JUST RELEASED …. “A Journey into Herbal & Natural Healing” eBook. From years of teaching herbal and natural healing, I have compiled a comprehensive eBook including my herbal “recipes” from Mystic Naturals’ product line.

Explore how herbs and other natural methods can enhance health and well-being. Discover how a healthy, holistic lifestyle works to balance mind, body & spirit.

Order your copy of  A Journey into Herbal & Natural Healing eBook now for only $5.95

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Contents

• Foreword
• How to Use This Book
• Herbal History

Collection, Drying & Storing Herbs

• Overview
• Wildcrafting Guidelines
• Drying & Storage
• At Risk List
• To Watch List

Herbal Teas, Infusions and Decoctions

• Herbal Teas
• Herbal Tea Blending
• Herbal Tea Recipes
• Infusions (Medicinal Use) Dry Plant
• Decoction (Medicinal Use) Dry Plant

Natural Ingredients for Body & Skin Care

• Oils & Butters
• Other Ingredients
• Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
• Flower Essences
• Homeopathic Remedies

Basic Herbal Preparations

• Infused Oils
• Tinctures
• Glycerites and Vinegars

Stress & Relaxation

• Herbs for Stress & Relaxation
• Herbal Bath Teas
• Herbal Eye Pillows
• Essential Oils – Aromatherapy
• Stress Reduction Techniques

Sleep & Insomnia

• Herbs for Sleep & Insomnia
• Essential Oils for Sleep
• Homeopathic Remedies
• Herbal Dream Pillows

Immune System

• Herbs for the Immune System
• Herbs Specific for Colds & Flu
• Elderberry Syrup
• Essential Oils – Aromatherapy

Herbal & Natural Skin Care

• Dry Skin Brushing
• Bathing Tips
• Herbs & Natural Ingredients for Skin Care
• Facial Steams
• Facial / Body Scrub
• Brown Sugar Scrub
• Natural Lotion – Base Recipe
• Essential Oils for Skin Care

Herbal First Aid

• Herbal Salves
• Compress
• Poultice
• Liniment
• Natural Insect Repellant
• Essential Oils for First Aid

Herbal Aphrodisiacs

• Herbs as Aphrodisiacs
• Essential Oils as Aphrodisiacs
• Warming Massage Oil
• Massage Oil
• Scientific Herbal Names

Recommended Resources

• Books
• Herbal Research
• Herbal Associations & Organizations

Do you have a website or blog and interested in becoming an affiliate? Email: ebook@mysticnaturals.com

There are extensive options for herbal training. The following list is only a small percentage of herbal education schools. They are listed in no particular order. If you are considering an herbal education it is important to pick a school that resonates with you and your specific interests. The American Herbalist Guild (AHG) has a great article entitled “Guide to Getting an Herbal Education” that you may wish to read before choosing a school. Many of the following offer distance learning programs.

