Winter Blues Cabin Fever Smoothie

I have the February blahs big time. Detoxing might be part of it. Like a lot of people I decided to clean up my food act after some holiday indulgence. Lack of light is probably contributing as well. In the north we are short on sunlight in the winter months in addition to spending most of our time in doors when the -40c weather hits which can leave a lot of people SAD (seasonal effective disorder) and grumpy - me included.
Cabin fever is a common northern saying for the half crazed folks who wander out of the isolation of their cabins into town in the spring after making it through another long dark cold winter. So as a nod to that I like to call this smoothie my Cabin Fever Smoothie :)

 Cabin Fever Smoothie (magnesium-rich)
(magnesium rich foods help to raise serotonin levels - low levels can contribute to the blues)

• 3T Powdered Raw Cacoa
• 1C Coconut Milk (Not the kind in the cans which is high in fat - I use the So Delicious unsweetened kind which is more of a milk than a heavy cream you get from the canned kind) 
• 1/4 T of Cinnamon
• 1 Large Kale Leaf (take out the woody stem)
• 1 Medium bunch of Parsley
• 1T of Cashew Butter or 1T of Coconut Butter
•  1 Banana
• 1/2 C frozen cranberries

Blend all together in a high speed blender I know, I know it looks very "green" but, trust me it is delish. It tastes like bananas, chocolate and coconut. Give it a try if you are feeling down and let me know if it works for you!

* NOTE: foods rich in the hormone melatonin, tend to decrease serotonin levels (magnesium increases serotonin). Some people supplement with melatonin when they are having problems sleeping (me included) so keep an eye on this if you are feeling down. I'll write a bit more about serotonin, melatonin and feel good foods in my next post.

Diffuser World Essential Oil Diffusers Vanderbuilt University Medical Ce...

Loving this!
Did you know: Using scent in hospitals isn't as new as this news feature makes it sound - during the second world war hospitals in the UK would simmer juniper berries in water to help clear the air. Camphor was also sometimes used.

Cephalic Oils & Herbs

Sorry for my LONG absence. Life has gotten in the way of blogging for awhile now. I managed to grab some time for me tonight and thought I'd post a little bit about Cephalic Essential Oils/Herbs. So what is Cephalic? Cephalic means pertaining or relating to the head. In aromatherapy this term refers to essential oils that stimulate and clear the mind.
Studies were done in the 1970s to evaluate the effects of many different types of essential oils. Some oils were found to elicit beta patterns in the brain that are linked to aroused attention and alertness. So what are these oils?

1. Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum): This herb is in the mint family and is often used as a culinary herb. In aromatherapy sweet basil is often used for it's stimulating and energizing properties. * Sweet basil blends quite well with rosemary. Ideas for use: Blend into a massage oil, inhale or Make a pesto! Using fresh raw sweet basil, garlic, olive oil and pine nuts or walnuts - inhale as you chop (yum!),
2. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary has been used to aid the memory for centuries (an interesting note - brides in Scotland and Ireland traditionally would carry Rosemary in their bouquets to symbolize remembrance), rosemary essential oil is often used to stimulate the mind, body & spirit. Ideas for use: Put a few drops in fresh water and use as a hair rinse (rosemary is known to stimulate hair growth when it is used regularly - that is why you see it in hair preparations so often), blend into a massage oil (it is also great for sore muscles & stimulates circulation).
3. Black Pepper (Piper nigrum): Black Pepper Oil is stimulating and is a good choice for inclusion in blends intended to help enhance alertness and stamina. Black Pepper should be avoided before bedtime. Black pepper blends well with most citrus and floral oils. It is known to be great at relieving aching muscles.
4. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): Cardamom is a member of the ginger family. It is often used to for digestion and to stimulate the mind. Cardamom is warming (will induce sweating so great if you have a fever or cold to use in the bath or as a massage oil),

Louise Hay... So great

Never Give Up

I had to share this - so motivational.

Furoshiki Bags

These work so well and will hold a lot of heavy items!

Taurus Full Moon

Kitchen Witchery - You Don't Know Jack...

