MARCH 14, 2018 HERBAL STEAMS

 This simple self-care practice is a wonderful addition to any skin care routine.

Facial steaming opens up your pores and using herbs and flowers in the water nourishes and tones your skin. Adding the plants to the hot water releases their nutrient-rich aromatic oils you haven't tried a herbal steam you have missed the benefits of something wonderful

I have two new products, Herbal Steams  by Botanical Bounty - BREATHE and SERENE

The Breathe Steam contains herbs like Nettle Leaf ( Urtica dioica) and Eucalyptis  while SERENE contains Skullcap ( Scutellaria) and Lemon Balm ( Melissa ) and other herbs

BENEFITS OF HERBAL STEAMS: 

STEAMS hydrate. Steam is hydrating for your skin and great for increasing permeability. The moist heat revives tired skin and supports the absorption of moisture from your skin care products, increasing your skin's suppleness.

STEAMS  cleanse. Warm steam softens the surface of your skin to remove impurities, bacteria and dirt from your pores. It also draws out buildup, softening blackhead and whitehead plugs so they gently release from the skin.

STEAMS promote healthy circulation. Increasing your perspiration helps your skin's blood vessels to dilate, improving blood flow. The blood feeds and oxygenates the skin. Good circulation is key to a healthy complexion.

STEAMS calm. Steaming instantly connects you to your breath, and the aromatherapy is relaxing and soothing to body and mind.

STEAMS  will give you a glow. The boost in circulation and blast of hydration to the surface of your skin will leave you with a beautiful, healthy glow.

Call Botanical Bounty today at 646 723 1823 to order your refreshing Herbal Steam

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 13, 2018 PLANTAR FASCITIS

- If the bottom of your foot hurts when you walk, you may have a condition called plantar fasciitis Plantar fasciitis is a condition that causes pain on the bottom of the heel. It occurs when the band of tissue that supports the arch of your foot becomes inflamed. Many people with plantar fasciitis have heel spurs, but heel spurs are not the cause of plantar fasciitis pain

This more of a common disease than you think . There are many remedies to heal the inflammation from ginger to curcumin. There are many treatments available as guided by a physical therapist including taping,  acupuncture,  bee venom, and to cooling or soothing creams.

There are exercises as rolling a cold water bottle along the sole of the foot to stretch the tight tendon This is very effective. You could get deep reflexology treatment  of the area

I found a sock that actually works. It is called www.drsocksoothers.com This sock increases blood circulation, prevent ankles twists and turns and helps recovery after work ups. I have bought these socks for my plantar fasciitis.

I feel these are useful

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 12, 2018 THE HERBALIST

" WHY USE CHEMICAL DRUGS when nature in her wisdom and beneficence has provided, in her great vegetable laboratories--the fields and forest---relief for the more common and simple life of mankind . ? " - Joseph E Meyer 1934. 

Last year I was given a gift from a special woman- Diane  She is the owner of Red Head Heron  Antiques in Mystic CT.  With so much going on at the time I didn't have the opportunity to really read this book and ponder its wonder She had found I believe a special book called The Herbalist- by Joseph E Meyer 1934. . It is smaller than pocket size published by The Hammond Book Company  Hammond, Indiana. 

The books discusses botany in its first pages but then has an incredible Materia Medica for its time. Mr Meyer like me collected old books. He collected many books on Herbalism. In one of these books he found a unique hair tonic  as well as many unique formulas. He sold these formulas in 1934 for 35 cents per box. 

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 10-11, 2018 HERBAL HONEY

We all have different ways to enjoy herbs. You make use them in your cooking, you may make a cup of herbal tea every night, or you use a tincture. One of my favorite ways has incorporated two things I love- Honeybees and Planting Herbs. 

To make a herbal honey you must use fresh plants.  The fresh leaves and the flowers work the best .  I love growing all plants from the Mint Family- These include, Mint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Motherwort and Bugleweed. 

Chop them with a knife immediately before using. Get a large casserole bowl and pour your Local honey over the fresh plants.  I have estimated that 2-3 cups of fresh herb requires about 6-8 cups of honey.  I allow this to steep overnight covered. I then place over a warm flame  and warm till the honey is clear and runny

Strain into jars. I prefer small mason jars with tight fitting caps. I do this as the end of summer approaches. These become Christmas gifts for friends and family. 

