Wildcrafting and Preparing Herbs by the Lunar Phases

The moon has always mystified mankind and, just like the sun, she sustains the balance of life. Embodied as the divine feminine, she nurtures the oceans and tends to the earth as we sleep in our beds. In honor of last night's full moon, I would like to share the importance of the moon and it's relation to wildcrafting herbs and medicinal plants. Herbs and plants can be harvested at any time; however, their potency and medicinal properties are furthur enhanced according to the lunar phases.

Although humanity claims to understand the moon through the accomplishments of modern science, I believe she is still quite a mystery that ought not be scrutinized so intently. It seems that everything in this day and age must be based upon factual evidence, disregarding all spiritual and transcendent importance. It is a flaw that continues to taint our intuitive knowledge of the natural world. As a child, I can remember regarding the moon as sacred; no one had endowed this awareness unto me, I just knew. Walking under the moonlight made me feel comforted and protected. Even now, as an adult, she possesses a magnificence that continues to confound me.

Similar to the tides of the ocean, the lunar phases also control the ebb and flow of energy within plants. This is very important for determining when to harvest a plant because it influences where the energy of the plant is focused: inwards (the roots) or outwards (the stems, leaves, and flowers). Since potency is usually desired when wildcrafting, understanding the energy distribution throughout the plant is invaluable.

When the moon is waxing (the stage between the new moon and the full moon), the gravitational force she exerts pulls away from the earth. This is usually when high tides occur and the oceans are pulled towards the moon. This is the perfect time for harvesting plant materials above the soil (leaves, stems, flowers). The energy of the plant is focused upward and therefore the potency of healing qualities within these specific aerial parts intensifies. This can also be applied to crystals and even tinctures! I usually leave my tinctures underneath the full moon just to encourage some added energy.

As oppose to the waxing moon, the waning moon (the stage between the full moon and the new moon) pushes energy down and inward. This means that the energy of the plant is pushed downwards and focused on the roots. It is ideal to wildcraft plant materials beneath the soil at this time as well as take down any dried/bundled herbs in preparation for storage, else their energy be lessened.

So, the basic idea is that the waxing moon encourages growth, whereas the waning moon spurs dormancy. The lunar phases should also be considered when preparing the herbs: for instance, if you were to prepare a tincture which detoxifies the body, you would want to do so during the waning moon to lessen or remove any detrimental toxins. In contrast, if you were to prepare an herbal tea that promotes clear skin, it would be best to concoct it during the waxing moon.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, wildcrafting herbs by lunar phase is not necessary, by any means. No matter the harvest, your herbs will serve you well, so long as you use them correctly. :) If anything, wildcrafting and preparing your herbal remedies by lunar phase will increase your appreciation for the natural world around you and its abundant wealth of medicine
.

Natural Hair Loss Remedy

Naturally dyed hair with indigo and henna. 

The aging process. Sometimes it’s a thorn in my side, other times, it feels comforting. You know… like that warm feeling you  get when you’ve given someone  a good piece of advice based on your past  experiences so that they might not have to climb those rocks you did…and then they thank you for it cause it really worked for them. Yeah! A great feeling. But then there’s that thorn….a thorn that no matter what you do or whose advice you follow, it just won’t come out.

     My thorn: chronic hair loss. I’d really been fighting this uphill battle for about 3 years now. Initially, I was convinced that my age (I just hit 50) was the leading factor. My MD said, “It’s your age. Women approaching Menopause often experience this problem. Eat a healthy diet and take vitamins. But, it probably won’t help. It’s most likely an Estrogen issue.” Hmm, ok…an Estrogen issue. So I loaded up on Phytoestrogens, vitamin supplements like C, D, E, and Zinc along with my healthy diet and….my hair kept falling out. Next possible solution: Stress reduction. Everyone knows that stress can have some pretty serious side effects on the body; one of those being hair loss. I had a lot of stress, to put it lightly. So I eased back on my business, started practicing Yoga on a regular basis, and taught myself how to not take everything so severely. Yes, I’m a bit Type A. Not extreme, but it’s in my nature to be a bit of a perfectionist. Well, guess what? My hair STILL kept falling out…in handfuls. The situation really was getting scary. I thought, “If this keeps up, I’m going to need to start wearing a wig in a year or two.”