Hello and welcome to my blog posting for The Bewitching Home Blog Party.
Thank you Tanaé for coming up with this fun event!

For today's post I thought I'd share what happened in my kitchen as I whipped up a few batches of Pumpkin Solid Lotion Bars for an upcoming Halloween Craft Show I'm selling at. I call them "You Don't Know Jack". They are great for eczema and super dry skin.

First and most importantly you need a pumpkin. I found this little cutie at my local Superstore this afternoon... (a used Jack-o-lantern works well for this if you can wait until after Halloween)

I took out the seeds and goo, chopped him in to pieces (poor pumpkin), simmered him in my cauldron (aka my lotion making pot) with oils, butters and a few spices for about 4 hours...

(here it all is before the butters melted)
after letting it all marinate I strained it and added my bees wax. Poured it into my mold popped it in the fridge and sat down with a cup of tea to wait...

And voila - here they are! I took them out of the mold a little bit sooner than I should have so I could snap a photo so they aren't perfect (the friends and family batch :)

Why Pumpkin?

• Pumpkin skin contains vitamin A, C and zinc, potassium, alpha-carotene, beta carotene, and lutein all great for the skin.
• Duke University researchers concluded that when applied daily, Vitamin C can keep the skins elastic fibers, or collagen, from breaking down.
• Pumpkin nourishes tired or dry skin instantly - apply it to chapped hands or a rash and you'll see what I mean.
•  Because of the zinc content in pumpkin flesh it has been touted as being good to help clear up acne
• Pumpkin soothes, moisturizes and acts as a carrier, assisting the other lotion ingredients to absorb more deeply into the skin 
• Pumpkin is great for people with sensitive skin (like me) it is also great for childhood eczema, and in lotions and creams for people who want to reduce facial lines and nourish dry skin (make a fresh pumpkin puree mask! - blend up a little pumpkin and honey and slather it on)

The Bewitching Home

I'm getting ready for the Bewitching Home Blog Party tonight. Come back at midnight PST or all day tomorrow to see what I've been up to! For links to all the blogs taking part visit
The Witch of Howling Creek's site

Flu Soup

It seems everyone I know (including me) is down with the flu right now. If you are too tired to fix anything fancy and want a good clear your sinuses soup give this a try...

4C of cold water
1 bag Asian frozen veggie mix
1 thumb of ginger (to taste) chopped
4 cloves of garlic
sizeable squirt of red rooster hot sauce
1/3C Plum Vinegar
sizeable squirt of braggs liquid amenos
1 package of rice noodles (the Asian kind that come in little squares)

Put water, ginger, garlic, vinegar, hot sauce, liquid amenos in a large pot bring to a rolling boil turn down heat to medium add full (medium sized bag) of veggies let cook for 3-4 minutes then add noodles. Turn down to simmer for another 5-7 minutes. Simple, full of flavour and easy to make when you are feeling under the weather. I'll post a photo when I'm feeling better. Hope it works as well for you as it does for me!

Juliette of the Herbs

Inspirational...

Full Moon In Aries ~ Relationships

Tomorrow's full moon is in Aries (sun in Libra) which puts the focus on relationships. This moon is like the sign of Aries - full of fire - clashing of wills, butting of heads call it what you will expect to see a lot of raw energies being released during this time. A lot of this is growing pains as people break away from their comfort zones and find the courage to move towards something new. The key is to seek balanced if you find it and trust your gut you will be able to act in the moment in a clear and direct fashion. For many relationships will be tested - some may part ways others will find themselves having state of the union talks and renegotiating their partnerships.

Breathe In Breathe Out

Fatigue Soak

Fresh grapefruit and rosemary can help to lift your spirits and open your nasal passages. Sore muscles can come about from fatigue and overworking, so sooth and revive yourself tonight by adding one chopped grapefruit with several sprigs of rosemary directly to your bath. 

Herbal Tonic Vinegars

More on vinegar (a whole lot - I hope this is worth reading through!)

