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Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Amanda Howe, MSc., RHT

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: https://www.blackbearherb.com/single-post/2017/02/01/Cottonwood-Bud-Oil

 

Cottonwood buds (Populus balsamifera) are ready to harvest now as you will have read in my last blog post.  And here, as promised in my last blog, is how to make a Cottonwood Bud infused herbal oil.

 Cottonwood buds are used to make a Balm of Gilead – reminiscent of the Balm of Gilead in the Bible, though the Biblical balm is made from Myrrh. Cottonwood buds are rich in salicin and, used externally, are a pain relieving anti-inflammatory among other things.

I described in detail how to harvest the buds in my last post, so have a look at that if you haven’t done so.  Once you have your harvest safely home you are ready to make your oil.   Once you have made your oil, if you have enjoyed your remedy making I would encourage you to come along to one of our Medicine Making Workshops where you’ll learn how to make lots of different herbal remedies, syrups, tinctures, poultices, salves and balms.

This is a simple oil to make and you will need the following equipment:

Ingredients:

I cup Almond Oil (you can use other oils see below)

3/4 cup of Cottonwood Buds

You will need:

A sterilized 250ml mason jar

1 strainer

1 slow cooker, or a wood stove, or other warm place.

1 chopstick

A small piece of Cheesecloth to cover the jar

A Rubber band

Add the Cottonwood Buds to the jar, making sure that you leave at least two inches of space from the top of the jar.

Add the oil to jar making sure that the oil covers the Cottonwood Buds by an inch.  You can use oils other than Almond Oil.  But I’d recommend against using an oil with a strong smell because you might ruin the sweet smell of the Cottonwood Buds.  Take care also to use organic oils if you are using them on your skin – you don’t want to be massaging toxic chemicals into your aching muscles or joints.

It’s important that no air bubbles exist around the Buds once you have added the oil,  so stir well with a chopstick.  Make sure that all the buds are submerged below the level of the oil.

Cover the jar with a piece of cheesecloth, securing it with a rubber band.

Add warm water to the slow cooker – not too much, enough that it will go half way up the jar when you put the jar into the slow cooker.  Place the jar into the slow cooker.  Take care to make sure no water gets into the oil mixture, and take care not to let the cheesecloth touch the water because it will wick the water up into the jar.

Put the slow cooker on to low heat and let the jar of oil and Cottonwood buds stand in the warm slow cooker for 48 hours.

Ensure that the slow cooker does not get too hot, you never want your oil to boil.  If you don’t have a slow cooker you can also stand your jar in a pan of water on the wood stove, again making sure that it does not get too hot.  Keep topping up the water in the slow cooker over the 48 hours so that it doesn’t dry out, being careful not to get water into your jar of oil and buds.

After 48 hours remove the jar from the slow cooker.  While the oil/Cottonwood Bud mixture is still warm strain the Cottonwood Buds out of the oil. Discard the oily Buds in the compost.

Pour the sweet smelling oil into a clean jar with a tight fitting lid, and store in a cool dark place until needed. Cool and dark is vital if you want the oil to stay fresh and to avoid it going rancid.

NOTE:

Ensure that the Cottonwood Buds have no rain drops or other water on them when they go into the oil

Ensure that there are no air bubbles at all around the buds once they are in the oil, these pockets of air can form mold.

Never put a lid on the mixture while it is infusing because the water that evaporates from the Buds will get trapped and mold will form in the jar.  You should cover the jar with cheese cloth.

Don’t be tempted to infuse the Buds in oil directly in the slow cooker or in a pan – the Cottonwood Buds are very resinous and you will have a hard time getting rid of the resin out of your slow cooker or pan afterwards! You will also have a much greater likelihood of burning your oil and Buds which will destroy the healing properties of your oil.

How to use the Oil

Cottonwood Bud oil is sweet smelling and is pain relieving and anti-inflammatory when used to rub into aching muscles and joints:) It brings relief not only for arthritis sufferers, but also for hikers, skiers or gardeners who have aching muscles. The oil can be rubbed into an aching back, knees, hands, elbows, feet, shoulders or anywhere you have pain.

The oil also lifts the Spirits and gives a feeling of ease and wellbeing, relaxation and joy. For me the smell takes me immediately to Spring Days, and it fills me with hope and happiness.

The buds themselves can also be added to boiling water for use in steam inhalations to bring sweet relief for those suffering with congested sinuses or lungs.

 

About the Author:

Amanda Howe MSc Herbalist

Amanda Howe has been a herbalist for over thirty years.  She trained in England in the early ’80’s and became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She went on to receive her MSc in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales.  Amanda worked in England in a multidisciplinary clinic before moving to Vancouver Island twenty five years ago. Since moving to Canada Amanda has been active in practice as a herbalist and as a herbal educator.  She has served on the board of the provincial Canadian Herbalists Association of BC as well as the national Herbal Practitioners Council – the Canadian Council of Herbalists Associations (CCHA), working to ensure continued access to herbal medicines for Herbalists and the general public.  And she also sat on Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Expert Advisory Committee.

Amanda spent several years teaching at Pacific Rim College in Victoria BC. as a teacher in their excellent full time Herbal Practitioner training program, and was involved in funded research projects with the Centre for Livelihoods and Ecology at Royal Roads University.

Amanda is passionate about herbs and herbal medicine and about sharing the connection to the natural world that can be found through connecting with and learning about the healing power of plants.

Amanda loves to teach and is happiest when she is in the garden teaching people how to grow, harvest, use and listen to the magic of the plants that are thriving there.

Article courtesy of BCHA Corporate Sponsor, Emery Herbals.

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: Loving the Lymph System: Our Spring Freshet

Loving the Lymph System: Our Spring Freshet

The beginnings of Spring mark the start of the journey of emerging: the slow and steady ascent back into a growth cycle again. Our patience and will to survive and thrive through the dark, cold introverted Winter months is rewarded with the beauty of the gentle snow drop poking her head through the damp ground, by the song of the robin and the rush of the creeks; with the sun cascading through the clouds to warm our skin once again.

This is the time of the freshet, the wetlands become swollen with winter’s release, our creeks and streams rise, our rivers rush swiftly with the shedding of the waters of last season. Just as the natural world flushes its waters, cleansing them through the wetlands and marshes, spring offers us an opportunity to do the same, to release winter’s storage, its heaviness and stagnation. What served us well in Winter is meant to be released; allowing space for the lightness, the new and fresh optimism that spring so generously offers.

The waters of our body are managed and maintained in part by the lymphatic system, a network of tissues and organs that aid in ridding the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials while bathing the cell level in vital nutrients. The word “lymph” comes from the Latin word lympha, which means “connected to water.” The intelligent design of our lymph systems demands we remain active for the fluid to circulate and move throughout our bodies.

Spring is a wonderful time to connect with our lymph systems to help flow it more effectively, aiding all body systems in their ability to take out the waste and discarded remnants of the Winter gone by. When we shed away the spent and used energy we make space for growth to occur, for new, fresh water to flow.

 

Morning Ritual for Lymph Love

The time upon arising and getting organized and ready for your day can be hectic, rushed and often spent disconnected to one’s self, both physically and emotionally. When time is allowed for self care we make space to check in, giving us a moment to meet our unique needs and create a flow to our day that is more sustainable, more manageable and harmonious. Including a Lymph Love focused Ritual in Spring connects us to the waters of our body and allows for us to integrate into the rhythm of this new and nourishing season.

