November has been a nice month in Elfland. The weather was pretty warm, plenty of sunshine to feel good about.

We spent a lot of time at the indoor pool, and doing other normal activities such as reading Harry Potter, cooking warm soups and crafting. Here’s a range of pics showing all that we have achieved this month.

We were leafing across a magazine the other day and saw a little boy jumping around in a cow’s water vat. The cows were just patiently waiting for him to finish his bath so that they could get a drink. How sweet! It got me thinking about the unique and interesting personalities farm animals have, and how friendly they are if you give them the time and space.

Since keeping chickens we have already seen the sweetness of those farm animals. They will come running when they see you, or follow you around even if you have no food, just because they are curious or want a hug! I also had some interesting encounters with a couple of cats this month. They just sat around patiently as I photographed them.

These animals served to remind me about how lovely they are and how callously we usually treat them.

Finally, it was thanksgiving this week. We had a very nice day, although I spent most of it in the kitchen. The feast was worth it! We followed it up with a Harry Potter movie. Was a mellow and a blissful day.

Halloween is turning into a special festival around here. I found it pretty annoying in the past. What’s the deal with kids dressing up and collecting a bucketful of candies, which we would have to then stress over? All that sugar! When we got sugar free in 2014 we had a rough time trying to contend with these sugary fests.

I can now proudly proclaim that we have conquered this difficult festival with elan. We have a plan for everything, beginning from costumes, to pumpkins and other decors, and can even deal with the candy (imagine that!!!).

This year Tanya and Leena announced that they plan to be Toothless and Hiccup from “How to train your dragon”. We picked the first part to avoid Hiccup’s peg leg and the fancy costumes that the dragon riders now wear. The first part included hunts in second hand stores for clothes that could be modified to make the costumes. I tackled Toothless’ head (most difficult part) and was a little discouraged by my progress. Luckily Klaske made Hiccup’s jacket, and I managed to finish the rest of the costumes. They turned out pretty snazzy!

This year I decided to put together a costume for myself. Our department did a super hero theme. Was fun to surprise my students with my costume (and some treats)!

We conquered the trick or treat thanks to our local dentist. They have a candy buy back program. The kids can take their candies there and they weigh them and pay them for their candies @ $1/pound. The kids got $4 each from the dentist. We doubled the amount so they had $8 each. They get to buy a toy from it. Good deal for all. BTW, the dentists send the candies to troops stationed oversees. So its a win win solution!

We didn’t do much by way of decor for Halloween this year, with a notable exception of Bob and John. We did visit pumpkin patches and went through the Halloween corn maze. All together good fun!!

Fall is coming to an end. Among other things, we went camping a few times at Bald Eagle State park with Oma in Dory. Those were good times.

Life got away (as it tends to do) from me these past couple of months. Hopefully this blog will put it back on track!

Things have been busier than busy since July. We had the arts fest, birthdays and then rentals followed by my teaching once again. And now we can truly consider ourselves a big family (if you include the pets). We are five humans (Johan, Johan’s mom, the kids and me), one dog and four chickens. That’s a lot of creatures.

Anyhoo, we had the arts fest which went well. We have successfully completed 13 years of street painting. Tanya helped me create “Hilda in the Hollyhocks” by Elizabeth Perkins. It was a color riot.

The rest of the summer went smooth. Tanya was busy with her million and one projects and Leena had her last blissful summer at Childspace, her preschool.

Gerrit and later Klaske came over towards end of summer and fall. So we stayed busy. Life’s been full of art and people out here in State College. Halloween special will follow next (that requires a separate post since we are very scary people).

After a month of procrastination, here’s my blog on herbs. Tada!

I have been dreaming of a perennial herb garden since last year when dad and me lovingly dug out a section of our garden for herbs. I didn’t have much success from my last year crops, and had only Korean Licorice mint and thyme to show for it. This year my herb garden has grown, and I sincerely hope and pray that all I have planted will survive and come back next year. The list is: marshmallow, roman chamomile, echinacea, astragalus, lavendar, comfrey, lemon balm and oregano so far. I have yarrow, stinging nettles, tulsi, peppermint, ashwagandha and garden sage still in the greenhouse. The purpose of this blog is to outline the usage of these herbs for our future reference. But first some lush pics.

 

 

Now the technical stuff. After the research, I now realize that I will have to categorize the herbs according to their applications in order to ever get use out of this information. The categorization will be a part of subsequent blog. I am too herbed out at this moment to write this blog anymore!

Ashwagandha

Introductory remarks: Known as Indian ginseng. Is an effective cancer and diabetes fighter. Also reduces inflammation, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, stress and rheumatism. Boosts antioxidants and regulates immune system. Has antibacterial and anticonvulsant properties.

