Gifts from the Heart

 Gifts From the Heart

Jo Francks, MH

Giving gifts from the heart that you have made yourself and put your love into is fun and rewarding.

Making them with children is always adventurous. We used to have fun making fizzy bath bombs that my kids would give to their friends for Christmas. They smelled good, were inexpensive, and their friends loved them. For adults, bath salts are nice and can be just the thing people need after a stressful holiday season. 

Here are a few fun ideas for making gifts from the heart.

Fizzy Bath Bombs:

1 cup baking soda

½ cup cornstarch

½ cup citric acid

10-20 drops essential oil

Mix together and sprinkle lightly with witch hazel in a spray bottle until it holds together when a little is squeezed in the hand. Spray a little and stir, repeat. It can take some time. Add the Essential oils at the end of mixing. Kids like peppermint, or citrus scents. Lavender can be used as a relaxing scent. Pack tightly into molds. Mini cupcake molds, candy molds or ice cube trays. After about 10 minutes turn molds upside down and tap to get the bath bombs out. It takes practice. If they fall apart spray with more witch hazel and re-mold.

Bath Salts:

1 cup epsom salts

1 cup coarse sea salt 

10-20 drops essential oil

Food coloring (optional)

Place salts in a large bowl and mix well. Scoop about ½ cup in a small bowl. Add the drops of essential oil and food coloring and mix well. Add the blended mixture to the large bowl a little at a time until you are pleased with the scent and color. Pour your salts in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake every day for a few days before packaging.

For relaxing bath salts add 10 drops orange, 5 drops lavender, and 5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oils.

For energizing bath salts add 5 drops eucalyptus, and 10 drops peppermint essential oils

Playdough:

1 cup flour

½ cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon vegetable oil of any type

1 cup water

Essential oils about 10-15 drops (optional)

Food coloring (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a pan and heat on medium heat stirring constantly. When it all clings to the spoon and becomes a ball, remove from heat and place the dough on a piece of wax paper. Allow to cool until it can be kneaded. Knead the dough until it is smooth. If you would like to add essential oils, use about 10 drops by poking a few holes in the dough, drop 1-2 drops of essential oil into each hole, knead the dough until it is well mixed. Keep in an airtight container.

Food coloring can be added during the heating process if desired.

Garden Sage

 Garden Sage

Salvia officinalis

Jo Francks MH

An ancient Latin proverb goes, “Why should a man die when Sage flourishes in his garden?”

Sage is an herb that is so beneficial for so many things one could ask the question, “What isn’t it good for?” There is a lot of history of sage from many cultures. It was used daily in many societies and considered a valuable part of their good health habits.

The Chinese have been using sage for centuries. They use it for kidney infections, sore throat, diarrhea and other discharges. In India it is used for excessive perspiration, tickling coughs, stomach disorders and infection.

In Dr. Christopher’s Herb Syllabus book there is a short sentence mentioning the memory, “It is said to be good for the memory and to enhance mental acuteness.” I have learned not to overlook what the books say. I have also found that fleeting statement to be true. After using sage tea for a couple of weeks to test it, I found my memory improved and was more alert and able to concentrate. It also improved my sleep. 

Sage is known as a flavoring for various dishes especially at Thanksgiving to flavor the stuffing. If we knew its full potential, we would all have a plant growing right out our back door. It is an astringent and because of this there are lists of things it can help with. If we start from the head down, we already mentioned the memory, it is also good for sinus issues, headaches, and is especially good for sore throats and mouth sores. Rubbing the fresh leaf on the teeth can help whiten them. Using the cold tea will help reduce night sweats and excessive perspiration. The tea or diluted tincture can be applied to the armpits to help reduce perspiration in this area. During pregnancy it is used to help prevent miscarriage. Although a nursing mother would want to put it’s use on hold until she’s ready to wean the baby. At that time sage will help dry up the milk when taken cold. It has also been used to reduce hot flashes and it works really well for this. 

Another one of Sage’s benefits is as a diaphoretic. It will make you sweat when taken hot. This makes it helpful in illnesses accompanied by a fever. Sage can be used internally and externally for rheumatism. It will stop bleeding when applied externally, and will bring color back to the hair. 

I hope you have found something that you can use sage to help you with. It is a very useful and resourceful plant. It is worth growing and in some areas is an evergreen and will keep its leaves all year long. The leaves can easily be dried for use in the winter.

Emotional Well Being

  Emotional Well Being

Jo Francks, MH

I recently received a call from someone who was considering ending his life. He thought he was calling a hotline for help with his issues but somehow got my number. In this situation, I had to think fast to help him change his thinking and help him realize that his life mattered and that he was of great worth on earth. He was surprised at the things I said to him as if I knew him. I know what I said to him came from a higher source and it was no coincidence that he got my number. When we finished our conversation he was in a much better place emotionally. Unfortunately, there are many people silently suffering from emotional and mental issues that don’t know where to turn for help. I will be sharing some sources that people can use to help with emotional issues.