 

FIVE METHODS TO LOVE YOUR LYMPH

• Begin each day with a fresh, clean, warm glass of water that includes a squeeze of fresh lemon, a teaspoon of raw apple cider vinegar or a splash of homemade kombucha or tibicos. By consuming your water warm you gentle encourage your digestive juices to wake up and get ready for action, cold water will shock the digestion, slowing the release of important enzymes and impairing absorption of nutrients. That squeeze or splash of something acidic will fire up your digestive juices, kindling your internal mechanisms to kick in.
• When you are just about done that first glass of water add in your dosage of an alterative herbal formula. Easiest taken with a tincture formula you may also wish to consume as a tea. Alterative herbs are those that specifically work to clean the blood and some directly support healthy lymph flow (called Lympathics). You may wish to include herbs such as Arctium lappa (Burdock root), Gallium aparine (Cleavers), Taraxacum off. (Dandelion leaf), Urtica diocia (Nettle leaf), Alnus rubra (Alder bark), Ceonothus americanus (Red Root).
• Next hop on that rebounder. As mentioned above the lymph likes movement, its needs the muscles to squish and move it to the glands for it to drain. Even better it likes us to defy gravity. Take 10 minutes and jump away your troubles, allow the lymph to flow, collecting debris, bathing the cells with life sustaining fluids and freshening the body in general. This is your own spring Freshet!
• Now its time for the dry skin brush treatment. Using a course, natural bristle brush work from your feet upwards. Begin to brush the skin, always in a direction towards the heart. Move upwards to the thigh and buttocks area. Brush your torso thoroughly and then your arms and finally your neck, avoiding your face, ending by brushing towards the lymphatic nodes that are located near your armpits below the collar bone. Take your time and enjoy the lovely feeling of dry skin brushing.

The benefits are profound and include:

• Cellulite reduction
• Removing the dead skin layers, encourages cells to regenerate
• Strengthen immune system function
• Stimulate the hormone and oil-producing glands
• Tighten the skin preventing premature aging
• Tones the muscles
• Improves circulation
• Improves function of the nervous system
• Tones digestion
• Aids the skin in its detox role for the body
• And of course: Cleanses and supports the lymphatic system

Time for the Tub: Include hydrotherapy in your morning lymph love ritual. Prepare a bath using ¼ cup of Epsom salts with 10 – 20 drops of a lymphatic focused essential oil blend. Citrus essential oils have an affinity for the lymph system, as do some of the tree oils. Look for Pink Grapefruit (Citrus paradisii), Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Juniper (Juniperus communis), Lemon (Citrus limonum) and Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) to help encourage the waters of your lymph system to flow. Finding the correct temperature for your bath is essential, not too hot is important. Follow your tub soak with a cold rinse off to further stimulate the lymph to flow.

BONUS: Once out of the tub and towel off try the classic yoga pose called Legs up the Wall (a passive, supported version of Viparita Karani).

Remember, the lymph loves it when we defy gravity, making its job of flowing upwards to the collarbone area easier and swifter. Scooch your bum to the edge of the floor where the wall and floor meet. Next put lie on your back and put your legs up the wall, focus on your breath and take a few moments to relax and tune in to how your body feels. Starting your day with this new, ritual for Lymph Love will help reset your body systems in general with a focus on flowing your waters fully through the body.

About Emery Herbals:

Founded in 2003, Emery Herbals began as a small, urban, home based business, providing access to consciously sourced and created plant medicine. Since, Emery Herbals has relocated to rural British Columbia, expanding to house an East West focused Botanical Dispensary, Healing Suites and Teaching Centre.

Emery Herbals commits to providing open access to high quality, consciously sourced botanicals; professional health services and empowering education experiences that aim to encourage and cultivate sustained wellness.

We have an East West focused approach to our Botanical Dispensary with a diverse inventory of raw herbs, tinctures, essential oils, teas and health related items. Our sacred relationship to our natural environment is instilled in our commitment to providing access to the lowest impact, consciously sourced herbs grown through local farms, privately owned wild lands, and ethical world suppliers.

Our Botanical Dispensary provides formulating, compounding and dispensing services for the local community, regional health practitioners as well as distant clients and health providers in other areas of the world. Through the many years of formulating and custom blending for her clients, Colleen Emery has created a dynamic offering of shelf products ready to dispense directly to our clients available for purchase in the Winlaw location as well as in the Online Apothecary.

Emery Herbals Healing Suites offers access to educated and trained health Practitioners in a peaceful and enriching environment to help guide and support your wellness and healing journey.

Our Teaching Centre actively provides education experiences to help grow your connection to the natural world and bring empowerment to your healthcare.

www.emeryherbals.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Amanda Howe, MSc., RHT

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: https://www.blackbearherb.com/single-post/2017/01/14/Cottonwood-Bud-Harvest-Time

 

It is January and the herb garden is sleeping under a thick blanket of snow.  The days are cold, the bears are sleeping and the world is peaceful.  Nothing to harvest then, at this time of year.  But wait, my walk takes me along a snowy trail beside a wetland area near the creek where the Cottonwood trees grow tall and grand.  And as any neighbour of a Cottonwood tree knows – they shed their branches in the stormy winter winds and snow.  And on those branches….. yes… Cottonwood Buds, resinous and shiny.  As the Spring arrives and the buds start to open it is the Cottonwood Buds that fill the air with their sweet balsamic honey perfume.  This is the smell of Spring in my world, the smell of hope, new life and joy.  But now, the Cottonwood branches that lie beside the path are laden with tight closed buds.  The cold snowy weather keeps the resin hard and shiny, not yet softened by ​​warmth. The leaf buds are perfect and rich in resin.  So now is the time to get out there and harvest those buds from branches that have been thrown from the tree.  Now, while the resin is hard in the cold weather.  If you wait till the temperatures rise the resin will warm and soften and the job of harvesting becomes a very sticky affair with hands clothes and hair covered in the sweet smelling eternally sticky gum.  But now…. NOW you can harvest with a minimum of stickiness.  And the resin that you do get on your fingers is just a sweet smelling hint of the Spring to come.

Before you harvest you must of course identify your tree.  Cottonwoods where I live have the latin name Populus balsamifera var trichocarpa.  Cottonwood trees are known by many because they release their seeds in late Spring with an abundance of soft white fluff that leaves the ground covered in white snowy cotton, hence the name Cottonwood.  You will find the trees in swampy wet areas often alongside Willows, Red Osier Dogwoods, Bigleaf Maples, Alders and Red Cedar. Once you have identified your tree, search beneath it for fallen branches.  You can either harvest the buds on the spot or take a branch home with you to harvest at home.  Harvest into a bag – not your pocket unless you like your pockets lined with sweet resin!  To harvest the buds you just break them off at the nexus where bud meets branch, the bud will break off cleanly. Lay the harvested buds out on a tray covered in parchment paper to dry in a warm, dark, dry place.  Once they are dry you can put them in a jar to store them in a dark cool place for later use.

Cottonwood buds are used to make a Balm of Gilead – reminiscent of the Balm of Gilead in the Bible, though the Biblical balm is made from Myrrh (see earlier Black Bear Herbs Facebook post in December).  The buds are rich in salicin and, used externally, are a pain relieving anti-inflammatory.  The oil made from the buds not only smells heavenly, it is heaven sent when used to rub into aching muscles and joints:)  It brings relief not only for arthritis sufferers, but also for hikers, skiers or gardeners who have aching muscles. The oil also lifts the Spirits and gives a feeling of ease and wellbeing, relaxation and joy. I will give you the recipe for the oil in the next post.

