The other day, we got an order for a subscription, and in the section where we ask where you found us, the customer had noted a now defunct herbal publication. It put a huge smile on my face. Why? Because that ad was at *least* 12 years old, and it is still paying dividends.
It works on me, too. On the way home from an herb conference years ago, one of the highlights for me was stopping at an herb farm that was always on the inside cover of a publication I subscribed to. I couldn't wait to finally visit (and buy out half of their shop).
There is something more substantial to a print ad. You know that a real business is stable enough to prepare and purchase an ad. There is a trail. They didn't just throw an online come-on up on the web and wait for someone to take the hook, so there's an element of trust that is much harder to create online.
It takes a few viewings, so a single ad doesn't carry the full effect. Repeated ads bring the advertiser to mind when customers need or want something. In a magazine like ours, we have a feeling of community, and advertisers are part of that community.
People keep (or share) magazines for a long time. They look back over them, or they pass them on to new herbies, who then discover our advertisers all over again.
If you've got an herb related business and have been considering print advertising, we make it very easy and very reasonable. In fact, if you purchase a year upfront, you get 6 ads for the price of 5, and can change the ad at any time during that year, by just sending us a new ad for insertion.
Here's the link to our ad page:
http://www.essentialherbal.com/category/ADVERTISING-5
Simple - order and pay for the advertising, send us the ad, and we're good to go.
We don't sell classified ads, but shops that carry the magazine get a free one. It's a great value that we feel offsets the price of the wholesale subscription. Contact us with questions - tina@essentialherbal.com
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Halloween Lore and Recipes
Halloween
Mary Ellen Wilcox
Essential Herbal, Sep/Oct '09
It is estimated that the age of Halloween is somewhere around 6000 years, 4000 years before the birth of Christ. Tribal peoples would bring their animals back in from their grazing places before the earth became cold and dark again. These peoples would later be known as the Celts. Eventually, over the centuries, they would move around and would land in Ireland and Britain around 350 BC. The Celts celebrated four fire festivals, one being Samhain, which was the celebration of the end of summer and which also honored the dead. It is also the Celtic New Year, and took place on November 1st. They believed in the faery folk and thought them to be players of practical jokes. Not evil, but no one you wanted to annoy.
As time passed and Christianity was proclaimed by Constantine the Great in 314 A.D., the problems began. At first the Celts welcomed Christianity, but it soon became evident that they did not want to give up their celebrations or the traditions which had been with them over the centuries. The Christians misunderstood the meaning of the Samhain festival, and though it was meant to honor the dead, they thought of it as a way of worshiping Satan. In trying to stop the Samhain celebration, the church tried making the traditions associated with it frightening. The Celts belief in faeries became a belief in demons, thus far unknown to the Celts. Their use of fire in festivals was now to keep the devil at bay. Even so, the Celts were not about to give up the celebration of Samhain. Eventually, under Pope Gregory the IV in 835 A.D. a compromise of sorts took place. This change included honoring the saints. October 31st became All Hallows Even (later Halloween) and November 1st became Hallowmas, a Mass to honor the saints. All Soul's Day, November 2nd, was to honor the dead and was a reason to bring back the pre-Christian customs.
Settlement in America brought many Halloween traditions. Where the Anglican church was established, honoring the saints on November 1st and celebrating All Souls Day continued. German and Irish immigrants, with their Celtic heritage, brought the All Hallows Even customs and other festivals of the harvest.
During Victorian times most of the religious significance of Halloween came to an end. It became a time of party-giving, costume balls and community gatherings. Today, Halloween means dressing up as devils and witches, trick or treating, bobbing for apples and carving pumpkins, but those early fire festivals still show themselves in our autumn bonfires and harvest celebrations!
With parties and gatherings, food is of course, a big part of Halloween. Enjoy some of these harvest time recipes!
~ Apples - Peeling an apple in front of a mirror might bring the image a someone you would marry.
