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healing plants

HOPE

“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tunes without the words and never stops at all”.  – Emily Dickinson

Hope is an essential element in any form of healing. Dr. Edward Bach said to never take away from anyone the hope for healing. I am hoping, wishing and praying that this year more and more people will re-connect to nature, so that Mother Earth will receive the much needed support for her healing. Everyone of us can make a difference. Let’s shift our focus to things that really matter and what life is truly about.

Green Blessings,
Gudrun

Rosehips High in Vitamin C

Rosehips are from the Wild Rose (Rosa canina). They are especially high in vitamin C but also contain vitamin A, B1 and B2 in the pulp. Vitamin C was first discovered in Rosehips. Long before the discovery of vitamin C Rosehip tea was used for the common cold and locally for inflamed and bleeding gums.

Most animals are able to manufacture their own vitamin C but because of a lack of a major enzyme in the human liver, the human body is unable to manufacture its own vitamin C. This is why we need to ensure adequate vitamin C intake through our diet or supplements. Rosehips also help to maintain healthy collagen, the substance that holds trillions of cells together in our body.

ROSEHIP TEA

Following are two of my favourite ways of preparing Rosehip tea:

1. My preference is to make a cold infusion and let it sit over night or at least a few hours before straining it. Cold infusions have the advantage of preserving the mineral content provided by the herbs.

2. Make a cold infusion and then slowly bring the infusion with the rosehips to simmer to make a decoction.

For instructions of the different water extractions such as cold infusions and decoctions I suggest you refer to disc 1 of the DVD “Herbal Pharmacy for Everyone”.

http://herbalinstructions.com/order-dvd/

Canadian Herb Conference November 4 – 7, 2021

I’m busy preparing for my Presentation at the @canadianherbconference coming up this November. It’s a gathering of Canadian herbalists and herb enthusiasts that get together online. I will be presenting on the topics of:

– A Morning Meditation
– How to Create Your Own Flower Essences

You can reserve your ticket at https://herbconference.com/canadian-herb-conference-2021-registration/

Use my code (GP21) to save $21 off the cost of your ticket. I hope you will join me. 

Green blessings,
Gudrun

 

2nd Canadian Herb Conference November 4 – 7, 2021

Happy to be back as a presenter at the 2nd Canadian Herb Conference (online), November 4-7. Hope to see you there!

Green Blessings,
Gudrun

CANADIAN HERB CONFERENCE

We’re pleased to welcome Gudrun Penselin from Rainbow Healing to our presenter team this year. Gudrun will be teaching:

🌱 A Morning Meditation
🌱 How to Create Your Own Flower Essences

An award-winning author, speaker, teacher, and expert in herbal medicine, Gudrun has over 30 years of experience as a complementary health practitioner.

In her practice and teachings, she uses a holistic approach to wellness combining healing modalities such as herbal medicine, Bach Flowers, connecting to plant spirit, reflexology, iridology/sclerology, light/colour therapy and lifestyle improvement.

In November 2018 she shared her passion in a TEDx talk, Flowers that Heal Us, in Wilmington, Delaware, US.

Gudrun graduated in Germany with a M.Ed. and M.Phys.Ed.

After her immigration to Canada in 1981 she focused her education on complementary medicine and as part of her journey of life long learning she graduated as Clinical Herbal Therapist from Dominion Herbal College in 1996.

Her commitment to the Earth and humankind prompted her to create several publications.

She is the author of award-winning books Healing Spirituality – A Practical Guide to Understanding and Working with Bach Flowers (Winner), Healing with Bach Flower Mandalas (Finalist) as well as the executive producer and co-creator of the instructional DVD Herbal Pharmacy for Everyone, A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Herbal Preparations.

She also created the card deck Bach Flowers Unfolding.

Her deep interest in learning about other cultures and their healing traditions led her to travel to many places across the globe, including India, where she was fortunate to spend some time with Mother Teresa.

More recently, her travels have taken her to Central and South America, where she focused her attention on some of their traditional forms of healing.

As a natural educator, Gudrun brings joy whenever she shares her knowledge and experience about plants and their healing spirit. Her clients see her as a compassionate professional, mentor, and friend.

Will you join us at our 2nd annual conference? Tickets on sale now at herbconference.com

GREEEN BLESSINGS FROM HAIDA GWAII

Green blessings from Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands). We are enjoying time out in nature: camping, hiking, biking, nature art, beach combing, photography…

Until the next time,

Gudrun

NUTRITION – THE IMPACT ON LEARNING AND BEHAVIOUR

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.”
Mother Teresa

“The Wisconsin School Phenomenon: Impact of fresh, healthy foods on learning and behaviour” https://youtu.be/LgabV3Ktgww The video is older but the message is still relevant and powerful.

