The Essential Herbalist

Recent Posts

  • Immune Support – Do you know how?

    This month I’m focusing teaching you how to support the immune system.  There are a lot of nasties floating around this winter! Do you know what steps to take to support YOUR immune system?

    What exactly IS our “immune system and what does it do?

    Our immune system is our body’s defense system with a diverse system of organs spread throughout the body. Its primary function is to defend the body against attacks by bacteria, viruses, & fungi. The immune system benefits from a number of lifestyle factors in maintaining its optimal function, namely regular exercise, managing feelings of stress, adequate sleep & nutrition, & the use of certain supplements and/or essential oils. There are also some lifestyle choices that greatly support your immune system!

    Some of the most familiar organs in the immune system are the tonsils & adenoids, lymph nodes, the thymus, spleen, & bone marrow. Within the thymus, thymus cell  lymphocytes  or T cells mature. T cells are critical to the adaptive immune system, where the body adapts to specific foreign invaders. The thymus is located in the upper front part of the chest, behind the sternum, & in front of the heart. 

     

    All of these organs support or produce the essential cell of the immune system: the white blood cell. Different types of white blood cells roam the body, making protection against pathogens possible. The immune system is one of the most critical systems in the body; without a healthy immune system, we can’t expect to enjoy a long & healthy life.

    In fostering healthy immune function, exercise, stress management – including proper sleep (7 hours!), good nutrition, & supplementation all play important roles.

    EXERCISE: Research has shown that regular exercise, performed at a moderate level or higher, can help increase immune response. Research shows that short bursts of high-intensity activity three times a week can give you many of the same rewards enjoyed by longer, traditional workouts.  So no worries about hitting the gym for hours everyday! Does exercise leave you hurting? Reach out to. me…I have some solutions for that! 

    STRESS:  Stress increases levels of cortisol in our bodies. Cortisol is commonly known as the stress hormone; it helps the body deal with stress. One of the effects of cortisol is to depress the function of the immune system.This depressive effect on the immune system can leave our bodies vulnerable to infiltration & attack by harmful pathogens. Learning to manage & reduce feelings of stress can reduce cortisol levels & help our immune system flourish.

    Seems like stress has become a huge concern for most of the people I coach.  Sometimes there are steps you can take to reduce exposure to the things that stress you.  But, sometimes there aren’t and you need to find a work around to prevent Adrenal fatigue and more! Many essential oils & blends such as the Adaptive system, Balance®, PastTense®, Vetiver & the tree oils are useful in grounding emotions. These oils can help keep cortisol at a healthy level, thus supporting healthy immune function. It can be especially useful to apply or diffuse these oils when you know you are going into a stressful situation… before you even begin to have those feelings. If there’s a certain place where you feel stressed, such as in your car during rush hour, plan ahead & place a drop of oil on a car ornament to enjoy the grounding benefits as you drive.

    I’ve used the entire Adaptive system since it was released…it was the main thing that kept me sane and less stressed. However, since I began using the three MetaPWR products – I no longer feel that stress & don’t need Adaptive any more. (If you are interested in either of these – reach out and I can save you money!)

    SLEEP: Inadequate sleep can also have an impact on immune health. Research has shown that inadequate sleep increases levels of cortisol in the body, just like stress can. Developing good sleep habits can be difficult.

    1. Reduce blue light 1 hour before sleep!
    2. Don’t eat late at night (heck…don’t eat after supper!)!
    3. Avoid strenuous exercise several hours before bed.
    4. Seven hours of quality sleep is your goal…or more.  I am finding that the MetaPWR system has drastically improved my sleep both the quantity and quality!

    Blends such as Serenity, & Peace (slows the mind chatter) promotes feelings of calmness and can help achieve a good night’s rest. Try placing a few drops on your blankets or pillows. Diffuse for 30 minutes before going to bed or apply topically.  I’m always tired enough to fall asleep so I didn’t need oils to promote that (like Serenity) but I couldn’t stop my mind from making lists!  You know, “what didn’t I get  done today?”, “what do I need to do tomorrow?”, “who do I need to call?”…LISTS!!! But once I found the oil Peace – just a couple drops on my wrists and in about 15 minutes my mind gives up and I drift off!