~ Pumpkins - In Europe, turnips were used at Halloween to carve faces and light up with candles. The American pumpkin replaced them because of its better shape and size.
~ Elderberry has strong ties with Halloween and harvest time. People carried pieces of it's wood for protection. Prayers were tied to its branches. It can be made into yummy pies, jams, jellies and syrups, as well as used in medicinal preparations.
~ Caraway was used to keep evil spirits or robbers from entering the house.
~ Dill offered protection against witchcraft.
Apple Crisp
4 cups pared and sliced apples (about 4 med.)
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
1/3 cup margarine
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8X8X2" pan. Spread apples in pan. Mix remaining ingredients thoroughly; sprinkle over apples. Bake until apples are tender and topping is golden brown, about 30 mins. Serve warm with light cram, ice cream or hard sauce.
Pumpkin Ring Cake
1 package yellow cake mix
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup chopped nuts
Combine cake mix and spices in a large bowl. Add egg and water as directed on mix package, substituting the pumpkin for 1/3 cup of water. Stir in nuts. Pour into greased and floured tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 mins. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan. Cool thoroughly.
Lemon Glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
Add just enough milk to make glaze slightly thin. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Elderberry Syrup
2 pounds elderberries rinsed, with stems removed
4 cups water
2-1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Put the berries in a large non-reactive pan. Bring to a boil and cook 15-20 mins., till tender and soft. Put through a food mill and discard skins. Pour the juice back into the pan. Add sugar and cook at a low boil over medium-low heat till it starts to thicken. Cool for 15 mins, until the syrup has thickened. Add the lemon juice. Cool completely. Pour into a bottle or jar and store in refrigerator.
Sauerkraut and Pork Chops
2-3 cups fresh sauerkraut or 1 large can
4 boneless pork chops
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. caraway seed
Water
Brown chops in olive oil. Mix sauerkraut, onion , bay leaves and caraway seed in crock pot. Add water to cover. Lay chops on mixture, pushing them down a bit into the kraut. Cook for 6 hours, checking water level. Remove bay leaves. Serve with baked potatoes.
Brethren Cheese Bread
4 cups flour
2 tbsp. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. fresh minced dill weed
2 eggs
2 cups milk
Sift dry ingredients; cut in butter. Stir in cheese and dill. Combine eggs and milk. Add liquid all at once to dry ingredients. Stir just to moisten. Pour into well-greased pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 mins, till nicely browned. Cool 10 mins. and remove from pans. Slice fairly thick. Freezes well. Yields 6 small loaves.
Mary Ellen Wilcox
Essential Herbal, Sep/Oct '09
It is estimated that the age of Halloween is somewhere around 6000 years, 4000 years before the birth of Christ. Tribal peoples would bring their animals back in from their grazing places before the earth became cold and dark again. These peoples would later be known as the Celts. Eventually, over the centuries, they would move around and would land in Ireland and Britain around 350 BC. The Celts celebrated four fire festivals, one being Samhain, which was the celebration of the end of summer and which also honored the dead. It is also the Celtic New Year, and took place on November 1st. They believed in the faery folk and thought them to be players of practical jokes. Not evil, but no one you wanted to annoy.
As time passed and Christianity was proclaimed by Constantine the Great in 314 A.D., the problems began. At first the Celts welcomed Christianity, but it soon became evident that they did not want to give up their celebrations or the traditions which had been with them over the centuries. The Christians misunderstood the meaning of the Samhain festival, and though it was meant to honor the dead, they thought of it as a way of worshiping Satan. In trying to stop the Samhain celebration, the church tried making the traditions associated with it frightening. The Celts belief in faeries became a belief in demons, thus far unknown to the Celts. Their use of fire in festivals was now to keep the devil at bay. Even so, the Celts were not about to give up the celebration of Samhain. Eventually, under Pope Gregory the IV in 835 A.D. a compromise of sorts took place. This change included honoring the saints. October 31st became All Hallows Even (later Halloween) and November 1st became Hallowmas, a Mass to honor the saints. All Soul's Day, November 2nd, was to honor the dead and was a reason to bring back the pre-Christian customs.