Uses:

Anti-carcinogenic: Reduces cancer as well as effects of radiation.

Anti-inflammatory: Usable for rheumatologic problems.

Antibacterial: Effective in urinogenital, GI and respiratory tract infections when consumed orally.

Cardio-protective: Strengthens heart muscles and controls cholesterol.

Anti-depressant: relieves anxiety and depression.

Fights diabetes and stimulates the thyroid gland: Lowers blood sugar levels, and root extract increases the secretion of thyroid hormones.

Relieves stress: Soothes and calms.

Antioxidant: Very effective in scavenging and neutralizing free radicals.

Immunomodulatory: Modulates immune system significantly.

Increases blood production: Prevents anemia.

Aphrodisiac: Used to improve vitality and fertility.

Prevents seizures

Good health: Improves muscular strength of lower limbs and weakness. Has a positive impact on neuro-muscular coordination.

Reduces ocular diseases: fights cataract.

Fights alzheimer’s disease.

How to use: Root is most useful, but you can make tea from leaves as well. 1-2 tsp of root for general well being.

One tsp of root powder along with a glass of hot milk before going to sleep.

Berries are also used for medicine.

Caution:

Can cause abortion in pregnant women, can interact with regular medications for those suffering from diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

Can cause upset stomach, diarrhea and nausea.

Astragalus

Introductory remarks: Root is one of the most powerful immune building plants on the planet. Lowers cortisol, aka stress hormone and fights disease at the same time. Vital for cardiovascular health. Fights off tumors and alleviates symptoms of chemotherapy (not sure if that means the effects of chemotherapy?). Is used as an adaptogen (helps adapt to stress and exert a normalizing effect on bodily processes. Another example is ginseng). Can grow 16 – 36″ tall. Only roots are medicinal, and are harvested at 4 years. This is bad news. This plant is a perennial in zone 6-11. The best idea is to grow them separately and add plants every year, and mark to harvest every 4 years. Components beneficial to human health are saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides. Saponins lower cholesterol, improve immune system and prevent cancer. Flavanoids provide health benefits through cell signaling. They show antioxidative qualities, control and scavange off free radicals and help prevent heart disease, cancer and immunodeficiency viruses. Polysaccharides are antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.

Uses: Anti-inflammatory, immune booster, slows or prevents growth of tumors, protects cardiovascular system by preventing plaque buildup in the arteries and protecting the inner walls of the vessel. Reduces blood pressure and level of triglycerides. Regulates and prevents diabetes and other illnesses related to diabetes and kidney diseases in diabetics. Antioxidant and possesses anti-aging capabilities. Heals wounds and raises efficacy of chemotherapy. Treats colds and flu (best if used to prevent illness by regular intake during susceptible periods). Is a supplemental therapy for chronic asthma. Prevents collagen degradation, promotes growth and function of new blood vessels in newborns, inhibits herpes simplex virus, prevents replication of viruses such as Coxsackie B-3 which triggers many illnesses, treats eczema, treats hepatitis, treats HIV and is a mild diuretic.

How to use: As a tincture (liquid alcohol extract), capsules and tablets, topically on skin, dried and use in tea.

Warnings: No serious side effects. Start with small dose to prevent effects from interactions with other supplements. People with autoimmune disorders should ask a doctor about the effect of immune system stimulation. Individuals with MS, rheumatoid arthritis and other immune conditions may be sensitive to astragalus.

Comfrey

Introductory remarks: Comfrey is a controversial herb. Its use in Chinese traditional medicine spans 2000 years. Comfrey baths were common during the middle ages. Comfrey is widely known as “one of nature’s greatest medicinal herbs”.

Caution: Banned from ingestion in many parts of the world due to toxic effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in comfrey. It can cause fatal damage to the liver, or also cause cancer. Although traditional herbalists dispute it, I would say better safe than sorry. So use only externally on an unbroken skin.

Uses: Comfrey is high in Calcium and Vitamin C and stimulates healing activity. Great for healing wounds and broken bones. In folk medicine it is sometimes referred to as knitbone. Externally it is an anti-inflammatory and speeds healing due to its natural concentration of allantoin. Esp good for cracks in toes or ribs which is not handled by doctors. Found an experience of someone who applied comfrey leaf + plaintain to broken toe several times a day. Instead of typical healing time of several weeks, pain reduced in days, and was virtually non-existent in a week.

Echinacea

Introductory remarks: Chemicals contained in the root differ significantly from those in the upper parts of the plant (probably true for all herbs?). Roots contain high concentrations of volatile oils, while shoot contain polysaccharides that trigger immune function (immune stimulator). Shoot is more effective than root (good news!).

