DIY Elderberry Syrup

DIY Elderberry Syrup

Lisa Purdy ND, MH

Elderberries are back! Available and in stock, now is the time to make your elderberry syrup to have on hand for the winter cold & flu season.

Why elderberry? Because it is an immunomodulator! It helps the body adjust its immune level, without sending it into overdrive. Considered to be anti-viral, elderberry can sometimes disarm a virus and flush it out of the body before it has a chance to duplicate itself and set up housekeeping. The herb contains compounds that are active against flu viruses and has historically been used to treat epidemics. Elderberry is useful for nerve problems, back pain, and inflammation of the urinary tract and bladder. Drink as a tea to soothe a sore throat and ease respiratory distress. Elderberries are safe for all ages and children love the taste!

Cautions: Raw berries have laxative and diuretic actions and please note that ALL green parts of the tree are poisonous! Hence the reason for making them into a cooked syrup. Please also note that diabetics need to carefully monitor their blood sugar levels while using elderberries, to prevent low blood sugar. Elderberries work in the same way as blueberries and green beans, by sensitizing the body’s insulin receptors so that more of the insulin produced by the body can be used.

Lisa’s Elderberry Syrup

½ cup dried elderberries (or 1 cup fresh – freeze berries first to make it easier to pick out ALL of the green stems)

1 cinnamon stick                                                    5 cloves

1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated                                2 cups water

Simmer about 20 minutes in a stainless steel pan, reduce liquid by half.

Strain, squashing berries.

Add 1 cup honey to liquid. Store in refrigerator.

Suggested dose is 1 tsp. every two hours, up to 3 Tbsp. a day for active symptoms. 1 tsp. daily for prevention. Children ½ dose…not for use with infants, because of honey.

Harvesting Lavender

What is happening today at Healthy Life Solutions? I harvested the lavender from my garden this morning! So beautiful and smells great too. I am tying it into bundles, and will have some to sell. Stop by the shop to get a bunch, as it will go fast. I like to put it in my closet or dresser drawer to make things smell nice. Or maybe you want to put some under your pillow to help you sleep. You can also make a lavender syrup to use for a “special” mixed drink or to add to lemon-aide.

Lavender Syrup

1 cup sugar

¾ cups water

2-3 tsp. lavender buds

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; heat to a boil. Add the lavender, pushing the buds under the water with a spoon; remove from heat. Cover; let steep 15-30 minutes. (If it steeps too long, it will turn bitter. Frequently, test for taste.) Pour syrup thru a strainer, discard lavender. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Cranberry Lavender Sparklers

3 cups cranberry juice

Juice of 1 lime (2 Tbsp.)

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup lavender syrup

2 cups lime-flavored sparkling water

½ cup vodka (if desired)

Combine juices, sugar, and syrup in a pitcher; stir to dissolve sugar. Add sparkling water and vodka. Makes ½ gallon.

Release Your Fears

Are you afraid? What are you afraid of? As I speak with my friends and customers, I find that fear is a common emotion right now. We are venturing out into the world after the coronavirus. Many of us have been stuck in our homes for months. Many of us haven’t been into a store or restaurant, and now we are daring to venture out. Fear is sometimes a good emotion, it makes us protect ourselves and our family. Fear can also become a harsh master, keeping you from living a full and happy life. How do we find the balance, how do we find a healthy amount of fear, without it running our life?

As a social people, we tend to look to others for what is a healthy social normal. Is everyone wearing a mask? Then I will too. Is it ok to go out, if we stay 6 feet apart? Ok, I can do that. We look to others to show us what is safe. We are part of a “herd”, we just need to remember that the herd can be misled. I operate on a simple principle. 1. Evaluate the facts of a situation the best I can, with what knowledge I have available. 2. Make a decision and move forward. Just DO it, don’t keep worrying about it. 3. So then, what if the fear doesn’t go away? Time will help us heal. But I like to be proactive and use a flower remedy or essential oil blend to help me conquer the fear and let it go.

Did you know that feelings of fear can be buried deep into your body?