I thought it might be a good idea to go in to depth a bit more about the difference between using a herbal infused vinegar as a nutritional supplement (tonic) - these aren't the same as the culinary vinegars most of us are used to (though they can be used in culinary ways - salad dressings and the like). Tonic vinegars are herbal concentrates made from wild foods and nutrient dense herbs (think Dandelion, Nettles, Mugwort and Fireweed Leaves). Herbal vinegars can be used as a great way to supplement nutrition. Vinegars aren't really used with medicinally-active herbs for extracting their properties. This is because with medicinal plants vinegar can't necessarily extract the chemicals from the plant the way that alcohol can. Herbal vinegars are better thought of as a tonic because they extract nutrients and minerals - so choose herbs and roots to use that are nutrient dense.

Herbal Vinegars have been used since ancient times as a curative. Hippocrates (the father of medicine) prescribed drinking vinegar (and honey) to his patients. Vinegar's natural properties (anti-fungal/antibacterial) help boost the immune system, balance any overly acidic tendencies in the body, reduce cholesterol, act as a diuretic, removes extra sodium from the body as well as many other healthful side effects. I can remember my grandmother using apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons in the am) as a natural weight reducer.

To make a herbal tonic vinegar the best base in my opinion vinegar wise is to choose a raw unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. The process of pasteurizing and distilling kills the enzymes that lend vinegar some of its magical healing properties. Highly processed vinegar can actually rob your body of minerals if taken internally (think the big bottles of white stuff you can get an any grocery store). Living RAW vinegar will probably have a mother (see my post on making Apple Cider Vinegar for more about - "the mother"). If you use raw vinegar and even if you remove the mother before you make your herbal tonic - it may grow another one. Mothers are harmless and actually prove your vinegar is working and alive. However when you are making live vinegars be careful to watch them so they don't over process and the mother doesn't start eating up the all the goodness in the tonic (best to leave them a months strain them off and rebottle - so they don't go watery).

Herbal Tonic Vinegars are an infusion or a tincture just like the ones you would make by using alcohol or oil. As I mentioned yesterday you do this by simply steeping your herbs in vinegar for a few weeks or longer. When you add herbs or wild foods to vinegar the vinegar essentially extracts the nutrients in to itself from the plant/root/flower or berry. If you have ever made an infusion or an extract using traditional methods you know that water, alcohol, oil and vinegar are the basic bases used by herbalists to extract the essence of whatever herb you are using. Each base has different strengths and weaknesses. For instance alcohol is considered to be the most powerful base to extract medicinal compounds from many plants but, it can also dissolve many substances in the plant as it accomplishes this that vinegar will not. What vinegar does better than alcohol is extract nutrients - in particular minerals and trace minerals from plants.

Tips

• Some believe you should chop your herbs/roots and others stuff them in their jars whole. I think using fresh plants (dry not wet) modestly chopped works best - well that is my opinion feel free to disagree! Metal lids on mason jars will rust if you use them with vinegars - you can buy plastic lids for mason jars to use instead (no rust!) - also great if you are in to juicing. 
• Be sure to label what you are doing with a date and what is in your jar - I've had a few "experiments" go to waste because I've forgotten them too long in my storage room and can't remember what is in the jar. 
• After about 2 months it is a good idea if you are using raw vinegar to strain off the vinegar and rebottle it.
• Many people believe that if you use honey with your "tonic" that it helps your body to absorb it better (*honey doesn't melt into vinegar so if you want to try this use a little hot water to melt your honey in wait for it to cool a bit and add your vinegar - you don't want it too hot or it will kill the good stuff in your vinegar!) - 1 to 2 tablespoons a day is a great way to use your tonic as a supplement.

Herbs for Tonic Vinegars - a few ideas...