Settlement in America brought many Halloween traditions. Where the Anglican church was established, honoring the saints on November 1st and celebrating All Souls Day continued. German and Irish immigrants, with their Celtic heritage, brought the All Hallows Even customs and other festivals of the harvest.
During Victorian times most of the religious significance of Halloween came to an end. It became a time of party-giving, costume balls and community gatherings. Today, Halloween means dressing up as devils and witches, trick or treating, bobbing for apples and carving pumpkins, but those early fire festivals still show themselves in our autumn bonfires and harvest celebrations!
With parties and gatherings, food is of course, a big part of Halloween. Enjoy some of these harvest time recipes!
~ Apples - Peeling an apple in front of a mirror might bring the image a someone you would marry.
~ Pumpkins - In Europe, turnips were used at Halloween to carve faces and light up with candles. The American pumpkin replaced them because of its better shape and size.
~ Elderberry has strong ties with Halloween and harvest time. People carried pieces of it's wood for protection. Prayers were tied to its branches. It can be made into yummy pies, jams, jellies and syrups, as well as used in medicinal preparations.
~ Caraway was used to keep evil spirits or robbers from entering the house.
~ Dill offered protection against witchcraft.
Apple Crisp
4 cups pared and sliced apples (about 4 med.)
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
1/3 cup margarine
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8X8X2" pan. Spread apples in pan. Mix remaining ingredients thoroughly; sprinkle over apples. Bake until apples are tender and topping is golden brown, about 30 mins. Serve warm with light cram, ice cream or hard sauce.
Pumpkin Ring Cake
1 package yellow cake mix
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup chopped nuts
Combine cake mix and spices in a large bowl. Add egg and water as directed on mix package, substituting the pumpkin for 1/3 cup of water. Stir in nuts. Pour into greased and floured tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 mins. Cool 10 minutes and remove from pan. Cool thoroughly.
Lemon Glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
Add just enough milk to make glaze slightly thin. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Elderberry Syrup
2 pounds elderberries rinsed, with stems removed
4 cups water
2-1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Put the berries in a large non-reactive pan. Bring to a boil and cook 15-20 mins., till tender and soft. Put through a food mill and discard skins. Pour the juice back into the pan. Add sugar and cook at a low boil over medium-low heat till it starts to thicken. Cool for 15 mins, until the syrup has thickened. Add the lemon juice. Cool completely. Pour into a bottle or jar and store in refrigerator.
Sauerkraut and Pork Chops
2-3 cups fresh sauerkraut or 1 large can
4 boneless pork chops
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. caraway seed
Water
Brown chops in olive oil. Mix sauerkraut, onion , bay leaves and caraway seed in crock pot. Add water to cover. Lay chops on mixture, pushing them down a bit into the kraut. Cook for 6 hours, checking water level. Remove bay leaves. Serve with baked potatoes.
Brethren Cheese Bread
4 cups flour
2 tbsp. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. fresh minced dill weed
2 eggs
2 cups milk
Sift dry ingredients; cut in butter. Stir in cheese and dill. Combine eggs and milk. Add liquid all at once to dry ingredients. Stir just to moisten. Pour into well-greased pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 mins, till nicely browned. Cool 10 mins. and remove from pans. Slice fairly thick. Freezes well. Yields 6 small loaves.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
First "Wintry Mix" 2015
This is the tenth year of blogging here, and after a couple of years I learned how much value there is to looking back and seeing what previous years held weather-wise. There is one year that I neglected to record properly, during which *I think* we had a very early snow, followed by a winter that ended in the beginning of February.
So this is really just for my own info.
We were advised to expect frost last night or tonight. The S-word was possible to the north and west. We didn't get frost, but surely will tonight. At around 11 this morning I was working on cleaning the office and looked out the window (probably because I subconsciously heard the ice balls hitting) to see our first snow/sleet/rain of the year.
