2012 or Bust!

So it seems like 2011 was a bust for me as far as blogging and putting together my herbal life. With a new baby and moving I have just been out of sorts I guess you can say. I am always seemingly trying to catch up and Catching Up has been my theme this year! My new theme however for 2012 is Getting Stuff Done that I LOVE!!

Right now I am taking Demetria Clark's Master of Aromatherapy course. It is completely online and something I LOVE. The whole reason I was led to herbal healing was through aromatherapy, so it is a joy! I am learning about many oils I had no idea existed too! Which is exciting!! I am hoping to knock this course out within the next couple of months or so. Winter is a wonderful time to work on this in Vermont! I have so many new concoctions in my head! Plus a long list of reading material I want to complete as well.

So much to do, so little time!

On an unrelated note..I found my herbal thin mints picture pinned on Pinterest! Totally flattering and I am so glad someone is actually reading my lame ass blog out there! Sometimes I wonder if it is just robo bots on my page at times! But now I know I actually have real live readers! WOOHOO! Anyway, it was a really validating moment for me so THANK YOU to whomever repinned my photo! It totally made my day! :)



 

The Herbal Medicine Cupboard

It's heading into Fall here in Vermont! I thought I would start gathering recipes for medicinal herbal concoctions for the winter. I am busy gathering recipes, plants, jars and other needed supplies! I'm definitely going to have a medicine making day really soon at my house. (One of my favorite things to do and it's been quite awhile since I have been motivated enough to make everything for the winter season. This year I'm making that happen though!)

Here's a few of the things I am going to make;

Osha Pastilles

Elecampane, Ginger and Horehound Syrup's

Fire Cider & Immune Support Tincture

Longevity Electuary

Elderberry Elixir


What do you make to keep on hand during the cold/flu season?

Choclate Covered Mint Leaves (aka herbal thin mints)

Chocolate covered mint leaves are to die for! =)

Did I mention these are easy to make?

All I did was dip freshly picked mint leaves into melted chocolate and then stuck it in the freezer for 10 minutes! Well worth the minimal effort.

Herbal Ally Challenge~ 2011

My herbalist friend Kristine (of Herbal Roots Zine) is hosting an Herbal Ally Challenge over on her blog for the year of 2011! Such awesomeness! Come join the fun!

I have decided to start the challenges and try to catch up on the 6 that I missed. If i can do 2 a week for the next 6 weeks I will be all caught up, so that's my goal!

Off to start my journal cover & read the rest of the challenges.

My ally is blue vervain! I'll be back to write about her some more later. :)

Spilanthes (Acmella oleracea)

Spilanthes is a fairly new herb to me. I was only introduced to it about 2 years ago by my man who was growing it in his garden at the time we met. I was taken right away by the unusual flowers and have remained intrigued!

So far I have tried the fresh plant (flowers) and also a spilanthes/chamomile mead that our friends made. OMG yum,yum! But woweee! What a kick!

All I really knew about spilanthes is that it was the "toothache herb" but now I am delving a little further into other maladies it could be useful in treating.

I have recently purchased the tincture from some local herbalists for fighting infections. (to keep on hand after a bout of mastitis & sinus stuff) but so far I have not had reason to use it! Anxious to see how it works as I was told it is really good for knocking out the sickies! Plus it is safe for nursing moms so that is what sold me!

It can be made into a poultice, tincture, infusion or even infused into an oil. The whole plant is use-able but is specific to the ailment and what treatment is being administered.

So, besides being a great herb for toothaches, I have done a little preliminary research and it seems spilanthes can be useful for treating the following;


-bacteria infections of the skin

-wounds

-ringworm

-sore throat

-nausea

-can be used as a laxative

-can be used to treat dystentery (inflammation of the intestine/colon)

-can help stimulate the appetite

-intestinal parasites

-kidney stones

-gas & stomach upsets

-topically for smoothing and preventing wrinkles (touted as natural botox by some sources!)

-immune boosting and can be used in conjunction with echinacea with good results

-antiviral

-gum tonic

-and as I mentioned previously it's most common known use is for toothache caused by cavities/decayed tooth. It is also good for any swelling of the gums.


Wow. I had no idea what a versatile plant this really was until now! Looking forward to working with it some more in the coming months so I will be writing more about spilanthes!

If you have had any experiences using spilanthes and want to share I'd really love to hear about them. Leave me a comment or you can send me an email at; aprilmoonflower@gmail.com

um, happy new year? (update on me!)

Wow, is it really February already? Having a baby (kid #3) has sure thrown me off my herbal learning course! We are also moving April 1st so that will further throw me for a loop! I can't wait until the snow melts so I can plan/plant some large herb gardens at our new place! Going to start seeds soon! = ) It is going to be totally awesome and 4 acres to play with!

Sadly, I have had to drop the "Magic and Medicine of Plants" course. Really bummed about that but I was just so far behind! Hoping to sign back up for it again next year! I am really excited to have made some new "herbie" friends though through the course so it wasn't a total loss! (the first & only lesson i did was really good too) the course was just way more in depth than I had anticipated though. My bad! I hate having to quit things!

Otherwise I am *finally* starting coming along on the SWSBM coursework.

The herbal study group is still in the planning stages! Since I am moving I am going to have to move the location obviously. Our new house is not very ideal in my opinion as it's kinda in the boonies. Which leads me to my current dilemma! Where!?! Decisions, decisions..I really want to make this work but logistics are screwing with me and I haven't lived here long enough to know the surrounding areas well (or rather the area we are moving too an hour away!). Maybe I will start with the online study group first in the meantime? hmm..need to think on this some more!

Anyway..

My world has been a whirlwind the last few months and my heart wrapped around this little sweet pea's finger! I am just so in love with my babe that I am very preoccupied at the moment..so please bear with me a little longer here as I gather myself together. I am slowly returning to earth and the real world!

Peace~April xo

PS) I am going to start the goody bag giveaway's back up sometime in March so stay tuned! :)