NATURE’S COMMON SCENTS



Nature’s Common Scents

Herb & Health Bulletin

Volume 12 Number 1, February/March 2016



sondrancs@ 540.635.7073

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What is the definition of Herbal Medicine? We could argue here. But I tend to think of herbal medicine as what I do in my everyday life to keep myself healthy. Simply put, this means incorporating plants, herbs and spices into meals and snacks. It also means educating myself on herbs and plants that can help me avoid viruses and colds, heal skin issues, and relieve pain and itch and the like. Most of the time that means drinking simple teas, making use of all-plant products, and preparing meals with lots of vegetables and grains.

What is the definition of Herb? Dr. James Duke* has this to say, “The classic botanical definition is that an herb is a non-woody plant that dies down to its roots each winter. Clearly this definition was concocted by botanists in a cold climate, specifically that of northern Europe. According to this definition, there are no herbs in the Amazonian rain forest, one of the world’s most botanically diverse, herb-rich habitats, because there is no winter.” Dr. Duke goes on to say, “The classic definition also excludes woody trees and shrubs, including ginkgo and hawthorn, two of the biggest-selling medicinal ‘herbs’ in Europe.” If you aren’t familiar with Dr. James Duke and you have any interest in using plants for healing, you should have on hand his book The Green Pharmacy which is a common sense guide with practical instructions for using plants in daily life. Every family should have a copy on hand.

*The Green Pharmacy, copyright 1997 by James A. Duke.

Begin Feeling Calm, Joyful and Less Anxious. Yogurt promotes a feeling of calm because the same good bacteria in yogurt that aid digestion and improve immunity send mood-regulating messages to the brain. Cocoa (plant pictured here) provides two mood-lifting stimulants – caffeine and theobromine, as well as a chemical called PEA that releases endorphins in the brain. It also can enhance feelings of calm and well-being. And Black tea is comforting and relaxing because tea leaves contain theanine, an anti-anxiety amino acid that helps regulate the soothing hormones serotonin and dopamine. It also increases GABA, a nerve-relaxing neurotransmitter. Tea drinkers recover more quickly from stress because their cortisol levels return to normal after an upsetting event almost twice as fast as non-tea drinkers. [Woman’s World, November 2015]

Nuts & Cancer. A review of multiple studies indicates that a higher consumption of nuts may reduce the risk of certain cancers, specifically colorectal, endometrial and pancreatic. The observational study included 30,000 people. [Mayo Clinic Health Letter, November 2015]

The thinking Plant. Can a plant be intelligent? Some plant scientists insist they are, since they can sense, learn, remember and even react in ways that would be familiar to humans. Humans assume you need ears to hear. But according to author Michael Pollan, researchers, have played a recording of a caterpillar munching on a leaf to plants — and the plants react. They begin to secrete defensive chemicals. The plants are somehow hearing what is, to them, a terrifying sound." In-depth studies indicate a plant can make future plans based on calculations of its current conditions, according to Stephen Buhner in his book Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm. The May apple, for instance, plans its growth two years in advance, based on weather patterns. Plants use the soil as the stratum for the neural net; they have no need for a specific organ to house their neuronal system. The numerous root tips act as one whole, synchronized, self-organized system, much as the neurons in our brains do. Plants also communicate with outside species. Plant roots are aware of “self” and “not-self.” For example, roots about to encounter an impenetrable obstacle or toxic substance change course before they make contact. Roots can tell whether nearby roots are “self” or “other,” and if other, whether or not they are “kin” or “stranger.” All plants are continually talking with each other, sending chemical communications along the mycelia network to other plants in the community.

Detox Bath Tips. Many these days make an effort to detox their bodies. A warm bath filled with salts and herbs might be the best way to do this. Soaking in the tub assists the body in eliminating toxins as well as absorbing the minerals and nutrients that are added to the water. A warm bath also eases the body into sleep, another activity that resets and cleanses the bodily systems. Add some essential oils to the bathwater for aromatherapeutic benefits. Drink water before, during and after bathing to help keep the body hydrated and flush out toxins. After bathing, massage in a rich body lotion or natural oil to keep skin soft. If you have time, lie down for a few minutes after bathing and don’t eat immediately before or afterwards. [Herb Quarterly, Winter 2015]

We Have Become the Noise. Modern noise causes problems and health concerns. Exposure to traffic noise correlates with heart disease; it can elevate blood pressure, increase heart rate, and make breathing difficult. Even as background sound, it affects us. When R. Murray Schafer, a Canadian sound researcher, asked North Americans to hum a note, they produced a B-natural, which is the same pitch as the electricity buzzing in the wires everywhere. In the UK, folks hummed G-sharp, the frequency of their current. [Rodale’s Organic Life, January/February 2016]

Relieving Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Peppermint Oil. Investigators analyzed available research on peppermint oil as a treatment for IBS. They concluded that peppermint oil may indeed offer a safe and effective short-term option for some people with IBS. In general, people who took peppermint oil had significantly better symptom relief than those who took a placebo. If you choose to take the oil, purchase enteric-coated capsules to help prevent heartburn. [Mayo Clinic Health Letter, December 2015]

Editor’s notes: Or do as I do – keep handy all-natural peppermint candies (such as Altoids) and let them dissolve in the mouth as needed. This helps upset stomach as well as assuages hunger.