• California School of Herbal Studies
  Located in Sonoma County, the California School of Herbal Studies is one of North America’s oldest centers for herbal education. The school teaches from the tradition of western herbalism, with a materia medica primarily made up of North American and European herbs. Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspectives and herbs are used to complement the Western tradition. Offers full time, 8 month intensive offers students a broad based foundation in herbal medicine. For those who can’t make a full time commitment we also offer a broad range of weekend series courses and one day workshops.
• Sage Mountain Herbal Learning Center
  Founded 24 years ago by Rosemary Gladstar and Karl Slick, Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center & Botanical Sanctuary is one of New England’s foremost learning centers for Herbs and Earth awareness. The Center offers internships, herbal conferences, travel, workshops and The Science and Art of Herbalism distance learning course.
• Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute
  RMHI empowers independent herbalists and health care providers across the globe, providing quality distance-learning courses in Chinese herbology and environmental health. Offering: Interactive-learning and database software, Clinical-case-oriented curriculum, 3 levels of herbalist certification, Distance learning and Seminars.
• Northeast School of Botanical Medicine
  The Northeast School of Botanical Medicine offers two programs and a traditional styled herbal apprenticeship to help students gain a comprehensive understanding of the clinical application of herbal medicine along with an informed respect of the plants vital to this medicine.
• Bastyr University
  Bastyr University, located north of Seattle, Washington, offers multiple degree programs. One of the world’s leading academic centers for education, research and clinical service in the natural health arts and sciences, Bastyr continues to be in the forefront of developing the model for 21st century medicine.
• East West School of Herbology
  The East West School of Planetary Herbology correspondence course trains home herbalists, health professionals and clinical herbal practitioners. Led by alternative health pioneer and American Herbalist Guild founder Dr. Michael Tierra, O.M.D., and clinical herbalist/acupuncturist Lesley Tierra, L.Ac., AHG, East West is the only course that teaches Planetary Herbology, a unique approach to herbal medicine which integrates plants and diagnostic tools from the three major healing traditions of the world.
• Pacific School of Herbal Medicine
  The Pacific School of Herbal Medicine offers community classes and a professional clinical training program in American herbal medicine based in Western physiology and anatomy, modern clinical use of plants, and the gentle traditions of simpling, wildcrafting, and folk medicine. All our teachers are experienced practitioners, wildcrafters and community health organizers. We teach people about their environment and bodies, raise people’s awareness of plants, and train practitioners to be physiologically literate, culturally competent and sensitive, and ecologically aware.
• Connecticut Institute for Herbal Studies
  Founded in 1992, the Connecticut Institute of Herbal Studies focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine and offers a Certified Herbology Program with a foundation in both theory and clinical diagnosis as practiced in China today.
• North American Institute of Medical Herbalism
  The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism, Inc. offers introductory, advanced, and clinical training in medical herbalism and clinical nutrition in the vitalist tradition.  They offer classroom, clinical, field training, and distance learning formats.
• Heart of Herbs Herbal & Aromatherapy Education
  The Program encourages the student to develop the necessary skills to practice and live the herbal healing arts as well as a profound understanding of the spirituality and essence of Herbalism.
• Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine
  Offers classes in the tradition of Roots Herbalism – the kind where your hands get dirty as you develop life-long relationships with plants. Their classroom is the outdoors – garden, forest, field, mountain, and stream in Asheville, NC.  “We do not limit our focus to medical herbalism, but instead offer a total plant experience through our study of Botany, Sustainable Wildcrafting, Plant Ecology, Plant Identification, Wild Foods, Organic Gardening, and Permaculture.”
• PrairieWise Herbal School
  Located in Kansas, the school offers workshops, prairie plant walks, lectures, a one-year basic herbalism program and an extensive 3-year clinical program. PrairieWise Herbal School teaches herbal medicine using hands-on, experiential training. Within the school we explore the essence of the plant from a variety of viewpoints including shamanic studies, scientific research, folkloric uses, eclectic medicine and modern western herbalism.
• Tia Sophia Institute
  Tai Sophia’s Master of Science in Herbal Medicine program, the nation’s first, is designed and delivered by an international faculty with the clinical and research background to redefine the practice of herbalism.
• Clayton College of Natural Health
  Clayton College of Natural Health has the advantage of being one of the first schools to offer formalized distance education courses of study in the United States grounded in natural health sciences.

Elderberry, typically European or black elder (Sambucus nigra) has been receiving widespread publicity for its role in reducing flu symptoms, soothing sore throats and coughs as well as boosting the immune system. Numerous scientific studies on the effectiveness of elderberry have been conducted.

Following is an overview of studies on elderberry from Blackelderberry.info

• 2009 – (Catchpole) During an in-vitro study carried out in London by Retroscreen Virology in October 2009, black elderberry extract was found to be at least 68.37% effective against the H1N1 strain otherwise known as Swine Flu Pandemic strain.
• Black Elderberry has a more potent antiviral effect than Echinacea
• Black elderberry extract has been found to be effective against the H5N1 strain of Avian Flu  (Zakay-Rones et al 1995)
• Black elderberry extract contains a unique compound called Antivirin® that can help protect healthy cells and inactivate  infectious viruses
• When given to patients, scientists have found the black elderberry extract, has the ability to ward off flu infections quickly  (Zakay-Rones 2004)
• Black Elderberries are rich in anthocyanins which are a type of flavonoid –  anthocyanins are antioxidants that may protect cells from free radicals and support your body’s immune system.
• Black Elderberries have almost 5 times as many anthocyanins as Blueberries and twice the overall antioxidant capability of cranberries

Making your own elderberry syrup is an easy and inexpensive way to create your own cough remedy. One thing to keep in mind when making herbal medicines is to use the best quality herbs possible. The quality of your medicine will be determined by what goes into the making of it. Mountain Rose Herbs offers the highest quality organic, fair-trade elderberries.

