Showing posts with label natural remedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural remedy. Show all posts

4.29.2014

Mayday Handmade Fair

This Saturday's Mayday Handmade Fair is open to the public and free to all! Doors open at noon sharp. Feel free to RSVP or share via FB. In honor of Mother’s Day, 10% of vendor proceeds will benefit the East End Pregnancy Test + Help Center. Read here about my own reasons for supporting the center with proceeds from Limb & Leaf!
I'll have fresh batches of Zzzzzzz Cream, Breathe Balm, Healing Salve & gift certificates for upcoming HerbShop events, among other thoughtful gift items! Other vendors plan to offer:

  • paintings, prints & home decor
  • toys, greeting cards & garlands
  • handknits & printed apparel
  • herbal body care & loose teas
  • jewelry (both local & fair trade from overseas)

3.28.2014

April HerbShop: Skincare & Seasonal Relief

Zzzzzzz Cream
Skincare & Seasonal Relief

Learn & practice hands-on methods for making herb infused oils & medicinal tinctures to help protect against & recover from common skin ailments & allergic reactions. Starting with an overview of herb properties, we will examine different extraction methods while learning when they can be best applied. The remainder of the class will be devoted to preparing an herb & essential oil first-aid antibiotic salve, a bentonite clay body powder & ending with a Q&A session and talking the pros & cons of ordering herbs in bulk. Our structure is a lab rather than lecture, so please come ready to work with your hands & revolutionize your medicine cabinet while having lots of fun! 

All materials will be provided. Each student will walk away with a travel size healing salve, recipe cards to jog the memory at home, book lists & online resources... It's taken me 4 yrs to learn where to find the best ingredients at affordable prices & what works for sensitive, damaged, acne-prone or newborn skin. I'm just sharing the love!

Date/Time: April 12, 2014 / 2-4pm
Location: 23223 (my house)
Cost: $35 (includes all materials) 
Sign up via the Square marketplace 
Hope to see you there!
xoxo 
Megs

2.18.2014

March HerbShop: Skincare & Seasonal Relief



LIMB AND LEAF HERBSHOP
Skincare & Seasonal Relief

Learn & practice hands-on methods for making herb infused oils, salves and poultices. Starting with an overview of herb properties, we will examine different extraction methods while learning when they can be best applied. The remainder of the class will be devoted to preparing an herbal first-aid & antibiotic salve, ending with a Q&A session and talking the pros & cons of ordering herbs in bulk. Our structure is a lab rather than lecture, so please come ready to work with your hands & revolutionize your skin-care practices while having a lot of fun! All materials will be provided. Each student will leave with a travel size sample of healing salve, recipe cards to jog the memory at home, my book lists & online resources... It's taken me 4 yrs to learn where to find the best ingredients at affordable prices & what works for sensitive, damaged, acne-prone or newborn skin. I'm just sharing the love!

Date/Time: 2-4pm, March 22, 2014
Location: RVA's Northside, 23222
Cost: $35 (includes all materials)
Register on Square Market

11.12.2013

Limb and Leaf Herb DIY Workshop


Four years ago, as a new mama running out all of the gifted teas/soaps/lotions/powders, many aspects of natural, whole-body care felt elitist & pricey. The library & a YouTube video weren't enough to help me find raw, healing, plant-based ingredients that were affordable to DIY. 

Herbs were once the medicine of the people. Their natural beauty & virtue have fallen out of common practice in the home, as it takes time, trial & error to learn. I would like to share some simple, natural solutions & resources to let you see if it works for your family. To the first 10 people who sign up, please enjoy the second...


LIMB AND LEAF HERBSHOP
Immune Defense: Herbs for inner strength

Learn & practice hands-on methods for making herb infused oils & medicinal tinctures to help protect against & recover from common winter infections. Starting with an overview of herb properties, we will examine different extraction methods while learning when they can be best applied. The remainder of the class will be devoted to preparing an essential oil vapor balm & honey cough syrup, ending with a Q&A session and talking the pros & cons of ordering herbs in bulk. Our structure is a lab rather than lecture, so please come ready to work with your hands & revolutionize your medicine cabinet while having lots of fun! 

All materials will be provided. Each student will leave with 4 oz of carrier oils, a sample of vapor balm, my book lists & online resources... It's taken me 4 yrs to learn where to find the best ingredients at affordable prices & what works for ailing ears, throats & noses. I'm just sharing the love!