    NUTRITION: Every function of the body benefits from proper nutrient intakes. Essential nutrients, including carbs, fats, proteins, vitamins, & minerals, give the body the energy & materials it needs to carry out cellular functions & continue the production of key cells in the body. The immune system is no exception to this rule. By eating mostly whole, unprocessed foods as part of a balanced diet, we can help support our immune function. Don’t forget – just a tiny bit of sugar can suppress your immune system for up to 6 hours!  Use stevia! Shop the perimeter of your grocery store, buy organic when you can, avoid highly processed foods (all that junk in the middle of store!) Reduce sugar – use honey or stevia instead!  Immediately cut seed and vegetable oils from your diet! They contain large amounts of linoleic acid…excessive linoleic acid intake is associated with inflammation, diabetes, obestiy, heart disease and more! I tossed all of my “seed/veggie oils”.  So what do I use instead? Ghee and coconut oil to cook with, butter (from grass fed cows if possible) and olive oil (but only if you don’t heat it!).

    I also take some important supplements! I take bio-available vitamins, a pre-biotic/pro-biotic, Vit. D3, NAC+ (for brain health) DDR Prime (for brain health) Vit. B12, a polyphenol complex (so my joints don’t talk to me,!), liposomal Vit. C, Magnesium, Quercetin, Turmeric and Copaiba.  I don’t think I left anything out!  Some of those supplements come from dōTERRA and some don’t.  Holler at me if you need more info!  It’s a handful of pills but it’s my “health insurance” and my “preventative steps to maintain health”. I’m 66, very active (I live on a farm…need I say more?).  I can’t remember the last time I was sick. I’d rather be spending money on my health now than spending money on my illness in the future and I can assure you, one or the other will happen!

    My goal is healthy gut microflora. Gut microflora refers to the trillions of friendly microorganisms that live within our digestive tract. Research has shown again & again that our gut microflora plays a larger role in overall health & wellness (including the immune system & brain health) than we’d ever previously suspected!  Gut microflora performs important functions in facilitating the breakdown & absorption of key nutrients within the digestive tract. Healthy colonies of friendly bacteria maintain a positive balance & proliferation of beneficial bacteria, while preventing the adherence & colonization of other “bad” microorganisms that can challenge our health & wellbeing. Without a thriving probiotic environment that fosters the growth of these microbiota, less-friendly microbes have free reign to stress the gastrointestinal tract.  You’ve often heard me say that your immune system resides in your gut! 

    I also use essential oils for Immune Support! When used appropriately, internal usage of essential oils is a very powerful & effective route of application. Because of the way our bodies metabolize the compounds found in essential oils, it is safer & more effective in the internal use model to use smaller amounts of essential oil, spread over consistent time intervals, rather than a single, large application. For instance, rather than taking six drops of a given oil in a single, large application, it is safer & more effective to divide those six drops across two or three internal applications, separated by several hours in between.

    I know many people disagree on the internal use of essential oils…I’ve done my due diligence, I wouldn’t use oils from any other company, and I’ve been doing this for over 10 years – with huge benefits and no negative impact. I won’t fuss at you, please don’t fuss at me 🙂 Let’s just agree to disagree!

    Essential oils that I use to support the health of my immune system include:   Frankincense, Cinnamon, Lemon, Melaleuca, Oregano & Thyme.  They all help maintain & support the immune system when taken internally. There is also a blend that I use the most…formulated specifically to support the immune system: I use the On Guard+ Softgels that combine the blend of On Guard with Black Pepper, Oregano, & Melissa essential oils for additional immune support. It protects against environmental & seasonal threats with essential oils known for their positive effects on the immune system. These oils have anti-bacterial and  anti-viral properties. If I feel like I’ve been exposed to something or have that “oh no! I might be coming down with something!” feeling, I take a couple of these softgels before bed and I always wake up feeling great! You can find my essential shop right here on my website – just click on Essential OIls!

    There are two other things I do to support my immune system, especially during the winter! I make an herbal tea for immune support and I drink it often! I love a hot herbal tea and mine is delicious!

    And lastly, I make Fire Cider!  I’ve done so for about 20 years now.  Have you tried Fire Cider? Have you made your own (you really must make your own – so easy, inexpensive and NO ADDITIVES or PRESERVATIVES!) You can take it straight, use it as a salad dressing or even a meat marinade! YUMMY!

    Next post I’ll teach you how to make my recipe for Fire Cider!  It will be a great support for your immune system!

    Keep well this winter!

    Cheri

  • OREGANO! What a Powerhouse of an Herb!

    Do you grow Oregano? Do you use it?  Love it? Is it food or medicine for you? Hopefully,  after you read this post, you’ll realize you need Oregano in your life!

    Oregano is a woody perennial plant which grows up to 35 inches tall. The upper part is branched, The plant has rhizome like runners & is downy, bristly or velvety.  Oregano has an aromatic scent similar to Marjoram (Origanum majorana).

