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Back Issues by Featured Herb RosemaryEucalyptusPeppermintLavenderSweet OrangeSageFlaxseedRosesGeraniumCatnip
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Table of Contents FAQWhats NewThe Tea CornerFeatured Herb - RosesRecipesTips for Growing Beautiful RosesRainbows... Did you know?Book ReviewA Note From Us
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Q- What exactly are herbs and how can they help me?
A- Webster's Dictionary defines herbs as "a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal,savory or aromatic qualities." The plant parts that contain medicinal compounds differ from herb to herb and may include leaves,fruits, roots, flowers and bark. Herbs can be used to build and cleanse the body or can assist in activating certain functions. For example, kelp can activate the thyroid and dandelion can build liver strength. When you eat herbs, you benefit from them quickly because the body recognizes them as food. Some herbs offer a concentrated source of vitamins,minerals (especially trace minerals) and enzymes that make certain nutrients work more effectively.
Q- What are some of the easiest herbs to grow?
A- The herbs listed below are some that fall into the "hard to kill" category and are good for beginning herb gardeners to start with: Agrimony,angelica, barberry, basil (sweet), bee balm, borage, calendula,catnip, chamomile (Roman), chives, comfrey, coriander, dandelion,dill, fennel, feverfew, geranium (scented), horseradish, lady's bedstraw, lavender, (English), lemon balm, mint, mugwort, oregano,rosemary, rue, sage, savory (winter), southernwood, sweet woodruff and vervain.
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We have added a lot of great new products to our line since our last newsletter.
4 New Spritzer Blends for your enjoyment:
Lavender Mist, Cold Remedy, Peppermint & Lavender and Warm Bliss. 6oz
6 New Body Bars:
Made with pure essential oils to match each of the spritzer scents.
Lavender Bags:
3 great little bags of lavender to put in closets, drawers, cars,just about anywhere!
Massage & Bath Oils: Warm Bliss or Cold Remedy.
Blended with Sweet Almond Oil for a great massage or addition to the bath.
Neck Delights: We are proud to announce we have taken over the manufacturing and distribution of this great unscented product.
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Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.
...Catherine Douzel |
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Rose Hip Herbal Tea Re-printed from our Tea of The Month Club Literature Once the petals have fallen off a rose, all that remains attached to the stem is the rose hip, also known as the dried fruit of the rose. Rose hips are one of the most natural and abundant sources of vitamin C, much more so than oranges. Besides being a major supplier of vitamin C, rose hips also contain vitamin E, vitamin K, riboflavin, and folate. Rose hips help the body defend itself against infections, especially colds and flu, by stimulating the immune system. Rose hip's anti-inflammatory properties are also useful in relieving inflammation caused by sore throats and skin irritations. The astringent properties of rose hips also make it beneficial for treating diarrhea, bladder, and kidney problems. Considered to be a great body tonic, rose hips help combat exhaustion, as well as alleviate stress and nervousness.
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Rosa canina, |
The Rose is the Queen of Flowers.
| Herbal/Folk Tradition
Perhaps no flower is more recognizable and no aroma more evocative than that of the rose. Its rich fragrance has perfumed human history forever. Rose fossils 35 to 40 million years old have been found. The ancient Romans raised Roses to honored status and used the flowers during ceremonies, at banquets and in baths. Cleopatra covered her palace floors knee-deep in roses before Mark Anthony came calling because she believed in the romantic powers of their perfume. During the Middle Ages, rose conserve was consumed as a remedy to cure colds and coughs. In England, rose water or fresh roses were kept next to the bed to promote sleep and fortify the memory. Native Americans combined rose petals with bear grease to cure mouth sores and applied powdered petals to fever blisters. Rose hips are still current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, mainly because of their high vitamin C content. The common red garden rose has long been a favorite medicinal plant in the practice of European folk medicine. It was used for a wide range of disorders, including digestive and menstrual problems, headaches, nervous tension, poor circulation, eye infections and skin complaints. A few of the most common red rose species used for medicinal purposes include: Rosa California, Rosa Centifolia, Rose Damascenta and Rose Gallica. Roses Today Roses symbolize innocence, love, passion, desire and luxury. They have a "black tie elegance" and the simplicity of a single rose shows a desire for love.