Date/Time: December 14, 2013 / 2-4pm
Location: RVA's southside (email for street address)
Cost: $35 (includes all materials)

Hope to see you there!

At this stage, we're using the Square marketplace to allow HerbShop participants to reserve their slot. For locals who want to pre-order gifts for pickup at the Holiday Handmade Fair, please order via Square & pickup on December 7, 2013 between 12-4pm at 400 W. 32nd St RVA 23225. Unopened/unused products may be exchanged with 14 days. Empty, used bottles & tins may be returned for a "refill" discount on the next item ordered.

10.17.2013

limb and leaf: holiday additions

Beard Kitten

Meet your beard’s new best friends. Plant-based ingredients will tame whiskers, soften scruff, & encourage fuller beard growth while remaining pH neutral, hypoallergenic & make-out friendly.

WHISKER WASH: The hardy, subtle fragrance works with rugged scruff or a full-grown beard, helping moisturize surface skin & condition follicles. 4 oz of raw vitamins & minerals; ideal as a full-face wash & shave oil. Made with castor oil, grapeseed oil, peppermint & eucalyptus essential oils.

BEARD BALM: Antibacterial nourishment gives beards a stronger hold with maximum cuddle mojo. Smells like Earl Grey tea by a campfire. To tame coarse whiskers, use as a styling pomade. 4 oz should last all winter. Made with coconut oil, unrefined shea butter, beeswax, calendula, evening primrose oil, lavender, cedarwood, bergamot & vitamin E. 

BEST USE: Apply whisker wash, massage into beard & surrounding skin, comb from root to tip. Rinse as needed. Smooth damp whiskers with balm. Done. Beard kissers everywhere, rejoice!


Grave Robber

Soothing, aromatherapeutic vapor balm. In the 15th century, four thieves were charged with robbing the dead & dying victims of the Plague. At trial, the magistrate offered leniency if they would reveal how they avoided contracting infection, despite their close contact. These perfumers & spice traders had rubbed themselves with concentrations of the aromatic herbs mimicked in this balm, disinfecting the air they breathed as well as their skin.

Made with organic virgin coconut oil, mullein leaf & essential oils of clove bud, lemon, eucalyptus, cinnamon bark, & peppermint. Smells like a gingerbread house. Most effective when applied on the soles of the feet, behind the ears & under the armpits (think lymph nodes) at the early onset of symptoms. Tin holds 4 ounces & can be made into a balm if you prefer. Shelf-stable for 1 year.

PLEASE: For external use only. If your symptoms persist, I urge you to consult your physician or health practitioner. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA & is not intended to replace professional medical care.

Refresh Mineral Toothpaste

Kiss morning breath goodbye & remineralize tooth enamel by gently removing plaque while naturally supporting a healthy mouth. This toothpaste will help neutralize acid, remove bacteria-filled organic matter, leach out infection & promote healthy gums. It also gently removes stains that results from drinking tea, coffee & red wine.

Made with bentonite clay, organic cinnamon bark, organic stevia leaf, baking soda & Celtic sea salt. Sugar-free, fluoride-free, glycerin-free & safe to swallow. If you would prefer peppermint, I’m happy to make a custom batch.

Brush once a day with a pea-sized dollop for 2-3 min, focusing on the teeth & tongue but going easy on the gums. Bottle holds 4 ounces & is shelf-stable for 4 months (due to water content.)
PLEASE: Always store bentonite clay products in glass containers.

Elderberry Tincture

Food can be medicine! Concentrated doses of elderberry are useful against several strains of influenza & common winter viruses, colds, flu, hay fever, sinusitis & sore throats. Most effective when applied at the early onset of symptoms. Dissolve 1 tsp. elderberry tincture into 8 oz warm water (letting the alcohol evaporate) or juice; add 1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar if you have some. Sip or gulp as needed up to 3x daily during illness.

Made with organic, non-GMO elderberries, organic cinnamon bark, 100 proof vodka & infused over a six (6) week period to achieve full strength. Bottle holds 4 ounces & is shelf-stable for 2 years.

PLEASE: If you have serious health issues or think you might be pregnant, I urge you to consult your physician or health practitioner before adding this tincture to your diet. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA & is not intended to replace professional medical care.

Breathe Easy

Soothing, aromatherapeutic vapor balm for congestion & coughs. Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, camphor-free, petroleum-free & friendly to all skin types. Most effective when applied on the soles of the feet, temples, behind the ears & under the armpits (think lymph nodes) at the early onset of symptoms.

