Since the start of tree pollen season here in NW Arkansas, I have been feeling way more drained and tired than usual. It didn’t help that this coincided with a week or two long teething spell for Verity! I was so sleep-deprived and discombobulated – it felt as though I had just had my wee one, only I couldn’t rest all day because I had two to run after and jobs to keep!

Towards this last weekend, I felt in despair. I thought something must be wrong with me – I have had no energy or attention span to work for more than about 2 hours a day, and I couldn’t focus on the kids very well either. Combined with dizziness while gardening and a few other things, I finally checked in with myself and began to get a regimen for getting back up to “speed”

With the help of some great advice from friends as well as a few chapters of The Fourfold Path to Healing; Working with the Laws of Nutrition, Therapeutics, Movement and Meditation in the Art of Medicine, I realized I need to revamp my dietary laziness. I’m following the recommendation in the book now, as much as possible: 40% animal source, 40% vegetable source, 20% grain source. The animal source must be raw as often as possible (raw butter, raw milk, etc) or pasture-raised fresh meats not cooked at too high a temperature (and bone broths, etc), the vegetable source can be only steamed or raw, and the grain source (and legumes, nuts, etc) must be properly soaked or sprouted.

What does that all have to do with sleep, you ask? Well, you’ll have to get the book or begin following Weston Price literature to get the nitty gritty. In the nutshell, however; eating this way means you are giving you digestive system foods it can properly break down, leaving your body with more energy for the other systems and functions (including brain — hormone! — function). I already eat only organic produce, pasture-raised meat, and unrefined foods. But what I don’t do enough is soak and sprout. Maybe once a week for a split pea soup or black bean side, but otherwise I bake with whole wheat pastry flour, etc. I do get sprouted sandwich bread and sourdough artisan bread, however, because I already had a gist for the logic behind it. What I didn’t understand is was how much I needed to eat, what percentages, and how those 2 or 3 days of eating a muffin and a coffee or something similar was contributing to my low energy level and moods. Man, you slack off just a bit and WHAM, teething, allergies, illnesses – (”I get knocked down, but I get up again!”)

Moving on!

Another thing I changed a few days ago was my sleep pattern. I never take naps, and I rarely fall asleep before 1am. I also can’t fall asleep for at least 30 minutes. Then I nurse a few times in the night and wake up around 8am feeling like I just went to bed. I am not a morning person, never have been. I feel cranky and ethereal for a few hours and can barely function until I have some protein in my breakfast (bowl of cereal = raving lunatic. poached egg on steamed kale = happy mama.)

On Mother’s Day, I took for myself a rare treat. A nap. What was odd, to me, was that I felt tired again early that night and crashed about an hour earlier than usual. Then Chris let me sleep in on Monday morning and do you know when I woke up? 10 o’clock! This was more sleep than I have had in a span of DAYS this year. And finally, I didn’t feel guilty about it – I didn’t fret over all the things I didn’t get done because I was asleep. Instead, I felt calm (no! getting sleep helps you feel calm! Say it isn’t so!) and trusted that this is what my body needed to do to recuperate. If that means I get behind on a few things, maybe those things weren’t that important. Also, maybe I’ll have the attention span and energy to finish them better and faster once I’m rested. For a few days now, I’ve taken naps (which, according to this article, DOES make folks learn better and increases memory function) and getting to bed before midnight. Already, the quality of my waking is more alert and energized. Halle-flippin-lujah!

I should add that I’ve also been more conscientious about taking my fermented cod liver oil (SO important, esp for pregnant/nursing mama’s!) and adding to it a range of therapeutic essential oils to support my immune and digestive system. Also back on the bandwagon is my use of lacto-fermented beverages. I’ve been drinking my homebrewed kombucha daily but slacked off on my kefir smoothies. Until I read that the recommendation for me to fight fatigue is also to drink less water (flushes gut with water – not letting stomach vile do its job in digesting the food) and more lacto-fermented liquids instead (kefir smoothies, yum!)

So I’m going to continue this super nourishing diet, extra sleep to support that I nurse all night still (attachment parenting, respond respond respond! ), and cod liver and essential oils supplements. Besides being a little more energized, calm, and alert, my skin is less red and rashy (woo hoo!). I’ll touch back after a few weeks and let you know if anything else is changing.

