Here is a Winter time tea blend I introduced at our herb group meeting last night. I thought readers might be interested in trying it. Your thoughts are welcome! It contains Licorice and Cinnamon that are sweet but don't cause a spike in blood sugar. AND each has anti-viral properties as well. Drink throughout the winter months to create and maintain vitality!
DEEP IMMUNE TONIC tea blend 1 part Astragalus c/s 1 part Licorice root c/s 1/2 part 14 mushroom blend from Mushroom Harvest: http://www.mushroomharvest.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=201 1/2 part Elder berries 1/4 part Rhodiola rt c/s 1/4 part Cinnamon chips (or powder if you can't get) To decoct, add 1 teaspoon of herbs to 1 cup water in a stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover and turn heat down to simmer for 15 minutes. Drink 1 cup AM and PM from October to April. It's a good idea to make enough to last 2 days in refrigerator.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Now that I'm on a roll...
If you would like to win a Lily's Garden Herbals product sampler, all you need to do is log onto http://eringoodman.com/blog/ and leave a comment. This giveaway begins, today, Friday, October 29, 2010 and runs till Sunday afternoon - Halloween.Good luck!
Dear Friends,
I know, it's been a long time since my last post. Much has happened since March! As many of you may know, I have decided to take a position as 'The Coop Herbalist' at the Alternative Food Cooperative in Wakefield, RI. www.alternativefoodcoop.com where I am responsible for the ordering of bulk herbs, nutritional supplements and health care products. I still mix up my tea blends, although I will admit I haven't gotten them all back up on the shelf yet after the Coop's ceiling collapse back in the summer. (That's a story for another day!). But never fear, Lily's Garden Herbals is still in full swing, with exciting events in the works for 2011. I'll certainly keep you posted on this.
Blessings to all,
Kim
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Amazing Cucumber!
This information was originally from a The New York Times article as part of their “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative ways to solve common problems.My sister-in-law forwarded it to me and I was fascinated by all that I read.I had never realized how the humble cucumber could be such a powerhouse of nutrients.I am taking an educated guess that the skin must remain on the cucumber to obtain these nutrients.Just slice them thin!!
1. Just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance..
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints?Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a non-toxic way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won’t leave streaks and won’t harm your fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the skin of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
READY to make time for yourself and enjoy a night out? TIRED of th winter and ready to jump into Spring? We know you are because that's exactly how we're feeling!
Join Kim Falcone and Karen Hodges as we welcome in the lightness of Spring!
Karen will explore the energy of Spring, what pitfalls to beware of, and using an aromatherapy blend to support our blooming. Kim will guide us in what herbs and foods we need in order to help flush our bodies from the heaviness of winter and teach us how to formulate a special springtime tea.
Expect this 2hour program to be relaxed, fun-a bit of a night out-and educational.
Karen Hodges is the Adventures to Transformation™ coach and owner of Synthesis Coaching. Karen is a certified personal and business coach who works with individuals and groups to grow
through change and transitions with grace, clarity, and ease.
Kim Falcone is the owner of Lily's Garden Herbals, LLC in Wakefield, RI where she serves the community as an herbal consultant and educator. Kim also formulates a line of household herbal products for home and personal health.
I have just learned how to use the neti pot! And I thought I knew how to do so before...not so! Here is the correct way... 1. Prepare your desired solution (I like a pinch of sea salt or a weak Thyme leaf tea, (thanks Maggie H!) and fill pot. 2. Tilt your head to one side over a sink or basin. 3. Insert spout of pot gently in the raised nostril, creating a seal between pot and nostril. 4. Raise the pot slowly to develop a steady flow of solution through the upper portion of the nostril allowing it to drain out the lower nostril into the sink. (You may want to cover your front with a large towel to prevent wetness to clothing.) 5. During this process, BE SURE to breathe through the mouth so that the solution will flow freely and you do not choke on it-this was the part I was doing wrong! 6. Now exhale forcefully several times into a tissue to clear out the sinus passages. 7. Repeat process with other nostril.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions or concerns..
Here is a Winter time tea blend I introduced at our herb group meeting last night. I thought readers might be interested in trying it. Your thoughts are welcome! It contains Licorice and Cinnamon that are sweet but don't cause a spike in blood sugar. AND each has anti-viral properties as well. Drink throughout the winter months to create and maintain vitality! 