The buds can also be added to boiling water for use in steam inhalations to bring sweet relief for those suffering with congested sinuses or lungs.

So, as you wait for the snow to melt and for the soil to warm you can be harvesting some healing medicine ready for evenings later in the Spring and Summer when you come in from the garden with your back and your muscles aching from digging your beautiful garden.  Heaven! :)​S​​

 

About the Author:

Amanda Howe MSc Herbalist

Amanda Howe has been a herbalist for over thirty years.  She trained in England in the early ’80’s and became a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She went on to receive her MSc in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales.  Amanda worked in England in a multidisciplinary clinic before moving to Vancouver Island twenty five years ago. Since moving to Canada Amanda has been active in practice as a herbalist and as a herbal educator.  She has served on the board of the provincial Canadian Herbalists Association of BC as well as the national Herbal Practitioners Council – the Canadian Council of Herbalists Associations (CCHA), working to ensure continued access to herbal medicines for Herbalists and the general public.  And she also sat on Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Expert Advisory Committee.

Amanda spent several years teaching at Pacific Rim College in Victoria BC. as a teacher in their excellent full time Herbal Practitioner training program, and was involved in funded research projects with the Centre for Livelihoods and Ecology at Royal Roads University.

Amanda is passionate about herbs and herbal medicine and about sharing the connection to the natural world that can be found through connecting with and learning about the healing power of plants.

Amanda loves to teach and is happiest when she is in the garden teaching people how to grow, harvest, use and listen to the magic of the plants that are thriving there.

Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Emily Boese, RHT

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: https://www.befiercehealth.com/single-post/2017/09/20/The-4-Best-Ways-to-Balance-your-Blood-Sugar-Or-How-keeping-almonds-in-my-purse-saved-my-life

 

I used to (and occasionally still do) suffer from blood sugar dips and the seemingly ubiquitous “hanger”.

I would get home from work and shove 5 cookies in my mouth while I was thinking about what I would eat.  Crazy, right?

A little bag of raw almonds changed all that.

The protein, fat, and fiber in my purse meant that I was saved from the sugar-and-carbohydrate-rich snack that my body was pushing me towards.  Instead, I could take a deep breath and make a mindful choice about my lunch. (I even found a recent study that found that eating almonds improved that mid-afternoon slump! Yay.)

Blood sugar swings and dips are the most common issue that most people site when it comes to improving their diet or losing weight.  The cravings for carbs and sugar can be intense and hard to manage.

However – getting off the “rollercoaster” of high blood sugar, followed by a crash, followed by another sugar craving is very important for weight loss, and for your overall health.  Irregular blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and Type II Diabetes.

These conditions can make losing weight even more difficult as the way the body manages your food alters drastically.  Never mind the other health issues that come along with these conditions.  It can be serious stuff.

 

But it is not all doom and gloom!  It is possible to help your body get off the rollercoaster.

Here are some of my best tips and things to know about your blood sugar.

 

1. The reason you can’t stop eating sugar/carbs isn’t because you are “weak”

There are physiological reasons why we crave these foods and why they are so addictive (aka: it’s your body, baby) – it is not just lack of willpower on your part!

When you start the day with something high in refined carbs or sugar (think that great croissant with jam from your favourite French bakery), your blood sugar spikes quickly. This is followed by a flood of insulin from your pancreas. Insulin is like the gatekeeper for sugar – it knocks on the door of your cells and lets the sugar in so it can be used to produce energy in the body.

However, too much sugar in the bloodstream can cause damage to the blood vessels, so insulin pulls LOTS of the sugar out of the blood. Then you  crash.

Then, in this state of depletion (foggy head, rumbling tummy, possible irrational behaviour), your body sends you searching for something that will fix the problem quickly.  And you know what that is? More refined carbs or sugar.  The rollercoaster goes on.

While this info may not help you cut back on these foods, it is nice to know that you’re not just some weak-willed creature with no ability to say “no thank you” – your body is driving your behaviour. So be kind to yourself.

2. “Crowd out” the sugar and carbohydrates with better options
The more good stuff you have in front of you, the easier it is to leave the not-so-good stuff behind.

Plan your meals.  Make bulk batches of salads, soups, stir fries, curries, etc. in advance.  Cut up your veggies and bring hummus to work and make yourself eat that first, and then decide if you still need a cinnamon bun.

Make the better stuff easier, more attainable, more up-in-your-grill than the high carb refined stuff.

You’ll likely find that as you eat more veggies and fruit (which are full of miraculous, antioxidant-rich chemicals which would blow your mind if you knew the details), you’ll naturally eat less of the other stuff. Just crowd it out.  No drama.

3. Eat protein with every meal and snack

This is where the almonds come in!

Protein provides a more steady release of blood sugar than carbs/sugar, as it takes more time and energy to break it down.

Having protein with your meals takes you off the rollercoaster and onto more of a kid’s ride.  Like one where you sit in a giant swan and just float around the lake.  Less dramatic and exciting, yes, but also wayyyy better for your body.  And I’m not saying that you still can’t ride a real-life-rollercoaster.  Remember, this is just a metaphor

4. Eat more fat (but the kind of fat counts)

Fat makes us feel full, and is actually used for a wide variety of functions within the body (unlike carbohydrates, whose only job is to provide energy). Studies of people on higher fat diets found that they naturally ate less calories and lost more weight than those on higher carb, low-fat diets.

Fat provides the outer layer of all of our cells, so you know, we can’t survive without it. It is also part of the makeup of our hormones. Some of the worst hormone issues I have seen, especially around menopause, were in women who had been on a low-fat “diet” for the better part of the last 20 years. Boo. Urns.

Picking good fats is an important part of this strategy. I’m not talking about a McDonald’s hamburger or a bag of chips. I’m talking about whole fats from real foods. Avocados. Olives. Eggs (yay also protein). Nuts and seeds (ditto protein). Greek yogurt. Fish and meat if you swing that way. Just whole, unprocessed foods. Ta da!

My top protein & fat picks:

• Nuts and seeds (unroasted unsalted- or do it at home if you want them salty), eggs, beans and legumes (eg: lentils, chickpeas), fish, chicken, cheese and yogurt if you can do dairy, meat

 

About the Author:

 Hey, I’m Emily!

​I love playing outside, growing and eating good food, and drinking a bit of nice wine or a good, hoppy IPA.  With a local cheeseboard, of course. Holistic Nutrition and Herbal Medicine are my specialties.  I am a qualified natural healthcare practitioner with a Bachelor of Natural Medicine, and I offer one-on-one health assessments, individualised treatments and meal plans to help you get your health back on track.

I have just returned to Canada after spending nearly 12 years living in New Zealand, and have settled in beautiful Kelowna, BC. While I was in NZ I studied natural medicine at the South Pacific College of Natural Medicine.

​I am a Professional Member of the BCHA. My approach to health is all about balance.

www.befiercehealth.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Director & Professional RHT member Krista Poulton – Medical Herbalist, RHT, BKin

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: http://kristadawnpoulton.com/2017/03/podcast-2-medicine-making-part-3-infused-oils-salves-creams/

 

Medicine-making is my passion and I am excited to share with you this Podcast series on Medicine-Making Part 3: Infused Oils, Salves & Creams with Janean Strong at www.realjanean.com. On this podcast I discuss a few ways we can make an infused oil – cold process and the hot process, utilizing the infused oil for both internal as food or topical as salve or cream.  Plus I give some of my favourite recipes on making salves and creams.

