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.

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!

A Personal Note From Lisa

Hello friends,

Well, now it has happened…Our “stay at home” order has been extended for another month. We all groan, take a deep breath, and dig in to find the strength to get through. Today, I want to share a few thoughts from a natural health perspective.

First, All classes are postponed until late May or June. The Annual Plant Sale in May is cancelled. After this is ALL OVER, I anticipate that we will want to get together, share our experiences, and learn how to take better care of ourselves and our families. So we will have the “Be Your Own Doctor” class series to look forward to in June. Check our website (www.healthylife-solutions.com) for exact dates and more information.

Next, I plan to BE OPEN, Tuesday – Saturday, 11-2 for as long as possible or until family needs arise. We will continue to offer curbside service, so you can get what you need with as little contact with others as possible.

So, What Do You Need?

Let me first express that nothing I share should be considered a claim to cure the coronavirus, or anything for that matter. I am NOT a doctor. I am sharing things with you that I have heard or read. The virus simply must run its course. All we can do is try to provide natural health support for ourselves and our families.

1.     Immune Support – I just got in a few bottles of Elderberry syrup (first come/first serve and limit one per customer). Other products to consider: Wellness Formula (chewable too), Echinacea Wellness, Vira-Bac-YST (great immune combo!), Astragalus, Olive Leaf, Oregano oil, Grapeseed extract, Vitamin C & D, and Zinc, to name a few.

2.     Sinus & Allergy Support – I love SinuCare (essential oil blend in a softgel). It clears the sinuses without over drying or raising blood pressure. Also ALJ, recently changed its name to Allergy Remedy, this contains Mullein, which I believe to be one of the BEST herbs we could be taking right now. I also have Quercetin & Nettles, both in Histablock, which is helpful to calm down inflammation. I also have Sinus Relief, which is a colloidal silver nose spray – I use this often when out around people, to help kill bugs I might pick up. Essential Oil blends are a must to help you breathe and clean up the air. Use them in a diffuser and topically on your chest, neck, and bottoms of the feet.

3.     Headache & Fever – Don’t use typical over the counter NSAIDS! Even the traditional medical doctors are saying this. I have heard that coronavirus headache and fever is NO FUN, but try natural methods for relief, which won’t interfere with a fever’s work in the body. I would use Relief Formula from Nature’s Sunshine, Formula 303, and also magnesium to help be more comfortable. Peppermint essential oil always helps my headaches, rub lightly on the forehead. STAY HYDRATED! Electrolytes are good to have too: Ionic minerals or Cell Food. See my website blog about fevers https://www.healthylife-solutions.com/blog/2020/4/1/lets-talk-about-fevers

Everything I have read, says that it is very important to try to help your body fight the virus while it is in the Head…Sinuses and Throat. Once it gets down into the lungs, the virus is very difficult to fight. So PAY ATTENTION to that sinus, allergy, sore throat, headache, & FEVER! This is the early stage – fight HARD. What if it isn’t the virus? Just allergies or a cold? So what…it won’t hurt to fight it hard just in case it is the virus. Why do you think they have us staying home? Because early symptoms don’t seem that bad, and we would go out and infect everyone else. So take care of yourself and don’t let it progress down into the lungs!

1.     Sore Throat & Cough – Now you need to really PAY ATTENTION! The body is fighting hard, do everything you can to support the fight. I have several homeopathic cough formulas that might bring relief. Remember, you want the body to cough up the phlegm, not to let it stay inside those lungs. Mullein, fenugreek, fennel, marshmallow and lobelia are a few helpful herbs to consider. I love to use Tei-Fu essential oil blend. It feels so good rubbed on the chest, neck, and glands. It seems to help you breathe, and I use it at night any time that I am fighting a respiratory sickness. You can gargle with warm salt water and colloidal silver. Don’t worry about food if you are not hungry, maybe just some chicken broth. Consider eliminating dairy or wheat, anything that causes more mucous. Do worry about drinking lots of warm liquids, stay hydrated!

2.     Lung Support – This seems to be our last line of defense and prevention. Our goal is to prevent it from infecting the lungs! Personally, I would start on a lung support formula whenever the cough begins. No messing around! Herbs work best if used early on in a sickness. I have found four formulas to help: Lung Support (a Traditional Chinese Herbal medicine formula), BosMed + Frankincense Oil, Dr. Christopher’s Lung & Bronchial, and Lung Cleanse & Defend formula. These are on order and should be coming in this week…get them early, so you are prepared.

