www.HerbnHome.com

Follower Alert - New BLOG address

2010-09-23T21:25:00.001-05:00

This BLOG will remain as an archive. However, all new posts will be taking place at: http://thebearthinstitute.memberlodge.com/TheBEarthInstituteBLOG

There is a link back to this archive BLOG from the main BLOG so if you ever need to look up any past posts it will be easy to do from there.

Affordable Homemade Spreadable Butter

2009-12-24T00:34:00.003-06:00

Reminder: There are only 2 days left for the "Buy One Get One Free" special at www.HerbnHome.com and www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com - for any class or consult you purchase you receive one free item. You can use this to get items for half price (give your free item to a friend and split the cost) or to purchase extra classes for yourself or perhaps even a consult for a friend or family member. All you need to do is order your item(s) and then write to me at: herbnhome@gmail.com with a list of the free item(s) you need.

Affordable Spreadable Butter

I was wandering around the grocery store today. It was an interesting experience. Usually I run in with a list and run back out again. However, today I walked to the store and it was a bit slippery out, so everything about me clicked into "slow motion". This is most likely the reason why I stood in front of the case of butter at the grocery store for almost 15 minutes until a worker came up to me and said, "Do you need help finding something?"

I didn't. I was simply fascinated with the selection. About 50% of the selection was some version of margarine. For some reason (perhaps me being in a hurry and usually shopping at the health food store? Perhaps me being naive and thinking it mattered if you sold things that were dangerous to eat?) I didn't realize that margarine was still so available. I had just assumed because of all the health dangers it has been proven to have that it had been taken off the market. The second thing that surprised me was the selection of whipped "healthy" butters. They all ranged in price from $2.78 - $4.00 for small tubs that might last the average family a day or two. I decided to go home and make my own. I am sharing the recipe with you below. Another benefit of making my own is that I was able to use olive oil instead of the less healthy canola or vegetable oil that many of the leading spreads use in their "healthy butter spreads".

Spreadable "Butter"

1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick)
1/3 cup light olive oil
TIP: For best results, ingredients should be cold.

Equipment:
Electric mixer (or whisk, really strong arm and some extra time)
TIP: For best results, chill mixer beater and bowl.

Add chilled butter to chilled mixer bowl. If you use a wisk you might want to make this a group/family project and take turns.

Whip butter on high for several minutes until smooth and fluffed.

Reduce mixer speed to medium - medium-high and gradually add in oil.

Scrape down sides of mixer and whip several minutes more.

Note consistency is slightly runny immediately after whipping.

Scrape mixture into container and allow to chill (overnight for best results).

Enjoy!

This mixture has less saturated fat than pure butter so it is kinder to your bread AND your body.

Blessings & Heath,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

Perception and The Environment

2009-12-07T10:08:00.000-06:00

"If your experience is that your water comes from the tap and that your food comes from the grocery store then you are going to defend to the death the system that brings those to you because your life depends on that; if your experience is that your water comes from a river and that your food comes from a land base th...en you will defend those to the death because your life depends on them...So part of the problem is that we have become so dependent upon this system that is killing and exploiting us, it has become almost impossible for us to imagine living outside of it and it's very difficult physically for us to live outside of it."
— Derrick Jensen

Stretching - An Often Ignored "Cure"

2009-11-30T11:06:00.002-06:00

For me, stretching usually brings up images of "what we did before track practice" or "my least favorite part of gym class". These images and thoughts about stretching are common to a lot of people. Often when I mention stretching to my clients they say, "you mean like athletes do?" or "Do I have to go to the gym to do that?"

What a lot of people don't realize is that stretching comes in many shapes and forms and that there are appropriate routines for people in every walk of life from the life of an active toddler to an elderly grandmother. Stretching can be as simple as a few leg and arm routines that take five minutes or as complex as a yoga routine that takes an hour. Stretching is, in fact, one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body. It relieves tension, helps blood flow (which in turn helps everything in your body work better), breaks harmful patterns from repetitive tasks and helps keep your muscles and skin healthy.

If you are new to stretching I recommend you start with something simple. Find something you love. Do you love dancing, walking, swimming, art, yoga or another sport or activity ? Do you need to sit while you are stretching? Find a stretching routine that fits into one of those categories and start by doing a simple 5-minute routine each day. You can add more to your routine as you feel the need. However, you will be amazed at what just five minutes twice a day can do for you.

The following websites can help guide you in finding a routine that is fun and appropriate for you:

http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/

This website helps you choose a routine according to your sports injury or other lifestyle factors.

http://www.upliftprogram.com/meditation_walking.html

This is a nice walking routine you can do right now.

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1263

Stretches you can do while sitting - perfect for people who sit a lot

http://dance.about.com/od/stretchingflexibility/qt/Yoga_Stretches.htm

Yoga stretches for dancers

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie

www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

Medication as a Crutch - Not a Cure

2009-11-30T09:20:00.002-06:00

One of the most popular questions I receive in my consulting practice is "how can I stop taking my medication"?

Of course, I cannot help a client change their dosage of medication - only their doctor can do that. However, I can offer some wisdom about medication that can help more people ease into a healthier lifestyle and look towards a future without medication instead of a life full of daily doses.

The main problem with medication, is surprisingly, not the medication itself. It is the way they are used. Medication has side effects, this is true, but so does extreme anxiety, heart conditions, and severe infection. In some cases a person is put on medication because they cannot function or survive without it. Although there may be alternatives, some of these alternative cures may not work as quickly or they may not have access to them immediately. Most people know how to call 911 and they know where their doctor's office is. However, not as many people know how to contact an herbalist - online or in their community.

As with all forms of medicine, medication has its place. However, its rightful place is as a "crutch" and not as a "cure". Medication does not cure. Even some medications that claim to "rebuild (fill in the blank) are still only providing an artificial illusion of a cure. While helpful in the short term, what a body needs is a real cure. One needs to focus on lifestyle changes, herbs and foods that can help heal the body from the inside out.

As medications have become more and more popular the medical profession has found it easier and easier to say "you will probably be on this the rest of your life" and patients have found it easier and easier to say "OK."

What can revolutionize the medical community and create a much needed cooperative bond between modern medicine and natural healing is if more health care practitioners could say, "This medication will help you function until we can heal the underlying problems that have caused it". And this is the secret to "getting off your medication" - you need to think of it as a crutch.

This crutch will enable you to function normally. However, this does not mean you should return to your habits of drinking ten cups of coffee a day and exercising once a week.

My "favorite" TV commercials are the ones that show people eating rich foods and then show a medication for heartburn. They are advocating people to continue eating foods that cause them heartburn because they can just counteract the effect with medication. In fact many commercials for medications focus on the fact that a person can CONTINUE WITH THEIR CURRENT LIFESTYLE.

This will not help heal people. This will only create a temporary reprieve and then make conditions worse.

If you are on medication or need to start medication the first thing to do is to start searching for the causes of your condition and pinpoint what needs to be done to cure it or to heal your body. Healing could take weeks or even months. However, it can happen if you start now.

Consider learning more about natural healing, consulting a naturopath or even getting a temperament consultation (very helpful in cases of anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc...)

Personal research can also help. Here are some tips to get you started. These are the first things I ask a client with the following conditions and could help you get started in your own detective work:

Anxiety: How much coffee do you drink? Have you had any life changing events in the past year? Do you consume a lot of sugar or chocolate? Are you careful about products that contain MSG like Pizzas, canned and boxed foods and salad dressings? How often do you exercise? Do you consume sodas or caffeine in other forms such as green or black teas? Do you get 7-8 hours of sleep each night?

Depression: Do you exercise daily? Do you get at least 8-10 hours of sleep a night? Do you consume large amounts of bread, grains, or sugar? Is this something that happens in a yearly cycle or is it sudden? Do you feel depressed or did someone else tell you that you are acting depressed or are you comparing yourself to those around you? How do you define depression? Is it physical or emotional or both? What foods or herbs or substances do you use to deal with your depression?

Pain: What repetitive actions do you do on a daily basis? This may be as simple as typing a few hours a day, sitting in a certain position watching TV every evening or sleeping in a certain position or it may be as complex as weight lifting daily or exercising to the same routine every day. Don't rule anything out - list them all. Do you drink 8-10 glasses of water daily? Are you aware of your blood type? Have you tried to "Eat Right 4 Your Type"? Are you aware of your allergies? Have you been tested or observed what foods may trigger or cause more pain?

Of course, these are only the "tip" of the questions I ask and only a few "conditions". However, I find that these questions usually cover more than 75% of my clients "source problems" and help us to very quickly track down the cause.

For more information on natural healing you can visit www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

For a personal consultation you can visit www.HerbnHome.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

Herbs and Medicine in Germany

2009-11-19T17:12:00.001-06:00

I was doing research for an article today and stumbled upon this paragraph. It has nothing to do with the article I am writing, but it was such a good description of "what is wrong" with our way of looking at medicine I wanted to share it here:

(source: http://cms.herbalgram.org/commissione/intro/ceherbsingermany.html)

One of the driving forces that has resulted in mainstream acceptance of phytomedicine in Germany is the inclusion of phytotherapy in the medical and pharmacy school curricula. In the opinion of several medical groups, "modern phytotherapy is not perceived as alternative medicine, but as a part of so-called traditional medicine" [i.e., conventional medicine] (Schilcher, 1997c). Since 1993 all medical school students in Germany must successfully complete a portion of their board examinations in the area of phytotherapy as a precondition for practicing medicine (Schilcher, 1991). Medical education on medicinal plants and phytomedicines includes regular lectures in universities and medical schools, four one-week courses with 26 hours of lectures in phytotherapy in Weiterbildung (continuing education), lectures and courses in Fortbildung (postgraduate education), the publication of scientific literature (papers and books), the Commission E Monographs, and directions on product uses according to section 11 of the Second Medicines Act (AMG 76) (Schilcher, 1991, 1997c).

A Simple Healing Appetizer

2009-10-13T11:10:00.003-05:00

A friend asked me today about raw garlic which inspired me to remember my favorite raw garlic dish. I immediately made a batch of it. This appetizer is so yummy and healing! The garlic clears your sinuses and your lungs as well as providing an anti-biotic effect. Garlic is also known to clear asthma attacks and reduce fevers and pain. The cumin is fantastic for the digestive system and helps reduce pain as well. As I still have some lingering join pain from the flu that will be nice. The best thing about this appetizer is that it is easy to make - because who wants to cook when they are ill?

Recipe

1. Slice some tomatoes in a large bowl. Add to a second bowl - a few large spoons of raw garlic, a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of cumin.

2. Add some salt and mix the garlic mixture.

3. Combine the two mixtures. This tastes best when you cover it and let the tastes mingle together for an hour before eating it but I can rarely wait it smells so good!

My son smelled it and wanted some. He does not like tomatoes so he dipped some crackers in it - his evaluation - "this is awesome!"

How Housework Can Heal You

2009-10-12T12:12:00.002-05:00

Some tips for people who need to get their house clean while they are ill:

If the work can wait, leave it. However, this popular encouragement from friends, family and well wishers can often work against you as having a clean house enhances the positive Feng Shui in your space and can increase your ability to heal. So leave what is not urgent (no need to wash the windows or dust the top of the ceiling fans today) but you may want to consider doing some bare basics and here are some tips on how to do those in a healing manner:

1. Add 6 drops of essential oil of thyme, eucalyptus, rosemary, tea tree or other healing oil to dishwater and do your dishes by hand. The steam from the hot water will clear your sinuses and your lungs and the oils will help your immune system. Additionally, your dishes will be germ free and very clean!

2. Wear a face mask when dusting or using any cleansers of any kind. Even if you don't usually have a reaction to cleansers remember that your body's immune system is weak now and may have reactions to things it can usually tolerate.

3. Turn off the air and open the windows - even if it is winter or hot summer - this will help air out the house, clean the air in the house and help you feel better too. Having the heat on in the winter may feel comfortable, but it can often dry the air and when you are ill this warm dry heat is an ideal atmosphere for virus and bacteria to breed in.

4. Ask someone to help you do at least one thing - a friend, a spouse or a child. People feel good when they help and it feels good to be cared for. This positive energy can help you heal.

5. Do some organizing and pick up things from the floors and around the home. This can help the healing energy flow of the home and allows you to move about in a gentle manner so you can work the illness out of your system.

6. Do a load of sheets and pajamas or clothes and add some lavender or another favorite relaxing essential oil to the dryer sheets. This will help you sleep at night and even perhaps nap during the day. It will also lessen your stress and you will not be worrying about all the work you will have to catch up on when you are "well" again.

7. Cook a nice chicken soup or vegetable soup (if you don't eat meat) with chopped vegetables. You can chop the vegetables while you are sitting. Chopping is a simple action that can induce meditation if done with mindfulness (your mind only in that moment). This and other meditative activities can speed healing in your body. And of course the soup is very healing - especially if you add healing herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage.

8. Do some additional meditative activities like sorting your e-mail, darning socks, or filing papers instead of watching TV or staring at the walls in misery (I speak from experience here LOL). These are tasks that can create anxiety when left undone for too long, but they are also tasks that are hard to do when one is feeling energetic and "ready to work". Finishing some menial tasks like this will give you a sense of accomplishment and will alleviate worry and guilt and this will increase your healing ability.

Friday's Live Chat- Unconditional Parenting with Chis Cade

2009-09-29T14:38:00.001-05:00

Dear Members,

Our next live Earthschooling Waldorf chat is this Friday, October 2nd at 11am CST/USA. It is with Chris Cade, whom many of you know from the website www.Spiritualshortstories.com - the topic will be "Staying Inspired as a Parent" however, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you want including questions about stories.

Registration is limited. You can sign up HERE to attend this session or sign upHERE to attend more than one session.

October 2nd, 10AM PST - Inspiration for Parents - Unconditional Parenting, How to Stay Inspired and Using Stories in Parenting
with Chris Cade of http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/

Chris Cade has been inspiring millions of people daily through his website Spiritual Short Stories. Many Earthschooling and Waldorf parents subscribe to his newsletter and are already familiar with his work. I know that a number of Waldorf teachers and parents use stories from his website for their daily "inner work" meditation as well as for Main Lessons or story time. Chris will join us for an hour on October 2nd to answer questions and share wisdom about "Unconditional Parenting", stories in parenting and how he stays inspired as a parent. Chris is the visionary behind world's #1 Spiritual Story site online. In April, Chris asked to be laid off so that he could follow his dreams to empower people worldwide with his network of spiritual websites, the Inscribe Your Life program, and his upcoming printed book "Think Without the Box."
www.inscribeyourlife.com
www.spiritual-short-stories.com
www.chriscade.com

Why I Had Food Poisoning

2009-07-29T13:44:00.003-05:00

A few days ago I had a bad case of food poisoning. I am sure if it was anyone else it would have lasted more than one day. I immediately wondered about that lettuce I had eaten that evening. There was nothing to tell me it was "bad" but I just had this "intuitive feel" about it - and my intuition is rarely wrong. However, I just let it go and was happy I was fine.

Imagine my surprise when this morning I received the following information from a consumer watch organization I am a member of:

Do you have fresh lettuce in your fridge? Last Wednesday, a company recalled romaine lettuce in 29 states due to salmonella. Much of that lettuce was already in people's homes. Did you know about the recall effort so you could check on your greens? Probably not. It's time we stop relying on unreliable recalls and start to prevent food poisoning up front. The Food Safety Enhancement Act will do that, but we need your Representative to vote FOR it this week, before Congress goes on its recess!

The House could vote THIS AFTERNOON or tomorrow. Act now!

It certainly would be nice to have more information about what is happening with the food I purchase. We are not able to be self-reliant at this point so I do rely on outside food sources and I need to trust those sources.

My stomach seems to be "iron" in many ways. I lived overseas for years and ate street vendor food, unwashed vegetables and fruits and even drank from the NILE a few times. I can't believe some of the things I ate! But the only times I ever got ill were when I at at the "Nile Hilton" in Tahrir square. I often wonder if the entire "beware of local food" scare was created to increase attendance at local hotel restaurants!

Of course, that is my experience and I am saying that jokingly, of course. One should be cautious in what they eat and aware of what they are consuming - from a street vendor or from a fancy hotel chain.

What has surprised me most of all is that in 16 years of living in "developing countries" I experienced food poisoning only twice. Since coming back to live in the USA I've experienced it 6 times in only 5 years. What are your experiences with food poisoning? How do you keep yourself and your family safe? Share with the list! I would love to hear what everyone has to say.

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.HerbnHome.com
www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

How Can You Tell if Health Information is Valid?

2009-07-29T13:26:00.004-05:00

A student at The Avicenna Institute brought up a good point in their paper the other day. They mentioned that a lot of studies that are done on the benefits of different foods are done by the government or by the food industry itself. So how can you tell what the truth is? They cited a website that had claimed many benefits of their product.

Last week I was doing research on artificial food colorings and I found the official European government site that stated that "of course these are not harmful". "Of course" if the government makes something legal they want to reassure us that it is not harmful. This is one example of how false information can be propagated to large groups of people.

However, in using the Internet as a research tool (along with books, interviews, studies, etc...) I have found that in most cases positive information is quite accurate on many websites. If you go to a website that sells honey their quoted studies on the benefits are usually accurate. When you check on the journal references and studies they are usually easy to find and "check out". If you go to a website that talks about the benefits of aromatherapy, homeopathy, brown rice, or anything I have found that 99% of the time their positive quotes stand up to a background check.

So in doing your own research online I just wanted to share that what you need to be most cautious about is the lack of negative information or the abundance of negative information. If a website contains lists of positive studies you need to also check on some of the negative studies or information about that product. You should cross reference everything with at least one impartial source or at least three different sources. Perhaps check out Snopes. Although they seem to have a bias that runs against natural healing, they tend to use "tried and true" methods of research - two professional research librarians run Snopes out of their trailer and use the library, journals and phone calls as their main research methods.

Of course the best method is to check with a professional. Many of my clients send me long e-mails with questions about supplements, products, and foods they are consuming. I can often save clients hundreds of dollars and many hours of wasted time, simply by helping them go through their "cupboards" and sort through all the "hype" attached to the products they use. Many times there are less expensive products that are available that can show the same results or benefits. If you would like assistance sorting through all the conflicting health information you have gathered contact your health care professional - they are there to help you with things like this! Most people think they need to contact their health care practioner only if they are ill, but a consult of this nature could actually save you from becoming ill, and save you hundreds of dollars as well. If you don't have a health care practitioner you can contact about this information I am available online at www.HerbnHome.com - consultations are still only $47.00 until August 1st.

Beware of Bad Herbal Advice

2009-07-22T15:19:00.002-05:00

Somehow I got on a mailing list for Triple Crown Health Newsletters. They appear legitimate because they put a big banner ad for Blue Cross at the top of their header. Only on close inspection can one tell that it is an ad and the newsletter is not coming from Blue Cross. For months I thought they were newsletters coming from Blue Cross and I found it interesting that Blue Cross was putting out so many herbal newsletters so I didn't opt out. However, today was the first time I have read one of the newsletters and this is why.

As I was skimming through the newsletter I saw the words "Kava Kava". Kava Kava makes me very ill. So ill that I would even consider visiting the emergency room. This is not unusual. Just like every herb, not all herbs are meant to be consumed by everyone. Although Kava Kava is advertised as a relaxing herb it actually makes many people's heart race and can induce panic attacks or worse. I was curious what they had to say and then horrified that the newsletter didn't mention anything about side effects at all. In fact, in closing, it said,

"Many people ask themselves, how do I know that herbs are safe for me to take? Herbs are all natural, so in most cases herbs are very good to take. Herbs rarely cause side effects like many other drugs sold."

