Honey

Did you know that honey never goes bad? It might get a little sugary or crystallize in the jar, but mildly warming it brings it back to a nice liquid consistency. And on top of that, it does LOTS more than just replace your sugar.

To start with, honey is filled with B vitamins (no pun intended). B vitamins provide energy, adrenal support, nerve health support and influence your immune function. Consider what you see bees doing on a regularly basis- working, right? They go from sunrise to sunset with hardly a break. And when they come home at night, instead of falling into a recliner in front of the TV set, they sit outside the hive door and fan it to help themselves and others cool down for the night. Even when resting, bees are working! If honey provides THAT well for bees, it stands to reason that it has good things to offer us as well.

Aside from being a delicious food source, honey has health-boosting factors to offer. Many people use it for allergies while others like it to soothe a sore throat. These are just 2 things honey has been used for. There are SO SO SO many more uses! Some we've experienced are:

• Acne
• Bee stings
• Energy/Stamina
• Allergies
• Wounds (cuts)
• Burns
• Laxative (mild)
• Improved digestion

Honey is often included in other remedies, such as The Master Cleanse program (also known as the Lemonade Diet) and facial recipes. It's powerful microbial properties are beneficial when mixing it with lemon for sore throat recipes. Of course, it improves the rich flavor of foods a little differently than common table sugar does. Perhaps this is due to the enzymes contained in honey that help the foods it comes in contact with to open up and release their flavors. Or perhaps it is just our body recognizing "natures perfect food" and accepting it more readily that causes our taste buds to awaken when we consume honey.

What's the difference in honey you get at the store and honey you get from a beekeeper? Beekeepers don't generally pasteurize their honey. Pasteurization means heating, and heat kills enzymes. Enzymes help your body systems function, so raw honey is preferable. Bees collect pollen and nectar from within a 50 mile radius of their hive. If you wish your honey to be an aid for pollen allergies, then the honey you consume needs to come from bees local to your area. That's not to say that honey made 100 miles from your home won't help you. Chances are that there are at least SOME plants in the bee territory that are the same as what you regularly are exposed to at home. Getting honey closer to home assures more likelihood that the bees will roam through plants that coincide with your allergies. This helps to build a resistance to the problematic pollens.

You've probably heard that babies and children under the age of 18 months shouldn't be given honey. This is true, because without pasteurization, tiny problematic spores can potentially give your little one some negative bacteria that is potentially dangerous. Once a child reaches 2 years old, his digestive system has matured more and is able to deal with such things better. So heed that warning and don't take chances.

Eat Healthy!

This is the season for fresh fruits and vegetables to be in abundance. Whether you grow it yourself or purchase from a road-side market or farmers market, you can use your fresh foods to boost your health! Such an easy thing to do, but are there choices that are better suited to your health needs? Of course, there are!

Red is a great color for heart health. As the old saying goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!" Apples are a great tasting fiber food that benefits cholesterol and diminishes bone loss. And of course, fiber is great for colon health too, so enjoy your apple a day and the benefits that go along with it. Tomatoes are another wonderful red food that goes so well with all sorts of meals. Dice it up with your breakfast omelet, include a slice in your lunchtime sandwich, or enjoy whole cherry tomatoes in your side salad at suppertime. And while you're eating so richly, you'll also be feeding your heart!

Yellow foods are mood motivators. Studies have found that people suffering from depression reported feeling better after eating a banana--perhaps because bananas contain tryptophan, a natural chemical that boosts production of the feel-good hormone serotonin! Bananas contain iron as well, and a little iron can make a difference in energy, which of course contributes to improved moods too. Butternut squash doesn't have to be a "one time a year" food either. It can be grilled and enjoyed at anytime, and by enjoying it more often, you get the carotenoids that also reduce the risk of lung cancer. Weightloss on your mind? Drinking fresh grapefruit juice can motivate your body to drop pounds, and what a delicious way to go!

Greens are loaded with nutrients. Spinach, broccoli, green peppers and kale are loaded with fiber and fiber helps the body to detoxify. Detoxification in a natural way helps to prevent cancers. Keep your body's elimination systems moving steady to increase their strength and ability to fight for you.

Orange makes us think of the orange fruit. Oranges are abundant in vitamin C, which brings improvement to inflammation that can lead to asthma, arthritis, allergies, heart disease and cancer. If you enjoy making your own fresh orange juice, toss in a piece of the orange peel too. The peel is loaded with hesperidin, a molecule shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol. You can also grate the peel into salads, stir-fries and even desserts. Sweet potatoes are another orange food that is filled with vitamins and minerals we need every day. One of these is vitamin E, essential to a good memory. *Did you know... if you eat a raw carrot, you absorb only 4% of the beta carotene it contains. Drink the juice and absorb 90%!

Blue and purple foods keep you alert and are rich in antioxidants. So enjoy blueberries, grapes and purple cabbage and see benefits in improved motor skills, learning capacity and memory, not to mention the cancer prevention ability.

Of course, the more colors involved in your meals, the more appealing the meal is and the more nutrients you get benefits from. Fresh is generally best, and fresh juicing is ideal. Your body will love being fed these foods and you'll find your energy levels greatly improve.

As 'they' say.... "Taste the Rainbow!"

Much of the information included in this posting was printed by Woman's World, 6/13/2006 /all rights reserved/

St. Johns Wort

Hypericum Perforatum

Most of us think of St. Johns Wort as a remedy for depression. It's true, this wonderful little flowering ground cover DOES nourish the nervous system and improve moods for some people. That's not the only reason to love the plant though!