    Oregano is easy to grow either in a large pot or in a garden. It does well in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-10. It likes full sun, although it will survive in partial sun, & oregano thrives in well-drained soil.

    Harvest by cutting sprigs before they flower, cut 2 inches above the ground & dry carefully.  I strip the leaves from the stem & lay them out on a paper towel on a tray. Place the tray out of direct sunlight until the leaves are dry. Once dry, store in a canning jar, out of direct light. Never store herbs in plastic.

    Oregano can go by other names: Mountain Mint, Oregano, Wild Marjoram, Winter Marjoram, & Wintersweet. Always be sure to check the latin name before purchasing – other fancy varieties look pretty but often lack the flavor or medicinal properties! If purchasing, taste a leaf before buying, if you like it, note the latin name!

    Oregano is used for both culinary & medicinal purposes.  It is more common to use the essential oil for medicinal properties although the herb can be used.

    • Oregano is particularly useful in any tomato-based dish.
    • It is perfect for seasoning pasta dishes & most foods that contain olive oil.
    • Pair oregano with basil, garlic, onion and/or thyme.
    • You can even add oregano to canned soups/food for a little extra flavor during lunch or on one of those lazy dinner nights.

    Fresh sprigs of oregano can be cut from the plant to prep for any meal. Rinse the sprig, pat it dry, then strip the leaves from the stem. Chop the leaves finely before adding them to the dish.

    Dried oregano can be added to any dish as well. Be sure to crush it between your hands first to make the pieces very fine.

    Medicinally, the herb has been used for respiratory issues such as cough, inflammation of the bronchial mucous membranes & has also been used as an expectorant. In China it is used for colds, fever, vomiting, & more.

    In reference to oregano, “There are no health hazards or side effects known in conjunction with proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages (of oregano).” (Physician’s Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, 4th Edition”.

    Oregano (the herb)  can be used as a tea, a gargle  & as an additive for a bath as follows:

    For internal use: Use 2 tsp. of fresh or 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves to 8 oz hot water, just off the boil. Cover while steeping. Strain after 10 minutes. Gargle or use as mouthwash once cool. Sweeten with stevia or honey if used as a tea & drink 1 cup several times a day.

    To use in bath:  pour 1 quart of hot water , just off the boil, over 3.5 oz. of oregano, let steep 10 minutes then add to bath.

    Oregano (Essential Oil)

    Steam Distillation from herb. Sourced from Turkey, Main Constituents – Carvacrol, Thymol

    Properties: Antibacterial, anti fungal, anti parasitic, antiseptic to respiratory system, antiviral, & it is an immune stimulant!

    Common Application Methods:

    Dilute 1:3 (one drop essential oil to at least 3 drops of carrier oil – FCO is my favorite) when used topically. Apply to reflex points and/or directly on area of concern; it can also be diffused.

    Use as a Dietary Supplement: Oregano oil is generally recognized as safe f(GRAS) for human consumption by the FDA. Dilute one drop il in 1 tsp. honey or in 4 oz of beverage.  NOT for children under 6 years old. Use with caution & in greater dilution for children 6 years old & over.

    Caution: Can cause extreme skin irritation.

    For Viral/Bacterial infection, Cold/Flu Support:  Take in a capsule and/or sip in warm water from a mug that contains one drop each oregano, peppermint, On Guard and/or Lemon

    Strep Throat & Tonsillitis: Gargle and/or take in capsule

    Intestinal Worms/Parasites: Take in capsule.

    Staph Infection & MRSA: Apply diluted to affected area and/or take in capsule – or both.

    Warts, Calluses & Canker Sores: Apply diluted to affected areas. Inhale steam from a bowl that contains hot water, one dry each of Oregano, Breathe, and/or On Guard.

    Athlete’s Foot, Ringworm, & Candida: Apply diluted to area of concern and/or take in capsule.

    There are many other ways to use Oregano Essential Oil.  As always – my classes on herbs/oil are only applicable to organic herbs of the correct variety and dōTERRA Essential Oils (because it is the only company who is transparent in the testing of their oils: they share all the results with the public!) and to assure the potency and purity of those oils.

    Recipes!   Let Your Food Be Your Medicine!

    [tasty-recipe id=”6355″]

    Do you love dipping bread?  Nothing better than a crusty loaf of warm, home made bread…except a dipping oil to go with it! I’ll have to share my quick and easy bread recipe in another post!

    [tasty-recipe id=”6356″]

    I hope you grow Oregano this year…in a pot or in a garden and try one of these delicious recipes!