Number one is proper nutrition and herbs. We want to get the nervous system and the endocrine system working optimally. First eliminate toxins that are disruptive to the nervous system which can create an imbalance in the body's chemical system. These include sugar, artificial colors or sweeteners, MSG or “Natural Flavorings”, and anything that is added to food as a preservative. Eat food from the produce section, organic as much as possible, and nuts and seeds. Avoid gluten if you are sensitive to it. The nervous system requires calcium and B vitamins to work properly. The Relax-Eze formula is a wonderful supplement for the nervous system. Individual nervine herbs of valerian, skullcap, chamomile, or kava kava can be very helpful for rebuilding the nerves. Another help would be the Herbal Calcium formula to provide the building blocks for calcium the body can use. 

There are many herbs that can help with mental well being. I always recommend the MindTrac formula. Herbs to strengthen the endocrine system are always helpful because this is where hormones are made in the body. When the glands are functioning properly the hormones will come into balance. Adaptogens are helpful for this. Ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, schizandra, and ginseng are some examples of adaptogens that can help with the endocrine system. The Glandular System formula and the formulas specific to glandular weakness should be considered such as the Adrenal formula, the Thyroid Maintenance formula, or the Hormonal Changease formula. 

There are also some self help tools available online and in books to help overcome negative thinking and negative emotional states. 

Feelings Buried Alive Never Die by Karol Truman is a book that has tools to help overcome negative thinking and to help release negative thoughts. One of the first things the author suggests working on is the thought pattern of not liking yourself. She has you work on this belief before anything else. Can you guess why?

EFT is another tool you can use on your own to release negative thoughts and behaviors. Gary Craig originated this technique. It stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is often called tapping. Gary Craig and Nick Ortner both have resources online that can be accessed easily. There are many instructional YouTube videos teaching this technique for free. 

The Emotion Code by Dr. Bradley Nelson is a tool to release trapped emotions in the body which can cause physical symptoms. You can learn it on your own or find a practitioner that is efficient in the technique who can help. 

These are a few tools and modalities that are very helpful for emotional and mental issues that can be done on your own or with the help of a qualified practitioner. 

Compassion for others is lacking in our world today. A wise man that once walked the earth taught us to love others and that peace begins with you. Let us always remember that there are people out there that need a cup of kindness and that is free to give to anyone. 

Elecampane

 Elecampane

Inula helenium

Jo Francks MH

When looking for an effective herb to treat lung problems, consider elecampane. It has a long history of treating various illnesses in the pulmonary system including asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and whooping cough. It can be used alone or in combination with other herbs for the lungs such as horehound, mullein or wild cherry bark. It’s a good herb to use at the first sign of a cough, runny nose, sore throat or sinus infection.

Elecampane’s medicinal properties are in the root and rhizome and it can contain up to 40% of inulin, a substance that will feed the friendly bacteria in the colon. Elecampane helps with all pulmonary and catarrhal problems. Its sodium phosphate cleans the liver and digestive organs, the potassium chloride dissolves the fibrinous exudations and mucoid matter, and its calcium chlorine supports, feeds and tones the heart muscles. 

It is a stimulant, a relaxant, and a tonic to the mucous membrane, a warming strengthening cleansing and toning agent to the intestinal tract and pulmonary membranes. Because of its powerful healing action and efficient expectoration of pulmonary mucus, some herbalists have considered it a specific remedy for consumption and pulmonary disorders. It promptly clears up old chronic diseases of the lungs and chest.

Elecampane has antimicrobial properties making it effective against viral, fungal or bacterial infections.

Elecampane is often used for digestive problems, especially since it has such a high level of inulin. This makes it helpful when trying to balance gut bacteria. It will help slow down absorption of sugar to prevent sudden changes in blood sugar levels. It also helps to decrease inflammation in the intestines, lungs, and elsewhere in the body. 

Violet

 Violet

 

The International Herb Association has chosen Violet, Viola spp. as the herb of the year for 2022. Violet is also known as Pansy, Heartsease, Johnny Jump-Up and other common names. I think this is one of the funnest flowers in all the flower gardens I see because it is so colorful and unique. What makes it even better is that it has such wonderful medicinal properties.  

Violets are early blooming flowers and often follow the melting snow. You can see the leaves popping up from the soil in early spring. The heart shaped leaves and the flowers are used as a pulmonary aid and are used for rheumatism and skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. There is evidence that this herb has been used to treat cancer. Its medicinal properties include mucilage, laxative, emetic (root), alterative, and antiseptic. 

We love it for its beauty, but if you want to harvest the plant for medicinal use, cut the stems about a third of the way up just before the blooms open or just after. Dry all the parts to use for making tea, or it can be made into a tincture, extract, oil or ointment. The roots are not used since they could cause vomiting but the plant parts above ground are very safe.  

Violet has been used as an herbal aid for centuries. To treat insomnia Askham’s Herbal recommends making a tea of the herb and soaking the feet in it. Then bind the herb to the temples when going to bed. 