Any time we feel strong emotion, a chemical is created in our body. That chemical is sometimes stored in various organs and may create problems later. Some areas fear might be stored are listed here (Taken from the book, Feelings, Buried Alive Never Die, by Karol Truman):

Allergies – fear of sharing feelings with people

Ankles – fear of falling or failing

Bowels – Fear of displeasing a loved one, of releasing the old that is no longer useful, or of not having ample means

Diarrhea or fainting – fear of something in the present

Eyes – fearing the future…not wanting to see life as it is

Feet – fear of stepping forward in life, fear of the future

Flu – Fearing the worst

Hands – fearing new ideas, or a lack of opportunity, or fear of appearing incompetent or foolish

Hips – fear of making major decisions

Hives – fears that are finally surfacing

Indigestion – fear of losing a job, losing security

Laryngitis – fear of voicing opinions

Leg problems – fear of moving ahead with life, fear of change

Respiratory problems – fear of living life to the fullest

Thyroid – fear of self-expression

My hope is that by reading some of these descriptions you might recognize fear, stored in its physical form, and be able to kick it out! I just found a fantastic essential oil blend specific to this purpose. I am using it daily and seeing results. The recipe for this essential oil blend is in the book, I Am Fabulous, by Desiree Mangandog.

Release Your Fears (Lisa’s version)

Cardamom, 8 drops – helps you see a bigger picture and have a different perspective, so the thing that scared you isn’t frightening anymore

Juniper Berry, 12 drops – brings fears out of hiding and helps you to release it

Lemon, 4 drops – cleanses out fears and purifies low vibrational energy

Basil, 2 drops – being afraid is exhausting, basil brings your vitality back

Lime, 2 drops – brings out the inner warrior and makes you triumphant

Cinnamon, 1 drop – empowers you to stand in your own power

Cedarwood, 3 drops – strengthens the lungs and improves breathing, increasing oxygen to the brain, reducing anxiety and increasing feelings of calm.

Place essential oil drops in a roller bottle and add coconut oil to fill. Apply to back of neck, low back and inside of wrists twice a day for two weeks.

Don’t let fear have free reign over your life!

Stop by the shop and make this essential oil blend to kick that fear to the curb and live the life you were created to live. Great for use with children as well. Let’s be proactive and take care of ourselves and each other. Release your fear today.

Lisa's Favorite Herb for 2020 - Mullein

Now is the time to harvest this fabulous herb! Mullein grows wild in Ohio and in many other states. I have seen it in Colorado and Utah. The first year it grows as a simple rosette of leaves, soft and fuzzy. The second year it sends up a stalk, anywhere from 2-8 feet tall. As a biennial it lives only two years, then it reseeds and the cycle begins anew. You will find it along roadsides, or building sites, where the earth has been disturbed. It loves poor soil, so will thrive just about anywhere. Try to harvest it in a location free of car exhaust fumes, fertilizers, or pesticides.

Each day I go out to my garden and harvest 4-5 yellow flower petals from each mullein stalk. It is a long process to fill a small bowl. These mullein flowers are like gold, very precious. They cannot be bought…only harvested by hand. The flowers are used to make the best earache oil.

Mullein & Garlic Ear Oil

In the top of a double boiler, place 1 Tbsp. each mullein flowers and chopped garlic. Cover them generously with olive oil, a little over 1 ounce. Fill the bottom half of the pot with water. Place oil half over the water half and simmer lightly for 15-20 minutes. Strain off oil and place into a bottle with a dropper. Use to soothe earaches. Place 3 drops in the ear, follow with a bit of cotton, 1-2 times daily as needed. This oil generally lasts for 6 months, so make a new batch each summer.

After the flowering is done, you can harvest the leaves. I lay the leaves flat to dry on a table. Or you can hang the whole stalk upside down to dry. Once the leaves are dry, I tear them into ½ inch pieces and store in a canning jar. Check the lid after about 3 days, if you find moisture, lay the leaf out to dry a bit longer. Then store it in a cool, dark place. Don’t forget to label your jar with herb name and date.

Dr.Christopher’s Lung & Bronchial Tincture

¾ cup mullein & ¼ cup lobelia

Place dried herbs in pint canning jar. Cover with vodka. Use a piece of plastic over the jar before using the metal lid. Let sit for 14 days, shaking daily. Then strain out herbs and discard. Place tincture in dropper bottles. Use one dropper as needed or 3-4 times a day, to help dispel mucus from the lungs and throat.

