- so sweeten with honey and use it for a stress-diffuser. Livestrong.com has a good article listing other uses for motherwort. Also, more good information at Herbalist.com where it mentions that motherwort is well-known and used in Europe:
The sedative (nervine) action of the herb, claimed by the herb’s historical use was demonstrated scientifically well enough for the Commission E, the official German herbal pharmacopaea, to recommend it to the public………Older scientific data on the herb’s neurological and cardiac properties are based on studies by Chinese researchers of an extract called leonurin from Leonurus sibiricus, an herb very closely related to Leonurus cardiaca.
Susan Weed has a wonderful 3 minute video on how to tincture this herb.
To tincture: you will need a jar with tight-fitting lid, scissors and vodka. Cut the top 8-10 inches of the flowering tops. Then cut the plant material directly into your jar. The flowers are prickly, be cautious. Put enough flowers and leaves to tightly fill jar, pour in vodka to very top. Put on lid, shake, turn over a few times to make sure most of the air bubbles are dislodged, maybe you’ll need to add some more vodka. Then label, leave in dark place for 6 weeks. Strain, put in smaller dropper jars. Voila.
Boohoo to Moo, 10 Alternatives
April 14, 2011
There are many reasons I did not like to drink milk when I was growing up- childhood allergies, bad memories from my parents making me finish my milk at every meal because there were children starving somewhere else, hating the taste and texture. I was being fed milk mechanically, sentimentally- it’s what you gave to children.
There are many very different reasons why I don’t drink milk now and don’t give it to my children – intellectual, social, ideological- these reasons include the inappropriateness of cow’s milk for humans, the carbon footprint from the meat and dairy industry, the hype from the milk industry, and now perhaps saddest reason of all- radiation is being detected in milk- be it organic or not.
For those of you who still like a creamy substance in your coffee, tea or on your corn flakes there are many alternatives. Here is a helpful article in the Ecologist, listing the 10 top alternatives to cows milk.
Hat Tip to the beautiful Mak!
Photo by theowl84
Tapping for Japan
March 15, 2011
How to hold our hearts open to peace, love and hope in the face of all the fear and difficulties of the world today? Here is a beautiful Tapping Prayer from the Tapping Solution. Scroll to mid-page for Jessica’s recording. Very calming and very empowering.
Mushrooms for Bone Health
January 19, 2011
Check out this good article by Vivian Goldschmidt on the benefits of shiitake and other mushrooms for healthy bones. Because of their copper, zinc and other mineral content, all mushrooms can be beneficial not only for bone health but for our immune systems as well. There is even a recipe for shiitake stir fry. Yum.
Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Pecan Pie
December 22, 2010
Thank you to Greta for this great site where I have found something that I think my dear friend, Teresa will want to bake for her Southern family! Check out this Pecan Pie recipe from Gluten-Dairy-Free.com.
Being Aware of EMF’s
November 25, 2010
Check out Dr Sinatra’s video about becoming aware (if for some reason you are not already aware) of EMF’s and some ways to protect yourself.
Never use microwave ovens, don’t hang out near one that is on, text don’t talk, use speaker phone, turn off your wireless at night, do NOT use Jawbones, etc…And of course, earthing ourselves using magnets is a good idea.
Via: Carol Gordon
Clean the Windows
October 14, 2010
After all the pollen, dust, leaves of autumn, my windows are dirty outside and inside. There are many reasons to keep your windows clean – dirty windows are an insidious form of clutter. The film creeps up on us slowly so we don’t notice that our view/vision of the outside world is getting cloudier. And there is a connection between our personal clarity and the clarity of our world. Tell me, who likes a dirty bathroom mirror? Spring and Fall are great times to wash windows, inside and out. City dwellers deal with more things that accumulate on windows. If you can’t clean outside, at least keep up with the inside of your windows.
Read this good post by Stephanie Bennett Vogt about the Feng Shui of clean windows. And then consider making your own window cleaner instead of spraying (and consequently breathing) toxic Windex or other window sprays.
Window Cleaner recipe:
2 tsp white vinegar
3 cups water
1 cup alcohol (optional) helps evaporate more quickly
Put in spray bottle, shake and spray. Lasts forever.
Wipe with newspaper or paper towels (if you must) or cotton rags.
For more options:check out informative article at Livestong.com
Joan Spear's Authentic Adventure 