Roots of Healthy Living

What do you know about St. John's Wort? Living in the northwest it comes up a lot as an herbal remedy for seasonal depression. That's about all I knew.

Many people have found it very helpful with treating anxiety, stress, depression, chronic fatigue, etc. It is also wonderful for treating damaged nerve endings due to wounds, burns and other skin related injuries. I discovered this personally this past month or so.

In a recent herb class the teacher produced some olive oil that had been infused with St. John's Wort and shared a story where it had helped someone recover from nerve damage. Now, (I don't believe in coincidences) the week before I had suddenly lost the feeling down the front of my right leg. It had happened over night and I hadn't told anyone. Well, my hand shot up and I asked if it would be appropriate to try it on my leg. She actually gave me some oil to take home. I applied it that night and by the next morning it had already begun to work. It took about three weeks and the feeling in my leg was completely recovered. Amazing.

It is important to apply the oil where you think the nerve damage occured, not necessarily where you are numb. For example, If you had recent surgery or an injury in a certain place and all of a sudden you can't feel in another area...treat the area of the surgery or injury first.

In my case, I had a scar on my leg and was certain the damage there was what was causing the nerve damage. It worked like a charm.

So, how do you make an oil infusion? Here is a basic simple recipe that works for just about any herb or combination of herbs.

Recipe for St. John's Wort Infused Massage Oil
*Get a clean sterile glass jar (you pick the size, small pint jars work great)
*fill the jar with plant material a couple inches from the top
(with St. John's Wort use 70% flowers and 30% leaves)
They can be fresh or dried...doesn't matter (dried need a little extra room to reconstitute)
*Cover with good quality olive oil an inch above plant material
*Put in a dark place and shake twice a day for two weeks
*Strain, bottle in dark glass bottles and your ready to go!

Note: There are a lot of healthfood stores that carry bulk herbs, or you can find them online. Two of my favorite online sources are Wholesome Botanicals and Mountain Rose Herbs.

This is my daughter Katie. Katie has Down Syndrome and will turn nine this summer. Until this past year, she was always getting sick, especially with ear and sinus infections. It is typical for children with Down Syndrome to have small respiratory systems and be prone to having the slightest cold turn into an infection. She missed a lot of school and was always on round after round of antibiotics. (More of her story can be found under "Testimonials" at the top of the page, but suffice it to say that I felt there had to be a better way.)

It actually has been amazingly simple to keep her healthy. We have eliminated dairy, which has made a HUGE difference in her overall health. When she does get sick we know what to do. She even had the swine flu last fall and we were able to treat everything at home very successfully. Knowledge is power! So Katie and I would like to share some of our favorite remedies with you:

There are some VERY simple things that we do for colds, flu, sinus and ear infections at out house. These simple things have proven to be effective and have kept us out of the doctor's office for over a year now.

Most of these things you can make yourself or find at a healthfood store.

EAR INFECTIONS











Garlic Oil
**warm to room temperature (in hand or cup of hot water)
**place 2-3 drops in infected ear

Mullein Oil
**same thing as above, warm it and put 2-3 drops in infected ear.

Lobelia Tincture
**If there is a lot of pain we also add a drop of Lobelia tincture in each ear to help while the garlic and mullein are working. You can repeat this procedure 2-3 times a day if needed, while awake.

Dr. Christopher's Sen Sei Ointment
**Another product we love at our house is Dr. Christopher's Sen Sei Ointment. We rub a little under the ear and down the neck and it helps open up blockages so draining can happen.



COLDS AND FLU

Echinacea

At the first sign of illness we start Katie on Echinacea. She can swallow capsules but we usually use a glycerin tincture because it's sweet and she likes it. There are several great brands out there specifically made for kids. You can also do an herbal tea by following the same instructions as the Dandelion Root Tea.

Echinacea works by stimulating the immune system. We take it up to every hour if necessary if we are trying to fight off a new bug. It can also lose it's effectiveness after a while so I've heard it suggested to go six days on and 2 days off.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
While people usually think of this as an herb to be used during pregnancy, it is FANTASTIC at wording off colds and flu. We make up a large amount, mix it with apple juice and have everyone drink as much as they can, especially that first couple of days. We use this along with water to drink and eliminate all other drinks until the illness has passed.



Elder Berries

Elder Berries are another great cold/flu remedy. Also a great tasting syrup or tincture for kids. This is very popular in Europe and easy to find in healthfood stores. There are many recipes online if you want to make your own.