Uses: Boosts immune system by cutting chances of catching a cold by 58% and reducing the duration of a cold by 1.5 days. Most effective dosage: 10 mg Echinacea per 1 kg of body weight taken daily over a 10 day period. The effect of Echinacea seem more powerful once cold symptoms start.

Other uses:

Natural Cancer cure.

Alleviates pain in bowels, headaches, pain associated with herpes, gonorrhea, measles, snake bites, sore throats, stomach ache, tonsillitis and toothache. To use as a pain combatant drink herbal tea or make a paste out of ground herb and directly apply.

Laxative. Heals stomach and entire gastrointestinal tract. Mild laxative for constipation relief. Drink as a herbal tea, a cup a day to loosen bowels and 2-3 cups for sudden bouts. Do not overuse, maybe 2 cup limit might be safe + supplement.

Anti-inflammatory: Inflammation is the root of most diseases. Regular echinacea consumption can effectively reverse and alleviate various types of inflammations. Helps with eye inflammation and chronic inflammations such as rheumatoid arthritis. If chronically inflamed, use echinacea as a herb tea.

Helps improve mental health: Natural remedy for ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression and social phobias. Dosage is key. Only 20 mg at a time and no more. Taking more may cancel out the benefits.

Relieves upper respiratory issues such as acute sinusitis, all flu’s, common cold, croup, diphtheria, inflammation, strep throat, tuberculosis and whooping cough. If severe, use supplements rather than tea. For mild, use tea.

Fights infection such as vaginal infection, bloodstream infections, genital herpes, gum disease, malaria, syphilis, typhoid, urinary tract infections and vaginal yeast infections.

Improves skin problems such as arthropod bites, eczema, inflammatory skin conditions, psoriasis, snakebite, skin infections, stings and wound healing. Can be also used to regenerate skin. Use as a paste(?).

Side effects: Can cause nausea and dizziness particularly to those who have allergies. Injected echinacea can cause severe reactions.

Recommended uses: Regular daily use is beneficial for immune support and overall health. Take as soon as symptoms occur, many times a day for 7 to 10 days. Liquid form may be more effective than capsules. Use an alcohol free preparation.

Garden sage

Introductory remarks: Member of mint family. Closely related to rosemary. Grows 2 feet high.

Uses:

Natural antiseptic, preservative and has bacteria killing abilities in meat. Medicinally use for muscle aches, rheumatism and aromatherapy. Enhances mental clarity and upgrades memory. Useful for treating cognitive decline and Alzheimers. Tea made from sage called “thinker’s tea” reduces depression.

Prevents cardiovascular disease, antioxidant, fights inflammation, bronchial asthma and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Has Vitamin K, fiber, Vitamin A, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese and B vitamins such as folic acid, thiamine, pyrodixine and riboflavin plus vitamin C, E, thiamine and copper.

Reduces post menopausal hot flashes.

How to use: In cooking or as tea.

Korean Licorice mint

Considered a “warming” herb. Used in situations where there is “dampness” within the digestive system, resulting in poor digestion and reduced vitality. Leaves and stem are antibacterial, antifungal, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, febrifuge and stomachic. Used to improve appetite and strengthen the digestive system. They remove symptoms such as abdominal bloating, indigestion, nausea and vomiting. Used against morning sickness, chest congestion, diarrhea and headaches. Used to treat angina pains. Folk remedy for cancer.

Lavender

Introductory remarks: This herb makes me smile! It is the most delightful herb to have in the garden for its divine smell. Lavender has antiseptic qualities that help keep pests at bay. For this reason it was historically used in Europe for linen washing. Its smell prevents attacks from moths and other insects such as flies and mosquitoes. Oil of lavender, on cotton wool, or in a bag hung in a room keeps it free from flies. Lavender is part of the mint family. Bees love lavender.

Uses: Anti bacterial and anti fungal. Place lavender sachets in drawers or closets. Remedy for digestive issues, relieves flatulence, headaches, nausea, grief and stress. Sedative, antidepressant, hypnotic, anti-microbial, cholagogue (promotes discharge of bile from the system, purging it downward).

Digestive aid: Safe for children and elderly. Other digestive aids in a similar vein are catnip, chamomile and lemon balm.

Rejuvenating, skin simulating bath, esp for pregnancy.

Preparation and Dosage: 1-2 tsp of the flower or herb with flower per 8 oz water as an infusion, drunk up to 3 times a day. Alternatively use externally as an essential oil, rubbed into the temples.

Side effects: None known, although its tonic use may be constitutionally inappropriate. For instance if skin or mucous membrane is too dry, long term internal use may be too drying.

Lemon balm

Introductory remarks: Member of the mint family. Considered a calming herb. Reduces stress, anxiety, promotes sleep, improves appetite, eases pain and discomfort from indigestion, lifts spirits, helps heal wounds and treat venemous insect bites and stings.