Roses and Aromatherapy Rose's intense fragrance is sweet and floral with a medium note. It blends well with Jasmine, Lavender and Sandalwood. The Rose scent is romantic and gently uplifting. It is said to be an aphrodisiac because of its sedative effect on the emotions. Using dried rose petals for rose water (recipe to follow) you can make many inexpensive yet highly beneficial products. Use as a face splash. Great for all skin types, but especially dry or aging skin. Add to the bath for a fragrant astringent effect on the skin. Also great for anxiety. Pour in a spritzer bottle to add fragrance to any room. Essential Oil Rose Essential Oil is one of the most difficult and expensive to produce. Rose blossoms only contain about .02% essential oil so it takes about two and a half roses to produce one single drop of the rose essential oil. Rose absolute is also available. It is thicker and takes a two step process using chemical solvents. It is easier to make than the steam distillation that produces the essential oil. But both are highly expensive. About $28 for 20 drops (.5gm) It's My Nature only sells Rose Essential Oil by special order. We do not keep it in stock because of the high expense. Some of Rose's properties include: antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, aphrodisiac, astringent and bactericidal. Skin Care Circulation, Muscles and Joints Respiratory System Digestive System Nervous Systems Caution: Do not use when pregnant.
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Here are a few helpful tips to help you incorporate herbs into your cooking.
* Rub fresh herbs like marjoram or lemon basil into fish before grilling.
* Add 1 teaspoon fresh basil or dill to 1 cup (8 fl oz) of mayonnaise for a special spread.
* Sprinkle omelets with fresh minced herbs before folding.
* Try cheese and herb combinations like feta and marjoram or parmesan and basil.
Herbal BeddingSew together small pillows of muslin or other cotton fabric.
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2 cups (3 oz) packed fresh peppermint, pennyroyal or rosemary Prepare an infusion by pouring the boiling water over the herbs and allow it to steep for 30 minutes.
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Citranella Lavender Rosemary. |
Rainbows often appear while the sun is shining after a thundershower in the late afternoon or on layers of fog.The sun, the observer's eye and the center of the arc must be aligned. The rainbow appears in the part of the sky opposite the sun and is an arc of 180 degrees. It is caused by the refraction and reflection of rays from the sun on a sheet of water droplets.The light is refracted as it enters the sphere of the individual water drop, then is reflected from the drop's opposite side and is again refracted as it leaves the drop and passes to the observer's eye.
The color order of the rainbow starts with red at the outer edge and moves through the colors, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. The brightness and the width of the bands and colors may vary greatly in an instant of time while you watch a rainbow and are related to the size of the drops that form the bow. Most rainbows only contain red near the ground. It is rare that red is seen at the top of the rainbow.
In religion and art, the rainbow symbolizes God's promise of mercy to mankind after the flood. (Gen 9.13). The Greeks and Romans called the rainbow the sign of Iris, messenger of the gods. The Inca and other Native Americans regarded the rainbow as a gift from the sun god. They also believed that gods traveled on the rainbow because it moves so rapidly and that the rainbow carries heroes between heaven and earth.
In Arabia, the rainbow is the tapestry draped by the hands of the south wind. It is called the cloud's bow or Allah's bow. The Russians call the rainbow the "Gate to Heaven". In New Zealand, dead chiefs travel up the rainbow to their new home.There are fairy tales of searches for the pot of gold at the foot of the rainbow.
People all over the world have different beliefs and different ways of looking at and understanding the same thing. We can be sure when a rainbow appears, everyone is struck by its magic and its beauty. What is the real meaning of the rainbow? Look at one and you will know. Without words or pictures, with a feeling inside of you.
My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky.
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The Illustrated HerbalThis book has very nice photos and drawings.It is an informative book that starts out telling you how to prepare the ground for an herb garden. It explains preparing the ground,sowing seed, dividing the roots, taking cuttings, etc. It goes into detail also about harvesting and drying whole herbs, leaves,flowers, petals, seeds, berries and roots.
There is a chapter that covers methods to prepare herbal medicines and beauty care preparations. It contains a lot of information about bath, sachets, compresses, decoctions, footbaths etc.
The A-Z of Herbs covers 90 herbs from Agrimony to Yarrow. It gives good information in a straight forward manner. Like most, it gives a little folklore information but it uses no Latin or botanical names, only common names. There is a physical description of each herb, growing tips and climate information. Each herb listing also gives some medicinal uses and beauty care ideas. It has a lot of recipes with good directions for use.
Also there is a section called A Herbal Calender and it lists each month of the year and the steps you should take in creating the herb garden each month. Has very informative and useful information.
The last 2 sections are very nice- one is a dictionary of ailments including everything from acne, colds,corns and dizziness to hiccups, migraines, muscle aches and warts.The other section is a dictionary of beauty care that also has a lot of good information. Both of these sections list page numbers to refer to in the A-Z section. This if very helpful and timesaving. This is a great reference book, but also one you would like to read from cover to cover.
| A Note From Us...
With the year 2000 coming closer and closer, society is looking farther and farther back. Asking questions and looking for answers. Have we finally come to learn that the answers have been there all along for us?
It's My Nature recommends that you take it slow and remember, knowledge is power. We only use herbs in our products that are known as safe. Very few allergies are associated with them. As a matter of fact, some even aid allergy sufferers. Susan & Vicki |
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