NATURE’S COMMON SCENTS



Nature’s Common Scents

Herb & Health Bulletin

Volume 12 Number 2, April/May 2016



sondrancs@ 540.635.7073

[pic]

Brand New Batch of Lemon Verbena Soap ready! Lemon verbena (Aloysia citriodora) is a citrus-scented plant that helps improve skin by making it smoother, feel fresher and in general look better. The leaves are safely taken internally as a tea for a number of ailments. Lemon verbena tones, firms and refreshes. It is suitable for sensitive skin. It can also be used to diminish acne, puffiness and cysts and it can act as a hair tonic. Lemon verbena is antiseptic and anti-bacterial so it makes a great bar for handwashing. I grow Lemon verbena in pots and winter it over in my greenhouse as it is not hardy in my area. I harvest the leaves for a refreshing summertime drink, dry them for later use, and infuse them in olive oil for several months to extract all the wonderful properties of the plant to use in my Lemon verbena soap. Order online or by telephoning me. (Limited quantity)

Let’s Not Poison Ourselves. Much as I like to grow and use fresh herbs, and as familiar as I am with a number of them, I feel very cautious about what is called “wildcrafting” also known as foraging. Plant confusion is easy, and it is not always as simple to detect differences between similar-looking safe plants and poisonous ones.

As you can see from the photographs, plants can look very similar. Others not pictured that look similar are Parsley and Anise. Of these mentioned, only Hemlock is truly poisonous.

Poison Hemlock grows prolifically in many areas. I have it in my yard and I’ve seen it along a stream at a beautifully manicured historic cemetery, where the public very likely comes in contact with it regularly. Children who often pick the tempting flowers of Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) can be poisoned if they put their fingers in their mouths after handling the flowers or leaves of Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). A few years ago, my own granddaughters picked Queen Anne’s Lace and put the stem of the flowers in their mouths mimicking tango dancers! It was an opportunity to teach about using caution with plants, but it could have been disastrous.

Differences: Queen Anne’s Lace comes out later in the season than Poison Hemlock, which is in my part of Virginia is currently growing prolifically and when I dug them out in mid-April ranged from seedlings to two feet tall. Queen Anne’s Lace grows and flowers later in the summer, and the flowers often (but not always) have the little red dot in the center like the one in the picture.

Motion Sickness. For those who suffer motion sickness, I sympathize. I have a very low tolerance for motion, even on the porch swing. While I can avoid the porch swing, I can’t avoid automobile trips. Generally speaking, being in the front seat is OK. If you have a low tolerance for motion, consider ginger and/or peppermint. While traveling, it’s easy enough to pack peppermint sweets; just be sure the peppermint is real and not the chemical “menthol” – which does not mean it is plant derived. Mayo Clinic recommends taking a ginger supplement containing 1 to 2 grams of ginger in capsules before you embark on your journey. You might prefer to blend peppermint and ginger essential oils in a small bottle and sniff it along the journey (this is known as aromatherapy). Mayo says there is a product on the market called QueaseEase that contains this blend. [Health Letter, Mayo Clinic, April 2016]

Morning Sickness. Fresh ginger or ginger teas can be helpful in easing pregnancy sickness, which is caused by a surge or hormones (Smith 2010, Viljoen et al 2014). However, if you are sensitive to certain smells and flavors, this might not work for you. But it is safe to try, unless of course you are allergic to the ginger plant or ginger gives you heartburn.

Are Your Wrinkles Filled With Plastic? Plastic microbeads are in face soaps, body washes, nail polishand even toothpastes. They are included in “age-defying” makeup (because they fill in wrinkles with plastic dust) as well as lip gloss and nail polish. Most wastewater treatment doesn’t filter out microbeads, and so they get discharged into waterways. As a result, micro-plastic particles are found in bays, gulfs and seas worldwide, as well as inland waterways. They absorb toxins in the water, are eaten by marine life, and can make their way up the food chain all the way to our dinner plates. If you see any of the following ingredients: polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polymethyl methacrylate your product contains plastic.

Music Heals. Studies show that music played at any time before, during or after surgery lessens the pain and anxiety people often feel after surgery. It can reduce the need for pain relievers and improve the patient’s satisfaction level. Mayo Clinic says to ask your doctor whether you can bring headphones and your favorite music when you have to have a medical procedure. It might help make the experience more bearable. [Health Letter, Mayo Clinic, April 2016]

Still Not Getting Enough Grains. Most Americans still fall short of the mark for whole grain intake. A national nutrition survey published in Nutrition Journal showed that adult consumption of whole grains rose slightly in a ten year period, and 60 percent met recommendations for total grain intake, but only 8 percent got the recommended amount of whole grains. Only 1 percent of children ate enough, meaning we’re all losing out on the necessary nutrients and fiber in whole grains. In addition to being healthy, whole grains make us feel fuller longer therefore helping keep weight down, and studies show that they help us keep our waist circumference smaller. [Nutrition Letter, Tufts University, April 2016]

Diet Soda Doesn’t Help Your Diet. Drinking just one can a day of diet soda add three times more belly fat on those who drink it than those who don’t. Researchers in Texas discovered that those who drank diet soda daily gained 3.2 inches around their waists over 9 years. Those who didn’t have diet soda gained only .8. Though they aren’t sure why, people who drank diet soda tended to consume more calories from food throughout the day.