Made with cold pressed organic coconut oil, mullein natural beeswax, & organic essential oils of eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender & tea tree. Makes a great personal go-to solid perfume or works well as a gift. Rave reviews when given at baby showers, as stocking stuffers & as thank you gifts. Tin holds 4 ounces which is about 2 ounces more than a Badger Balm tin.

PLEASE: If your symptoms persist, I urge you to consult your physician or health practitioner. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA & is not intended to replace professional medical care.

Honey, cough (syrup)

Mild tasting, herb infused cough syrup to sooth raw throats, expel congestion & soothe inflammation. Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, alcohol-free. Most effective when administered at the early onset of symptoms. Dissolve 1 tsp. Honey Cough into 8 oz warm water (making a pleasantly mild tea); add 1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar if you have some. Sip or gulp as needed. 

Made with the golden ratio of organic honey, organic cinnamon bark, organic mullein leaves, distilled water & lemon juice to preserve. Bottle holds 8 ounces & should be refrigerated between uses for up to 6 months.

PLEASE: Do not feed Honey Cough to infants under one (1) year of age.
If your symptoms persist, I urge you to consult your physician or health practitioner. This information has not been evaluated by the FDA & is not intended to replace professional medical care.

9.20.2013

limb and leaf


In prep for next weekend's #HandmadeFairRVA, allow me to introduce my wares! Small batch, herbal body care after the traditions of domestic medicine, repurposing containers whenever possible. Low tech kitchen techniques ease the ache in my heart to take natural resources & make products that please the senses, nourish the body & serve everyday life. Secret ingredient: love.

All herbs & essential oils sourced from Mountain Rose Herbs, Native American Nutritionals, Bulk Herb Store (each USDA organic certified & sustainable harvest companies) or my kitchen garden (too small for the USDA to care that it's organic & sustainable.)

Healing Salve

Natural first-aid for all your skin's woes. Gentle enough for the newest baby bum; strong enough to calm a surprise wasp-sting; nourishing enough to help heal surgical scars.  Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-itch. Most effective when applied immediately to injured skin.

Made with cold pressed organic coconut & extra virgin olive oil, organic calendula blossoms, organic comfrey & plantain leaves, natural beeswax, organic tea tree oil, organic eucalyptus & peppermint essential oils. Smooth, nourishing, moisturizing, petroleum-free & friendly to all skin types. Cloth diaper friendly. Rave reviews when given as a new mama gift, at showers & as thank you gifts.

Zzzzzzz Herb Cream

Fragrant, natural remedy for the tossie-turnies. You (& your babies) may start sleeping through thunderstorms. Most effective when applied on the soles of the feet, temples & behind the ears (think lymph nodes.) Smooth as silk, nourishing, moisturizing, petroleum-free & friendly to all skin types.

Made with cold pressed organic coconut oil, organic lavender & chamomile buds, organic cocoa butter, organic beeswax, & lavender essential oil. Makes a great personal go-to solid perfume or works well as a gift.

Detox Dry Shampoo

Vegan, talc free, organic scalp revitalizer for the girl who likes to camp. Or between washes for anyone with bangs, great for use before styling. Removes excess oil & dirt at the roots via bentonite clay (draws toxins into itself, washes away in the next shower, you won’t feel a thing.) Dust a small amount on roots and scalp. Using fingers, massage in. Brush throughout, from roots to end, helping to disperse evenly. Style as usual.

Made with the perfect ratio of bentonite clay, organic brown rice flour, organic cocoa powder (brunette version), baking soda & your choice of essential oil.
Essential Oil Addition Choices;
+lavender      +rosemary
+peppermint  +eucalyptus
+bergamot     +cedarwood

 Herbal Probiotic Tea This vegan drink is fermented with kefir grains. Mild enough for toddler tummies & a great alternative to commercially carbonated beverages, with a low glycemic load & no caffeine. As a natural supplier of probiotics, this tea restores the healthy flora of your stomach & intestines. As a natural source of electrolytes, this tea is a supplemental source of vitamins B12, B1 & B6.  Made using distilled water, organic raw sugars & herbal teas. Fermented over 24-48 hrs. (Kefir consists of lactic acid bacteria & yeast that exist in a symbiotic relationship.) Herbal tea variations:
+lavender        +rosemary
+peppermint    +chamomile

PLEASE: If you have serious health issues, I urge you to consult your physician or health practitioner before adding this tea to your diet.