Always store at room temperature. Go to your local Farmer's Market and support your local beekeeper to buy his honey . Also buy fresh herbs while you are there if you are not inclined to grow your own. 

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 9, 2018 BREAST MILK PRODUCTION

Today many females are engaging in breast feeding. It is beneficial to the baby. I have some patients that are still breast feeding when there child is 2 years old or more.  There is a word that describes this The word is galactagogue or lactagogue. 

A galactagogue, or galactogogue, (from Greek: γάλα [γαλακτ-], milk, + ἀγωγός, leading) is a substance that promotes lactation in humans and other animals. It may be synthetic, plant-derived, or endogenous. They may be used to treat low milk supply.

Successful breast feeding depends if the mother is relaxed and getting enough rest. It all comes down to sleep.  I encourage females top ingest a cup of chamomile tea to help relax.  To promote rest you can place some loose leaves of chamomile, lavender and hops inside your pillowcase. Sometimes not easily found.  You could use the essential oils of these herbs to place in a bath or ingest ( if applicable ) 

There are three herbs that promote milk production. Consult your health care professional ( most likely a naturopathic doctor, herbalist or mid wife ) 

These herbs are :

1. Aniseed ( Pimpinella anisum )

2. Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare)

3. Fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 8, 2018 Oysters

Oyster is the  for a number of different families of  molluscs that live in marine or  habitats. In some species the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape. Many, but not all, oysters are in the superfamily Ostreoidea

Do you eat oysters ? Oysters are very nutritious There are a number of parasites or diseases you can acquire from eating ' bad' oysters. 

Some kinds of oysters are commonly consumed by humans, cooked or raw, and are regarded as a delicacy . Some kinds of pearl oysters are harvested for the pearl produced within the mantle

The history of the Oyster is unique. I decided to purchase and start reading Oysters: A Global History in the Edible Series  The author is Carolyn Tillie. I love learning facts about plants, animals, and people. I highly encourage the Edible Series as a gift for someone special

The oyster holds a special lore for those that know about oysters. It is said to be an aphrodisiac

I found out that the first oyster pie recipe dates back to 1604 in a painting Lancelot de Casteau. Did you ever see a painting of the Goddess of Love ?  - Aphrodite by the Greeks and Venus by the Romans. Notice paintings of her- she is emerging from a oyster shell. 

The book gives recipes, website and apps that are most useful. 

Buy this book

Until tomorrow....

MARCH 7, 2018 BIELER'S BROTH

There are many names for this broth- conscious cleanse, detox cleanse, or the cleansing cleanse. It is reserved for the individual who cannot hold anything down

 The person who cannot hold anything down including water. I have seen many ways to make this broth.  It can used for the stressed out stomach

This is the version of the broth that I like the most

1. Cut up equal amounts of the following:

1. parsley 2. celery 3. green string beans   4. zucchini squash

2. Put in a pan and add just right amount of water to cover the vegetables

3. Bring to a boil  and then simmer for 10 minutes

4. Remove from pan and place all in a blender and liquefy it all

If need strain the broth and have the individual do one teaspoon every 10 minutes

There are different versions on the Internet. This is the mother of all vegetarian broths- A real superhero

Until tomorrow...

MARCH 6, 2018 CHILOMASTIX MESNILI

Chilomastix mesnili: This is a pear shaped intestinal flagellate which is transmitted through direct ingestion of the cyst stage. It is not a common parasite. It can occur in the small bowel but mainly in the cecum. Most literature I read it is considered a commensal organism, it can play a role in chronic disease

In our case, it was found in a male who has had cecal carcinoma and now is in remission I never did a stool analysis in the recent past so did not discover this organism

Interestingly this is a non parasitic member of the primate gastrointestinal microflora , commonly associated but not causing parasitic infections  It is associated in 3.5 % of the adult population in the United States.  As I stated before, it lives in the cecum and the colon. In addition to human it is found in chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys and pigs.t population in the United States. This organism has a similar lifestyle to Giardia lamblia.  It does other with other parasitic infections. Upon researching it, it can create a false positive which can result in unnecessary treatment

Recently this patient traveled the Camino Trail There needs to be questions whether he consumed pork on this trip which might have been undercooked.

Until tomorrow..