Reset Sunday: Herbal Play

Dandelion, while considered a weed by most people, has many healing properties

There are so many amazing healing plants and medicinal mushrooms out there, that it is easy to get overwhelmed and not try any of them or just stick to a few favorite standby's and not exploresomething new. This week, chose one herb or medicinal mushroom that you would like to learn more about and try. You can use you intuition to pick one or you can research according to a specific ailment or condition. If you want to try chinese herbs, I would suggest making an appointment with an acupuncturist or an herbalist to procure the perfect formula. When researching your herb, ask the following questions:

1. What are the health benefits?
2. How is it traditionally prepared (in a tea, as a powdered supplement, fresh, as a tincture)?
3. Are there any contraindications or precautions you need to take?
4. Is it a tonic herb that you take daily to support your health or is it something you take short-term to help heal an acute condition like a urinary tract infection or a cold?
5. What is the recommended dosage?
6. Where can I find the most potent organic or wild-harvested version of this plant? (Don't trust pre-made formulas from unknown or unrecommended websites/companies. Many places make lofty cure-all claims and the quality or there herbs may not be up to standard.)

After you have researched and sourced the herb, experiment with it and see if you notice any changes to your health. I have found herbal support to be crucial in preventing colds and flus, restoring my health when I start to feel sick or run-down, and in curing infections.

You may be able to find the herbs you are looking for in your local health food store but remember that not all herbal products have the same potency and hence, effectiveness. Here are some resources for finding organic/wild-harvested herbs and mushrooms online:

Mountain Rose Herbs: a great place to buy a wide variety of bulk loose leaf herbs

Ultimate Superfoods: a place to find a selection of ayurvedic herbs as well as high-quality superfoods

Banyan Botanicals: organic ayurvedic herbs

Mushroom Harvest: my source for all medicinal mushrooms such as reishi and cordyceps

The following are 3 products that I use to stop myself from getting colds and flus. They are not cheap but if I take them when I start feeling sick, I can kick the illness before it gets me. The Echinacea and Super Tonic, I take when I notice a lot of people around me seem to be catching colds or if I am really busy and may be taxing my immune system more than usual. I also take them if it would be particularly inconvenient time to get sick. If I feel the slightest signs of sickness such as a tickle in my throat or general fatigue, these are my first defense. The Cold and Flu Herbal shots, I take when I feel that I am truly getting sick or the symptoms are worsening quickly and they seem to restore my health fairly quickly. 

Echinacea plus

Super Tonic

Cold and Flu Herbal Shots

Here is a short list of some of my favorite healing plants and mushrooms:

Ginger root (tea or fresh): soothes nausea, fights colds and sore throats, aids digestion

Mint (tea): aids digestion, invigorating

Roasted Dandelion Root (tea): liver support

Reishi Mushrooms (tea, tincture, powdered): immune booster, many healing properties make this a great daily tonic

Echinacea (tincture): powerful immune booster

Garlic (fresh, tincture, juice): fights colds, immune booster, anti-oxidant rich, may prevent heart disease

Tumeric (fresh, powder): anti-inflammatory, extremely healing and can be used daily in cooking and as a supplement

Dianthus formula: chinese herbal formula for treatment of UTI's 

 If you find any herbs that you that you particularly like, please share your experiences with them in the comments. I am always excited to learn about new plants and enjoy their healing properties. Good luck on your herbal journey.

Reset Sunday: The Things That Bring Me Back

For a print of this illustration, click here

Ever since I was a child, I loved list-making. Lists would consolidate and distill my ideas, tasks, wishes, thoughts and observations into a very clear, concise, and manageable space. Everyone is a familiar with the old standard: the To-do List. While often helpful, I am going leave that diligent-worker list behind for now in favor of a light-hearted list that brims with joy, playfulness, and wonder. I call this list: "The Things that Bring Me Back" This list catalogues all the things big and small that make you feel the joy of being alive. They are the things that awaken you to the thrill of the moment; that catapult you into a state of awe and expansiveness, that warm you with love and open you heart.
   We all have days when we feel like the sunshine has been drained out and been replaced with a dull internal monotone. We feel disconnected and disinterested. We see no progress, no significant change, and our sense of meaning seems poorly fabricated, flimsy at best. This is exactly what we need to be "brought back" from. We have travelled down the gloomy path of apathy, discouragement or sadness and this list reminds of the things that serve as golden lifelines back to ourselves, restoring our energy, our sense of purpose and innate joy.
   So sit down and let your mind roam until you stumble upon these special things that bring you back. They will be unique to you so don't judge them or edit. Just be honest and true to yourself. Meditating for a half hour each day may be what you think should work but maybe it is actually just seeing a funny picture of a cat. My list took the form of a doodle but you can also just write a regular vertical list, use colorful markers, draw pictures of add photos, or just type it into your computer. Just the act of writing this list can help remind you of why life is so grand! Post your list in places you see often: over your desk, on the refrigerator, in the bathroom. Read it often, especially when you feel lost and need to find your way back.