5.29.2012

healing salve, redux

(eucalyptus) image via GrainnePhotography


Toddlers + summer = exposed skin = boo boos. This topical salve is perfect for diaper rash, scrapes, cuts, burns, bites & stings to speed healing & prevent infection. More creamy than sleepy balm, the amount of tea tree oil makes it smell somewhat medicinal so avoid close contact with mucous membranes on sensitive little ones.

To address the symptom of itch & save a little cash, I've started infusing olive oil with three herbs at once: plantain leaf, calendula & comfrey. To do this, a crock pot comes in handy. To store the salve, I have switched from using half pint mason jars (not ideal for the changing table) to these squeeze tubes that are small enough to pack in a carry-on bag without confiscation & can suction cup to whatever surface allows it!


Infused Oil

  • .5 cups (app. 3 Tbsp each) dried herbs
  • 1.5 cups olive oil

Prep

  • Tie herbs loosely in cheesecloth (for ease squeezing oil from herbs at the end). Submerge cheesecloth in oil in a pint sized mason jar & secure lid. 
  • Place a washcloth at the bottom of the crock pot to ensure your oil jar doesn't break while heating. Lay oil jar on the cloth & fill crock pot halfway with tepid water. Put lid on crock, set to "low" for initial warming, but switch to "warm" for 2-3 days. 100 F in pretty much ideal.
  • Once the infusion is done, strain out plant matter by gently squeezing the cheesecloth until it stops dripping with oil & discard solids. Take infused oil & use immediately or store in with an airtight lid.

Salve
  • 1.5 cups infused oil
  • 6 tsp beeswax
  • 30 drops tea tree oil
  • 10 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Prep
  • In small saucepan over low heat or in a double boiler, combine oil with wax & gently warm until wax has just melted. 
  • Remove from heat, allow to cool 5 min & add essential oils. Stir to blend.
  • Pour into storage container(s). Allow to cool 20 min, stir edges to keep wax from separating from oil while cooling, then cap containers.
  • No refrigeration required, but freshest when used within 6 months.
Apply
Smear as needed. If you leave it in a warm car, it may re-liquify.
Avoid mucous membranes. Not a lip balm; do not ingest. 

6.15.2011

thieves vinegar for bug spray?

image (print available) via LittlePaperPlanes

I've been investigating which herbs & essential oils will repel insects effectively, without chemicals like the dreaded deet. It's almost a paranoia how often thoughts of disease-carrying mosquitoes cross my mind. When I was carrying Elijah, a woman in my Centering Group (with our midwives) mentioned something called Thieves Oil that is recorded to prevent the spread of Bubonic Plague among those raiding the homes & graves of deceased victims.  One of the thieves must have been an herbalist, living to credit the potion for their survival.

Old records describe several recipes that are very much alike. Each herb in tincture form should be effective in place of today’s insect repellents. Of course, superstition was rampant in those times, disease was misunderstood & history books often confuse superstition with herbal healings. Common sense & more recent medical understanding tells me why an herbal vinegar could work so well.

Rosemary, being a strong antiseptic, was one of the choice herbs (even just the smoke from burning it). Wormwood & Rue are the bitterest of herbs. Both are antiseptics and vermifuges (kill worms). Wormwood has been used internally but can cause convulsions. Lavender & peppermint are high in volatile oils, excellent ingredients for a very good insect repellent, as well as being pleasant smelling. Sage is a lymphatic, which is important to remember in cases of a bubonic-type disease outbreak. Of course, garlic, as the king of herbs, is antiseptic, antimicrobial, antibiotic and, antifungal—chemicals that kill parasites.

Thieves Vinegar is my next experiment as a super-strong insect repellent, diluted with water to half strength when we spray it directly on our skin. Splashed on socks or shoes will discourage ticks, chiggers & mites. An herbal cloth in your pocket & rubbed on your skin ever hour or so would be great for outdoor work or play. A nightly bath with a little herbal vinegar & oil will keep it on your skin for many hours, which could help while in the country or on camping trips. It should only be used externally.