I allow the stalk to dry laying in the garden. Then in the fall, I will break up the flowering part to allow the seeds to fall and hopefully, give me mullein for the next year. I am always delighted to find those little fuzzy leaves in my garden. The little first year plants will tolerate being transplanted in the early spring, so you can place them where you want them.

I hope you enjoy making your own herbal medicine with this wonderful herb.

Mullein is my herb favorite for 2020! Have fun!

Make Your Own Healing Wound Paste

Healing Wound Paste

Mix together - 1 Tbsp. of each herb in powder form: comfrey root, slippery elm, myrrh, ½ Tbsp. bayberry root, and ¼ Tbsp. garlic

Store powder in a tightly covered jar. This is a perfect addition to your first aid kit.

When you have a wound, let it bleed a bit, that will help to clean it out. Don’t panic. Remember that facial wounds may bleed profusely. I usually will wash off the wound with running water and use colloidal silver on it to disinfect the wound. Then pour on a bit of the healing wound powder right into the wound and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Sometimes I will add silver to the powder and apply the paste into the wound. Add more powder as needed and then bandage to keep clean.

The next day add more powder if you need to and put on a clean bandage, but do NOT clean out the wound again. Keep an eye on it, looking for infection. The wound will heal from the inside out. The powder will help to stop the bleeding, and act a bit like stitches to hold the wound together, allowing it to heal from the inside out. Never put the powder on an old or infected wound, as it may actually seal the infection inside the tissue causing a deeper problem. I have used this wound paste many times with my family and seen wonderful healing, many times leaving no scars.

Now is a good time to gather the things you might need for those summer activities with your family. Be prepared with your natural first aid kit!

Have a happy and safe summer!

3 Simple Ways To Detox

It is a new year and most of us are trying to return to better eating and health habits after the indulgence of the holidays. It is always predictable to see several clients come in with candida overgrowth, urinary tract infections, or respiratory infections this time of year. Simple cause – too much sugar! Those nasty bacteria love it and thrive on it! So today, I want to share some simple ways to detox.

1.     Lemon water – so easy to add a slice of lemon to your water in between meals. It helps to make the body more alkaline, whereas sugar makes the body more acidic. Bacteria and cancer love an acid environment, so let’s make sure they don’t enjoy their home and move elsewhere!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               You can step it up a bit by adding a drop of lemon essential oil to your water. Make sure your lemon oil is labeled for internal use. Lemon oil helps to detoxify the liver, kidneys, gut, and lymphatic system. Lemon oil can also assist us in cleaning up our negative thinking, helping us deal with anger, fear, confusion, and darkness. Allow lemon oil to help “take out the trash” of negative emotions and make us clean again.

1.     Daily Detox – an herbal combination that may be taken daily to rid the body of toxins which cause imbalances in the body. This formula includes: dandelion, milk thistle, and yellow dock which all help to strengthen and protect the liver from toxins and pollutants. Black walnut extract is useful as an antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic and fungicide. Gotu kola boost the adrenal and immune systems and is useful for urinary tract infections. Ginger and turmeric and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, cleansing to the kidneys and bowels. Daily detox includes a blend of enzymes to breakdown the “leftovers” in our system and move them out of the body. May use from 1 to 6 capsules per day, as desired, for a gentle and effective daily cleanse.

1.     Chinese Tiao He Cleanse – brings the body into harmony by detoxifying the colon, kidneys, and liver. This detox combines western and Chinese herbs in an easy to take package of capsules, taken twice a day for 15 days. Grab and go convenience with an effective way to detox. Each packet contains: Chinese Liver Balance, All Cell Detox, LBS II, Psyllium hulls, Burdock root, and Black Walnut concentrate. We have detailed information on each of these at the store, so stop in for a copy. I recommend doing this cleanse once or twice a year. We are ALL toxic, chemicals in our environment and food are abundant. We are surrounded by toxins! Don’t kid yourself into thinking that YOU don’t need to cleanse – we ALL do! So, when was the last time you gave your body that tune-up? Don’t keep putting it off - do it today.

