Category Archives: Natural Health

Oct 04
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Organic Mama’s Medicine Cabinet – 5 Basic Essentials

By | Natural Health | 2 Comments

Finally, the temps are cooling, the kids are back in school (for us Phoenicians anyway!) and we’re heading into our version of Fall. Truthfully, I’m a little leery of believing in it yet, this summer seemed so very hot!! And, it doesn’t take a crystal ball to know that fall illnesses follow closely behind the cooling weather. The great thing is, we don’t have to be caught unaware by flu or colds. I’m already stocking up to be prepared in advance for what’s likely to arrive. Here’s what’s in my medicine cabinet.

**As always, I’ll remind you that I am not a doctor.  These are common sense remedies I use for my family, especially because they support the immune system rather than simply attacking the symptoms of illness. I have taken the time to research any herbal recipes carefully myself and have consulted with my local herbalist and doctor. I encourage you to always do the same before choosing to take or administer any kind of remedy, whether herbal or off the shelf at a local drugstore.**

Raw local honey – Honey is a great remedy for coughs and sore throats. In a study published by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, parents gave honey high marks for easy cough symptoms. When my girls are coughing, I ply them with honeyed teas made of herbs that easy coughs and I give them a teaspoon of honey before bed. They LOVE that! Raw honey is also supposed to be filled with living enzymes that help our bodies to heal.

Lemon juice – If you’ve visited my site for any length of time, you know I’m not big on juice. I prefer my kids eat a piece of fruit and get the fiber along with the sweet juice. However, when kids are sick, keeping them hydrated and nourished is the priority. Sometimes a little flavor is just the thing to tempt their tastebuds. When my girls are sick, I don’t give them phlegm increasing orange juice as a source of vitamin C. Instead, we make lemonade to increase their vitamin C intake naturally. Just juice a lemon, add water and sweetener to taste. We use honey or maple syrup as a sweetener and our girls love it.
Chicken, beef or veggie broth  – We make our own broth at home and always boost it with yummy veggies to feed our little people when they get sick and don’t feel like eating. Just another way to keep them hydrated and nourished. We try to always keep a jar in the freezer.

Echinacea Augustifolia root tincture  – At the first sign of illness, my girls are used to getting “special water,” usually 4 oz water with a size appropriate dose of tincture. Tincture is made by macerating herbs in a base of alcohol, vinegar or glycerin to extract the herb’s healing properties. It’s very potent. I make my own tincture so that I can be sure of the quality I’m getting but if you buy it, be sure you buy E. augustifolia. According to herbalist Susan Weed, E. augustifolia roots retain their effectiveness when dried while E. purpurea do not.

Flu-berry tea*  – When I can tell my girls are succumbing to a cold/flu with a respiratory kick, I make a weak version of this tea for them. I always get current dosage information Kita Cantrell, the owner and a local herbalist who created the blend at Chakra 4. She has studied herbs for many years and I appreciate her wisdom. This tea blend includes the following ingredients and their corresponding properties.

  • Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – antiviral
  • Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) – antiviral, expectorant
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale) – expectorant, warming
  • Osha (Ligusticum porterii) – antiviral, expectorant
  • Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) – warming, pleasant flavor
  • Echinacea Root (Echinacea angustifolia) – immune support
  • Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) – antibacterial
* Flu-berry Tea is NOT appropriate for Pregnant women. For a good immune boosting tea during pregnancy, see a qualified herbalist who can create a safe blend.

I would love to hear from you! What is in your natural medicine cabinet?
Sep 30
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Green Monster Smoothies (or how to get your children to DRINK their veggies)

By | Natural Health, Recipes | No Comments

This morning when I woke, I knew I needed to eat but I just didn’t feel like breakfast. So, I decided to make something that would include a lot of nutrients – in drinkable form. Green smoothies won the day. Here’s my recipe. It is sweet but un-sugared, dairy-free, full of flavor and your kids will like it. Especially if you name something silly like we do. Our smoothie name is an homage to a favorite movie featuring a fuzzy blue Monster and his one eyed green sidekick. Maybe your kids have a similar hero. Be creative and get them to drink their fruits and veggies for the day!

By the way, this is a family sized smoothie.

Super Delicious Green Smoothie

2 Bananas (these are so sweet, you won’t need sweetener!)

1 small apple

Green Grapes (one handful)

1/4 c. frozen pineapple (fresh is fine)

3/4 c. frozen mango

3/4 c. fresh spinach

1/2 stalk celery – chopped into small pieces (you don’t want those strands wrapping around your blender blade!)

