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Newsletter - July, 2002 Issue http://itsmynature.net *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Welcome to It's My Nature's online email newsletter. Our goal is to provide you with interesting, useful information about herbs and aromatherapy. We will share ways to relieve the stress of daily life and bring a little natural comfort into your life and the lives of those you love. Summer is here and we hope you are having a great one! Great times with family and friends, lots of good food and fun activities. That is what summer is all about and it won't last nearly long enough. Be sure and check out this month's Ease the Stress article about journaling and all the great information about Spearmint, the featured Herb & Essential Oil this month. Enjoy! Our website is continually being updated so please remember to BOOKMARK it and visit often. http://itsmynature.net *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Spearmint - Mentha Spicata Spearmint is the original mint. It can be found growing wild throughout the world in almost every country that has been civilized. It propagates itself through creeping root stocks and can easily take over any garden. Planting in potted containers is a great way to keep your Spearmint under control. Getting cuttings to start is a snap. Virtually every piece of Spearmint that shows a joint will grow. Simply keep moist until it takes off. Spearmint likes moist soil in partly shaded areas, but can survive in most any condition. If the plant is protected from the elements it will begin producing early in the spring, otherwise harvest in August when plant begins to bloom, preferably in the morning when dew is still on the leaves. This will insure the volatile oils will be at their peak. Bound the stocks together and hang upside down to dry. Keep all the cuttings to the same size, they make a beautiful and fragrant sprague. When ready to use, simply strip the leaves from the stock. You can store these dried leaves in an airtight container away from direct heat and sunlight until ready to use. It is estimated that 350 lb. of Spearmint will yield 1 lb. of Spearmint essential oil. Spearmint has many culinary uses. Use it to enhance all sorts of meats, poultry, fish, salads and beverages. Add it to peas, steamed carrots or new potatoes when cooking. Tuck mint leaves with garlic cloves under the skin of a lamb before roasting it or use it in a marinade. Spearmint tea is great for children. It is mild in flavor and helps easy gassy stomachs. In the fourteenth century, mint was used for whitening the teeth, and its distilled oil is still widely used today to flavor tooth-paste, mouth washes and more. In America it is widely used to flavor desserts, chewing gums, and also to perfume soap. Spearmint has a variety of uses, however it healing properties are mild compared to its offspring Peppermint. The pleasant taste, less harsh than that of Peppermint, makes Spearmint great for children and the elderly. It is included in the FDA's list of herbs that are generally regarded as safe. Mice hate the smell of mint so scatter it or grow it in an area that is plagued by mice. It also detours ants and fleas. Great to use in an herbal flea color for your pet. There is no other aromatic better to use to overcome the smell of tobacco. Use the oil in a car diffuser if you have a family member that continues to smoke in the car. Spearmint has been use throughout history in herbal baths. This is great for skin conditions like breakouts, scrapes and rashes. Perfect addition to the kids bath water. It comforts and strengthens the nerves. You can rub the fresh leaves or essential oil directly on
the skin for bee stings. An infusion of Spearmint leaves is great for a mouth gargle, especially to heal gums or any mouth sores. This also can be used for hiccups, indigestion, nausea, fevers and inflammatory diseases. Spearmint's Medicinal Properties include: anesthetic (local), antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, decongestant, digestive diuretic expectorant, nervine, stimulant, stomachic, tonic. It blends well with Lavender, Jasmine, Eucalyptus, Basil, Rosemary and is often used with Peppermint. Spearmint Aromatherapy Usage Spearmint may not be the most popular of the mint family,
but it has its place and it gentle flavor make it a great addition
to your family's aromatherapy kit. Mint Tea For Nausea Nausea Spray Spearmint Cookies Cream butter and sugar; add extract, mint leaves, flour, and
salt. Mix In earlier generations it was common to keep a diary or a personal journal. However, today few people do it and very few recognize the value and astonishing power of keeping a journal. Writing down your feelings in a personal journal is a long known stress reliever. In addition to recording your thoughts and troubles, a journal is a great place to state your goals for self improvement. Here are just a few of the benefits of keeping a journal: A journal can become a refuge where we rest and recover from the latest blows that life throws our way. Journaling can help you work through stressful events without the fear of social consequences. You can journal about things that you don't want to discuss with friends or family members. Journaling nurtures your spirituality and taps into your unconscious mind. Ultimately, this connection can reduce stress and keep you healthy. Journaling is a healthy way to release pent-up emotions. A blank page is a safe place to dump anger and frustrations without hurting anyone. Releasing your feelings on the page may actually help them subside. A journal will simplify your life. Spending as little as 10 minutes a day with pen and paper describing your values, setting goals, noting your achievements and giving thanks for the joys of life will make it easier to handle life's distractions. Things become much simpler when you write them down. Journaling helps you to be quiet. Journalizing has been called a form of meditation. It has a similar power to quiet the mind and focus your thoughts. It can heal anxiety, change your breathing and make you smile! Recent research shows that the simple act of writing down thoughts and feelings can help people with chronic illness improve their health. The April 14th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis who wrote about stressful experiences in their lives actually experienced reduced symptoms. Previous studies of healthy subjects who perform similar writing exercises showed positive changes in various health measures, including blood pressure, immune function and a greater sense of well being. Here are a few ideas and suggestions to get you started writing: Write daily. Pick a place that you are comfortable with - a desk, a chair, nook, cranny or wherever. Go to this spot everyday when you are going to write and always try to write about the same time each day. Turn the daily writing into a ritual. Choose a special journal to write in. Always write with the same pen, one that feels good to you. Pay attention to where you are. Use your journal to capture the sounds and smells of the present. Write down whatever comes to mind whether it is in the present, the distant past or the future. Don't deny whatever comes up as you are writing no matter how silly it may seem. You remembered it for a reason. Use your journal to explore powerful emotions. This is very helpful for coming to terms with the roots of your feelings and their impact on your life. Don't judge your daily writing as either good or bad. Try to remember your dreams and write about them. Your dreams will tell you another story of your life if you will listen. While we can learn a great deal from others, often the most
essential wisdom comes from within. When you put pen to paper
with an open mind and heart, you may find you have shared things
you didn't even know you had to say. Try it for 30 days and watch
it transform your life! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ You are receiving this newsletter because you have: Thank you for your interest in Aromatherapy and It's My Nature's
Comfort Products. Feel free to pass this Newsletter on to a friend,
so they can sign up and receive it free each month too! For information on how to become a sponsor or to place an advertisement, send an email to : vicki@itsmynature.net To subscribe to this newsletter: email vicki@itsmynature.net with the SUBJECT "Newsletter subscription" |
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