This is the last of the Medicine-Making Podcast series which includes Part 1 on Herbal Teas and Part 2 on Tinctures, if you haven’t listened to the previous two, be sure to check out the podcast on my blog.  I hope you feel more empowered to make your own herbal products at home after listening to these podcasts!

http://kristadawnpoulton.com/2017/03/podcast-2-medicine-making-part-3-infused-oils-salves-creams/

About the Author:

Krista Poulton – Medical Herbalist, RHT, BKin

Education, medicine-making, and herb growing along with women’s health are strong passions for Krista, and she brings this into a consultation with educational components for patients, an on-site herbal medicine dispensary 50% grown and tinctured almost entirely by Krista Dawn, and offering connections with plants with plant starts and seeds.

She has completed a three-year Herbal Medicine diploma program with Pacific Rim College in Victoria, BC, consisting of over 500 hours of practical clinical training, over 500 hours of biomedical training, and roughly 1000 hours of Therapeutic Herbalism including herbal, supplementation and nutritional training. Additionally she has studied with Nadine Ijaz, learning Traditional Chinese Medicine theory with western herbs along with pulse and tongue diagnosis.

Krista has focused her continuing education within women’s health with herbal mentors such as Aviva Romm, as well as Fertility Symposiums and Women’s Health conferences. Krista had offered over the course of two years a popular women’s health workshop series titled “Moon Goddess – Women’s Knowledge of Menstruation and Ovulation” teaching over 75 women about their menstrual cycles and how to incorporate Herbal Medicine to address common reproductive pathologies. Krista has spoken at the Kootenay Herb Conference in 2016 & 2018, Vancouver Island Herb Gathering in the summer of 2017 on Menstrual Cycle Charting and Herbal Medicine and offered a combined workshop with her inspiring mentor Bev Maya in the Winter 2018 at Pacific Rim College.

Krista maintains a professional membership with the BCHA and is actively involved with this organization as a member of the Board of Directors. She is also actively involved in the People’s Apothecary, a community Herbal Medicine garden located in Quadra Village.

Krista currently practices in Victoria, BC and teaches medicine-making, herbal medicine courses and is a clinical supervisor at Pacific Rim College, an complementary and integrative health college.

www.kristadawnpoulton.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Corporate Sponsor, Emery Herbals.

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: http://emeryherbals.com/herb-of-the-month-astragalus/

 

Astragalus, Astragalus membranaceus

What brought me to want to share the knowledge of this herb was the intensity to which our communities have been dealing with the cold and flu season. Many  have dealt with repeated virus invasions, colds, unending coughs and a general sense of unwell for most of this season. Astragalus is renown for building and supporting strong, healthy and dynamic immune health along with a slew of other positive health outcomes, something that can assist in the rebuild after a winter of tough immune stress.

I have a deep respect for Astragalus after relying on its ability to rebuild the immune system when we first arrived in BC 6 years ago. Our time in moving out to BC was super full, really stressful and highly active and intense. One year before we moved my Mom passed away from a lengthy battle with several types of cancer. The year after she passed I knew I wanted to do something larger with my life, my husband felt this way as well. We had purchased raw land out in the Slocan Valley years before this and up to this point had been sitting at the precipice of the change, waiting for the ‘right’ moment to take the step and move out of inner city Calgary to the woods and a radical life change.

Our opportunity came when we were asked if we want to take care of our friends’ property while they went overseas for work. This consisted of living year round in a 24-foot Yurt with outdoor plumbing, off grid electricity, wood heat in the wee village of Winlaw BC. We leapt at the chance for such a change. Putting most of our belongings in storage we moved our then 9-year-old daughter and ourselves from modern convenience to the unknown.

The year that followed this was dynamic to say the least. My immune system struggling, I fell vulnerable to every cold and flu bug that circulated. The year consisted of me just getting well to fall ill again, a cycle that seemed to never end. This is when I formally met Astragalus. I knew of this amazing herb, had used it with great success with many clients but hadn’t applied it to my own health prior to this. Including this herb, in addition to adjustments and other inclusions in my diet and lifestyle brought recovery for me and I managed to rebuild and strengthen my immune system plus so much more. Read on for all the goodness this root has to offer.

Astragalus is both the common name of one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine, as well as the name of the plant group from which it originates. Astragalus membranaceus is known in China as “huang-qi” which means “yellow leader”. “Huang” means “yellow,” referring to the yellow interior of the root. “ Qi” means “leader,” referring to this herb as one of the superior “tonics” in Chinese medicine.

The genus Astragalus is a amazingly large and complex plant group of the pea family (Leguminosae). Most of the nearly 2000 species of Astragalus occur in northern temperate zones. In Europe, for example, there are 133 Astragalus species. In North America there are 368 Astragalus species, mostly confined to the western United States and Canada. This complex and large group contains a few ornamentals, medicinal plants as well as poisonous plants. One species found in Utah takes-up selenium from the soil and its presence on certain soil types is used as an indicator for the possibility of finding uranium.

It’s important to note that the plant we use for medicine is a specific genus and species. There are over 2,000 different species in the Astragalus genus. Some of these plants are toxic and none are known to have the same qualities as Astragalus membranaceus, although a few are used medicinally.

Astragalus root is considered to be a sweet tonic herb that is slightly warming. It has an ascending energy (which is important; we’ll get to that later).

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective Astragalus is specifically a Spleen Qi Tonic and a Lung Qi Tonic. Therefore, it is used when there is Spleen Qi Deficiency and Lung Qi Deficiency.

In TCM, the Spleen is responsible for transforming food and drink into Qi (energy) and Blood. If someone is lacking Qi or energy, we look for dysfunction of the Spleen first and foremost. If a person isn’t assimilating food correctly, how can they achieve good health?

After the Spleen transforms food and drink into Qi, the Qi ascends to the Lungs where it is combined with the Lung Qi and transformed into the Zhen Qi, or energy that supports our entire body.

When the Spleen is lacking Qi the person may experience fatigue and sluggishness, loose stools or diarrhoea, poor appetite, phlegm and dampness, weak arms and legs and prolapsed organs (such as haemorrhoids).

Astragalus root is a Spleen Qi tonic bringing energy, increases appetite and improves digestion and can lift prolapsed organs.

Astragalus is also a Lung Qi tonic. The Lungs take in air and create Qi. The Lungs house what is called the Wei Qi (pronounced “way-chi”), sometimes referred to as the defensive Qi. The Wei Qi is like a force field for our body, protecting us from invading pathogens (bacteria, virus, etc.). When the Lungs or the Wei Qi are weak we are more prone to illness, may have dull skin, and difficulty with breathing.

As a Lung Qi tonic, Astragalus root is useful for those who are frequently coming down with colds and the flu, have difficulty breathing (such as asthma) or those who sweat too much or not enough.

Astragalus builds up the protective chi. Imagine that there is a protective shield around your body, just below the surface of the skin, that keep out cold and other external influences. It vitalizes the non-specific immune defenses and wards off infections. This is the protective chi, and astragalus is the premier herb in Chinese herbalism to strengthen it.  -Paul Bergner

USES

Astragalus is a herb that slowly builds the system. Don’t expect immediate results. Because it is a food-like herb it is recommended to take it daily, in large amounts for an extended period of time. It is recommended anywhere from 10 – 30 grams per day for an adult.  A heaping tablespoon is about 15 – 20 grams depending on the cut of the root.