Ingredients


Prep

  • Combine 12 Tbsp of the premixed herbs & 2 quarts of vinegar in a sealed glass jar. Steep in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks or so, shaking daily. Strain out the used herbs, & retain the herbal liquid mixture.
  • Add several cloves of crushed garlic & close lid. Let soak for 3 days, strain out the garlic fiber to be discarded.
  • This liquid tincture needs to be stored in a cool place, like the refrigerator. It can be preserved for a very long period of time by canning. You would fill canning jars with boiling liquid tincture to within one-half inch of top. Cap with rubber seal canning lid, tighten ring, turn hot jar upside down & leave it undisturbed until it cools to room temperature. This will cause the jar to seal. Date & label it clearly.

6.10.2011

crotchety, petulant, sullen, surly


Today's lesson:
if you wake up grumpy from a nap & nobody seems to understand you, visit your family chiro for an attitude adjustment. Play outside, cuddle with mama, eat a protein-rich dinner. Then take some vitamin D3, Cod liver oil, iced chamomile tea & try again tomorrow.

6.06.2011

healing salve

(eucalyptus) image via GrainnePhotography


Summer = exposed skin = boo boos. This topical salve is perfect for diaper rash, scrapes, cuts, burns, bites & stings to speed healing & prevent infection. More creamy than sleepy balm, the amount of tea tree oil makes it smell somewhat medicinal so avoid close contact with mucous membranes on sensitive little ones.

Ingredients
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 3 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1.5 tsp beeswax
  • 15 drops tea tree oil
  • 15 drops calendula
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Prep
  • In small saucepan over low heat or in a double boiler, combine oils with wax & gently warm until wax has just melted. 
  • Remove from heat, allow to cool 5 min & add essential oils. Stir to blend.
  • Pour into storage container(s). Allow to cool 20 min before capping containers.
  • No refrigeration required, but freshest when used within 6 months.
Apply
Smear as needed.

5.31.2011

sleepy balm




At baby bedtime, it's still pretty bright outside. So mama concocted a batch of sleepy balm to rub on the temples & chest for dreamy wafting smells all night. A bit flowery, perfectly delightful & soothing, very gentle on the skin. I used less wax than other recipes to account for coconut oil being solid at room temp.

Ingredients
  • 2 Tbsp sesame oil
  • 4 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 Tbsp beeswax (.5 oz)
  • 20 drops lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops chamomile or geranium essential oil
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil
  • 5 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Prep
  • In small saucepan over low heat or in a double boiler, combine oils with wax & gently warm until wax has just melted. 
  • Remove from heat, allow to cool 5 min & add essential oils. Stir to blend.
  • Pour into storage container(s). Allow to cool 20 min before capping containers.
  • No refrigeration required, but freshest when used within 6 months.
Apply
A little salve goes a long way when applied under the nose, on the throat, temples, hands, &/or chest just before bedtime.  Also relaxing when suffering from a headache, nervous tension or anxiety (like when babe's molars are cutting).

*Edit*
I find coconut oil to be great for cradle cap, so after coating my hands in this balm I sometimes rub it all over baby's head. Immensely helpful with a touchy/fussy one like Os in the afternoons.

5.25.2011

edible facial scrub


image via Flickr

Been reading Organic Body Care Recipes. Loving the All-Purpose Scrub described on page 176. After using it daily for a week (face only), I'm convinced enough to make batches big enough to scrub elbows, knees & feet too. It is barefoot weather, after all.

Ingredients
  • .5 cup ground oatmeal
  • .25 cup almond meal
  • .25 sunflower seed meal
  • 1 tsp ground peppermint, spearmint or rosemary leaves
  • dash cinnamon (for fragrance)
  • Purified water (for oily skin), milk (for normal skin) or cream (for dry skin) 
To store
After dry ingredients are combined, storing in a Ziploc bag or lidded jar/tin would work. No need to refrigerate dry ingredients, but best results come when used within 6 months.

To mix for use
  • In small bowl, mix 1 Tbsp dry scrub mixture with enough water/milk/cream (see above) to form a spreadable paste. Allow to thicken for 1 min.
  • Using your fingers, massage scrub onto face & throat. Rinse.
  • Doubles as a facial mask if you leave it to dry on your face for 20 min before rinsing.

5.19.2011

greens for your face

image via roadtothelakehouse

Love that we can use greens from our CSA for homemade cosmetics, via Organic Body Care Recipes.