Uses:

Insomnia and anxiety: Lemon balm + other calming herbs (valerian, hops and chamomile) reduces anxiety and promotes sleep.

Herpes: Topical ointment with lemon balm may help heal cold sores (lips) caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). Cream helps heal oral as well as genital herpes. Helps against HIV infection.

Helps treat indigestion. Lemon balm oil has antibacterial activity and is effective against listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus auerus. Also may help improve cognitive function and decrease agitation in people with Alzheimer disease.

Essential oil from leaf contains plant chemicals called terpenes which helps in relaxation and is antiviral. Also contains tannins helping antiviral activity and eugenol which calms muscle spasms, numb tissues, and kills bacteria.

How to use: Dried leaf tea, extracts, tinctures, and oil. Can apply tea on skin with cotton balls. Use with children to treat cold sores.

Adults: 1.5-4.5 grams tea. Drink up to 4 times daily.

For cold sores, steep 2-4 tsp crushed leaf in 1 cup boiling water for 10-15 min covered. Apply with cotton balls.

Caution: May interact with other herbs, supplements or medications. Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Possible interactions: Sedatives and thyroid medications, or HIV medications.

Marshmallow

Leaves and root are used to make medicine. Used for pain and swelling (inflammation) of the mucous membrane the line the respiratory tract. Used for dry cough, inflammation of the lining of the stomach, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, constipation, urinary tract inflammation, and stones in the urinary tract. Apply leaf and root directly to skin for pockets of infection (abscesses) and skin ulcers, and as a poultice for skin inflammation or burns, and for other wounds. Use topically as a poultice for insect bites. Root is applied to skin as an ingredient in ointments for chapped skin as well as for pain and swelling of feet and hands do to exposure to the cold (chilblains). In food, marshmallow leaf and root can be used as a flavoring agent. Marshmallow forms a protective layer on the skin and lining of the digestive tract. It also contains chemicals that might decrease cough and help heal wounds. Root is the ultimate gut and lung protector.

Oregano

Introductory remarks: The name “Oregano” means “mountain joy”. Oregano was revered as a symbol of happiness by ancient Greeks and Romans.

Uses:

Oregano contains Vitamin A, C, E and K as well as fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, vitamin B6, calcium and potassium.

Oregano has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal effects, and may kill MRSA, listeria and other pathogens. Contains Carvacol and thymol which as powerful antimicrobials. Essential oil kills MRSA at dilution 1 to 1000. Oil kills MRSA as liquid as well as vapor and antimicrobial activity is unaffected by heat in boiling water. Contains beta-caryophillin (E-BCP) which inhibits inflammation.

Oregano essential oil may be useful for respiratory ailments like cold and flu.

Adding oregano to meat before cooking may help reduce the amount of toxic compounds created by the cooking process.

Antioxidant for immune support – contains rosamarinic acid which is a strong antioxidant. Even a better antioxidant than food groups such as fruits, berries and vegetables.

Cancer-fighting: Oregano extract has been shown to arrest growth of colon cancer cells. Also usable against prostrate, breast, skin, leukemia and colon cancer.

Use for cold, dandruff, bloating, allergies, fatigue, muscle pain, bronchitis, headaches, intestinal parasites, repelling insects, acne, toothache, heart conditions, earache and menstrual cramps.

How to use:

Fresh or dried in food. Esp in meat prior to cooking.

Topically for athlete’s foot or nail fungus.

Inhaled to treat sinus infections or colds.

Under tongue to help treat infections or parasites.

Peppermint

Introductory remarks: Many health benefits. Grows like a weed.

Uses: Irritable bowel syndrome, reduction of colonic spasms (relaxes muscles of intestines allowing gas to pass and easing abdominal pain), peppermint + caraway oil eases functional dyspepsia, colic, prevents nipple cracks from breastfeeding, regresses tuberculosis inflammation, inhibit histamine release (alleviates hay fever symptoms), remove shingles related pain through peppermint oil application, improve memory (from aroma of peppermint), reduce chemotherapy induced nausea, inhibits prostrate cancer growth, protects against DNA damage and cell death caused by radiation exposure, inhibits herpes simplex virus type 1, mouthwash inhibits dental cavities and bad breath, acts as a decongestant, relieves headache, stress, removes dandruff and lice, relieves asthma and muscle pain.

How to use: Tea, in soups and salads, essential oil (add to home made cleaning supplies for its antimicrobial power). Use against cold and flu.