Temps are in the low-mid 40's.
Later, while out on some errands, half the sky was wintry, and the other half was bright blue with puffy skies.
We ran into a real sleet-storm, where it was even laying.
Just now (4:30), I was out and even though the sunny blue sky was barely marked by fluffy clouds, there was a light misting rain - which led me to look for the darkest part of the sky, where sure enough, I found the rainbow.
So basically today held about 6 days worth of weather.
So this is really just for my own info.
We were advised to expect frost last night or tonight. The S-word was possible to the north and west. We didn't get frost, but surely will tonight. At around 11 this morning I was working on cleaning the office and looked out the window (probably because I subconsciously heard the ice balls hitting) to see our first snow/sleet/rain of the year.
Temps are in the low-mid 40's.
Later, while out on some errands, half the sky was wintry, and the other half was bright blue with puffy skies.
We ran into a real sleet-storm, where it was even laying.
Just now (4:30), I was out and even though the sunny blue sky was barely marked by fluffy clouds, there was a light misting rain - which led me to look for the darkest part of the sky, where sure enough, I found the rainbow.
So basically today held about 6 days worth of weather.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Echinacea - Purple Coneflower
Echinacea just might have been the "gateway herb"
leading to the current renaissance in herbal medicine for the people. In the late 1980's and early 1990's word of
this plant spread like wild fire, like a secret password to a special
club. I still remember the first time it
was uttered in my presence. At our
quaint little shop filled with teas, potpourris, and sweet pillows, a customer
asked for it. As was our custom back in
those days, we listened, nodded, and upon arriving home, tore into our
books. "What was it?" my sister
said, "ecky stuff... what?" It
took us a while since the internet was still wet behind the ears, but a few
books, a few phone calls, and we were on the trail.
As soon as you learn about it, you'll begin to see it everywhere. It is a very common garden plant, even when
the gardener doesn't use it for medicine.
Echinacea is a beautiful flower, and in the last 20 years many cultivars
have been bred so that the colors and form are varied and to some,
improved. For medicinal use, the old
heirlooms are what we use. Angustifolia,
purpurea, and a few other natives (for instance in Tennessee, there is a native variety with
very slim petals called tennesseensis) are the most useful. Most commercial preparations use purpurea, but
for home use we don't differentiate too much.
Ours here on the farm has crossbred quite a bit. It all seems to work for us just fine.
Over the years Echinacea has been proven, disproven, and
proven again. Studies have been done
that show it works to boost and support the immune system, and others that show
it does not. If you ask any herbalist or
herb enthusiast who has used Echinacea though, you will hear that it does in
fact work. It must be taken at the very
first sign of a viral assault, be it a scratch in the throat or an achy arm
muscle (my own tip-off). It must be
taken early, often, and in a form that will be effective. I have a friend who will only take the capsules,
no matter how many times I tell him the tincture is better, and feels that it
is a good option. Personally, I like to
make my own tincture. I pull a plant
every year or so and clean the roots carefully before grinding them along with
some leaves and a flower or two, to mix with high proof vodka in a jar. The fresh roots will tingle on your tongue
and a good tincture made with fresh roots will have a bit of that tingle
too. A pint lasts at least a year,
sometimes two.
When people learn about Echinacea's immune boosting
properties, they often decide to take it every day in an effort to avoid ever
becoming ill. This is much like
continually sounding the alarm bell at the fire station, and eventually the
fire fighters become exhausted and fail to respond to the call. Some people "pulse" Echinacea by
taking it 3 days on, and then a day or two off.
I don't. I just keep Echinacea at
the ready and use it before the bug gets a good hold. If you miss that window of opportunity and a
virus or flu gets a grip, it's time to switch to Elderberry.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Nov/Dec '15 Essential Herbal
Field Notes, Tina Sams
As the seasons change, we prepare to begin our 15th year!
Carey's cover - perfectly captures the sights and scents of the season.