Eat the Garnish! Always a little strange in my eating habits, even as a child, I would gobble up the parsley garnish on my plate at a restaurant. Turns out, that was a good thing! Parsley is an anti-cancer powerhouse. A recent study in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found that parsley acts as an antioxidant, destroying free radicals before they damage cells; protects DNA from damage that can lead to cancer or other diseases; and inhibits proliferation and migration of cancer cells. Additionally, according to the Journal of Nutrition, eating foods high in a naturally occurring nutrient known a myricetin can decrease risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 26 percent. Parsley is one of the best sources of myricetin. And last, a study published in The Journal of Urology in 2012 found that ingesting parsley leaves and roots reduces the number of calcium oxalate deposits (found in kidney stones) and helps break down kidney stones.

Rosehip Tea for Colds and Inflammation. A cup of rose hip tea provides five times more healing Vitamin C than an orange. This fortifies your defenses against colds and flu. In addition, drinking a cup a day for two weeks can triple the number of infection-fighting T-cells in your immune system. This means if you do get sick, you can hasten your recovery time by nearly fifty percent. A “side effect” of drinking rose hip tea is you might see a reduction in your joint pain and stiffness. Rose hips contain nutrients that help prevent the buildup of cartilage-damaging inflammation inside the joints. [Stephanie Roll, PhD, University Medicine Berlin Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics]

Know Your Seeds. When purchasing seeds, you don’t need to be concerned about GMO contamination because catalogs for home gardeners don’t sell GMO seeds. However, look for the seed source. Most mail order seed businesses are actually resellers and are not seed farmers or breeders. Since seeds are adaptive, try to go local to benefit from their adaptive nature. And finally, if you use organic methods, then purchase organic seeds. And if you want heirloom seeds, be sure the word is being used to describe open-pollinated, or nonhybrid varieties at least 50 years old. [Rodale’s Organic Life, November/December 2015]

If you received this newsletter from Nature’s Common Scents, you personally gave me your email address for that purpose. However, we all get too much in our email boxes and have to make choices. If you wish to discontinue, e-mail me at sondrancs@ putting the word “discontinue” in the subject line and I will take your name off right away. Or if you wish to be sure you are on the list, send me an email saying “newsletter” in the subject line. If you are unable to receive bulk emails, these are often treated like junk mail and are returned, in which case I have no choice but to remove your name from my list even if you intended to receive it. Be sure to check on this.

Evensong/Nature’s Common Scents. Twenty acres of wild and naturally growing trees, plants, shrubs, and herbs, most of which are healing in one way or another. We teach about them and how best to use them, provide herbal walks and “quiet days” for interested persons. Also we make old fashioned, easy-to-understand therapeutic skin care products to heal troubled skin and teach how to make “teas, tonics & tinctures” from local and/or readily available plants and herbs, believing you should be able to understand and pronounce everything you put in and on your body. This newsletter is written and edited by Sondra Johnson, a member of the American Herbalists Guild and the Herb Society of America. She is not a doctor; recipes and facts in this newsletter are researched from many areas and passed on for informational purposes. Comments are editorial, and the opinion of the author. People with health problems, new or ongoing, should consult qualified medical personnel. Anyone can become allergic to anything at any time. Even if you have never experienced allergies to plants, when you make or use one medicinally, you should always do a skin test first to see if you can tolerate the plant and the ingredients in the product. (Rub a small amount of the product on the upper, inside of your arm. Observe for 8-10 hours. If rash develops, discontinue use.)

Note: With few exceptions, plants or herbs noted in this newsletter are what would be in regular use in your home on a daily basis in and for food. This newsletter only confirms their good use for your health as researched by the scientific community. If, after self-treatment, your symptoms don’t begin to improve, or if you have a fever above 100.4 F see your doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing as well as anyone who is under the care of a physician for a specific malady should always use caution when self-treating as many herbs are contraindicated. Always tell your doctor if you add herbs for healing to your regular daily routine.

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2016 Schedule

Annual Highland County Maple Festival, Monterey, VA

March 12, 13 & March 19, 20

I will be at the Highland County Maple Festival, Monterey, Virginia, on these two weekends. Come if you can! This is my 15th year at this exciting, large and very old (58 years) show. It’s a great time for you to stock up on your favorite products without having to pay shipping!

Soapmaking workshops.

Each Soapmaking Workshop is $25, plus materials if you purchase them from me. You are encouraged to bring your own. Everything is detailed in an email which I will send to each participant, along with directions to my workshop. Each workshop starts approximately 9 a.m. and ends about 3, however those who wish to leave before others have finished may do so. Observers free but must reserve a spot in advance. Workshop size limited to 10 registrants.

• April 2 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Saturday

• April 18 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Monday

• May 11 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Wednesday

• June 10 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Friday

• September 5 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Monday (Labor Day)

• October 8 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Saturday

• November 5 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Saturday

Christmas Open House

December 3 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Saturday

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Detoxing Body Scrub

1 cup raw sugar

¼ cup light oil such as walnut or almond

Mix together the ingredients stirring well. Spoon the scrub mixture into a clean container.

To use: Massage a tablespoon or two all over the body to gently exfoliate and boost circulation. Focus on pressure points that could be storing stress and toxins, such as the balls of the feet, backs of the legs and the lower back, under arms, neck, and hands. Oils can make the tub slippery so be careful when standing.

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Speaking of seeds: 4TBS of ground sesame seeds daily can reduce joint pain. That’s a lot to consume daily, but try sprinkling in oatmeal or add to a smoothie. Or sprinkle whole over salads or main dishes. [International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases]

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