Elderberry Syrup

½ cup dried whole  elderberries
3 cups of filtered water
1 cup of honey (local is best)

Place the berries in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Crush the berries. Strain liquid into a bowl. Stir in honey. Bottle and refrigerate. Will keep several months.

For coughs, colds and flu take 1 teaspoon every 2-3 hours. This also makes a delicious syrup for pancakes, ice cream or mixed into sparkling water for a refreshing and healthy drink.

If you are not up to making your own elderberry syrup, an excellent product is  Sambucol Black Elderberry Original Formula

Fresh elderberries are commonly made into jellies, pies and wine.

The elder plant has been used throughout history for it’s medicinal value and as such, has many folkloric uses.  In the Middle Ages it was considered a Holy Tree, capable of restoring good health, keeping good health and as an aid to longevity. All parts of the elder are useful. American Elder, Sambucus canadensis, is another common species to be used medicinally.

A hot infusion of dried elder flowers will induce sweating and drive out a fever. A cold infusion of the dried flowers is useful for sore and inflamed eyes as a compress.

Elder flowers and berries are gentler that the other parts and are safe to use in larger doses internally. In addition to the studies listed above, elder flowers and berries act as a blood purifier so they work on the entire body.

The leaves, flowers, bark and twigs can be made into a poultice to relieve soreness, inflammations, swollen glands, bruises and joint stiffness.

A salve or ointment  made from the elder is useful for burns and scalds.

All parts of the plant can be used externally for the complexion; removing spots, soothing irritation, removing freckles and preserving and softening of the skin if used faithfully both internally and externally.

The inner green bark is cathartic, purges the digestive system, so should be taken in small doses.

The leaves are typically used externally because of their strong purgative properties. They can be made into an herbal oil which can be used on the skin or the oil can be used to make a healing salve.

Elder berries are high in iron and thus good for treating anemia.

Additional historical information is available at the online version of A Modern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve. This site also includes recipes for elderberry wine.

The printed version is available here: A Modern Herbal (Volume 1, A-H): The Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic and Economic Properties, Cultivation and Folk-Lore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs & Trees with Their Modern Scientific Uses. This is a fun 2 -book series if you are interested in herbal history and folklore.

It was interesting to go through the web statistics and determine the most popular posts for 2009. Following are the 5 most popular posts for 2009 with a brief summary. If you haven’t had the chance, please click the link and read the entire article.  Thank you for reading and visiting A Journey into Herbal & Natural Healing. There will be more consistent postings and well as the release of the herbal eBook – A Journey into Herbal & Natural Healing.

• Detoxification with the 3-Day Detox Diet
  “There are many detox diets out there. One must realize that not all detox diet programs are suitable for everyone. A 3-day detox diet just might be wise to start with to test the diet program and it is also a milder way of detoxifying your body.”
• The Healing Properties of Our Local Weeds – Dandelion
  “Dandelion is a very safe, valuable and useful plant with many medicinal uses. It is considered a tonic (tones the body), reduces water weight gain, a mild laxative, helps to eliminate toxins from the blood, promotes healthy digestion and will soothe an irritated stomach, acts as an anti-rheumatic, helps support the liver and kidneys, keeps the bowels in a healthy condition, stabilizes blood sugar, reduces blood pressure, has shown anti-tumor properties and clears the skin of impurities.”
• Apple Cider Vinegar to the Rescue!
  “It assists in creating a proper functioning metabolism, aids in weight loss, boosts the immune system, reduces joint stiffness, reduces muscle pain from exercise, reduces cholesterol, regulates water within the body and reduces water retention, reduces excess sodium, reduces excess mucus, helps to regulate blood pressure, assists in blood circulation, cleanses the blood, inhibits unfriendly bacteria, increases concentration and memory, regulates body temperature, and increases vitality and energy. Natural apple cider vinegar aids the liver in detoxifying the body and helps to digest rich, fatty, greasy foods (which you shouldn’t be eating anyway!), and promotes the proper metabolizing of proteins, fats and minerals.”
• Herbal Associations
  A compilation of herbal associations and organizations, many of them with extensive online articles and newsletters.
• Breathe Freely
  Advantages of using a Neti Pot include: Soothes dry nasal passages, gently washes away dust, pollen, and environmental irritants, offsets the effects of breathing dry indoor air (especially in winter), removes excess mucus… naturally,helps you breathe freer when practicing yoga or meditation

Proper water temperature, tea-leaf volume and steeping time all effect the outcome of tea. Improperly brewed tea can be bitter or flavorless.

