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Fennel To The Rescue!

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I’ve never been a whole-hearted tea drinker but over the past years I’ve developed an appreciation of herbal/medicinal teas. The warmth and soothing aromas put me in a good mood, and depending on the tea, quiets the mind, energizes and heals the body.  Most of us know Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) as a spice used in certain meat dishes, soups and salads but Fennel seeds have a wide range of health benefits. I use Fennel seeds as a digestive aid, relieving gas, bloat and indigestion. In the pictures below I show how I make Fennel tea. Supplies: Fennel seeds (I used Whole Foods 365 organic seeds), tea filters and nut grinder.            Seeds in the nut grinder, waiting to be ground up. I'm putting ground up Fennel seeds in tea filter. Finished product. I steep the tea bag in hot water for about 10-15 min. Ready to drink. FYI, Fennel is easy to grow, I've had the pleasure of growing beautiful Fennel plants but the Black Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars g...
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Feels So Good

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  A few blogs ago, I harvested Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) flowers growing in my yard and made an infusion using Extra Virgin Olive Oil. One month passed, with me giving my infusion a couple of shakes a day-actually shaking up the oil and flowers to keep the mix from separating. After a month, the infusion was ready to be strained. Everything you need: Infused oil, strainer, cup or bowl and gloves.          The flowers after straining, messy but worth it.                                                      The finished product  I love Roman Chamomile oil, it can be used topically for irritated skin, rubbed on sore, tired muscles/body parts. At night I message it on my neck, chest and arms, the aroma helps me to fall asleep. Roman Chamomile oil can also be messaged on and around the abdomen to ease bloat and in...
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Remember What? Who?

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  As we age we would like to maintain a quality of life in which we are able to care for ourselves for as long as we can. My daily prayers include thanking The Lord for good health in spirit, mind and body. On the market, big name supplements Prevagin and Neuriva address specific concerns-brain health. Their claim is that, over time, they improve memory and cognitive functioning-good to know. But, if you're not into taking pills, there are wonderful veggies and herbs that can be included with your daily meals that help with cerebral circulation, mental clarity and concentration. Bacopa(Bacopa monnieri) is an easy plant to grow. I've  seen it grown in aquariums and outside. I've had my plant for a few years now(seedling from Strictly Medicinal site)  and it's still going strong. Bacopa leaves and stems can be thrown in smoothies, soup, salad or juiced. I will warn you, Bacopa has a strong, somewhat bitter taste that hits you on the back end. Your first bite you experi...
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Orange, No More

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A couple of weeks ago I brought 2 packages of organic Turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder with the intention of taking it daily to support my health. Turmeric is known for it's healing and anti inflammatory properties, addressing all areas of the body. For me, that would be joint pain and seasonal allergies. Problem is, I cook to live, I am not a chef, so making dishes that incorporate Turmeric is not my thing. Turmeric milk is a nice treat at bedtime but after drinking it for a couple of days, my tooth enamel began to take on an orange glow, which my tooth brushing did not rectify. That's when I remembered my old pill maker! What you need: Capsule making machine which includes pill maker(Base and top), Tamper(helps to press the material into the pill), and Spread Card(moves material into capsule). Oh yes, you need the material/herb-I used 365 Whole Foods brand organic Turmeric and the capsules(XPRS Nutra Vegan pill capsules, size 0).      Video 1: Separate capsules, placing...
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Wah! No More Oil

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 Hey Everybody, I ran out of one of my favorite oils, Roman Chamomile. Most people are familiar with German Chamomile(Matricula recutita), used as a calming tea and digestive aid. I use Roman Chamomile(Chamaemelum nobile), which is also used for it's calming effects, as a topical, rubbing on sore muscles and areas of the body that may not be feeling too good:). Fortunately, I was successful in growing Roman Chamomile this year, I was able to harvest twice before the flowers said, "No more".  It was a great crop! Drying time You want to grind your herb as small as possible, less material to infuse. I harvested and dried the flowers, ground them up and will infused them in Extra Virgin Oil for about 6 weeks-yes, this is the long way, there are faster ways to do this. At the end of 6 weeks I will strain the oil, put some Vitamin E in the oil. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, helps preserve the oil so that it does not go rancid and it's great for the skin. I will follow up wi...
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Summer Is Here!

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 Hello herbal enthusiasts! Ah, summer, hot, sticky, colorful and wonderful. For us gardeners, the best time of the year. Most of the plants and flowers I try to grow are not only beautiful to the eye but helpful for mind, body and spirit. I’m constantly trimming, cutting and pulling up roots to make teas, tinctures and rubs, things to keep me and my family up and running, especially when the body don’t feel like-you know what I’m talking about. This week I completed a Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) and Willow(Salix alba) tincture. Both plants are known to have healing properties. Meadowsweet can be used as an aspirin substitute for Arthritic pain, sprains, back pain. Back in the day, my Herbal Teacher David Winston explained that Meadowsweet is less powerful and takes longer to work but relieves pain for a longer time and it also only mildly thins the blood. White Willow bark can also be used for muscular pain, and like Meadowsweet, does not notably thin blood.  When I am h...
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