Rosemary

This time of year, it seems there are very few greens outside. Lately, it seems even THOSE aren't green- they are white with snow! If you'll dig under that snow just a little, you'll find that your rosemary plant you put out last spring is still there and still green and still fragrant. Gather some! Bring it indoors, give it a gentle rinsing, spread it on newspaper and let it dry for a week or two.

Once you've done that, what do you do with it? Ohhhhh so many things!

• Potpourri- You can't buy dried herbs as fresh as this! And this is the season for such wonderful fragrances!


• Cooking- Have you ever cooked chicken or fish with fresh rosemary? Mmmmm!


• Tea- Ok, I'll admit that rosemary tea isn't my first choice if I'm just sitting down to enjoy a cup of hot tea. I'm pretty finicky about what I taste. BUT... if you have a terrible headache, it just might not taste all that bad! Plus you will get some vitamin c from it and sinus-ease.


• Bath- Go ahead and make up that tea, make a good bit of it too. (By that, I mean about 4 cups.) Let it cool for a little while, then strain out the herb particles. Take that rosemary tea to the tub with you and soak in a nice hot bath with rosemary tea added to the water. This is a great muscle soak for those tired aching muscles!


• Hot oil hair treatment- You can make a hot oil treatment for your hair using rosemary and improve the condition of your scalp AND hair! This is a great option for those who need its astringent action.


• Flower arrangements- Fresh plants invite warmth and comfort to our atmosphere, so add a few sprigs to your floral arrangements! Enjoy the benefits of its fragrance AND beauty!

There are many things that are well complimented by the use of rosemary. If you don't have a fresh plant to pick from, try visiting the produce section of your local grocery store. If you find that rosemary is amazing but the work isn't for you, well stop in to your friendly neighborhood herb shop and pick up a bottle of rosemary essential oil! The work is done for you, the rosemary is concentrated (so it takes very little) and the fragrance is just as divine!

For a little more information about rosemary, try whfoods.com (or click this link to go directly to the source).

Rescue Remedy

This time of year, bills from Christmas are coming in, the weather is unpredictable, inventory work is going on in our jobs, taxes are looming, and stress is mounting. These things can build up and result in anxiety. Feelings of panic are not uncommon, and are also not pleasant. The longtime effect of relief comes from a change in diet and improving sleep habits and stress-relieving practices. That sounds great, but during a panic attack, who cares what the future can be like? We want relief NOW! This is what the Bach flower essence Rescue Remedy can do.

Let's use our imagination for a moment. Imagine you are a metal bowl, and someone walks by you and strikes you with a metal spoon. Those vibrations ring in your ears and shake your whole frame and seem to go on and on and on endlessly. In the moment, it seems like the world is crashing down on you and there is no opening to escape through. If this is happening to YOU, then let's suppose I walk by you and see this vicious vibration you are experiencing. I very gently place my hand on your shoulder, and start absorbing some of that vibration. When I do, it takes some of that intensity away from you...which gives you breathing room. The more firmly I place my hand, the more vibrations are settled and the more relief you experience. Doesn't that sound wonderful?

Rescue Remedy does this. It begins absorbing those anxious vibrations as soon as you take it. How can that be? Rescue Remedy is a liquid, and a few drops are placed under the tongue. There are 2 good sized blood vessels under the tongue that start absorbing that liquid which allows your body to begin using it right then. Because it is a flower essence, it can be taken again in 15 minutes if you feel the need for it.

Of course, this remedy does not replace a doctor nor does it replace health practices that improve your nervous strength. But it does help you find relief in the moments of panic and anxiety when they strike.

This very same remedy has been used with children and pets for the very same purposes, and comes in a lotion and a spray. The lotion is more suitable for muscles that tense during anxious times.

These statements are not validated by the Food & Drug Administration.