The following story expresses the personal experiences of Marianna Bailey, employee at Robin's Herb Shop.

"A good many years ago, a dear family member mentioned to me how badly she hurt from her diabetic neuropathy. Neuropathy means that the nerves are dying, and of course that's a painful condition. I hated to think there was nothing to be done for her, and indeed, she felt that way. Her doctors had tried every pain-relieving medication they could dream up and still, her condition aggressively declined. I visited herb shops and read books and Googled every webpage I could find, and answers were unavailable at that time. I did, however, locate a couple sentences that told me St. Johns Wort benefited nerve health. I decided to try it, and again, no herb shops around carried it in a topical application. I made up my mind that I would just make my own. I invested in 2 plants and got them in the ground. They grew all year long, but didn't produce any flowers. The following May, I got a call that this person had passed away from complications of her illnesses. I was devastated. After the arrangements had all been carried out, I stood in my kitchen and looked out the window. There in my yard were a few yellow flowers. I decided that even if this special lady wouldn't benefit from it, my mother might, so I went outside and collected the flowers and began to make oil. I shook the jar of oil with flowers in it every day, and after 2 weeks, I strained the oil. I added a few fresh flowers and shook that jar for another 2 weeks. At that point, I went to visit my parents and since my mother also has diabetic neuropathy, she was a perfect guinea pig. I took the oil from my flowers with me and gave my mother a foot massage with it. I rubbed it in and worked it thoroughly. About 15 minutes afterwards, my mother announces that her feet aren't hurting. She even walked barefoot across the room, something she hadn't been willing to even attempt in a couple years. Since that time, I've bottled multiple ounces of my special oil and used it liberally on many uncomfortable body parts to find some relief. I discovered it eases the pain of sunburns too, and takes the "throb" out of some muscle aches. Best of all, it takes the edge off of my husband's back pain (due to an injury) so that he is able to sleep at nights. It doesn't bring dead nerves to life, or if it does, I'm unable to tell that. But the relief it brings to those I love makes it worthwhile to continue growing and working with. And it always reminds me of Ella,...because she is the reason I tried it in the first place." -- Marianna Bailey, Family Herbalist

St. Johns Wort likes full sun and plenty of space to grow and spread out. It can be considered "invasive", so if you plan to plant it, place it in an area it can take up space. It only blooms during June and July, and the flowers are where the red oil is most evident. Harvest the flowers and place in a glass jar. Fill jar with olive oil to cover flowers, cap the jar tightly and shake daily. Store it in a sunny window to allow it to blend (like sun tea). After 2 weeks, strain and bottle oil. Optionally, you can add a few drops of vitamin e oil just to act as a preservative to your St. Johns Wort oil. Apply to the skin as needed, but do keep in mind that St. Johns Wort can increase photosensitivity.

Caution:
St. Johns Wort should not be taken orally in conjunction with contraceptive pills, epileptic medications, anti-depressant medications or certain foods containing tyramine, ie: cheese, red wine, preserved meats and yeast extracts. It may well increase the chance of sunburn, so care should be given to exposed skin when using St. Johns Wort.

Herbal Thoughts: Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm
(Melissa Officinalis)

Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family, but its flavor is very different. As its name implies, it carries a very fresh and light lemon flavor, making it great for a lot of culinary uses.

This tender leafy herb has many uses. As far back as the Middle Ages and as recent as today, Lemon Balm (also known as Sweet Melissa) has been used as a calming agent to reduce stress, ease discomforts from indigestion and promote restfulness. It is commonly combined with other herbs in creams and salves to bring relief to wounds, insect bites and cold sores. With such talents, this herb has a place in all herb gardens!

To grow your own Lemon Balm, purchase seeds from a reputable source or young healthy plants from a nursery. It is a perennial plant, which means it will return next year also. It is easy to maintain, as it tolerates dry soil or moist soil, but it does not like to stay wet for prolonged periods of time. Plant in the sun, but provide some moderate shade during the heat of the day to avoid wilting under stress. Harvesting can be done as needed, or cut the entire plant back 3-4 times per season. Cut as close as 3 inches from the base of the plant. This is good if making large quantities of teas or salads. For a single cup of tea, you’ll only use a few sprigs. The leaves are generally used since the majority of the plants “goodness” lies within the leaves.

Whether you are enjoying Lemon Balm for its culinary value or therapeutic properties, enjoy a fresh cup of tea often and let nature nurture your spirit.

Lemon Balm Tea
2 t. chopped leaves
1 c. boiling water

Combine and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain and add honey, and/or lemon.
Enjoy!

Lemon Balm is quite gentle, and is generally regarded as safe to be used by children. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Although there is no scientific evidence, it is possible that lemon balm could adversely react with thyroid medications and some sedatives. Consult a physician before using in conjunction with these medications.

NEW!

Robin's Herb Shop is moving onto the internet now! This site will be a place to find what's new, what's coming, what's happening and what's what. More of those kinds of details will be found in our newsletter. If you are interested in receiving our monthly newsletter, send an email to us at:
robinsherbshop@gmail.com and make your request! Then be sure to set your spam filter to allow emails from us. (We wouldn't want you to miss any great opportunities!)

While you're waiting to see what we post online, come on into the shop and try out The Compass, a bio-survey program that lets your body tell us what nutritional supplements it craves. It's a great way to design a nutritional supplementation program specifically for you and your needs, and it's cheaper than an office visit!

Stop in soon and get on our mailing list, join a class, and jump on the healthy bandwagon! We can't wait to see you!