Herb of the Day: Reishi Mushroom

Herb of the Day: Reishi Mushroom

The reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) has a sweet and warm energy, is both sedative and tonic, is a supreme deep immune system tonic, and nourishes the spirit, essence, and vital energy. It has strong anticarcinogenic properties and is rich in a number of complex phytochemicals, including ergosterol, fumaric acid, aminoglucose, and manitol; coumarins; alkaloids; lactone; and various enzymes. It is effective for all cancers and immune system deficiencies. As such, it is specific for individuals recovering from chemotherapy.

Reishi is best served in tea or coffee. Being an herbalist, I was fascinated that a company is already making this easy and available to everyone. As an Independent Distributor with Organo Gold, I can now share this wonderful mushroom with you in your everyday beverage. PM me for your sample today or visit www.4naturalliving.organogold.com.

Mama's Belly Butter

I love the catalogs I receive from Mountain Rose Herbs. Inside are helpful tips and wonderful recipes. Here is one that you're sure to love, and so will your skin. For those of you who are pregnant, this will help prevent stretch marks. It will condition the skin after you give birth as well.

Mama's Belly Butter

What you will need:

• 1/4 cup organic chopped cocoa butter or wafers
• 1/4 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/8 cup shea butter
• 1/4 cup organic calendula infused olive oil
• 1 Tbsp organic rosehip oil
• 1 Tbsp beeswax, grated or pastilles
• 10-20 drops vitamin E oil
• 15-20 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

*I order all my ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs, as I've never gotten better quality anywhere else. Click the banner below to order your products.






Directions

1. Gently warm the coconut oil, calendula infused oil, beeswax, and butters in a double boiler.
2. Once melted, remove from heat, and add vitamin E oil and lavender essential oil (if using). 
3. Quickly pour into containers. Allow the balm to cool to room temperature before using.

Herb Education: Antibiotics

Antibiotics are substances that inhibit the growth of, or destroy, bacteria, viruses or amoebas. While many herbal antibiotics have direct germ killing effects, they have as a primary action the stimulation of the body's own immune response. Excessive use of antibiotics will eventually destroy the beneficial bacteria of the intestines.
In fighting stubborn infections it is a good idea to maintain favorable intestinal flora by eating miso, tamari or fresh yogurt.

Important antibiotic herbs include:

• Buchu
• Chaparral
• Echinacea
• Goldenseal
• Myrrh
• Juniper Berries
• Thyme
• Garlic

To purchase your dried herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs, click the banner below. Top quality and care for our most beloved plants.

Rosemary Gladstar's Rose Water

First let's talk about what exactly rose water is. Pure rose water is the distilled water of roses. Not the stuff you buy at the pharmacy. You want it to be in its purest form. It is usually made by steam distillation, and it smelly wonderful and tastes delicious. Rose water is used in cosmetics mainly for its lovely scent, but also because it has light astringent properties. It is often used as toner for fair and dry skin.

While you can purchase it at local health food stores, here's a recipe for making your own.

Be sure you use fresh roses that have just begun to open; they are at their prime and will yield the strongest water. The more fragrant the roses, the stronger the scent of the rose water.

Ingredients

• 3 parts witch hazel extract, vodka, or gin
• 1 part distilled water
• Fresh, organically grown roses or rose petals

Directions

1. Mix the witch hazel extract (or vodka or gin) with the distilled water. Place the fresh roses in a quart jar. Completely cover the roses with the alcohol mixture, adding enough extra that the alcohol mixture rises 2 to 3 inches above the flowers. Cover tightly and place in a warm shaded area. Let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 weeks.
2. Strain out the roses and rebottle the water for use. Rose water does not need refrigeration, though storing it in a cool place will prolong its shelf life.

*You can purchase top quality witch hazel extract through Mountain Rose Herbs.

Fall Recipes: Pomander Lip Balm

I'm a avid lover of MountainRoseHerbs and love to purchase my bulk products from them. I always end up with quality products and happy customers. In their catalogs, they provide us with some wonderful recipes. Here is one I personally have made and enjoy. I hope you will as well!

Pomander Lip Balm

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp organic cocoa butter 
• 2 tbsp organic sunflower oil
• 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp beeswax
• 15 drops organic sweet orange essential oil
• 5 drops organic clove essential oil
• A few drops of vitamin E oil (optional but recommended)

Directions:

1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. 
2. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass Pyrex measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. 
3. Remove from the stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil. 
4. Immediately pour the mixture into lip balm containers. 
5. Your lip balm is finished! Makes approximately 10 lip balm tubes.

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