Parsley & Peppermint Astringent
Ingredients
  • 2 cups distilled water
  • .25 cup fresh, chopped parsley
  • .25 cups fresh, chopped peppermint leaves
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil
Prep
In small saucepan, bring water to a boil & remove from heat. Add herbs, cover & steep for 30 min. Add essential oil (if desired) & stir to blend. Strain into storage container(s). Shake well. Refrigerate for up to 1 week, then discard.
Apply
Using a cotton cleansing pad, apply 1 tsp to the face or more as needed to the throat, neck, shoulders or back. Avoid eye area.
Doubles as a hair rinse to enhance natural highlights in brown/red/black hair.

10.28.2010

when stuff doesn't work

Monday was devastating for me. After the bout of teething ended last weekend, Elijah slept alot & returned to his smiling, enthusiastic self. Except he still refused to nurse. Friday afternoon he got unusally fussy & wouldn't nap; I suspected it might be his ears but didn't push when the pediatrician's line was consistently busy. He seemed pretty chill but had a runny nose, so I commenced our usual techniques: saline swabs, colloidal silver & olive oil drops infused with both onion & garlic (for pain & to fight infection). However, he woke often each night & stayed awake at 3am no matter what approach I used. To my relief, Nic said to take him in Monday & do whatever worked, even antibiotics if necessary. [He's never said anything like that before; all the Clinch siblings survived antibiotic-free & immunization-free their entire childhoods without a serious or even moderate bout of anything.]

At our appt I was grateful to hear her reinforce that while their office employs a full-time naturopath & encourages all the techniques I had used, the goal is integrative medicine. In other words, I could choose both natural & modern techniques to be sure I'm doing what lets Elijah heal & keep him healthy. To my dismay, she found a very bad infection: the right ear was bulging with fluid & the left eardrum had ruptured (less painful but starting to ooze). I'm now certain that's what was happening Saturday night. She gave us 3 scripts, two for antibiotics (oral & drops) & one for pain relief (drops). I kept it together until the pharmacy, where the price of the antibiotic drops reminded me how serious the infection was.

I cried all day, despite Elijah's cheerful yet nap-less disposition. He slept all night, 7pm to 6am, 3 nights in a row. Now we are hunting for a chiropractor for both of us, to keep me healthy this pregnancy & to prevent future ear infections for him.

8.26.2010

teething comforts


Some of you have seen Elijah banging around with this wooden shape & wearing a dark necklace, so let me explain their function (besides being so cute). In addition to offering him frozen treats when his little teeth are trying to poke through, we let our boy chew on wood; & the circles in this design make it an easy grab. We chose the skull shape from etsy seller EcoAyris, who offers many other designs in organic teethers & toys.

Also to avoid giving him Motrin at night (when he's most uncomfortable & fussy), I decided to experiment with a teething necklace after hearing about them during study abroad in Latvia a few years back. Success! Elijah is happier & requires no medicine for teething pain anymore. He wears the necklace all day (just not to bed at night), & he is attached to it the way other kids hold onto a blankie. 

A natural analgesic, raw (unpolished) Baltic Sea amber worn close to the skin acts as a natural anti-inflammatory & pain relief. These necklaces for wearing, not for chewing, as amber exhibits its pain relieving qualities when worn on the skin. Your body absorbs what it needs throughout the day, so the benefits extend into the night without having to leave it on when the babes are asleep & unsupervised. Please use caution & supervise your child while using the necklace! I chose a dark grey color from etsy seller AmberforSale (sometimes straightforward is best), & there are lots of color options from honey yellow to dark red to multicolored. Some beads are polished & rounded; we chose raw/rough cut to maximize the benefits & make sure he still looked like a boy wearing a necklace.

7.21.2010

vitameatavegamin


This is how I feel after researching for a while to find an organic, food-based supplement with nutrients in their most natural state (preferably for less than $40/month per person). Juice Plus was an option for a while, but but since it's still summer & seasonal produce is easy to obtain (even organic is somewhat available), I've been juicing things myself in addition to eating coconut oil/cream & cod liver oil. I'm just not convinced that conventional vitamins do for our bodies what food-based nutritional supplements can offer, but we also can't afford stuff like Garden of Life.
But now I'm. so. excited. After talking with the in-laws, it seems there might be an affordable, whole-food-based supplement that we can sustain long-term! Standard Process makes a product (among some more specific options depending on your needs) called Catalyn that will function as a prenatal multi without being a "mega-dose" that the body can't use efficiently. After checking out their farming & manufacturing practices, research & product ingredient lists... yes please! I'm also looking into the Trace Mineral B12 for its iron content during future pregnancies.  They offer options that are vegetarian lacto-ovo, but generally speaking there are animal products listed as ingredients. I'll periodically update after we've been on them for a bit.