This is entirely false and is one reason why herbal medicine sometimes gets a bad reputation. Herbs should be taken in a responsible manner and be considered just as carefully as you would any medicine. Many herbs have side effects and many people have contraindications of taking certain herbs. Some of these side effects can be confusing and uncomfortable as well as harmful.

I've had clients complain of horrible headaches and dizziness because they steeped teas for too long. One client came to me with a range of complaints. When I asked him about supplements he consumed it turned out he was taking about 30 different herbs that someone at GNC had recommended for him. When he stopped taking the herbs his complaints went away. Another client spent days in bed with horrible cramps before they called me to ask advice. It turns out they were taking senna on a weekly basis without balancing it with cumin or another herb to calm the intense cramps it can cause. When I was in labor with my third child I accidentally took too much skullcap to calm me after the birth and put the nurses into a panic because my blood pressure went so low. Luckily I knew why it was so low, I stopped drinking the tea and avoided the costly and perhaps painful tests they had in store for me.

The best way to decide what herbs to take is to consult a resource or a person you trust and the best way to tell if you can trust them or not is to ask them, "Do herbs have side effects?" If they say no, then find another resource.

Do I Have to Gain Weight to Get the Nutrition I Need?

2009-06-17T23:09:00.003-05:00

Question (edited to abbreviate): "I am nutritionally frustrated, and you are someone who will understand. In investigating my sudden onset joint pain, I found that I am anemic. I have never been anemic, and am guessing it may be due to my reduced calorie/reduced red meat diet that allowed me to lose 35 lbs. So today for breakfast I had a bowl of cereal with 5 g fiber and 4 mg iron, prune juice with 2 g fiber and 3.5 mg iron. I added a glass of grapefruit juice with vit C because prune juice has no vit C, and had a strawberry smoothie. This provides 7.5 mg of iron, toward a daily goal of 18, and 10 g fiber toward a daily goal of 25g. It also adds up to 13 Weight Watcher's points, and my daily total is 20 points. Am I going to have to re-gain 35 lbs in order to each enough food to correct my anemia and get enough fiber to avoid getting constipated? I see no option other than to take supplements, and that should not be the way this works. Am I wrong?" - B

Dear B,

This is a great question and a place where herbs are the perfect solution! There are so many herbs that are high in iron and herbal teas have no calories! Some ideas are below:

ROOT TEAS (Make as decoctions)
Choose one or mix together in portions
Burdock
Yellow Dock
Goldenseal
Don Quai
Oregon Grape Root
Pau d'arco

LEAFY TEAS (make as infusions or eat as foods)
Chives
Raspberry leaf tea
Alfalfa
Nettles
Dandelion
Chickweed
Horsetail
Mullein

There are also many dietary solutions to your problem - eating patterns and various foods you can focus on, as well as other therapies you may want to explore. If you would like a full consultation I offer consultations at www.HerbnHome.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

Carrots and Chlorine

2009-06-15T19:45:00.000-05:00

For years I thought I was allergic to carrots. I ate from a variety of sources so I am sure there were a few times I didn't react to them. However, the majority of times I did. I had horrible reactions to them - a catch in the throat and a general feeling of being choked. However, I enjoyed the taste of carrots and for some reason carrot juice never seemed to give me the same problem. Years passed and finally I decided to get new allergy tests. Nothing showed up new - I had the same allergies I had when I was two years old (although interestingly enough many of them don't bother me anymore. I have four cats, for example, and don't have any reaction to them anymore). My favorite carrots were the little mini carrots that were pre-cut. They just seemed so easy. The other place I ate a lot of carrots was when I lived overseas. I ate them fresh from the market.

Have you figured out the mystery yet?

I didn't either. It took me years and years to figure it out until one day I read an article about how packaged carrots are treated with chlorine bleach before going to market. In Egypt, where I was living for a time, it was common for people to soak their vegetables in a weak bleach solution to kill parasites and other contaminants. In both cases I was getting from minute to large doses of bleach - something I am severely allergic to.

I am sharing this story because this happens, not only with carrots but with many food items. You may feel miserable after eating certain foods, but it may not be the food itself - it may be the way it is processed or what is added to it.

Did you know that boxed orange juice most often contains at least a little moldy fruit? This is bad news for people allergic to mold but not allergic to oranges.

Did you know nuts have high mold counts too?

Many salads contain sulfites?

Salad dressings in most restaurants contain MSG?

Some processed meats, chips and canned soups contain gluten?

The list could go on for pages.

So if you are having a reaction to one of your favorite foods it may be helpful to do some research into how it is harvested, stores, transported, processed and displayed. It could be at one of these points that the irritating substance is added and not the food itself. And keep in mind - purchasing organic and/or at the farmer's market will reduce your chances of having a reaction but won't eliminate the chances all together.

Reduce Caffeine in Tea Naturally

2009-06-10T18:44:00.002-05:00

One thing I have noticed after years of healing is that one of the main problems we have in today's society is consumption of too much caffeine. I cannot drink caffeine myself because my body has what I call, "natural caffeine". However, I know how hard it is to avoid caffeine! The other day I ate a piece of chocolate cake at a restaurant and didn't realize it was made with espresso. I did not sleep all night. I also realize how hard it is to avoid caffeine in black, green and white teas. I have some dear friends who have given me tea as gifts and they are such lovely tempting flavors, but they all contain caffeine. However, there IS a solution. This solution also works if you accidentally pick up that caffeinated tea at the store instead of caffeine free (I did that with some Earl Grey once) or if your favorite tea that you want to enjoy a cup of in the evening just happens to be the one with caffeine in it.

Did you know that you can make your own decaf tea from caffeinated tea? To do this - put the tea bag in the cup, pour boiling water over this, let steep 20 seconds. Pour off the hot water and then pour on new water. The tea still maintains its healing qualities and taste but is no longer caffeinated. This is especially important for Green Tea as it has almost as much caffeine as coffee!

Enjoy your tea!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.HerbnHome.com

Healing Breath by Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

2009-05-25T07:02:00.000-05:00

The other day I happened to be in a room with a reiki master when I experienced a tightening of my chest. It was uncomfortable but it was not unexpected. I had just eaten a bagle with lox and cream cheese and raw onion. A lot of bread does not agree with me and raw onions never do. I should have known better. So I commented that I was going to excuse myself for a glass of water. Instead I was offered a treatment. Her comment was, "you should not be in THAT much pain from some onions". Just another example of how, as a healer, it is often most difficult to heal oneself!

After a few moments in the chair, she commented that I was not breathing. My breath was so shallow that I was not getting enough oxygen to my heart and chest and entire body. Not surprising. It had been a stressful day and the event I was at was one I felt "forced" to attend - I was eager to get back to my own world and was not feeling very comfortable.

She lead me through a simple exercise:

Breathe as deeply as you can in through your nose.

Hold the oxygen there in your lungs.

Breathe out.

Repeat 10 times or as needed.

After this I was completely pain free.

It is amazing how we can so often forget the most basic things of life.

So next time you have pain or are feeling anxious or unwell - try to breathe and see if it helps you. It is free and only takes a few moments so it is worth a try! And remember - if that does not work, drink a large glass of water. Many issues in our life are also caused by slight dehydration.

To learn more about inexpensive healing methods visit my website:

www.TheNaturalLivingChannel.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.HerbnHome.com
www.NaturopathicHealingCourse.com

Space Clearing Reminder

2009-05-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

We often forget how simple healing can be and how taking care of just the basic things in our life can heal us. Water - air - and our environment can all heal us if we take care to drink enough, breathe deeply enough and clear our space. I send this reminder out once a year - these are my instructions on how to give your space a regular and easy "space clearing":

Initial Space Clearing and Weekly Maintenance
1. Clean your home (or the space you are clearing)
2. Put things where they belong
3. Throw out anything and everything that you do not need.
4. Take a ceramic or glass bowl and fill it half with sand. Make a little hole in the sand and fill it with sage leaves. Set them on fire and walk slowly around the house with your “sage fire” distributing the smoke. Concentrate especially on the corners and entryways of the rooms.
5. Buy some fresh fruits – including at least one or two unusual ones and place them in a basket in your kitchen.
6. Buy some fresh flowers. Place one bunch in your living room and one in your bedroom. Yellow is good for the bedroom. (if fresh flowers are too expensive for weekly. Buy two cheerful plants or two multi-bright-colored scarves and put them in these rooms)
7. Buy (or unpack) an aromatherapy candle and place it in your bathroom. Burn it for two hours.
8. Place a beeswax candle on your dining room table with a small houseplant (Such as a baby cactus or flowering or green plant – whatever appeals to you).
9. Play some music that you enjoy for one hour in the space. Even if you are not in the space.

In general – create a beautiful perfect world for people to come into and invite them in. Don’t let people come in and create or change the atmosphere of your home. You control it. If someone comes and leaves a bad “impression” on your home or you have a fight or a serious discussion. Burn the aromatherapy candles, burn some sage, buy some more fresh flowers and re-new YOUR space that you control.

Other Names for MSG

2009-05-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

If you look on the sidebar of this blog you will find a few articles I have written on MSG. Not everyone reacts to this substance. However, if you do, it can be devastating. Symptoms can range from headaches to insomnia to heart palpitations. MSG can cause anxiety attacks in some people and much more. I have found some useful links to supplement the articles I have already written on the subject. The first set of links gives you a list of other names for MSG and a little background, the second set of links talks about the many restaurants that use it and the places you will most commonly find it.

http://www.naturodoc.com/library/nutrition/MSG.htm - along with this there is a list of restaurants that use this at: http://www.msgtruth.org/whywe.htm and:
http://www.rense.com/general52/msg.htm
and
http://www.msgmyth.com/discus/messages/12/12.html

To learn more about eating right you can audit the Nutritional Healing Course or earn a certificate in Nutritional Healing at: www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

Music and Healing

2009-05-15T18:14:00.003-05:00

You have probably heard the term "Musical Therapy" or are familiar with the idea that music can heal. However, did you know how easy it can really be? In its basic form, it is something very simple that everyone can do for free at home. The following chart tells you which sound you should hum and which note you should hum it in for each of the body systems you are dealing with.

The link below shows you where you can get some of those notes online (there ARE online tuning forks!) if you do not have a tuning fork or other instrument at home. If you have a tuning fork at home it is best for you to hold the tuning fork to that area of the body so you can feel the vibrations of the note. Another good "trick" is to fill a glass with water so it vibrates to the note you need. After clinking a fork on the side of the glass a few times you can drink the water that was in the glass.

Crown Chakra (Head) - ngngng - B
Brow - mmm nnnn - A
Throat - eeeeeeee - G
Heart - ay - F
Solar Plexus - ah ah ah - E
Sacral - oooooo - D
Root/Base - oh oh oh - C

http://www.onlinetuningfork.com/

Enjoy!

If you want to learn more about natural healing remember to visit:
www.TheNaturalLivingChannel.com to see free videos or
www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com to enroll in classes. Classes start at only $25.00.

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

My Favorite Detox Diet

2009-04-08T10:15:00.002-05:00

Every change of season I do a detox. Sometimes I do a juice fast, sometimes I use a lot of herbs, sometimes I do other kinds of detoxes. However, for the next ten days I am doing my favorite detox diet. I almost feel guilty doing it because it is so easy. It seems like I should be suffering more - LOL :) The thing I like about this diet is that it does not deprive a person of any basic needs (such as proteins or grains), it does not limit portions of most of the items and it is based on creating a completely balanced food experience (in terms of hot and cold foods) so your body can more easily detox. Because there are no stimulating foods on the menu (hot foods like cayenne, sugar, beef, or other foods of hot temperament) those horrible urges one has to eat "junk food", bread or sugar or more food are not there. What we don't realize is that a lot of those desires come from the stimulants in the food we eat. There are also no overly "cold temperament" foods so your body's metabolism does not slow down. In many fasts or detoxes, if you are consuming too many cold temperament foods - like raw fruits and vegetables or raw juices, your body could become overwhelmed with cold foods and become stagnant.

This is the detox diet. It should be done for 10 days and can be done up to 40 days. You can add herbs to it according to your needs. I did a mini consult for myself and decided that I would add Nettles and Hibiscus tea to my detox this week. Vegetables should be slightly cooked - don't eat too many raw and follow the instructions. I usually allow myself one favorite fruit - this week I am eating blackberries. The first day I cooked an apple with one of the veggie stir fries I made.

It is always best to consult a health care professional before embarking on any detox program. This program should not take the place of any advice from your health care professional. I am available for consults at: www.HerbnHome.com . Some people find it more convenient to have an online consultation.

Detox Fast - 7-10days

You are allowed only:
Vegetables: Asparagus, beet, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, carrot, celery, Swiss chard, cucumber, eggplant, endive, garlic, kholrabi, lettuce, mushroom, mustard greens, onion, parsley, parsnip, pepper, potato, radish, spinach, squash, tomato, watercress (argula)
Legumes: Beans (green or snap), peas
Grains and flours: Wheat germ, bran, oatmeal
Fruits: Avocado
Seeds: Pumpkin, squash, sesame, sunflower
Nuts: Brazil (for protein), pinon
Meats: If you MUST, have only 3-5 ounces of chicken breast per day or fish
Dairy products: Yogurt (maximum one cup a day)
Herbs: chives, sweet basil, dill
Drinks: Green herb teas like chamomile, peppermint, alfalfa, nettles, etc...

NO OIL, SALT, MSG, MILK, TEA, CANDY, SNACKS, BREAD, SUGAR, HONEY!
Do not use Maggi or other Chicken bouillon cubes to cook with during this time. Use only fresh vegetable broth, water or homemade chicken broth.

COOKING TIPS
For oil in cooking use broth or water or a little butter or a tsp. of olive oil only.
Do not use salt. Don’t worry. After two days your food will taste naturally salty
Use yogurt in soups and cooking for a creamy effect and in place of oil for baba ganoush.
Use only plain yogurt
Each person gets only 1 small chicken BREAST a day or fish or no meat. No more!

IDEAS
Stir Fry vegetables
Chop veggies in a pot and bake them in a tomato or other sauce for 30 minute in a covered pan
Use oatmeal to thicken soups and sauces, then blend some in the blender for a creamy soup.
Slice vegetables in fingers and steam or bake with curry powder or fresh herbs
Zucchini and carrots with fresh dill
Potatoes with chives, garlic and onions
Potatoes with fresh dill and a bit of mustard
Bisilla, bemia, fusulia all made without oil and no rice
Soups
Oatmeal - plain (for kids with apple and raisin)
Raw vegetables cut up
Chopped salads with lettuce, tomato, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, carrots.
Zucchini and tomato stir fry with chopped spinach or parsley and Italian season
Tomato Soup with green pepper, carrot and squash
Broccoli and cauliflower stir fry

TIPS
Chop up carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, etc...and keep them in a container for when anyone gets hungry. Keep a basket of apples and oranges out for the children when they get hungry. Use any leftover stir fries for soups the next day. Use a lot of fresh herbs or spices to make up for the lack of salt. Make a glass of carrot or carrot celery juice for a snack. (you can add an apple to the juice to make it sweeter but it must all be homemade juice).

Make it simple! Make oatmeal for breakfast with mint tea and then soup and chicken and salad for lunch. When you are stuck make soup or raw veggies. Buy some canned peas & carrots , beets and green beans for quick snacks-emergency hunger.

Pre-plan your meals and think about what you will make all week before you start. This will make shopping and cooking easier to plan. Don’t worry about making the same thing more than once.

Drink a lot of water.

Plan to eat a small nibble of veggies, glass of carrot juice or apple between the meals so you will not be hungry. Plan ahead! Perhaps prepare some meals , shop and plan for two days before you start.

MUST DO DURING THE DETOX
Walk every day to sweat
Shower or bathe daily with loufa
Drink lots of water. 8-10 glasses.

What our Children Should Be Eating

2009-04-04T16:38:00.003-05:00

When my children were babies and toddlers I had an idea in my head, formed in part by magazine articles, friends, my own mother, etc...about what foods were "healthy" for a growing child. I also had another list of things in my head called "things children will never eat". This list included spinach and lima beans.

However, as my children grew and as I learned more and more about nutrition through my own studies I realized that each person has their own list of "needs and desires". However, my own children have taught me more about this than my formal studies.

Rather than share a philosophy with you I will share some of the likes and dislikes of my youngest child, who is very intuitive.

Sofi dislikes meat. She will not eat it in a box, she will not eat it with a fox, she will not eat it in a house she will not eat it with a mouse...

She has been like this since she was a baby. I am not a complete vegetarian. Most of our meals are vegetarian focused. However, I do use meat as a flavoring because my own body cannot digest beans in any way, shape or form and many alternate protein sources (such as soy) I am allergic to. However, for Sofi she remains completely healthy with her vegetarian fare.

Sofi does not like orange juice, peas, green beans, carrots, oranges, bananas, lettuce or any of these typical "healthy" things I grew up with. For a while I tried to force these foods on her thinking to myself "who does not like orange juice???" However, Sofi's body was more clever than I! I discovered, over time, that she adores Molokia (a spinach like plant), she adores alfalfa sprouts (eats them by the handfuls) and will eat an entire box of raspberries in one sitting!

These were all items on my "kids won't eat" list. However, interestingly enough, these items are power packed with nutrition and are even healthier than the items I was trying to feed her. As a rule, sprouts, any "baby" greens and any berries have more nutrition than their larger vegetable or fruit counterparts.

As time goes on I find out more and more about my children's likes and dislikes and I have found that it is the nutrient value of what they are eating that is important rather than what they are eating. I have discovered that if I allow them to try different foods from different cultures and different gardens that they have more opportunities to find their own likes and dislikes. Instead of making those decisions for them, I now offer them a larger variety of foods and have the rule "you have to at least try it once but you don't have to finish it the first time". Sofi recently discovered she loves oriental orange chicken. I would never have thought she would have liked THAT!

Gone are the days where you have to have a certain amount of food in each of the "four food groups" or those days when everyone needs to have a glass of orange juice with their breakfast. Our focus is now on making sure the foods we eat are high in nutrition, organic when possible and loved by the person who is eating them.

How to Explain MSG to Children

2009-03-14T14:01:00.002-05:00

The other day I was trying to explain why MSG is unhealthy for you. However, my 10 and 12-year-old just looked at me with one of those "yah, whatever you say" looks. Obviously I didn't do a very good job of explaining. As many long-time readers know I have a campaign against MSG. It is a harmful flavoring that causes different health problems for different people ranging from stomach aches, insomnia and headaches to more major problems like diabetes, heart problems and cancer. Because of its dangers Chinese restuarants were pressured to take it out of their foods about 8-10 years ago.

What I have found offensive, since then, is that while Chinese restaurants have taken it out of their foods, places like Pizza Hut continue to add it to their sauces and many canned items include it in their sauces and soups. It is still used in many salad dressings and other food items.

However, I am getting "off track" here. If you want to know more about MSG you can visit this BLOG and find the words MSG to the right hand side and look at all the articles there.

This little note was to share an idea a student gave me about how to explain MSG in a way children would understand. She was completing her assignment on nutritional healing and included the following description of MSG:

MSG: Also can be named as hydrolyzed plant protein, natural flavor and Kmbu extract, autolyzed yeast, and yeast extract. The animal based MSG comes from animal blood or decaying protein. It has been linked to learning disorders in children and hyperactivity. Effects include headaches, nausea, diarrhea, mood changes, sleep problems, rash, sweating, and chest pain.