THIS is what I love about allowing negative emotions to come to the surface, yet having the perspective that they are not evil or wrong or stupid, but just a message. A message to make a change and shift your priorities. The few weeks of fatigue and restlessness and worry prompted me to take the time to do some soul searching. I journaled about some things I need to do, including getting alone and girl time each week, starting yoga again, along with the diet change and more sleep. I prayed about some of these things, in particular that I would find a good Vinyasa yoga class in Fayetteville, and low and behold, today I was at the co-op and saw a flyer on the bulletin about a new 6 week series for Vinyasa flow. It’s on Sunday afternoons, a great open time block for me, and not very expensive either. I’m soooo relieved!

After a good night’s sleep, I also emerged with some answers to things that were bothering me. Career changes/ timing, Chris’ joblessness, the kids, so many things. What was clear to me when I awoke was this: I need to focus on my faith, writing, art, and family. Period. The financial situation will iron itself out, likely in a way that I can’t even foresee right now. But having mini-breakdowns every week because there is no time for the things my heart and mind is needing more of is making me less productive and less joyful, more tired and more stressed out.

The blog, something I was ready to give up for lack of time to commit to it, might end up sticking around, if only for a place to share my thoughts. I’ll be taking a writing course with my neighbor soon (who actually named herself Ryder – cause she is a writer – which I think is so bold it’s cute). Next I want to take some watercolor courses. I’ve always felt really dyslexic when it comes to watercolor as a medium, and I want to remedy that.

Oh! And I’ll be hosting a summer reading group (through Vintage) to discuss the book “Radical Homemakers; Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture“. Can you see a theme here? Doing things good for my soul, learning to let go of roles I don’t need to cling to anymore, taking a leap of faith – eventually hoping to be more generous and infectiously joyful in a world so riddled with greed, fret, and hopelessness. Wish me luck

Well, I won’t go on – this is getting rather long. And I have a playdate, so…

Be the Light,

Mama

“The caterpillar trusts his maker that all is well. He does not cling to his old garment and thus is transformed into a magnificent butterfly. There is no pain, it is a natural transmutation. So it is with us. As the chrysalis is the bridge between caterpillar and butterfly, so is True perception the bridge between separation and Oneness. We are transmuting into a new state of being. Clinging to our caterpillar stage, our old ways of judgement, we shall never learn to fly into the dawn of a new day.” – Peter Erbe

While planting today, a truly majestic butterfly joined Ethan and I to steal a quick drink from my soaker hose on a warm sunny day. I was grateful for the moment to awe over his company.

We planted tomatoes (black prince, persimmon, green zebra, yellow pear, and whopper) and peppers ( red bell, yellow bell, and aneheim) surrounded by seedlings of carrots and lettuces. The small raised bed was then lined with marigolds and chives. Companion planting, yeah baby! Many of the starts I got from a local farm at the farmer’s market; a very sweet and helpful farmer who I was proud to support just a bit with my Mother’s Day moolah

Over on the other side of the front yard, a pumpkin patch is underway. We’ve seeded carving pumpkins, white pumpkins, and sugar pumpkins (for pie), along with a few varieties of ornamental gourds. Can’t wait for Fall!!!

This week’s homeschooling has been about beans We’ve read Jack and the Beanstalk and planted pole beans, dragon tongue beans, sugar peas, and some melon varieties. These will go in the backyard raised bed, a long 20′ x 4′ which will feature more stuff I’ve learned about companion planting. From what I’ve heard, growing your own food in the Ozarks is a lot different from the “plant it, it will grow” Oregon climate and soil I have only ever gardened in. I’ve had to learn about rocky, clay soil and nasty bug infestations and dry, hot summers – so companion planting helps with some of that, along with a proper composting system and lots of soaker hoses – which will eventually be hooked up to rain barrles. For more info on companion planting, check out the classic on the subject: Carrots Love Tomatoes. As for my backyard bed, I’ll be trying out the three-sisters method: the beans will be trained up corn stalks while the ground is kept moist by a covering vines — squash/melons/cucumbers. On the other end of the bed will be a large patch of strawberries (to collect fruit from next year) and kale. Little natural insect repellents will be distributed around the main veggies – mainly marigolds and some herbs.