Remember, that not everyone who gets the virus, ends up in the hospital. They will really be encouraging us to fight it at home – So, Be Prepared and have some tools in your box to fight with. Most of these herbs and supplements may be taken along with anything your doctor might prescribe by phone, so don’t be afraid to fight this virus with everything you’ve got.

Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Lisa Purdy, ND, MH

Healthy Life Solutions

Lets Talk About Fevers

We are living thru a historic event. The coronavirus will be something our grandchildren learn about in history class. We want them to talk about how well we handled this. Right now, not a lot is being said about what to do if you think you have the virus. They are recommending that you STAY AT HOME. This is nothing new to those of us in Natural Medicine. A visit to the emergency room needs to be avoided if at all possible. If you go and you are not sick, you just exposed yourself and loved ones, because THAT is where the sick people are! If you are sick, you just exposed everyone you came into contact with on the way there. So, they are recommending that you CALL your doctor and stay home. This is very scary to a lot of people, because they don’t know what to do. How do I care for someone sick at home? Our grandmothers did it – and we can too! Knowledge is power, and I hope to share some old-fashioned knowledge that may help you, if you need to care for someone in your home.

Let’s Talk About Fevers

Why do you run a fever? Most fevers are caused by viral or bacterial infections. When the body is infected, it responds by making more white blood cells and leukocytes that destroy viruses and bacteria. Fever increases the activity of these cells, a process called leucotaxis. A normal temperature is between 96.6 – 99.4. An infection may cause a fever of 105. Although a high fever is frightening, most of the time the body will work thru it without medical intervention. Remember this, FEVER IS YOUR FRIEND. It helps to burn out the virus or bacteria infection. Fever can help most viral infections go away more quickly than drugs. There is nothing the doctor can do to dispose of a viral infection any quicker than you can. In fact, medication often interferes with the bodies’ attempt to get well since it works to suppress the fever. If you lower your temperature by taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen, you simply hinder the process, not to mention damage to the liver, kidneys, or stomach lining.

Isn’t a high fever dangerous? The main danger to be aware of with a high fever is DEHYDRATION. You must keep the body moist. Remember this: Dry heat kills – Moist heat heals! A small child (20-30 lbs.) needs to drink at least 1-2 oz every hour, a 40 lb. child needs 3 oz every hour, a medium size child (85 lbs) needs 6 oz. every hour and an adult needs 12 oz or more. It really works best to use a cup that you can mark the measurement and keep track of what they are drinking. Taking a nice warm ginger bath is another way to get fluid into the body. The only time to be really worried about a high fever is after a head injury, poisoning, or heat exposure, otherwise in most cases, the body knows when to shut it off – your body is smart!

Won’t a high fever cause convulsions? No, it really is the rapid rise in fever that might cause them. So if the fever is rising fast, you might try to slow it down a little. Some people have used a cloth dipped in apple cider vinegar and then gently wiping the arms and legs down. It smells, but as it evaporates, it helps the body to cool down a bit. Yet, doesn’t interfere with the job a fever needs to accomplish.

If you feel the need to reduce a fever, you may make a tea/infusion, of elder flowers and peppermint leaves, steep 15 minutes, strain and sweeten. Another great herbal tea to use with children is red raspberry leaves; it has a lot of minerals/electrolytes which help balance the body and are lost during a high fever. Natural electrolyte supplements are also available. I like EmergenC pkts, Cell Food, Ionic Minerals, and Liquid Chlorophyll. Electrolytes are also lost during diarrhea, so if you have that plus the fever, you need to be doubly sure to STAY HYDRATED!

What does dehydration look like? A dehydrated person will be listless, pale, and his skin is looser and kind of floppy. Check him in a plump area, like the forearm or legs, by pinching the skin to see if it is loose or normal. If you are not able to keep them HYDRATED, you must get medical help! We are so used to going to the hospital for an IV, but if you keep on TOP of it, you can prevent dehydration and stay safely at home.

I hope this helps you to understand the work of a fever in your body. There is no need to “shut it off”. Let it run its course. It is very important to STAY HYDRATED! Remember, FEVER IS YOUR FRIEND, helping you to fight off the virus or bacterial infection.

Herbs for Anxious Times

Good Morning, Sunshine! During this anxious time of waiting, the sunshine does make everything feel better. Please do get outside, even if just for a minute, and soak it in. I was able to do a bit of yard work yesterday. It is so therapeutic to get your hands into the dirt in the springtime, raking leaves, listening to the birds singing – spring is here! I think the idea of spring bringing us new life will have a deeper meaning this year, as we consider all for which we are grateful.