I think when anyone hears the words "animal blood and decaying protein" they will have enough information until they are able to understand the rest. That just sounds unappetizing!

Toxic Home Reminder & Affirmation

2009-03-09T12:27:00.003-05:00

A student in the Naturopathic Healing Course turned in her assignment today on the "Thirteenth Principal of Healing". She chose as her topic, "Creating a Healthy Living Space". I thought her paper was a great affirmation for all of us that what we are doing to live more natural lifestyles is worth it! Sometimes we spend so much money, time and thought creating all those "perfect natural spaces" around our home, purchasing the "greenest" cleaning supplies and making sure our kids have the most natural toys. However, some days don't you find yourself wondering, "I'm I being nuerotic or is this all worth it?" Even if you don't think it - how many times have your relatives asked you this question?

This quote, take from the first part of the student's paper, sums up the "worth" of it all to me:

Siegfried Gursche, in the Encyclopedia of Natural Healing, quotes: “According to the Environmental Protection Agency, fifty percent of all our illness can be traced to indoor pollution, which is ten times more toxic than its outdoor counterpart.”

Your Herbal "Stemulus" Package

2009-02-26T09:51:00.003-06:00

Ok, I admit I didn't make that up. Our local florist has that on their sign and I thought it was so clever! But it also fits what I wanted to talk about today. During rough economic times (be it now or another time) I often find people struggling to keep up with their natural healing program.

This can be for many reasons. Sometimes it is because their health insurance does not pay for the vitamins and herbs they are using, sometimes it is because the organic milk costs double what the "hormone laden" milk costs and it is hard to keep doubling one's grocery bill when the budget is so tight.

However, there are many things we can do to reduce our budget and still keep eating and healing in a natural way.

1. Use herbs and sprouts instead of expensive vitamins. Green herbal teas like Nettles, Alfalfa and Peppermint are laden with minerals and vitamins. Drinking a cup of greens every day is better than a multivitamin. Additionally, sprouts are packed with vitamins and minerals and are also very inexpensive to grow. If you can have tea and sprouts daily you do not need to purchase multi-vitamins. If you or a family member are taking vitamins for a certain condition you can plan your teas according to which nutrients they need the most. You can find a lot of this information online by searching under the name of the nutrient you need and the words, "herbal sources". If you would like a personalized nutrient tea created for you and your family please contact me at: herbnhome@gmail.com - the cost is only $15.00 per person.

2. Get "back to basics" in cooking. I find that when I'm not worried about money I may pick up those granola bars, boxes of cereal, canned organic soups and my favorite - ready-made Indian foods. However, making things from scratch is still the least expensive way to eat. And it does not need to be hard. Some of our favorites are also very budget-friendly. We love to make brown rice and then add our own toppings. I set cheese, greens, stir-fry veggies, and various toppings on the table and we make our own "rice sundaes". Yesterday I put some potatoes and a few other ingredients in the crock pot and we had a savory stew in the evening.

3. Prioritize your organic purchases. In an ideal world everything I purchase would be organic. However, my local organic resources are expensive and belonging to a buying co-op has not worked out for me yet. Instead, during the weeks when budgeting is tight, I may put some "regular" (although definitely unbleached!) flour in the cart, or buy some "regular" apples. However, I always purchase organic milk, eggs and meats. We use meat as more of a flavoring, so I don't need to purchase a lot of meat anyway. However, these three items are the ones that contain some of the worst pollutants when it comes to "regular" food standards.

4. Being vegan or vegetarian is also a good option! We don't eat much meat anyway, and my youngest daughter has always been vegetarian (nobody told her to, she just only likes to eat grains, beans, veggies and fruits). On weeks when the budget is tight we can always forgo the milk, eggs and meat too. Even if you are not interested in a vegetarian lifestyle, "going veggie" every once in awhile is a wonderful detox for yourself and your family. It also allows your family to discover new foods and new ways of cooking and eating.

5. Learn what herbs can substitute for your expensive herbs. Are you using herbs that are costing you a lot of money? Echinacea, Goldenseal and many Bowel Cleansing Formulas are very expensive. So are many other herbs and herbal formulas. Go online or to your local store and look at the least expensive herbs, then go online and search for what those herbs do. I can ALWAYS find an herb that is less expensive when I am doing healing work. For example, the best bowel cleanser & detoxer around is still psyllium husks. These have been used for thousands of years in India and the east and they are still superior and safe enough to use daily. You can purchase a large container or these for only $7.50 at the local health food store or online.

6. Make your own tinctures. There is nothing magical about a tincture. You can make your own "gypsy tinctures" from ANY herb (see the free video at www.TheNaturalLivingChannel.com) and store it in your refrigerator for 3-6 months. Use honey or glycerin to make the syrup/tincture tasty. The added bonus? Glycerin actually extracts herbal properties BETTER than alcohol does. The only time I purchase those expensive little tincture bottles at the store is when I am travelling or I need to keep something in my purse.

If you have any other ideas that you use please share them in the comments or by posting to:

herbnhome@yahoogroups.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.HerbnHome.com

3-Day Healing

2009-01-27T10:53:00.004-06:00

If I was only able to get one message to my clients and students I would want to share with them that healing can be very quick and easy. What I have found in over 18-years of doing healing work is that it is not the process that is difficult, it is us, as people, that make it difficult. If we can focus on changing the basics in our lives we can make changes that are instant and long-lasting. It always amazes me that we don't make the choice to do this more often and I often ponder why that is. Is it because we were raised in a society where everyone "went to the doctor" to get "medicine"? Is it because we were raised to fear germs, get immunizations and take expensive vitamins? Do we have this belief now that everything has to be complex?

To encourage new clients I like to share with them how quickly their lives can change if they start by focusing on the basics of life FIRST, before they see the doctor and before they take any herbs or start on any therapies. These are:

1. Sleep - sleep is so important that if you sleep less than 6.5 hours a night your blood sugar levels can become diabetic. To return your blood sugar levels to normal you only need to have a regular sleep schedule for 72 hours. Many other health problems that are caused by lack of sleep can also be healed (or at least improved) by sleeping well for only 3 days in a row!

2. Water - water is so significant that even slight dehydration can cause digestive problems, headaches and many other health problems. Just drinking one glass of water when you have a headache can often cure the headache. If you drink 8 glasses of water three days in a row any problems you have that are related to dehydration will improve or vanish.

3. Whole Foods Diet - diet is so important that what you eat the night before can effect you in the morning. What you eat one day can effect you for days to come. People who eliminate sugar and processed foods from their diet can see significant changes in their health within 3 days - blood tests will reflect these results.

4. Exercise - Just one session of walking or treadmill or even 5-minutes of stretching will increase your circulation to the extent that you will FEEL better immediately. Three days of continuous exercise will improve your sleep, increase circulation and increase serotonin levels significantly.

5. Positive Thought - Scientists are now finding that much of disease can be related to negative thought and stress. By focusing on the positive in your life just for three days you will see your serotonin levels rise, and your immune system stronger. Of the many hundreds of research papers in this area I found the following one very interesting:

"Now a new study adds another piece to the puzzle. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin are reporting today that the activation of brain regions associated with negative emotions appears to weaken people's immune response to a flu vaccine. "

The results are so quick with these simple steps that I am amazed more people don't try them. We are so trained into thinking that our cure or our solution will take such a long time that I don't think many people believe that they can induce almost instant cures using the five steps above. It seems hard to believe. But I have seen it happen over and over and over...

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
Consulting Online at : www.HerbnHome.com

Educated Natural Living

2009-01-27T10:36:00.003-06:00

In the "old days" what one read in a book or magazine was thought to be pretty accurate and we often based decisions on what we read. It was only with the advent of the Internet and self-publishing that more opinions emerged and we started to question what we were reading. Now, the tangled web we are in amazes me! In this day and age one needs to actually be educated in the field of natural healing and natural living just to be able to navigate the websites, online articles and off-line magazines and books.

I can't even read a magazine or book today without stopping every few pages and saying - "Hey - that is not true!" or "Wow! That is bad advice!"

Here is an example from a woman's magazine I picked up at the grocery store:

THE LIE (from the magazine)
(Article on saving energy)
"Cook your meals in your microwave oven, and you'll save time plus use 50% to 65% less energy than if you used a conventional oven."

THE REALITY (from me)
If you cook food with a microwave oven it will not save money because when you cook (or even re-heat) with a microwave you are destroying nutrients in the food. Food has no real value without nutrients so you will either find yourself more hungry later and need to eat more or you will find yourself depleated of nutrients over time and will need to purchase expensive supplements. Furthermore, a poor diet of microwave cooked food will cause health issues that will also cost you money.

This is just one example. However I see tens of examples daily as I browse the newspaper, magazines, articles and online sites.

So this little BLOG post is just a reminder....

Make sure you are educated in the subject you are reading about. Herbal and natural healing information in magazines and online can inspire me and give me new ideas. However, they are only useful when I also have the knowledge and tools to know how to cross-reference information and use the information I am given.

Do you know how to figure out the dosage of an herb you want to take after reading an article about it? Do you know how or where to cross-reference information about that herb? Do you know the most recent studies about the different trends in health (eggs, cholesterol, water,sleep, etc...) and how they compare to studies done ten years ago?

Without a lot of basic information a person can easily be misled through many online articls and even published books.

Make it a goal for yourself this year to become educated in some of the topics you read about most - you can take classes at a local community college, you can study a well-respected book on the topic and now you can even audit some of my online courses for a fraction of the cost it takes to be a full-time student. Check out the auditing possibilities at:

Audit Natural Healing Courses

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.HerbnHome.com

The Healing Power of Nurturing Herbs

2009-01-26T14:41:00.005-06:00

Sometimes part of the healing process with a child (or any person for that matter) is the nurturing and reassuring feeling they get by "taking medicine". Somehow, this process evokes a healing response in the body, in addition to any healing power the medicine may have.

One of the many reasons I enjoy herbal healing with children so much is because I am able to allow them to heal themselves with herbs and they can even take a few extra sips or spoons of herbal syrup if they feel the need.

Because I only use very mild and safe herbs with the children like peppermint, chamomile, catnip, fenugreek and others, I am able to leave these herbs in drawers labelled "Stomach ache", "Fever", "Nerves", "Sleep", etc...and invite the children to use the herbs when they feel the need. I would never feel comfortable doing this with any OTC medicine as most can have serious side effects if taken in any excess at all. Of course the children have been taught how to use herbs and have been told all the safety warnings and they usually ask me first anyway...but the fact that I can feel comfortable leaving these "medicines" within their reach is wonderful.

Additionally, when my child feels the need to take more herbal syrup or tea because they want to feel they are "getting better faster" I don't have to say "no". I invite them to have an extra cup of peppermint tea or an extra spoon or two of chamomile syrup, knowing that they probably do not need it, but that it will not harm them either. And they feel better because they sometimes enjoy the process of taking the medicine. Somehow "taking medicine" makes a child feel special when they are ill. It helps a person feel nurtured. And those feelings can help a person heal.

If you would like to do this with your children make sure you are only using very mild herbs that are safe for children and that they know how to use the herbs and are supervised as much as possible in the beginning and that the place where you openly store your herbs is in a public place near where you are. I have posted before about the side effects of herbal medicines and how we must be cautious even with remedies that are natural. Over-use or misuse can cause a variety of problems, and taking herbs that are not suitable to your temperament can also cause a variety of problems (see previous BLOG posts).

If you would like some ideas on how to teach your child about herbs and natural healing you can check out some of the parent-child classes I am offering at www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.HerbnHome.com
www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

HERBS: Winter Herbs for Your Blood Type

2009-01-11T20:57:00.002-06:00

I found this wonderful chart online for those of you interested in eating according to your blood type AND season! This chart shows you what herbs, appropriate for the winter season, are ALSO good for your blood type. You can find the chart at:

http://www.recipenet.org/health/recipes/er4yt/herb_chart.htm

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.HerbnHome.com

It's the Little Things...

2009-01-11T20:10:00.003-06:00

Sometimes it is the little things that help us lead a healthier and more holistic lifestyle - not the big changes! Here are three little things that have made very big changes in my life. I appreciate finding things like this. We spend so much time trying to improve our lives or make changes for the better. Sometimes we spend hours and many dollars and of course we always hear the saying, "If it sounds too good to be true it is". However, sometimes it sounds too good to be true and it actually is true! This is how it was with these three things for me. I am sure there are more...and would love to hear about yours too (please comment below this post on the BLOG) but these are the three that stand out for me the past month:

1. Lavender on the Drier Sheets. I get unscented drier sheets and put a few drops of lavender on them before I toss them in with the bedding. It helps the bedding to smell wonderful, the kids love it and it actually helps them to sleep better. We all sleep better with the lavender infused sheets and it is much easier than running the diffuser, putting it in the bath or rubbing it one someone's feet. It is also very very inexpensive.

2. The One-Server Blender: I purchased a small blender that has a little base on the bottom and then on the top it is a 16-ounce cup with a lid and a cap - much like a portable coffee mug or plastic drink cup you get from a gas station. You can make a smoothie in this little cup/blender and then take the entire cup off the top of the blender, put a straw through the lid and then enjoy it. It is easy to clean, the kids enjoy making their own smoothies with it, you can make individual flavors (since everyone around here likes different ones), you can take it out the door for a quick breakfast or snack and it encourages us to drink more smoothies. Since buying this the kids and I have eaten a lot more fruit and one more serving of something healthy means one less serving of something potentially unhealthy.

3. The Mini Vac: I have a mini vac near the dining room. Every time one of the children or animals makes a mess I (or even the kids) take the little vac down, vaccuum it up and it is done. I used to have to vaccuum the entire floor in the dining room area almost daily, but now with this spot cleaning method I don't have as much work to do. And that gives me more time to make homemade bread!

What are some of the little things that make a difference in your life?

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.TheNaturalLivingChannel.com

BACK TO BASICS: Digestion

2009-01-11T19:56:00.003-06:00

There are so many websites that tell you about how this or that herb will heal you or this new miracle natural cure will help you but often it is the very basics of life that we need to recall and remember. That is what I like to focus on in this BLOG and in my newsletter - how we can all heal and feel better using natural methods that are free and basic. I often find with clients that are these basics that will heal them rather than an expensive herbal formula or the newest craze in nutritional supplementation.

My latest goal is to help people who have problems with digestion. I know so many people who have spent hundreds of dollars are vitamins, herbs and supplements to help their digestion. I've had bouts of bad digestion myself. However, most of those could be directly related to a poor food choice. But what do you do when you eat healthy foods and you still have trouble digesting things? I recommend that you start with the bare basics and work up from there.

First, remember that ANY change in diet will cause your digestive system to adapt, and thus you may have "poor digestion" for a few days to a week. It is well known in raw food circles that raw food is very healthy, but someone who is not used to eating all their food raw will have trouble digesting it during the first week of their transition to a raw food diet. If you are vegetarian and have a hamburger you will have trouble digesting the meat. However, if you eat meat daily, you will not have as much trouble.

Secondly, ANY food can cause you to digest poorly. Don't be fooled by the name "natural" or by the fact that the food is directly from your garden. Some people just don't digest some foods well and some foods can naturally cause gas. For example, broccoli and beans are famous for causing gas. However, they are very healthy and natural foods.

Third, digestion can be improved by combining foods in better ways. A few beans can be combined with a cup of rice instead of someone eating an entire bowl of chili or black bean soup. There will be a siginifcant increase in the ability of your body to digest when you reduce the beans and add the rice.

And last, but not least, you need to make sure you are chewing your food 12-18 times. In fact, this shouold be listed as number one. This may seem a bit crazy or a bit obvious but it is very rare to actually find someone who chews their food properly - we are all used to chewing our food about three times and then swallowing. However, science has proven that this causes all sorts of health problems as it is actually your salivary glands that have all the ingredients you need to digest. Additionally, by chewing slower and more frequently you will reduce the amount of air in your system, which can cause the gas.

After making these changes in your diet, THEN go on to explore other options in healing. If you would like a personal consultation you can contact me at: www.herbnhome.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie

Lower Prices for Healing Courses & New Payment Options

2008-12-23T13:45:00.003-06:00

Dear Members,

In January, 2009 I will be raising the cost of all the healing classes at www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com to reflect the increased time I have been spending with students and course maintenance. However, to offset the increase I will be offering an additional option. You may now audit the courses at a much lower price. When you audit the course you will have access to all the files, videos and audio. However, you will not have exams and will not receive a final certificate. You can choose to upgrade your membership at anytime to receive exams and your final certificate. However, you can remain in audit-mode as long as you need to. With audit you do receive tech support on your files. However, you do not have student-contact hours with the instructor. Please visit the site to see the new prices. With this new option you can actually take an entire course for as little as $25.00.

Additionally, I have now added the services of the Amazon.com shopping cart to make check-out easier for some people who have had trouble with Paypal. As always, checks and money orders are also accepted.

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

A Week in the Life of a Naturopath

2008-12-19T14:41:00.005-06:00

Note: This mailing list was created so that members can receive the Herb'n Home Newsletter. The Herb'n Home Newsletter is delivered throughout the month as individual BLOG posts (such as this one) to the list AND once a month as a full newsletter.

A Week in the Life of a Naturopath

Well, not really my entire life! So many things happen every day it would take me another day to write them down. However, I thought it might be inspiring to share some of the natural healing we use in an average week. Natural healing is not only my profession but is integrated into our daily life as a "normal" way of dealing with everyday healthy issues and injuries. One of the main ways I have taught the children self-healing is to have all the herbal and natural medicines in one cabinet with labels. When they need something to help them sleep, for allergies, for a stomach ache, a cut, a bruise or anything else, I encourage them to use these items. When they were younger they saw me get the items out for them. Now, as they grow older I allow them to "serve themselves" with supervision. Sometimes they even help their friends out when their friends need something - all with supervision of course!

Here are some of this week's events:

Parakeet Injury
We keep our parakeets on a very very high shelf so the cats cannot reach them. And until last week they could not. However, our more rascally cat Oscar finally found a way to jump up and visit. Too bad he miscalculated and didn't have enough room once he got up there. The entire cage fell and the birds fell to the ground with it. One of the birds was injured near her eye - a large gash. On such a small animal I didn't know if she would survive or if there were any internal injuries so I did the best I could. She did not seem to be suffering and was not sensitive when I touched her so I washed her wound in water and applied calendula salve with lavender and comfrey. Two days later she healed wonderfully and seems completely fine. No infection or pain after the original incident.

Son and Allergies
My son suddenly developed an allergy to our cats. I know that allergies are always related to each other and that being exposed to more than one allergen can make it worse, so we took a look at his entire diet and situation and realized that we needed to eliminate two things - pizza and peanut butter. All pizza (unless it is homemade or a special brand) has MSG. Peanut butter is an allergen to most people. Even if it does not cause hives or severe reactions, most people have trouble dealing with it. Three days later his reaction to the cats had improved but it was still there. He still needed time for the MSG and peanuts to clear out of his system, but meanwhile his system also needed support. I found a tablet version of my favorite allergy medicine - BIO-ALLERS pet allergy - and he started taking two every evening, when the itching was the worst. Right away he saw an improvement and three days later there was no itching. His thoughts? "Mom - that stuff you got me works awesome! Thanks!"

Daughter and Fear
My daughter choked last week on a food item and didn't want to eat anything but ice cream and yogurt and soft foods after that. She was so scared she would choke again. The fear increased over the day because the less food you eat, the more stress your body feels and then any problem you have will get worse. So, by not eating she was causing her body more stress and the fear was increasing. I served her some plain organic yogurt (her favorite) to balance her blood sugar and then some chamomile and spearmint tea to sooth her nerves. An hour later she was eating everything in sight and so joyfully proclaiming "I'm not scared anymore."