     And then I stumbled across several blogs and websites written by women (of all ages) who had suffered from hair loss problems and/or were providing information about addressing the issue as allergy related and not nutritional or age. OMG! Why hadn’t I ever thought of that? I’m so puritanistic about the foods I put into my body: Gluten free, no processed sugar, high fiber, minimal animal protein, etc. But, I never once thought about the products I put on my head. After all, these high end store bought concoctions smelled so good and WOW, did they make my hair shiny! How could they be bad for me? The more I began to research, the more I recognized the symptoms I was experiencing were allergic reactions.  Even many of the advertised “All Natural” products aren’t really as natural as they claim. They’re full of toxic chemicals like PPD (Para-Phenylenediamine: found in almost all hairdyes, even the natural ones!), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (in many shampoos, yes even the natural ones but under different names; sneaky!), and Parabens (in many conditioners). These are just a few of the nasty chemicals found in most common store bought products and the list is endless. Many of the companies that produce hair products alter the ingredient names so that they sound natural and…healthy.

     So, once I discovered this well-kept secret, I decided to find the most natural products I could for myself and then try them out to see was I really having nothing more than allergies? To make a long story short, I settled on homemade Soapnut/castille soap shampoo, Argan oil (for combing out – I have long hair), no conditioner, and henna/indigo dye (every 3 weeks). Result: my hair stopped falling out immediately! Oh yes, I do have normal daily hair fallout, but the handful days are gone and my bathroom trash is now full of tissues and Q-tips and not my long beautiful tresses. My hair is healthier and fuller, too! Hair has even started growing back in places that were beginning to bald. I’m ecstatic! And…my thorn is gone.

I’m listing my favorite places where I get my supplies from so that, hopefully, if you or anyone you know is suffering from mysterious hair loss this article might be of service to you and those you care for. Have a blessed day full of love, peace, and good health!

1. Mountain Rose Herbs – www.mountainroseherbs.com

     This is where I get all of my herbs and oils from. One of the few places online to find Soapnuts. Small quantities and bulk pricing available.

2. Mehandi – www.mehandi.com

     Favorite online source for Henna and Indigo dye. Their products are tested for purity and this site has a wealth of information concerning Henna, Indigo, and the hair coloring process. Their customer service is very helpful if you have questions.  (By the way, using henna isn’t just for achieving red hair! For dark hair, blend henna and indigo to get a fabulous dark color mix. My hair is medium dark brown with red undertones. If you don’t want red undertones, then add Amla to the mix and it will tone down the henna. I add fresh ground Cloves and Cardamom to my mix and my hair smells divine for weeks.)Messy… but so worth the trouble!

3. Trader Joes – www.traderjoes.com

     Best price I’ve found for Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Pure Castille Soap. My favorite is the Peppermint!

Dried Soapnuts

Soapnut Shampoo Recipe –
     5-6 soap nuts
     2 Cups Water
     ¼ C. Liquid Castille Soap (optional) 

In a small pot, boil Soapnuts in water at medium heat for about 20 minutes. Let cool. Strain liquid into glass jar/container. Add Castille Soap & then mix. (You can add more Castille soap if you really prefer a lot of lather in your shampoo. Soapnuts do not lather.) Pour needed quantity onto hair, work well into scalp and hair, and clip up for about 5 minutes while you’re shaving and showering. Rinse thoroughly. (Note: this shampoo needs to be refrigerated; will keep for about 4-5 days. Also, don’t get this in your eyes. It burns!! If you do, rinse your eyes really well. It may take several tries. You won’t go blind and, trust me, you’ll never let it happen again.)

Fire Cider Season

It's that time of year again! Cold & flu season are in full swing, so I've been busy making fire cider to keep sickness at bay. If you've been with The Wildcraft Chronicles since the beginning, you'll remember we posted a recipe just last year. I decided to revise the ingredients just a bit, hence the reason for this blog post. I originally found this wonderful concoction in Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health; although her recipe is quite potent, I like to add a bit more kick to mine. You can always adjust the spiciness according to your liking. As for my taste, the spicier, the better.

