Belmont Herbalist

01/05/2024

02/04/2024

I often use the analogy of a three-legged stool to emphasise the three crucial prerequisites for well-being and good health:

🍏 Good Nutrition
🛌 Adequate Sleep
🏃 Daily Movement

Each of these represents one leg of the stool. Just like with a three-legged stool, if you take one leg out – for example, by having a bad night's sleep – the stability is compromised. This underscores how essential nutrition, sleep, and regular movement are. When all three aspects work together harmoniously, we experience balance, enabling us to tackle life's challenges with more energy, clarity, and confidence.

Building additional ‘legs’ may be beneficial to enhance our stability. These extra ‘legs’ may consist of anything that supports us positively, such as:

🧘 Practice of mindfulness
👫 Connectedness
🎨🎭🎼 Creativity
🌳 Solitude
🙏 Personal Affirmations or Prayers
🌿 Herbs

It's about finding what works for you to achieve more balance in this often unpredictable world.

Photo: VenkoFurnitureDecor on Etsy (with permission)

22/03/2024

GLOBE ARTICHOKE is one of the oldest cultivated vegetables in human history, and in the world of herbalism, it is known predominantly as a hepatic.

Hepatics support the liver by improving its function, which may include an increase in the bile flow. As such, Globe artichoke can be of benefit in so-called ‘liverish’ conditions and may be included in herbal mixes to assist with indigestion, lack of appetite, nausea, fat intolerance, bloating, flatulence, constipation, functional gallbladder pains and high cholesterol.

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HERBS IN MY DISPENSARY: 𝓒𝔂𝓷𝓪𝓻𝓪 𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓵𝔂𝓶𝓾𝓼 or Globe artichoke

For more information or a consultation booking, please feel free to reach out to me at belmontherbalist@gmail.com.

12/03/2024

We can only be as healthy as our environment, so reducing our exposure to toxins and minimising our environmental footprint makes sense. Making deodorant at home ticks both boxes. The all-natural deodorant is made with non-toxic ingredients, and the amber glass containers can be reused repeatedly.

THE RECIPE makes approximately two 50 mL jars of paste deodorant:

- 30 g shea butter
- 20 g coconut oil
- 40 g cornstarch powder
- 15 g baking powder
- 10 drops of tea tree oil
- 20 drops of another essential oil of your liking that is suitable for skin application

Melt the shea butter and coconut oil over a water bath, then add the cornstarch and baking powder. Continue heating the mixture while mixing well to break up any lumps. Add the essential oils at the very end to prevent their quick evaporation. Give it a final good stir, and the mixture will be ready to be poured into your prepared amber glass containers. After pouring into the containers, let the paste thicken in the fridge. Once thickened, it is ready to be used. It can be kept at room temperature.

APPLICATION:

Take a small amount, about the size of a pea, and softly massage it into your armpits until it melts and absorbs. The paste is a bit oily, so do not apply too much and avoid using it immediately after shaving.

Please do not make or apply this deodorant if you are allergic to or sensitive to any of the ingredients in the recipe.

02/03/2024

I doubt I’ll ever encounter dragons, goblins or centaurs, or stumble upon Gillyweed or the Whomping Willow during my woodland or riverside wanderings. Nonetheless, it’s not hard to see that NATURE truly is magical.

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21/02/2024

Sore, swollen, red, and bleeding gums are more than a painful nuisance. Growing bacteria that play a role in gum disease may eventually enter the bloodstream and travel to other places in the body. This process can contribute to or worsen heart disease and complicate the health of people with diabetes, respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis.

Good oral hygiene is the most critical factor in preventing gum disease. It consists of regular teeth brushing, flossing, and tongue scraping, as well as visits to the dentist every six months. Still, other factors that are less within our control may sometimes contribute to gum disease, such as weakened immune responses, chronic disease, inadequate saliva production and flow, or hormonal effects.

Holistic herbal treatment takes into consideration your whole-body terrain and can offer specific herbal remedies to address gum health. Do not neglect oral health; bleeding gums can be more than just a local annoyance.

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For bookings, visit www.belmontherbalist.com

12/02/2024

For the SAFE and EFFECTIVE administration of herbs, it is recommended that they be prescribed by a trained professional. Proper herbal application entails determining the appropriate DURATION OF TREATMENT, which can range from a single dose to lifelong administration.

For instance, fennel seed extracts are most effective when incorporated into herbal blends intended for short-term use. Fennel is commonly included in preparations aimed at alleviating coughing, bloating, painful menstruation, inflammation, and muscular pain — conditions that should either resolve quickly or warrant further investigation into their root causes.

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For bookings, go to www.belmontherbalist.com

HERBS IN MY DISPENSARY: 𝓕𝓸𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓾𