Welcome to my blog!!! I have been an herbalist & an aromatherapist for over 20 years!! My blog is over 10 years old & there are over 100 informative blogs here. Not only do I have hopes of teaching the masses, I too, have learned a lot during my research on different topics! There's always new & updated information in the herbal & essential oil worlds. There are blogs on herbs, essential oils, nutrition, supplements, different modalities of healing and just a little bit of everything!! Maybe in reading my blogs, just one person will come away with a bit of knowledge that they might be able to help themselves or another human being, I would consider that to be a great blessing.....

Over the years I have had several businesses. It seems I can't get away from seeing if a certain herb or essential oil can help a fellow human and that's usually how it starts. I am now in Arizona and I was asked again if I would be interested in starting another herbal business!! We now have Herbs 4 Health!! Providing numerous herbs....herbal blends....single essential oils...essential oil blends....minerals....tinctures all to help the body to heal itself.

The information in these blogs is not meant in any way shape or form to plagiarize, for I have never said this is all MY work. It is a compilation of reputable informative websites, my 'go to' books I have always depended upon & my own knowledge. I gather & put together information to help people learn & this way they can come back here to help remind themselves of said information instead of 'where oh where did I find that on the world wide web'. Seems to me it's just better & easier.

DISCLAIMER: All the information in these blogs do not diagnose, treat or heal any type illness or disease.

























Thursday, February 26, 2015

Herbal Tidbits....


Herbs are versatile & an important addition to each one of us to use in our everyday life. They help to heal us in more ways that any of us can imagine!! You can make teas, incenses, infusions, capsules, pills, poultices, tinctures, extracts, use them in ointments, eat them raw, make a concoction & more!!! Of course some should only be used certain ways & therein lies the knowledge of what to use, when, where & how!

When an herb mentions it's a vulnerary do you know what that means??? A vulnerary herb is one that is applied externally and helps the body in the healing of wounds & cuts. Some examples of these herbs are: aloe, chickweed, comfrey, mullein, slippery elm, witch hazel & yarrow.

An adaptogen is an herb that improves the body's adaptability. In other words, it helps the body to do what it needs to do to avoid a point of collapse or over-stress. Examples of such herbs are: chamomile, nettles, wild yam, borage, licorice & the ginsengs. A lot of info out there that states adaptogens are for stress…in a way that is true, but they do so much more.

There are herbs out there called 'hepatics'. These strengthen, tone & stimulate the secretionary function of the liver specifically. The result of this is an increase in the flow of bile. The whole body benefits from this as the liver is involved in all body functions and the health of all tissues. Some hepatic herbs are: blue flag, dandelion root, golden seal, vervain & of course milk thistle.

Herbal sedatives calm the nervous system & help to reduce stress and nervousness throughout the body. End result is the tissues of the body that have been irritated by nervous problems have the capability to heal by taking these herbs. Some examples of these are: blue cohosh, skullcap, valerian, passion flower, lady's slipper, hops & chamomile.

Another way to cleanse the body of toxins is to stimulate the circulation which increases blood flow to the muscles & joints. This can be done without straining the heart & by using herbs that stimulate the circulation. Herbs that can help with this are cayenne, ginger, poke root, prickly ash or rosemary.

Pectorals are specific herbs that have a general strengthening and healing effect on the respiratory system. Some examples of these herbs are Angelica, Blood Root, Comfrey, Elder, Golden Seal, Licorice, Lungwort, Mullein & Vervain.

Powerful anti-microbials combine direct toxic action on bacteria with the ability to stimulate our body's production of white corpuscles...the leucocytes...which are responsible for doing the majority of the defensive work in the body's system. Some examples of these include: Echinacea, Garlic, Myrrh, Nasturtium, Thyme, Wild Indigo & Wormwood.

The endocrine gland system consists of several glands: pituitary, thymus, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, kidneys & more. The group of herbs best suited for the treatment of these glands are the bitters. The best of the bitters for this are golden seal, mugwort, rue, wormwood & yarrow.