Bunny Constipation
I'm not sure if this is actual constipation but our bunny sometimes gets bunches of bunnypoo stuck to her bottom and a sore bottom. I think this happens because she is so furry - it is not an internal issue or having to do with her diet. So bunny gets a bath. But to soothe her little bottom she gets a bath with chamomile soap. She enjoys it very much and always comes out a lot cleaner, calmer and happier.

Simplify my Feet?

2008-11-20T18:54:00.003-06:00

The word "simplify" has become a buzzword in society the past few years. There is even a magazine called "Simple Living" that will sell you things (including a magazine) to help you simplify your life! I often write editorials on simplifying things.

However, despite all these wonderful reminders it seems our minds are programmed to look for complex problems and solutions in our lives. Last week I was once again "healed" by simplicity.

For months I had been having an ongoing problem with my feet. They were aching and sore and painful and swelling. By evening they were the worst. Using all my healing knowledge I did everything in my power to figure out what was wrong and to heal myself. I thought of water retention and drank nettles tea. I considered that I was perhaps eating something that was causing this problem. Perhaps too much salt or sugar or bread? I considered diseases and problems I could have...perhaps this was an indication of something more major? My mind was turning with possibilities and I tried numerous solutions, Some worked a little bit, sometimes the problem would come and go...but nothing took it away. I imagine if I had gone to see doctors or healers the result would have been the same.

And I was considering that route, when I opened up my small "podunk" community newsletter and something caught my eye. It was a small ad by a local podiatrist who talked about how people were suffering from this "disease" that was caused by not wearing shoes or not wearing the proper shoes. I thought it was a bit funny that this "disease" actually had a name...but when I read over the "symptoms" I realized that wearing some shoes around the house would at least not cost me anything to try.

That was six weeks ago. I have not had any trouble with my feet since.

I don't need to be told I have a disease and I don't need a name for what I was suffering from, although there seems to be one. However, what I did need was a reminder at how simple the solution could be. And the solution did seem to make sense.

I'm a "hippy" at heart and I know the health benefits of going barefoot in the grass (which are actually many). I don't like wearing shoes. However, it does make sense that our feet were not created to walk on cold tile or bumpy carpet all day and they may get sore after a day of doing that.

So this is just one more reminder for us all...look for the simple and obvious solutions first. Then, progress to the complex.

Despite my failure to consider the simple with my feet I do actually have a method that I use with myself and clients that takes us through the basics before we progress to the complex. This is the method I use:

STEP ONE: Problem presents itself suddenly or problem presents itself as ongoing.

STEP TWO: Check if the person gets enough sleep. If the problem is sudden like a headache, pain or indigestion ask them (or yourself) how much sleep they have gotten in the past three days. If it has not been sufficient, then make sure the person catches up on sleep before they consider other routes of healing.

STEP THREE: Along with checking on sleep, check on water intake. Is the person drinking 8 glasses of water a day? Are they drinking soda, coffee or green teas which would actually subtract from their water intake total? If their water intake is low then immediately have them drink a glass of water. Proof that this works? I cannot tell you how many headaches or cases of fatigue I have "cured" with one or two glasses of water!

STEP FOUR: Check diet. Has the person had enough protein? Some people need enough protein to be able to function at their optimum levels. Have they eaten too much bread, sugar or fried foods? Have they consumed MSG? MSG can cause heart palpitations, diarrhea, stomach pains, headaches, insomnia and much more. I have personally either experienced these symptoms or witnessed them in others on an ongoing basis. Does the person have allergies and they have been consuming a lot of food they are allergic too? Have they been eating too quickly and not chewing enough? I have a client who was going to go to the hospital with abdominal pains until they visited the bathroom and saw about 15 whole blueberries in the bowel. Apparently they had been in a great hurry when consuming their blueberries. Has the person eaten a lot of acidic foods? A highly acidic state can cause great pain and many illnesses, and sometimes even death (this is how many atheletes have died - by creating a highly acidic state in their body with high protein meals and then exercise soon after). If a person has eaten a lot of acidic foods in the past few hours or days, having them consume an alkaline drink or meal may help balance things out.

STEP FIVE: Is the person performing a repetetive activity? Many people don't realize that any repetetive activity they perform (video games, computer work, typing, sitting, driving, etc...) needs to be balanced and rationed in some way or they will suffer in some way.

STEP SIX: Is the person upset about something or recently experienced a big change or trauma of some sort?

Happy simplifying!
Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.HerbnHome.com

The Illusion of Healing

2008-11-20T16:02:00.002-06:00

Many studies and people interested in natural healing focus on the chemical effects of pharmaceuticals and the dangers these side-effects can be to the body. However, there is not as much focus put on the equally dangerous "healing illusion" that they create.

I was speaking to someone yesterday who told me a typical story. They had been taking some medication for a while, they felt better and then they stopped. A few weeks later they were feeling very badly and wondered why. They started taking their medication again and felt better. Their conclusion? "I must not have been ready to stop yet."

However, there is really no reason they should ever be "ready to stop". What made them think they would one day "be ready to stop?"

This is a misconception that many people have about their medications. There is a difference between medications and healing. There are some modern pharmaceuticals that claim to heal various diseases (the jury is still out on many of these claims) but most pharmaceuticals and even the doctors themselves are very honest with their patients - "This medication will help relieve the effects of this disease. You will most likely be taking this medication the rest of your life." In most cases, even the medicines that do "heal" create a temporary situation. Once the medication is halted, the problem may come back "full force" years later.

And this is the reality. Medications relieve - they do not usually heal. The danger with not being aware of this is that it creates a "healing illusion" in people so they are less motivated to make life changes that they need to make to heal, and they are less likely to seek out herbs or therapies that WILL heal them.

What makes the illusion even more powerful is that people often feel so much better after taking their medication for a few weeks that they often go back to their old habits. Before medication they were watching what they ate because their heartburn was so bad. After medication it does not matter anymore. They go back to eating all the fried at fatty food that caused the problem in the first place.

While modern medicine does have its place, and I have seen many instances where relief enabled a person to continue living, the misunderstanding of modern medicine has caused many people to go deeper into their illness and prolong their pain and illness when they actually have the power to heal instead.

I would like to encourage anyone who is taking pharmaceuticals to remember that these drugs are helping you - NOT healing you. They can help you have enough energy so that you have the time and spirit to pursue real change and healing in your life. They can take away crippling conditions so you can drive to the health food store and supply yourself with fresh organic foods and herbs. They can clear your mind and focus you so you have the clarity of thought it takes to sort through all the information out there and really find some life changing solutions for your illness. They can also help you feel better so you have the energy it takes to visit different healers and seek out natural healing alternatives. However, pharmaceuticals will not heal you.

As long as you are taking medication and doing nothing else to help your condition, you should expect to be on that medication your entire life. Your hope of escaping the "pills" comes with the effort you put into healing the underlying causes of your illness. You can do this at the same time you are taking your pharmaceutical drugs. There are many herbs and healing methods that are compatible with modern drugs and sometimes all it takes is changed sleep habits, more exercise or a slight change in diet. Many people don't realize you can do both at the same time - relieve with modern medicine AND heal with natural therapies.

If you want to consider this the best place to start is with a natural health care practitioner who can help you create a program that is compatible with the modern pharmaceuticals you are taking. I offer online consulting at www.HerbnHome.com However, there are also many resources online and in your community.

Misuse of the Temperaments

2008-11-11T10:23:00.004-06:00

Misuse of the Temperaments

Last week someone made a comment on a video I have on YouTube. They said, "Phlegmatic, Sanguine, etc...? These ideas died with the Middle Ages!"

Well, for better or for worse, they are still alive and well. This person has probably experienced them in some modern incarnation and not even realized it.

There are over 100 systems of "typology" including Tim LaHaye, Keirsey, Jung, and many more. Some of these systems may be more familiar to you than the "Sanguine/Phlegmatic" system. Have you ever been told you were a "type A" or a "NJ" or a "Guardian"? All of these systems are based in the age-old system of typology, which brings us back to the sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric and melancholic again. In fact, in my online class on the temperaments (www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com ) I have created a chart that compares over 50 of these systems - and they all correspond in some way. It is amazing how there can be so many different systems, but when you compare them you see that they are all just interpretations of one basic system.

This is where the "for better or worse" comes in. These systems can actually heal people instantly who would usually go through years of counseling. I have seen people heal overnight once they became aware that their "problems" were actually based in their temperament. This may seem incredible, but if you think about it, it does make sense. Many mental issues we have are made worse by family, friends, or society telling a person "there is something wrong with you". A person then becomes obsessed with this "what is wrong" and pursues a solution, often taking medications and attending counseling sessions. Consider that many people are actually "diagnosed" as their temperament rather than their actual disease. In fact, some temperamental behaviours that are normal actually have names in the medical industry.

Of course there are a number of people who do have some medical problem and need to pursue an avenue of therapy and healing for that illness. However, I have seen too many people being misdiagnosed to believe that it does not happen more often than we are lead to believe.

Using a person's temperament to help them heal mentally, physically or emotionally is one of the most wonderful modern and ancient uses of the temperament tool. In Waldorf education, a child's temperament is used to help them learn in a more harmonious manner.

However, in modern times this tool is also being "misused". Have you ever taken a "typology test" such as the Meyer's-Briggs or other test? Have you ever been given a "test" when you went to interview for a job? Many Fortune 500 companies are using these "tests" to give them insight into the type of people they are hiring. However, this use of the temperament tool has great potential for disaster.

First, a form can only give a person so much information. It can help a knowledgeable practitioner narrow down possibilities, but if the person is only filling in ovals and not providing a verbal dialogue (on paper or in person) as well, then the information can become meaningless. Once a form is filled out, the practitioner needs to talk to the person in some way and gain further insight into them via their e-mail or voice and then cross-reference that with their "test results". In the corporate atmosphere this is rarely done.

Secondly, even if the temperament or typology of each employee or potential employee is correct, only someone with experience would know what to do with this information. My partner, Steve, tells me the story of a man who once hired him to "figure out all the type As - because I only want to hire Type As". Anyone who knows anything about Type As knows that this is asking for trouble! However, the man insisted and hired five brand new employees - all Type As. Needless to say his company became very inefficient. He spent so much time trying to coordinate all these natural leaders that he had to "start over" his company about 6 months later.

I look forward to the day when this tool is used by more people, and in the way it was intended to be used. If you have any stories to share on this topic please leave them in the comments below.

The Importance of Temperaments in Healing

2008-11-11T10:00:00.003-06:00

One of the aspects of holistic healing that is most beneficial to people is that it usually takes into account a person's individual temperament and unique needs. I say, usually, because sometimes even "holistic" practitioners have the idea that "this herb or product" is good for everyone. Additionally, many new "home based natural products" companies are selling their products with labels that say "this is good for...".

The best healers recognize that we are all individuals and that there is not one diet, food, medicine or system that is the best for "everyone". You will be able to heal more effectively and use the information you read and hear more effectively if you are aware of this.

For example, a person could read in a magazine that ginger is good for motion sickness. If they are NOT thinking in a holistic way, they might decide to try this remedy and not realize that because they have a very "hot" temperament that the ginger will actually make them more anxious and make their motion sickness worse. If a person reads this article and is thinking in a holistic way they would look up the herb in a database, read about all of its properties, be aware of their own temperament, and decide if this herb fit them well.

Advertisements tell us: "This diet works for everyone! Everyone in Hollywood is using this!"

Magazine advertisements tell us: 'This herb works for everyone! You will feel better!"

But what happens when it does not work? Often times people are discouraged and think something is wrong with them or they think they have been tricked or that the diet or medicine is worthless. What is usually happening is that they have simply found a solution that is a "poor fit" for them. Armed with this knowledge, we have more confidence to try new things and not feel as discouraged by the failures. We have more knowledge so we can sometimes decide BEFORE we try something if it would be a "good fit" or not. Ultimately you save money and time. In the past 13 years of my healing work I have observed many people wasting time and money that could have been saved if they had simply been aware of their own temperment and researched the compatibility of what they were taking first.

If I could share one tip with everyone who wants to use natural medicine it would be - learn what your type is, know yourself, and then get to know the substances you are using to see if they would be a good fit. Keep aware of the fact that we are all unique and we all need unique solutions. Beware of anyone or any advertisement that says "This (herb/medicine) is good for (illness or complaint)" If the person does not know your temperament and life conditions, there is no way they can say that with confidence.

I have a little article online about temperaments at:

http://herbnites.tripod.com/waldorfinspiredschool/id11.html

There are many books on the topic available at Amazon.com or other sources.

I also do online (e-mail and/or phone) temperament consultations via:

www.HerbnHome.com

or directly via:

Temperament Consultation

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

Cosmetics & Skin Care Safety Database

2008-11-09T17:40:00.003-06:00

I was given some nice "natural" perfume the other day from Origins as a sample and was so excited! I am quite allergic to all perfumes and so I always need to be careful that I use only real essences - basically essential oils with some carrier (water or oil). The perfume was advertised as "all natural" and "essence". However, the minute I used it I had about three different reactions. I immediately Googled the name of the perfume with the word "ingredients" and found a wonderful database online for checking ALL of my soaps & costmetics!

I wanted to share it with all of you. The site is at:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

Enjoy! A lot of the information is a bit shocking and surprising. I am especially dissapointed that the entire Orgins line does not rate very high. I am so weary of mass marketers trying to steal business away from legitimate organic and natural small businesses by advertising their products and natural when they are not. I usually make many of my own cosmetics - but when someone gives me something free I find it hard to say no. Well, at least I USED to!

How One Person Can Help the Economy

2008-10-20T09:22:00.005-05:00

Sofi, thanking the local goats for her cheese :)

There are so many things we can do to save the economy. One thing I am doing to help is to make every cent I spend be significant in some way. I am making sure as much of my money as possible is going directly to people and not big corporations. I look around me, I listen to what my friends are saying and I watch the news and I see that there are hundreds and thousands of people just like me suffering from the poor economy and suffering from the fees and rates banks pile on us. Sometimes just a few dollars can make a difference to a family like ours. When you are struggling to get by, a few dollars can buy milk, some more gas, or even an item of clothing for a child.

When I spend my money I want to know that that is where it is going. If money comes out of my home and away from my family (to buy clothing, food or gifts) I want to know that it is enabling someone else to purchase those same items. When you purchase from large corporations your $5.00 gets broken into parts - $4.70 goes to the corporation, ten cents goes to China, ten cents goes to running the business and ten cents goes to the person who is at the cash register. These numbers change according to what corporation you are purchasing from but the idea is basically the same, most of your money is going over-seas or to someone who already has enough.

This week I purchased the following items and I know where my money went:

Local Goat Cheese from Local Farm - $4.25 - Money went directly back into their business to keep them running and into their pockets to purchase food for their own family.

Handmade Sweater from Local Business Owner - $50.00 - This sweater will last me ten times as long as any machine-made sweater. The money went directly into the business to keep it running and into their pockets to support their family.

Jar of Honey from Local Farm - $3.25 - Money went directly to the farm owner. I even placed it in her hands.

Hand-spun Yarn - $10.00 - Money went directly to the person who raised the sheep.

Coffee at Local Coffee Shop - $4.50 - Money is helping to support their business. Hopefully if more people go there each day and spend $4.50 they won't go out of business during these rough times and they won't be driven out of business by Starbucks.

Groceries at a market that supports local agriculture, dance lessons from a local dance teacher...

The list goes on and on....

It feels really good to know that my money is going to real people. I almost feel like every time I shop I am making a donation, instead of just "spending money". On a more "morbid" note, I also think, "well, at least if I go down with the economy my money went to prevent other people from the same fate" - LOL!

So vote with your dollar and help out your neighbors and friends and local business people as well as anyone running a small business. We may be going through rough times but we can help each other simply by making our spending really count!

How I Never Forget "My Bags"

2008-10-20T08:51:00.004-05:00

I love re-usable grocery bags and can't live without them - for many reasons. Of course they are great for the environment but also they fit a lot more groceries than the standard plastic bags so they allow me to get into the house with my groceries in fewer trips. An added bonus is that the checkers usually are happy to let me pack my own bags and since nobody seems to have any idea how to pack groceries anymore that makes me even more happy :) I actually arrive home with nothing smashed and everything where it should be!

So my favorite new discovery has been portable nylon bags. The bags themselves are not "eco-friendly" - they are made out of some nylon material. However, the fact that I have not forgotten my shopping bags since purchasing these is VERY eco-friendly. I use these EVERYWHERE now - not just the grocery store. It used to be that I only used them for grocery shopping, and then only on planned trips when I could remember to lug my 5 eco-friendly canvas bags into the store. I never brought them to the mall, or to other stores and I often forgot them or did not have them if I just suddenly decided to stop by a store and pick up some milk and eggs.

I actually found these bags for only $1.00 each in the dollar section of Jo-Ann Fabrics AND Target. However, you can find them online for various prices and in various prints. I have included a picture of my purse and my bags above. Here are some places I have found them online:

DON'T get sucked into paying more than $5.00 for such a bag. Brands like "Baguu" are making these bags a fashion statement and charging $22.00 and up for them! Their bags probably cost about ten cents to make - the same as all the rest!

Here are some more reasonably priced bags (note: It took me an hour to find the best deals online last night so...these are the best of what an hour search came up with. These are not just randomly picked):

Chico Bags from Reusablebag.com come in many colors are are extra large. $4.95 ea.

A set of 3 for 12.99 from GreenShopper.com here: Green Shopper

Sale priced at only 1.35 (down from 6.95) this WEDDING FAVOR shop actually has some really nice ones! Get them while they are still there! This was a "find"! They come in many colors. I am providing the link to the IVORY BAG.

Buying in bulk for a business or organization to re-sell as a fundraiser? Try: Bulletin Bags

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie

http://www.herbnhome.com/

www.NaturopathicHealingCourse.com

The Natural Living Channel

2008-09-07T19:22:00.002-05:00

I am posting this to the BLOG because Yahoogroups messed up the initial posting. Please exucse the repear message! However, I hope you can read it more clearly this time :)

I would like to invite you to the grand opening of ...
The Natural Living Channel.

Steve and I have been working on this project for more than a year now so we are very happy to finally be announcing its debut!

For those of you that are familiar with www.TheWaldorfChannel.com - this new channel is done in the same style, however, it covers all areas of natural living and is hosted by Steven Zay Granberg as well as I. Of course we will have videos from other people - just like on The Waldorf Channel - however, we will both be hosting these videos. I hope you enjoy it! We will be updating it every two weeks.

Be sure to join the Herb'n Home mailing list to receive any further announcements about the channel and our free newsletter.

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
Steven Zay Granberg, MS Counseling Education

Herbal Information on File

2008-08-13T14:24:00.003-05:00

Dear BLOG-Readers and Members,

Be sure to make use of the "topics" column to the right and click on any topic you would like to see more information about here! I'm going through some files from my old sites and uploading some of that information to the BLOG here so it will all be in one place. My latest "discovery" from the archives is a chart I made that you can post on your refrigerator. It is called "An Herbal Guide for Pregnancy and Childbirth" and can be found at:

Herbal Guide for Pregnancy and Childbirth ONE
Herbal Guide for Pregnancy and Childbirth TWO

Blessings & Health,
Kristie

New Herbal Consulting Group

2008-08-12T23:36:00.001-05:00

After 16 years of healing work through www.herbnhome.com and 8 years of helping to bring Waldorf and Earthschooling to homes all around the world I am opening up an online consulting group to meet the growing needs of the community.

http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/herbnhomeconsulting

There are many people who just need a "little help" now and then and would rather not commit to a full consulting session for one single issue, but they would also rather get help and answers from a professional instead of a general group list. This new group is for these people or for anyone who would like a place where they can go on a regular basis to consult with a professional about health or homeschooling. By joining this group you can get ongoing help on all those little things from a professional for the same price it costs for one hour consulting session on one issue.

