Try an Herb Tuesday- Skullcap

Skullcap, botanically known as Scutellaria lateriflora, is known as a "calming" herb, one that is good for any stressful situation, but especially for those that are grief related. Historically, Skullcap has been used to calm the mind, to stop the cycle of circular thoughts, and to ease emotional stress and tension, especially when dealing with the pain of break ups or loss. It encourages mental clarity and brings a renewed focus to thoughts, as well as actions.  

It is usually made into a tincture or a tea, and has a somewhat bitter taste. Skullcap is known to stimulate digestion, and even to trigger feelings of hunger. Since the gastro-intestinal tract tends to become sluggish when we are stressed, the use of skullcap can help to return our system to health. It is said to relax tight muscles and to relieve headaches. It can be used when needed, or it can be taken daily, as a preventative treatment. When taken daily, it not only restores the body and the mind, but it works as a strengthener to prepare the body to better respond to future stresses. This herb is one that was likely in every medicine cabinet, and would do well in yours! 

Tripod Thursdays- Calming the Waters- Peace, Beauty and Serenity

Happy Tripod Thursday!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are several thousands of words. I hope that the Peace, Beauty and Serenity of them will Calm your Waters!

     From the Newport (KY) Aquarium

The Charms of Chamomile

Chamomile has been noted for centuries as being calming, comforting and as a healing herb. Over 400 years ago herbalists noted that drinking chamomile was good for indigestion, while bathing in an infusion of chamomile flowers seemed to relieve aching joints and strained muscles. In shampoo and hair rinses chamomile is purported to keep blond hair at its golden best, while it is traditionally recommended to topically treat swelling from arthritis, burns, and sprains, it has also been noted to decrease redness of the skin that is due to irritations. Chamomile is also noted as a mild sedative and an anti-errythemic (anti-itch) medicine. Used as a treatment for everything from teething pain relief to diaper rash relief, this herb has long had the reputation of being good for "whatever ails you"! As a matter of fact, chamomile is frequently used in many products for adults and children, and is often preferred for infants and children, for both internal and topical remedies, because of its mildness. Chamomile is one of the few medicinal plants that still have a large, prominent role in modern medicine. European researchers have shown that substances found in the essential oil of chamomile flowers have anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, sedative and analgesic properties. Some studies also report that chamomile oil or extract soothes burned or irritated skin, and even helps to prevent stomach ulcers. The tea made from the chamomile flowers has long been touted to help calm an upset stomach and to help induce sleepiness. It seems that centuries old folklore is a modern day fact! Chamomile comes in two species, the Roman and the German, but both belong to the same family as asters and daisies. The flower heads resemble mini daisies, and are where the healing power is found. The flower heads are the part of the herb that the essential oil is distilled from, and they yield an azure blue volatile oil. Chamomile is considered to be one of the safest herbs to use, frequently recommended for use by infants, children and pregnant women, however, anyone with a ragweed, daisy, aster, or mum allergy should exercise caution when using chamomile products, and especially think twice about drinking chamomile tea. Now I have to say that many people, even those with such allergies, do use chamomile products without any adverse affects, it is generally better safe than sorry, most especially with internal preparations! If a topical makes your skin red or itchy, it is fairly easy to discontinue use, but if your airway is swelling shut it is not something you can take care of yourself! Chamomile is purported to help;

• reduce inflammation
• sooth skin irritations, including diaper rash
• decrease toothache and teething pain
• reduce earaches
• ease indigestion, including colic in infants
• calm nerves
• promote rest/sleep
• reduce cold symptoms
• relieve menstrual cramps
• prevent stomach ulcers

You can buy a cup of chamomile tea in restaurants all over the world, or purchase pre-made bags in your local grocery store, but this tea is going to be weak. Even the strongest of prepared teas will only contain 10-15% of the volatile oil that the flowers themselves have. So.....if you would like something stronger, remember that many health experts feel that a cup of tea a day will provide long-term health benefits, you can simply brew about 1 Tbs. of flower heads to about 1 cup of water, strain and sip! When cooled, this solution can also be used as a hair rinse. You can even infuse some olive oil with an ounce of flowers, leave sit for several days then strain and use as a body oil.

I just planted my chamomile last week, but I still have some dried from my old house, so I think I will head to the kitchen and brew a cup, as all this writing has made me thirsty!

WRAP YOUR MIND AND BODY AROUND THIS

After you have scrubbed your body the next step in your at home spa treatment is the body wrap. It is important to treat yourself, to maximize your relaxation, maximize the revitalizing and rejuvenating aspects of this therapy. So go all out for yourself. If your bath area is large, you may want to take a lounge chair and space heater into it. Or you can utilize the tub by simply adding a bath or real pillow, and the heater of course. Some wraps are best done in the bath to keep clean up at a minimum, but you can always go all out by transforming your bedroom into a spa for a few hours. Draw the curtains, dim the lights, light some aromatic candles, preferably some lavender essential oil ones, and maybe some chamomile too. Then bring in a space heater, some large bath towels and all the items you will need for your treatment. Don't forget to uplug the phone either! Prepare your mind so that you can get the most out of this time, you deserve it!

