WEEDS FOR WELLNESS – A GUIDE TO YOUR BACKYARD PHARMACY
In the following weeks I will share information about some of the so-called weeds and how you can add them to your food menu. Many of the “weeds” have a greater nutritional value than cultivated vegetables.
Let’s start with the “pesky” DANDELION that adds so much vibrant yellow to the landscape right now; the blossoms look like little suns reaching up to the sky. Dandelion is a great friend for an ailing digestive system. Medicinally the leaves are used internally as a diuretic and stimulant for the gall bladder; the root provides support for the digestive system especially the liver. The milky juice from the stems is applied externally to warts and skin blemishes.
Dandelion GREENS are more nutritious than spinach; they contain many vitamins (i.e. vitamin A, C and D) and minerals (i.e. calcium, potassium and iron). Another constituent, photosterols support the body by preventing the accumulation of cholesterol.
The greens should be harvested before the flowers appear; either for immediate use or kept in the fridge for up to 5-6 days after they have been rinsed with cold water. You may want to store them in a damp dish towel. Leaves that are lighter in colour have less of a bitter taste as do younger leaves.
FOOD USES: My favorite is to add Dandelion greens to a salad, scrambled eggs or the Jungle Juice (see previous post). You can also add them to smoothies, guacamole or baking such as pancakes, muffins and biscuits.
Dried leaves, stored in an airtight container, can be prepared as an infusion (tea).
FLOWERS: Gather while in full bloom and fully open. Pluck the petals and add to any baking or water to make a cold infusion. Dandelion flowers don’t keep well, therefore they should be used within a few hours of harvesting. You can also make wine or syrup from the flowers.
ENJOY and be creative. Feel free to share your Dandelion experiences and recipes.
Stay tuned for the next weedy post.
Bountiful Harvest of Lots of Different Fresh, Green Vegetables
Summer has arrived and with it the bountiful harvest of lots of different fresh, green vegetables including rhubarb, spinach, chard, kale and dandelion greens.
I have often been asked why we are being cautioned to limit our intake of some of these vegetables even though they are packed with anti-oxidants, boost the immune system, support the digestive system and much more.
The answer is that these vegetables contain oxalates; oxalates bind to calcium and interfere with the absorption of calcium.
However, unless you eat on overabundance of any of the vegetables containing high amounts of oxalates, have a history of osteoporosis or kidney stones, I personally do not see any reason for concern. Make sure you drink plenty of good water (NOT chlorinated and fluoridated city water) and enjoy a great variety of vegetables.
Green blessings,
Gudrun
Did you know that CORN SILK has medicinal properties?
The “beard” of corn on the cob is called CORN SILK. If you want to use it for medicinal purposes I suggest you only use the silk from organic corn. Corn Silk is easy to dry for later use. Just spread it out on a mosquito screen, in a basket etc. and within a few days it should be well dried. Store it in a sealed glass jar away from the sun for future use in form of a tea or make a tincture.
MEDICINAL USE: As a soothing anti-inflammatory its primary focus is the urinary system. It can be applied in urinary tract infections, kidney stones and bed wetting formulas for children. Some research suggests that corn silk also promotes bile flow.
CRAVINGS FOR CHOCOLATE?
Healthy Chocolate Treat – WARNING: ADDICTIVE!
Here is your answer for the times when the cravings for chocolate are overpowering but you do not want to eat junk.
Thank you Crystal for introducing me to the basic recipe! It is so fast and easy to make and absolutely delicious. Be creative, the recipe allows for many variations.
Combine the following ingredients, slowly heat and stir until well mixed:
1/4 cup peanut butter (organic; I like chunky)
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tbsp. honey
Add the following and simmer mixture for about 5 minutes and take off heat:
1/4 cup organic raw cacao powder
1/4 cup maple syrup, high quality coconut or agave syrup or a combination
1-2 tsp. vanilla extract
Options:
1. Fast and easy (my favorite): pour mixture into a dish lined with parchment paper, or,
2. Pour/spoon into small candy moulds or cup cake paper cups. Place in fridge or freezer.
ENJOY!
Variations:
Add hemp hearts, dried cranberries or cherries, shredded coconut…
Spring appears to have made a come back after all!