If you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, well then, you're in for a treat! Fire cider is a wonderful way to start the day. This special concoction is quite similar to pickled vegetables in brine. The only difference is that the brine is the most important part. Taking a few tablespoons of the spice infused vinegar protects your immune system and warms up your entire body--great for those cold mornings when it's hard to get out of bed! In addition, it's incredibly beneficial for those of us with bad blood circulation (like diabetics). Last year was the first time I made fire cider, and I can honestly say that it improved my overall health and even prevented me from catching any serious illnesses, like I usually do.

I found that fire cider also makes for a wonderful gift as well.  Nothing like ensuring your loved ones stay healthy this year!

Fire Cider
ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped into wedges
1 tbsp grated ginger
1 tbsp grated horseradish
1 pepper (I used an Anaheim pepper, mildly spicy)
3 cloves of minced garlic
1 tsp turmeric
1 sprig of rosemary
1/8 tsp cayenne
2 chunks of dried ginseng root
Honey to taste
Apple cider vinegar with mother 

preparation:
 1. Place all of the herbal ingredients into a jar. Pour enough apple cider vinegar to cover herbs, leaving an inch of "breathing space". Seal jar tightly, shake, and place in a cool, dark place for 30 days. Remember to shake your jar once a day.

2. After 30 days, separate the vinegar from the herbs and spices. You can either toss the herbs/spices or keep them refrigerated in a separate jar (I like to add them to salads or just eat them plain. The onions are especially delicious!). Take a teaspoon or two every morning for best results.

Garlic Ginger Cough Syrup

Do ya'll remember me mentioning that I was sick earlier this week? Well, it wasn't just any old cold... it was the whooping cough.

Even though I had been vaccinated as a child against this old-timey disease, it took a swing at me anyway. There's been a recent revival of this epidemic in the U.S. and it's grown to withstand our vaccines. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the symptoms of whooping cough, they include:  a dry and harsh cough, "coughing spells" that can last up to five minutes, and even turning red/blue from the violent, prolonged coughs. Although this infection is more likely to develop in children, adults can get it too. In fact, as the symptoms get worse, your body begins to suffer from exhaustion and you are more likely to force a hernia or even crack a rib.

Honestly, I've  had quite the number of painful and troubling infections in my life, and this ranked number 2! Although whooping cough can easily be remedied with antibiotics, I really didn't want to visit the doctor. I don't particularly like antibiotics--they are over-prescribed and are actually the reason why so many diseases are mutating and making a comeback. In addition, they completely dishevel the balance of your digestive system. Anyway, I decided to treat myself with herbs and natural remedies. If things got too serious after a few days, then I would make a visit to the doctor. 

Firstly, let me tell you just how much I enjoy creating my own remedies. As a wildcrafter, you are your own healer. Preparing the herbs and spices is a ritual in its own right. It's the process and the tender love and care which you prepare your ingredients that makes them so powerful and healing, instilled with your good intent and personal magick. Likewise, if you trust in the gifts of nature, you will certainly have a better chance for a speedy recovery. 

Among the MANY natural remedies against whooping cough, I found two which easily accommodated my spice cabinet. The first was incredibly simple, and something which I actually do quite regularly to fight off other illnesses. Since whooping cough is a bacterial infection, a natural and potent antibiotic that can begin fighting off this illness is none other than garlic! While eating a couple cloves a day was a bit unsettling for my stomach at first, I soon realized how my overall energy improved within a few short hours. On top of that, I found another fast and simple way to ease my coughing: cough syrups from the general drug store seemed to have absolutely no effect on my cough,  so I took it upon myself to make a homemade, natural cough syrup. Here's a brew that I created using several recipes:

Natural Cough Syrup
ingredients:
1 cup of water
1-2 minced cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon of fresh ginger
1/8 tsp of turmeric
1/8 cup honey

method:
Bring the water to a soft bubble over medium/high heat. Throw in the garlic, ginger,and turmeric and lower to a simmerfor five minutes. Finally, turn off the heat and add honey. Take as often as needed.

The syrup is simply magic. It tastes absolutely heavenly and it completely settled my nagging cough. This syrup doesn't just treat whooping cough, it's soothing enough to apply to any throat problem. The garlic, honey, and turmeric all clear bacterial infection, while the ginger helps with inflammation and irritation.