Typically, astragalus root is used as a decoction of the root or it is cooked into food like stew or rice (the root will need to be removed before eating). Most texts recommend simmering it for a minimum of a half hour to a full hour.

While astragalus is traditionally used as a decoction or cooked with foods, western herbalists have started tincturing the root as well. Herbalist David Winston recommends 2 – 3 ml of a 1:5 astragalus extract three times per day. During my recovery stage of rebuilding my immune system I took a dosage of 5 ml twice daily for three months.

Remember, when using the root in food (soups, rice, quinoa, etc.) you will always have to remove the root since it is too fibrous to eat.

There are several ways to include this root in your everyday life, decoct it into your bone broth recipe, include it in your chai blend of herbs, cook rice with it, stews and soups greatly benefit from its inclusion. The options are endless.

PREVENTATIVE OR ACUTE USE?

Astragalus is best taken to prevent colds and the flu but it should be avoided during acute illness. This is due to its tonic energy. Tonic energy strengthens and holds energy in the body. When one is sick, it is necessary to diffuse that illness from the body, not tone within.

I frequently combine astragalus with reishi mushroom to improve immunity and instruct patients who easily get sick to drink a daily dose of the two throughout fall and winter. Similarly, it may be included in soups or cooked with grains and eaten on a weekly basis to help the whole family get through the winter without a single cold (people are always impressed with how well they feel and avoid colds and flu.)

-Lesley Tierra, Healing with the Herbs of Life

Astragalus also has great benefits as an Adaptogen, easing symptoms of chronic stress and exhaustion. Astragalus is renown for its ability to improve longevity due to its high anti-oxidant quality. Astragalus is known to strengthen the heart, protect and repair liver and kidney function, and regulate fluid metabolism.

Astragalus is also a blood tonic. It helps to regulate fluid metabolism, and those who consume it regularly are said to rarely suffer from fluid retention and bloating. -Ron Teeguarden, Chinese Tonic Herbs

 

About Emery Herbals:

Founded in 2003, Emery Herbals began as a small, urban, home based business, providing access to consciously sourced and created plant medicine. Since, Emery Herbals has relocated to rural British Columbia, expanding to house an East West focused Botanical Dispensary, Healing Suites and Teaching Centre.

Emery Herbals commits to providing open access to high quality, consciously sourced botanicals; professional health services and empowering education experiences that aim to encourage and cultivate sustained wellness.

We have an East West focused approach to our Botanical Dispensary with a diverse inventory of raw herbs, tinctures, essential oils, teas and health related items. Our sacred relationship to our natural environment is instilled in our commitment to providing access to the lowest impact, consciously sourced herbs grown through local farms, privately owned wild lands, and ethical world suppliers.

Our Botanical Dispensary provides formulating, compounding and dispensing services for the local community, regional health practitioners as well as distant clients and health providers in other areas of the world. Through the many years of formulating and custom blending for her clients, Colleen Emery has created a dynamic offering of shelf products ready to dispense directly to our clients available for purchase in the Winlaw location as well as in the Online Apothecary.

Emery Herbals Healing Suites offers access to educated and trained health Practitioners in a peaceful and enriching environment to help guide and support your wellness and healing journey.

Our Teaching Centre actively provides education experiences to help grow your connection to the natural world and bring empowerment to your healthcare.

www.emeryherbals.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Dr. Cobi, PhD, DNM, CHT, RNCP, ROHP, RHT

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: http://drcobi.com/blog/liver-toxicity-preventing-your-weight-loss-0

A seldom discussed yet extremely important aspect of weight loss, is liver function. The liver is the chief operator of detoxification in the body. Many of our foods are laden with hidden toxins and void of nutrients. There are numerous fad diets that cause the liver to work overtime to keep up with the high fat and nutritionally void foods and weight loss gimmicks. This eventually causes the person to gain more weight in the end, as the demand on the liver is too high. Throughout this process, the liver literally becomes more and more sluggish in function and eventually becomes “fatty”. Once a liver has reached the fatty stage, the function is impaired and weight loss becomes an impossibility. The liver’s job of detoxifying blood and metabolizing fat is compromised and the metabolism greatly slows.

Symptoms of a poorly functioning liver may include:

• Low energy
• Indigestion, bloating, constipation, gas or diarrhea
• Foggy thinking
• Weight gain
• Stiff, aching, weak muscles—especially lower back and shoulders
• Altered cholesterol levels
• Blood sugar abnormalities
• Sleep disturbances
• Easy bruising
• Brittle bones
• Fluid retention
• Kidney problems
• Slow wound healing

Action Steps for Optimal Liver Health

1.    Start the day with ½ lemon squeezed into 1 cup of warm water.

2.    Consume half your body weight in ounces of filtered water daily.

3.    Increase fiber consumption to 35 grams per day to assist in the elimination of fat soluble toxins. Choose high-fiber foods such as ground flax seeds, psyllium, apple pectin, rice bran, beet fiber, oat fiber, chia seeds and Sunfiber.

4.    Consume liver cleansing foods such as beets, bitter greens, apples, lemons, garlic, onions, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, collards and cauliflower.

5.    Use liver cleansing herbs such as Dandelion root, Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Burdock root and Turmeric.

6.    Detox the liver with Alpha lipoic acid, Calcium D-Glucarate, NAC, Selenium, Choline and Methionine. 

7.    Drink liver detoxifying tea with dandelion root, nettle root, red clover, licorice root, burdock root and cleavers.

8.    Support the digestion with probiotics and digestive enzymes. 

9.    Avoid toxic foods such as sugar, processed foods, refined carbohydrates, pesticides, hydrogenated fats and artificial sugars.

10.  Avoid smoking, alcohol, caffeine, pop and energy drinks.

11.  Exercise regularly.

 

About the Author:

Dr. Cobi Slater, PhD, DNM, CHT, RNCP, NNCP began her medical training at Dominion Herbal College where she graduated with honors after 4 years of schooling with a degree in Clinical Herbal Therapy.

Dr. Cobi continued on to complete further specialized training to qualify as a DNM (Doctorate of Natural Medicine), awarded by the Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners of Canada and the Board of Natural Medicine Doctors and Practitioners of North America. Dr. Cobi holds a PhD in Natural Health Sciences with a specialty in hormonal dysfunction.

In addition, Dr. Cobi is trained as a Natural Health Practitioner, Natural Health Consultant, Natural Health Educator, a Natural Health Technician, Certified Laser Therapist, and Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner/Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner.

Dr. Cobi‘s inspiration to pursue a holistic approach to health and wellbeing led her to establish Essential Health Natural Wellness Clinic located in Maple Ridge, BC. Essential Health is dedicated to providing professional, safe and effective complementary healthcare through the use of research and evidence-based natural medicine therapies. Offering assistance for chronic disease, hormone issues, immune health, allergies, skin problems, digestive complaints, nutrition counseling and lifestyle counseling to name a few, Essential Health educates and empowers individuals to achieve an optimal state of health and wellbeing.

Dr. Cobi currently practices in her local clinic and conducts on-line consultations throughout North America. She writes health articles and columns for several newspapers and health magazines and is the International Best-Selling Author of 5 books including: The Ultimate Candida Guide and Cookbook, The Ultimate Hormone Guidebook, The Ultimate Metabolic Plan, The Ultimate Gluten and Dairy Free Cookbook and the Refresh, Revive, Restore 10-Day Detox Book.