    I you are interested in using Oregano Essential Oil for medicinal purposes, you can find that in my essential oil shop here!  

    If you’d like to dive deeper into the science behind Oregano Essential oil and how it works in the human body…check this out!

    If you’d like to attend my free Essentially Healthy online classes, you can register here! This month we are focusing on Immune Support!

    If you try one of the recipes, leave a comment and let me know what you think!

    Happy cooking!

    Cheri

     

  • Winter Weather is Hot Herbal Tea Weather!

    Winter weather always means lots of warm herbal tea for me!  Our weather has been really odd this year.  Spring like, warm and sunny and up in the 70’s one day and then a sheer drop to sub-zero temps!  I watched the thermometer drop over 30 degrees in an hour one afternoon! Add some rolling black-outs to that and I was thankful for our wood-stove that kept us toasty warm round the clock for days!

    I did chores in -15 degrees! Even our frost free field waterers froze and two of my sons and I hauled water to cows and chickens for days. We’ve taken measures since then to try to solve that problem.  I’ve lived here for 25 years and have never seen temps fall that low. I think the wood stove went for a whole week without stopping .

    So the tea kettle has been going almost non-stop!  Tea in the morning to warm me and get me going. Tea in the afternoon for a minty burst of flavor… and some body warmth, and tea in the evenings for relaxation, to support my immune health.

    I like to blend my own teas from herbs, although I use purchased teas too.  This is a lovely cup of organic black tea with a healthy dose of spearmint leaves and a drop of spearmint essential oil!  Yes…you can add essential oils to teas! Yummy!

    Having floating bits of herbs in my teas doesn’t bother me.  I usually strain out most of it but I’m not terribly careful.  If that bothers you, and I know it really does bother some of my friends, just strain more carefully than I do.  It is possible to use fresh or dried herbs and not get a single speck of plant material in your tea!

    I thought I’d share one of my favorite winter herbal teas  with you today!

    [tasty-recipe id=”6343″]

    This mix can be changed to suit your tastes!  Not crazy about peppermint?  Try using spearmint instead! Don’t like Cardamom?  Exchange it for something else and create your very own version of Chai tea!

    Mix this up, put it into a little jar and tie with a pretty ribbon or some jute twine and give it to your favorite herbally friend!  I have two people in mind for this! It’s love in jar!

    What is your favorite cup of winter tea?

    Keep warm and dry,

    Cheri

     

  • North vs. South – The Cornbread Wars

    I’ve been making a lot of cornbread this last week – prepping for Thanksgiving and my amazing cornbread stuffing!  Did you know that cornbread is made differently in the North than it is in the South?  I’m a Southern woman. Daddy was in the USMC and we were stationed all over the south.  The only time I ever lived in the north is when Daddy went to war and we moved to Indiana to be near his parents while he was overseas. Mom wanted to be close to family in case she needed help – my brother was about 18 months old and I was 3.

    I learned how to make cornbread from my Grandma.  The northern variety. I later learned how to make the southern variety from a father-in-law.  What’s the difference?

    Northern cornbread tends to be made with yellow cornmeal and is sweeter, lighter and higher – because it is a combination of white flour and yellow cornmeal with a touch of sugar. Southern cornbread tends to be made with white cornmeal and is crumbly, dry and flat with a really crispy crunchy crust.  I loved the crust on what my southern father-in-law made but I was shocked at how flat cornbread was when made by people in the south. I combined the best of both worlds! I actually make a northern cornbread with a southern crust!

    Let’s make a batch of my cornbread step by step together!

    Here is what you are going to need – and of course a cast iron skillet!  Seriously – cooking this in cast iron is going to give you that southern crunchy crust!

    Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and place your oil of choice (not butter!) into your cast iron skillet. I use tallow that I’ve rendered from one of our steers. You could use an organic vegetable shortening or olive oil.

    Place all of your dry ingredients into your bowl and whisk them together..

    Push the dry ingredients up the side of the bowl leaving a well at the bottom. Add your eggs into that well and mix, leaving some of the dry ingredients along the sides.

    Because I use homegrown eggs, and I don’t take the time to candle them, I always crack my eggs into a separate bowl so I don’t waste ingredients just in case there’s an off egg.

    Add your milk and buttermilk and stir until almost completely combined.

    Then drizzle your melted butter over the top of the batter and finish mixing completely.

    Now…here is where the southern part comes into play. Carefully remove that very hot pan with the melted tallow from the oven and place on stove top. Pour your batter into that hot pan! You’ll hear it sizzle! Then carefully place that pan right back in the oven to bake! If you’re very good at pouring, you can do it while the pan is sitting on the oven rack.