The Lazy Composter, Sue Kusch
Down to earth instructions that anyone with a little plot
of land can use.
American Ginseng, Jackie
Johnson
The ethics of cultivated and wild growing as well as the
history challenges of growing ginseng as a crop.
Gift Idea - Mug Mat, Tina
Sams
Share the scents of the season with friends.
Herbs for Holiday Stress
Relief, Catherine Love
Lots of options to help you cope with the pressures that
can arise.
Holiday Sweets w/ Exotic
Herbs, Marcy Lautanen-Raleigh
Ginger shortbread and a spectacular citrus dessert sure
to delight family and holiday visitors.
Fall in Love with Hydrosols,
Part 2, Liz Fulcher
Hydrosols are becoming more available, so good
information on their uses is great to have!
Putting Together a Gift
Basket, Tina Sams
It looks so simple, but there are a few tricks to putting
together a visually attractive presentation.
Perfectly Pine, Kristine
Brown
Pine needles and resin have many medicinal, culinary, and
even handy household uses. You won’t
look at one in the same way again.
Urine for It (You’re in for
It), Suzan Tobias Scholl
We rarely think of our urinary system until there’s a
problem. There are many ways we can care
for it to keep it up and running.
Holiday Sugar & Spice
Soap & Scrubs, Marci Tsohonis
Beautiful ideas for gift giving or to brighten up the
guest bathroom.
The Herb Taste War: Cilantro vs. Ivory Soap, Rita
Richardson
We have this battle on the farm, with half of us loving
it and half of us unable to bear it.
Gift Idea - Solid Perfume,
Maryanne Schwartz
Last minute idea (if need be). Make them today, share them tomorrow.
Enjoying Your Christmas Tree,
Sandy Michelsen
Recipes for salve and syrup, and more history and lore.
Last Words After S.P., Adrie
Lester
Gardening while grieving.
Artwork by Debra Sturdevant
Cover Art by Carey Jung
 |
| Debra's work, submitted to illustrate a poem. |
Saturday, October 10, 2015
An elixir for winter coughs and colds
This morning I started thinking about making a tincture with the white horehound in the back garden. It's such a great herb for the coughing, wheezing, and chest congestion, and is a pretty decent expectorant - but the taste is very bitter. We usually see it in candy lozenges and syrups, with lots of sugar used to tone down that aspect, which usually means it has been heated to pretty high temps. That led me to consider a tincture. Which eventually turned into an elixir.
But as I headed out to the garden, I started thinking about adding some sage. Sage is so helpful for sore throats. And just a few feet away there is the huge patch of thyme, another great expectorant that can also help to relieve spasmodic coughing. Lastly, I remembered the bag of meadowsweet I have, and thought it would make a nice addition for its pain relieving qualities.
Instead of a tincture, some honeys - both raw and natural from neighborhood beekeepers - would help to make this smoother, tastier (though I'm not certain anything will make it "delicious") and even more beneficial. That addition make it an elixir.
At first, I was going to make one jar, but quickly realized that two would be better.
Recipe for one quart jar:
1/4 cup dried meadowsweet flowers
1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
1 cup chopped fresh sage leaves
1 cup chopped fresh horehound
zest of 1/2 orange
1 cup honey
Fill with vodka. I used 150 proof. 100 would be fine.
You'll note that the jars aren't full. I didn't bring in enough to finish, but will do so tomorrow morning, and then add whatever vodka is needed.
Some other additions I considered would be licorice root and cinnamon. I'll see how this is in a couple of weeks, and then decide if those would improve it or if it's fine as is.
Horehound should be avoided during pregnancy.
 |
| Ingredients gathered |
 |
| Filling the jars |
 |
| honey |
 |
| The jar on the left "burped" just before I took the picture, and needed additional alcohol to even up. |
1/4 cup dried meadowsweet flowers
1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
1 cup chopped fresh sage leaves
1 cup chopped fresh horehound
zest of 1/2 orange
1 cup honey
Fill with vodka. I used 150 proof. 100 would be fine.