Dr. Cobi is a professional RHT member of the Canadian Herbalist’s Association of British Columbia, the Natural Medicine Practitioners of Canada, the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants, the Canadian Association of Natural Nutritional Practitioners and the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. She is also a member of the Board of Natural Medicine Doctors and Practitioners of North America, the Natural Medicine Certification Council as well as the Health Action Network Society.

www.drcobi.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Chanchal Cabrera – Msc., FNIMH, RH (AHG), RHT

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: http://www.chanchalcabrera.com/recommended-reading-list/

I have dozens of herbal and health and gardening books, many hundreds actually – I swear they must breed in the night because it seems they are always increasing in number and  spilling off the shelves. I dream of built-ins to the ceiling that would give another 3 or 4 metres of shelving, but then of course I would no doubt fill them in no time as well   I cannot list them all here but I have picked out the ones that I go back to again and again, or that have particular or special information not found elsewhere.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Chanchal

Foundation books to get started with

David Hoffmann – Medical Herbalism – The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine, 2003, Healing Arts Press, Vermont,

Far and away the best foundation text – comprehensive but comprehensible, theoretical and practical. His earlier book called The Holistic Herbal is also great but much simpler.

Andrew Chevalier – The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants: A Practical Reference Guide to over 550 Key Herbs and Their Medicinal Uses,1996, Dorling Kingsley Publishing

Anthony Godfrey, Paul Saunders, Kerry Barlow, Matt Gowan, Principles and Practices of Naturopathic Botanical Medicine: Volume 1:  2012

These are both useful general reference books, collections of monographs and good photos, practical and user friendly.

Matthew Wood,  The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants,  and The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants,  2008, North Atlantic Books

All of Matthew Wood’s books are excellent but these are the ones I reference constantly. They don’t really talk about constituents and pharmacology, but rather about the personality and psychological properties. Essential to understanding herbs not just knowing a bunch of facts about them.

Thomas Bartram – The Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, 1995, Grace Publishing

A classic, written by an old time practitioner based on clinical experience over 50 years. The only book I have ever found with an entry for Gone All to Pieces Syndrome  

Maud Grieve, A Modern Herbal, vols. 1 and 2. Dover Publications, New York, New York (1971

Best book on stories, mythology, growing, harvesting recipes and more. Written by a horticulturist shortly before the 2^nd world war when the British government realized they were dependent on drugs from Germany and they commissioned Mrs. Grieve to research and write this book to support people being more self-sufficient in medicine. Too bad they can’t acknowledge herbal medicine like that today!

More advanced books for deeper studies

Lisa Ganora – Herbal Constituents – Foundations of Phytochemistry, HerbalChem Press

Indisputably the best introduction to herbal chemistry – technical but really readable – I love this book and read it cover to cover!

Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine, English edn. Beaconsfield Publishers, Beaconsfield, United Kingdom (1988)

A real classic written in 1960 by a medical doctor who used plant medicines in an active clinical practice. Lots on herbs as primary care medicines and good stuff on interactions and common sense practical use. Make sure to get the first or third edition, not the second which was brutally edited.

Mills S, Bone K. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 2014

The next book to go on to after the Hoffmann Medical Herbalism textbook – huge professional text

A.W Priest and L.R. Priest, Herbal Medication – A Clinical and Dispensary Handbook, 1982, L.N. Fowler & Co. Essex

One of the very few contemporary books on the physio-medical model in clinical practice

Kerry Bone – A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs, 2003, Churchill Livingstone

A series of monographs including pharmacology and clinical applications, written by a practicing herbalist. Very useful for specific and consistent guidelines on dosing and safety.

Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants. Paris: Lavoisier, 1995.

Very technical descriptions of constituents and actions – for advanced students or real keeners.

Evans WC. Trease and Evans’ Pharmacognosy, 13th ed. Philadelphia: Bailliere Tindall (Curtis Center), 1989

Very technical descriptions of constituents and actions – for advanced students or real keeners.

Aviva Romm, Botanical Medicine for Women’s Health, Churchill Livingstone, 2010

The definitive text by a midwife / herbalist / medical doctor – a big, broad look at women’s health challenges and natural ways to manage them. Filled with useful information drawn from her many years of clinical practice, this is a serious text for te serious student.

James Green, The Male Herbal: The Definitive Health Care Book for Men and Boys, Random House, 2011

One of the only books out there explicitly for men, this is written by a long time herbalist and teacher. Filled with practical wisdom and useful recipes and formulas.

And below are an assortment of other titles on my shelves that I have read and enjoyed and learned from.

History and philosophy

Ralph Metzner – Green Psychology, 1999, Inner Traditions – Bear & Company, Vermont

Stephen Buhner – The Lost Language of Plants, The Secret Teachings of Plants, Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm, Chelsea Green Publishing, Vermont

Barbara Griggs, Green Pharmacy: The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine, 1997 2nd edn. Healing Arts. Rochester, Vermont

Graeme Tobyn, The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge, 2011, Elsevier Health Sciences

Simon Y. Mills, Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine, 1992, Viking Books

Lewis, C. 1996. Green nature human nature. Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press.

Lipton,B. 2005. The biology of belief. California: Elite Books.

Louv, R. 2005. Last child in the woods. North Carolina: Algonquin Books

Louv, R. 2011. The nature principle. North Carolina: Algonquin Books.

Pollan, M. 1991. Second nature. New York: Grove Press.

Metzner, R. 1999. Green psychology. Vermont: Park Street Press.

Roszak, T. 1992. The voice of the earth. Michigan: Phanes Press.

Roszak, T. 1995. Ecopsycology. Berkeley, CA: University California Press.

Selhub, E.and Logan, A. 2012. Your brain on nature. Toronto: Collins.

Wilson, E.O. 1984. Biophilia. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Eclectic books by the old masters – may be found on the internet now

Cook WH. The Physio-Medical Dispensatory, Cincinnati (1869). Reprinted by Eclectic Press, Portland, Oregon (1985)

Ellingwood F. American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 11th edn. (1919). Reprinted by Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy, Oregon (1994)

Felter HW and Lloyd JU. King’s American Dispensatory, vols 1 and 2, 18th edn. (1898). Reprinted by Eclectic Medical Publications, Sandy, Oregon (1983)

King’s is probably the book I reference most frequently in my office. It is over 100 years old but vitally relevant and incredibly relevant still today.

Medicine making – recipes and methods

Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health: 175 Teas, Tonics, Oils, Salves, Tinctures, and Other Natural Remedies for the Entire Family, 2008, Storey Publishing

Debra St Claire, The Herbal Medicine Chest, MorningStar Publications, Boulder, CO

James Green, The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook, Crossing Press, Berkely, CA , 2000

These 3 books are all written by very experienced herbalists that have all owned medicine making companies so they are  full of practical advice  and trouble shooting tips.

Books on safety and dosing

Brinker FJ. Herb contraindications and drug interactions : with appendices addressing specific conditions and medicines. Sandy, Or.: Eclectic Institute, 1997:146.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, et al., eds. American Herbal Products Association Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997. (new edition released 2014)

Tisserand R, Balacs T. Essential Oil Safety: A guide for Health Care Professionals. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, United Kingdom (1995)

Simon Mills and Kerry Bone, The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, Elsevier, Churchill Livingstone (2005)

Herbs for kids

Bove  M. Encyclopedia of Natural Healing for Infants and Children. Los Angeles: Keat’s Publishing, 1996.