    Set your timer and make sure you have some softened butter ready!  I also love cornbread with a fruit jam/jelly. My favorite topping is my hot strawberry jam!

    Your cornbread is ready when the sides have pulled away from the pan, the top is golden brown and lightly cracked

    Enjoy warm but it is also delicious warmed up!  My husband loves it split and covered with black-eyed peas and stewed tomatoes. I have also made this with blue cornmeal and sometimes a mixture when I needed to finish up the blue cornmeal and didn’t have enough for a batch – so I combine with the yellow!

    Enjoy my uniting of north and south!  Leave a comment if you try this recipe and let me know what you think! Do YOU have a favorite recipe? Be sure to share it!

    [tasty-recipe id=”6323″]

  • Mom

    Mom passed away a few days after my last post.  Although she was 96, almost 97, it was unexpected.  I had just spoken with her.  She was at supper and she tended to fall asleep over her meals.  But this time that sleep was permanent. No one near her noticed a thing so evidently her passing was very peaceful. I am grateful for that. I have since been involved in the avalanche of post-death paperwork.

    Mom was not a happy person. I never understood that. She had so much to be happy and grateful for in her life. She had two successful, happy kids, 5 amazing grandchildren (all successful adults now), and 8 adorable great grandchildren.  She and Dad were not rich but were successful financially.

    Well, as long as Dad was alive to monitor the spending.  She had an amazing pension from the USMC.  She was able to travel extensively while Dad was alive – they saw much of the world together. She was able to buy whatever she wanted, which was a blessing and a curse!

    She was never happy with her life, she never felt like she was pretty enough, never happy with her weight, always wanted to be “rich” (which to her meant having millions in the bank), never happy with her homes – and they had some doozys! I think she dwelt on all of the things she didn’t have instead of being grateful for all of her blessings.  She was just generally disappointed in life. I think that would be the normal outcome for someone who always looked at the perceived lack in life.

    I know that mom grew up extremely poor. She lived in a very small country town in Indiana. I just have to wonder what happened to her that left her so unhappy and unable to relate to people very well.

    Mom was her own worst enemy.  Her diet caused a lot of her physical issues but she was unwilling to change that so her health continued to decline. There were many things that could have been improved with walking, PT, alternative therapies and she refused them all.  Mom was a “my way or the highway” person.  She only did what she wanted to do in the moment without thought for its impact or how it might affect her future. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work out very well for most people.

    As I have been going through the things in her room – one of the things she kept were her pictures of her travels around the world.  I’ve noticed that in hundreds of pictures of her and Dad on cruises and trips, she is very rarely smiling. I find that so sad.  Dad is beaming but mom just looked unhappy or emotionless. Here she is on her dream cruise.

    Mom lived next door on our farm for 23 years.  Each year she needed more help and the boys and I were there to provide it. Eventually she was unable to live alone because of her health.  She could not navigate stairs so we added an addition and moved her in with us.  She lived with us for several years until her physical needs outpaced my ability to meet them. She then went into a local assisted living facility.

    She seemed happiest alone in front of her tv and snacking on whatever unhealthy item she craved at the moment. Even when she lived with us, she rarely left her room or ate with us – she preferred dinner on a tray in front of the tv in her room.

    Her passing is so sad…not just because she is gone but because the opportunities are gone now: the opportunity for change, the opportunity to make better choices to improve her physical situation, the opportunity to have relationships with her family.  Very sad indeed.

    This is the best picture of Mom that I have in my possession.  Here she is meeting her first grandchild in 1982.  It is the only picture I have that shows a big smile.  I have, at best, a half dozen pictures of her smiling – but nothing like this.

     

    Mom always told us that her funeral was completely paid for and that there was also a small life insurance policy. When your family members tell you that, be wise and ask to see the papers!  Maybe she was confused, maybe she was forgetful but none of that was true. The funeral was not paid for, which caught my brother and I by surprise.  I can also find no evidence of a life insurance policy – no papers, no payments nothing.  Mom was a gullible person – she fell for many scams that I had to undo and fix over the years.  Maybe this is one that I missed.

    Be grateful for the people in your life, spend time with them as often as you can! We Southern women think feeding people is a love language! Have a family dinner once a month and love on each other over good food.  It’s my favorite night of the month when we all come together! When your family members talk about funeral arrangements, insurance policy’s or their final wishes, get involved! Look at the funeral arrangements, make sure they have their final wishes written down (some states require a will and in some you can just write it out yourself, date and sign)!  If there are bank accounts, insurance policies etc., make sure you know what they are and where to find them…especially if you are the executor or personal representative!  Don’t leave things to chance or you may find yourself in a mess one day!