A nervine tonic helps to strengthen and 'feeds' the nervous system & tends to have a relaxing effect. In cases of shock, stress or nervous debility these tonics may be called for. One of the best is oats...not like your instant oatmeal, but more like the old-fashion porridge type. Some herbs that help with this are: damiana, skullcap, vervain, valerian & wood betony.

To help with women's hormone issues there is vitex (chaste tree berry) & damiana. Vitex is about the only herb out there that is the closest to the female hormone system. Damiana has a positive impact on the testosterone levels. We all have both male & female hormones within our bodies.

Tonics are either a single herb or a group of herbs that strengthen and enliven either a specific organ, system or the whole body. They can nourish & tone the entire body! Some examples are Essiac, Nettles, Echinacea, Garlic, Damiana & more!!

Nettles is one of the best herbs to help the adrenal glands! It also has been used for centuries to treat allergies, particularly hay fever. It is an all over tonic, anti-inflammatory and an alterative. It shows promise in treating Alzheimer's as well. It helps with arthritis, lung issues, MS, bursitis, sciatica & more!!

The boxed 'herbal' teas one buys in the stores, even at the supposed health food stores have been so overly processed down, it's difficult to believe they do anybody any good at all?! Try to get the whole herb from a reliable source to do your teas with, weather it be medicinal or purely pleasure.


 

 

 


Health Tidbits




To make an awesome sunburn healer...put some pure aloe gel in a spray bottle, few drops of lavender essential oil...shake it up. keep it in the fridge & spray on sunburned skin...talk about refreshing & healing!!!!

Don't know if it's sinuses or allergies??? Bend at the waist & if your head goes boom boom boom then it's sinus...works every time!!

From the research I have seen, your body makes vitamins from minerals. So all the vitamins you take are worthless unless you give your body the minerals it needs. There are over 76 trace minerals your body needs on a daily basis. Most vitamins are worth much anyway if you start reading the ingredient labels!

Do you know that coconut oil is a superfood?? It's just about one of the healthiest foods/fats you can consume. Just 2 tbs/day helps your body to burn more calories and a speedy metabolism helps boost the body's immune system too! When you purchase it tho, make sure it's cold pressed & virgin!!

Sulfur makes up 1/4 of the total body weight & is the 3rd most abundant mineral in the human body. The proper acid/alkaline balance of the body can not be maintained without it. Deficiency is linked to a host of degenerative disease & some say it's been linked to autism as well.

Do you know that white foods, for example...garlic, onions, cauliflower....help to build up the immune system!?

Antibiotics play a certain role in our lives & sometimes we just need to take them, although they are prevalent in our food supply. So to help alleviate the bad results from them our diets should include probiotics & lots of them. It wouldn't hurt to give your liver some support either with some milk thistle, as everything we ingest goes thru there. Remember....over 75% of your immune system is in your gut!!!

26 seconds is all it takes for the chemicals in your personal care products, including make-up to enter your bloodstream. What’s in yours???

Our skin absorbs 100% of everything we put on it --but internalizes 60% -- which means that amount stays IN our bodies. Our skin is our protective barrier. So you might want to reconsider those things your put ON your skin. Which is what they possibly mean when they say only 60% gets into our bodies. Either way, my argument still is how can only 60% of something be absorbed into our skin????

I am a firm believer than deodorant is linked to breast cancer & have been for years!!! Just read the ingredients on any brand...only the chemical composition is getting worse. Aluminum is the 1st ingredient on most & it's been linked to Alzheimer's!!!! How easy is it for that deodorant to get into your system??? Your pores need to breathe & be open, not clogged w/ chemicals...juss sayin!

The pH levels in your body vary with every thing you eat or drink. The pH is different in your blood than in your saliva or urine as well. Water is 7.5 and that is right up the middle & how it should be. A pH that is too acidic can cause disease...but one that is too alkaline can cause issues as well.

GMO foods will eventually change your dna! Over 90% of corn, soy & sugar is GMO! read your labels...pay attention! Those 3 ingredients is in almost all processed foods in one way or another. The oils have the highest concentration of the toxins. There are 3 main types of GMO’s I recently discovered & that is not good!!!

Cancer loves sugar….proven fact!!! It can not exist in an alkaline oxygen rich environment...proven fact!!!