The chicken coop is coming along, but I’ll show pics when we get the roof and the painting fine tuned. The three musketeers (Chris and his two new boyfriends : Trevor and Cheyne) were working on it last night while the women and kids enjoyed each others company amongst the backdrop of an Ortecho-style Cinco de Mayo celebration (make your own tacos and fried ice cream with Mariachi in the air).

May the music move you…

I feel this week as though so much has changed. A simple, yet profound, shift has taken place. Will it last? Dear God, I hope so.

First of all, I have home schooled. Really home schooled. It’s been a long time. Since before we moved into the community house nearly, what, 10 months ago. Does this mean we did worksheets, flashcards, field trips and quizzes? No.

This week: Ethan made bread. He made Advent candles. He started ice skating lessons. He watercolored his heart out. He played with his nature table for HOURS each day. He didn’t watch TV and stopped asking for movies. He started taking 1 hour naps at the same time each day. He started whining less. He started reasoning with himself rather than arguing with us for the heck of it. He didn’t fight much at bedtime. He used his imagination. He learned new songs. He played outdoor games. He fell more in love with his sister. He fell more attached to his stuffed dragon, Scorch (who now comes everywhere, even ice skating.) He also enjoyed mama’s raw milk hot cocoa every day after his nap. His low point was a boy fight with a friend on Monday – the next time he saw him, however, I heard him say, “Let’s not fight anymore, okay? I really want to play good with you.”

Another endearing thing he said: “Mama, wow. God gave you really special eyes. They are beautiful. Like the inside of kiwi berries.”

He’s ran up and hugged me out of sheer excitement and joy several times a day. We’ve bowed a namaste to each other to share a moment of appreciation, a new “bit” we share.

This week: I spent time with my son. I gave him my attention. I mustered up more energy. I took two yoga classes. I didn’t work much (sigh. the tradeoff? I hope not…). I knitted two waldorf wool gnomes and made one floor puppet waldorf doll for Christmas presents, purchased an amazing wooden kitchen set made just this week by a local grandpa woodcraftsman to gift my children with for Advent/Christmas morning, made lots of soup, made lots of simple oatmeal cookies, made my FIRST loaf of bread in the oven, finally ordered a copy of All Year Round, ice skated with my son for an hour, and oh so much more. When I wasn’t with the family I was either working or feverishly crafting for the holidays. It’s been a tad glorious.

I also moved to a new blog, but kept the archive for mamaneedjava. In many ways I had outgrown that skin. And staying in it was holding me back creatively. The theme was too scattered and it wasn’t growing with me as I’d hoped. The audience was scattered, too. As delicately as I can put this, I must admit that I am now writing for an audience of peers, not extended family members simply looking for an update on the kiddos.

You see, MamaNeedJava began as an experiment in three things: 1. to exercise my writing, 2. to record mine and my childrens’ happenings, and 3. to integrate all of the various aspects of myself, the different “parts” I show and play for different people in my life, into one open-book, transparent, what-you-see-is-what-you-get-Vivian. And I’m so glad I did; It was a great experiment. It DID do all of those things for me. It totally fulfilled its purpose.

But now its time to scale back. Now its time to be vulnerable and transparent, but with more freedom and purpose. I can send photos and updates via email, but here, at Mama Seasons, is where I journal. Here is where I explore my limits, reflect, and set intentions. I want Mama Seasons to be for me another yoga mat; a place all my own, where I can feel weighted as well as the weightless, where I can feel as small as a child and as strong as a warrior in a matter of moments, where I can even doze off if I want to. I want this blog to be a safe place for me to do all this. A place where insecurities of others isn’t blasted into my comments nor the concerns of well-meaning parents show up in my inbox. This isn’t the place for that anymore. This is more intimate, more private. Please respect.

This is the place where I walk the path, and where ever I am is okay. This is the place where I spot “findings” on the side of the trail and bring them here to share with the walkers beside me, in mutual appreciation for this journey’s highs and lows.

As I continue to format and update the new blog, enjoy old entries of MamaNeedJava (with a grain of salt ), and look forward to picturesque moments caught on camera, Advent thoughts and ideas, and other Mama Seasons findings for the month of December.