    Start a gratitude journal if you feel you dwell on the lack in your life!  I did this for years – and blogged about it for years.  Your attitude will do an about face when you begin to see the blessings that pour down on you each day!

    Many thanks to those of you who reached out to me during this time!  I’m truly blessed by all of you!

    Next post – things get back to normal!

    Blessings,

    Cheri

     

     

     

  • Are you ready to dig?

    Hopefully, you have been growing and harvesting a multitude of herbs over the summer! I hope you have used them fresh and dried some of them for use during the winter months.

    I’ve harvested heaps of basil (anti-inflammatory and great for focus, mental fatigue and emotional balance!)  and delicious on Caprese crostini.

    My spearmint  has taken over it’s bed (good for digestive upset, headaches, toothaches and more), and the horehound I started this year is doing well (it is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,  provides respiratory support and helps regulate blood sugar) It’s great for making a natural cough syrup!

    I have eaten a ton of fresh cilantro this summer (helps move heavy metals out of the body, supports the liver and protects against free radical damage) and have tinctured quite a bit for those same purposes. I’ve also fermented a slaw packed with cilantro for use on tacos!

    I had plenty of dill for my pickles and relish this year. The dill is now growing again and will until first frost.  I’ve saved some of the dill weed and a TON of seeds.

    Plantain has been plentiful but I can usually find that growing even in the dead of winter. Plantain is amazing for bite/sting relief – chew a leaf, place it on the bite and let it work!  No swelling, no itching…poof…all is back to normal!

    Now that cooler weather is starting here in Tennessee, it’s time to start watching your plants so you will know when to begin harvesting roots (but only if the plants are at least 3 years old!) . When the tops of the plants have died back, they are ready!  What roots do you want to wildcraft? It depends on your family’s health needs!

    Echinacea! This plant provides immune support, has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and  anti-microbial properties.  Never take all of the roots of a plant – no more than a third so have a nice long row of Echinacea to harvest!

    Ginseng (it’s ginseng time here in our mountains!) Ginseng likes to grow on north facing mountains and I just happen to have one in my backyard!  Poachers are an issue unfortunately.  My neighbor had his entire crop taken last year. Make sure you are not wildcrafting on private land unless you have permission! Ginseng supports the immune system, has anti-oxidant properties, supports the cardiovascular system, and may even provide energy during those late afternoon slumps!

    Mullein – I use every part of this plant!  The flowers are used to make an ear oil that stops infections in their tracks, the leaves and roots can soothe the respiratory tract, reduce inflammation and provide the properties of an expectorant!

    Comfrey – one of my favorites! Comfrey contains a compound known as allantoin – it causes cell regeneration and is very moisturizing.  My Green Herb Salve is comfrey based to help wounds heal quickly! It is high in anti-oxidants and Vitamin C. It has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is rich in calcium and also works as an expectorant.

    Horseradish is an important part of something I make each fall… Fire Cider – recipe in my next post!!  This is an amazing tonic that supports the immune system and chases out the nasty things before they can get too active in your body!

    What you need to harvest this fall may be completely different!  Every family has different health needs.

    I encourage you to begin taking control of your health using our Father’s gifts! Becoming self-reliant in your health care is so very important!  You CAN do this! If you need help, you can now book a free 15 minute consultation with me…I’ll be happy to get you started learning all about herbal medicine!

    If you are interested in my course on Herbal Remedies, you will now find my book “Herbalism without Paganism” available here on the website as a PDF download. All the mechanics of making herbal remedies along with 10 plants to start with and why!

    Happy Harvesting!

    Cheri

     

     

     

     

  • Simple Jewelweed Tincture!

    Sensitive to poison ivy, oak or sumac?  Let me share our method of clearing it up in a snap! Jewelweed! I believe this plant is our Father’s gift to those who have sensitivities to those plants. And it is simple to make a Jewelweed Tincture! So gather your things and let’s get started!

    You’ll need a cutting board and knife, glass jar with lid, glass or stainless steel funnel with wide opening, 100 proof vodka and, of course, some Jewelweed!

    Although I gathered this just an hour or two before taking these pictures – you can see how quickly Jewelweed wilts.  I always wait an hour or two because any little critters that made those stems their home will have crawled away from the plant!