Cayenne

If your child is older, cayenne is a great way to fight off a coming cold or flu. We have them take some cayenne capsules, take a hot bath or shower, take a couple more capsules, dress warm and go to bed. Often times the sweating action during the night will sweat out the virus and they will feel great in the morning.

Dr. Christopher's Infection Formula

My personal favorite remedy for Katie and the entire family is Dr. Christopher's Infection Formula. I have seen a sinus infection clear up in hours with this combination. I would never want to be without it.

I hope you will try some of these remedies and let me know what you think.

Ok, I know what you're thinking...weeds? Seriously? Here me out on this. One amazing thing I have learned is how great those weeds are that we've been taught to despise. When I first learned about Dandelions and how medicinal they are I wondered if I was being taken in. All I knew about them was how everyone sprayed religiously to eliminate them from their lawns. I have seen first hand the miracle healing power they contain. Don't dismiss the delicious dandelion...(yes I said delicious).

Did you know...

Dandelions are dynamic accumulators. What does that mean? They have the ability to extract those inorganic minerals from the soil and turn them into organic minerals we can use. Many plants are great at extracting a certain mineral but dandelion is great at extracting many minerals, including:

sodium, silica, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, cobalt, copper and other trace minerals.

-Did you know that they are also a rich source of vitamin A as well as B1, B2, B3, B5, Folic Acid, B12, and vitamins E, C, H, P (bioflavanoids) and more.

-Did you know dandelion has incredible healing properties for the liver and gall bladder? It is also known as a blood purifier, mild diuretic, and can even help with allergies, arthritis, menstrual cramps, lower back pain, anemia, eczema and acne. It has helpd with stimulating lactation, and even stomachaches. Because of the high vitamin A content it has helped many with vision problems.

-Did you know that it can be a great natural substitute for a water pill? One of the side effects from a "water pill" is losing potassium which helps to regulate heart rhythm. Because dandelion is high in potassium and also works as a mild diuretic it can help remedy this situation. My mother, father, and mother-in-law have all switched to Dandelion and found terrific results.

-Did you know that you can eat the whole plant, roots and all? Many people use the young leaves as salad greens, The milky stems are great for stimulating the liver. My personal favorite are the roots. I tried Dandelion Root Tea a few weeks ago for the first time and was surprised and how great it tasted. You can use fresh roots or dried. The roasted roots are often used as a coffee substitute. Many people like to use the root tea as a tonic in the spring to clean the liver after a harsh winter of heavy foods. I've even heard of people using the flower tops to make jelly. You can find dandelion in most health food stores. You can take capsules, tinctures, drink the tea, or find the greens in the produce section. Or be adventurous and go on a dandelion hunt with your family. So have fun, make friends with the dandelion, stop killing them and start harvesting them!

Recipe for Dandelion Root Tea:




* Place roots & cold distilled water in stainless steel pan.
(about a 1-2 tsp per cup of water)
* Slowly bring to a simmer
* Simmer anywhere from 15-30 minutes (the longer the better)
* Strain out the roots

Enjoy!




I like to squirt a little fresh lemon juice and honey in mine!

I run into so many people who have never made a cup of loose leaf tea. I found this video and had to share it. Please share your favorite cup of tea...

One of the first things I learned when I began to study natural healing is the wonderful power of cayenne. Cayenne is one of my favorite medicinal herbs and one I would never be without. I carry a tincture in my purse as well as an ointment and have a large supply in my kitchen cupboard.

My first experience with cayenne was last spring when I sliced through my thumb with a kitchen knife. I had heard that cayenne could stop bleeding in seconds so I decided to give it a try. I put a tsp in a glass of water and drank it down. I counted to ten and watched the bleeding slow down and stop. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!! It worked! I have used it many times since and it has never failed.

Cayenne is fabulous heart tonic and has the ability to equalize blood pressure instantly. Dr. Christopher (Founder of the School of Natural Healing) swares he never lost a patient to a heart attack. He has said that even adminstering cayenne even in the middle of a heart attack can stop it instantly.

Cayenne has also been known to pull someone out of shock and or hypothermia. This is one reason I carry a tincture of cayenne in my purse. I carry ointment because of the heat. Cayenne can pull oxygen to the area of injury facilitating faster healing.

It has been known to cure stomach ulcers, help with high blood pressure, and used in combination with other herbs help increase their overall effectiveness.