Gladstar R. Herbs for Children’s Health: How to Make and Use Gentle Herbal Remedies for Soothing Common Ailments.  Pownal, VT: Storey Books, 1999.

White LB, Mavor S. Kids, Herbs, Health: Practical Solutions for Your Child’s Health, from Birth to Puberty. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press, 1998.

Zand J, Walton R, Rountree B. Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Natural and Conventional Treatments for Infants and Children. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1994.

Aromatherapy

Carol and David Schiller, 500 Formulas for Aromatherapy, Sterling Publishing Company

Constance Classen, David Howes and Anthony Synott,  Aroma the Cultural History of Smell, Routledge, 1994

Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of Senses, Vintage Books, 1991

Jean Valnet, The Practice of Aromatherapy, Healing Arts Press, 1982

Kathy Keville and Mindy Green, Aromatherapy – A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, The Crossing Press, 1995

Kurt Schnaubelt, Advanced Aromatherapy, Healing Arts Press, 1998

Kurt Schnaubelt, Medical Aromatherapy Healing With Essential Oils, Frog Ltd., 1998

Marcel Lavabre, Aromatherapy Workbook, Healing Arts Press, 1990

Patricia Davis, Aromatherapy an A-Z, C.W. Daniel Company Limited, 1988

Peter and Kate Damian, Aromatherapy – Scent and Pysche, Healing Arts Press, 1995

Robert Tisserand, The Art of Aromatherapy, C.W. Daniel Company Limited, 1979

Shirley and Len Price, Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 1995

Suzanne Catty, Hydrosols the Next Aromatherapy, Healing Arts Press, 2001

Ulla-Maija Grace, Aromatherapy for Practitioners, C.W. Daniel Company Limited, 1996

Valerie Ann Worwood, Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, New World Library, 1991

Valerie Ann Worwood, The Fragrant Heavens, New World Library

Horticulture Therapy

Cooper Marcus, C. and Barnes, M. 1999. Healing gardens: therapeutic benefits and design recommendations. New York: Wiley Press.

Gerlach-Spriggs, N., Kaufman, R.E. and Warner, S.B. 1998. Restorative gardens: the healing landscape. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Kaplan, R. and Kaplan, S. 1989. The experience of nature: a psychological perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S. and Ryan, R.E. 1998. With people in mind: design and management of everyday nature.  Washington, DC: Island Press.

Simson, S., ed., 1998. Horticulture as therapy: principles and practices. Binghamton, NY: Food Products Press.

Shoemaker, C., ed., 2002. Interaction by design: bringing people and plants together for health and well-being.  Iowa: Iowa State Press.

Taylor, E.R., 1994. The enabling garden: creating barrier-free gardens. Dallas: Taylor Publishing.

Wells, S., ed., 1997. Horticultural therapy and the older adult population. New York: Haworth Press.

Further resources

The Herb Research Foundation
4140 15th St.
Boulder, CO 80304
(303) 449-2265
http://www.herbs.org

HRF is a specialty library with more than 120,000 articles on file about the clinical research pharmacology, toxicology, chemistry, horticulture, analysis, and history of herbs used in food and for health care. The HRF research department provides custom botanical research, abstracts of scientific articles on herbs, full-text documents, and online research services.

The Lloyd Library917 Plum Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 721-3707
http://www.libraries.uc.edu/Lloyd

Possibly the world’s most extensive collection of botanical reference material, the Lloyd Library is a private library containing approximately 200,000 volumes, 600 domestic and foreign journal titles, and many other publications. It has many rare and antique holdings as well as one of the largest collections of pharmacopoeias in the world. Open to the public, no charge, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

National Agricultural Library, USDA
10301 Baltimore Blvd., Room 111
Beltsville, MD 20705
Reference: (301) 504-5479
Circulation Desk/Journals: (301) 504-5755

The National Agricultural Library provides extensive literature searches and bibliographies on various herb-related topics, offering current information to growers, medicinal herbalists, marketers, and others.

 

About the Author:

Chanchal lives with her husband Thierry Vrain in Courtenay on Vancouver Island in BC where they cultivate vegetables and herbs on 7 acres and are building a healing garden retreat center. Visit Innisfreefarm.ca to read more about this.

Chanchal has been a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists since 1987 and obtained her MSc in herbal medicine at the University of Wales in 2003. She has an extensive background in orthomolecular nutrition and allergy therapy as well as clinical aromatherapy.

Chanchal has held the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster since 2004 and she serves on the board of advisors of Dominion Herbal College in Burnaby. She publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition and health.

www.chanchalcabrera.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Amber Fox – Medical Herbalist, RHT, BES (Hons.)

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: http://embodiedherbalist.com/simple-holistic-solutions-for-travel-jet-lag/

At this time of year, many of us are travelling to celebrate the season with family and friends. Even if we are only travelling short distance, we all subject to the same challenging conditions in the airport and on the plane: surrounded by lots of people who are also under stress in an environment with recycled air and as dry as a desert! The key aspects to keep in mind for helping yourself survive and thrive through this stressful holiday season are to nourish your nervous and immune systems, keep yourself grounded, your digestion happy, and stay hydrated! I used to travel frequently for work, and Let’s talk a bit more about how to approach this using simple strategies and herbal allies:

• Flying at high altitudes over vast distances is an unusual place for the human organism to be! Your nervous system needs extra support to weather the rigors of travel, let alone the added demands over the holidays! In Ayurveda, flying is a very high-Vata environment (cold, dry, way up in the ether, exposed, quite a scary place to be!). In herbal medicine, we have plants that act in various ways and are incredibly helpful for nervous system health, called nervines and adaptogens. It cannot be underemphasized that working with a knowledgeable Herbalist is key to finding the best nervines and adaptogens for your unique person! The nervines and adaptogens I’ve chosen for the formulas below were chosen for broad applicability and usefulness for most bodies… but keep in mind that you are unique and will benefit greatly from discussing custom herbal formulas with a qualified Herbalist). Please note the contra-indications for each and consider a consultation for custom herbs choices (such as if you have more flying anxiety, high blood pressure, are pregnant, prone to blood clots, are taking dose-sensitive medications, etc.). Now to the herbs! I chose Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosis) as the adaptogen in the formula below to help adjust to new timezones (aka to combat Jet Lag!) and rally your immune resources. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Borage (Borago officinalis), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita), Rose (Rosa spp.), Lavender (Lavandula off.), and Milky Oats (Avena sativa) are the nervines in the formulas below.
• Keep grounded and nourished by eating an easy-to-digest and mineral-rich meal before flying (such as a light bone-broth vegetable soup, soaked steel-cut oats with coconut manna and cinnamon, a light coconut curry with brown basmati rice, etc.), using a warming bitters tincture, and massaging your feet (with warm sesame oil for added benefit). Keep your digestion happy by not over-indulging in heavy or complex meals before flying.
• Keep hydrated by drinking more water than usual, at least 2.5L but preferably more, on the days leading up to and during your travel. This will help keep your digestion moving smoothly and your mucous membranes healthy. You can also consider adding in natural electrolytes and/or healthy oils into your diet leading up to your travel. Avoid alcohol and coffee while you travel. Consider drinking the calming tea suggested below to aid in staying hydrated. Explore Abhyanga (self oil massage) and/or Nasya, or simply ensure that your skin is hydrated before travelling.
• Mucous membrane barrier integrity is vital to help keep you healthy and free of infection while you travel. Your mucous membranes includes your sinuses as well as your digestive tract. To keep your barriers intact, avoid any known food sensitivities leading up to travel, stay hydrated, and consider including some herbal mucous membrane tonics. In the tincture discussed in the video and in the description below, I’ve included Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) to aid in this regard.
• Support your liver to aid in proper elimination and support the many other vital functions your liver provides! Oftentimes during travel digestion slows to a stop because we are sitting still for an extended period of time… including herbs to help encourage the flow of bile and keep the rhythm of digestion, plus carminatives to help relieve the gas that can accompany the changing pressures in the environment can go a long way to helping keep you comfortable and smiling through your travels. I chose Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Dandelion (Taraxacum off.), Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Lavender (Lavandula off.).
• Support for circulation, and the vascular/capillary system can also be important to help prevent blood clots in the lower legs (deep vein thrombosis), especially on long-haul flights. I chose Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) as the key herb due to the added headache relief and liver support (isn’t it phenomenol how herbs can do SO many things?!). Keep the blood moving by tapping your feet an wiggling your toes, and walking up and down the aisles on the plane every 2-3 hours. You can also incorporate ‘legs up the wall’ in the airport or when you arrive at your destination to help ease the return of blood from your legs to your torso. (Please note that if you do feel a dull ache in your low legs that does not resolve, please seek medical attention without delay).