Fees are: $15.00 for one month and then $5.00 a month after the first month OR $50.00 per year. Remember - this membership includes consulting on the following issues:

1. Herbal Healing
2. Natural Living
3. Homeschooling
4. Waldorf Education
5. EarthSchooling
6. Iridology
7. Nutrition
8. Temperaments & Typology
9. Reflexology
10. Naturopathic Healing

If you would like to sign up now please visit: www.herbnhome. com

If you would like to read more I have provided more information below...

This group will now be the only place where I will be answering consulting questions having to do with Healing, Earthschooling, Homeschooling, Waldorf, and Natural Living. If you wish your question to be private you can still e-mail me and I can post an anonymous Q & A to the list. However, I will no longer be able to answer consulting questions from any non-members of the list - via e-mail or Yahoogroups. I simply do not have the time to field the hundreds of e-mails I get daily from the public in general and I don't want people to think I am ignoring them, or that the only way to get an answer is to pay for an hour of consulting.

You do not need to be a member of any of my online classes to join this consulting group. All health and homeschooling questions posted to the forum/group will be answered within 1-7 days at no additional cost beyond your small monthly membership fee.If you would like to join the consulting group you can sign up for a membership at: www.HerbnHome. com If you have any questions please contact me at: herbnhome@yahoo. com

I am looking forward to streamlining a lot of my e-mail consulting into this one list so everyone can benefit. At this time I answer a lot of personal e-mails off-list and then have to file and re-post to various member lists. This process slows down my response time and the chances that more than one person can benefit from my answer to a question. This new system should increase my ability to answer consulting questions by at least ten-fold so I can offer more to the community and be more efficient with member e-mails as well. So what is a consulting question and will I be leaving this BLOG?

NO! I will not be leaving this BLOG...

This NEW service provides a platform for members to ask consulting questions on Healing, Homeschooling, Earthschooling, Waldorf and natural living in general. There are three kinds of consulting questions:

1. Quick questions like "Where can I buy silk yarn" or "At what age do children start to read in Waldorf?" or "What is a typical remedy for a fever?" or "What is the best herb for acid reflux?"You can post these questions for free to the community at: herbnhome@yahoogroups.com or waldorfschoolonline@yahoogroups.com . I will still be online at these public lists to answer short questions such as these and participate in general discussions.

2. Complex questions like: "Can you help with my arthritic pain?", "How can I detoxify my body in the most effective way?" , "I need some stories in Spanish that are Waldorf-compatible" or "What can I do to lower my 3-year-old's fever today?" or "Can you help me organize the rhythm of my day with 3 kids?" or "How can I help myself or my child with their asthma in a natural way" etc...These questions can be posted to this paid forum and will be answered within 1-7 days. I will no longer be answering these questions on the public list or for non-members.

3. Personal complex questions like: "We need a schedule for our homeschool program that is detailed for every day of the week." or "My daughter has had long-term problems with allergies and we need to know what her allergies are, what herbs she can take and what foods are best for her."etc... These questions are more suited to a personal consultation. These are available for $50.00 for a 30-60 minute consultation (phone, e-mail, IM or any combination of the above) by contacting: herbnhome@yahoo. com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

Carbon Footprints & Stepping on Others

2008-07-26T17:34:00.000-05:00

The other night I was watching The Colbert Report at the hotel and saw a very funny interview that Steven Colbert did with the head of the Sierra Club. For those who are not familiar with The Colbert Report it is a "fake news" show with the host pretending to be an extreme conservative who reports on Liberal or Democratic news items.

At one point in the interview Colbert says, "So if you are so into the environment then you must have walked here - right? You wouldn't want to take a plane and use all that fuel." The gentleman responded that he did take a plane, of course. He stated "It is all about the carbon footprint you leave and how big that is. Nobody can live in today's world and not leave a footprint. How big that is depends on YOU."

Of course, Colbert, says, "Well my carbon footprint is REALLY big! You know what THAT means...right? (wink wink)."

But Colbert's antics aside...this illustrates a good point...

If more people were to see change in terms of "footprints" rather than individual actions, we might have a lot more peace between those of us who are on the side of the environment and natural living and healing. However, one reason we do not have the unity we need in the environmental community is that we are often busy policing each other.

I have overheard criticisms of other's habits too many times to count. I hear mothers criticized for not nursing their child and for nursing their child. I hear people criticized for sending their children to school and for homeschooling. I hear people criticized for owning a gas-guzzler and also sneered at for spending so much money on a fuel efficient car. On mailing lists and in small groups it seems everyone is busy watching each other - making sure they are doing the "right thing".

However, what if we looked at these things as we look at the FOOTPRINT? What if we look at people's intentions and their over-all commitment to a cause rather than one thing they are doing?

In the case of environmental activism, it certainly is near impossible to live without a footprint at all. If you know someone who is trying their best to reduce theirs then the best thing you can do for them is to encourage them by looking at what they ARE doing instead of what they are not doing. You may find that they are actually doing some things that you are not.

In the case of parenthood choices we can also look at the big picture. Instead of looking at how a parent is schooling or if they nursed their babies or not, we can look at what their commitment is to their children in general. In the case of most people I know, their commitment to their children and doing what is best for them is very high.

This week, let's work on more unity with our peers in the natural living and healing community. As an exercise - choose five-ten people you know and write down three things each of them are doing for the environment. If you want to share your list with the group please send it to: herbnhome@yahoogroups.com

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.HerbnHome.com
www.NaturopathicHealingCourse.com

Herbal Identification and Chaparral

2008-07-24T01:46:00.000-05:00

I wish I could BLOG a smell. As we were driving through the Texas desert yesterday I had to stop the car because the smell of chaparral was so strong I thought I must be imagining things.

Once you smell chaparral you never forget how it smells. Although I have never lived in a region where it grows, I had used it in herbal mixtures before so I recalled its pungent scent - a scent that for me is associated with healing, with good energy and with the scent of opened herb jars on the mixing table.

However, smelling it in the desert is apparently only a rare treat that happens after it rains. When I pulled over the car to see where the smell was coming from I was shocked to see miles and miles of chaparral (creosote or tarbush are two other names for it) sprawled across the desert on either side of the high-way.

It is such a fascinating plant. Some say it is the longest living plant on earth, dating back more than 13,000 years. It is poisonous to all mammals (although it can be used topically on humans and as a tea) as a food but it supports over 22 kinds of bees and many more insects that survive solely on its being. Without this bush over 65 kinds of insects would die out.

Native Americans used the leaves to create a natural sun-tan lotion. However, modern Americans use the oil from the leaves to protect wood (that sticky stuff on railroad ties) from insects.

Applied to the skin, chaparral can have a remarkable healing effect on eczema, herpes, cold sores, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis.

If you are fortunate to live in an area where this grows so freely you might want to try one of the following recipes:

Creosote Tea(Larrea tridentata)

Place a sprig of Creosote leaves and flowers in a cup. Add boiling water, cover and steep 5 to 10 minutes (depending on strength desired), then strain. You may want to sweeten this strong, aromatic tea with honey.

California's Cahuilla Indians brewed Creosote tea to relieve coughs, colds, flu, infections and bowel complaints. They also covered their heads with a blanket and inhaled the steam of creosote leaves in a boiling pot of water to relieve congestion.

Herbally it is being used in the treatment of cancer, although great care is taken with its use since it can cause liver-trouble when taken in excess.

Creosote/Chaparral Spray

You can use this in so many ways...to deter insects from biting you, for athlete's foot, for mild sun protection, to scent a room, and much more:

Ingredients:
8 oz filtered water
4-6 Chaparral stems with leaves that are about 4-6 inches long
5 - 10 drops sage essential oil (optional)

Disposable glass jar that holds 8 or more oz.

Method: Put water and the Chaparral stems in the disposable glass jar. Put lid on and shake it, then let it sit overnight or up to 24 hours. Take stems out and pour the water into the spray bottle. Add drops of essential oil as desired. Label. Shake before using.

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.naturopathichealingcourse.com/

http://www.herbnhome.com/

Natural Rabbit Repellent - Tested Last Week

2008-07-10T17:45:00.000-05:00

(Picture is of my son and our rabbit at home)

Natural Rabbit Repellent - Tested Last Week!

Dear Members,

A while back I heard from some friends that raise sheep that a little sheep's wool sprinkled in the garden will repel rabbits. It sounded worth a try to me...so I kept it in mind for this summer. However, we have not had any rabbits around at all. Perhaps they all got "flooded out" or something? However, I did manage to test the results anyway.

I found an old sheepskin in my closet and (completely forgetting the sheepskin/rabbit relationship) thought that it looked very snugly and that my free-roaming house-rabbit would love to sit on it in front of the air-conditioning vent that is her absolute favorite place to sit. So I placed the sheep-skin there while she was eating her hay one day. I "knew" she would try it out soon and was eager to see how happy she would be since she spends about 80% of her time by the vent and loves it there!

However, once I placed the sheepskin there she completely avoided the vent. She would not go near it at all for three days. Finally I remembered the sheepswool/rabbit relationship and moved the sheepskin. It took her a full 4 days to decide that the AC vent was a suitable place to sit again.

So guess where the sheepskin is now? It is serving as a bed to all my computer and printer electrical cords. I don't think I will have any trouble with bunny chewing my cords anymore!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.herbnhome.com/

http://www.theavicennainstitute.com/

2008-07-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

This herb is popular all over America as an immune-system enhancing herb and many people use it instead of using anti-biotics. German medical studies have proven that echinacea does indeed boost the immune system, and is useful in treating a number of common ailments. However, because of its popularity Echinacea is becoming endangered and over-harvested. To help keep this from happening I grow my own Echinacea (which is VERY easy to do...they are perennial wildflowers and grow in any sunny part of the garden) and only harvest what I need. If you have any garden space at all this is very easy to do and if more and more people do this, then Echinacea has more of a chance of surviving on this earth. Planting time is over for this year, but if you have some in your garden or along the nature path you walk you are welcome to wildcraft it gently in the following manner.

I have included a picture from MY Echinacea patch that I took today. As you can see, since the flowers are in full-bloom they are PAST the time when I can harvest the tops and it is way before the time when I can harvest the roots. The bee was very kind in posing for me. He didn't seem to mind my company :)

Harvesting Echinacea

For medicinal purposes, you'll want to harvest some roots and some flower tops. For best quality, wait until your plants are 3 years old. Roots are harvested in the fall when the tops have gone to seed and the plants have experienced a couple of hard frosts. Tops are harvested just as the flowers start to open. Whether harvesting tops or roots, the dried herb will be good for one year. Be sure to date the jars containing the herb so you won't use them past their potency date.

Harvesting Roots

1. Using a sharp knife cut off a portion of the root, leaving plenty for the plant to grow on.
2. Cut any pieces larger than 1 inch into smaller pieces to avoid mold growth during the drying process.
3. Wash thoroughly and pat dry.
4. Hang the root pieces or lay them out on screens in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. If the pieces are large it may take several weeks for them to dry.
5. When completely dry, store in a tightly covered glass jar in cool, dark place.

Harvesting Flower Tops
1. Using a sharp knife, cut the plant at the point where the first healthy leaves are growing.
2. Lay the tops on a screen or hang them upside down in bundles out of direct sunlight. Make sure they aren't crowded so that air can't circulate around them.
3. When completely dry, the leaves will crumble when touched. Store them in glass jars with tight fitting lids in a cool, dry place.

There are two ways to brew an herbal tea: Infusion and Decoction. Use the infusion method when preparing a tea from leaves, flowers or seeds. Decoction is the method of choice for roots. For a pleasant cup of tea, most people prefer an infusion of the flowers. Decoctions are very strong.

To make an infusion:Place 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb or 2-4 teaspoons of fresh herb in a teapot. Cover with 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain out the herbs and enjoy.
To make a decoction:Combine 2 teaspoons of dried root and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Cover, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for at least 20 minutes and up to 1 hour. Strain out the herb and enjoy.

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.herbnhome.com/

http://www.theavicennainstitute.com/

How to Find & Harvest Wild Garlic on a Nature Walk

2008-07-09T15:00:00.000-05:00

We are lucky enough to have a plentiful supply of wild garlic in our yard, however, as I walk down the bike trail and the nature trails around town I notice that there is plenty of wild garlic "for the taking" as well. Learning how to identify it and how to harvest it will help you in benefiting from this free gift from nature. I have included some photos of our wild garlic to help you and some simple harvest instructions. You will understand the instructions more by looking at the photos too.

All the plants of any given variety of garlic will come to maturity at about the same time, but some varieties will mature in the early spring and others not until mid-summer. Once any given variety of garlic starts losing its leaves and there are still eight leaves left (a week to 10 days from harvest), discontinue watering and let the soil begin to dry out some so as to make harvesting easier - it's easier to pull garlic out of loose soil than mud. In my case I never planted these plants and never watered them either - LOL - since I live in the Midwest where it has been raining a lot.

When your garlic is ready to harvest, there are several ways to do it. It is important to remove the garlic from the ground without injuring it as it is still a living creature and germs can enter through wounds at a time when its ability to ward them off is diminishing. If you have real loose rich soil, you can simply pull them up by their necks as long as doing so will not tear or damage their necks or roots. Few of us are fortunate enough to have that kind of soil. For most of us the best way is to use a shovel or garden fork and slip the blade down beside them and then work it under them and pry them up from the bottom. Be very careful not to cut the bulbs as you do this.

Then immediately take them out of the sun and into a cool shady place to cure out for a while.
Be very careful in handling the bulbs at this point and do not bang them together as that can cause them to be bruised and invite storage problems and ruin them for seedstock. Do not throw them onto the ground or into a wagon, place them down gently - you have spent a lot of time and effort to grow them right, don't blow it all now by handling them rough. Get them out of the sun as soon as possible as the sun can scald them or cause them to dry down too quickly and may result in problems.

I've included some picture of some of our wild garlic...it is ALMOST ready to harvest!

If you are harvesting on public land be sure to follow the rules of wildcrafting - only take what you need and only "thin out" the gifts that you find. Do not take everything from one place.

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

http://www.naturopathichealingcourse.com/

How to Get the Healing You Need

2008-07-06T19:25:00.000-05:00

Here are a few random tips you can use to get the healing you need. These are things I have learned from my clients, friends, family and studies over the past 20 years. This list is not complete. This is a BLOG so I am posting tips and inspirations as they come to me or as you request them...

Tip #1: Have you been putting off that massage that you KNOW you need? Consider not getting one at all! Some people find massage too cumbersome – they don’t like blocking out an entire hour for massage and the preparing for it and showering all the oils off afterwards, etc…for these kinds of people or for people who may not always have time for massage I often recommend an alternative to this – a 15-30 minute self-massage to the hand reflexology points or entire hand OR another person rubbing the feet for 15-30 minutes.

Tip #2: Do you feel like you give too much? Are people telling you that you need to take care of yourself more? Consider this - it is the WAY you give and not how much you give that is the difference between good and poor health. At this point in life some of these habits are hard to break and can often be traumatic to break so channelling the habits into something more healing can often be an alternate solution. A very simple example would be with me. I tend to be too active and not sit down enough so I started knitting so that I would be doing something relaxing and healing for me but I didn’t have to deal with the “need to be active”. Of course, I am younger and deal with it in other ways, but this is a small example to show you that the solution for a client is not always to change what they are doing (some practitioners tell people “take more time for yourself” which is a really difficult and vague statement) but to adapt what they naturally do to something that helps them.

Contrary to popular opinion, people who give a lot actually ARE getting for themselves. I find that after I do a consulting session with a client that I am actually more relaxed than at any other time in my week. However, it is not always like that when giving. It depends on what you give. A giver may need to do MORE volunteer work in the community to feel better. And in the right places. One would not want to work with gangs or homeless teenagers if they don't have a lot of time or patience, but perhaps elderly people who need company or someone to help them read or write letters?

Natural healers, in the need to get people to take care of themselves, often discount the beneficial effects that service and “feeling needed” have on someone’s mental state. If a giver does not like to go out much perhaps they can do some knitting while they are watching (A reduced amount of) TV. Knit blankets for babies in the hospital or something else. And many people enjoy a cheery phone call or hand-written letter.

Can YOU think of more ways that giving makes us healthier?

Kristie's Consulting & Seminar Trip Dates

2008-07-04T02:50:00.000-05:00

Consulting & Seminar Trip July 2008: Kristie Karima Burns, Mh, ND

Get your free travel blog
Visit my travel blogs

Get your free travel blog.
Visit my travel blogs.

Natural and Effective Wood Board Cleaning

2008-07-04T00:58:00.000-05:00

For wood cutting boards (would probably work on plastic too but we Don't use plastic cutting board so I can't say for sure....) cut a Lemon in half, sprinkle the cutting board with sea salt (coarse grain) And rub the lemon halves over the board vigorously. Rinse with clean Cool water. This is a fun activity for children as well.

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
http://www.herbnhome.com/

Aggregate Berries

2008-07-04T00:41:00.000-05:00

I was very excited today to teach one of my friends and her daughter one of my favorite foraging "secrets". Since all the berries are ripening in our yard and along the bike path I took them on a little berry picking adventure. At first they seemed a bit worried that we might eat a berry that was poisonous. Then, I explained that I only harvest aggregate berries with kids - they are easy to identify, never poisonous and ALWAYS Delicious and packed with nutrition.

Aggregate berries are berries that have little bumps on them like raspberries, blackberries or mulberries. Cherries, strawberries, and elderberries are NOT aggregate berries because they do not have the little bumps and they are smooth.

As soon as I explained what and aggregate berry was the little girl that was walking with me shared with us that she knows where "a bunch" are near her house. So... with this little bit of knowledge an entire new world opens up for her to play and snack in while she is at her house.

Letter to the Editor: UTIs

2008-07-04T00:37:00.000-05:00

Kristie,
Thanks for the ideas on dyeing. I have another question to ask I am looking for a more natural way to take care of a urinary tract infection. I'm not keen on using antibiotics and wondered if there was anything other than loading up on cranberry juice that could help. Thanks, - E

Dear E,

Urinary tract infection can be very serious so it is best to consult a health care practitioner to see what can be done. Each of the clients I have seen have benefited from different suggestions.(www.Herbnhome.com) However, there are two things that always help all the clients (no matter what other recommendations I have for them) and they are:

1. Reflexology sessions (given by yourself to your hands, or by a family member to the feet) in the abdominal area of the palms.

2. The homeopathic remedy cantharsis in 200C dose taken once and then taken again in 30C doses if needed. You can find info at:

http://www.abchomeopathy.com/r.php/Canth

Hope this helps :)

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.HerbnHome.com
www.NaturopathicHealingCourse.com

Herb'n Home Classes Price Increase in 2 Weeks

2008-06-21T17:12:00.000-05:00

Dear Members,

This is to alert you that there will be a price increase in the The Avicenna Institute Healing Classes on July 1st, 2008. At this time BOTH prices are listed at the shopping cart page. The lower prices will be deleted on July 1st. I have listed the new and old prices below. If you wish to purchase something now before the price change you do not have to use it now. So, for example, if you purchased a health consultation, you could use it in December or any other time. You remain a member of all the classes for life and you may work at your own pace. For more information on the classes you can visit:

www.TheAvicennaInstitute.com

You may make payments at:

http://stores.ebay.com/herbnhome

If you have any questions please e-mail me at: herbnhome@yahoo.com.