Life this week has been slightly run of the mill. We had a really good conversation on HOPE in our packed living room for Home Group on Tuesday night, which was probably the highlight thus far. I’ve been able to do a little more with Ethan these last few days and work more at night, which is good in some ways. We took a walk and collected some branches and holly and rosemary and have plans to do some sort of seasonal “tree” along with a wreath of holly and herbs and pine cones and so on. But then its been too rainy to work on it so our treasure pile is sitting outside in the drizzle

I worked on making him a wall cozy from scrap fabric and one pine branch I found with a few pinecones still attached as the bar. It’s pretty cool! It holds his doodle pads, chalk board and white board, colored pencils flash cards, etc. I got the idea from my new copy of Amanda Soule’s Handmade Home (which I heart (almost) as much as The Creative Family.) I painted a little fall tree for kicks.

We also moved the rocking “couch” to his room, under his bed, as a place to snuggle on rainy days. I think these new additions to his room prepare us more to hunker down in there through an unschooling winter Right now we are somewhat learning about cowboys and indians, as we continue to work on reading skills.

The minute October heads out, winter begins to head in. It’s chilly, but not overly so. Right now the November wind is really picking up outside and with a cracked window in the living room I am listening to our wooden wind chimes. Verity is sucking on wooden blocks on the carpet and Ethan is screaming, “I’M DOOOOOOONE!” from the bathroom (still wants some one else to wipe his rear end.)

My throat is swollen and my sinuses are funkdyfied — I’m praying I get over the start of this cold fast, but something in my body says I should gear up for my first flu rather than be too hopeful. I’m forcing down water with Wellness Fizz (homeopathics), Lacey’s AMAZING raw honey cough syrup (raw honey, essential oils, and herbs), and citrus Kombucha, and Kefir (probiotics), and warming spices and antioxidant rich fruit salads and trying to do a little yoga here and there to flush out toxins. I’ve got a light day tomorrow so I’m hoping I can just recover rather than get worse.

Immune Boost Tea is brewin:

Homemade Chicken Stock is simmerin:

We also just picked up our monthly azure order tonight and I thought it would be fun to show you guys what the fridge of an 8 person household looks like. With 4.5 dozen eggs, 5 pounds of dates, several gallons of raw milk and kefir, 1 gallon of raw apple cider vinegar, a large assortment of produce stuffed in the bottom bins, lots of soup left overs from dinners, a freezer stuffed with frozen fruit for smoothies, frozen local meats that were on sale, so on and so forth- things get a *little* full in there.

The interesting thing is that we don’t really have a pantry. We have several shelves in the cabinets for smaller containers of our bulk ingredients (whole wheat flour, nuts, yeast, what have you), but very little “consume NOW” foods. I try to get things like that from Trader Joe’s. I recently discovered 2 products from TJ’s that I am a huge fan of: Glutein-free brownie mix that is delicious and only 2.99. It is made with organic brown rice flour, organic evaporated cane juice, cocoa and pretty much nothing else, lol. Awesome! The other thing is Ay Say (I need to check on the spelling) but they are crackers made with very simple, all natural ingredients. They are delicious and only 1.29 a box (so suffice it to say we get like 10 at a time). These are both great alternatives to healthier brownie mixes and crackers at places like New Seasons, where one tiny bag of groceries is $60! lol

Anyhoo. So…yeah. Until next time!

Last week I shared some tips on how to get the sleep and rest you need to fend off unwanted flu season bugs. This week, I’ll go through a few more herbs for immune system support and make my way to the herbs for when it’s too late and you are ALREADY sick. These herbs don’t just mask your symptoms, they help you help yourself by stimulated the various systems of your body that are functioning sub par. By supporting your body, you strengthen your natural defenses, get over the cold sooner, and bonus – are less likely to catch something next time!

Herbs have been in use as medicine for centuries and in many ways have served as the foundation for modern medicine. Here at the house we use herbs as teas, tinctures, and essential oils. (For what its worth, our health is also aided by the use of probiotics in the form of homemade kombucha and kefir, as well as unrefined coconut oil and high quality cod liver oil on a daily basis.) In the last month, several guests have come and gone through our home only to find out later that they were just getting sick at the time they visited. In our church alone, it seems everyone is ill, one person even has a terrible case of swine flu. Yet the 8 of us have so far remained unscathed by the viruses and bacterias that have made their way around us. (Lacey is constantly reminding us to take an essential oil called “Thieves”, a blend that has been shown to kill airborne viruses and bacterias when diffused.) Is this really just a coincidence? Of course not.

