NATURE’S COMMON SCENTS



Evensong / Nature’s Common Scents

Healthy Skin Newsletter

Fall 2017 Volume 13, Number 3

November 2017



sondrancs@ 540.635.7073

Focus on Holiday Health

this issue:

General HealtH

➢ Stay Well by Boosting your Immunity This Winter

➢ Reduce Coughs with Honey & Thyme

➢ Consider Guests with Food Allergies

➢ T’is the Season To Drink Alcohol

➢ People Gathered in Small Spaces = Germs!

Herb and Plant Remedies

➢ Tea for All Around Good Health

➢ Chocolate Might Help Your Heart

General Health

Stay Well by Boosting Your Immunity This Winter. Eating right is important, but make sure you are not deficient in any of the following:

Zinc. Zinc deficiency is one of the most common nutritional shortfalls among American adults, according to Amanda MacMillan and Tamara Schryver of Prevention Magazine, and can increase your risk of infection. This is especially true if you are a vegetarian. Beef is a prime source of immunity-bolstering zinc. Oysters, fortified cereals, yogurt and milk can also help.

Selenium encourages white blood cells produce proteins that in turn help clear flu viruses out of the body. To increase your intake of selenium, try oysters, lobster, crabs, shrimp and clams.

Omega 3 reduces inflammation in the lungs by increasing airflow. This helps protect lungs from colds and respiratory infections. Foods rich in Omega-3 fats include salmon, mackerel and herring.

Allicin, found in garlic, fights infection and bacteria. British researchers gave people either a placebo or a garlic extract for twelve weeks. Those who took garlic were two-thirds less likely to catch a cold.

Antioxidants. Kale is packed with immunity-boosting antioxidants, as are all greens.

Beta-glucan (types of fiber found in the cells of certain types of yeast, algae, bacteria, and fungi as well as oats and barley) When animals eat beta-glucan, they are less likely to contract influenza and anthrax. In human beings it is these grains that rev immunity and they may help antibiotics work better.

Vitamin A plays a major role in the production of connective tissue, a key component of skin. Keep your skin healthy as it is your first line of defense against bacteria, viruses and other undesirables. Sweet potatoes are high in Vitamin A.

Probiotics, the “live active cultures” found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the gut and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs. A study at the University of Vienna in Austria found that a daily 7-ounce dose of yogurt was just as effective in boosting immunity as popping pills. [All-Natural Immunity Boosters, ]

Reduce Coughs with Honey & Thyme . Honey seems to be as effective as over-the-counter medicine for reducing the frequency of coughing. Add bacteria-killing thyme to speed recovery. Mix ½ cup honey and ½ ounce thyme tincture.* Adults can take 1 to 2 teaspoons of this mixture as needed. Half that for children over 2 years old. [Dr. Aviva Romm, October 2014]

*No tincture? Make Thyme tea. Add an equal amount of honey. Sip frequently.

Consider Guests with Food Allergies. Fortunately most people’s food allergies aren’t life-threatening. But for some, they can be. Be careful with food prep and serving. Simply rinsing a cutting board of knife used for a food that is an allergen to your guest isn’t enough, according to Alicia Romano, MS, RD, who specializes in dietary counseling. “Even trace amounts of an allergen can cause a harmful reaction for highly allergic people.” Thoroughly scrub all utensils and food prep services. Also to prevent allergic reactions, don’t use the same serving spoon for different foods, to avoid cross contamination. [Health & Nutrition Letter, Tufts University November 2017.]

T’is the Season to Drink Alcohol. Wondering why the recommended alcohol limit for women is less than for men? Because a single alcoholic beverage affects women more than men. That’s due in part of differences in body size and composition. That results in higher peak blood alcohol levels in women versus men for the same amount of alcohol. And compared to men, women are more likely to have lower levels of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol, so it tends to remain in a woman’s body longer. [Health & Nutrition Letter, Tufts University November 2017.

People Gathered in Small Spaces = Germs. When we “gather together” for Thanksgiving and Christmas, germs abound. Mayo Clinic recommends the following for avoiding viruses: Wash your hands. Disinfect your stuff. Use tissues. Don't share drinking glasses or utensils. Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold. Take care of yourself. Eating well, getting exercise and enough sleep, and managing stress might also help you keep colds at bay.

HERB AND PLANT REMEDIES

Tea for All Around Good Health! All tea, whether black, green or white, comes from the same plant: Camellia sinensis.* But did you know that plain old tea (the kind that is, perhaps the favorite beverage of any American picnic), has many great health benefits? Heart: Studies have found a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke in those who drink green or black tea. Diabetes: Research has linked green or black tea compounds to improved blood sugar control. A 2012 study of tea drinkers in 50 countries found that high consumption of black tea was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Weight loss: A large 2013 U.S. analysis found that tea drinkers weighed less and had smaller waists than non-tea drinkers—although the same didn't hold true for those who add sugar. Teeth: may help reduce levels of bacteria in the mouth that cause cavities and contribute to gum disease. Again, this would be unsweetened tea.

*This does not include what are more commonly called “herbal teas,” which can be made from just about any edible plant, and are healthy in a myriad of ways. For herbs and recipes, see past issues of your Healthy Skin Newsletter. Or contact me for ideas.

Chocolate Might Help Your Heart: Researchers looked at self-reported chocolate intake of 55,502 Danish adults ages 50-64 over a period of thirteen and a half years, then compared the diagnoses of atrial fibrillation over time. They found that the risk of developing the disease was 10 per cent less in those who ate chocolate at least 1-3 times a month and 20 percent lower in people who ate 2-6 servings a week. A serving is 1 ounce. However, habitually eating too much chocolate leads to excessive calorie and sugar intake and increases other health risks. Less is more in this case! [Health & Nutrition Letter, Tufts University November 2017.]

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]

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Christmas Open House

Saturday

December 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Refreshments

Many items discounted

All purchases more than 5% off

Grab bags

Special Christmas Items

Special Gift Sets

Fellowship & Informal discussion about herbs

Email me for directions or if you’d like to come another day.

[pic]

It’s the holiday season and so often a small gift is necessary but it’s hard to find anything under $10 these days. Handmade herbal soaps make surprisingly good gifts in such circumstances. They also make great hostess gifts or even tied to a package just to spruce it up a little.

I’ve made new soaps for this Christmas. The surprise ingredient is yogurt! Hope you’ll ask me about it!

 

 

Something different to offer at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fruit kebabs. Start by placing wooden skewers in water and soaking for at least 10 minutes. Place cubed fruit, such as cantaloupe, pineapple, mango or honeydew, onto skewers. Place skewers on a baking sheet and sprinkle with brown sugar. Broil until slightly bubbly, about 2 minutes on each side. Mayo Clinic.

Brewing the perfect pot of tea: Have on hand a 6-8 cup teapot with a well-fitting lid that will take boiling water. 6-8 tea bags or 6-8 teaspoons loose tea. Tea strainer (if using loose tea).Fresh unchlorinated, untreated water makes the best-tasting tea. Rinse out the teapot and fill with hot water. Set aside. Bring 6-8 cups of water to a boil in a pan or kettle. Empty the teapot and add the tea bags or the measured amount of loose tea. Turn off the heat source and slowly add the just-boiled water to the teapot. Put the lid on. Steep 5 minutes. Tea is then ready to strain and serve. If you like stronger taste, leave it in longer. Your healthful “medicine” is now ready to enjoy.

Strain leftover tea and when cold, put in the refrigerator. It will last several days.

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