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Current Issue: Summer 1998 - Issue #7
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Herb of the Year. Coming Soon. Back Issues by RosemaryEucalyptusPeppermintLavenderSweet OrangeSageFlaxseedRosesGeraniumCatnip
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Table of Contents FAQWhat's NewThe Tea CornerFeatured HerbWelcomeDid You Know?Helpful Herbal IdeasA note from usBook Review
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Q- What are carrier oils and how are they used in aromatherapy?
A- Carrier oils are vegetable, nut or seed oils and many have therapeutic properties. Always mix your essential oils with a carrier oil before using on your skin. A general guideline would be 2-5 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of a carrier oil. Our favorites include:
proteins and minerals, as well as myristic acid, which is an anti-inflammatory agent. This is one of the most versatile oils for massage and beauty. It is good for all skin types and helps unclog the pores. It is excellent for inflamed or irritated conditions, as a hair conditioner or a natural mild sunscreen.Q- What is the most effective way to use herbs in the bath?
A- To receive maximum benefits, we recommend making an infusion to add to your bath water. Simply place dried, crushed herbs in a large tea ball (3 inch) or muslin bag. Pour water that has just been brought to a boil over the herbs in a glass jar. Let steep at least 20 minutes. Infusions are good for about 10 days. Add a few drops of essential oil to benefit even more.
If you have a question,please feel free to ask. We will do our best to find the answer.
Contact us at sales @ itsmynature.net
or call us at: (541 )997-5050
There are different grading schemes for black,oolong and green teas. The most basic grades of black tea include Orange Pekoe, Pekoe, Souchong, Fannings and Dust . 
Pekoe (pronounced Peck-oh)is derived from a Chinese word meaning 'white'; this referred to the white hair on the leaf bud. Early Western merchants used the word to mean that the leaves so graded were only plucked from the tip of the branch; the leaf bud and the two leaves below the bud. Its use in India and Sri Lanka broadened to mean whole leaves of a uniform size, and this is what it generally means now. This may include leaves picked from lower on the branch. Orange Pekoe leaves are higher quality than Pekoe leaves. 'Souchong' means large leaves, generally not from the tip of the branch. Fanning sand dust are bits and pieces of tea leaves left over from the sievings that separate out whole leaves and large pieces of leaf.
There is no uniform grading terminology for green tea. Chinese greens are graded differently depending on where they came from. Some terms you may find with regard to green tea are:
Gunpowder (pellets, tightly rolled from young leaves and and buds), Young Hyson (young leaves rolled long and thin), Imperial (pellets loosely rolled from older leaves and Twankay(unrolled leaves of poor quality).
Grading for oolongs goes from Fanciest or Extra Fancy to Common. Unlike other grading systems, this one actually rates the quality of the drink you can get from the leaves.
It's My Nature Tea ClubYou are cordially invited to join It's My Nature's Tea Club absolutely free of charge. Choose your favorite tea or join our Tea of the Month Club and receive a variety of tea all year long. As a member, you will also receive unadvertised specials and periodic samples of our new products and some of our old favorites as well. These benefits are reserved for Tea Club Members Only! Each membership comes with our full risk-free, 100% money back guarantee, and as our special gift, receive a stainless steel tea infuser spoon and a cobalt mug. Yours to keep just for trying our Tea Club. The monthly price is only $8.00 per jar of tea (approx 1 1/2 cups bulk tea) plus shipping and handling, charged to any major credit card. For big tea drinkers, we offer a double order for $15.00 per month, plus shipping and handling.