Yesterday, my son was in my thoughts. He lives in California, in the epicenter of this epidemic. He has been on “safe at home” lockdown for 3 weeks now. I hadn’t heard from him for a while and the wheels of worry started turning in my mind. I texted, no response. Again, another text, more insistent this time, “I am worried, contact me”. A call within minutes! Yes, he is safe, just busy working from home. Such relief!

I imagine situations like this are happening for you too. Our minds can run away from us, we have to reign them in, and remain calm. For many of us this is a good time to renew a spiritual practice, remember our faith, trust, and gratitude.

Today, I want to share some of the herbal supplements that we can use to help us, when those anxious thoughts are too much. Please don’t be embarrassed to ask for help, we need each other more than ever just now. Herbs can provide gentle, non-addictive help, so you can handle life with more confidence and joy.

My favorite right now is AnxioCalm, from Terry Naturally. It is made from a special strain of Echinacea found in Europe. We think of Echinacea for immune support, and it usually is, but this extract helps us to manage anxiety, stress, nervous tension, and restless sleep. I take two tablets under my tongue and feel relief within 10 minutes! I also like that you don’t have to take it all the time, only when you need it. Echinacea does have a distinctive quality of a numbing sensation in the mouth, so don’t be surprised by it. A quick drink of water takes that away. This product is safe for children and pets as well, so a good choice for the whole family.

Chamomile and Valerian root are well-known herbs, used to help calm and relax us during times of stress. These are commonly taken in teas and can be helpful to drink before going to bed. One of my favorites is Cup of Calm, from Traditional Medicinals.

Passionflower is another favorite nervine herb. It is in Herbal Sleep, from Nature’s Sunshine. Passionflower relaxes the muscles and the mind. It helps with those thoughts that “go around and around” and just won’t shut up. Passionflower has a tonic quality on your nerves, so that the longer you take it, the better you can handle things. So, it is one to take on a regular basis for best results.

The last remedy, I want to share today is Rescue Remedy, a homeopathic preparation of five flowers, created by Nelson Bach. Rescue Remedy works quickly to give you immediate relief. It is excellent for disaster situations, accidents, or for feelings of panic. Read more here - https://www.healthylife-solutions.com/blog/2017/2/9/anxious-try-rescue-remedy

My dear friend, please don’t hesitate to call if you are feeling overwhelmed. We have many tools in our tool box, and I would be happy to help you find the right one for you.

Virus Worries???

Virus Worries???

Me too. As a mother and grandmother I have a lot of people to worry about. It is in times like these that I remember Joyce Meyer’s story of worry being like a rocking chair - there may be a lot of movement, but it isn’t going anywhere! So instead of worry or even panic, I suggest we pray & prepare.

If you wait until an epidemic is upon us, you may not find the remedies you will need to help your family. I suggest a bit of stocking up ahead of time. No, we don’t have to turn into “end of the world preppers”, but we don’t have to stick our heads in the sand and do nothing either. How much food and medicine do you have in your house right now? How long would it take for all the shelves in local stores to be empty if people panicked? It isn’t crazy to have a bit stashed ahead in case of any disaster. You want to be able to help your family, friends, and community if possible.

This year has held a lot of sickness: flu, coughs, pneumonia. In the shop the immune system shelves were looking empty, so I have ordered in new stock to make sure we are prepared. Please stop in and pick up a little extra, just in case. Here are some ideas of products to always have on hand to boost your immune system.

Vitamin C – researchers found that an intake of 200 mg or greater, reduced the duration and severity of common cold symptoms. In extreme physical stress, such as experienced by marathon runners and skiers, vitamin C reduced the common cold risk by half.

Elderberry– one of the best antivirals that I know. I take Elderberry D3fense every day. It has 2000mg of vitamin D3 in each capsule, plus the elderberry. Vitamin D also helps to boost the immune system, so it is important to get enough in the dreary winter months. We have elderberry syrup, tea, chewable, capsule, and tincture. So it is available to everyone. If you want to learn how to make your own elderberry syrup, make sure to sign up for our Be Your Own Doctor Class, and we will show you how.

Echinacea – boosts the immune system! I like the Echinacea angustofolia, which is the white coneflower. It has more antibacterial qualities than other varieties, so it is the best for medicine. Also, look for the root, as that has the strongest medicinal qualities. You can easily grow and harvest your own Echinacea for herbal medicine – join our classes to learn how. My personal product favorite is Echinacea Wellness, which is a great combination of herbs to help boost immunity and keep you healthy. This is always in my cupboard.