You'll note that the jars aren't full. I didn't bring in enough to finish, but will do so tomorrow morning, and then add whatever vodka is needed.
 |
| Room left to add more botanicals and alcohol/honey in the morning. |
Horehound should be avoided during pregnancy.
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Formulators, Stop Making Health Claims.
I know this might not be a popular viewpoint, but here goes....
In the 20 years that I've been working with and making my living from herbs, it has never been legal to make health claims about herbal products. This is not new. You are not being persecuted, and there are good reasons for the laws. When people go ahead and do it anyway, they bring scrutiny on the whole industry and in doing so make everything more difficult for everyone. So stop doing it!
Think about it... does your physician sell medicine? Does your pharmacist prescribe? No. It is against the law for them to do so because it would make it very easy to take advantage of the sick and desperate for profit.
Most of us in the herbal community surround ourselves with other herbies. After a while it seems that the only people we know are involved in some form of alternative healthcare modality, and together we gripe and complain about the restrictions. We forget about the others.
The "others" are those who haven't been studying herbs (or oils, or massage, or Reiki, or Yoga, or gemstones, etc., etc.), but are looking for a cure. When we had our shop many years ago, we met them every day. They were sick, desperate, and would have purchased and used just about anything we told them to get. Or, having skimmed an article somewhere, they would arrive at the counter loaded down with half a dozen products.
We could have made a killing. Most of the time we helped them select one or two things to see if they were right FIRST, and put the rest back. There were a few legal ways we could talk to them about issues, and we did that. Of course we were there to make money, but our integrity was worth a little more than that unnecessary bottle of elderberry syrup.
Now everything is online. It's easy to find information. It's easy to find people who are willing to to share. The amount of information available is 1000x what it was all those years ago.
And herbal products are everywhere. Unfortunately, along with those products come claims and descriptions that are blatantly illegal. Also unfortunately, it appears that the powers that be are narrowing their searches and starting to come down on those making claims.
A huge cry goes up. Oh no!
Well stop doing it.
Go to your web site right now. Are you saying that a product is "for" such and such? Will it cure something? Remove something? Fix something? Does it repel something? Then remove the description. Be ruthless. Do it now.
The answer is education.
When we go to the grocery store, we know that sugar makes things sweet, that flour and cornstarch thicken, that cheese may bind, that prunes help keep you regular, that garlic keeps you healthy in a hundred ways, and that horseradish clears your sinuses. They don't have labels that say so, you KNOW it.
I'm not saying that I don't wish we could be more direct in our labeling and descriptions. All I'm saying is that this is the way it is. Ignoring the laws only put others in jeopardy. Work to change the laws. Work to educate your customers. But if you're making illegal claims, knock it off.
In the 20 years that I've been working with and making my living from herbs, it has never been legal to make health claims about herbal products. This is not new. You are not being persecuted, and there are good reasons for the laws. When people go ahead and do it anyway, they bring scrutiny on the whole industry and in doing so make everything more difficult for everyone. So stop doing it!
Think about it... does your physician sell medicine? Does your pharmacist prescribe? No. It is against the law for them to do so because it would make it very easy to take advantage of the sick and desperate for profit.
Most of us in the herbal community surround ourselves with other herbies. After a while it seems that the only people we know are involved in some form of alternative healthcare modality, and together we gripe and complain about the restrictions. We forget about the others.
The "others" are those who haven't been studying herbs (or oils, or massage, or Reiki, or Yoga, or gemstones, etc., etc.), but are looking for a cure. When we had our shop many years ago, we met them every day. They were sick, desperate, and would have purchased and used just about anything we told them to get. Or, having skimmed an article somewhere, they would arrive at the counter loaded down with half a dozen products.
We could have made a killing. Most of the time we helped them select one or two things to see if they were right FIRST, and put the rest back. There were a few legal ways we could talk to them about issues, and we did that. Of course we were there to make money, but our integrity was worth a little more than that unnecessary bottle of elderberry syrup.