Roman Chamomile

Indigestion, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, flatulence due to mental stress, morning sickness and menstrual cramps. Use against pain and swelling of the lining of nose and mouth, sinusitis and joint (rheumatic) disorders. Apply directly to skin for pain and swelling (inflammation), and in gels to treat cracked nipples, sore gums and irritation of the skin. Use topically for wounds, burns, eczema, frostbite, diaper rash, bedsores, and hemorrhoids. Sometimes mixed with other herbs (?) and taken by mouth for liver and gallbladder disease, gall stones, fatty liver, chronic heartburn, loss of appetite, digestive disturbances, a heart condition called Roemheld’s syndrome, indigestion in infants and certain types of constipation. A blood purifier and a general female tonic against irregular periods. Put in steam bath and inhale for sinus inflammation, hay fever, sore throat, ear inflammation and as a painkiller.

Depending on the dose, it can either relieve or cause nausea (?). Relaxes muscles and causes sedation.

Stinging Nettles

Introductory remarks: For more than 2000 years, healers have recognized nettles ability to stop internal and external bleeding. Can get as tall as 7 feet. Historically in Europe, fabric was woven from thick stems of nettle.

Nettles contain tannic acid, lecithin, chlorophyll, iron, silicic acid, lime, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, vitamin A and C.

Uses:

Stops internal and external bleeding.

Considered a blood purifier. Taken as a tea it cures mucus congestion, skin irritations, water retention and diarrhea. Helps nursing mothers produce milk. Stimulates digestive glands of the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas and gall bladder. Applied externally, nettle tea relieves rheumatism in people and animals. Makes a gargle for mouth and throat infections. Clears acne and eczema and promotes healing of burns.

Nettle juice even eases the stinging of the rash brought about by contact with the plant’s own bristled leaves. If you simmer a handful of young nettles for two hours in a quart of water, strain and bottle the liquid, you can use as a conditioner for soft and glossy hair.

How to use: As a tea, as a conditioner. Using a glove and knife gather young tender plants in April or May when they are 6″ tall. Wash them in running water. Place them still dripping in a saucepan. Steam the greens covered for about 20 mins and then chop and serve with salt, pepper and butter. Add nettle greens to soup, make a scottish nettle pudding with leeks, broccoli and rice or brew a herbal drink similar to ginger beer. Fresh leaves, when boiled in well salted water for 10 minutes, can be used (like rennet) to curdle milk for cheesemaking.

When dried, the plant is 40% protein. Nettle fodder can make cows give more milk and if crushed and given to chicken, induces them to lay more eggs. 7% nitrogen making it an excellent mulch or fertilizer.

Hang a bunch of fresh leaves to repel flies.

Thyme

Originates from Greek word “Thymus” which means “courage”. There is also a dual meaning “to fumigate”. Used primarily as a food preservative. Has been used to treat melancholia to epileptic seizures. In ancient times Thyme was used with lavendar sprinkled on church floors to eliminate odors. Used to treat intestinal worms, gastrointestinal ailments, bronchial problems, lack of appetite, diarrhea, menstrual cramps, common cold and laryngitis. In Germany it is used to treat whooping cough and emphysema. Its antiseptic qualities make it useful for a mouthwash to combat tooth decay, and also for anemia and skin cleanser. Antifungal properties can be used to treat athlete’s foot, and anti parasitic properties are useful against lice, scabies and crabs. Useful against colic, sore throats and hangover. Can loosen and expel mucus.

To use on skin inflammation, mash leaves into paste. For antifungal or anti parasitic, mix 4 oz fresh thyme + 1 pint vodka. Crush thyme slightly and let sit 12 hours or overnight. For gastric and bronchitis, make a tea with 1 teaspoon leaves to each cup of boiling water and steep for 10-15 minutes. Use only once a day.

Infusions of thyme are useful in soothing and healing muscle spasms and skin irritations. Thyme also helps prevent blood clots. Add thyme essential oil or infusion to bath water to soothe bronchial  problems and rheumatism.

Burning thyme repels insects.

Tulsi or Holy Basil

Introductory remarks: Tulsi has been used in the East for 3000 years. Mentioned in Rig veda in 1500 BC, it was highly regarded in Ayurvedic medicine. A tropical plant, it is used for its healing powers.

Uses: Used to treat anxiety, adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism, acne and blood sugar.

Acne: Its antimicrobial capability makes it very potent against acne at a 3% concentration. Primary component in holy basil oil is eugenol, same as in antimicrobial clove oil. If using tulsi for natural acne treatment use unrefined virgin coconut oil.

Cancer: Its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties protect against fever, pain, stress and protect vital organs like the liver. Consequently people who regularly consume tulsi are less likely to be immune-compromised and are less susceptible to developing cancer cells.

Phytochemicals in tulsi prevent chemical-induced skin, liver, oral and lung cancers because they increase antioxidant activity, alter healthy gene expressions, induce cancer cell death, prevent blood vessel growth contributing to cell growth and stop metastasis.