    Be sure to look at the stems of Jewelweed closely – remove any vining plants or pieces of plants that may have grown in the Jewelweed! Sometimes poison ivy grows in the same areas and we don’t want that in our tincture! You can see a vine wrapped around this stem of Jewelweed.  Also remove any dead or yellowed leaves!

    Once you’ve removed all vines and dead leaves, rough chop your Jewelweed.

    And drop it into a glass jar.

    Fill the jar to the shoulder with your Jewelweed, but don’t pack it in tightly!

    Now you will pour 100 proof vodka over it until the plant material is completely covered!

    Cap it and label it!

    Always put the date on your label.  You will let this sit for 30 days so you need to know when you started! Put the name of the plant in the jar because you won’t recognize it in 30 days!  I also like to put where I gathered it from…especially if it didn’t come from our farm.  That way, I would know where to go again to harvest in the future!

    That’s it – that is how simple it is to make a tincture.  This is called a Simpler’s Tincture – there are other ways to tincture but for beginners this is the best!

    In 30 days you will strain this off, saving all of the liquid. It should be a dark reddish brown.  Put that into a glass (never plastic!) spray bottle. When someone breaks out with poison something or other (ivy, oak, sumac) just spray it every couple of hours and let it air dry!  You will be surprised at how quickly it clears things up!

    Even better, if you think you have come into contact with those plants, spray yourself with this and “wash” off with it. You may never break out!  We use old pieces of cotton sheets for that. Jewelweed has the ability to break the urushiol oil bond with our skin.

    We’ve been using this solution for decades with great success!

    Happy tincturing!

    Cheri

     

     

     

  • Jewelweed (Impatiens Capensis) – Get it now!

    This is a post from the past.  Oh, how things have changed!  My little one is now almost 6 feet tall!  However, I’m glad to say that the benefit and mechanics of using Jewelweed have not changed! There will be several posts on using Jewelweed coming next but first it is important to know what you are gathering and how to gather. Ready to get started?

    Now is the time to gather Jewelweed!  It will be out of bloom locally sometime in the next few weeks – if you live up north it may already be. You need those blooms! It grows in shady, wet areas…along creek banks, ponds, in forests, along rivers etc.  If you don’t have it or don’t know of a friend who will share their bounty, you can visit  Mountain Rose Herbs and order from them.  They only carry it seasonally. You can trust Mountain Rose Herbs to consistently bring you high quality, organic herbs. They are my “go to” company any time I order dried herbs for my own family!

    I wanted to share with you some pictures of my family gathering Jewelweed. We have been doing this for many years. My youngest son is known, in the world of poison ivy, as an easy mark. This has not changed over the years. I think poison ivy somehow seeks him out and attacks…how else can someone get poison ivy in the middle of winter when he is bundled from head to toe with only his eyes showing?…..TWICE!!

    When I found that Jewelweed was our Father’s antidote for poison ivy, I began my search here on my farm and was happy to find it growing along the creek at the base of our mountain. I’ll share a little about gathering it, try to help you recognize it (now is the time to get it!) and then in my next few posts I’ll teach you what to do with it.

    Here is a patch of Jewelweed…

    There are weeds and vines coming up through it but the orange flowers and rounded leaves are what we are looking for.

    Here is Elijah as a child holding some branches:

    Oh…why the surgical gloves? Guess what often grows with Jewelweed….yup…..poison ivy! You will often find little vines of poison ivy wrapped around the stems and you need to remove those before using the Jewelweed. It is easiest to remove them as you pick because Jewelweed wilts very quickly. It is much easier to remove the vines wearing surgical gloves than work gloves….heavy, thick gloves are just too cumbersome.

    Another benefit of the surgical gloves… if we happen to get into poison ivy, we just peel the gloves off and throw them away. Works wonderfully! If you used your normal work gloves working with poison ivy, you take the chance of exposing yourself to poison ivy the next time you pick them up to put them on!

    Make sure that the only thing you have gathered is Jewelweed or your end result could be disastrous! You don’t want any poison ivy left in your Jewelweed!

    Be careful when gathering….this wonderful herb is an annual. Gather it all and that will be the last of your patch. Be a good steward of our Father’s gift and you will be rewarded with a lifetime of Jewelweed. When we are working a patch we never take more than 1/3 of what is there. Also be careful not to “pull” to gather…cutting is the best method. Jewelweed roots are very shallow. It doesn’t take much of a tug to accidentally pull up the entire plant! Not a good thing if you want to have Jewelweed in the future! You want it to continue to grow and flourish so that it will serve your needs for years to come!

    Here is a close-up of the flower ….notice the red spots down the throat of the flower.