In 1997 the Wisconsin School District started an experiment, introducing wholesome, preservative-free  nutrition for their students. Prior to the program the school was plagued with students dropping out and violence that required an on-staff police officer. After the introduction of the program, in a yearly survey required to be completed by schools, the school scored zero in the following five categories: dropouts – expulsions- drugs weapons and suicide. Out of 4,500 high school aged students only 16 (!) dropped out.

Why is it that nutrition is still not being given the attention and credit it deserves? We know the facts about the effects on overall health, learning ability and behaviour? How can children be expected to function properly in schools when they have no breakfast, reach for candy bars and fast foods during the day?…. If anything we put into our mouth/body does not provide the building blocks for the body to regenerate healthy cells, it should not be considered food. I wonder where the term “health food” comes from.

I strongly believe, that we owe it to our children (and ourselves of course) to provide them with the best foundation possible to succeed in life. Yet, society has the tendency to turn a blind eye to so many important facts. I encourage you to be strong, set an example for others and in this way, leave a positive footprint and make it easier for others to follow.

Green blessings,

Gudrun

GRATEFUL FOR BOUNTIFUL HARVEST

Mother Nature will always be my favorite medicine chest. I am so grateful for having followed the path of learning from the Earth with the help of many incredible individuals. I consider myself extremely blessed for all the tools and knowledge I have acquired over the years. Thank you to all the people who, so freely, have shared their wisdom and knowledge (knowingly or not) with me.

Green Blessings,

Gudrun

DELICIOUS FLAVOURS FROM NATURE

One of my favourites is to create drinks with the delicate and subtle flavours of nature.

There really is no recipe; as always my favourite recipes are easy to create.

I add flowers to my glass of water, let the glass sit in the sun (or not) for a short while before enjoying it.

Needless to say, you only want to use nontoxic, edible flowers. I suggest, you do NOT use the flowers from plants bought at any of the stores because most of them will have been treated with chemicals.

Examples of flowers: Dandelion, Borage, Wild Rose, Fireweed, Pansies, Lilacs.

Be creative and enjoy.

Green Blessings,

Gudrun

WEEDS FOR WELLNESS – DANDELION

Finally the bright yellow flowers are brightening the landscape – a sure sign that spring is here to stay. Hard to believe that herbalists have great appreciation for this marvelous creation of nature? We use flowers, buds, leaves and roots as food and medicine. My grandkids nibble on the flowers and young leaves.

Last year I made a crown out of dandelion flowers for my then 4 year old grand daughter. She was wearing it proudly as we walked into Canadian Tire. With great joy I observed the reactions of customers especially when we were wandering around the Round-up shelf. So much fun!

Be creative and “brave” – eat flowers and young leaves, add both to salads, make a Dandelion flower cold infusion. Decorate ice creams and cakes … and most of all, have fun and be grateful for the gift of this plant that most consider to be a pesky weed.

DANDELION – Taraxacum off. – Asteraceae famly

PARTS USED: Roots, stems, leaves and flowers

HARVEST TIME
Roots: Spring before flowering or fall after first frost
Leaves: Early spring, throughout summer (leaves increase in bitter taste with age)
Flowers: When in full bloom

NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, and zinc. Vitamins A, B complex, C and D.
Carotenoids, fatty acids, flavenoids and phytosterols.
NOTE: The roots are exceptionally high in vitamin A

THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS
Leaf: Diuretic (high in potassium) – Choleretic (stimulates bile production by liver) – Aperient (mild laxative)
Root: Bitter digestive tonic; nutritive – Choleretic, cholagogue – Aperient, laxative – Anti-rheumatic, anit-inflammatory (animal studies)
Sap: Keratolytic (breaks down outer layer of skin)

INDICATIONS
Leaf: Water retention
Root: Inadequate bile production, gallstones, liver/gall bladder insufficiency, congestive jaundice, Dyspepsia, lack of appetite
Sap of stalks, roots, or leaves: Warts, cankers

FORM OF PREPARATION
Infusions (leaves; flowers) – Decoctions (root) – Tinctures – Vinegars (roots, leaves, flowers) – Infused Oils – Salves – Food (leaves, petals, young roots)

CONTRA-INDICATIONS
No reported toxicity; however some people experience sensitivity reactions

NATURE as the ARTIST

What a gift to be able to go bush whacking again, recharging spirit and soul while discovering artful creations from Mother Earth. It is a great time of the year when nature is coming alive with its vibrant colours, the sounds of birds and insects.

Green Blessings,
Gudrun