Oscillococcinum– it took me a month to learn how to pronounce that word! But this is my GO TO for FLU and respiratory illness. It is a homeopathic made from water fowl, so it works on the wet and mucousy types of sickness. It works best at the very beginning of an illness, as does Echinacea. So take it at the first hint of being unwell, and sometimes that one dose is all you need. If you wait until you are really sick, this doesn’t work as well, so make sure you have this on hand for those early stages and fight it off quickly.

Oregano Essential Oil – antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic, antiseptic to the respiratory system, antiviral, and immune stimulant. Oregano oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for human consumption by the FDA. Dilute 1 drop oil in 1 tsp. honey or in ½ cup of beverage. Not for children under 6 years old, and use with caution and greater dilution with children over age 6. Please use only oregano essential oils that are prepared in a pure form for internal consumption.

Silver Shield – Silver nanoparticles exhibit strong antimicrobial activity and have been shown to be non-toxic and virtually free of any side effects. This product poses no risk of heavy metal contamination as the nanoparticles are eliminated from the body within 48 hours. Silver is increasingly being used for medical purposes and is registered as a biocidal material since 1954. It has been used for public health hygiene, to purify water, and to combat a broad range of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Silver is currently used in dental device coatings, stents, catheters, wound dressings, bone prostheses, cardiac devices and surgical fabrics. Numerous studies have shown positive results in using silver with Staph, Streph, MRSA, pneumonia, candida, H1N1, HIV, and HPV, just to name a few. Be prepared with silver shield (liquid & gel) in your medicine cabinet. Just a note – silver is great for pets too, ask me how I use it with my dog, Mozart.

I could continue writing about more wonderful immune system products, but our time is short. So stop into the shop and I will help you to pick out exactly which products meet your needs. Remember, let’s not panic, just pray & prepare!

A Tale of Two Moms

As mothers we try to do the best we can for our children. It is always a challenge, and there are many times that we doubt ourselves. We wonder if we are making the right decisions or we try to live up to an ideal that doesn’t exist. I raised six children and I know that I made mistakes, but I also know that I made decisions out of a deep love for them. There is no one right way to raise children. Each parent and each child is different, so we have to be flexible. That said, let me tell you a story…the tale of two moms.

Traditional mom wakes up earlier than usual to her child crying. He seems hot and fussy, and has a very smelly, runny diaper. Shortly after nursing or a bottle, the vomiting begins. Alternating changing diapers and changing clothes and bedding all day. The thermometer confirms that his temp is higher than normal. She tries soft food, but nothing is staying down. Lots of fussing and crying, mom is getting tired. Finally, feeling panic after a long sleepless night, mom and child head to the emergency room. After hours of waiting, with a very fussy child, in the midst of a coughing feverish crowd, they finally get to see a doctor. The doctor confirms that the child is indeed sick, but since it is likely a virus, there is nothing they can do. Take the child home and keep him hydrated, and let the sickness run its course.

Natural mom wakes up earlier than usual to her child crying. He seems hot and fussy, and has a very smelly, runny diaper. Shortly after nursing, the vomiting begins. Seeing what is happening, natural mom makes a cup of blackberry or raspberry tea, and begins to give the child a small spoonful every hour, to help with the diarrhea and fever. She knows that it isn’t necessary for him to eat, so skips meals, thwarting some of the bouts of vomiting. Instead, she opts for small doses of elderberry syrup, to help with virus. She also sneaks in some bioplasma homeopathic tablets, which dissolve instantly in his mouth, and provide necessary minerals. The biggest danger for a child with a fever, diarrhea, and vomiting is dehydration. So mom runs a warm bath and allows the child to soak in the liquid through the skin, while making sure he is nursing, and drinking small spoons of water or herbal tea often. After his bath, he sleeps awhile, and mom takes a nap too. Although mom is tired, she is at peace, knowing that her child will be fine, after the virus has run its course.

The biggest difference between traditional mom and natural mom is knowledge. Knowing what to do brings peace instead of panic. She is able to rely confidently on herself and not depend on an expert to tell her what to do. Sickness is never fun, but it can be a peaceful cuddly time, rather than a stressful emergency room visit. The key is to be prepared with knowledge, and with a few simple natural herbs and supplements on your shelf. Am I saying that you never need the expert opinion? No, sometimes you do. But for simple, everyday childhood sicknesses, you can be prepared to be a natural mom.

As a natural mom of six children, now a grandmother, a traditional naturopath, and a master herbalist, it would be my joy to help you be a prepared natural mom. Join us for classes or make an appointment for a consultation. I have office hours on Tuesdays and I am only a phone call away. It is my passion to help you find knowledge and the confidence to help your family be naturally healthy.