• Dandelion (flowers, leaves and or roots! it's all good!)
• Fireweed (same - try to harvest the roots in the fall if you can and make two batches that you blend together - a fireweed blend made from the roots and leaves of the plant is thought to be particularly good for men's prostate gland - this also works well as an alcohol based tincture)
• Nettle (tummy troubles)
• Sage (throat)
• Lambsquarter
• Raspberry Leaves and or roots (great for women - headaches/pms and the like)
• Chickweed
• Garlic
• Mustard
• Horsetail

Herbal Vinegars - the basics

I know I'm a terrible blogger. I've become so totally involved in my "little" herbal apothecary business that everything else has fallen by the wayside. Including taking care of myself. I'm getting myself back in hand and posting to my blog about my health and the food I'm loving always helps... I've decided to do a posting today on Herbal Vinegars. I've been outside the past few days harvesting for my potions and lotions and have gathered an abundance of a few things that I've decided to turn into vinegars. The great thing about making herbal vinegars is they are a simple way to use up herbs that you don't have time to dry out or generally muck about with. 

 Most *tonic vinegars are made using an apple cider vinegar base but, if you want to just make a salad dressing base or marinade you can use any type of vinegar. Herbal vinegars are easy to make and can last for ages and ages (we're talking years). 


Did you know? Herbal vinegars are “enriched” by infusing the vinegar with the fresh plants. Infused vinegar is mineral rich, due to its ability to extract the minerals from plants Not only is the vinegar transformed into a mineral rich liquid, but because vinegar can increase calcium and other mineral absorption by as much as 1/3, the minerals from the plants become more bio-available. 

To make herbal vinegars you will need some sterilized jars or bottles, some vinegar ( I prefer using apple cider or a good quality balsamic as a base) and of course some herbs.

Try to gather your herbs on a dry day. You can include the stems in your bottles, stuff the herbs into your bottles and cover with vinegar stuff your bottles as full as possible with herbs and fill with vinegar until not quite touching the cap of your bottle. When you are done give them a little stir with a bamboo skewer to bring any bubbles to the top then put on the lid (tightly) -and that is it (simple right?!). Try not to use any metal utensils or bowls for marinating or preparing vinegars (they will leave a metallic taste).

If you like you can "steep" your vinegar in a sunny window to help it infuse faster - but be aware this can make your vinegar cloudy eventually. 

A few ideas

• Chives
• Rosemary
• Sage (great for sore throats)
• Nettle (upset stomachs)
• Citrus (in white vinegar makes a great kitchen cleaner)
• Cranberry (great on salads)
• Garlic & Hot Peppers (salads)
• Dandelion (use the heads to add a nice honey flavour to vinegars) (roots have a nice rich flavour and are good for your liver)
• Dill
• Basil
• Juniper Berries
• Mustard Seed
• Spruce Buds
• White Pine Needles
• Chickweed
• Kale (check out my pickled Kale recipe) 

* I can't remember if I've posted before on how to make your own apple cider vinegar. If no I'll post soon - if yes I'll add the link!

I did post about it... here is the link How to Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar

Full Moon In Sagittarius - Strawberry Moon

This full moon is a lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipses highlight relationships. With this full moon we seek balance in our relationships by expressing our true feelings. Anything that has been building with in you this is the time to let it out. Emotional insights about our relationships with others can break unstable unions or dramatically strengthen relationships that are on a solid foundation. Venus is in transit (Tuesyday June 5, the next time will be 250 years from now!). This will bring us into direct alignment with the feminine Goddess energy.  There are two periods when this energy will be especially potent: on June 5 when a rare Venus/Sun transit will occur, and on June 27 when retrograde Venus makes a direct station.

Happy Wesak~ Moon in Scorpio

The Full Moon at 16 deg Scorpio is also known as a super moon, being so close to the earth, and also called Wesak,the most auspicious day in Buddhism. Wesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. In other words, using a Wesak meditation, much can be revealed during this time in your life. 

This full moon is in Scorpio it brings up secretive, deep emotional energies. The Scorpio full moon brings hidden knowledge to the forefront. Transformation and rebirth,opening to new possibilities, leaving the past behind (fear of change) are highlighted at this time.

Vitamin D Viruses and MS

A great video by Dr Patrick Krupka

Kombucha

Full Moon In Libra ~ Pink Moon

Relationships are highlighted during this full moon. This is a good chance to reflect on how we approach our relationships with others. Many people are feeling overly stimulated (think 8 cups of coffee), on edge, and overly sensitive. Stop before you speak and direct your energy to the positive.