Wishing you all a very Herbal Christmas & a healthy New Year

I would like to thank all my readers for their continuing support throughout 2008.  It was my goal to have 300 new members subscribe to the main Herbology site this year and I am very proud to say that I am only 9 shy of that number. YAY!

Over the past 12 months there have been periods of crazy activity and contribution to the site and other times where life got the better of me and very little happened on Herbology as a result.  The month of October didnt even see a newsletter go out!  New articles are still going up all the time, right now there are gardening articles going up every month as there have been for the past 5 months.

Also, the recipe archive has been updated with additions to each category.  You will now find recipes for:

Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Herbs and Smoked Salmon

Garlic, Lovage and Apple Dip

Mixed Herb Salad with Toasted Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds

Pickled Plums de Provence

Natural Deodorant

Natural Body Powder

Eucalyptus-Mint Disinfecting Soap

Lemon-Mint Window Wash

Robust Rosemary Lamb

Herb Stock

Carrot & Coriander Soup

Rhubarb Cordial

Bavarian Herb Soup

Spring Herb Vinaigrette

If Christmas was all a bit much and the stress is getting to you there are many natural ways to treat the stress of the season. Start the New Year the way you intend to live it - relaxed, herbal & healthy.

All the very best to all my readers - I’ll see you in 2009!

Stay herbal

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• Christmas in Australia

How is that for an attention grabbing title?  I think it is appropriate when a recent news item proved once again the importance of common sense and moderation in terms of alternative health treatments.

Herbology and I have always maintained that herbal medicine can and must go hand in hand with conventional medicine.  You can not treat yourself effectively without a correct diagnosis and seeing a health professional to get that diagnosis will also make sure that there are no serious underlying  causes for your symptoms.

Two days ago the top news story was that of the father of a 11 year old girl who believed so strongly in the healing power of a  particular alternative product and did not trust conventional medicine that he refused to take his little girl to the doctors when she was gravely ill with a heart infection. Due to his obsessive belief the girl is now permanently disabled and will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. (Channel 9 News, FOX News)

To think, had he gone to the doctor to get a diagnosis this girl would have been successful treated and be a happy healthy 11 year old.  Instead he thought he knew better and everyone in the family paid the price - girl permanently disabled, mother on a suspended sentence and father in jail.

The father used a product that is supposed to boost the immune system by providing glyconutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. I am not making a statement about the effectiveness of this product as I have never tried it but common sense tells you that  giving extremely high doses (as in this case) of immune boosting nutrients are not going to cure anything, yet alone something as serious as a heart infection.  Immune boosters are great to help protect your body and make it resistant to disease but it is not a cure all by a long shot.

Now everyone knows that I use herbs for absolutely everything but  I will not just treat the family without consulting our health professionals first.  Our health care team knows that I prefer natural options and if appropriate they support me in my use of herbs (or else they would not be our doctors).  But to endanger the lives of my loved ones would be completely contradictory to the whole point of natural health. Ok, you can see that I feel very strongly about this.

I can not emphasise enough that herbal medicine is an effective option ONLY if used sensibly and with the help of professionals. Education, common sense and moderation …. those three pretty much apply to everything in life so why wouldnt we apply them to our health?

Stay herbal - but not to the exclusion of all else

… has kept me away from the blog.

Not due for another couple of weeks at least, Robert Alexander made an early entrance on October 19.

Born at almost 36 weeks, weighing 5′11, he spent a few days in special care but, to my delight, was able to come home with me 8 days later.  We are over the moon with our new bundle, and that Robert was instantly accepted into loving arms by his siblings.

Stay Herbal!

P.S. Readers of the Herbology Thymes newsletter will already know that I am taking a couple of months off - but I will still blog about herbal news I come across.  It is mainly the newsletter that will go on holidays until the new year.

By simply going into a herbal store and buying something off the shelf you are risking the effectiveness of the ingredient or remedy if it was not stored properly. How fresh were the ingredients that were used? Was the product stored in direct light? Was it kept airtight or in heat? These factors will significantly affect the quality and therefore effectiveness of the product you are buying. Be aware of what you buy - your remedies are only as good and effective as the ingredients you make them with.

Often it makes no difference whether the herbs you are using are fresh or dried. As long as your herbs were properly harvested,  packaged and stored they will have not lost any of their healing powers.

Try to locate a reputable supplier that has knowledgeable staff and a high turnover. A high turnover will assure that products have not been stored for a long period of time. There are some great Australian suppliers who guarantee to only use organic or wildcrafted herbs, free of chemicals, which have not been irradiated. We do suggest you use organic ingredients where at all possible, your health will benefit from the difference.