Now everything is online. It's easy to find information. It's easy to find people who are willing to to share. The amount of information available is 1000x what it was all those years ago.
And herbal products are everywhere. Unfortunately, along with those products come claims and descriptions that are blatantly illegal. Also unfortunately, it appears that the powers that be are narrowing their searches and starting to come down on those making claims.
A huge cry goes up. Oh no!
Well stop doing it.
Go to your web site right now. Are you saying that a product is "for" such and such? Will it cure something? Remove something? Fix something? Does it repel something? Then remove the description. Be ruthless. Do it now.
The answer is education.
When we go to the grocery store, we know that sugar makes things sweet, that flour and cornstarch thicken, that cheese may bind, that prunes help keep you regular, that garlic keeps you healthy in a hundred ways, and that horseradish clears your sinuses. They don't have labels that say so, you KNOW it.
I'm not saying that I don't wish we could be more direct in our labeling and descriptions. All I'm saying is that this is the way it is. Ignoring the laws only put others in jeopardy. Work to change the laws. Work to educate your customers. But if you're making illegal claims, knock it off.
Thursday, October 01, 2015
New Stuff in the Shop
We're about to send the magazine to the printer and the soap shelves have *almost* recovered from our looong awaited beach vacation, so we'll soon be back to writing. In the meantime, we've been shopping!
Here's what's new:
This time of year we start looking for tempting goodies to go along with the magazine, books, teas, soaps, potions and herbal products that we carry all year long. Shipping is free on orders over $75 for the rest of the year, and our maximum shipping is $8.50. We hope you take a moment to look around! www.essentialherbal.com
Here's what's new:
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| Skeps in a Row |
 |
| May Day Basket |
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| Lavender Rose Set |
 |
| Lavender Rose Tea for One |
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| Owl Set |
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| Owl Tea for One |
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| Incense Matches |
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| Dhoop Sticks |
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Review - The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing
The Home Reference to Holistic Health and Healing by Brigitte
Mars and Chrystle Fiedler
Review by Molly Sams
I truly can say that I adored reading this book. I had not
read the first in the collection but the second book seemed to be exactly what
the doctor ordered. This book helps you find out how to take care of yourself
and the ones you love with holistic methods. While many holistic books discuss
first aid with herbs or how to treat physical ailments this book went deeper
and discussed points about complete medicine and herbalism and how it can help
those with emotional or mental strife.
Unlike other sources I have read throughout the years this
book is honest and simple in its instructions and suggestions. It teaches
basics of using herbs in self care, stress management, and other aspects of
life that many may be struggling to maintain. I really enjoyed learning new
practices and many times affirming ones I already put into place. This book is
a wonderful cheerleader and guide for anyone who needs a pick-me-up or new ways
or ideas to practice self-care.
Chill Out
This book goes into great detail about taking time for
yourself and those you love. It explains in plain and in scientific language
why it is important to calm down and enjoy the present. While I found myself
having to reread the more scientific sections of the book I found it
beneficial. It showed that there is scientific support for holistic and herbal
medicine in the world. It is not all just based off assumptions or traditions,
as some would believe.
In the book there are also several suggestions on how to do
calm down and enjoy the present. While journaling or meditation may come
naturally to some, Mars and Fiedler explain other examples such as cooking a
healthy meal to remind yourself you are worth nourishment or herbal crafts
(dream pillows, sachets, potpourri, etc.). I personally enjoyed the message
behind each craft. They often had a purpose to calm you down, encourage deep
breathing, or to ease anxiety or panic attacks.
Take Care
Mars and Fiedler also go into how to maintain the body with
diet and exercise creating a book that teaches you how to nourish and care for
every part of the body as well as the mind. I appreciated that the authors
discussed the importance of food and movement in their book as well as herbs.
It reminded me of Sue Hess when she would say in Homestead Herbalism, “Food is
medicine.” Since I was young my mother had always instilled this in me and I
was happy to be reminded through my class and again through this book about
this important fact. Without wholesome food our body suffers and is unable to
take care of us properly.