1 small English cucumber – these don’t have many seeds and I don’t peel it

1/2 c. water

1/4 c ice

I just add enough water to get my blender moving. If you have a newer Vitamix or blender that doesn’t need as much, feel free to omit it. 

If you have extra, pour it into a glass and put in the fridge till later. 

OR, pour it into popsicles molds and freeze.

Enjoy!!

 

Aug 24
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Organic Mama’s Top Ten Tips for Managing Pregnancy Nausea part two

By | Birth Week, Natural Health, Pregnancy | One Comment

Yesterday, we explored remedies for pregnancy nausea (AKA morning sickness). Today, we’ll look at a few more.

Feeling sick twenty four hours a day is disheartening when you’d rather be happily anticipating a new baby. Discouragement is not my normal approach to life. But there have been more than a few days this time that I’ve succumbed to tears of exhaustion and hopelessness from feeling nauseous non-stop.

These tips have not erased the feeling of nausea but at least their keeping the lunch losses to a minimum!

5. Try a more alkaline diet. My friend Busca over at Birthfaith.org writes that alkalinizing the body may help with “morning sickness“. While it’s advisable to do this prior to pregnancy, I’ve still been boosting my intake of veggies vs. greasy or starchy foods. The latter might seem comforting at the time but they often pack a wallop after dinner, if ya’ know what I mean.

6. Mingle with friends. Schedule visits with understanding and compassionate friends to enjoy the benefit of encouragement and having a little different energy in the house. It will lift your spirits.

7. Keep the toilet clean. You may not have the energy to clean much around the house right now but clean this. There’s nothing more gross that having to lose your breakfast in a dirty bowl.

8. Laugh as much as possible. Watch a funny movie, listen to a great comedian and laugh. You’ll be surprised how nice your lips feel when they’re curved into a smile!

9. Distract yourself with something you love. Notice the great antics of your kids, play the piano, read a book, watch a great movie, take a bath, enjoy a maternity massage. I’ve noticed that being stressed about anything can make nausea seem so much worse. So RELAX.

10. Drink small sips of water (or herbal tea) all day long but avoid it at mealtimes. Drinking just a little at a time will keep you from experiencing that sloshy feeling you get when you discover your stomach has been pushed up between your breasts by an enlarged uterus. For me, not drinking during meals helps with indigestion and nausea.

In my  first pregnancy, I was so overwhelmed by the unexpected feeling of constant nausea, I complained to my OB, “It feels like there’s some kind of alien sucking the life force out of me!” She was not amused and chastised me with, “That’s a sweet life sharing your body.” Me: “HUMPH!”

Now, when I feel like an alien is sucking out my life force, I remind myself  strong nausea is usually a sign of raging hormones, a good thing in pregnancy!

Treat yourself well in these early days of pregnancy. You’re growing a little person. Enjoy a rare excuse to pamper you! Remember that you’re not alone. Lots of women have felt this way.

As my mom used to say…

“Hang in there. This too shall pass.”

If you have any other great anti-nausea pregnancy tips, share them below and let fellow sufferers enjoy the benefit of your wisdom!

Aug 22
0

Cherry Cough Stop Tea

By | Natural Health | 4 Comments

Spicy and sweet, this boosts the immune system and soothes coughs. This drink is chock full of healthy ingredients. Lemon juice contains vitamin C, ginger is antiviral and anti-inflammatory,  garlic is antiviral and antibacterial, Tart cherry juice (not sweetened!) is full of antioxidants and honey is soothing, healing and (when raw) antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Don’t freak out about the garlic. It’s surprisingly un-garlic tasting. It tastes pretty darn good.

Ingredients
1 Inch ginger root (peeled and minced)
Juice and zest of one lemon (Vit C)
One mashed garlic clove (antiviral and antibacterial)
8 oz organic TART cherry juice (high antioxidant value)
8 oz water
Honey – buckwheat or another dark honey works best

Instructions

  • Bring ginger root to a boil in 8 oz water
  • Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Add lemon, garlic, cherry juice and water
  • Let mixture simmer for another 4 minutes
  • Strain liquid into a cup for the patient and add honey to taste.

If you need to cool it quickly for a kiddo, just add a few ice cubes. Leave it a little warm to ease the cough.

I usually double this recipe so I can give it to multiple people. In fact, when one of my family is feeling sick, I just give it to everyone because the garlic and ginger are great immune boosters. With any luck, only one of us gets sick!