I do encourage you to keep healthy and seek natural remedies before sick season fully sets in. It's never too early to prepare. And if you care to learn more about whooping cough and natural remedies, I highly suggest you start here. 

Love & Light

Hearty Chicken Barley Soup

It's been a while since I've posted anything food related, hasn't it? Well, you'll be happy to know that I found a new favorite! 

I was recently inspired to cook a comforting meal as a result of being sick. I couldn't decide between cooking a beef barley soup or a chicken noodle, so I combined the best of both. I love the hearty texture of a beef barley soup, but I knew that the chicken broth would soothe my stomach. The result was a healthy and nourishing meal that enriched my aching body. 

But, before I hand over my recipe, let me first enlighten (or bore) you with a history lesson regarding the Celtic peoples and how they used barley. Barley was a staple to the Celtic diet. Although they utilized this ancient grain in baked goods, like bannock, as well as beers, they also regularly made soups and porridge.  Since barley is extremely fibrous and has a high content of maltose (sugars), it was the perfect grain to sustain whole tribes during the colder months and kept the Celtic people healthy and energized.

In addition to the barley, adding herbs to your soup is a wonderful way to enhance taste as well as health benefits. For this particular soup, I added parsley and thyme. Parsley is a diuretic, which basically encourages urination and thus clears the system from any toxins. Thyme is a warm, sweat-inducing herb which is excellent for ridding oneself of the common cold or even fever. It is quite the versatile herb and is a curative for a sore throat and even whooping cough. The healing powers of herbs never cease to amaze me.

Now, as promised, the recipe:

Hearty Chicken Barley Soup

Serves 4-6, Prep./Cook time ~90min.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 large onion, diced

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

3-4 stalks of celery, chopped

8 cups of chicken stock

1 1/2 cup of pearl barley

3 skinless chicken breasts (boneless optional)

1 tbsp of parsley

1 tbsp of thyme

Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

After peeling and chopping the vegetables, add the olive oil to a large cooking pot and heat to medium/low heat. Throw in the onions first, until soft and wilted, followed by the carrots and celery. Continue cooking veggies until the onions begin to caramelize. Then add in chicken stock and barley. Turn heat up to medium/high. Once the soup comes to nice bubble, lower the stove top to a medium heat, add in chicken breast, parsley, and thyme, and cover with lid. Continue to cook for 30 minutes. Then remove the chicken, shred, and return it to the pot. Add salt and pepper to your liking and the soup is ready!

Of course this meal pairs best with freshly baked bannock bread. Enjoy!

Dream Pillows

It seems as though the dream world has been very active lately. In fact, most conversations I've had with friends and acquaintances recount the wonderful or disturbing experiences we fall into as we sleep. I'm not particularly a dream interpreting expert, but when it comes to controlling, or rather consciously taking charge of your dreams, I'm more than willing to share some secrets.

When I was younger, I had incredibly vivid and frightening dreams, some which would reoccur more than once. Of course, I wasn't sure what to make of these dreams--I only knew that I was eager to rid myself of them. I began experimenting with lucid dreaming to face my fears; before bed I would tell myself what I wanted to dream about, how I wanted to resolve the situation, and what I wanted to remember. In the beginning, this approach seemed to work... but as I got deeper into my dreams and more comfortable with "wandering", I began to lose control again. Falling asleep was no longer a pleasure, it was my nightmare.

Dreaming finally got easier when I discovered the magick of dream pillows. The beauty behind a dream pillow is that you can prescribe yourself any kind of dream, so long as you blend the right herbs together. Rose hips can induce dreams of love, chamomile kindles dreams of relaxation and comfort, mugwort encourages astral projection, and so on. All you need do is simply place the herbal pouch near your head or pillow; as you sleep, inhaling the scent of the flowers or herbs creates your desired dream scenario. Even when awake, I tend to pack a small dream pillow in my purse or pack and inhale its fragrance whenever I'm feeling especially troubled. 

There are countless recipe's for dream pillows. My favorite and most comforting blend has a handful of herbal scents, all of which I believe inspire the most pleasant sleep. Though these pillows do not always guarantee dreams, they most certainly will leave you feeling relaxed and well rested.