According to greenmedinfo.com....exercise is the ultimate anti-cancer nutrient. It can help the regeneration of cells & help the glucose go where it's supposed to! The body knows!!!

Did you know that the raw fruits & veggies we consume actually speak to our bodies & tell them what to do on the cellular/DNA levels??? So if we eat the processed "dead" food there's no 'conversation'! Fascinating huh???

Did you know that apple pectin...which is the substance between an apple peeling and the yummy inside...helps to leach plutonium out of the body???

All nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, fats, sugars, oil, etc., require minerals for activity. All bodily processes depend upon the action of minerals to work properly

At last count here are the GMO foods to be aware of! Soy, corn, cotton, papaya, yellow rice (working on this one), rapeseed (canola), squash/zucchini, peas (?) & not sure either on the tomatoes or potatoes...I think they were doing them GMO, but stopped...but I am positive about the others!!! SO anything & everything that has that ingredient in it comes from a GMO source. Recently, apples were added!!!

Do you know that our entire body vibrates at a frequency of approx. 8 cycles per second, which is the same frequency as the basic electromagnetic field of Mother Earth??? So we are literally attuned to her!! Awesome huh???

One can take up to 6,000 mg of Vit. C per day when you are ill. The body just gets rid of what it doesn't use. Make sure you spread it out throughout the day tho. Check your source of Vit. C, hopefully it doesn't come from corn nor is it gmo! So hard to tell in this day & age! But there are other sources of Vit. C, so check those out too!!!


 

Ahhhh Lemons!!!



The benefits of drinking lemon water are enormous!! Lemons are natural energizers...they hydrate & oxygenate the body so it feels revitalized & refreshed. It boosts your immune system, balances your pH, flushes out unwanted materials, relieves tooth pain & respiratory problems, reduces wrinkles & blemishes, cures throat infections, excellent for weight loss, reduces fevers, purifies the blood & helps to detox the liver.


Lemons improve hydrochloric acid production as well as bile production and potency. They contain micro mineral salts that break down pathogens such as unproductive bacteria, mold, yeast and fungus to help protect your liver's immune system. The calcium levels in lemons and even limes bind to the Vitamin C within them and both of these enter into the liver, where they waken a stagnant, sluggish, fatty liver helping to loosen & disperse fat cells. Lemons & limes clean up dirty blood syndrome, improve glucose absorption & even protect the pancreas.

Lemons are a powerful healing fruit that contain phenomenal antibiotic, antiseptic, and anti-cancer properties. Lemons are rich in vitamins C and B-complex and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, silicon, copper, and potassium. They are considered to be a wonderful tonic and can help to cleanse and detoxify the entire body. Although lemons have an acidic taste they actually have a very strong alkaline reaction on the body and can help to alkalize blood, cells, lymph glands, organs, and tissues.


Lemons are known to help destroy putrefactive bacteria in the mouth and intestines which can help alleviate flatulence, indigestion, and constipation. Lemons contain a compound called limonene which is used to dissolve gallstones and kidney stones and can help to fight oral, lung, skin, breast, stomach, and colon cancer. Lemons are also rich in bioflavonoids which can significantly boost the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. Lemon juice is known to be particularly beneficial for colds, coughs, sore throats, hiccups, ear infections, fevers, arthritis, heart disease, COPD, atherosclerosis, diabetes, high cholesterol, autoimmune disorders, stroke, and cancer.

Topically, lemon juice is a great remedy for wrinkles, warts, toothaches, corns, sunburns, poison ivy, acne, psoriasis, and as a hair rinse and facial astringent. A tall glass of lemon water upon waking is an excellent way to hydrate and cleanse the body first thing in the morning. Fresh lemon in tea and green juice and added to salads, wraps, hummus, guacamole, and nori rolls is another great way to add this healing and nutritious fruit into your diet. Fresh lemons can be found at your local grocery and health food store.


 

 
 
 

7th Chakra....Crown



Stone to enhance it: Amethyst or quartz crystal.

Color to enhance it: Violet.

Location: Crown of head, just behind the top of the skull.

Type of music to enhance it: Indian ragas.

Element: The cosmos.