When Napoleon went to Elba His last message to his adherents was that he should return with Violets. Hence he was alluded to and toasted by them in secret as Caporal Violette, and the Violet was adopted as the emblem of the imperial Napoleonic party. (A Modern Herbal, Volume 2, pg 835)

 The older writers had great faith in Syrup of Violets: ague, epilepsy, inflammation of the eyes, sleeplessness, pleurisy, jaundice and quinsy are only a few of the ailments for which it was held potent. Gerard says: ‘It has power to ease inflammation, roughness of the throat and comforteth the heart, asuageth the pains of the head and causeth sleep.’ (Ibid)

 

‘Sirrup of Violets

(As it appears in A Modern Herbal Volume 2, pg 835)

‘Take a quantity of Blew Violets, clip off the whites and pound them well in a stone morter; then take as much fair running water as will sufficiently moisten them and mix with the Violets; strain them all; and  to every halfe pint of the liquor put one pound of the best loafe sugar; set it on the fire, putting the sugar in as it melts, still stirring it; let it boyle but once or twice att the most; then take it from the fire, and keep it to your use. This is a dainty sirrup of Violets.’

 

Echinacea

 Echinacea

Jo Francks

This time of year is the time to reflect and show appreciation and give thanks for the great blessings in our lives. One of those blessings for me is the knowledge that I have of herbs and the herbs themselves that have blessed me and my family for so many years. 

Echinacea was one of the first herbs we used and found that it was a true blessing for healing from colds and flu. It seemed to never let us down when we needed its virtues.  Whenever we felt sick we would reach for the echinacea extract bottle and most times it was what we grew and made ourselves. It helped to stimulate our immune system and stop the cold from progressing and we’d feel better in no time. Echinacea is an herb I wouldn’t want to be without. 

Echinacea has many different species. The most common are Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea commonly known as purple coneflower. All parts of the plant can be used but the root is most often what is sold for medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowers have many of the same benefits as the root and can be picked and dried for making infusions or extracts. 

Echinacea flowers have purple ray petals and bristly cones in the center, They are on a long erect stalk with lance-shaped toothed leaves. The properties of echinacea are to stimulate the immune system by increasing the white blood cells making it effective for fighting infection in the body. It is a powerful blood purifier and is known as a remedy for snake bites and spider bites. Echinacea can be taken frequently at the first sign of an illness and is effective for about 5 days then take a couple of days off and start again. Topically echinacea can be applied to any wound and it will help prevent infection and encourage healing. 

Echinacea has been used by Native Americans throughout history. It is native to North America but caution should be used in gathering plants in their natural habitat because of over-harvesting. We want to keep this plant around forever. It is a very nice plant to grow in any herb garden and adds color and beauty as well as medicinal benefits. It can be cultivated by seed or root transplants. 

If you don’t have echinacea growing in your herb garden, consider adding it this next growing season. It will provide beauty and medicine when needed and will be something you will be grateful for. 

Change of Seasons

 Change of Seasons

Jo Francks MH

As we go from summer to autumn we feel the change in the air, the leaves lose their green luster and take on a shade of gold to brilliant red and eventually fall to the earth to become a blanket of mulch and protection to the soil through the cold winter. Gardens are coming to an end of the bounteous gifts of life-giving food. Kids go back to school and parents are either elated or are missing them. Emotions can be fluctuating as much as the temperature because of the many changes that we are facing. 

This can be a time to take a look at the herbs that can help with those fluctuating emotions.

Nervine herbs can be helpful to regulate and rebuild the nervous system. For overall feelings of stress, my favorite herb is valerian. It can be taken when nerves are shot and 20 minutes later you can be feeling normal again. It works that fast. It may be a good idea to take it with peppermint or another mild stimulating herb if you don’t have time for a nap. Valerian is safe for children and can be used to help them calm down especially through an illness or to help them sleep at night. Other nervine herbs to consider are skullcap, chamomile, or passionflower. Dr. Christopher’s Relax-Eze formula combines many herbs to work in synergy for the nervous system.

Adaptogen herbs help regulate the immune system and help your body adapt to changes going on in your life and to stressful situations. Back to school, Loss of a job, divorce, death of a loved one, or even a change of season, are situations one would consider using an adaptogen for. A well-known adaptogen is ginseng. It has a long history of use for good reason. It strengthens the life force energy of the body and builds Chi. Adaptogens effect and strengthen the endocrine system which is responsible for hormone production. If hormones are out of balance it may be beneficial to look at adaptogens to see if they can help. Some other common adaptogens are ashwagandha, eleuthero, holy basil, licorice root and shiitake mushrooms. 

Another category of herbs that are useful through the seasonal change is herbs for the heart and circulatory system. Hawthorn is the first to come to mind when thinking of heart herbs and cayenne for circulation. The heart is the most important muscle in the body and unlike the rest of our muscles, it never stops its action. Keeping the heart healthy is a number one consideration for good health. This is done by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, reducing stress and using herbs that keep the heart healthy. Other herbs to consider for the heart are motherwort if you are having palpitations, and valerian which strengthens the heart beat without increasing the heart rate. Ginger and ginkgo help increase circulation.

As the seasons change keep in mind all the wonderful herbs that are available to assist the body in a gentle way to help it move into the fall season.