Good News and March's Goody Bag WINNER!

Hi everyone! Sorry I have been sort of absent recently. I also forgot to post the winner yesterday for the contest! I have been a little preoccupied this week as I just found out I am PREGNANT with my 3rd child! (Due in November). :)

Anywho, without further ado,

the winner of MARCH'S Goody BAG is...




SHELLEY!!!!!!!!!!!! :)


Otherwise, I will be back to posting regularly very soon I promise!

Herbs and Essential Oils for Emotional Detoxing

This is a post for the March Herbal blog party at Herbwifery.org! This month's topic is emotional detoxing!

As many of us know emotions can directly affect ones physical health. Detoxing emotionally can be a difficult thing during certain times in our lives. The good news is our plant allies can help support and nourish our bodies during these times on not only a physical level but also on an emotional one too showing us that cleansing is not only for the physical level.

My personal favorite methods of emotional detox are smudging and using hydrotherapy combined with essential oils. I also like to burn uplifting essential oils. Nothing is as cleansing to me personally.


Here are 10 useful ways to use plant medicine for emotional detoxing;


- Oats- eat them, drink them as an infusion or even used as a tincture. Whatever way you can! Oats can help you get out of a funk! They are calming and nourishing. They will help clear your mind and lift mental fog so you can move past.

- White Sage- I like to smudge with white sage and clear the air of any stagnate or negative energies. This really works for me. I think just simple intentions also count for something. White sage is deeply cleansing for physical spaces and those who occupy them. I find it helps to clear my head and heart and help lift away any clouds of negativity.

- Astragalus- Yep astragalus! This herb helps protect your organs and is also good for strengthening a weakend person emotionally. I find it useful for those that feel run down due to emotional situations. it will also help balance your physical health too as it is a great immune tonic. Good all around!

- Lavender- lavender is my go to herb for anything emotional. It is deeply soothing and helps clear the head and calm the heart. My favorite way to use lavender is oil in the bath. I swear I douse myself in it during emotionally tryng times.

- Siberian Ginseng- helps protects the heart and the body's ability to adapt to stress. It can be helpful during letting go of emotional stuff.

- Stinging Nettle Flower essence- this flower essence can help one let go of situations that no longer serve you and helps with anger.

- Juniper berry essential oil- is very helpful in situations where you feel like you are on toxic overload due to your emotions. This can help! It really will help with stress and nervous tension.

- Grapefruit essential oil- This oil is very uplifting and revitalizing. Very good to use in situations where you are tryong to detox on an emotional level. This would be one of my top choices! (with lavender being first!) I like to mix the two in an aromatherapy burner or even just a room spray. Oh so good!

- Rose- rose in any form will help in situations involving the heart and mind. Rosehips, rose petals, elixir, oils, etc. it's all good. Rose nourishes the soul and will help you in "letting go" as well as being extremely comforting.

- Cardamom seed- Helps in strengthening one emotionally. It is good for clarity. The good thins with cardamom is you can add it to baked goods, tea, cocoa and food.

There are so many different ways to used plant medicine to heal on an emotional level. These are just a few suggestions!

MARCH goody bag Contest

This month's goody bag consists of goodies from Terra Firma Botanicals.

The goodies being offered this month are;

*1 tube of Love Oil lip balm
*1 jar of Green Star Salve
*1oz. bottle of "Bliss" tincture

(You can read more about each individual product via the website linked above.)

One lucky winner wins all 3! All you have to do is leave a comment w/ your email address under this post for a chance to win! The deadline to enter is midnight of March 15th! The winner will be announced on the blog March 16th.

Good luck! :)

~April

Your chance to win a ONE YEAR subscription to Herbal Roots!

Check out the details here for this *amazing* contest!

Tub Tea Instructions

I love making these relaxing bath teas for the tub. They are so simple and very soothing to the spirit.

What you will need;

*Tea bags (these can be purchased through MRH's and they are seal-able with a hot iron- they generally come in two sizes, large and small)

*Loose herbs of your choice (about 2 cups will yield you 2 dozen or so large tub tea bags)

Herbs I like to use are lavender, chamomile, rose and rosemary but you can use whatever you like!

Mix the herbs together well in a glass bowl. Fill up each tea bag and seal shut with a hot iron.

To use you will use 1 large bag or 2 small bags.

Boil 2 cups of water and steep the tea for 10 minutes. Discard bags (composting them is good!)

Let the bath tea cool slightly and then pour this mixture into your hot bath. You could also add some essential oils or powdered oats for maximizing your relaxation experience!

I love the fact that you can personalize your bath teas and make them exactly how you love them. These also make great gifts!

Introducing.....The Monthly "Herbal Goody Bag" Giveaway!

So, I've got a little surprise in store for my blog readers! I've decided to spice this blog up a bit and start a contest for every month! Because, now really, who doesn't like to win free stuff? Especially when it's herbal themed goodies?!?

Anyway, I have some really great prizes in mind and I plan to give away 3 herbal items per month to one extra special lucky reader! (These items may be made by me or others!)

I just want to say thanks for reading and also promote herbal healing in a fun way!

Also, unlike some blogs, this contest won't require you to *do* anything like promote my site or things like that. I may ask you to leave a comment but beyond that we're good to go here. This contest is only open to those within North America. (Sorry it just gets too complicated for me otherwise!)

Anyway these contests are just for fun and because I want to spread around the herbal love!

Stay tuned for more details!

~April

Herbal Storage Solutions

I am always fascinated by other herbalists herbal storage areas and home apothecaries. Since I have gone through 2 huge moves this past year (once from AZ to MA and then again to VT in less than 12 months) my herb cupboard is needing restocking in a big way. I have been basically just been buying whatever we need ready made due to lack of space! Which is not as satisfying as making my own medicine!

But it's now time to get organized as we are moved and settled it's time to get back to medicine making again! (yay!) So, I have been thinking about how I want to store my herbs here at this house. Especially in anticipation of what we will grow this summer!

I also have 2 kids, 3 cats and a puppy so I need to keep them in mind (and OUT!) when coming up with solutions. I am stumped as to what to do!!!!!! I need storage solutions though as I am getting a large-ish herb order ready and need to get the space ready for storage.

So to Google images I turn!!!!!!! I have listed a few images above to get inspiration from. Now if I can somehow combine them ALL in one giant organized center I'll be set!

I have previously used a whole hall closet and also a jelly cupboard. The closet was too large and eventually took a life of it's own. The jelly cupboard too small and overstuffed that it actually split the sides!! I left my jelly cupboard behind as it was falling apart but bought a larger new one last spring with the intention of storing herbs in it. (instead it's full of yarn!) Ahhh well!

Anyway so far my solutions are to use a couple of pantry shelves or use one of the bedroom closets. Neither which appeal to me. We also have a small laundry room with some cupboards. Nothing is inspiring me here though at all! ackkk!

For the time being I think we have decided to use some built in shelving in my partners office. (away from pets and kids). Maybe it will be a good long term solution but I'd rather have a piece of furniture or a cabinet. Or maybe even in the kitchen pantry instead as it's more readily accessible.

hmmm...

Where do you store your herbs? Link a picture in the comments if you are so inclined! (or just tell me about it!)