In general, keep yourself cozy and happy while you fly. Bring a scarf, a warm extra layer, earphones, a great book you’re excited to read and are saving for the plane, and a great calming playlist or guided meditation recording with you on the plane. Wrap the scarf around your neck to feel less exposed and warm, and over your eyes when you want to sleep. Make your own space when you need to, and listen to your calming playlist or read a book you’re excited to dive into. If you are interested in beginning or maintaining a meditation practice, flying can be a wonderful time to turn toward your internal environment: you can use a guided meditation or try a breath count technique (such as counting backward from 30, each inhale an even number and each exhale an odd number… whenever you lose count, start over). In general, notice how you’re breathing and try to introduce fuller inhales and exhales as much as possible. Use your extra layer or the airplane blanket rolled up behind your lumbar spine to help relieve back pain. To further combat jet lag when you land, stay awake until the bedtime in your new time zone and follow all of your usual sleep hygiene techniques. Using a skillfully selected adaptogen will also greatly help with relieving jet lag.  Again, for a more personalized and in-depth consultation to design a protocol for your unique person and situation, please contact me or a trusted local Herbalist for an in-depth consultation (distance consultations with me are available).

My friend Simon Brazier (The Health Renegade) and I put together an informative video about how to travel well during the holidays. Watch the full video for more great info!

For Simon Brazier I created the following formulas to help him thrive during his upcoming holiday travels:

‘Rhythm Tonic’ Tincture: Siberian Ginseng (note: contraindicated in acute infections), Ground Ivy, Licorice (note: contraindicated with hypertension and caution with corticosteroids, hypertension medication and potassium-depleting drugs), Rosemary (note: contraindicated in pregnancy, caution with hypertension), Dandelion Root (note: contraindicated in Asteraceae allergy and bile duct obstruction). **Dose: 7.5mL BID (2x/day) 4 days before and 3 days after travelling.

‘Peaceful Flight’ Tea: Borage, Chamomile (note: contraindicated in Asteraceae allergy), Lavender (note: contraindicated in allergy), Rose petals, and Milky Oats.  **Dose: 2+ cups/day. 2 tsps/cup, steep covered 15+min. 

Enjoy your travels, and best wishes for a Happy Solstice and Happy Holidays!

 

About the Author:

Amber Fox, Dip. Phyt. (RHT), BES (Hons.) 

Amber is a Medical Herbalist, educator, mindfulness meditation and yin yoga teacher. Graduated as the valedictorian of the Diploma of Phytotherapy program at Pacific Rim College, Amber now operates a private herbal practice with a focus on empowerment, trauma-sensitive and somatic approaches to healing mental health and hormonal concerns. Amber is active with the BCHA as a professional Registered Herbal Therapist (RHT) member. Amber also holds a honours degree in Environmental Studies from York University, and enjoys continuing her study of the environment and plant medicine in her large medicinal herb garden and in the forests of this wild coast.

www.embodiedherbalist.com

Article courtesy of BCHA Professional RHT member Holly Fourchalk – Ph.D., HNM, MH, HT, RHT

To view entire article with additional information, please visit: http://www.choicesunlimited.ca/a-favorite-herb-cinnamon-aka-cinnamomum-verum/

 

Herbs have both familiar common names and formal names. Cinnamon is the kitchen pantry name for the spice Cinnamomum verum.

Most of us love the cinnamon spice and we use it in familiar recipes for:

• cinnamon buns & breads
• cinnamon cookies
• pumpkin pie
• French toast
• chai tea

But cinnamon is used for a lot more than a great taste in recipes. Cinnamon is a great medicinal herb. Common medicinal actions include:

• anti-diarrhea
• anti-microbial
• anti-helmetic
• anti-spasmatic
• aromatic
• astringent
• carminative
• stimulant

So how does cinnamon actually work in the body? A compound in cinnamon is called cinnamaldehyde, and it is a hypotensive spasmolytic – so what does that mean? Hypotensive is a herb or synthetic pharmaceutical drug that brings down blood pressure. Spasmolytic action means to relax muscles – eliminate the tension and spasm in muscles that are too tight.

So we can take cinnamon to relieve cramping in the gut.

Because Cinnamon relaxes the smooth muscles in the membranes around the arteries, allowing the veins to expand and let more blood through, it also has the ability to increase peripheral blood flow.

If that wasn’t good enough, the bark oil has compounds that fight against fungus, bacteria and viruses – not bad for a kitchen spice!!

The leaf oil works differently – this oil has eugenol in it which is both anti-septic and anesthetic.

Cinnamon is also known to have an impact on insulin receptors improving insulin resistance; regulating blood glucose levels; in addition to helping the body work with lipids, inflammation, antioxidant activity, weight gain, and the glycation of proteins.

Now comes for the disappointment. There are different kinds of cinnamon and they have different phytonutrient profiles. Cassia cinnamon and Ceylon aka Sri Lanka cinnamon have significantly different amounts of coumarin.

What we want to use is the Ceylon or Sri Lanka cinnamon. It is has a better effect on the issues noted above. The Cassia cinnamon comes from the same family and has a lesser effect on the above noted issues but has more coumarin and if used extensively could have an impact on the liver.

On the other hand, Big Pharma extracted the coumarin and made a synthetic medicine out of it and called it Warfarin aka coumadin. It is used as an anti-coagulant.

I always find it interesting when Big Pharma thinks they can isolate a naturally occurring compound from all the other compounds in a plant – then they take into the laboratory and create a synthetic copy of it – add in all kinds of toxic chemicals to stabilize it; protect it from the hydrochloric acid; and then get absorbed through the intestinal walls – and somehow have the same impact that the REAL thing has.  Amazing!

The bottom line – try to find the Ceylon or Sri Lanka cinnamon.

Here’s to your health.

 

About the Author:

Dr Holly, PhD DNM RCC RHT MH HT, has a genetic disorder and therefore a passion about health. With a PhD in Research, Design & Analysis;  in Psychology: Endocrinology; MA in Herbal Medicine; Dr of Natural Medicine; PhD Nutrition; Advanced Ayurveda Practitioner; Homeopathy, Reflexology; Energy Practitioner; Hypnotherapy & more, she has written 25 books and teaches around the world.