Extracts of tulsi protects against radiation-induced sickness and mortality and selectively protect normal tissues against the destructive effects of radiation. Additionally it prevents radiation-induced DNA damage which highlights holy basil’s widespread ability to heal.

It is actually remarkable that tulsi can kill cancer, prevent cancer and even protects the body from dangerous cancer treatments.

Diabetes: Natural diabetes remedy.

Thyroid and hormones: In addition to controlling blood sugar levels, it has the ability to regulate serum cortisol levels.

How to use: Drink a cup of tulsi tea a day.

Yarrow

Introductory remarks: According to Greek myth Archilles painted himself with yarrow to make himself invulnerable to arrows, everywhere on his body except his heel. Native Americans used it extensively. Stalk is chewed on to break a fever. Stalk was also pounded into a pulp and applied to bruises, sprains and swelling.

Uses: Fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.

Chewing on fresh leaves relieves toothache.

Yarrow is applied to skin to stop bleeding from hemmorrhoids, for wounds, and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions for women.

Used in combination with other herbs to relieve flatulence, bloating, mild GI cramps and other GI complaints. Often combined with Echinacea, elder flower, ginger and peppermint.

Young leaves and flowers are used in salads.

Anti-inflammatory.

How to use:

Tea with mint and chamomile during illness.

As a tea, tincture or poultice on skin for rashes or itching.

Adds to skin lotions, oils or salves to help in eczema or dry skin.

Add strong yarrow tea to a child’s bath for a high fever to bring it down naturally.

Poultice of yarrow and plantain helpful on wounds

Caution: Potential allergic reaction from touching the fresh plant.

References:

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-ashwagandha-or-indian-ginseng.html

https://draxe.com/astragalus/

https://wellnessmama.com/8230/comfrey-leaf-herb-profile/

https://draxe.com/echinacea-benefits/

http://foodfacts.mercola.com/sage.html

http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/agastache-rugosa=korean-mint.php

https://chestnutherbs.com/lavenders-medicinal-and-aromatherapy-uses-and-lavender-truffles/

http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/lemon-balm

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/02/01/oregano-health-benefits.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-774-marshmallow.aspx?activeingredientid=774&

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/10/14/peppermint-health-benefits.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-752-roman%20chamomile.aspx?activeingredientid=752&activeingredientname=roman%20chamomile

http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/stinging-nettle-benefits-zmaz81mazkin

http://www.offthegridnews.com/alternative-health/medicinal-uses-of-thyme/

https://draxe.com/holy-basil-benefits/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-151-yarrow.aspx?activeingredientid=151&activeingredientname=yarrow

https://wellnessmama.com/7106/yarrow-herb-profile/

Being a mom has been so glamorized in books and movies. Cultures revere mom. Becoming is mom is the most wonderful thing a woman can do.

Baloney!

I assert that this is a conspiracy! Being a mom is not all that it has been made out to be. Sure, you get a baby. At first glance, pretty cute. After that, there are fleeting moments of cuteness. Some cuddles, yeah yeah. Kisses, okay. Once in a while a praise, thank you very much.

But what about the negatives? Butt load of chores. Loss of the lovely carefree days (did I ever complain about how busy I was before? Geez I must have been so spoilt!). Then you have to actually behave yourself most of the time because you have to be some kind of a role model. Let’s not even go into the guilt aspect! And last but not the least, there is this nagging worry that never goes away. With every child a worry is born. So if you have multiple kids, you are juggling multiple worries. For most part that worry is in the background. But sometimes, depending on the situation, it comes forward to engulf and overwhelm you. Whether the situation warrants it or not, you are crippled. Your rational part tells you to stop worrying, but the irrational part is just so convincing.

To think I prided myself as being a rational, mostly fearless person. What a joke!

What’s worse? As they grow up, the cuteness, cuddles and kisses fade. But guess what, the worry increases. Kind of like buying a new appliance, except that an appliance is replaceable, while the kiddos are not!

So here’s my advice to all the young gals out there. Do what you need to do, but consider yourselves forewarned! Thus ends my rant.

I was in DC last year with my parents, sis and her two kids, and our two girls. We walked for hours and all the kids were tired and grumpy. I wanted to drag them to the hotel, but sis insisted that we take them to the Subway for dinner. As we sat and the kids started coming alive again with the food, sis said the fascinating words “Food fixes everything”. I believe they come from the movie Croods. So true!

So an ode to food in this blog. For the past three years we have been following a specific diet that was triggered by Leena’s dental issues. We use no sugar, no white flour (with exceptions of some breads or the rare times when we eat out) and saturated fats. Additionally we use home made broths and fermented food. The hope was to remineralize Leena’s teeth. We have been successful only in slowing her decay but not in actually remineralizing her teeth. However, we do feel that our current diet is the way to go for achieving good health in the long term.