TIPS

• Make sure that if you are not doing this right after you scrubbed, you remove all dirt, perfumes and lotions before beginning a wrap. A quick shower should accomplish this goal with ease.
• It is important to warm all your tools, towels, sheets, and ingredients prior to use. This will help to retain the heat during your treatment, which will help the treatment to work more efficiently.
• The sheet or cotton strips should be immersed in water that is approx. 180 degrees F or 82 degrees C.
• Wear rubber gloves to protect your skin, and avoid burns when wringing out the sheet or cotton strips.
• Select your relaxation spot and gather all of your needed items before you begin. Having everything at hand will speed the preparation phase and allow for a more streamlined and effective treatment.
• Using a space heater near the relaxation area will prolong the heat of the wrap.
• Sipping some hot herbal tea before you wrap will raise your body temperature and intensify the effects of the wrap.
• You can use a cheap shower curtain liner (they have them at the dollar stores) instead of buying a plastic sheet.
• Watch for bedding sales and buy yourself an all cotton (you can also use linen, but I prefer cotton) sheet to cut and use for treatment strips. You will need them to be about 3" wide. You can wash and reuse them many times, so one will be sufficient for quite a while.
• When you make pastes, make them the consistency of mayonnaise for optimal benefits.
• You are not finished with your treatment when the wrap is done. You need to cuddle up in a warm bath robe for another 20 minutes, and make sure that you do not attempt to do any physical activity immediately after the treatment.

*WRAP RECIPES*

*REMINERALIZING WRAP* 3 ounces fresh seaweed (Kelp) OR 8 ounces dried or powdered seaweed with enough water to make a paste plastic sheet or Mylar sheet blanket space heater Place your blanket at the bottom of your bath tub and then place the plastic or mylar sheet on top of it. Set the heater close by and turn it on. Undress. While sitting on the sheet, cover yourself with the fresh seaweed or the seaweed paste, whichever you are using, then wrap yourself in the plastic sheet and blanket. Relax like this for twenty minutes. After your twenty minutes are up, unwrap yourself slowly. Toss the blanket and sheet out of the tub and fill the tub with warm water. Relax in the tub water for ten minutes, then pat dry and moisturize. Kelp is the most popular type of seaweed used in cosmetics and for healing purposes. Seaweed wraps are an easy and fast way to replenish the body with nutrients and minerals that are lost on a daily basis such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iodine, copper, amino acids, vitamins, protein and phosphorus. Since seawater has the same basic molecular formation as the human blood cell, nutrients from the seawater are able to easily filter through the skin pores and be absorbed directly into the blood stream.

*REJUVENATING WRAP*

1 cup fresh, chopped lemongrass OR 1/2 cup dried 3" piece of ginger root, grated or minced large pot of boiling water - spaghetti or lobster pot size 1 cotton sheet cut into 3" wide strips 1 plastic sheet 1 or 2 blankets Put the lemongrass and the ginger into a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Cover and let simmer for five minutes, then remove from heat and allow to sit for an additional five minutes. Take a strainer and scoop out as much of the plant material as you can, and throw it away. Place the strips in the infused hot water and allow to steep for five minutes. When the time is up, draw out the strips one at a time and wring out the excess water. Start at your legs and snugly wrap the strips around your body. After the legs, do the arms, then finish with your torso. Tuck strip ends into the strip in another spot to help make the fit snug and secure. After you have applied all the strips, wrap yourself in the plastic sheet then cover yourself with the blanket or blankets. Relax in bed or on a lounge chair for fifteen minutes, then remove the strips and shower in warm water, pat dry and moisturize. This wrap makes a great morning treatment, as the lemongrass has tonic, antiseptic and invigorating properties, while the ginger is cleansing and stimulating. Ginger has been found to rid the body of respiratory ailments, colds and flu type symptoms, while lemongrass is a known mood elevator and rejuvenator.

*RELAXATION WRAP*

1 cup fresh chamomile, chopped OR 1/2 cup dried 1 cup valerian root, grated OR 1/2 cup dried 1 cup lavender, crushed OR 1/2 cup dried 1 cotton sheet cut into 3" wide strips 1 large pot of boiling water (spaghetti or lobster pot) 1 plastic sheet 1 or 2 blankets Place all the herbs in the pot, fill with water and bring to a boil. Then cover and simmer for five minutes, remove from the heat and allow to stand for another five minutes, then remove as much of the solids as you can with a strainer, tossing them out and retaining the infused water. Put the sheet strips in the water and allow to steep for five minuets. Remove the strips one at a time and wring out the excess water before you begin to wrap them around your legs. Continue removing a strip at a time, and wrapping until you are completely wrapped. Do legs, then arms, then torso. Tuck the strip ends into the strip at another point so that it holds snugly. Once wrapped, lay on the plastic sheet and roll yourself up in it, then relax on your bed or in a lounge chair, and cover yourself with a blanket or two for ten minutes. When your time is up, remove the strips and simply hit the bed. Valerian has been used since Roman times as a mild sedative, sleep aide and reliever. Chamomile has calming and anti-spasmodic effects, while lavender has relaxing, soothing, and restorative properties. The use of all three of these combined makes this the perfect wrap to prepare you for bed after a long, stressful day. Do not shower for several hours after this wrap so that you can preserve and prolong the effects of the heat treatment.