Typically extracts made from FRESH plant material use equal parts of material to equal parts of solvent such as a ratio of 1:1 and extracts made from DRIED material will require more material against solvent such as a ratio of 1:4

These standard ratios are acceptable to use. However if you wish to use more exacting ratios, a comprehensive list is available here: Michael Moore’s Tincture Formulas

As an example, Echinacea (cone flower) is listed as such:
ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA
ROOT and FLOWERS. Tincture [Fresh Plant 1:2, Dry Plant, 1:5, 70% alcohol], 30-100 drops as needed.

To make a tincture of Echinacea with FRESH PLANT:
One part by weight of the fresh, chopped herb steeped in 2 parts by volume of grain alcohol. Steep 2 – 4 weeks. Strain & press herb.

For example: 2 oz. fresh herb (1 part by weight) to 4 oz. (1/2 cup) of grain alcohol.

To make a tincture of Echinacea with DRIED PLANT:
One part by weight of the dried herb, steeped with 5 parts (by volume) of solvent. Steep 2 – 4 weeks. Strain & press herb.

For example: 2 oz. dried Echinacea steeped in 10 oz. solvent – 70% of 10 oz. = 10 oz. x .70 = 7 oz. grain alcohol and 3 oz. distilled water

Grain Alcohol is 198 proof (just under 100%) and Vodka is available as 100 proof (50%).

In making a tincture using the standard ratio:
FRESH PLANT: 1 part plant to 1 part grain alcohol. Fresh plant already has water in it so it is advisable to use grain alcohol so as to not dilute the tincture more.
DRIED PLANT: 4 parts plant to 1 part alcohol. 100 proof vodka is suitable.

Explore how herbs and other natural methods can enhance health and well-being. Discover how a healthy, holistic lifestyle works to balance mind, body & spirit.

This new eBook is based on the herbal & natural healing workshops I teach.

Includes herbal “recipes” from Mystic Naturals’ herbal products and covering such herbal & natural healing topics as:

• Herbal History
• Collection, Drying & Storing Herbs
• Herbal Teas, Infusions and Decoctions
• Herbal Teas
• Herbal Tea Blending
• Herbal Tea Recipes
• Infusions (Medicinal Use) Dry Plant
• Decoction (Medicinal Use) Dry Plant
• Natural Ingredients for Body & Skin Care
• Oils & Butters
• Other Ingredients
• Essential Oils & Aromatherapy
• Flower Essences
• Homeopathic Remedies
• Basic Herbal Preparations
  Infused Oils
  Tinctures
  Glycerites and Vinegars
• Stress & Relaxation
  Herbs for Stress & Relaxation
  Stress Reduction Techniques
  Sleep & Insomnia
• Herbs for Sleep & Insomnia
  Essential Oils – Aromatherapy
  Homeopathic Remedies
  Herbal Dream Pillows
• Immune System
  Herbs for the Immune System
• Herbal & Natural Skin Care
  Herbs & Natural Ingredients for Skin Care
  Essential Oils
• Herbal First Aid
  Herbal Salves
• Natural House Cleaning Solutions
• Detoxifying Your Body
• Romance & Aphrodisiacs
• Herbal & Natural Healing for Pets
• Glossary
• Resources

American Herb Association (AHA)
The American Herb Association promotes the understanding and ecological use of medicinal herbs and aromatherapy. Membership is open to anyone interested in herbalism and includes a 20-page quarterly newsletter written by well-known, professional herbalists.

American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)
The American Herbal Products Association exists to serve its members by promoting the responsible commerce of products which contain herbs and which are used to enhance health and quality of life.