7.16.2010

juicing for joint pain


Last night was the first volleyball game I've played since getting pregnant with Elijah, so a year & a half. It was fun, but I've never been this achy before especially in my knees (sports injuries from high school). I've taken GCM for years, which is very helpful to take the edge off. Over July 4th weekend I was given our first juicer, from Mama Dompe! We were discussing homeopathic ways of dealing with joint pain, which I am experiencing more now than ever before. From time to time, I will post recipes that seem to treat symptoms most effectively. For joints, this is a fav:
  
Joint Pain Relief Juice – Omega 3 Greens

2 cups of spinach or broccoli florets
2 cups of parsley
2 inch slice of ginger root
1 apple or 1/4 pineapple
handful of blueberries

Wash all produce thoroughly. Remove apple stem or slice pineapple in half, then quarters, then eighths. Juice the green vegetables and ginger first followed by the apple/pineapple/berries, this will help flush the green juice out through the juicer. Broccoli, kale and parsley are all good plant sources of omega 3 and also contain vitamin C. These greens can be bitter so the fruit helps to sweeten things and add more vitamin C.

7.09.2010

when you can't eat: juice


One unfortunate side-effect of illness is being unable to eat. You're laying there hungry but not really in the mood for food, or maybe not even keeping food down, & knowing that without fuel your body will heal slower & slower. I've been sick twice since Elijah was born, & both times I've worried that my milk supply would wane or dry up altogether. One very refreshing alternative to eating, that doesn't feed the virus with processed sugary sports drinks, is to juice. Sip it slowly, dilute if it's too thick to enjoy, & add ginger if you're feeling queasy! 

My current favorite is:

4 carrots
2 apples
2 inch slice of ginger root
10 oz. coconut water

Juicing is also a gentle way to detox, & there's an entry about making it a Juice Feast (not a fast) that really encouraged me recently. Bottoms up, folks.

7.08.2010

stash & nap, round two + egg drop soup recipe


Whatever 24-hour fever Elijah had on Sunday, it sucker punched me yesterday. For the first time in my adult life, I feel why people get flu shots. Misery for a day or two is one thing; people who ache with fever & chills for a week or more? No thank you. Speaking of thanks, my quick recovery is due in part to friends/neighbors who let Elijah play at their house while I sleep & to Mama Dompe for the juicer she insisted I take home. Thank you, thank you!


The stash on my nightstand: thermometer, coconut water (to balance electrolytes & rehydrate), ibuprofen,  zinc lozenges, elder berry extract. Meals were limited to juice & soup. Breakfast=juicing chard, carrot & apple. Lunch=egg drop soup (homemade broth). Dinner=juicing carrot, ginger root & apple + more egg drop soup.


Egg Drop Soup
 
Ingredients
  • 4-6 cups homemade chicken broth (our is frozen into cubes for times like this)
  • 2 shallots & half a clove garlic
  • 1 carrot & 1 stalk celery
  • 2-3 eggs whisked together
  • sea salt to taste (or soy sauce if you prefer) 
*because this was my only meal I thickened the soup with barley; wild rice would also work

Preparation
  • bring chicken broth to a rolling boil
  • while broth warms, saute shallots-garlic-carrot-celery in sesame oil
  • add contents of saute pan to broth & reduce to a trembling boil
  • slowly pour eggs through the whisk into the pot & stir so the egg gets that silky-poached texture & turn burner off

7.05.2010

stashing & napping


Over the weekend, for the first time in his short life, illness struck our little muffin. Around 11 o'clock Saturday night he woke up whimpering & was hot to the touch when I lifted him to change the diaper. After a brief panic, I realized this was a low grade fever & that no immediate action was necessary. Sunday he just wanted to cuddle, nurse & rest in his crib. Awake time was brief & unusually quiet for our enthusiastic, active boy. Naps were 1.5 hrs instead of 45 min, 4-a-day instead of 2 or 3. 

The stash outside his nursery door includes: thermometer & flashlight (for checking symptoms), zinc lozenges & elder berry extract (I take extra doses so he gets immune-boosting mama milk) as well as burp cloths. What seems to help the most is to massage a small amount of Vick's vapor rub by the lymph nodes, starting behind his ears & running down either side of his neck. This morning his fever is gone, & the punk was happily awake by 6am.
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