Herbal Remedies for Nerve Issues. As you begin planting your garden, there are some easy-to-tend herbs that can easily be made into teas that you might want to include to help your physical and mental health. Here are three: Lemon balm, Passionflower and St. John’s Wort.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) grows rampant in the garden much like mint, but in a pot, it is quite tame. Put it in a large pot because once you start realizing the benefits of this good-tasting herb you’ll want lots of it. Author David Hoffman says the gently sedative oil relieves tension and stress reactions.” Some herbalists refer to it as a restorative to the nervous system. Human studies indicate it can enhance cognitive function, improve mood, and remove some of the symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, especially irritability and forgetfulness.

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) leaves, fruits and flowers are useful as nervines, sedatives, antispasmodics, and anti-anxiety issues. For people who can’t find the “off switch” for thoughts that keep them awake at night, Passionflower offers relief.

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) can help nervous disorders as well as melancholia and nerve pain. A topical preparation of the oil (called Hypericum oil) is used for treatment of Bell’s palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, head trauma injuries, vaginal pain, peripheral nerve pain, phantom limb pain, joint pain and injuries to any tissues with a lot of nerve endings such as fingers, the spine, genitals, and nipples. [The Herb Quarterly, Summer 2015]

To make Passionflower tea: Put 1 teaspoon of dried passionflower leaves (or 1 tablespoon fresh) in a tea infuser into 8 ounces of just-boiled water. Cover and let steep for five minutes. Take this tea about an hour before bedtime and limit yourself to one cup within a 24 hour period. Caution: Medicinal Passionflower should not be ingested by pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding. Don’t take passionflower if you are on anti-anxiety or anti-depression medication. Some people have reported fogginess and an inability to concentrate after taking this herb, so take it only before going to bed.

My Comments: While Lemon balm is generally classified as “safe” when used properly, Passionflower and St. John’s Wort should be used with caution, especially if you are pregnant or under the care of a physician. St. John’s Wort should not be taken with Coumadin, Digoxin, protease inhibitors, organ transplant antirejection drugs, or chemotherapy agents. Before combining it with pharmaceutical antidepressants, speak with your doctor.

Can You Think Yourself Well? An analysis of 84 chronic pain-drug trials showed that over a 23 year period patients receiving placebos experienced a 30 percent decrease in pain levels on average. Scientists are trying to figure out why some respond well to a placebo and some do not. They are looking to see what happens to people’s bodies and brains when a placebo is taken, and hoping to harness that power. [Reader’s Digest, May 2016]

Are You Making Your Pet Sick? If you cuddle your pets you might be making them sick. Recently, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert linking human topical pain medications to the deaths of two cats. The drugs contain Flurbiprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). The medications were not applied or given orally to the cats. They were absorbed when pets came into contact with them by rubbing or licking the owner’s feet and neck where the medical cream was applied. Pets exposed to NSAIDs meant for humans, even in small amounts, can develop fatal kidney and liver failure. They can also develop stomach and intestinal ulcers. The FDA had previously issued a similar warning regarding topical hormone replacement creams and sprays. Warning signs of contact include: loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. All human medications should be considered toxic to pets. [Special to Everyday Health, Julio Lopez, DVM, DACVIM]

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.

[pic]

-----------------------

workshops & Events 2016

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.

• May 11 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Wednesday

• June 10 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Friday

• June 11, 12 Virginia Herb Festival, Sunflower Cottage



_________________

Different plants: Poison Hemlock, Queen Anne’s Lace and Angelica.

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

Relax with Evening Tea

Serves 4

2 cups drinking water

2 tbsp. dried chamomile or 2 chamomile tea sachets (organic if possible)

1-3 tsp cold-pressed coconut oil

1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk or plant milk of choice

1/2 tsp ground turmeric

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

(a pinch of black pepper, optional)

1 tbsp. raw honey or more to taste

Bring water to a boil in a sauce pan. Turn off the heat, then add chamomile and let steep for 6-8 minutes. Discard the chamomile. Stir in milk, coconut oil, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, (black pepper) and honey. Re-heat on low heat if needed. Enjoy!

(Black pepper increases the bioavailability of the turmeric.)

.

Each of these herbs can be purchased at your local health food store. Some may be available in tea bags for easier tea-making.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download