We are here at Healthy Life Solutions to support you thru the detoxification process. Achieve balance, energy, and less stress by eliminating toxins.

Let us know how we can assist you.

DIY Beard Oil

Looking for something special to make as a gift for Father’s Day? Try putting together this beard oil. Enjoy the aroma and softness as you go in for a hug or kiss. So you both benefit!

C-4 Beard Oil

In a 1 oz tincture bottle add 4 drops of each essential oil:

Cedarwood – promotes hair growth

Cypress – promotes follicle stimulation

Copaiba – promotes stress relief

Coffee – promotes energy and is invigorating

Fill the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil – antibacterial, antifungal.

Put a few drops on your hands and rub into the beard after your daily shower.

Summer Time Fun + Sun Without Damage: DIY Recipes!

Summer Time Fun & Sun without Damage

Enjoy the sun, but prevent damage to your skin and hair with these DIY recipes! We have the supplies you need to make them, come on by the shop!

OUCH! After Sun Spray

In a 4 oz spray bottle add 5 drops of each essential oil:

Lavender – cell renewal for burns, first aid for insect bites, skin conditions

Peppermint – soothe and cool skin, relieve itchy skin, regenerate nerves

Frankincense – reduces inflammation, prevents scarring, antiseptic, anti-infection

Fill the rest of the bottle with aloe vera juice – cooling and healing to the skin – you might even want to keep a bottle ready in the refrigerator/ice chest for a quick cooling mist. Use After Sun Spray as often as you like to relieve the effects of too much sun.

Meghan’s Summer Hair Care Lotion

In a double boiler, gently melt 1 cup Shea Butter. Move to a bowl and use a mixer to blend it with 2 Tbsp Almond Oil. Will need to mix it about 10 minutes until it becomes a lotion. Then gently mix in 5 drops of each of the essential oils:

Melaleuca (Tea Tree) – a strong antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal

Lavender – promotes balance in the body, antiseptic, useful with burns or injury

Rosemary – promotes hair growth, antibacterial, and antifungal

Cedarwood – antiseptic, astringent, reduces oily secretions, psoriasis, calming

Store in a glass jar. Apply the hair care lotion to the ends of hair daily, or apply to the scalp weekly for a deep conditioning treatment. Promotes growth and a healthy glow for your hair. May also be used on psoriasis, eczema, or dry skin.

Make Your Own Essential Oil First Aid Kit

I finally did it! You know how you sometimes have something on your to do list forever? Yep, that was me. I have intended to make an essential oil first aid kit for over a year. I even purchased all the oils and a cute little pouch to carry them in, but I just didn’t take the time to put it together.

We went on a little excursion last week and I needed my oils! One person had a headache, one a nasty bug bite, and one a sunburn…if I only had my oils with me. Sometimes we just need extra motivation. I hope you don’t wait as long as I did to make a kit to carry with you.

Here are a few suggestions for essential oils to include in a first aid kit, and ways you can use them. The oils I put into my kit are fractionated Coconut oil for a carrier, Frankincense, lavender, Lemon, Tea Tree/Melaleuca, Peppermint, Breathe, Deep Blue, and On Guard (blends from doTerra).

* Aches/pain – Deep Blue, Frankincense

* Allergies/antihistamine – Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint (work great together)

* Breath freshener – Peppermint

* Bug bites –, Lavender, Melaleuca, Frankincense

* Burns – Peppermint, Lavender, Frankincense, Melaleuca

* Cuts/bruises – On Guard, Melaleuca, Lavender, Frankincense

* Digestion/upset stomach – Peppermint

* Energy - Lemon

* Hand sanitizer – On Guard, Melaleuca

* Headaches – Peppermint, Lavender, Frankincense

* Sinus inhaler – Breathe

* Sore throat/colds – On Guard

* Stress/sleep – Lavender, Breathe

* Water purification – Lemon

I hope you find this quick reference helpful in using your essential oils on the go. I have a small book called, the Portable Essential Oils, by Anne Kennedy, which would be easy to pack into a suitcase or first aid kit for camping or travel.