What you need:

A cloth pouch

1 part dried lavender

1 part dried rose hips/petals

1 part dried hops

1 part dried calendula

1 part dried chamomile

1-2 drops lavender oil

I do hope you discover the magick of the dream pillow. They make wonderful Samhain gifts. 

Apothecary: Aspen Anxiety Tonic

Though anxiety is much less common than everyday stress, the feeling can be completely overwhelming and paralyzing. Luckily we can turn to our magickal plant friends to help us unwind and relax.

I used to suffer from anxiety attacks last year and often resorted to shutting myself away in my room for hours on end. Naturally, my anxiety got even worse, especially when I had to socialize at work or during classes. This was also around the time when I was first exploring paganism and traditional healing with herbs; it seemed too good of a coincidence that the old ways had caught my attention when I suddenly needed a cure. In desperation for a remedy, I searched my bookshelves and finally came across a list of medicinal and magickal plant essences. Lo and behold, aspen was the corresponding flower essence said to calm anxiety attacks.

My little bottle of aspen anxiety tonic was a miracle. Every time I was sure to have an attack, I would place three drop under my tongue and melt away into relaxation. The sensation of the essence not only made my mouth tingle with numbness, but it also slowed my breath and made me feel more stable. After two weeks, I didn't even have to depend on the aspen any longer. I was finally over my anxiety, thanks to that lovely little flower.

I have made this remedy and many other similar tonics for friends and family and all have sworn by it. Be it depression, anxiety, despair, or any other gloomy emotion, there's most certainly a flower for you.

So you're probably wondering how I made the tonic. While most tonic and tinctures call for brandy as the base liquid, I substituted for vegetable glycerin. It's much more affordable and doesn't require you to be of drinking age to purchase. So anyway, here is the perfect recipe for preparing your lifesaving nectar:

Materials/Ingredients - 

1. 1 Small amber bottle with a dropper
2. Distilled water
3. Flower Essence (Aspen or otherwise)
4. Brandy or Vegetable Glycerin

After sanitizing a small bottle with the dropper, fill the amber bottle a little less than half way with brandy or vegetable glycerin (you can find the veggie glycerin at most health food stores). Continue to fill the other half of the bottle with distilled water. I would not suggest using tap water or otherwise because the tincture will not last as long and lose its potency. Top off the bottle with 15-20 drops of the aspen flower essence and shake/stir the mixture well. Voila. Take as many drops as you please or as needed. 

Anyway, I hope that this recipe is as useful to you as it was for me. Blessed be.

P.S. This is my first Pagan Blog Project kick off post for the year! I'm planning to follow up with an additional post on the history of the apothecary. See you soon!

Cleansing Your Crystalline Children

Back from a LONG hiatus, my dears. I do hope that you're all still with me!

Anyway, although we seem to blog about plants and herbal remedies for the most part here on The Wildcraft Chronicles, we mustn't overlook the power of crystals.

Crystals and rocks are not merely decoration to admire, though they certainly are mesmerizing to look at. They are the children of the earth, and they have been listening to us patiently for millions of years. We can share our deepest desires, our fears, and sorrows with these crystalline beings. It’s no wonder we develop interest in them at such a young age. I’m sure, you and I alike, took to collecting these pretty rocks as children, knowing they were capable of much, much more than just being.

With that said, it’s best to take care of these beaming children, in hopes that they can bring us comfort and protection. So how exactly does one “care” for a stone? It’s simpler than you think.

Cleansing your stones is an easy process practiced in a multitude of ways. You ought clean them upon acquiring, whether it be a gift, a find, or a personal purchase. In any other case, do as you wish as often as you like.

If you choose to smudge your stones, you may do so with a bundle of sage, sweet grass, palo santo, or any other cleansing herb you see fit for the deed. Upon lighting the bundle, I usually wash the smoke over the stone while visualizing it’s specific purpose, to which I choose.This is also called “programming” your stone. For example, the sole purpose to which I program my fluorite wand is for the healing touch.  By whispering your intentions to your crystalline child, you not only clear it of it’s previously energy, but it wholly becomes connected to you, an extension of your magick. 