My food research started with discovering writings of Weston Price, a dentist who researched indigenous diets in the 1930s. Some key elements in the diet were bone broths, fermented and local foods. Once I was done reading, I just had to look around me to find all the ingredients I needed to create these dinners. We are lucky to have farmer’s markets that sell everything one needs to make great broths, local honey, spring butter, sauerkraut, you name it! As I looked at the Indian cuisine, I also realized that my childhood favorites, idlis and dosas, were both fermented and could be used in place of breads or rice. So I didn’t have to venture very far.

We also use two supplements, one is a fermented cod liver oil and the second, organically bound minerals. These are great for our vitamin and mineral intake. Although now I am learning about herbs that can also supplement the above. More on that in another post.

Here’s a pictorial introduction to our dinners!

The broths are a great addition for minerals etc. But they also serve another purpose. You can put anything that kids refuse to eat into it and feed it to them. Sly, isn’t it? We throw in mineral supplements and some other high vitamin ingredients in them and it all slips right down their fussy throats!!

The big issue with a no sugar diet is that you have to make everything at home. No cookies, cakes or ice creams. We bought a Cuisinart ice cream maker that works very well. I add raw cream and as little maple syrup as I can get away with and the girls love it.

So, how do you implement these diets on a road trip? The answer is by being as prepared as possible. We have a fridge and a freezer in our camper “Elfie”. I can also cook in it. The last time we went, we took along the following (this list is for my reference!): Milk, home made yogurt, dinner for one or two nights which was rice and egg curry, cilantro chutney, boiled potatoes, boiled eggs, banana bread, rice pudding, lots of cookies and all the fruits, cucumbers and carrots, and lemons from the house. We also carried raw honey, butter, cheese and bread. This stretched pretty far! We ate breakfasts at Waffle house and always used our honey to top the waffles. Lunch would be bread with butter, cheese or cilantro chutney and fruits. Dinner would be Pasta which I cooked along with fruits, or wraps or something similar. Endless combinations were possible from this pantry.

Finally some pictures of our life since we returned from our last trip. Yard’s been our focus with spring in full swing. We have lots of exciting plans that will require some new posts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leena won’t say the word “tomorrow”. This was quite a puzzle, since she has a pretty decent vocabulary. But instead of “tomorrow” she says “the day after this day”. So I asked her why. She told me because “tomorrow never comes”. She is angry with tomorrow for not showing up and so won’t say it. Makes sense to me!

Staying true to the spirit of the statement “tomorrow never comes”, we decided once again to live in today. We sneaked another vacation during the Easter weekend. Tanya had Friday and Monday off. We took off Tuesday as well and hit the road with Elfie.

The plan was to travel to the Outer banks (again) and then take the ferry and drive to St. Augustine, FL. From there Tanya, Leena and I would catch a flight back home, while Johan would continue to Miami and Atlanta for work and then return home.

I am happy to report that the vacation went flawlessly. Elfie was on her best behavior.

Outer Banks was busier now than a month back but still pretty quiet. We drove in on Friday, went over the dunes and then took the ferry to Ocracoke. There we played and waded in the water. Funny enough we think we saw the same crabby from a month back and also a jellyfish!

We were out of Outer banks by Saturday evening. We drove all Sunday to get to St. Augustine. Driving all day with two kids.. aarrgh!! But thanks to our stellar planning (ahem) we had found two parks along I-95 which I will mention here for future reference.

One was Ebenezer park in Florence, SC. This park is ok, nothing spectacular. But it is certainly a good place for the kids to stretch their legs and the driver to catch a nap!

The next park was “Harold Turpin Park and Splash pad” in Ridgeland SC. Now this is a spectacular park. There is a great playground, and a place for kids to splash in if they like. Highly recommended!!

Finally, we spent Monday in St Augustine, Fl and tuesday morning at Flagler beach in Florida. We had some good beach fun with Tanya surfing, Leena playing, fort building and kite flying. After a great trip, we flew back from Daytona Beach to Philadelphia, and then got a ride from Andrejz, a friend. Very fun altogether.

No more travels planned for us (Johan is another story). We are not at all sad about it. We are ready to be home now!

After our very successful vacation early March, we were looking for more. It so happened that General Electric needed Johan in Wilmington NC to fix a piece of equipment. So we decided to all go and hit the beach once more. After all, what can possibly be the downside of hitting the road, right?

WRONG!

It started good enough. We took off after school on Friday evening with a couple of surprised and excited kids. Reached Wilmington NC the next afternoon and went to check out the Battleship in NC. That was fun.