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Choose from the following tea:Herbal Tea Catnip Specialty Tea Earl Gray
Never run out of your favorite tea. |
Sage (Salvia officinalis) DALMATIA
Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) USA
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Sage is a member of the Mint family and there are about 500 species. It is most commonly known as a culinary herb, but it also has great medicinal importance. Clary Sage is most commonly used in Aromatherapy. The ancient Greeks and Romans first used sage as a meat preservative. They also believed it could enhance memory. The generic name for sage, Salvia, comes from the Latin word meaning "to heal". It was used for digestive disorders, kidney disease, menstrual complaints and as a general nerve tonic. Modern herbalists recommend sage externally for wounds and insect bites, as a gargle for bleeding gums, sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, and in an infusion to reduce perspiration, terminate milk production, and treat dizziness, depression, menstrual irregularity and intestinal upsets. Like rosemary, sage contains powerful antioxidants which slow spoilage. Mix it generously into hamburger meat, tuna, pasta and potato salads to prevent food poisoning on your next picnic. And like most culinary spices, sage helps relax the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract (making it an antispasmodic),and therefore, excellent for poor digestion. Sage contains astringent tannins, which account for its traditional use in treating canker sores, bleeding gums and sore throat. In Germany, where herbal healing is more mainstream than it is in the United States, physicians recommend a hot sage gargle for sore throat and tonsillitis. Sage is a digestive tonic and stimulant with a well deserved reputation as a nerve tonic in Chinese medicine. Sage is also good for reducing sweating, hot flashes and other symptoms of estrogen deficiency. It helps the body adapt to the hormonal changes involved in menopause. Sage is a perennial, branching, evergreen shrub that reaches about 3 feet. It has square, woolly, woody stems near its base, which become herbaceous toward the top. Its 2-inch leaves are oval, velvety, and gray-green with long stalks. Depending on the species, sage's small, summer blooming flowers are pink, white, blue or purple and thrive in sunny locations. Note: Sage should not be used during pregnancy or if epileptic. |
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Essential OilA colorless or pale yellowy-green liquid with a sweet, nutty-herbaceous scent. It blends well with juniper, lavender, coriander, cardomon, geranium, sandalwood, cedarwood, pine, labdanum, jasmine, frankincense, bergamot and other citrus oils. Sage oil might cause toxicity and should not be ingested. Properties include: Anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, digestive, sedative, and tonic. Digestive System Cramp, dyspepsia, flatulence. Skin Care Acne, boils, dandruff, hair loss, inflamed conditions, oily skin and hair, ulcers, wrinkles and insect bites. Circulation, Muscles & Joints High blood pressure, muscular aches and pains. Respiratory System Asthma, throat infections, whooping cough. Nervous System Depression, frigidity, impotence, migraine, nervous tension and stress-related disorders. Caution: Sage oil is not recommended for use by epileptics because it can cause seizures. It also causes breast milk to dry up, which can cause problems for nursing mothers. |
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Infuse 1/2 oz sage & rosemary herbs combined in 1 cup Apple cidar vinegar for a week. Strain, add equal quantity of Witch Hazel extract. |
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Definition of SynergyThe interaction of elements, that when combined, produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements. By mixing together 2 or more essential oils, you create a chemical compound that is different to any of the component parts, and these synergistic blends are very powerful. |
All Purpose House Cleaner
Take a handful of lavender,rosemary, sage and thyme and stuff into a wide mouth jar 3/4 full.Fill the jar to the top with white vinegar and let infuse in the sun for 2 to 3 weeks. Strain through cheesecloth.
Put the scented vinegar into a spray bottle for easy use. You can also add baking soda for scrubbing action.
Culinary Tip
An easy way to preserve fresh herbs is to put the chopped herbs into an ice tray (1 tablespoon per cube) and fill with water, then freeze. Store in a heavy plastic bag in the freezer. Use as needed.
Seventeen species of Hummingbirds breed in North America. They fly forward, backward, shift sideways and stop in mid-air.
An average hummingbird consumes half its weight in nectar each day and is the world's smallest bird.
Hummingbirds can reach speeds up to 60 miles an hour. Their wings beat 78 times per second during regular flight and up to 2000 times during a dive.
They lap nectar with their tongues.
Hummingbirds, like most birds, have virtually no sense of smell. The flowers that attract them tend to have little or no fragrance so the hummingbirds direct themselves toward highly visible and nectar producing plants and flowers.
One good way to enjoy the company of hummingbirds is to plant a hummingbird garden. In addition to providing them a natural diet, a hummingbirds garden is an excellent way to attract birds to your nearby feeder; since hummingbirds feed by sight on regularly followed routes, called trap lines, their inquisitive nature will quickly lead them to investigate any possible new source of food. If you plan carefully and select a variety of plants that flower at successively later dates, you will be rewarded with happy hummingbirds throughout the season.
In addition to food sources, convenient perching opportunities will make your yard more hospitable to hummingbirds.They spend about 80% of their time sitting on twigs, leaf stems and clotheslines, etc.