Other ways to cleanse stones includes submerging them in water (be it fresh or moon water), submerging them in a bowl of salt, leaving them to the surrender of the sun (though be weary! some stones may not be placed in direct sunlight for loss of color), leaving them under the gaze of the full moon, placing them in a velvet bag with either a smokey quartz or a citrine cluster (both are self cleansing), or burying them in the earth for three days.

Well, I hope this guide helped. My crystalline children have been crooning for the attention. And whoever said stones can’t talk is most certainly wrong; we must hush our own voices to hear the children of below.

Homemade Honey Lemon Cough Syrup

We all know that as soon as the cold weather strikes, so do sore throats and nasty coughs. Luckily, there is a perfect solution: Natural Honey Lemon Cough Syrup.

How To:

- 1 lemon
- Fresh ginger, grated (however much you want really) (substitute: dried ginger powder)
- local honey
- canning jar

1. Cut up your lemon in slices across and then half those slices. Make sure to take out the seeds!
2. Grate the ginger.
3. Put half of your lemon and half of the ginger in the jar. Pour honey over and mix contents.
4. Repeat with remaining half.
5. Voila! It will turn to a syrup consistency within a few hours. Make sure to store in a fridge.

You can add this mixture to teas, water, or pretty much anything else. You can even have it by the spoonful! Lemon, ginger, and honey will work wonders to soothe a sore throat or keep back pesky coughs. Also, locally grown honey will help you build up resistance to allergies.

Hope this helps! I've got mine all made up for when I know I'll need it. Blessed be.

Indigo

Fire Cider to Spark Your Soul

Hello! Indigo here. After a few months of studying and learning more about the ways of herbal health, I feel ready to contribute some love to this blog. Today I bring you a special recipe that will fire up your insides for the cold months to come. Behold the beautiful Fire Cider!

I first came across Fire Cider last year when I began my studies of herbalism. It is said to give a warm and jolting jumpstart to your day when a spoonful is taken in the cold mornings of winter. At the first sign of a cold, three spoonfuls of this spicy concoction will scare the pesky bacteria away! The great thing about Fire Cider is that it is quite simple to make and you may already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen and/or garden.

Fire Cider:

- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh grated ginger root

- 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root

- 10 cloves of garlic, chopped

- 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped

- Zest and juice from 1 lemon

- 1 tbsp turmeric powder

- Black peppercorns

- Organic apple cider vinegar with Mother

- Honey (local is best to keep away allergies!)

- Quart-sized mason jar

- Wax/parchment paper

1. Add all of the chopped veggies, herbs, and juices to your mason jar. 

2. Pour in the apple cider vinegar until all of the ingredients are covered with an inch or so of the liquid. 
3. Place a piece of wax paper/parchment paper on the top and seal the lid. (Metal + Acidity = Bad bad)
4. Let sit in a cool, dark place for one month.
5. Take out the fire cider and strain all of the pulp from the liquid. Do what you will with all those herbs & veggies. (Might I suggest adding to salads, stir-frys, or eating straight up for the bold?)
6. Add 1/4 cup of honey to the liquid and mix. Add as much honey until it tastes to your desires. Voila!

And that's how you make Fire Cider. Really spicy food is extremely good for your immune system, so keep this up your sleeve to keep away those annoying winter sniffles. I made some last weekend to have ready by Samhain and am quite excited to try it. Hope you all find this useful and blessed be!

Lemonade Elixir

Growing your own herbs is probably one of the most satisfying feelings in the world. My herbs are my children of the garden. They are the magick which brings life to my home. I tend to them as they tend to me.

Before using herbs for cooking, rituals, or what have you, I always mind the proper plant etiquette--and by this I mean I always thank the plant and the mother for the gifts I am about to take. Giving thanks doesn't take more than a second and is well worth your time. Some people leave corn meal near the plant, whisper words of praise, give breath to the bushel, or even sing a song. Then, gently cut the stalk and carry on with your purpose.

By giving gratitude to the plant it grants you its magickal qualities of healing, protection, and nourishment. After all, the plants are giving up their leaves, petals, and sprigs just for you. Its one more way to get closer with your natural world.