American Herbalist Guild (AHG)
The American Herbalists Guild is a non-profit, educational organization that represents the goals and voices of herbalists. It is the only peer-review organization for professional herbalists who specialize in the medicinal use of plants.

American Botanical Council (ABC)
For over a decade, The American Botanical Council has educated the public, governmental agencies, research institutions and industries on solid scientific research on the safe and effective use of medicinal plants. ABC publishes the well-respected peer reviewed journal, Herbalgram.

Herb Research Foundation (HRF)
As an education organization, the Herb Research Foundation has been educating the public, health practitioners, legislators, and the media about the health benefits and safety of herbs. HRF has built a specialty botanical library containing more than 250,000 scientific papers on thousands of herbs.

International Herb Association
IHA is a vibrant international organization representing herbal business professionals worldwide.  These businesses are involved in the retail/wholesale of herbs and herb products, growing herbs, manufacturing products made from herbs, processing herbs and using herbs in crafts, culinary uses and landscaping.

Northeast Herbal Association
Our roots were planted in December 1991 when a small group of herbalists gathered to share their ideas and experiences. They discovered a common need for a regional voice, and so created a means for networking and for showcasing professional educational opportunities; a vehicle for the exchange of ideas and for the discussion of topics such as herbal remedies, growing and wildcrafting, retailing, supply resources, and herbal crafts; and a trusted source for answers to legal and political issues. From this gathering the Northeast Herbal Association was formed.

United Plant Savers (UpS)
United Plant Savers (UpS) is a non-profit grassroots membership organization devoted to protecting and replanting at risk native medicinal plant species. UpS raises public awareness of the endangerment of native medicinal plants.

Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association
The Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association is a group of veterinarians and herbalists dedicated to developing responsible herbal practice by encouraging research and education, strengthening industry relations, keeping herbal tradition alive as a valid information source, and increasing professional acceptance of herbal medicine for animals.

Among the various kinds of antidepressants, SSRI’s are among the latest that are now being used extensively for treating insomnia. Despite their rampant use, the efficacy of antidepressants like SSRIs to treat insomnia is not supported by clinical studies. Using SSRI’s to treat insomnia has also not been approved by the FDA.

SSRIs are indicated mainly for clinical depression. This class of drugs should be used to treat insomnia only if it is one of the many symptoms of depression. However, primary care physicians tend to over-prescribe and suggest that SSRIs be used for insomnia to get quicker results.

Different antidepressants have varying effects on depressive patients. An antidepressant is a drug that acts by blocking the reuptake of brain chemicals like norepinephrine and serotonin making more of those substances available to act on receptors in the brain. SSRIs act to maintain the level of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that is involved in sleep, memory and depression) by restricting its absorption.

Some of the selective serotonin inhibitors are:

* Fluoxetine (trade name Prozac)
* Paroxetine (trade name Paxil)
* Sertraline (trade name Zoloft)

All antidepressants have side effects and SSRIs are no exception to the rule. SSRIs intake may produce side effects like:

* Sleepiness
* Headaches
* Vivid dreams
* Drowsiness
* Nausea
* Loss of sexual urge
* Changes in appetite
* Weight loss or gain
* Liver or kidney damage

SSRIs are also known to cause hypomania, a mood state characterized by lasting and permeating elated or irritable mood. They also cause thoughts and behaviors associated with such a mood on withdrawal. All classes of SSRIs therefore, must be tapered off gradually under professional guidance. Since SSRI’s also cause drowsiness, patients run the risk of bone fractures and injuries.

SSRIs, like other antidepressants, require adequate dosage for a continuous period of four to eight weeks to take affect. In many cases the side effects may surface before the drug has had the desired effect on the depression of the patient. Treating depression naturally by means of psychotherapy coupled with antidepressants prove more effective in treating depression related insomnia than using either method as a standalone strategy.

Natural remedies for depression are another safer option for treating insomnia. Herbs and herbal teas, homeopathy and relaxation techniques like meditation and breathing exercise are time tested remedies for treating all variants of insomnia including depression related insomnia.

Article courtesy of Native Remedies, the market-leading brand of specially formulated, natural remedies and herbal remedies produced in therapeutic dosage.

Visit Native Remedies‘ informative website for more information on natural and herbal remedy products for depression, mood swings, anxiety and insomnia.