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The annuals they prefer include Beard Tongue, Fire Spike, Fuchsia, Impatiens, Jacobiana, Jewel Weed, Petunia, Red Salvia, Scarlet Sage and Shrimp Plant. |
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the new businesses carrying our products:
The Pain Control Clinic in Lake City, Florida,
Noah's Way in Ashley,Pennsylvania, and
Better Health Muscular Therapy in Fayetteville, Georgia
We wish you success and hope our products bring you
and your customers as much joy as they do to us.
This is the first book review that is actually a magazine. We love this magazine and it was our very first reference guide for herbs and suppliers of herb and aromatherapy products. Each 
issue ( 6 issues a year) contains letters from readers and notes from regional herb gardeners from different locations; Nova Scotia, Newburg, OR, Lansing, NY and Denver CO.
There is a section called "Kitchen Table" which deals with Herb and Spice Recipes.
The next section is called"An Herb to Know" and features a different herb in each issue. It always has nice photos and useful, interesting information,including medicinal uses, physical qualities, cultivation, etc.
There are always several herbs covered in the magazine in a variety of ways.
There is usually a section with some kind of herb craft.
A section called "Herbs for Health" gives a lot of current information on different herbs. This information actually comes from the American Botanical Council and the Herb Research Foundation as a supplement to the Herb Companion.
One feature in each issue is called "Down to Earth" written by an herbalist.
Next comes a review of a couple of books and a calendar of coming events of interest.
At the back, there is a Marketplace section for herb products. We were lucky enough to be listed herein the Nov. Dec. issue of 1997.
Lastly are classified ads for everything from Aromatherapy, Books, Business Opportunities, Gift and Craft Supplies, to Newsletters, Personal Care product ads and Plants and Seeds.
An excellent magazine full of interesting helpful information.
If you are interested in Herbs and Aromatherapy, this is a must have resource.
The Herb Companion is now available at It's My Nature. Order the current issue on our toll free line or pick up your copy at Dahlia's Secret Garden, Florence, Oregon or at The Raven in Eugene, Oregon.
A garden does not need to be an over-whelming experience. Even a simple patio with potted plants can give you joy, comfort and peace.
If you are new to gardening, start with a variety of pots and hanging planters, your favorite herbs, flowers and good intentions.
As each year passes, let your garden spread.There is no need to do it all at once. If something doesn't workout, go on, plant something else and learn from your mistakes.
Each year, plant just a few new kinds of herbs,and remember to divide your perennials.
Herbs are pretty forgiving and they can be planted in many ways. If you enjoy hanging baskets, be sure to include marjoram. It is lovely draped and contains substantial amounts of antioxidants.
Sage blossoms make great centerpieces in the garden and have numerous benefits, from treating mouth sores to asthma and throat infections.
Rosemary makes a hardy hedge and is a physical as well as mental stimulant. Excellent for treatment of muscular conditions like arthritis and rheumatism to treating depression and memory loss.
Thyme and Chamomile look fantastic between paving stones and can be used as a ground cover along a pathway.Nothing is more pleasing to the senses than the aroma of these plants when crunched. Don't worry, they withstand the traffic quite well.
If you have sandy soil, don't fret, herbs like the drainage. Thyme and geranium grow especially well in rock gardens.
What type of light do you have? Shady, full sun, partial sun or partial shade. Choose plants accordingly.
Next, decide what you plan on using your garden for.
· Plant calming herbs, flowers and any plants from your childhood memories.
· What culinary herbs and vegetables do you use most? Lettuce, tomato and green onions grow well in containers.
·Do you use herbs in the bath?
Choose relaxing herbs like Chamomile or Lavender for evening baths. Rosemary or Thyme for healing baths. Peppermint and Rosemary for a vigorous and stimulating bath.
·Do you like herbal vinegars? Plant your favorites to make a batch of homemade vinegar. Oregano, Rosemary,Basil and Thyme for Italian flavors and marinating red meat. Chive blossoms look wonderful in herbal vinegars.
·Many plants can protect nearby plants from ailments and infestation. Calendula keeps aphids away when planted by your tomato plants, and Chamomile is said to be a plant's physician and can heal an ailing plant when planted nearby.
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