July 2008 Issue 1 |
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| personal note from darshana | ||
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How's the menu planning going? I'm having a fun time with mine. With all this planning and shopping I became curious what kind of herbs my clients and readers use for common ailments. I thought perhaps people are not familiar with herbal remedies and go straight to western meds. This week I wanted to share with you some great resources about how to stock your own home remedy kit and begin to create a women's herbal medicine cabinet. In health, AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This is one of the last emails we will send out using our old ezine newsletter server. In order to continue to receive a variety of health tips, delicious recipes, food for thought and inspirational stories from FRUITION HEALTH NEWS please follow this link: http://www.fruitionhealth.com/Ezines/subscribe-movelist.htm After you follow the link you should receive 5 FRUITION FAVORITE recipes just for re-subscribing. |
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| fruition tips | ||
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Ever open up your medicine cabinet and think- I wish I could take something more natural for a cold, my skin, cough, ear infection, etc…. Well you can and I'd love to share some resources so you can begin. Herbs have been around for centuries. Before modern medicine women harvested herbs. Once the herbs were gathered they brewed teas, made salves, tinctures and a variety of remedies with the "weeds" growing on their land and in the wild. One woman, Susun Weed, is one of the pioneers of herbal medicine. She lives in upstate NY and teaches many workshops through out the year about health and how to use herb to heal. Her website alone is a wealth of information. (www.susunweed.com). Just so you know the site has a pagan twist and fairy like tone but don't shy away if that's "not your thing", she is a blessing to women's health and we are so happy to have her wisdom in this day and age. She is also the author of many books. The books range in topics from general healing herbs that support women's health to more specific conditions like: childbearing years (this means once you are menstruating – so PMS and all that stuff is included), menopause, breast cancer and much more. Another great book that I own and use all the time is The Women's Home Remedy Kit Here are two other books that I have not used myself but friends say they are great. The Roots of Healling: A Woman's Book of Herbs by Deb Soule and Susan Szwed and The Complete Woman's Herbal: A Manual of Healing Herbs and Nutrition for Personal Well-Being and Family Care Below I have listed a few herbs to start you off on your own women's herbal medicine cabinet. I believe you can pick any of these up at your local natural foods store. Arnica - has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1500s and remains popular today. Applied topically as a cream, ointment, liniment, salve, or tincture, arnica has been used to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation, and heal wounds. Aloe Vera - has a cooling effect and is used externally as well as internally for everything from sunburns to digestive issues. Be sure to use the correct form for each use. Dong Quai - used for centuries to help elevate and regulate menstrual flow. Epsom salts - a form of magnesium, helps to sooth muscles and relax our over all being. Try a bath salt tonight! Echinacea - considered an herbal antibiotic among herbalist in America and Europe. Most people today take it if they feel a cold coming on. Good in teas, capsules and tinctures. Goldenseal - powerful antiseptic and is used internally to clean and disinfect the liver, lymph and blood, decongest lungs and sinuses. Best to take it only when needed. Mullein - I just learned about mullein when I had an ear infection. Used as antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral. Slippery elm - This herb is actually an urban herb. It grows in the eastern US and you will find it in the shade on city streets and sidewalks. It is very mucous forming (in a good way) and is therefore great for soothing the digestive track and heart burn. It's also good for sore throats. Skullcap - Can't sleep at night? This herb helps to relax you without giving you the side effects that some sleeping medications do. Because of its calming effects it is also good for anxiety, nervous tension, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and stress-related headaches. Remember herbs have not been approved by the FDA and its best to seek the advice of a trained professional before taking any kind of herbal remedy. By no means am I dissing western medicine. Herbal remedies are here to support and rebuild your system. Western medicine has its place and can be used in conjunction with herbal formulas. Seek advice of your DR or health consultant if you are not sure what to do. |
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| darshana's pick of the week | ||
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Lavender In honor of our herbal medicine cabinet I suggest going to buy or finding some natural lavender. |
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| upcoming events | ||
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NUTRITION 101 Where and when? The investment for your health: $35 TO PRE REGISTER ARE YOU A CURRENT FRUITION CLIENT OR FRUITION GRAD? If so we are having a class for grads and current clients on July 19, 2008 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. We will gather together, create a sacred space for women and explore topics such as women's oppression and how it affects the way we think and feel about our diets, our body and our lives. We will share a delicious organic meal together and spend some time soaking up the redwoods. The day will involve discussion, a group consultation followed by exercises directly geared towards your own individual journey and of course some play and dance. Email me directly at darshana@fruitionhealth.com Not a fruition clients and want to learn more? Check out our website at |
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| what is fruition health? | ||
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Fruition Women's Health is a holistic approach to wellness that includes:
Both in person and phone health counseling programs available. Find out more at www.fruitionhealth.com Contact us for your FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION. During your free initial session, we will review your health history in detail and discuss your goals. Then we will work together to design a program that focuses on your specific health goals. Click HERE to tell us more about you and your health or email info@fruitionhealth.com to set up your free consultation.
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| ©2008 Fruition Health www.fruitionhealth.com |
Transforming women's relationship to food and themselves. |
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The Fruition Health Newsletter is written by Darshana Weill. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to us! darshana@fruitionhealth.com |
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by Maribeth Riggs. I love this book because it's short and simple. I am still intimidated by all the detail when it comes to herbal healing but Maribeth Riggs's book keeps it simple. She outlines 23 herbs and then 42 common women's health conditions. With each condition she shares a simple remedy you can make at home to help heal your body.
Lavender is known for its calming effect on the nervous system. Many creams and lotions are infused with lavender. I particularly like fresh lavender. Just planted some in my back yard and last year when it came into season I put a whole bunch on the back dash in my car. My friends and I then re-named my car- SPA CAR. Because each time we went in it we felt like were going to the spa! 