So this particular post takes a look at herbs in the form of essential oils that can be used for colds/flus/infections. My roomate is the essential oil guru, but the more I hear testimonials and read the studies, the more convinced I am of how powerful these oils can be as medicine. As one article put it:

The household, medicinal, and prescriptive uses of essential oils are described in some of the most ancient records known. The history of herbal science, as reconstructed from a huge body of public and private records, chronicles man’s development and application of the arts of medicine, healing, disease prevention, and pest management. … essential oils continue to be used, today, in each of these arts, and for a myriad of diverse applications. In light of all this, it seems paradoxical that herbal science is not championed–or even respected–everywhere, or by everyone. Unenlightened “experts” often equate the use of essential oils to quackery, old wives tales, and the brews of witches. In fact, some of our most authoritative professional associations, particularly in the fields of medicine and pest management, have lent support to that equation despite a mountain of easily verified facts that tells quite another story. In medicine alone, over 25 percent of today’s most valuable prescription and over-the-counter drugs contain, as key ingredients, herbal extracts.

This article explains:

A study (J Infect Dis, Dec 1990; 162(6):1277-82) showed that people who take aspirin and Tylenol (acetaminophen) suppress their body’s ability to produce antibodies that destroy the cold virus. This actually causes the body to take longer to fight the cold and it accounts for any secondary infections and post-nasal drip. …

Colds can be contracted as the result of contact with more than 200 different viruses. However, among all of the cold viruses, the rhinovirus and the coronavirus cause the majority of colds. Each time you have a cold, it is caused by a distinct virus – e.g. adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, and coronavirus. Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. They are tiny clusters of genetic material surrounded by a protein ‘wrapper’. Medical science currently does not have any drugs that can kill these viruses. Antibiotics, including penicillin, do not have any effect on viruses. They are only used to treat secondary bacterial infections that can further complicate the effects of a cold. While orthodox medicine does not have the answer for colds and ‘flu’, nature does – it comes in the form of pure organic unadulterated Therapeutic Essential Oils. Why? Because they are made up of very high frequency molecules (ranging from 52MHz to 320MHz) and contain nature’s wisdom and power to raise the body’s frequency and to assist our immune system in fighting viral invasions.

For greater clarity, organic Therapeutic Essential Oils are not the same as everyday aromatherapy oils, which are produced for fragrance and other purposes.

We now know that, in order to prevent colds, we need our immune system to be working in top gear and our overall body frequency to be in its optimal range. Our optimal range of body frequency can be lowered by negative thoughts/emotions, stress, blood chemistry imbalance, and ingested chemicals, which allow us to contract colds and viruses in the first place. Research has found that the high frequency of essential oils creates an environment where bacteria, fungi and viruses cannot survive. Essential oils provide a high frequency environment for the body.

Researchers have found that some essential oils – oregano, thyme and rosewood oils, in particular – create an autolytic (destruction of cells and tissues by enzymes produced by the cells, themselves) reaction in organisms, including streptococcus pneumonia. Dr. Diane Horne of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, told the 98th general assembly of the American Society of Microbiology about the serendipitous discovery of the impact of essential oils on cells such as streptococcus pneumonia (bacteria that causes a very serious type of pneumonia in children with sickle cell disease).

When Dr. Horne’s co-researcher was spraying aromatic oils in the laboratory, Dr. Horne looked at the streptococcus pneumonia bacteria that she was preparing for another experiment and noticed that its cells were literally falling apart. Dr. Horne and co-worker Sue Chao, of the Young Living Essential Oils Company of Payton, Utah, tested the autolyzing properties of 74 essential oils and discovered that the best results occurred with oregano, thyme and rosewood and that intermediate inhibition of the pathogens was achieved with cinnamon oil and clove oil. Dr. Horne pointed out that the oils also proved to be a powerful remedy against E. coli (a bacterium and virus in one) and several species of fungi.

What these tests revealed is that essential oils, such as oregano, clove, cinnamon, rosewood and rosemary, are so powerful that viruses and bacteria cannot survive in their presence. That is, the viruses and bacteria are destroyed when they come into contact with these therapeutic essential oils.

Therapeutic grade oils like those by Young Living, (which I and my roomate happen to distribute for your money saving convenience ). One thing on my next order is a new daily use kit that is formulated with oils to support the immune system, including thieves, here. Another major oil for viruses is Oregano. Yup, this isn’t just a nice tasting dry herb for your Italian dish, folks. Same thing with clove (which is in Thieves, so there ya go.)