Stop by the shop and I can help you put together your first aid kit. My daughter is making one to take on her mission trip this summer. I would be happy to order the cute keychain pouch from doTerra that we are using for you also, just give me a call. Essential Oil First Aid Kit - Don’t leave home without it!

Make Your Own Coffee Scrub

Make Your Own Coffee Scrub 

½ cup coffee grounds

½ cup sea salt

¾ cup fractionated coconut oil – enough to cover

20 drops coffee essential oil

Mix together and use to rub on non-sensitive areas of the body in a circular motion, and then rinse off in the shower. Excellent for areas of cellulite, stored fat, dry skin, and on sore muscles or joints. May be stored in a jar for up to a month.

I love to use this scrub in the shower. It makes you feel vibrant and ready for the day. I find it improves the look of my skin, reducing cellulite, wrinkles, and age spots. It is excellent for sore muscles and aching joints, increasing circulation to the area.

Sea salt is very healing and cleansing. It helps to rid you of negative energy that you may have picked up during the day. So it is useful for those who work with the general public, or do hands-on therapy.

Wonderfully moisturizing for the skin, coconut oil is antibacterial and antifungal.

 Coffee essential oil reduces free radical damage, improves mood, reduces fever, stimulates appetite, protects the immune system, aids respiratory health, has anti-aging qualities, reduces nausea, stimulates relaxation, reduces inflammation, and soothes allergic reactions. Coffee essential oil is abundant with antioxidants which help to reduce oxidative stress in the skin, increasing blood flow to those cells. It can help to prevent infections, the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and blemishes, while improving the elasticity of the skin. In addition, coffee oil contains concentrations of both linoleic and oleic acid, which lower your risk of cancer. 

*Cautions – Do not use if you are allergic to coffee, coconut oil, or salt. It is not recommended during pregnancy or for use with small children, due to its stimulating qualities.

We have all of the ingredients you need to make this scrub at Healthy Life Solutions.

Stop by and see us! 740-689-1111

10 Ways to Detox Your Life

1.     Drink more water! “The solution to pollution is dilution”, Steven Horne. I like to add Cell Food to my water: which adds enzymes, minerals, and amino acids to help bring balance to the body and help to increase detoxification activity.

2.     Liquid Chlorophyll (Nature’s Sunshine) – Chlorophyll is the blood of the plant, providing concentrated nutrition. Usually from alfalfa which grows deep into the ground, absorbing the minerals found there, such as iron. Chlorophyll is both cleansing and building for the body.

3.     Chlorella (also Nori and Wakame seaweed) – consuming chlorella resulted in a significant reduction of dioxin levels in breast milk in a study of Japanese women. Chlorella has the potential to absorb heavy metals and has been used to reduce lead and mercury.

4.     Cilantro enhances mercury excretion following dental amalgam removal and decreases lead absorption in the bones of animals. Use cilantro any time you have been exposed to heavy metals.

5.     Probiotics restore the damaged environment in the intestines, facilitating excretion of toxicants, replacing them with healthy flora.

6.     NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine) enhance mobilization of toxicants from tissue storage sites and increased their rate of elimination. It also reduced and removed arsenic form the organs. Glutathione (in absorbable forms) facilitates the movement of toxins from fat storage.

7.     Bentonite clay and activated charcoal decreases the re-uptake of toxicants in the body by absorbing them and assisting their removal through the lower bowel. Use these any time you feel that you may have been poisoned.

8.     Eat plenty of Fiber! Fiber in the diet helps to keep the bowels clean and reduces absorption of toxins into the body. Psyllium is also a natural lipase inhibitor, which decreases the absorption of fat - and the toxins stored therein - into the body.

9.     Essential Oils which have been traditionally used to detoxify the body include: lemon, grapefruit, and peppermint. I love doTerra’s Zendocrine blend too.

10.   Herbs that have been traditionally used to detoxify the body include: aloe, buckthorn, bugleweed, burdock root, capsicum, cascara sagrada, cilantro,dandelion root, ginger, licorice, marshmallow, milk thistle, Oregon grape, red clover, sarsaparilla, turkey rhubarb, and yellow dock.