Essential Oils: Violet, lavender, elemi.

Plant: Lotus flower.

What it controls in the physical body: Pineal gland, upper brain.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- migraines.  Emotional -- frustration, lack of joy, destructive feelings. Mental -- depression. Spiritual -- being disconnected with one's higher power.

Functional or Open: It is the last chakra to be developed in an individual. Helps with the connection between higher self & God/Universe, etc. Enhances sensitivity to others and their emotions, creating greater courage and empathy within. Allows for inward flow of wisdom. Total access to the unconscious & subconscious. Center of spirituality, enlightenment, dynamic thought & energy. Self-realization. Awareness of eternal self.

6th Chakra....Third eye


Stone to enhance it: Lapis luzuli or sodalite or even amethyst.

Color to enhance it: Indigo (dk blue/violet combo)

Location: Between the eyebrows.

Type of music to enhance it: Classical, esp. Mozart sonatas.

Element: The Cosmos.

Essential Oils: Camphor, heliotrope.

Plant: Almond blossom.

What it controls in the physical body: Brain, eyes, face, pituitary gland.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- visual problems, headaches.  Emotional -- lack of compassion & empathy, non-assertive. Mental -- critical, judgmental, egotistical. Spiritual -- sees God/Universe/Goddess/Creator as judge & critic.

Functional or Open: Center of psychic ability & higher intuitions. Creates the knowledge of what is real versus what is perceived. Generates the ability to look at things in their true light, increasing intuition about people, places & things. Gives one certain knowledge of his/her own being or your reason for existence. Enhances clairvoyance & telepathy. May experience astral travel & past lives. More compassion. No attachment to material things. No fear of death. Intellect & intuition will be in balance.

5th Chakra...Throat



Stone to enhance it: Blue lace agate, sodalite.

Color to enhance it: Blues.

Location: Center & base of the throat.

Type of music to enhance it: Opera

Element: The ethers, in which all things are contained.

Essential Oils: Blue chamomile, gardenia, ylang ylang.

Plant: Gardenia.

What it controls in the physical body: Thyroid & parathyroid.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- sore throat, high voice, whining. Emotional -- timid, unexpressive. Mental -- guarded, secretive. Spiritual -- senses universe is unfriendly & unsafe.

Functional or Open: You will feel centered. It is the center of communication, sound & expression of creativity by way of thought, speech & writing. Musically or artistically inspired. Brings to the surface those emotions that have been suppressed by the subconscious mind. Allows for patterned behavior to be changed into new productive behavior. Anger is also stored here. Allows one to help others, in turn growing within. Aids in past life work. Allows the voice to sound in its truest form, unobstructed by past trauma. Can help alleviate back pain. Aids the body in healing of skin diseases & burns. Helps in learning to respect others. Ability to speak YOUR truth. Connection to the outside world.

Monday, February 23, 2015

4th Chakra...Heart



Stone to enhance it: Rose quartz or green stones such as malachite.

Color to enhance it: Pink or green.

Location: Center of chest, heart/cardiac area.

Type of music to enhance it: Choral

Element: Air

Essential Oils: rose, rosemary, carnation or lily of the valley (latter 2 aren't e.o.'s)

Plant: foxglove, rose, carnation, lily.

What it controls in the physical body: heart, lungs, circulatory system, arms, chest & hands.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- heart related diseases, stress disorders, chest pain, immune system disorders & insomnia.  Emotional -- sense of guilt, lack of forgiveness, resentment & sadness, self-pity, unworthy of love. Mental -- others in charge of me, powerless. Spiritual -- karmic debt, constriction of flow of love.

Functional or Open: Your heart chakra is one of the most important of the body centers. It is said if THIS chakra is open...all the others will come into alignment with it. When this chakra is open & balanced, it allows love, compassion & spirituality to come through. Communication is greatly enhanced between you and others. Unconditional love. Healing & warmth. Increases awake states becoming more conscious of our surroundings. Enhances creativity and self-expression. Develops our aura to it's full potential. Helps to cleanse the blood.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

3rd Chakra....Solar Plexus



Stone to enhance it: Amber, Topaz, Citrine.

Color to enhance it: Yellow.