In 1996, YM. Siddiqui and colleagues examined the antiviral actions of oregano and clove oils against RNA and DNA viruses. The antiviral powers of oregano oil were made clear. A look through the microscope showed that the viruses’ outer protective membrane “disintegrated” after exposure to the oregano oil.

In another 1996 paper, which appeared in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry, researchers tested extracts from oregano oil against eight strains of bacteria, such as: Escherichia coli (otherwise affectionately known as E. coli, and sometimes found in poorly packaged juice products and elsewhere), Salmonella, staph, Bacillus and other nasties. The findings? The essential oil of oregano was “extremely bactericidal” (antibacterial), even at very dilute concentrations. Even watered down preparations caused “considerable decrease in bacterial growth rates.”

Toward the end of 1998, Dutch researchers looked at the effectiveness of one of oregano’s most potent compounds, carvacrol (mentioned earlier), against the food-borne baddy, Bacillus cereus. The results showed that the compound was effective against this bug in a dose-dependent manner – from total block on growth (for the top concentration) to reducing spread of the Bacillus bacteria (for the lowest).

Also in 1998, another group of researchers published their results in the Journal of Essential Oil Research in which they examined the anti germ powers of five aromatic Sicilian plants: laurel, sage, rosemary, oregano and coriander. While all of the plant extracts showed impressive germ killing (antimicrobial) effects, the “highest and broadest activity was shown by the oil of oregano.”

Stay tuned for Part 2, Section 2: Herbals for Colds and Flus: decoctions, teas, tinctures…

Further, if you are interested in ordering some essential oils yourself, feel free to order through Lacey’s distributor line to get deep discounts.

I can feel the Winter season slowly creeping up in the background of this beautiful Fall. In about a month, this crispy colorful leaves will be dry and cracklin’, the wind will whip through the bare branches, the jack o lantern will be dilapidated. Okay, okay, am I giving you early onset seasonal depression?

And with that seasonal depression might come some life stress, and the next thing you know you’ve binged on sugar, fallen asleep, and WHAM! You’re up with a full blown sinus cold (or worse!)

Either you’ve been there, you ARE there, or you WILL be there.

So here we go, a little mama herbal wisdom:

Prevention is the best medicine. Balance, balance, balance. But sometimes, despite you’re best efforts, you get kinda “high”. You’re in the zone, fillin’ up that calendar, working hard and before you know it, you see all those red flags going up. For me it’s a chatterbox brain (and mouth), a listlessness and off kilter energy. I wake up with a little sore throat, I yawn all day, I feel my exhaustion catching up with me and the only thing that sounds good is SLEEP.

Sleep is SO important. The body does most of its cellular rebuilding during sleep, while dreams blow off mental steam and unresolved tensions of the day. I find it SO hard to get to bed at a decent hour. The wee hours of the morning are when my brain is most productive for work, yet I don’t have the luxury of sleeping all day because, alas, I have 2 young kids! If you are like me, your sleep “issues” vary; maybe sometimes its GETTING to sleep, maybe its STAYING asleep, maybe its the QUALITY and DEPTH of your sleep (like nursing all night?!)

Herbs can play a significant role in supporting the body’s need for sleep. The “sleep aid” herbs work gently, not like a tranquilizer, and have been used since FOREVER. They don’t have side effects, are not addictive, and work differently for different people. It’s important to really look at your symptoms and pick the right herb to support your needs. And let’s not forget- fresher is ALWAYS better. Fresh, organically grown whole herbs (leaves, flowers, roots — as opposed to capsules) are powerful when used as either nourishment or medicine. All of the herbs in my list below can be found at Mountain Rose Herbs where you can purchase the fresh, organic herbs in bulk (4 oz, 8oz, even 1 lb). Second to growing/harvesting them yourself, you will benefit much more from theirs than stagnant bagged teas or conventionally grown herbs from many grocers (a little pesticide spray with your chamomile tea before bed? Mmmm….) (You can read more about their guiding principles here.)

