Author: Chris Habib

Thanks for our friends at the Herb Society of America for sharing some fantastic information on Calendula.

Calendula is one of the most versatile of the healing herbs. It is traditionally made into a mineral rich herbalists’ infusion of the dried petals and water which is then drunk to help soothe the stomach spasms caused by inflammatory bowel disorders.  For canker sores, you can use this same tea cooled and with raw honey added as a mouth rinse to soothe gums. Or use that same calendula infusion (without the honey) as a cooling splash for sunburned skin.

Infused calendula oil can be used on its own, but blended into a creamy salve made with beeswax and coconut oil it becomes a soothing dry skin remedy.

Many of our salves contain Calendula, including our All Purpose Salve (or Green Salve).

Calendula has a spicy, interesting, and delicious flavor when used as a culinary herb. Use the fresh petals sprinkled onto deviled or scrambled eggs, steamed vegetables, and salads. It has a very important history of usage as a winter tonic. Traditional German folk medicine calls for the dried flower heads to be used in soups and stews in the colder months, because calendula has been historically used to boost immunity. Add dried calendula petals, dried stinging nettle, leeks, and butternut squash to a bowl of steaming chicken broth into which you can whisk a beaten egg. These additions turn a simple bowl of soup into a mineral rich and comforting tonic that always helps to rescue from the winter.

You can also make…

Calendula Infusion or Tea

• 1 heaping teaspoon dried petals or 2 teaspoons fresh petals
• 6 ounces boiling water

Place the calendula petals into a large mug or teapot and pour over the boiling water. Cover and steep for ten minutes. Strain before use.

You can use the infusion as a tea or a facial toner. Its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties make calendula wonderful to use for a sore throat, canker sore or urinary tract infection.

As always, we recommend seeking the advice of a healthcare practitioner.

Memory is something we all wish we had a little more of, especially as we age!

A study a few years ago tested the impact of various essential oils on cognitive performance and mood in healthy volunteers. Analysis of performance showed that rosemary produced a significant enhancement of performance for overall quality of memory and secondary memory factors, but produced an impairment of speed of memory.

The researchers conclude that essential oils can produce objective effects on cognitive performance, as well as effects on mood. Since then, further studies have been conducted and shown similar results of various kinds. How does this work? The compounds in the oils work their way through the nose, then to the bloodstream and then to the brain, where they have a direct impact on receptors.

For this reason, rosemary is sometimes called the Herb of Remembrance. As a bonus, rosemary is affordable and easy to grow at home or in your garden!

If you’d like to try a sniff of our rosemary oil, please pay us a visit anytime. We promise it’s a great time you’ll never forget.

Rose hips ( Rose Canina)

Rosehips are the fruit of the rose plant, appearing once the flower has bloomed and the petals have fallen off. Rosehips provide one of the best naturally available sources of vitamin C.  This high vitamin c content aids your body in recovering from periods of stress, in which your stores of vitamin C become depleted, and helps the body defend against infections and the development of colds.

Because they contain a variety of antioxidants; carotenoids, flavonoids, polyphenols, leucoanthocyanins and catechins, rose hips are considered to be a good preventative measure in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system.

Topically, rosehip seed oil has astringent qualities and has the ability to help regenerate new skin cells. This can be used to treat scars, acne and burns. While it is an astringent, it does not dry out the skin, rather it helps to rehydrate it, keep the skin elastic and nourished. Rosehip seed oil is high in Vitamins A an E along with essential fatty acids.  It can be used directly on the skin or it can be added to other cosmetics. You can find organic rosehip seed oil sold on our shelves at The Herbal Clinic and Dispensary.

How to prepare dried rose hips:

DECOCTION:  scoop 2.5 tsp’s of dried rosehips into a cup of water, bring to a boil and simmer gently for 10 mins.

INFUSION: Use 1 heaping teaspoon of rosehips per cup of boiled water and steep 15 minutes.

BLENDING TIPS:

Find rosehips in our ‘Stress Rest‘ Tea blend, and allow us to blend it for you with any of our wide selection of dried herbs! We love blending it with Nettle leaves as it’s vitamin c content works synergistically with the iron content of nettles, helping your body to absorb more of these incredible nutrients.

Sheng Di huang

Rehamnnia Glutinosa

Personal Note: This is the most Yin of all our herbs. Traditionally used in TCM, Rehmannia is becoming increasingly common in Western formulas for it’s ability to support and rebuild in convalescence. I like it especially post-delivery, or following a significant illness.

Description

Sheng Di huang is mainly found in Mongolia as well as northeast China. This dried slightly sweet tasting herb is used in traditional Chinese medicine to ‘clear heat and cool blood’ as well as ‘nourish yin’.

Common Medical Uses

• Fever
• Dry mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Internal bleeding
• Rheumatism
• Constipation

How To Consume

• Decoction
• Tincture

Works well with – Rehmannia is so yin in nature that it must always be paired with other herbs to balance. Usually it’s used with herbs like Codonopsis, Canadian Ginseng, and Licorice root.

NOTE: Always use the cooked root.