Wow! Newspaper Search

This is great everybody... try searching for various things in Google News Archives. I entered the term "herbs". You can then see all these great recipes and news throughout time. Try selecting a time range.

Spring Cleansing

We are in the midst of spring cleansing season. If you haven't yet done a spring cleanse, here are some tips. The spring is a natural time to cleanse as we leave behind the winter and enter a new season of growth. The fresh shoots of spring greens brought a welcome relief historically from eating preserved food and winter vegetables.

* If you haven't cleansed before, get educated. There are so many. At your local health food store you will find herbal packages. You could also put together your own herbal teas. Some people do The Master Cleanse. Others simply omit all except for organic vegetables and fruit for a week or so. Water fasting may be a bit extreme if it is your first time.

* Make sure that you get lots of sleep and take time to rest when cleansing. Your body will be going through changes, and may need to lie down at times to process the release of winter gunk, toxins, emotions, old thoughts... whatever may be coming up for you.

* Be careful with herbal laxatives. Go with cholagogues instead (such as yellow dock) that stimulate bile production instead of laxatives which may make you dependent.

* To help the process of cleansing, remember to drink lots of clean water, with lemon if you can (rinse your mouth with water after having lemon drinks to prevent the citrus eating away your teeth).

* At this time, clean your home, go through the basement, filter your files, go through your clothes and give some away to 2nd hand stores... your outer environment is a reflection of your inner environment: what needs to shift?

* If you feel really ill and have only been drinking vegetable juices for two days then you CAN slow down your cleanse, remember you are in control, and if you are not into torturing your body, then slow down. Make a green smoothie (the fibre will slow down the detox) or add some ground flax to your juice or have some fruit.

* Cravings may arise during your cleanse for a variety of things. Breathe and count to 25... have some fruit. Keep going.

* Add solid food into your diet slowly afterwards, or your tummy may feel bad!

* Take an enema or get a colonic - this may help a lot of digestive distress, headaches or aches & pains.

* Dry brush, give yourself facials with honey or avocados, take hot Epsom salt baths, take hot/cold showers.

* Go for long walks in nature and stretch/ practice yoga.

* Whatever you do, listen to your body, and make adjustments as necessary.

And reward yourself at the end of your cleanse. You have just done something great not only for yourself. You have become more clear and focussed, and can bring that clarity to whatever your purpose may be (now go and save the planet!).

The Green Hearth September Special

September. A time to begin transitioning into the cooler months ahead. It may also be a time of stress as Summer vacations pass, and the business of work and school begins. Come and experience relief from your worries with a balancing Reiki treatment.



Read on to find out about a special gift handmade for you to help with the seasonal change!

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki sessions combine traditional Usui Reiki with guided imagery based on your natural, unique energies and needs. Your Reiki treatment ends with a clearing using sound and herbal smudging. Come for relaxation, leave feeling nourished and renewed.

Reiki's Benefits:
⁃ relax the mind and body
⁃ release and balance emotions
⁃ increase energy
⁃ promote creativity
⁃ support positive changes in your life

FREE GIFT: Included with your Reiki treatment this month is a week long supply of Three Root Tea plus directions for doing a gentle cleanse. As the season turns is the perfect time to let go of old stuff and clear your body for new nutrition and experiences. Three Root Tea includes Burdock Root, Dandelion Root and Yellow Dock Root. The Three Root Tea is deep acting and excellent as a blood purifier, for lymphatic congestion, kidney and bladder problems, liver and gallbladder function and more. The directions call for a very easy and simple cleanse so that you can continue with your daily life.

BONUS!: You will receive a Harvest Bundle. Included in the Bundle is a Harvest Prayer, and supplies to carry out a small yet potent Harvest ritual, honoring the season that has passed, and bringing in the Autumn.

One session, with all gifts included, is $75. Sliding scale depending on income available, please let me know. The September gifts have a retail value of $25 but are yours FREE with your Reiki treatment. While quantities last. Reserve your appointment today! Book three treatments for the price of $200 and receive the September gifts + a surprise bonus gift.

Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested. Daytime and evening appointments available. Allow for 1 1/2 hours for each appointment. I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area.

To book your appointment, call or e-mail.

Marta: 416.433.4915 or bastinboots@gmail.com

Late August Report

What an exciting month it has been. I am freshly back from the New England Womens Herbal Conference, and had an amazing adventure there, attending workshops on Depression and Anxiety, Roseroot and Holy Basil, Reading the Body, Mushrooms, Herbs for a High Energy Life and more more more!