Of course it is just as important to store your herbs correctly at home in order to maintain their strongest features. If you are using fresh herbs you need to wrap them in a moist paper towel and place in a plastic bag in the fridge. Store bought dried spices generally come in an air-tight container or plastic bag and these should be stored in a cool and dark area for up to 6months before replacing them. When it comes to cooking most fresh herbs need to be added at the end of the recipe with the exception of the woodier type of herbs which will benefit from extra cooking time. Dried herbs are added earlier in the cooking process to allow them to re-hydrate and release their goodness. By following these simple rules you will maintain the strengths and flavours of the herbs and spices and therefore always be using the best.

Herbs are typically used in small amounts, even if you are using them for remedial purposes. You can use the proper herbs in practically any recipe and even in tea if you are more comfortable using a single herb instead of a blend of many. By taking an interest in herbal remedies and herbal characteristics you can enjoy a more natural side of healing.

Stay Herbal!

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• A Great First Herbal - Lots of Information and Details

After the recent spade of sickness in our house I have decided it is time to stock up on disease fighting remedies. Surely I am not the only one who always leaves things to the last minute and then finds that the very thing they need takes 6 weeks to make?

Traditional and scientific research indicate that elderberries promote disease resistance and that they also have the ability to prevent and even treat a virus. Elderberries have been used for centuries in the treatment of colds, viral infections and upper respiratory conditions including asthma. These little powerhouses are said to build the blood, cleanse the system, ease constipation, enhance the immune system function, fight inflammation, increase perspiration, lower fever, soothe the respiratory tract, and stimulate circulation - oh and they are a powerful antioxidant! Did I mention they taste great too? In the old days a syrup or a hot cup of elderberry wine would be often be prescribed before bed to ward off cold and flu related symptoms.

I popped over to The Medicine Woman’s Roots for her Elderberry Elixir recipe. I took Kiva’s suggestion and added some rosehip as well plus 1/2 a cinnamon stick. As this recipe takes a good month (and more) to mature I have also put some elderberries to soak for an Elderberry Syrup. I understand Kiva’s preference for the elixir but when compared to the elixir the syrup is much faster to prepare and contains no alcohol - which of course is a bonus when treating small children. While the elixir is soaking I can fall back on the syrup in the meantime. It may not be as powerful but it does still possess a lot of the virus fighting benefits.

Elderberry Syrup

2 cups dried elderberries
1 litre of boiling water
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 lemon juice
Put the elderberries in a non reactive saucepan, add boiling water - cover and leave to soak overnight. The next day simmer berries for 30 minutes, cool a little then blend. Once blended add honey and lemon juice. Cool, then pour into a clean bottle. Store in the fridge. NOTE: I havent decided if I am going to blend all the berries or whether I will strain the pulp out as I have seen in a few other recipes. I might do one of each and see if there is any added benefit from keeping the pulp. Will keep you updated on results down the track.

As with the elixir I chose to add a small handful of rosehips as well. We love the taste and it is high in Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C & K - helpful in the treatment of colds and infection.

Updated to add: If you are going to add dried rosehips like I did do add some extra water or else you will end up with slush in the morning as all the dried plant material has soaked up the water and there is nothing left to simmer.

Stay Herbal!

Last week I went to the health food store to get supplies for my sick son. I did not want much, just some eyebright (herb or tea) to make an eyewash and some raw honey to make cough syrup. The local shop is quite a large place not like the smaller shops in the shopping centre. They only had eyebright in tablet form - for a tincture it would need to be prescribed by a naturopath and a tea or loose herb would take a few days to order in. The only honey I could find was a tub of tea tree honey. Never having tried that particular variety but believing in the healing power of tea tree, I bought it for the syrup. From there I went on to Mrs Flannery, an organic supermarket 20 minutes away which hopefully carried the eyebright or had a naturopath on staff who could get me the tincture. So off I went, and no, they didnt carry it either. Everyone knew straight away what I was talking about, one lady even asked if I had a child with conjunctivitis. So, if everyone knows that eyebright is a great treatment, why doesnt anyone carry it? I guess it’s a sign that although people know the lore, they are not actually applying that knowledge. Hence the demand is not there and consequently the stores do not stock herbal supplies. I think this must change ! C’mon guys, experiment! Make some of the remedies you heard your grandmother talk about - the more you learn and use the more likely the shops are to increase their range of supplies.

In the end I stuck with my chamomile and elderflower wash and ordered some wildcrafted eyebright from my usual supplier for future use. And I am pleased to report - Harry’s eyes are back to their beautiful twinkly selves

On a different note, while I was searching for the eyebright I came across a Stevia product. Remember the Stevia post from last week? Well there were a number of products available of this sugar alternative. I saw it in little tablet form, drops and powder form. I assume that since it is so much sweeter than sugar that you use much less of it, hence the different ways of using it.

NIrvana Stevia, as well as other stevia products, have no calories, and this company is using that fact to attract the weight loss market. It’s clever, but I think it’s not so much the sweetener as what the sweetener is in (pastries and sweets) that is the culprit i putting on the weight. BUT…..having said that, no calories and no influence on blood sugar levels is a biggie for a great many people. With diabetes on the rise this might be a pleasant alternative for people with blood sugar issues. I personally detest artificial sweeteners - the fact that they are artificial and the taste *shudder* and I know that sugar is not good for my family and I, so I will definitely give the Stevia alternative a go and see what everyone in our household thinks. Will keep you guys posted.