We then decided to camp at a nearby quiet road. All was smooth until then. And then it started! We drove off the next morning and found a screw stuck in our rear tire. Johan tried to fix it, but the tire started to swell unevenly so we changed to a spare. In the meantime we also did the good stuff, beach, park, work etc. After Wilmington we went to Monroe NC at a garage where Johan wanted to pick up Chevy Volt batteries. There we noticed the spare was also leaking!

As it turns out, a car garage/user parts center is a good place to have car troubles. They helpfully sold us two “new” old tires and we were all set, or so we thought!

 

We left Monroe NC and moved on around 2:30 pm Tuesday, with full intentions of getting home for school on Wednesday. But it was not to be. A whiff of burnt smell was a warning of things to come. We assumed it was the other trucks for 30 miles or so after which we heard a clang and more smell. We pulled off at Salem VA. A bearing had come apart and we had to find a replacement, fast! Problem was, it was 6:35 pm and many parts stores were shut. We went to an Advanced Auto but their bearing’s mount was different. Luckily, the guy (read angel!) there was interested enough to call his friend who happened to have the exact right pulley with bearing just laying around! How lucky is that?! No pics here, we were too stressed to take any, which I regret.

The guys there actually hung around hungry and tired until 11:15 pm waiting for Johan to get the assembly back together. Didn’t take any payment either. We were blown by their generosity and our unbelievable luck!

We woke up the next morning happy and refreshed. Had breakfast, and drove off .. right into a ditch!! Oh no! Except that we had a bunch of good Samaritans (around 5 cars) stop to try to help. One had a winch, one with a jack and one with a tow chain. Some people just stopped to help/offer their ideas. But it was quite exciting! Took about an hour, after which we were out and then finally moseyed home with no further problems.

We actually had a great time with our misadventures. They served to remind us about the goodness in people. It was refreshing!

Tanya has made Toothless, the night fury from “how to train your dragon”. After many a tears, she came up with a great version of it. We also worked to make the chicken run a little nicer. The idea is to allow our chickens to turn our compost because they love scratching so much. Plus, they have the best poop in terms of fertilizer. So we laid dry leaves and throw our compost in their run now and watch them scratch and poop away. Hopefully we can work with them to come up with some quality compost for the garden.

S’long.

Why do we take the trouble to go for a vacation? When it is time to pack and take care of all the little odds and ends that needs to be attended to, we often gets this feeling that we would be so much better off just staying home!

We packed and left in a major hurry last week to take a trip to the Outer banks. It was spring break, and our earlier plans of going to Arizona crumbled due to some unforeseen complications. So instead, we packed Elfie and hit the road. We drove all Monday and reached the Outer banks on Tuesday. The temperature was 70F which made it very pleasant. We camped and cooked in Elfie throughout. The ocean was way too cold for me, and almost too cold for the kiddos. But the sand dunes were another story!

 

Our Elfie made a comfortable home away from home. We lived, rested, cooked and chilled in it. What a warm place.

We played, walked, rejuvenated and watched seagulls and even dolphins! On our way home, we stopped at Sunset Grill in Norfolk VA. We had stopped in there 2 years ago, and thought we would stop by again to see if they remembered us. To our surprise the owner remembered a lot about us, including the fact that we were sugar free, had an ambulance last time and our dog. We were very touched!

After going through the pain of unpacking, I can now answer my question about why we should take vacations. They make our looming problems seem trivial, allow us to savor the moment, pull us out of our narrow view of our lives, and give us endless happiness. We then come back a little more accepting of our challenges. Looking forward to our next vacation!

Among other notable happenings, Tanya took a splinter out of Johan’s finger. What a brave guy! Our latest craft and random dog pictures are also attached.

 

 

Can’t believe January is already over. We have been busy with some of the lovely craft work Santa entrusted us with. We worked on toys Dashi and Tweak. When they were partially done, they served as puppets. Now they are sewn up and are stuffed toys!

Other interesting things happened, as they usually do. One of our chickens laid an egg with no shell! Now that’s a new one!

One fine morning I strolled into the Farmer’s market and sampled black currant jam, and was hooked! Unfortunately the jam was made with sugar, but the farmer got me some frozen black currants, and so the girls and I went ahead and ventured into the big, bad world of jam-making. We used rapadura. The process was messy, but the results pretty good. According to Leena, my jam is the best because it is the stickiest!

And then Leena turned 5! She had her first birthday party at Discovery space and it was a lot of noise and running about. We had a great time.

For Leena’s birthday we made characters from the show “Octonauts” using oven baked clay. The days leading to her birthday were pretty fun and creative.

Johan has been busier than busy with solar and other projects. More pictures to come soon but here’s a couple of the man in action. Spot him in one of them (if you can)!