    You want some of those flowers… be sure to gather the top 15 inches of the plant. Gather stems, leaves and flowers but only 1/3 of what you find! You want to leave the rest so that next year Jewelweed will bloom again.

    The leaves are oval and toothed as you can see. The upper ones are alternate and the lowers ones opposite. Jewelweed gets its name because water beads up on the leaves after a rain and catches the sunlight…it sparkles as if bedecked with jewels!

    I often see Jewelweed growing along the roads in ditches – don’t ever gather herbs from the roadside – too many toxins from the exhaust of automobiles make this area undesirable for a healthy, safe and effective product.

    Now that you know what Jewelweed looks like, in my next post I’ll share with you how to use this marvelous gift from our Father!

    Happy Jewelweed Hunting!

    Cheri

     

  • It’s Strawberry Season!

    My strawberry beds are loaded with strawberries! Some of my grandkids and I enjoyed a hearty snack walking through the garden this morning. 

    I taught them to pull the leaves back and find treasure!

    And I have a brand new recipe, from a sweet family member, that has become my favorite way to use strawberries! Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad!

    The secret to this yummy salad is slicing the onions very thinly!

    You also want to slice the strawberries like this – slice off stem area, set the base of the strawberry down and slice from tip to base!  It holds it’s shape and firmness in the salad as opposed to chopping in small pieces! It also looks so pretty!

    Put this salad together just before serving – toss lightly and top with Poppy Seed Dressing! I use stevia instead of sugar for guilt free dining!

    I had this lovely salad for my lunch today –  SO yummy!  I may have it again for supper!

    [tasty-recipe id=”5995″]

    This recipe is for my sweet friend Lynn in Texas!  Let me know if you girls enjoy it too!

    Blessings,

    Cheri

  • And so it begins!

    These last few days I’ve had some help here on the farm.  I’ve cleared my schedule and just dedicated this week to farm projects…getting the garden expanded and fenced in, cleaning out and organizing some buildings, getting some estimates for some other projects and getting busy in the greenhouse.

    Elijah and I were looking at some fencing options when I noticed one of our heifers off laying down in the corner of the field.  It just didn’t look right – she wasn’t with the other girls and she was laying down.  Cows usually stick close together.  I knew it had to be one of two things – she was either sick or in labor!

    Sure enough she moved a little  and we saw too little white feet slowly moving in and out.  This would be her first birth so we figured it would be some time.  We moved the other cows to another field to give her some privacy.  All those experienced mama cows like to think they are midwives and get involved!

    Can you see the little feet handing out under her tail?  She’s a field away so picture quality isn’t great. We went back to working in the garden area.  About 20 min. later I needed to take the “cow machine” to the house to pick something up just in time to see her spin around and put her head down – that’s when I noticed a calf on the ground – looked like it had just been born and mama was beginning to tear the sack and clean the calf up.

    Next thing we knew, the calf was on her feet and trying to nurse – of course the midwives are sharing their opinions!

    Once baby found her legs later that day, she managed to get through that gate into the wrong field!  Elijah went to bring the calf back to a frantic mama which allowed us to take the time to get it tagged with name and birthdate, pull some tail hairs and give the calf a once over….it’s a girl!  She is named Elly, after one of my granddaughters.  She is already proving to be a handful!

    She has managed, at 24 hours old, to get through two fences and end up far from mama…more than once!  When I watch them together I think of those toddlers I see at the store who are always running ahead of mama and getting into everything.  Mama is already busy trying to keep her in line!

    So our calving season has begun!  Because I didn’t do a good job in herd management, I don’t know how long it will last. I took a Master Beef Producer class in January, February and part of March and I graduated!

    I’ll be doing things much differently from now on.  I learned so much – and found so many things I was doing wrong.  For instance, leaving the bull in with the girls for long periods of time. This year it will be for 90 days.  This gives you a shorter calving season, helps you learn what girls are getting pregnant quickly and so much more.  If your county extension office offers this kind of class, I encourage you to take it.  I wish we had all taken it together 20 years ago when we first got cows!  After each class, I would come home and implement what i learned.  Sonny, our bull, was turned out into a field for “the boys”.  Everyone was tagged and tail hairs pulled (DNA) and sent off for genetic testing so they could all be registered. I also learned to start rotational grazing for fields that had stockpiled grass (fields with long grass that you can move cattle through instead of buying hay) …and so much more!  I’ve moved more fences in the last 3 months than I have in 20 years!

    I’ll be sure to share some cute calf pictures as soon as I can get close to her – and let you know when the next little one arrives!

    Blessings,

    Cheri