It is the time of the year when great herb conferences are in the final planning stages. Check out the Kootenay Herb Conference the first weekend in June. It will be a fun-filled weekend with lots of interesting workshops and people who care about the Earth and leaving a positive foot print.
I will be there for sure, teaching two workshops.
Check it out at: http://kootenayherbconference.com.
Green Blessings,
Gudrun
TROUBLE WITH SEASONAL ALLERGIES
Most of us welcome the arrival of spring, yet for others it means the return of a challenging time because of seasonal allergies.
Suffering may be reduced greatly with natural remedies, many of them available at my office. Call me at 780.532.2464 for information.
A wholesome diet (eliminates food allergens), regular exercise, stress reduction, reflexology and a positive outlook on life are key to our well-being all helping to reduce allergic/sensitivity reactions.
SEASONAL ALLERGIES present as short term, seasonal episodes with the majority of symptoms concentrated in the respiratory system, but can extend to the skin and digestive tract. Reactions may be triggered by air-borne pollens, dander, dust and mold.
COMMON SYMPTOMS include:
- Sneezing
- Post nasal drip
- Sinus and nasal congestion
- Itchy watery eyes
- Excessive clear mucous production
- Laboured breathing
- Skin irritations or hives
CHART – by Bio Lonreco
Seasonal allergies are lurking just around the corner
NOW is the time to implement a treatment protocol to minimize reactions. Call me to set up a custom tailored approach depending on presenting symptoms.
ALLERGY SCENARIOS
– Chronic seasonal allergies with sinus pain
– Person with seasonal allergies causing acute asthma
– Allergic rhinitis with sinus pain causing eye discharge
– Nasal congestion, headache, sore throat with history of allergic rhinitis
– Allergy conjunctivitis (pink eye)
In addition, a wholesome diet (eliminate food allergens), regular exercise, stress reduction and a positive outlook on life are key to our well-being all helping to reduce allergic/sensitivity reactions.
Allergies, including those stemming from food, fungus, animals, dust, ragweed and pollens, are often a major source of misery. With the rapidly increasing incidence of environmental allergies, asthma, and sinusitis the demand for allergy solutions is at an all time high. Any person affected by allergies understands the importance of finding ways to minimize the effects of allergens in order to regain optimal daily function.
Allergic reactions vary from mild discomfort to severe pain, and, in some cases, potentially deadly anaphylactic reactions. In the case of seasonal allergies, the majority of symptoms are concentrated in the respiratory system, but can extend to the skin and digestive tract. There is a genetic component; children with allergy suffering parents are more likely to be afflicted. Another source is the severe, repeated exposure at a young age. Though genetic vulnerability and exposure to allergens are highly difficult to combat, patients can be helped through the supporting of the immune system, which decreases the severity of the reactions in question. This may include the use of immune tonics, antihistamines, and the very important concept of drainage, to reduce the toxic load on the body and support the rapid elimination of inflammatory toxins.
PEACE BEGINS WITH A SMILE
As the seas of the world are rough right now
Let’s remember to build bridges, not walls.
Let’s sow seeds of hope, peace and love.
Let’s foster kindness, trust and tolerance.
Let’s remember that each one of us can make a difference.
We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.
But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. – Mother Teresa
GENERATION ZAPPED
I have not watched this documentary yet but it is a topic of great interest and concern to me. I trust that the film is well worth watching. We need to educate ourselves and dig for the truth so we can make responsible decisions and if necessary fight, not only for our own well-being but especially for the health of our children, grandchildren and the Earth.
“A wifi classroom is like the inside of a microwave oven set at very low power. Children are exposed to that wifi radiation six hours every school day, five days a week, and for several months during the year.”
– Magda Havas, Associate Professor of Environmental and Resource Studies, Trent University, Canada
GENERATION ZAPPED investigates the potential dangers of prolonged exposure to Radio Frequencies (RF) from wireless technology; its effects on our health and well-being, as well as the health and development of our children. From its links to breast and brain cancer, to its associations with increased infertility and genetic mutations related to autism and ADHD, to newly developed illnesses, such as Electrical Hyper-Sensitivity (EHS).
So how can we uncover the facts and reduce our exposure to limit the associated health risks during this technological revolution? GENERATION ZAPPED attempts to do just that.
Here’s the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7R4gKs8ViI
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