One of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, Floredemayo, graced us with her visit, blessing and stories, and sang to us a lullaby. We also listened to stories and a call to action from Diane Miller of the Health Freedom Coalition.

I am excited to incorporate many of the teachings and be able to share them with you.

I'm So Excited!

I will be attending the New England Womens Herbal Conference in a few weeks.

August Special

Summer is here and we'd all like to relax a little. Your vacation has finally arrived but you find yourself in a cycle of anxiety and stress. And, to top it off, you feel run down. The problem may be more than physical. This August, whether your vacation lasts two weeks or a long weekend, allow for a gentle, rebalancing Reiki treatment to help you transition into relaxation.

I love to give you more than expected. Read on to find out about a special gift handmade for you!

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki treatments combine traditional Usui Reiki with a guided meditation based on your natural, unique energies and needs. Your Reiki treatment ends with a clearing using sound and herbal smudging. Come for relaxation, leave feeling nourished and renewed.

Reiki's Benefits:
⁃ relax the mind and body
⁃ release and balance emotions
⁃ increase energy
⁃ promote creativity
⁃ support positive changes in your life

FREE GIFT: Included with your Reiki treatment is a handmade herbal salve. A salve is an ointment used to soothe body surfaces. August's Salve is made with calendula flowers infused in olive olive, beeswax and essential oils. Use for the nicks, cuts and the sun touched lips of summer, as well as after gardening on your hands. Perfect for cuticles, to rub into feet after a foot soak, dry knees or elbows and itchy skin. Antifungal and antibacterial.

For the month of August you can get the Reiki treatment for only $60 (regular price $75).

BONUS!: When you arrive for your appointment, a herbal foot soak will be awaiting your tired feet. Includes a salt scrub. While you enjoy the soak, I will massage your hands and your Reiki treatment will begin!

The August gift has a retail value of $20 but is yours FREE with your Reiki treatment. While quantities last. Reserve your appointment today! Book three treatments for the price of $150 and receive the August gift + a surprise bonus gift.

Feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested. Daytime and evening appointments available. Allow for 1 1/2 hours for each appointment. I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area.

To book your appointment, call or e-mail.

Marta: 416.433.4915 or bastinboots@gmail.com

Happenings

I thought I would share some of the happenings in my life.

~In June I had a very powerful experience at a Tony Robbins event. He had us in peak state for hours, and I walked on fire near the CN Tower, with my limp and all. I felt so empowered afterwards, and relieved;) My life has truly shifted since that weekend and me and my boyfriend have signed up for more Tony Robbins events. Next stop, Arizona in December -> Date with Destiny~

~Since May I have been going every Tuesday evening to the community gardens in High Park to work on a herb garden with a Toronto herbalist. My awareness of herbs and of the plant world has grown tremendously. In the Fall we will continue with harvesting and creating foods and medicines, such as fermented food and salves~

~June also marked the end of the classes I was making up at the Transformational Arts College. I am officially finished my classes for my Certified Natural Health Practitioner certification (ok, fine, I have a few Spiritual Healing classes to do over the summer, but no homework from those:). AND I am almost finished my case work for the program, and super excited to offer you extended services as soon as I am licensed~

~My garden is growing all lovely, with heritage tomatoes, baby greens, sunflowers, pumpkins!, plums, pears, grapes and oh so many herbs:) I am particularly happy to be growing quite a few herbs that I can make medicines out of, as well as dry to make smudge (herbs that are burned for purification)~

I truly hope everyone is having a beautiful summer, and getting outside into nature as much as possible. Till soon, XO

July Special!

Hello! I am having a special for the month of July. Come & enjoy a one hour long Reiki treatment (perfect for stress, anxiety & chronic illness) for $60 (Summer price) + receive a lovely gift of handmade herbal concoctions.

Included in the gift is a glass amber bottle of The Queen of Hungary’s Water, handmade by infusing various herbs, such as lemon balm, roses, lavender, calendula & more, in organic apple cider vinegar. To this I add rose water, witch hazel distillate and essential oils for a truly special water. Use for: mosquito & insect bites, skin conditions, aftershave & facial toner. The Queen of Hungary’s Water is said to be one of the first European perfumes, and has been used as a cure-all for centuries in various fashions.

Also included in your gift are sachets of Vision Tea, formulated by me using herbs and trees. The Vision Tea is perfect for brewing up on camping trips and sipping under the night stars or when you require spiritual clearing and access to your inner vision. Comes in individual, biodegradable tea bags.