The book also reminded me that herbs are (and should) also
be seen as food instead of just supplements. In the book they discussed many
herbs being used as main ingredients in recipes, which I found encouraging. It
makes herbalism much more approachable to some who may be new to it or do not
completely understand the many aspects of each plant. By respecting and using
each possible source (food, herbalism, exercise, and rest) you are even more
capable to care for yourself than you would be if you focused on one aspect.
Instead of encouraging you to fixate on a diet, a exercise routine, or constant
pampering Mars and Fiedler want their readers to focus on the whole. It may
seem simple but many of us – including me – need to be reminded every now and
then.
Have Fun
Finally the authors discussed the importance of letting go
of stresses and maintaining a calm and sustainable life. Possibly my favorite
section discussed mourning and grieving. Their ideas for dealing with this
natural part of life were easily executed but unimagined before, well by me
anyway. I loved that they discussed setting goals for one’s self while mourning
the loss of a loved one or the ending of a relationship. That way you can
encourage yourself and give others a way to support you. They even gave advice
to those who may be supporting a friend or loved one who is mourning a loss of
some sort. I don’t believe this role is often discussed in society so many shy
away from the position for fear they will further hurt the person grieving. By
telling their reader possible ways to support and talk to their saddened loved
ones it may strengthen connections or create new ones.
Not only is this a wonderful book about herbalism it is a
wonderful book about healing in general. The two authors created a thoughtful
reference for anyone who wants to learn more about self-care or how to support
himself or herself or loved ones in cases other than emergency or medical.
For those who wish to learn more about herbalism from a
mental and emotional stand point or those who simply want to know more based on
medical or scientific levels I seriously recommend this book. You will be able
to come back to it again and again for a medley of ailments, advice, or just a
few ideas. Happy reading!
You can get the book HERE
Wednesday, September 09, 2015
Hawk Mountain Hike
Adventures on Hawk Mountain
posted by Molly Sams
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| Joe Pye weed rising high towards the sun. |
Today was a sort of last-ditch effort to soak up some sun
before fall. I love fall as much as the next person but I know that it won’t be
long before I’m too cozy and full of warm tea to want to go for a hike. So a
few of my friends and I decided to run around Hawk Mountain and see what we
could see.
I was happily surprised by how beautiful it was. The woods
were almost covered with Goldenrod, Summersweet and Coral Honeysuckle! It was
stunning and I had an amazing time climbing all over the rocks finding new
plants, berries, and a few friendly chipmunks along the way. While it was not
the easiest hike I’ve ever done, it was one of my most rewarding.
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| Don't know this flower. My mom used to string it to make necklaces in her childhood, and calls it "Stock" but not sure. |
If you’re in the area I would strongly suggest stopping by
to see the park. They have wonderfully mapped out paths and even throw a native
plant sale in late September. I know if I can make it I’ll be there. For directions and information, here's the WEBSITE.
During migration, the sky is full of hawks playing on the currents. I also found a couple other plants through my travels. Take a look!
During migration, the sky is full of hawks playing on the currents. I also found a couple other plants through my travels. Take a look!
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| Coral Honeysuckle |
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| New England Aster - covered in the current issue by Kristine Brown. |
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| Turtlehead. If you look closely, you'll also see Blue Cohosh leaves and some jewelweed up in the corner. |
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| Doll's Eyes or White Baneberry |
Sunday, September 06, 2015
A Peck of Peppers
They sat on the counter and mocked me for a couple of days.
This morning, one of the tomatoes started leaking juice, so I knew the time had come.
Except that time is the one thing in short supply right now.
I decided to chop everything up and throw it in the oven together with a healthy splash of olive oil and some freshly ground pepper. No herbs were added so that it will be more versatile when they are put to use.
Another hour and a half, and they were softened and mellowed and perfect.
Tomorrow, it's on to apple and pear sauce.
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