Location: usually about 2" below the breastbone, in the center

Type of music to enhance it: Marches.

Element: Fire

Essential Oils: lemon, grapefruit, juniper.

Plant: Carnation.

What it controls in the physical body: stomach, liver, gall bladder, upper abdomen & pancreas.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- digestive difficulties, liver problems, diabetes, nervous exhaustion, food allergies.  Emotional -- lack of control over your life, competitive, domineering, depressed.
Mental -- needing to find balance, power hungry, rightness. Spiritual -- do unto others before they do unto you, I am the only one who can do it.

Functional or Open: This chakra is the 'seat' of the ego. Center of personal power. Assists in the transformation of emotions from negative to positive. Growth experiences are more fulfilling and understood. Increases capacity to manifest creative ideas. Helps increase one's organization skills. Aids in focusing the ego power into the creative process for betterment of self. Good for the detoxification from chemicals. Gain self respect. Cheerful.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

2nd Chakra...Sacral



Stone to enhance it: Carnelian or Coral.

Color to enhance it: Orange.

Location: Lower abdomen, just below the naval.

Type of music to enhance it: Latin Dance

Element: Water

Essential Oils: jasmine, neroli, orange blossom (which is different than sweet orange).

Plant: jasmine

What it controls in the physical body: reproductive system, lower abdomen, bladder, prostate & sexual organs.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- fluid imbalance, eating disorders. Emotional -- relationship & trust issues. Mental -- difficulty in getting along, manipulative, difficulty choosing. Spiritual -- lack of confidence in the world, feeling like a victim, helplessness.

Functional or Open: Being able to communicate better with people, especially those one is attracted to sexually. More creative which increases the wonderment and excitement of life. Better intimacy with others, increasing one's awareness of the bonding and togetherness with other creatures. Being able to give & to receive. Your own self worth improves. The normal flow of hormones increases. The body's ability to cleanse itself improves.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

1st Chakra...Root



Stone to enhance it: Garnet, Ruby, Hematite, Obsidian or Bloodstone.

Color to enhance it: Red or Black.

Location: Right above the pelvic area.

Type of music to enhance it: Drumming

Element: Earth

Essential Oils: Cinnamon, garlic, sandalwood.

Plant: Sage.

What it controls in the physical body: kidneys, adrenals, spinal column, kidneys, feet & legs.

Dysfunction or Closed: Physical -- chronic fatigue, lack of energy, stress diseases, obesity, degenerative arthritis, knee troubles. Emotional -- fear, anxious, distrust, ungrounded, anger. Mental -- poor concentration, passive, confusion. Spiritual -- lack of security,  purpose, direction.

Functional or Open: Our grounding to Earth Mother increases, helps with our connection to nature. Grounds negative energies, in effect neutralizing them. Helps one have acceptance of their own sexuality. Gives you a zest for life. Ability to manifest what you need. Your survival instinct kicks in. You feel secure in yourself & your life. Trusting in life.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Individual Chakras & Chanting


The Root Chakra is particularly about connecting to the ground. Expressions like "Be on firm ground" and "Getting on your feet again" convey a good connection and an open Root chakra. When your Root chakra is closed too far, you may actually feel that your feet don't seem to really touch the ground. Chant 'LAM' if your energy is low, have financial struggles, have low self-esteem, if you suffer from adrenal fatigue & other stress-related ailments. 

Opening up the Sacral Chakra. Put your hands in your lap, palms up, on top of each other. Left hand underneath, its palm touching the back of the fingers of the right hand. The tips of the thumbs touch gently. Concentrate on the Sacral chakra at the sacral bone (on the lower back). Chant the sound 'VAM' as that is the cleansing mantra for this one.

To help open the Solar Plexus or Navel Chakra....Put your hands before your stomach, slightly below your solar plexus. Let the fingers join at the tops, all pointing away from you. Cross the thumbs. It is important to straighten the fingers. This chakra is located on the spine, a bit above the level of the navel. Chant the sound 'RAM' and it can help you become more confident & self-assured.