Consider including some of these into your daily lifestyle to improve the detoxifying of your body. We are exposed to multiple toxins daily, so we need to be aware and active in removing them from our lives as much as possible. Please stop into the shop to discuss with me some of the detox possibilities we have available, or call for an appointment to create a plan of action to meet your goals. I would love to partner with you as your health coach!

Mullein: "The Respiratory Herb"

Mullein is one of my favorite herbs to have on hand for winter. I used it often in our home while raising my children and now for my grandchildren. It is soothing for respiratory symptoms, coughing, drainage down the back of the throat, or earaches. Mullein, Verbascus thapsus, grows in fields and along the side of the road in Ohio. You may even find it in the crack of the driveway. It loves poor soil. Mullein is a biennial, which means it only lives for two years. The first year it grows in a simple rosette of soft, fuzzy, oblong leaves. The second year it sends up a tall stalk and blooms with tiny yellow flowers. Leave the stalk to release seeds for the next year.

You can use flowers, leaves, and roots for herbal medicine. I use the leaves the most, as an expectorant and bactericidal, wonderful for the respiratory system. Its long list of traditional herbal uses include: allergies, asthma, bronchitis, broken bones, coughs, croup, diarrhea, earaches, emphysema, swollen glands, lungs, swollen joints, and pain. It also has sedative properties. Mullein flowers can be used as an antiseptic for wounds, to prevent infection, and soothe nerve pain. I love to make earache oil from the flowers. I call it, “liquid gold”, because you have to go out each day to pick just a few flowers and save them up until you have enough to make the oil. Mullein roots have uses too – make into a tincture for bedwetting, symptoms of facial nerve pain, or for bones when something seems “out of joint”.

I have used mullein for swollen glands in the neck. Make a tea of the leaves, add peppermint and sweeten if you like, and drink a quart a day. Also make a strong tea to use externally on a cloth over the swelling. You will quickly see the lymphatic inflammation go down in the gland. You can also dip a whole fresh leave in hot water and use it as a poultice on the swelling.

I have seen mullein do wonders for people just out of the hospital with bronchitis or complications of COPD.Mullein tea makes a very inexpensive, safe, and effective herbal medicine! A favorite combination for use with asthma or other breathing difficulties is to use 3 parts mullein with 1 part lobelia in a tincture form. See Dr. Christopher’s writings to learn more about how to use mullein to help with breathing and opening up the bronchial airways.

Nature’s Sunshine has a terrific formula called ALJ. I use it and keep it as a staple in my herb cupboard. I like to make it into a glycerite tincture for my granddaughter, as she likes the taste of my homemade remedy better. This recipe is tried and true – it works! I use it as a decongestant/expectorant with colds and allergies. Here is how I make it.

Lisa’s Version of ALJ – In a pint jar place one-fourth cup of each herb: Boneset, Fennel Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Horseradish Root, and Mullein Leaves. In a large measuring cup mix together: One and one-third cup hot water with two-thirds cup vegetable glycerine. Pour the liquid over the herbs in the jar, make sure the herbs are covered well. Screw on lid. Let set for 2 weeks, shaking the jar daily. Strain and put liquid into a tincture bottle. Dose: 2 dropperfuls every 2 hours for an adult for 3 days, as you feel better reduce the dose to 3 times a day. May use once a day for more chronic allergies, usually in the morning. To figure a child’s dose, go by body size – half an adult size body gets half a dose (1 dropperful), a smaller child maybe one-fourth a dose or half a dropperful.

Directions for Earache Oil – Collect as many mullein flowers as you can, dry them slightly by laying them out for a few days on a plate. Place the wilted and dried flowers in a glass canning jar that is size appropriate to the amount of flowers you have gathered, they should only fill it halfway. Cover the flowers generously with olive oil. Screw on lid. Let set for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain and place in a tincture bottle with dropper. To use, warm the oil by setting the bottle in a glass of hot water, test the oil on your wrist. Place 3 drops warm oil in the ear, followed with half a cotton ball to keep it warm. Use as needed for the pain.

Take the time to gather your herbs, dry them, and make your tinctures and oils before you actually need them. Be prepared with these wonderful remedies at home. Save money, use less drugs, have less need for doctor’s appointments, and keep your family healthy! Call ME, your local herbalist, if you need help.