Although the sun graced us with her warmth today, I was feeling a bit drained for no apparent reason.  So, I made a cool and energizing Lemonade Elixir. I'll leave the recipe below so that perhaps you can enjoy a bit of sweetness in your life as well:

1 cup of lemon juice

1 cup of water

1 cup of sugar

A drizzle of simple blackberry syrup (or jam if you'd like)

1 sprig of rosemary

1 sprig of lavendar

And as many ice cubes as you desire

Blessed Be.

Teasday: Week Two

Tea is so incredibly comforting, whether it be iced or boiling lobster. I'd drink it any way, any day.

Today was, of course, the perfect day for tea as it is in fact Teasday.  It was also the first day of classes for my second semester. Before the oh-my-gumdrops-here-we-go-again panic settled in completely, I made sure to add a little extra sweetness to my morning cup. And by sweetness we all know by a "little" i actually  mean lots and lots of sugar. Probably not the healthiest choice, but hey, I was in a crisis, people.

Today's brew was yet another black, however Snow Monkey Plum Tea is surprisingly light and refreshing, making it perfect for either the summer or winter. The tea blend is standard harvested black tea leaves to which they add dried plum blossoms. Yumm.

What did you drink today?

Teasday: Week One

What better way to start a Tuesday Teasday morning than with a cup of tea? Tea is not only a lovely supplement for your coffee craze, but it's also highly beneficial depending on the brew. That's why I've decided to feature Teasday every Tuesday on the Wildcraft Chronicles.

I've noticed that most people enjoy a black tea over a green or white. Before I became the Tea Queen, my first favorite was a black tea as well, English Breakfast Tea. Unlike most tea's that  lose their taste and potency within a few months,  English Breakfast Tea can last for yeaaars.

Anyway, to my surprise, English Breakfast tea has a few health benefits which i found to be pretty impressive: 1. EBT inhibits tooth decay and, 2. it also helps in preventing kidney stones. Whaaat? That's amazing.

Well, whether it be that you choose to drink an English Breakfast Tea or a mellow green tea, I bid you a good day. :)

Story Time

We all have our reasons as to why we turn to homeopathic practices. I find that prescribed or over the counter drugs can only do so much to help a person. These drugs help you when needed right away; whether it be to reduce certain pain, swelling, or other problems.  But in the long term, we are consequently poisoning not only our bodies, but also our future children and generations to come. Why do you you think cancer has become so prevalent within the last century? You can perhaps argue the same for some wildcraft remedies.  Still, I find most programs and "top notch" physicians affiliated with the medical field are in it for all the wrong reasons.

So I'm pretty blatant when I tell you I dislike most, if not all doctors. I find most pharmaceutical companies pathetic. And medical company reps?... they disgust me. So how can I help you see the light on the other side? How can I help you believe me? Well, I guess its time for me to tell you my story.

I've been doubted, misdiagnosed, and mistreated by every doctor I have ever seen--all except for one, my endocrinologist  who I will praise a little later in this post. To start off, I have diagnosed myself days, even months before ever seeing a doctor, yet every time I go to report it to them, they tell me I have an entirely different sickness. I'm sure you're just dying to hear what exactly I've been misdiagnosed or doubted for, so I'll tell you:
When I was 11 years old, three months before I was "officially diagnosed" by a doctor, I had taken interest in a magazine article about juvenile diabetes. It was by a young girl who had carefully written out the tall tale symptoms of diabetes and her early struggles. Soon after, I too developed all of these symptoms she listed. It was truly a miracle that I came across this article because if I had not, perhaps I would have been a lot more passive about this life threatening disease. Still, as the symptoms got worse, my mother finally took me to the doctor. When I told them that I thought I might have juvenile diabetes, the doctor almost laughed at me. I may have been young, but I knew exactly what my body, what my guardian was telling me. Don't ignore this. Keep persisting. Even though I didn't have much of a voice in the adult world yet, I let my mom know how important to me it was that they tested my blood levels. So with a lot of stubborn and unnecessary measures, she finally got them to run the tests. They came back after ten minutes...  I had tested positive for juvenile diabetes.