Parent-Child Healing Class NOW= $150.00 :July 1st = $187.50 (can be taken as a group to save)
Naturopathic Healing Class NOW = $250.00 .... July 1st = $350.00
Most Healing Classes NOW = $50.00 .... July 1st = $75.00
Online Healing Consultations NOW = $35.00...July 1st = $47.00
Temperament Consultations NOW = $15.00....July 1st = $25.00
Dream Interpretations NOW = $15.00...July 1st = $25.00
Aromatherapy Course NOW = $87.50....July 1st = $125.00 (includes book and 4 oils)
Iridology Course NOW = $75.00...July 1st = $110.00 (includes supplies)
Herbalist Certification NOW = $75.00...July 1st = $125.00 (includes 10 herbs)

Why I Love Gardening with Herbs

2008-05-22T12:39:00.000-05:00

I wanted to share this picture with anyone who might be wary of venturing into herb gardening. THIS is why I love gardening with herbs! I planted these herbs from itty bitty stems of an herb plant last year, put them in the ground, did nothing (didn't even water them), let them die off for the winter and they came up all by themselves this year! So now I have a bumper crop of chives and oregano with no effort from me!

While many people are enjoying harvests of tomatoes, stawberries and other garden treats every summer I am (sometimes also enjoying those but...) ALWAYS enjoying cups of chopped up chives in my eggs, handfuls of fresh oregano in my spaghetti and teapots full of orange and apple-mint leaf tea! And the nutritional benefits of these herbs are either equal or MORE than the vegetables and fruits I also grow (when it works out LOL!).

More Information on Nutritional Value of Herbs

NCN Study on Herbs and Nutrition

The World's Healthiest Foods

Nutritional Value of Herbs (General)

Scientific Stats on Herbs

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
http://www.herbnhome.com/
http://www.naturopathichealingcourse.com/

Your Natural Income and Dividends

2008-04-24T13:58:00.002-05:00

Our tree bloomed this morning!
I took a picture above.
It reminds me of a quote by James Russell Lowell:

"Good heavens, of what uncostly materialis our earthly happiness composed....What incomes have we not had from a flower,And how unfailing are the dividends of the seasons"

Ten Things to do with a Rosemary Tree

2008-04-21T11:32:00.003-05:00

I was walking out of the grocery store today and I could not resist this adorable little rosemary tree! I have never taken the time to shape my rosemary plants and I thought this was such a wonderful way to display this herb! To keep the shape I will trim branches off to use to keep the original shape. So what does one do with a rosemary tree?

Note: I didn't copy this list from anywhere. These are actually the things I use rosemary for every day! This is one of my favorite herbs!

1. Rosemary is good for the memory. Sniff some if you loose something around the house or can't find your car keys.

2. Rosemary is good for keeping you alert. Sniff some if you start to nod off during the day. This might be a good plant to keep by your computer if you work in an office. This would also be the ideal plant for a college dorm room.

3. Rosemary is refreshing in the summer. One of my favorite drinks is rosemary lemonade. Take a sprig of rosemary, put it into a pitcher of lemonade and let it sit overnight.

4. Fresh rosemary is amazing in a roast. Put it into the crock pot with your roast and prepare to be dazzled.Two 2-inch sprigs are enough for an entire roast.

5. Rosemary is an anti-depressant. If you are having a low mood rubbing a branch and smelling it should help. If that is not enough you can drink a cup of rosemary tea or put a couple sprigs in your bathwater.

6. Rosemary is a wonderful solution for dandruff. Put a few sprigs in a sealed bottle with some sprigs of mint and vinegar. Use as a hair rinse twice a week.

7. Having trouble getting rid of that cough or runny nose? Rosemary is a great expectorant and can help. Make a rosemary tea by pouring a cup of hot water over a sprig and let it sit for 15 minutes. Strain and add honey. Drink :)

8. Rosemary is a refreshing, healthy and revitalizing facial treatment. Put a few sprigs in a pot, simmer and lean your face over the pot (put a towel on your head and around the pot to keep in the steam) to give yourself a facial.

9. Just sitting there Rosemary is a natural potpourri for any room.

10. Having herbs around the home is very educational for the children. They like to smell them, make tea from them and touch them.

Enjoy!

Kristie

http://www.herbnhome.com/

The Selfish Lazy Cheapskate Environmental Guide

2008-04-21T00:34:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that some days I just don't have the energy needed to go out of my way to save the environment. When other people were cleaning up the bike trail for earth day today I was sleeping in because I was really really tired. Sometimes when I am at Sam's club picking up office supplies I'll get a big box of blackberries - because they are cheap and convenient. And the list could go on. We all have our own list! So while our intentions are with the environment, sometimes our actions can fall short of what is best for us and the environment.

As I was getting out my re-usable bags at the store the other day, the check-out clerk said, "I have been meaning to switch to those but then I would not have garbage bags for my car."

I find that sometimes what I (and perhaps others) need is a little what I call "Selfish Lazy Cheapskate Motivation". So here is my "Top Ten" list of some of my selfish reasons for being an environmentalist.

1. Breastfeeding: It is a lot cheaper than formula and I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to nurse the baby. I can sleep through most of the feedings.

2. Re-usable shopping bags: I can actually fit ALL of my groceries into 4 bags now, instead of the 12 I usually used on my weekly shopping trip. So I don't have to nag the kids to help me carry in the groceries and I don't have to make more than one trip. I can carry two bags in each hand and I am done! It makes shopping a lot easier. Plus, if I occasionally find the need to stop by Walmart...nobody knows because their name is not on the bag (wink).

3. Environmentally Efficient Lightbulbs: How many Kristie's does it take to change a light-bulb? None. I dislike the chore so much I always find someone else to do it. The only problem with that is I dislike waiting. Since I went with the energy efficient bulbs we have not purchased or changed bulbs for 6 months (and I'm still counting :).

4. Re-chargeable Batteries: It seems like everything uses batteries nowadays. Some days my body could use some I think. Spending $10.00 a week on disposables finally got on my nerves. Since we invested $50.00 in a charger and rechargeables we never buy batteries anymore.

5. Eating Whole Foods: If I eat at a fast food joint I am hungry an hour later. I guess my body wasn't fooled by the processed food even though my taste buds were! If my kids eat at a fast food joint they are hungry by the time we get home. I have too much to do in my life to be cooking 24 hours a day! It is much more efficient to feed everyone a balanced, whole food meal and then nobody needs to be fed again for at least a few hours!

6. Wooden Toys: They are so expensive we end up buying fewer of them so I have less to clean up around the house. Plus, if they start to get old, a little sanding, gluing or re-finishing will usually take care of any problems. Plus you can sell them on Ebay for a lot more money than you can sell an old plastic toy for :)

7. Getting Rid of Junk Mail: Sure, it takes me an hour every few months to write to all the magazines and tell them to take me off their lists, but it saves about 17 trees a year so I can breathe better (I like to breathe) and it also saves me a lot of money since I'm not tempted to buy things from them. Out of sight...out of mind works well for me!

8. Shopping at the Local Health Food Store: If I shop at the local health food store I am surrounded by the scents of aromatherapy and fresh foods. I feel like I have gone on vacation or to the spa. I come home refreshed and feeling ready for the rest of the day. If I shop at a big grocery or mega-store I usually come out of there with a fluorescent light headache, dizzy from all the colors and crowds and annoyed at the check-out lines/process. I arrive home and often don't even have time to unload my groceries. You have not lived until you shop at the local mom & pop or health food store!

9. Biking instead of Driving: I have more money to spend on things I want to buy instead of on gas, it is a lot cheaper than joining a gym and I really don't like exercising (in a formal way). Viva la SPRINGTIME! Time to bike!

10. Putting the Newspapers in the Recycling Bin: They are much easier to find there when I need to retrieve them to cut out a coupon or when I need to get a little pile to change the bedding in the bunny cage.

Enjoy! And feel free to reply to this post with some of your selfish motivations as well!
Blessings & Health,
Kristie
http://www.herbnhome.com/

Royal Jelly Realities

2008-04-11T09:57:00.003-05:00

A common misconception in the area of natural healing is that all things natural are politcally and econonically responsible & that they are all healthy and good. This is not neccessarily true. I have spoken before about how some natural substances are not good for some people and about how some herbs are being so over-harvested that they are bordering on extinction. When you are using natural products keep this in mind. Is your product being harvested in a responsible way? Is your product organic or are chemicals being used to produce it (and thus harm the planet)? What are the conditions of the workers who make this product? Is the company responsible? Is this product one that is good for your temperament or your unique condition?

I just added royal jelly to my list of "products that are not harvested in a responsible way" due to some information I received from a friend that is a beekeeper. This information was not from an E-mail chain or from a random rant on the Internet. This information is coming straight from the mouth of a person who keeps bees themselves and knows the industry. This is what she had to say:

"The beekeeper kills the swarms queen, this creates a high sense of chaos and urgency. The bees attempt to make a queen and as she starts to grow in the cell then the cell is removed so that the royal jelly in her cell can be harvested. The growing queen is killed in this process [surely this is not haalal or kosher!] The swarm is distress again and repeat the process and so does the beekeeper. The result is a chaotic but yet despondent swarm . Surely this affects the quality [energy] of the royal jelly.I do not and will not use/eat any product that has royal jelly in it. I consider royal jelly and mass harvested pollen to be as bad as "Fois Graa" [oh dear - very bad french spelling!]My writing was quite strong but Royal jelly is an amazing product that is produced in a very bad manner. I cant cope with exploitation - especially of bees that I adore so much. I hope I have not offended - my intention is to educate."

Herbal Fairytales are NOW HERE!

2008-03-31T03:04:00.002-05:00

I am very happy to announce that the long awaited first book in my series of Herbal Fairytales is now ready for purchase!

Each book tells a fairytale about the herb that incorporates the appearance and medicinal uses of the herb into the story itself. This is a wonderful way for children AND adults to learn about herbal healing. Additionally, each book has been illustrated by a Waldorf classroom, led by their main teacher, and is not only a visual treat, but a guide for you to use if you want to turn the story into a main lesson and water-color painting session for your own classroom.
Finally, each book includes a child-friendly recipe for the herb.

Anyone who purchases this book will also receive FREE the E-books "Waldorf Watercolor Painting" AND "A Year of Waldorf Watercolor Painting" - a $12.00 value. These books instruct you how to create paintings like the ones in the book.

(If you have already purchased these e-books you can choose two other e-books to receive for free, however, no refunds will be available).

Book One is called Red Clover and is available NOW!

Rather than have you pay for the costs of on demmand publishing and inflated shipping costs I will be making a large order of these books on April 15th and will send them out to people via Media Mail. This will save everyone $6.00 on the cost of the book. However, because I need to order a set of books at one time to be sent to me I am taking pre-orders at this time so I know how many books to order in the first shipment.

This is a 9 x 7" softcover full-color book with 39 original watercolor paintings that you and your children will learn from as well as enjoy reading and gazing at for many hours. Paintings were done by the children of the 5th and 6th grade class at the Four Winds School in the suburbs of Chicago. They were paid to be illustrators of the book as a class fundraising project.
You can pre-order this book for only $17.50 plus $3.50 shipping and handling by sending payment to: herbnhome@yahoo.com via Paypal OR by paying at the Herb'n Home Amazon Paypage (please send a note if you pay via Amazon as they do not alert me).

To ship anywhere outside the USA will cost $7.50. If you are purchasing other items from The Dream Angels EBAY then I can put this book in your shipment with other items and the shipping will be FREE.

Blessings & Health,
Kristie

Parent Child Natural Healing Class - Openings Available

2008-03-12T11:57:00.002-05:00

Herbal Healing for Parents and Children

(TO enroll scroll down to the end)

We will be starting this month off with some very simple lessons in herbology to get everyone started. Some of you may have already seen the Herbs for Kids video and the E-book but don’t worry! This is just a tiny introduction to what we are doing this month and is only meant as a review for those who have seen it and an introduction for those who have not. This is not ALL we are doing - I have a lot packed into this month so if anyone has any feedback on this tell me. I am open to expanding this into two months if you need it.

This is the schedule so far:
Italics are files found that you need to download or link to for use. I WILL be adding more of these files (and italics). You will be notified every time this guide is updated.

Introduction/Review (for those who have seen these videos)

Herbs for Kids Video
Herbs for Kids E-book

Step One

Lessons & Stories on Introducing Herbs
These videos and lessons will focus on introducing herbs to even the youngest children. They are very simple lessons but are essential for the child to do before they start learning anything more complex about herbs. And although they may seem child-like the adult can also benefit from these simple lessons. In learning we start from the earth and work up to the sky (the mind)!
Using the Senses to Introduce Herbs Video

Step Two

Projects with Herbs
These videos and lessons show some herbal projects I have done with children in my classes. My first projects always involve making something useful or familiar to the child. Watch the videos carefully as I am using Waldorf methods in teaching the herb concepts and have also included some little “tips” that I recently developed (so I have never taught some of these lessons before this month!) such as using the fondue pot instead of the stove! WOW! In preparing herbal preparations this made our class 100% more enjoyable and much easier to manage!
Cooking with Herbs Video
Tea Tasting Party Video
Dye with Herbs Video
Herbal Lip Balm Video

Step Three

Meanings and Uses of Herbs
Now we start learning some herbalism in a more abstract form…what can herbs be used for…what ARE herbs? We do some herbal form drawing and more…
Herbal Form Drawing and Inner Meanings Video
Herbal Yoga Video (my favorite video of the month!)

Step Four

Application & Preparations
Now that we have become familiar with some things we can make, what herbs do and what herbs are we will start doing some minor healing with herbs and learn about the different ways we can heal using them. We will be making some more advanced herbal preparations such as tinctures and learn about dosages and how herbs work to heal the body.
Herbal Preparations Video #1
Herbal Preparations Video #2

Anything else you would like this month?

You are always welcome to answer questions and I might just be inspired to create a video for you or add something to the lesson plans. Ask away! Post to the list so everyone can benefit from the answers.

Q & A
This is the month to ask questions about what herbs can help you or your family with certain issues or problems you are having! So ask away! You can learn at the same time you heal.

There are still spaces available in this class. Our first unit, reflexology was very short to help get everyone started and familiar with the course. If you enroll now you could easily "catch up" as we have had two new students this week already. This month is open to discussion on reflexology AND herbs.

We will be studying herbs (and doing catch up in reflexology) in March, iridology in April, nutrition in May and typology and temperaments in JUNE. The cost for the entire series of courses which includes course instruction for the parent AND the child as well as all video, audio, e-books, and two certificates is only $150.00 and can be paid in installments.

To join us you can register at:

INSTALLMENTS

http://tinyurl.com/2zq89k

OR FULL PAYMENT (save $30.00) at:

http://tinyurl.com/2gdrz7

You are also welcome to SHARE the COST of this course and do it as a group or co-op so everyone can share in the cost. Doing it this way will save you a lot of money. Be sure to send me the e-mails of ALL your group members so everyone can get the lessons in their inbox!

Contact me with any questions at: herbnhome@yahoo.com

Cleaning the Tub Can Be Fun!

2008-03-05T13:09:00.003-06:00

I have to admit my least favorite chore is cleaning the tub! However, I recently found out a way to do this that is completely natural and fun as well. And I have to admit it is fun for me even without the kids!

Here is what you do:

Let your child sprinkle as much baking soda as they want on the kitchen or bathroom floor, or in the bathtub; then help him or her pour a cup of water and vinegar (2/3 water, 1/3 vinegar) on the pile of baking soda. Watch it bubble! Watch it squirt! Dilute it a little more when the fun is done, and get on hands and knees to scrub.

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
http://www.herbnhome.com/

The Herb Channel UPDATES!

2008-02-24T22:21:00.003-06:00

Dear Members,

I have just updated The Herb Channel and hope to upload some more FREE shows soon along with more member shows. Please take a look and send your feedback!

http://www.theherbchannel.com/

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Epsom Salts & Sea Salts

2008-02-21T14:48:00.003-06:00

Dear Kristie,

What are these Epsom salts you spoke about in your BLOG? Can't I just use Sea Salts? - EH

Dear EH,

Epsom salts are not just "salts" - they are a natural substance that can extract toxins from your body. Scientifically Epsom salts are a magensium sulfate "salts" - most minerals can be made into salt! Regular salt that we eat is really just mostly sodium chloride. You would not want to eat Epsom salts, although there are some ways you can consume them safely "now and then" for health benefits.

Sea salt is also beneficial in therapy - although its effects are different from that of Epsom salts because sea salts are made up of many different minerals.

Sea salt contains about 84 different essential minerals - 83 which are actually EXTRACTED when regular table salt is made!

So think of this next time you use salt in your food - would you rather use regular table salt or sea salt?

- Kristie
http://www.naturopathichealingcourse.com/
http://www.thedreamangels.com/
http://www.herbnhome.com/

The Ultimate Recylable and FUN giftbag!

2008-02-10T13:22:00.001-06:00

I just discovered these awesome gift bags at a local healthfood store this weekend and wanted to share them with all of you! You may have heard of these already but I just went "nuts" when I found them! You use them to give a gift and before you give the gift you "register" it online. Then, when the person receives it THEY register it - then when they use it again they register it and the next person registers it and so on! They are $4.00 - $6.00 each at www.wrapsacks.com. You can see how many sacks have taken long journeys at: http://wrapsacks.com/tas_wrapsacks

I'm starting some off on a journey tomorrow for Valentine's Day!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.THEdreamangels.com
www.herbnhome.com
www.naturopathichealingcourse.com

Still time to join the Parent-Child Healing Classes Online!

2008-02-02T19:45:00.002-06:00

Dear Members,

I am excited to announce that we have started our first day of Parent-child Natural Healing Classes. We will be working on SuJok Reflexology the entire month of February so there is still time to "jump in" and join us! We will be studying herbs in March, iridology in April, nutrition in May and typology and temperaments in JUNE. The cost for the entire series of courses which includes course instruction for the parent AND the child as well as all video, audio, e-books, and two certificates is only $150.00 and can be paid in installments. Hower, no installment payments will be accepted after March 20th, 2008.

To join us you can register at:

INSTALLMENTS

http://tinyurl.com/2zq89k

OR FULL PAYMENT (save $30.00) at:

http://tinyurl.com/2gdrz7

If you want to find out more about the courses you can read about them at:

http://herbnhome.blogspot.com/

I hope you can join us this month! The more the merrier! And remember - you can sign up as a class or a co-op. But only two certificates are provided with the cost of the course.

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND, Sunii, Sofi and Mosi

Parent Child Natural Healing Classes Start NEXT WEEK :)

2008-01-27T21:10:00.002-06:00

Dear Parents,

Parent-Child Natural Healing Classes ONLINE will be starting on February 1st!
(Scroll down to sign up as a pair, a family or co-op group)

I have been teaching a naturopathic healing class online for 8 years (and offline for more). My children are all old enough to start participating in learning these skills, but the classes I already offer are at a higher level (14-16 years old and up to 150 years) So I will be starting a new series of classes over the next few weeks called "Parent-Child Natural Healing Classes". During these classes we will be learning:

Reflexology
Herbs
Iridology
Nutrition
Typology

These classes will be taught at a child's level and will all include video support. I will be uploading one class every month for the next 5 months. Mothers who have taken these classes "in person" with me before have been thrilled because the classes were so easy for THEM to understand too. Even herbalists and healers were excited to discover new ways of looking at herbs and healing and the kind of reflexology I teach is not American reflexology so it is new too!