The July gift has a retail value of $20 but is yours FREE with your Reiki treatment. While quantities last. Reserve your appointment today! Book three treatments for the price of $150 and receive the July gift + a surprise bonus gift.

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. My Reiki treatments combine traditional Usui Reiki with a nourishing guided meditation that I create specifically for you based on your natural, unique energies and needs. Your Reiki treatment ends with a clearing using sound and herbal smudging. Come for relaxation, leave feeling nourished and renewed.

Daytime and evening appointments available. I am located in the Dundas and Ossington area. To book your treatment contact me:

Marta: 416.433.4915 or bastinboots@gmail.com

Cabbage Poultices

You're probably saying WHAT? Yes, CABBAGE. I love my cabbage poultices. A poultice can be made with many plant materials. In the past few months my knee has been sublexing (the patella has been shifting). Now we believe there is a meniscus tear as well, the MRI I am scheduled for will tell. In the meantime, I wrap cabbage leaves around my knee at night.

From last night's poultice the swelling and fluid retention went down at least 50%. I was overjoyed to have the increased mobility this morning. Try it for your inflammations, joint swellings, and much much more. Wonderful on your liver during a liver detox.

The wonderful cabbage astounds me. Raw, juiced, cooked, fermented - awesome in so many ways. Raw cabbage juice is a key element in healing ulcers.

Here are directions!

(thanks net_efekt on Flickr for the pic)

Herbalism

I just had an interesting time clicking though all the links in the Wikipedia article on Herbalism.

Fever

I have run into so many people in the past while who have been ill recently. There seem to be various colds and strains of flu circulating. In fact, just last week I went through a flu, having caught it by taking care of my boyfriend. I found myself alone during the fever part of the sickness, and my first impulse, as probably strikes many people, was to take ibuprofen and make the pains and chills and heat go away. I tried it, but this time around it didn't help.

I have often read that the best way to get through a fever is to actually allow the fever to run its course. So alone, my mother calling me and my boyfriend chatting with me online, I decided to allow the fever. If the fever gets extremely high, especially in children, make sure to bring it down in whatever way you can. However, if you can handle it, try some of these recommendations.

1) First, cancel all your plans. No meetings, no homework, no work, no school, no socializing, no shopping, NOTHING. Just you and your bed. You need to rest and sleep and that's it. If you have contact with people, you will most likely get them sick. Let it end with you.

2) At the first signs make sure you have food in your fridge to get you through the next few days. You will usually know a day or so before being ill. Order through an online food delivery service if need be.

3) On a regular basis stock some of the following dry herbs in glass, amber bottles in a cool, dark place. Herbs include: sage, thyme, yarrow, boneset, elderberry. As soon as the fever begins start drinking strong infusions of herbs such as yarrow or boneset to help induce sweat. Diaphoretic herbs help the body sweat, and you want to support your fever, it is your friend! Your fever will help, for lack of a better word, kill the virus or infection and it will cool you down.

4) Tinctures I have found useful include this one from St. Francis Herb Farm. I pour hot water over it and it is so soothing on any inflamed tissues in your throat, sinuses, or chest.

5) Try hydrotherapy. There is the old practice of using wet clothes on the forehead and neck to help moderate the fever. This really helped me the second night I had my fever. I had a horrible headache and just kept laying on a cool, water soaked cloth all night long. It was a life saver for me. Also, wear wet cotton socks, this will bring the heat down from your head and cool you down. A lukewarm bath will help too.

6) Remember to drink lots of water, tea, ginger tea, ginger ale: lots of liquids.

My fever took 48 hours to pass, and it was up and down throughout. At one point I dreamt I was being burned by the sun. I'm really happy I used all the above remedies for the fever, I feel like I allowed the fever to do it's job. Remember the best remedy of all: REST & SLEEP.

Herbs for Teens Workshop

Herbs for Teens
Do you like lavender, chamomile and mint? Come out for this fascinating workshop and learn about the world of common herbs, including how to use them in your daily life in teas, skin care and more. Boys and girls welcome. $3 fee will cover the purchase of dried herbs that you get to take home!