To Help Open the Heart Chakra. Sit cross-legged or in a comfortable position. Let the tips of your index finger and thumb touch. Put your left hand on your left knee and your right hand in front of the lower part of your breast bone (so a bit above the solar plexus). Concentrate on the Heart chakra at the spine, level with the heart. Chant the sound 'YAM' to heal both the physical heart & the spiritual (emotional) heart center.

Unlocking that Throat Chakra! Stones to help speak your truth are...Blue lace agate or sodalite. Best color to wear....blue. It controls your throat, neck, teeth & ears. If this chakra is closed or not functioning correctly the symptoms can be: sore throat, whining, timid, guarded & unable to express yourself. Affirmation for this chakra....I live in my truth. I communicate my truth, I am the truth! Chanting mantra to help with this is 'HAM'.

Opening the Third Eye or Brow Chakra. Concentrate on the Third Eye chakra slightly above the point between the eyebrows. This chakra is said to be the seat of intuition & life's purpose. Chant the sound 'AUM'. This is particularly important to the cleansing and healing of your third eye. This chakra will open when it is time for you.

Lastly, the Crown Chakra. 'OM' is the most popular chant for this one...the connection to the divine. A closed crown chakra brings about feelings of insignificance & pointlessness, leading to a disconnect from spirit and an overly strong attachment to possessions, relationships and the physical world. Some find that silence is a more effective practice for opening the crown, but 'OM' may be used as well. chanting 'AH' represents a release. Think about taking a deep breath, then letting it go...'AH' is the sound of releasing & letting go.

Chakra mantras can help to clear your energy pathways so you can thrive, not just survive! This allows you to make the most of your physical life experience, creating positive physical, emotional, mental and spiritual change.

Chakra Info....



Keep in mind chakras have not been measured by scientific instruments. So support of this concept is more of a belief system rather than pure scientific evidence. There are many ways & tools to balance the chakras & clear energy blockages or imbalances: meditation, gemstones, exercise, yoga & more!

Om Shanti means I am peace. Aham Prema means I am love. Chanting mantras 108 times takes about 10 min & raises your vibration level. Why 108? Because there are 108 meridians (energy pathways) throughout our bodies

Sham Sham Sham means my mind & body are in perfect sync. This mantra helps to awaken the 3rd eye.

The lower chakras relate to issues of the material world, while the upper chakras relate more to the spiritual world. It is said they vary in the direction they spin, depending on if you are male or female!

There are hundreds of minor chakras (energy points), but only 7 main chakras, but recent evidence shows there are 8 or 9 main ones!! Each one has it's own wavelength & color, musical tone, crystal, etc. that enhances that particular chakra. If the chakras aren't balanced or if the energies are blocked, basic life force will be slowed down & one chakra being blocked or closed down can affect the others!

Having negative or fearful thoughts can cause one's chakras to become 'dirty' with dense dark energy. This can prevent the chakras from providing sufficient vital energy for the body. Unbalanced & 'blocked' chakras can create a whole range of mental, emotional & physiological conditions. You may feel listless, tired, out of sorts & depressed as well as physical disease.

When all of our thoughts are only of love, peace & faith, etc. then our body's energy would flow smooth in & around & between all the chakras. Negative, obsessive & dark thoughts affect your chakras' ability to function properly and so they become dirty, shrunken & swollen. When energy imbalances such as these occur, the chakras tend to close down, starting at the crown chakra & moving downwards towards the root chakra.

Each chakra has a different sphere of influence on the emotional, psychological & physical body. Their corresponding system on the physical level is the endocrine system. They record & document everything that has happened to us, every thought, action or feeling. They are the blueprints of our consciousness from our past. It is believed that when all the chakras are in balance -- our mind, body & our spirit work as one!

Gemstones respond to the electricity in our bodies, the constant electrical vibrations of the stones will help to harmonize, balance & stimulate these energies. Remember..."Energy Follows Thought". Imagery or visualization is very powerful & can be very helpful in charging your chakras & the surrounding organs with vital, positive energy!

There are many affirmations one can meditate on and/or say aloud to help with a particular chakra that might be troubling you. You can offer your prayers to any of the 5 major Archangels, the God/Goddess, the Christ Light, Buddha, etc. for guidance & healing within yourself!