Super Tonic Recipe

The children are back to school and already we are seeing more people coming in for cold and flu products.

Super Tonic is one of my family's favorite remedies. I make it every fall and keep it in the refrigerator for the winter cold and flu season. We like to keep the pulp in the tincture and just take a spoonful whenever you feel a bit off. Chase the heat with a slice of apple. This also makes a great seasoning for chicken. I love to add it to my homemade hummus, yum!

Super Tonic Recipe

1/2 cup each chopped:  onion, garlic, habenero or cayenne peppers, ginger root, and 1 jar of prepared horseradish root  (or 1/2 cup fresh)

Place in blender and cover with Apple Cider Vinegar, puree. Keep refrigerated for up to six months. (You may strain after two weeks if desired, discarding the pulp.) Take 1 tsp. three or four times a day, as needed.

It's Vacation Time!

The store will be CLOSED June 11-16 for vacation, be sure to get what you need before I leave.

Are you busy planning your vacation? Many of us missed one last year, so we are excited to get going this year. What do you need to take with you to stay healthy and be prepared for travel emergencies? Are you ready for sunburn, constipation, sore muscles from travel, allergies, interrupted sleep cycles, headaches, bug bites, or wounds? Here are some of the things that I won’t leave home without.

Aloe vera gel – This is great help for sunburn, so cool and soothing! You can put it into the refrigerator at the hotel, for an even more cooling effect. It is also good to use on bug bites, poison ivy, or heat rashes too. I like to add a few drops of lavender oil to it for even better relief.

Silver gel – This is my choice for preventing infection. I have used this on wounds, cuts, scrapes, rashes, bites, ingrown toenails, or blisters. On vacation you do a lot of walking, so sometimes what might have been a minor irritation becomes a major problem. Be prepared! Throw in a few bandaids too.

Curamed Acute Pain Relief – This is a new product which I use often and have come to love! I have taken it for hip pain, knee pain, back pain, toe pain, sore muscles, or a headache. No one has fun if they are hurting, so be prepared for aches, pains, and inflammation. I use this instead of common NSAIDS that have negative side effects.

Deep Blue Rub – This is a wonderful lotion containing a blend of essential oils. I use it on my hip, back, or neck and it is great for sore muscles. Whether you have done too much hiking or stairs, ridden too long in the car, or slept on a lumpy mattress, this rub can bring relief!

LBS-II or Lower Bowel Stimulator – This is a laxative formula, which works by stimulating the bowel muscles to move. When we travel, we try new foods, eat lots of junk food, and overall just eat too much. It is all part of the fun, until you feel miserable! So take two capsules of LBS before bed to keep yourself regular while you travel. This comes in liquid for children also, keep everybody happy.

Crystallized Ginger – This is perfect for anyone prone to carsickness. I always carried some in my purse, when my children were little and we took a car trip. Ginger helps with nausea, gas, or cramps.

SinuCare – This is an amazing product to help clear those sinuses! Eucalyptus oil in a softgel to take internally. I always am stuffy after a night in a hotel. Whether it is the air conditioning, enclosed space, or strange bedding, I don’t know. But I will wake up uncomfortable. SinuCare works for me within about 20 minutes.

AnxioCalm – This product is amazing for anxiety! Whether you are fretting about missing the plane, traffic in a strange city, or just the crazy noise level of the kids in the car, you could use a little help. I take two tablets and let them dissolve under my tongue, relief in 10 minutes. It is that simple. AnxioCalm will also help you to relax and sleep, which is always harder in a strange place or new bed.

These are the things that I won’t leave home without! As you pack for your vacation, make sure you plan for healthy relief and support. Have a great trip!

Are You Sleeping?

 I had a restless night. Seemed to wake up every hour, with too much on my mind. It has been 3 months since my husband passed away and I think the grief and reality is sinking into my brain. I can’t do anything about the circumstances that are keeping me awake, but I can take some herbs to help me process it all and relax more. Here are a few that I am considering and they might help you too.

Valerian – Seen in the photo above, helps to relieve emotional stress, nervous tension, and restlessness. It is an effective sedative (yet not addictive), mild anodyne (pain reliever), nerve restorative, and is antispasmodic. In large doses it may create excitability. Should not be used in conjunction with prescription sleep-aids or anxiolytics. 

Passionflower – for general restlessness, useful for insomnia and disturbed sleep patterns, sedative, tranquilizing, analgesic (pain killing), and antispasmodic. As a nervine herb, the longer you take it, the better your nerves are able to handle things. It is excellent for shutting down those anxious thoughts that go around and around in your head and just won’t stop. NOT recommended during pregnancy.

Ashwagandha – Known as an adaptogenic herb, it has the special ability to be both energizing and calming at the same time. It reduces cortisol levels and inflammation, balances stress hormones, calms nerves, sharpens your focus and concentration, increases both libido and stamina, and it is a powerful antioxidant.

Full-spectrum hemp oil – helps to balance the body and mind. Endocannibinoid receptors are found throughout the body, but especially in the brain and gut, areas where hemp may be particularly helpful. It is calming and helps to relieve stress and pain.

Serenity Essential Oil Blend by doTerra – includes Lavender, Cedarwood, Ho Wood, Ylang Ylang, Marjoram, Roman Chamomile, Vetiver, Vanilla, and Sandalwood. This blend is available as an oil for the diffuser or as softgels to take internally. It has a powerful calming effect on the mind and heart. Helpful to relinquish feelings of stress, anxiousness, and being overwhelmed. It can help quiet an overactive mind, releasing feelings of worry, and give you the ability to unwind. Serenity brings a sense of tranquility that allows space for personal reflection, peace, and healing.

Tonight, I plan to choose two or three of these and put them to good use. I am ready for a good night’s sleep. How about you?