Mississauga Central Library
301 Burnhamthorpe Road W.
Meeting Room CL3 (Administration Wing)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Fee: $3 (Pay on day of class)
Ages 12Y and up

Space is limited.
Please register in advance by calling 905-615-3200 ex. 3544.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) in Winter

So of course it happened. I booked some time away from work and I got sick. It started as a hoarseness in my chest and progressed to laryngitis like symptoms (I lost my voice for a couple of days) and ended with my sinuses all plugged up. The worst part was (and this keeps changing in my mind) the tiredness. Although it was hard to sleep, I somehow still managed 15 hours a day at least. That was over a week ago and I am still pooped. I would wake up late, see only 3-4 hours of light, and it would get dark again.

I didn't take any drug store drugs or antibiotics. From the beginning I focussed on herbs, hydrotherapy and essential oils. It still took time for it to move through my system, but I think I am better off afterwards not having filled my body with any drug store drugs. I covered my chest and upper back with a peppermint gel I made, did hot steams with eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils diluted in apple cider vinegar, took hot essential oil baths, drank mullein and sage tea, ate lots of soup, and took an immune herbal tincture daily (I really loved taking a tincture that had cayenne and organically grown goldenseal (don't get wildcrafted goldenseal, it's in danger in the wild), I would pour hot water over the tincture and it felt so good in my throat and in my chest).

Also, I had some mental problems during my sickness. My mind kept wandering and I felt down. Looking back over the past week I feel like I shed a lot, and cocooned myself in a chrysalis. Right now I feel like I am emerging, as one friend put it, coming back from the dead. And strangely much in my life has shifted. I realized that the symptom of losing my voice was a very clear sign telling me that somehow I have lost my way a bit in life. Somehow I have lost a say on where I am in life, and the forces of existence are controlling me, instead of me shaping my own destiny, having a say in what is going on. And I saw how much of my lack of say is rooted in past experiences and fears.

I am glad I got sick on my vacation. It gave me a chance to actually slow down, stay in one place, get grounded in my new home. Gain insight. The next time you are ill, take a look inside. What are your symptoms attempting to communicate?

The Holly and Ivy

When this time of year comes round, I usually go through a period of being overwhelmed by all the holiday (Hollyday:) parties, shopping for Christmas gifts, trying to make plans for the holidays that fit everyone's schedule and more. At the same time, I *LOVE* the evergreen boughs, the holly with it's red berries in my backyard, the two beautiful rosemary bushes that seem to be flourishing in my kitchen, and all the beautiful Solstice celebrations. It has taken me a few years to learn how to juggle everything, this year has been a bit too much, but also balanced out by the slow ways in my life.

My question for you this year is: Do you really need to eat all those cookies and all that candy? Do you really need to go to all those parties? Do you really need to drink so much alcohol? What are your excesses? Pulling back into yourself even a little can have marvelous benefits this time of year and help balance out the seasonal insanity. The longest night of the year invites not only celebrations of light and rebirth but also a time to be more introspective, to practice your slower and more yin yoga, to drink herbal teas and get a little bit more sleep. It is time for reflection and has the potential of being one of the most peaceful times of the year.

During the winter, I love root teas. Right now my favourite is burdock. Simmer 3 tsps. in 3 cups of water for 20 minutes and sip throughout the day. Burdock has so many healing qualities. I have also been drinking Ojibwa tea, which is more commonly known as Essiac. Burdock is one the the four herbs in this tea. Floressence is based on the traditional Ojibwa tea but has been formulated with 8 herbs, it is widely available and a great daily detoxification tea.

Ginger Tea

it's warm in Toronto for the next few days, but the cold weather is coming; here is a tea i love to make

ginger lemon rose hip tea

piece of ginger (about the size of your thumb)
2 cups water
agave or honey
a couple of teaspoons of rose hips or rose hip tea in tea bags
1 lemon

slice the ginger and put the water and ginger in a pot; bring to a boil then reduce and simmer for 20 minutes; if you have rose hips add them too, or you can add rose hip tea bags near the end to give the tea a pretty colour; strain the ginger and rose hips and add the juice of the lemon, 2 large teaspoons of agave or honey; in the summer i let stalks of fresh mint infuse in the hot tea in a large mason jar and then cool the tea for a nice pink ginger lemonade (pink from the rose hips:); adjust the lemon and agave/ honey to taste; you can also use a hibiscus tea or berry tea for colour

ginger is perfect for cold weather as it helps with circulation and warms the body, it is also good after the heavier meals of winter as it aids in digestion; rose hips are high in vitamin C ~ if you are sick and feeling brave add crushed shredded raw garlic to your tea, or try adding some crushed flax seeds when the tea is simmering for a soothing drink (more info here)