How the classes will run:

1. Each month you will receive your video - downloadable online - and class materials and E-books, lesson plans and stories (all online). You will be able to access these materials at any time so even if you don't choose to participate WITH the class you can use these materials even 5 years from now!

2. The entire month we are running the class I will be visiting the online forum (open for the class forever) and I will be present there every Friday at a certain time to participate. You are welcome to join the class in "real time" or you can access the forum and do the class on your own time. I expect there will be enough people doing the class at different times that there will ALWAYS be someone on the forum so these classes are NOT restrained by time but I am adding an element of time to them so that people who want a more LIVE experience can have that.

3. You will be able to either participate in LIVE time or on your own time.

4. The classes do not involve testing, although you are welcome to contact me any time with questions

5. Two certificates of participation will be issued when you finish the series for participants in the class, however, as many children or family members as you like can participate in the classes. However, please do not distribute the class outside of your group as the materials are copyrighted.

6. You must sign up for all of the classes. You can pay all at once or you can pay in installments:

One time price is:
$150.00 payable at:
http://tinyurl.com/2gdrz7
(Ideas: sign up as a co-op group to save money and split the fee between more than one person)

The installment price is (a little more because of the maintenance from my end)
$50.00 for the first installment and then $30.00 a month after the first installment for the next 4 months.
http://tinyurl.com/2zq89k

7. If you want classes with testing and certification for older child or adults visit: www.naturopathichealingcourse.com

If you have any questions please contact me at : herbnhome@yahoo.com

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.thedreamangels.com

OCD in Child? Letter to Editor

2008-01-18T11:45:00.001-06:00

NOTE: This does not include the full 2-page e-mail that was originally sent to me. I condensed it.

Dear Kristie,

Thank you for getting back to me promptly about the OCD. We miss your school. Your house was such fun and loving place for kids to learn and explore. Sally's problems is only on washing hands so far. Sometimes, she is fussy over the clothes, however I'm able to talk her out of it. She washes her hands
during and after her shower....(more details here)...I do not think she needs professional treatment at this time but I do want to help her with this problem. She is only 5 years-old. Thank you for your help!

Nel (name changed for privacy)

Dear Nel,

Without a full evaluation I can't really help in any extensive way but I can offer my advice and hopefully point you in the right directions.

I agree that she does not need any treatment at this time, just gentle guidance and awareness of what is going on. Her case does not severe enough to become too concerned about at this point.

Sometimes when a child or an adult start to exhibit OCD behavior it is a symptom of them seeking more control in their lives. Every person in the world feels they don't have enough control in our lives and we all seek to balance that by doing SOMETHING about it. Depending on the child's temperament they may throw temper tantrums, start washing their hands a lot, start bossing their friends around, insist on staying home more often, etc...it seems Joshua has chosen the "washing his hands" option. He is most likely of the Melancholic or "Metal" type of temperament.

To manage his behavior it might help to give him more feeling of control in his life. Especially, children of the melancholic type, seek control and they are natural leaders. Anything you can offer him would help. Let him choose what he wears to school, what he has for lunch (within reason of course!). And even when you don't want to let him choose you can "offer him choices" instead of telling him what to do. So, for instance, you can ask him "Do you want to wear the green, red or white shirt today?"

You can also give him some things to "be in charge of". Perhaps he can "be in charge" of choosing the book you read to his brother at night. Or "in charge of" setting the plates on the table. The more responsibilities he has the happier he will be because people of the melancholic type thrive on completing tasks and they feel a lot of fulfillment when a task is completed.

I hope this helps.

If you would like a full consultation or temperament evaluation for him you can visit: Typology & Temperament Consulting

(The links for consulting are at the top of that page)

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

Funny Kitchen Pharmacy Trick

2008-01-12T14:08:00.001-06:00

My son came to me today very very concerned. He described this horrible tight feeling in his leg. "Mom, whenever I walk it is really tight like it is going to snap..it is really awful." I started by explaining that it was very easy to injure this part of the leg...

Then he stopped me, "I was just laying in bed!"

Ah! It was most likely a cramp then. I told him in all seriousness to put a metal spoon on it. When I was pregnant I had cramps all the time in my legs and this really helped.

He started laughing so hard he almost could not open the drawer to get the spoon. He thought I was "pulling his leg". But I didn't laugh...so he started to see I was serious. So, still laughing he put the spoon on his leg. Then he laughed even more! The cramp was GONE!

So I don't know if it was the laughing or the spoon..all I know is the spoon always worked for me!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.naturopathichealingcourse.com

Making Baby Food: LETTER TO THE EDITOR

2008-01-09T15:26:00.002-06:00

I am looking for a good food processor so I can make fresh baby food for my baby. Which one do you like? - AH

Dear AH,

The only food processor I used for my three babies was the manual "Food Mill"

At: http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/69999/rfr/CMJ

(If any members of this list sell this food processor on their site please tell me - I would rather support a home based business than the mega "Mother Nature" online store!)

A lot of times people will tell you they used something natural because they are hung up on "natural things" but in this case I actually chose this mill, not because of my "hang ups" (LOL) but because it was SOOOO easy to use, SOOOO easy to wash (much easier than those other food processors) AND it easily made small amounts of baby food instead of tons I would have to save that never really got eaten.

This site has some other recommendations as well:

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/baby-food-processors.html

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.thedreamangels.com
www.herbnhome.com
www.waldorfschoolonline.com

Herbal Remedies for Pain: Letter to the Editor

2008-01-09T15:03:00.001-06:00

Hi Kristie,

Okay we have taken our daughter to a more natural route with vitamins and natural
products. Our doctor in Mayo respects that and recommed riboflavin for Migranes that
have just start to hit her and she is getting so ill from them she is vomitting.

My question is are there herbal teas that can ease this up so that she is not having to vomit from the pain?

If I am asking to much just let me know!

Be Blessed!
Love, AK

Dear Anita,

I have not found any herbal remedies for pain that I like very much because many of them are too strong, they put you to sleep or they don't "play well" with other medicines. If anyone else has some favorites that have worked well for them or their clients please share. However, MY favorite remedy for pain is reflexology! I use it for every kind of pain in our house - even a kid sleeping on their neck wrong and it being stiff and painful. Reflexology ALWAYS works on pain from my experience. Usually within a few moments. I had a client come in the other day with really painful UTI and I could tell something was wrong but she did not share with me she was in pain. I thought she was having a bad day or something! Anyway, after the reflexology treatment she just looked like a different person! WOW! She even said "I was in pain, but it went away. Thank you."

If you already have reflexology books or know all about it then - go for it!

If you need some instruction I just uploaded an awesome video (ok, so I am biased) for only $7.50 download to:

Reflexology Video Download

You can download it right away and it only takes 20-30 minutes to watch.

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Burns
Teacher, Healer & Artist
Storytime radio, Lesson plans, Free visual resources, Healing classes, Discount natural living items, Herbal consulting online, Crafts & More at:
www.thedreamangels.com

The Importance of Fevers

2008-01-06T01:01:00.001-06:00

I've been telling people about the importance of fevers for years and then today I discovered this gem of an article while searching for something else on the Internet. I just HAD to share it with you!

FEVER: NEW VIEW STRESSES ITS HEALING BENEFITS
By JANE E. BRODY
Published: December 28, 1982

THE ancient Greeks, who regarded disease as an imbalance of ''humors,'' believed fever cured the sick by cooking the bad humors and helping the body get rid of them. The notion of fever as beneficial persisted for more than 2,000 years, and countless patients were actually treated with ''fever therapy'' to aid their recovery from such ailments as syphilis, tuberculosis and even mania.

Then, in the mid-1800's, aspirin compounds that rapidly reduced fevers became commercially available and the medical view of fever changed abruptly. For the next hundred years, physicians and patients focused on bringing down fevers, sometimes with such drastic measures as cold baths and alcohol rubs.

Now, the view of fever is undergoing yet another about-face, thanks to recent research that has in essence documented the benefits suspected by the Greeks. Fever, the studies indicate, evolved at least 300 million years ago in cold-blooded vertebrates as a means of helping the body fight off invading organisms.

The new findings raise serious questions about the wisdom for most people of taking aspirin or acetaminophen for fevers below 104 degrees. Indeed, a number of physicians, including pediatricians, are now suggesting that moderate fevers be allowed to run their course, for they may shorten the illness, potentiate the action of antibiotics and reduce the chances of spreading the infection to others.

These doctors say that fever-reducing drugs should be used with discretion, and some experts even foresee the return of induced fevers to treat selected illnesses. A form of fever therapy is being used experimentally as part of the treatment for some cancers.

Fever, the new studies show, mobilizes the body's immunological defenses against infectious organisms and, in some cases, directly inhibits their growth. Experiments with infected animals, such as fish, lizards, rabbits and dogs, show that those that are allowed to raise their body temperatures are more likely to survive.

In one of the latest studies, people who exercised vigorously were shown to experience some of fever's effects, which may account for claims of physical fitness buffs that they are less susceptible to ordinary viral and bacterial infections.

''Fever has a high energy cost to the individual,'' said Dr. Matthew J. Kluger, a physiologist at the University of Michigan Medical School and one of the leading researchers in the revisionist view of fever. ''For each 1-degree rise in Centigrade temperature, the body's metabolic rate increases about 10 percent - heart rate, respiration, all the metabolic functions are speeded up.''

He added that for this costly response to infection to have been retained throughout the evolution of vertebrates, ''it must have a net survival value.'' In other words, infected animals that developed fever would, on average, have a better chance of living and passing their genes on to the next generation.

The new understanding of fever grows out of basic studies, sponsored primarily by the National Institutes of Health, that have revealed how fevers develop and what changes they induce in the body. Various substances can prompt the development of a fever, among them viruses, bacteria, fungi, toxins, allergens and certain drugs. When the immune system detects such a foreign invader, a type of white blood cell, called a monocyte, is activated and engulfs the intruder.

The activated monocyte, now called a macrophage, releases a hormone, endogenous pyrogen, or EP, which travels through the bloodstream to the brain. There, EP acts on a region of the hypothalamus that regulates body temperature, and raises the body's thermostat, or temperature ''set point.'' The body, which now is not as warm as the brain says it should be, feels chilled and, in effect, turns on its furnace to raise body temperature to the new setting.

Nerve messages originating in the hypothalamus trigger rapid muscle contractions, or shivering, which produce heat. Other nerves constrict outlying blood vessels to reduce heat loss to the environment. Body tissues, such as stored fat, are broken down to produce heat. And the sensation of coldness stimulates behavior, such as putting on warm clothes, piling on covers or drinking hot liquids, that also help to raise body temperature. ...

To read more link to: The New York Times

Sex Hormones in Food...Yet One More Source

2007-12-30T19:33:00.001-06:00

Dear Readers,

It has been pretty well established now, after years of arguing between the FDA and the "people" that the levels of hormones in non-organic beef and milk are harmful. In fact, because of this research the popularity of organic milk and meats has risen substantially in the past few years. Next, studies found high levels of hormones in soy showing that although it was a good food, to consume too much of it could be harmful to the health.

NOW there is a study out on the hormones found in canned food! This era of civilization has seen many cases of breast cancer, and early puberty as well as other "diseases of hormone imbalance" which have left scientists scrambling for theories. I think the answers are slowly being revealed. And here is the third installment in our enlightenment:

Sex Hormone in Canned Food - Short News Show

Blessings & Health,
Kristie
www.naturopathichealingcourse.com

Affordable Massage Oil

2007-12-23T20:41:00.001-06:00

Dear Readers,

As many of you who use aromatherapy may know, base massage oils are usually expensive. So you will be happy to know that grapeseed oil, a popular massage oil, is being introduced into the market as a food item. I'm not sure I'm ready to stray from using olive oil in my diet, but I AM happy that grapeseed oil now comes in very large affordable containers! So next time you need a base massage oil for your aromatherapy treatments - go to the oil section in the groccery store and save some money!

Want to Delay My Period for the Holiday Trip

2007-12-12T10:14:00.001-06:00

Dear Editor,

My period is due to come right in the middle of our holiday trip to visit family. Is there any way I can take an herb to delay this from happening? - Em

Dear Em,

I would suggest using "Squaw Mint" Latin Name - (hedeoma pulegiodes) . This is also known as Pennyroyal.

Preparation and Dosage are as follows:
Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried leaves and let infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. Tincture: take 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

A word of caution - don't do this too often - messing with the flow of nature too frequently is what causes illness. Also, start with the lowest dose (ONE CUP A DAY) and only move up to the full dose if you feel you need more.

However, don't be afraid to use this "trick" every once in a while. Pennyroyal has gotten a bad name since some badly informed people actually used the STRAIGHT (yikes!!!) essential oil on their skin and actually drank some of the essential oil (this is akin to consuming like a whole bush of it) - of course the result was not good. However, the HERB pennyroyal in appropriate dosages is safe.

Michael Moore, in the same (above) reference, also has this to say:
Pennyroyal has been a much maligned herb in recent years, partially because the essential oil has been used as a potential abortifacient (highly dangerous, with several deaths reported in the literature), partially because of the poor quality of the commercial herb. The tea or tincture has two basic uses. It is a safe and effective diaphoretic to induce sweating with fevers and sick headaches with nausea and red eyes. Further, in suppressed menses from sickness, infection, stress, or exhaustion, either in the current month or the previous month, the tea, taken on the first, second, or third day of normal menses, will stimulatie uterine secretions and, in effect, stimulate uterine sweating. In my opinion, it is not an abortifacient. P. 130.

Hope this helps!

By the way...Pennyroyal is from the mint family and all your gardeners out there know what this means - it will grow like a weed!

New Videos at www.theherbchannel.com

2007-12-08T21:08:00.001-06:00

Dear Members,

I've just uploaded a new video sample to:

http://thehealingchannel.weebly.com/alternative-therapies.html

You can also link via:

http://www.theherbchannel.com/

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie

Autumn Sandwich Idea

2007-11-28T09:14:00.001-06:00

Dear Readers,

I had the most wonderful sandwich yesterday at Grounds for Celebration, a local coffee shop where the owner actually OWNS the coffee fields he buys the beans from AND uses local ingredients whenever possible! He is also very creative in his sandwiches! The sandwich I ordered was called "Autumn Veggie" sandwich. It had:

Thinly sliced and steamed sweet potatoes
Thinly sliced and steamed apples
Steamed spinach
Walnuts
Red Pepper
Salad Dressing

It was AWESOME! Thank you Grounds for Celebration!
Hope you enjoy it too...

www.theherbchannel.com

2007-11-16T09:28:00.001-06:00

Dear Members,

I just posted two new herbal videos to YOUTUBE and I thought we needed a nicer place to view them so I created http://www.theherbchannel.com/ - you can link there any time and see what I have added to the "show"

Enjoy!

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

KITCHEN PHARMACY: Ringworm

2007-11-08T21:18:00.002-06:00

An addition to the Kitchen Pharmacy was submitted by Naturopathic Healing Course student, Jeni, she says, "For ring worm the first thing I would suggest although it isn’t an oil, would be to put a penny in some vinegar and then tape the penny to the ringworm. Change three or four times a day. Ringworm will disappear."

RECYCLE: Trade Old Books Online!

2007-11-08T21:11:00.001-06:00

Dear Readers,

I just learned about a wonderful place online called Booksmooch. You can use this site to trade old books you don't want for someone else's old books they don't want but YOU want! It is easy and fun and supports three of the things I love - reading, recycling and SAVING MONEY!

Visit them now at:

http://www.bookmooch.com/

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Herbal Syrups & Flus?

2007-11-08T13:58:00.001-06:00

I read your BLOG posting about herbal remedies for colds, flu, etc and I was hoping you would answer a few questions for me.

1. Can you make the fenugreek and thyme teas into syrups as well?

2. Do you need to ask the pharmacist for vegetable glycerin or is it on the shelf?

3. Do you use the same amount of herb in the thyme tea as in the fenugreek?

4. Do you use fresh or dried herbs for the thyme and fenugreek teas (I've never seen fenugreek before but I've been looking for it b/c I have a great curry recipe that calls for it, so thanks for the source.)

5. How often can you administer these teas/syrups?

6. I've frequently heard not to use honey in children under 1. Should I stick to that advice? On another note, I use herb tinctures from my L.ac. for my children. However, they taste horrible and it's a battle to administer them. Any suggestions on a procedure to make them taste better? I know they already contain glycerin but I think they still taste horrible. Thanks! - JG

Dear JG-

I will do the best to answer your questions.

1. You can make any herbal tea into a syrup - even those Celestial Seasonings teas :)
2. I usually buy Veggie Glycerine online but I think you can get it at Campbell's. If not, just go to Walgreens and ask the pharmacist where it is. You don't need a prescription but they would know where it is.
3. I use dried herbs.
4. For adults I administer 3 cups of tea a day. For a 12 year old it would be 1 1/2 cups a day, for a 6 year old it would be 3/4 cups a day, etc...when you get to the really young child it is not a very big dose. This is GREAT because that means you only have to get them either to swallow a spoon or two of it OR you can add it to some juice and they won't notice much.
5. You should not use RAW honey for kids under 1 but store-purchased machine cleaned and sanitized honey is fine.

Adding syrups to juices helps make them taste better, serving them up COLD helps, because it reduces the taste, serving them up with a spoon of honey...I am not sure what would work. I just usually experiment with different herbs until I find ones that my kids like so I'm not very good at getting them to take things they don't like but those are the things I tried before that seemed to work. Dilution is always a good solution.

Hope this helps!
Blessings & Health,
Kristie

IN THE NEWS: Appendix has a use?

2007-11-08T13:42:00.001-06:00

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.
That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.

For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous. Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely. People live fine without them.

And when infected the appendix can turn deadly. It gets inflamed quickly and some people die if it isn't removed in time. Two years ago, 321,000 Americans were hospitalized with appendicitis.
The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most are good and help digest food.
But sometimes the flora of bacteria in the intestines die or are purged. Diseases such as cholera or amoebic dysentery would clear the gut of useful bacteria. The appendix's job is to reboot the digestive system in that case.

The appendix "acts as a good safe house for bacteria," said Duke surgery professor Bill Parker, a study co-author. Its location _ just below the normal one-way flow of food and germs in the large intestine in a sort of gut cul-de-sac -- helps support the theory, he said.
Also, the worm-shaped organ outgrowth acts like a bacteria factory, cultivating the good germs, Parker said.

That use is not needed in a modern industrialized society, Parker said.
If a person's gut flora dies, it can usually be repopulated easily with germs they pick up from other people, he said. But before dense populations in modern times and during epidemics of cholera that affected a whole region, it wasn't as easy to grow back that bacteria and the appendix came in handy.

In less developed countries, where the appendix may be still useful, the rate of appendicitis is lower than in the U.S., other studies have shown, Parker said.

He said the appendix may be another case of an overly hygienic society triggering an overreaction by the body's immune system.

Even though the appendix seems to have a function, people should still have them removed when they are inflamed because it could turn deadly, Parker said. About 300 to 400 Americans die of appendicitis each year, according to the CDC.

Five scientists not connected with the research said that the Duke theory makes sense and raises interesting questions.