Oh…and the tea tree honey is horrible!!! Sorry but I will have to find another use for it, eating it just isnt an option. I bought some raw outback honey from Mrs Flannerys instead - much, much nicer.

Stay Herbal!

Don’t you think it’s amazing that a substance can be used for centuries and not until two corporate giants fight over it’s use is it touted as beneficial and NEW.

This is the case with Stevia - a South American plant that has been used as a sugar alternative for hundreds of years. It is said to be 300 times sweeter than cane sugar (that’s even sweeter than liquorice root!). Of course the world has known about Stevia, it is not a new discovery, but due to lack of recognition (or ignorance or a ploy to keep the sugar industry lucrative, who knows?) it has not really taken off as a sweetener until more recently. In fact, in the US it was banned until 1994 (without much explanation for the ban). From then on it had to be labeled as a dietary supplement, but is not allowed to be called a food additive. Stevia is banned in quite a few countries even though in 2006 the “World Health Organisation (WHO) performed a thorough evaluation of recent experimental studies of stevioside and steviols conducted on animals and humans, and concluded that “stevioside and rebaudioside A are not genotoxic in vitro or in vivo and that the genotoxicity of steviol and some of its oxidative derivatives in vitro is not expressed in vivo.” The report also found no evidence of carcinogenic activity. Furthermore, the report noted that “stevioside has shown some evidence of pharmacological effects in patients with hypertension or with type-2 diabetes” but concluded that further study was required to determine proper dosage.” “Stevia.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 3 Aug 2008, 10:16 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 7 Aug 2008.

The reason why Stevia is now in the news a lot is because Coca-Cola and Pepsi are in a race to bring to the market products sweetened with a stevia derived calorie-free sweetener. Of course Stevia itself is naturally calorie free and has some added benefits such as inhibiting plaque and not raising blood sugars. Amazing that because these two corporations have shown significant interest it makes a Stevia derived sweetener a lot more attractive to countries all over the world even though it remains banned in many of them. If you would like to know more about Stevia check out Isabella’s site Herbs Are Special - she also has a fantastic book out How can I use HERBS in my daily life? (an absolute MUST have).

I guess any publicity that raises awareness of herbal alternatives is good publicity. I just wish that the plant and all it’s benefits were looked at and not just a heavily processed part of it. Using the derivative sweetener is as herbal as taking aspirin because it is derived from willow bark.

Stay Herbal!

Herbology Thymes - East meets West Edition -
OUT NOW

Are you ready to cheer on your country’s sporting best? The Olympics are right around the corner and for those who are sportily inclined it should be quite an event. In celebration of China opening it’s doors to the world this month’s edition of the Herbology Thymes newsletter is focusing on the herbs that have come out of China and made it into Western Herbal Medicine.

Some of the plants discussed you will already be quite familiar with and others will be quite new. A longtime winter favourite appears with a bit of historical trivia as well. Subscribe Now!

There have been lots of changes and additions to the Herbology website so please have a wander around and tell me what you think. I love your feedback!

Hello Herb Lovers,

I can not believe it has been a whole month since I last made contact. Much has happened on Herbology.

Naturally the July issue of the Herbology Thymes newsletter made it out on time. This month you’ll get some ideas on how to keep warm, inside and out. If you suffer from poor circulation, chilblains or just dislike being cold - there are some herbal warming solutions you might like. And what would winter be without recipes to warm the soul, no matter how you feel about winter, these meals will bring a warm glow to the heart. Register for your copy of the Herbology Thymes!

The whole Herbology site has had a make-over. Thanks to a corrupted database I had to rebuild the whole thing from scratch (not that I had anything better to do, right?). But it is back up now, better than ever!

Apart from the new logo there are some NEW things you will find on Herbology such as a Newsletter and Recipe Archive. July also sees three new articles - Infusing Oils (14/7), Making Herbal Salves (21/7) and Making Creams (28/7) - all of which are step by step instructions using photos to make the job even easier for you.

As far as the blog is concerned I am getting used to the new version of WordPress, so please bear with me. Other than that I have some Q & A’s to post that people have sent me (sent me the Q’s, not the A’s) which I think will be of great benefit to my readers.

So stay tuned………….. and

Stay Herbal!

Hello Herb Lovers,

Herbology e-Shop Poll

I have been approached by a number of people who are interested in a Herbology e-shop. If such a beast was to be created I would need to know what Herbology members and readers want to see in an online shop of this nature. So I added a new poll to the Herbology site. Please visit and let me know what kind of things you would like to see in a Herbology shop.

Herbology e-Shop Poll

Stay Herbal!