Scenario's like this literally happen to me as often as the rain falls. But luckily I've learned to do my research, treat myself accordingly, and if all else fails, I demand for doctors to listen to me. It's not that I'm not a healthy person nor does my family have severe health problems. I just happen to be prone to an unfortunate amount of sickness and disease. Just last year I was misdiagnosed yet again. But by the time I gained enough strength to  help myself, things took a turn for the worse. When I first began to feel sick the doctor on site where I worked diagnosed me for post-nasal-drip, basically a sore throat brought on by a simple house cold. She told me to sit in the sun in order to get some vitamin C, and told me to simply take ibuprofen for the pain that I was experiencing in my throat. Pain is an understatement. By the time I left the site where my job was located to get a second opinion, I had developed a severe case of strep throat which had traveled up to my ears and caused one of my ear drums to rupture. I had to be put onto Codeine (the equivalent of Vicodin) because the pain was so severe and I lost all sense of hearing for up to six months. A year later I still have spells of intense ringing in my right ear.

Additional accidental diagnosis's by doctors include asthma, mono, and mesothelioma (a type of skin cancer).

So yes. Apparently Web MD and various homeopathic health magazines know much more than these doctors have ever cared to know. It's the unfortunate truth. Most doctors and medical companies are in this practice merely for the glory of money. Shocking right? It's truly a shame, however I can manage to do just fine without them and so can you if you wish to do so.

Not all doctors are bad. The only good doctor I ever found was my endocrinologist who was appointed to me at the time that I was in the hospital after being officially diagnosed with diabetes. The first thing he ever did when he met me was take my hand in his, looked me straight in the eye and said, "I'm going to be your new uncle. Even though we are of different skin color, I want you to think of me as an uncle. I'm here to take care of you." Dr. P was my saving grace. We've been through a lot. He's a short Indian man who I found difficult to reason with growing up in my teenage years, but the only reason he was difficult was because he so very stubborn in his efforts to care. Just like me. I still consider him uncle.

Wow, I really do rant a lot. Well, the reason for this post is because I have yet another uncaring doctor who wont listen to me (he was the same one who accidentally diagnosed me with asthma). Here we go again. It's one of those days.

Please,  know your body and it's needs. If you have a gut feeling, go by it. Doctors aren't all that bad, and sometimes there's really no way out of a sickness without their help. Just make sure to speak up for yourself and your body. You'll regret it if you don't.

Spicy Super Heroes

It's officially that time of year again. The holiday season has always been about bringing families together, but it also brings another not-so-pleasant surprise... viruses! Even as I write this, I too have fallen victim to the clutches of the flu. Go figure.

Since I've been busy plodding away with finals, I unfortunately have no one to blame but myself! That said, it's never too late to reverse the flu and put up a fight. What better spices to help than cayenne and cinnamon? These two spices are definitely the best reinforcements if you want to get better quick!

I find it best to add cayenne and cinnamon to my morning tea. This may sound odd, even disgusting, but the spicy hot of the cayenne and the subtle comfort of the cinnamon really helps clear up a stuffy chest or sore throat. Along with clearing up congestion and fighting bacteria within your body cayenne and cinnamon are pretty much the super heroes of the spice family. To name a few, here are some of their magical powers:

Cinnamon:
1. Lowers bad cholesterol
2. Helps regulate blood sugars and helps regulate weight
3. Has an anti clotting effect on blood
4. Simply smelling cinnamon improves memory
5. Natural remedy for headaches and migraines

 Cayenne:
1. Eases an upset stomach and remedies diarrhea
2. Natural anti-allergen
3. Detoxes your body
4. Remedies a toothache
5. Improves heart-health

Like I said... super heroes! You don't have to limit yourself when adding these spices just to your tea. Sprinkle cinnamon on top of you morning cereal or grill up some chicken rubbed down in cayenne. Be creative!

Don't forget, it's really important to buy fresh spices from your local natural foods store or herbalist. Fresh spices make all the difference. When powdered spices like cinnamon have been sitting out on the shelf for too long, they loose their curing properties and potency.

Also, cayenne is very hot! A little goes a long way. Just adding a pinch to my morning tea really gives it a kick.

Hope this was helpful and I hope y'all are staying healthy this season. Feel free to share any comments or recipes with Indigo and me. We love feedback! Blessings and enjoy the Yule season!

P.S.

Rather than beating around the bush and taking an entire post to introduce Indigo and myself, we've created an "about us" tab. Feel free to check it out!