The idea "seems by far the most likely" explanation for the function of the appendix, said Brandeis University biochemistry professor Douglas Theobald. "It makes evolutionary sense."
The theory led Gary Huffnagle, a University of Michigan internal medicine and microbiology professor, to wonder about the value of another body part that is often yanked: "I'll bet eventually we'll find the same sort of thing with the tonsils."

ARTIST: Check out this recycled art!

2007-11-08T13:29:00.001-06:00

A member of another group I am part of sent us all this link. I was impressed. You can find a great collection of more recycled art by "Retrograndma" at:

http://www.retrograndma.etsy.com/

Polyester or Acrylic?

2007-11-08T13:24:00.001-06:00

From The Green Guide Website: The lesser of two evils - Acrylic or Polyester?

The basic building block of polyester is petroleum. To make polyester, crude oil is broken down into petrochemicals such as ethylene and xylene, which are then converted with heat and catalysts such as antimony into polyethylene terephthalate - the PET plastic that forms both plastic soda bottles and polyester fibers. As a petroleum-derived product, polyester contributes to the depletion of our non-renewable fossil fuel supply and to our reliance on imported oil. Polyester production, as it requires energy, releases lung-damaging pollutants such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides, particulates, carbon monoxide, and heavy metals into the air, as well as globe-warming carbon dioxide. Furthermore, its manufacture may be hazardous to workers. Infants of female workers exposed to antimony have suffered from higher rates of miscarriage, premature birth, and stunted growth, and breathing antimony has caused lung cancer in some animal studies.

Acrylic, also a fossil-fuel derivative, shares many of these problems, but poses a dire additional threat. Acrylic is made from acrylonitrile, reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Ninth Report on Carcinogens. Workers who make acrylic fiber therefore deal daily with a probable cancer risk.

In deciding between these two fibers, recycling potential should also be a consideration. While systems to recycle acrylic and products that use recycled acrylic are few and far between, there is a thriving market for recycled PET. Many a US soda bottle becomes textile fiber, winding up in a fleece vest or, perhaps, a blanket like the one you are considering. According to the EPA , demand for recycled PET fibers currently exceeds supply. There is greater potential, therefore, for recycled polyester textile products than there is for acrylic.

It seems, therefore, that polyester edges out acrylic for both health and environmental considerations.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Sinus Infections

2007-11-08T13:09:00.002-06:00

Dear Editor,

I am so frustrated. I have sinus infections all the time and now the doctor says I need surgery. Is there anything natural I can try? The anti-biotics the doctor gives me don't work.

- GH

Dear GH,

This may sound very simple, but a lot of clients I have had used a Netti Pot with GREAT success. They started out with recurring sinus infections and after a few uses they never saw a sinus infection again in their lives (at least so far...I've tracked the oldest case for only 6 years). Salt has healing properties as well. You can find out more info on Netti pots by doing a Google Internet search.

There are a lot of herbs, homeopathics and aromatherapy oils I could also suggest for you. I could give you a list 3 pages long but why use these other things when a small investment of about $15.00 for a "pot" is all the Netti treatment costs? And the salt water is free as long as you do the treatment.

Blessings & Health,

Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

HEALING COURSE NEWS: Payment Plans Available

2007-11-08T12:53:00.001-06:00

Back by popular demand I am now offering payment plans for the Naturopathic Healing Courses Online. If you want to know more about the courses you can visit:

http://www.naturopathichealingcourse.com/

If you would like to use the payment plan option instead of purchasing everything through Ebay at once you can link to:

PAYMENT PLAN

LESSON: From a Car Accident Yesterday

2007-10-09T13:19:00.002-05:00

Dear Members,

Yesterday I was in the first car accident of my life. I had some injury to my back and neck. They say there are no broken bones but I have to wait a few days to see if the pain and swelling are just muscle stress or something more serious. I am hoping it all just gets better in a few days. Right now I am just able to work very slowly but I am thankful for a lot of things and I wanted to share these with you so you can learn from what happened to me and perhaps have a little time to reflect on the things that you are thankful for today.

I am thankful that...

1. ...The kids were in the backseat. Sometimes I do let the older child sit in front, but if he had been sitting in front he would have rammed his head into the dashboard and not the soft seat in front of him. Note to self - NEVER let even an older child sit in front!

2. ...The kids were wearing their seatbelts. Sometimes they "forget" and I have to remind them. And sometimes I forget to remind them and we go a few blocks before I realize they are not belted in. Note to self: Be 100% diligent about reminding them and don't forget in the future AT ALL!

3. ...I was wearing my seatbelt. I was rammed into very hard from behind. If I had not been wearing my seatbelt I imagine my face would not be too pretty right now.

4. ...That is was not worse. About the only thing I can do today is type a little and sit. So I was reading the paper a bit and there was a story about a lady who was in a similar accident 4 years ago and the spine injuries she sustained cause paralysis. She is looking for donations for a surgery that she needs. I think I will send some money.

5. ...That I was not talking on my cell phone or eating while I was driving. I have to admit (shame on me) that I occassionally did this in the past. Well, I realize if I HAD been doing that last night the accident would have been much worse. I had fast enough reflexes and was focused enough that I stopped before I hit the car in front of me. Of course my car hit him eventually anyway after the car behind me hit ME but the accident would have been much worse if I had not been completely focused on my driving at that moment.

6...That is was rush hour and traffic was slow. I usually hate 73rd street because of the slow traffic. I am learning to appreciate it now.

Wishing you all a safe driving day!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND
www.thedreamangels.com

NETWORK: Tour the USA in a Veggie Powered RV with Sara, Mike and Bella!

2007-10-08T11:07:00.001-05:00

Dear Members,

If you are doing something that reflects your dedication to natural living and healing please contact us and we can post your name and information to our BLOG. If you live in Des Moines we can even come and take video!

This is a really wonderful and inspiring 3 minute video about a family taking a tour around the USA in a Vegetable Powered RV!

LIVE LIGHTLY TOUR VIDEO

Take the time to link to this and pass it on!

Blessings & Health,
Kristie & Steve
www.thedreamangels.com

PRODUCT: Orchard Spice Granola

2007-10-02T08:28:00.001-05:00

This is my favorite time of year because everything is pumpkin pie spiced. It is the only time of year you can get pumpkin pie ice cream - which I LOVE - and now I have discovered something much healthier. I was at the store the other day browsing the granola section. I do that often because I love to have plain yoghurt and granola with seasonal fruit every morning for breakfast. Sometimes I go months without having anything different. So the way I add variety is to change the granola and fruit combinations. Anyway, I saw this interesting title on a box "Orchard Spice" by Kashi. It had all sorts of interesting fall themed spices and things like dried apples. I was very pleasantly suprised, however, when I put it on my cereal this morning. It tastes like pumpkin pie granola. Is this stuff really healthy? I read the box...yes, as healthy as any boxed food is ever going to be. WOW! You have got to try this. It is the best granola I have ever tasted ... and I am pretty sure I have tasted about all of them on the market by now.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Alternatives to OTC Cold Meds

2007-10-01T09:51:00.002-05:00

Dear Readers,

Someone on a list I am part of posted an article from the New York Times about the dangers of cold medicines for young children and asked if there were any remedies we use for colds. I could not agree more about the dangers - we have been using alternative medicine for colds and flus since my children were born (they are now 8, 10 and 12) and they have never failed us. Here is my response:

My favorite herbal remedy is fenugreek tea for a flu with stomach issues. You can buy fenugreek at any Indian or Arab market here in town (there is one on University and 73rd at the little strip mall) - it looks like little yellow rocks. The kids LOVE the taste. You simmer it for 20 minutes on a low heat (1 tsp. Herb per 1 cup of water) and then when you serve it to the kids add some honey and some milk of any kind (rice, soy, organic, etc..). It tastes delicious and it brings down a fever very gently, soothes the stomach and provides a lot of nutrition and balances blood sugar too.

For colds or flus with trouble breathing you can make tea from thyme leaves. It tastes delicious and it releases all that phlegm and opens up the lungs so quickly! For adults it is one cup twice a day. For 12 year olds a half cup and 6 year olds a 1/4 cup and 3 years olds 1/8 cup, etc....you just keep dividing in half.

My favorite remedy for colds with runny nose is elderberry tea. It tastes like juice if you don't simmer it too long and if you put enough honey in it (or stevia). A lot of people mix this with peppermint and yarrow for the best effect but I find that that is too much "taste" for little ones usually. You can get tea bags of this at Campbell's or online at www.pennherbs.com for a really good price (the whole dried elderberries). I usually make a syrup from it every winter and then when the kids are sick I give them a spoon or two. It is delicious! And it brings down the fever and stops a runny nose like a miracle. I'm not even tempted to try cold medicine after this stuff (that is unless I am using it to knock myself out on an overseas plane flight - I can't seem to find an herb that is stronger than Tylenol Flu Medicine for that and I can't sleep on planes otherwise - weird)

The syrup recipe is:

Decoction

30g of dried herb (1 ounce or 2 TBS.)

750ml of water boiled down to 500ml (3 cups boiled down to 2 cups)

1. Place the herbs in a stainless steel saucepan or glass pan

2. Add cold water

3. Bring herbs to a boil, then simmer for about 1 hour until volume is reduced by 1/3 and the water now measures about 500ml (you can approximate this and add more water later to bring it up to 500ml if you have to).

4. Strain herbs out through a muslin cloth to be able to squeeze all the juice out of them.

Portions: Same guidelines as above**

Syrup

Make a quadruple strength decoction (Simmer down to 1/2 cup instead of two)

125ml (1/2 cup) of decoction (see above)

Add 125ml (1/2 cup) of honey or vegetable glycerine**and heat and stir together until honey is dissolved (5 minutes). Cool and store in a glass corked bottle in the refrigerator up to 3 months. Dose for adults is 2 TBS. 3 times a day. For children: 1-2 Tsp. 3 times a day (see hcp).

**vegetable glycerine can be found at pharmacies. Make sure it is the quality for consumption. This is a little better than honey to use so try to find some if you can. Although honey still is effective.

Hope this helps,

Blessings & Health,

BOOKS: Five Steps to Selecting the Best Alternative Medicine

2007-09-29T19:49:00.001-05:00

I just found a copy of a really good book and posted it to Ebay. If it is gone by the time you try the link try to find it somewhere else because it is a wonderful book. it is called "Five Steps to Selecting the Best Alternative Medicine" and answers all the questions about alternative medicine I have ever found. This guide tells you HOW to decide which alternative medicine is best for you, how to find an alternative practitioner AND how to evaluate them too. It is an invaluable book for anyone wanting to use alternative medicine! You can link to my Ebay store to purchase the copy I have at:

Purchase Book

TOP TEN: Things to Remember

2007-09-26T15:51:00.001-05:00

☼ The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be happy."
☼ The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.
☼ I've learned that ultimately, "takers" lose and "givers" win.
☼ Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.
☼ If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.
☼ We often fear the thing we want the most.
☼ He or she who laughs......lasts.
☼ Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
☼ Look for opportunities...not guarantees.
☼ Life is what's coming....not what was.
☼ Success is getting up one more time.
☼ Now is the most interesting time of all.
☼ When things go wrong.....don't go with them.

IN THE NEWS: More Warnings About Meds...

2007-09-26T15:15:00.001-05:00

MedWatch - The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program

The June 2007 posting includes 38 drug products with safety labeling
changes to the BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, WARNINGS, PRECAUTIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS, and PATIENT PACKAGE INSERT/MEDICATION GUIDE sections.

The Summary page --

http://www.fda.

-- provides drug names and a listing of the sections changed.

The Detailed view --

http://www.fda.

-- includes sections/subsection s changed and a description of new or
modified safety information in the BOXED WARNING, CONTRAINDICATIONS, or
WARNINGS sections. The full labeling may be accessed by clicking on the
prescribing information link below the drug's name.

The following drugs had modifications to the BOXED WARNING,
CONTRAINDICATIONS, and/or WARNINGS sections:

Tracleer (bosentan) Film-Coated Tablets
Desogen (desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets
Lexiva (fosamprenavir calcium) Tablets and Oral Suspension
Prevacid (lansoprazole) Delayed-Release Capsules
Prevacid (lansoprazole) for Delayed-Release Oral Suspension
Prevacid SoluTab (lansoprazole) Delayed-Release Orally Disintegrating
Tablets
Bactrim (sulfamethoxale and trimethoprim DS [double strength] Tablets
and Tablets, USP)
Betoptic S (betaxolol hydrochloride ophthalmic suspension) 0.25% as
base, Sterile Topical Ophthalmic Drops
Cipro I.V. (ciprofloxacin)
Cipro (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) Tablets
Cipro (ciprofloxacin) Oral Suspension
Cipro XR (ciprofloxacin extended-release tablets
Copegus (ribavirin, USP) Tablets
Duricef (cefadroxil monohydrate, USP) Powder, for Suspension
Duricef (cefadroxil monohydrate, USP) Tablets and Capsules
Floxin (ofloxacin tablets) Tablets
Lescol (fluvastatin sodium) Capsules
Lescol XL (fluvastatin sodium) Extended-Release Tablets
Levaquin (levofloxacin) Tablets and Oral Solution
Levaquin (levofloxacin) Injection
Levaquin (levofloxacin in 5% dextrose) Injection
Lyrica (pregabalin) Capsules
Macrobid Capsules (nitrofurantoin monohydrate/ macrocrytals)
Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a)
Pulmicort Respules (budesonide inhalation suspension)
Timolol GFS (timolol maleate ophthalmic gel forming solution), Sterile
Topical Ophthalmic Drops
Vantin (cefpodoxime proxetil) Tablets and Oral Suspension

The following drugs had modification to patient information labeling
[either Medication Guide or Patient Package Insert]:

Desogen (desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol) Tablets
Lexiva (fosamprenavir calcium) Tablets and Oral Suspension
Cipro (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) Tablets
Cipro (ciprofloxacin) Oral Suspension
Cipro XR (ciprofloxacin extended-release tablets)
Copegus (ribavirin, USP) Tablets
Floxin (ofloxacin tablets) Tablets
Levaquin (levofloxacin) Tablets and Oral Solution
Levaquin (levofloxacin) Injection
Levaquin (levofloxacin in 5% dextrose) Injection
Lyrica (pregabalin) Capsules
Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a)
Adderall (mixed salts of a single-entity amphetamine product) Tablets
Cystagon (cysteamine bitartrate) Capsules
Methylin Chewable Tablets (methylphenidate HCl chewable tablets)
Methylin Oral Solution (methylphenidate HCl oral solution)
Ansaid (flurbiprofen tablets, USP)
Celebrex (celecoxib) Capsules
Combunox (oxycodone HCl and ibuprofen) Tablets
Daypro (oxaprozin caplets)

DID YOU KNOW: Other things about Margarine...

2007-09-26T15:12:00.001-05:00

Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys.

When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research
wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do withthis product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.

How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings.

DO YOU KNOW...the difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

And now, for Margarine...

Very high in trans fatty acids.
Triple risk of coronary heart disease.
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.

Lowers quality of breast milk.

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.

And here's the most disturbing fact....
HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...

This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).

You can try this yourself:

Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area.

Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:

* No flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* It does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value
* Nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weenie microorganisms will not a find a home to grow.
Why? Because it is nearly plastic.
Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

Share This With Your Friends..... (If you want to "butter them up")!

GREAT PRODUCT: Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal

2007-09-26T15:06:00.001-05:00

I have long been writing about and advocating the use of herbal teas in food and not just for "tea time". I am glad to see the idea has caught on! This line of cereals made by Kashi contain Green Tea, White Tea and other herbs. Yum!!!!

GREAT WEBSITE: Family Tree Online

2007-09-26T15:02:00.001-05:00

Part of living closer to nature and its maker is connecting with all those around us and being at peace and at once with the universe. Part of that process involves getting to know our family and our family history better. However, sometimes that is hard if you don't know a lot about your relatives. There is an amazing project on Wiki.com that allows anyone to set up a profile and eventually if enough people set up profiles the system will be able to link you to your relatives instantly. It can already do that for some people. Get your entire family involved. This has great potential:

http://wikitree.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

NATURE ARTIST: Brandt

2007-09-26T14:48:00.001-05:00

These are GORGEOUS Black & White Photos of Nature Animals. Enjoy viewing them with or without your children:

http://www.younggalleryphoto.com/photography/brandt/brandt.html

www.HerbnHome.com

Follower Alert - New BLOG address

Affordable Homemade Spreadable Butter

Perception and The Environment

Stretching - An Often Ignored "Cure"

Medication as a Crutch - Not a Cure

Herbs and Medicine in Germany

A Simple Healing Appetizer

How Housework Can Heal You

Friday's Live Chat- Unconditional Parenting with Chis Cade

October 2nd, 10AM PST - Inspiration for Parents - Unconditional Parenting, How to Stay Inspired and Using Stories in Parentingwith Chris Cade of http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/

Why I Had Food Poisoning

How Can You Tell if Health Information is Valid?

Beware of Bad Herbal Advice

Do I Have to Gain Weight to Get the Nutrition I Need?

Carrots and Chlorine

Reduce Caffeine in Tea Naturally

Healing Breath by Kristie Karima Burns, MH, ND

Space Clearing Reminder

Other Names for MSG

Music and Healing

My Favorite Detox Diet

What our Children Should Be Eating

How to Explain MSG to Children

Toxic Home Reminder & Affirmation

Your Herbal "Stemulus" Package

3-Day Healing

Educated Natural Living

The Healing Power of Nurturing Herbs

HERBS: Winter Herbs for Your Blood Type

It's the Little Things...

BACK TO BASICS: Digestion

Lower Prices for Healing Courses & New Payment Options

A Week in the Life of a Naturopath

Simplify my Feet?

The Illusion of Healing

Misuse of the Temperaments

The Importance of Temperaments in Healing

Cosmetics & Skin Care Safety Database

How One Person Can Help the Economy

How I Never Forget "My Bags"

The Natural Living Channel

Herbal Information on File

New Herbal Consulting Group

Carbon Footprints & Stepping on Others

Herbal Identification and Chaparral

Natural Rabbit Repellent - Tested Last Week

How to Find & Harvest Wild Garlic on a Nature Walk

How to Get the Healing You Need

Kristie's Consulting & Seminar Trip Dates

Natural and Effective Wood Board Cleaning

Aggregate Berries

Letter to the Editor: UTIs

Herb'n Home Classes Price Increase in 2 Weeks

Why I Love Gardening with Herbs

Your Natural Income and Dividends

Ten Things to do with a Rosemary Tree

The Selfish Lazy Cheapskate Environmental Guide

Royal Jelly Realities

Herbal Fairytales are NOW HERE!

Parent Child Natural Healing Class - Openings Available

Cleaning the Tub Can Be Fun!

The Herb Channel UPDATES!

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Epsom Salts & Sea Salts

The Ultimate Recylable and FUN giftbag!

Still time to join the Parent-Child Healing Classes Online!

Parent Child Natural Healing Classes Start NEXT WEEK :)

OCD in Child? Letter to Editor

Funny Kitchen Pharmacy Trick

Making Baby Food: LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Herbal Remedies for Pain: Letter to the Editor

The Importance of Fevers

Sex Hormones in Food...Yet One More Source

Affordable Massage Oil

Want to Delay My Period for the Holiday Trip

New Videos at www.theherbchannel.com

Autumn Sandwich Idea

www.theherbchannel.com

KITCHEN PHARMACY: Ringworm

RECYCLE: Trade Old Books Online!

October 2nd, 10AM PST - Inspiration for Parents - Unconditional Parenting, How to Stay Inspired and Using Stories in Parenting
with Chris Cade of http://www.spiritual-short-stories.com/