That said, here is a quick overview of some herbs for sleep (and/or stress!):

SKULLCAP: Skullcap really became my best friend at the end of my pregnancy. Sleep was hard to come by, and with the heart burn and discomfort I had I really needed something to KNOCK me out. Skullcap is said to be the closest thing to a mild sedative. It doesn’t work that way for everyone, but its definitely worth a try. (Bonus: It is also anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic.) Take as a tincture or even a medicinal tea (15 minutes steep) 30 minutes before you plan to go to bed. Awake from a deep sleep refreshed, not groggy.

CHAMOMILE: Another popular sleepy time tea, and often used for children to promote a calm, restful spirit. Either drink as a beverage tea (3-5 minutes steep time) or add to a warm bath! (Be careful if you have a yellow flower pollen allergy – chamomile tea could make you irritated if you do, the opposite of restful! If you have an allergy to ragweed, chamomile may even cause an anaphylactic shock.)

LAVENDER: I ADORE lavender as a relaxing herb. I have had great success using lavendar as an essential oil from Young Living, (it is useful for many things, relaxation is only one of them!) A drop under my pillow and rubbed into the soles of my feet before bed helps signal my body to relax and often helps me attain a deeper sleep than usual. BUT- it can sometimes be more of a stimulate for some people, so the important thing to remember here is that lavender works to support and strengthen the nervous system, so it could work differently for you depending on your body’s needs. It works for me because the nervous system strengthening helps alleviate any worry or depression I have when going to bed. Once that is liften, sleep is easier to come by, and keep.

Here are some perhaps lesser known herbs that could be your ticket to better sleep:

LEMON BALM: Like lavender, lemon balm strengthens nervous system to help nerves relax. Another thing lemon balm is GREAT for is a decongestant, not only for the body but for the mind as well. Lemon balm grows like weeds around here, so if you find this herb useful you should plant some in the corner of your yard and harvest yourself!

VALERIAN ROOT: Valerian root can really help relieve anxiety. If also repopulates easily, so buying one plant and harvesting yourself is a good idea. Note: it is not the most tasty herb as a tincture or tea, but one tip I learned in my herbs class is to make Mead with it (honey wine). I am very excited to give this a try in the coming months, (I think I’ll start by making a kombucha with it, however).

PASSIONVINE (flower): Useful for mental stimulation and nervous energy, use as tea or tincture.

CALIFORNIA POPPY: Useful and SAFE FOR CHILDREN TOO, a relaxant and pain reliever. It can also be found wild in Oregon. If you find some, you can make tea from the flowers, or use the whole plant in your tincture form.

HOPS: Many folks claim that fresh hops can help them with sleep problems. It is often used in sleep pillows (and it’s easy to make these yourself!). Another tip from herb class: hops can have opposite effect on those who are clinically depressed, so if that is you, hops might not be your friend.

CATNIP: I love catnip, it’s one of my favorite herbs. I tried it for the first time to break fever, and within minutes I was deeply asleep. When I awoke, I looked up more info about it and found out some great stuff: Catnip is wonderful for hyper kids and colic babies, AND it’s an anti-spasmadic (which helps my IBS problems). I drink before bed to pass through breastmilk for Verity to sleep well. Another thing to note is that catnip herb can be great for really bad, spasmodic coughs, but we’ll get more into that in Part 2, when we talk about what to do once you ARE sick. (Tincture fresh leaves).

OATSTRAW: This nerve strengthening herb is a great all over tonic (and its known as an aphrodisiac too! (there certainly are LOTS of nerves, ya know, DOWN THERE )

St. JOHNS WORT: Anti-depressant, moves things through the liver quickly (so does not work in conjuction with prescription drugs) and treats sore overworked muscles.

LINDEN FLOWERS: Relaxant and headache reliever.

Lastly, there are many herbs in their therapeutic grade essential oil form that can aid in your sleep, balance, and prevention of winter time (or any time!) blues and colds. For one, a blend called RutaVaLa includes: Ruta graveolens (rue), lavender, and valerian essential oils.

Coming up next… Herbs for Rest and Inner Defense – Part 2. I’ll tell you about what to do when it’s seems too late. Your are or are getting sick and you need SUPPORT, asap. Before you head out for over the counter medicine or antibiotics that will only mask your symptoms and leave your body weak and more vulnerable to the next attack, remember that nature has supplied us with some amazing herbs to aid your body’s immune (and other) systems to fight off the bad germs itself – leaving you healthy and resilient instead! So stay tuned…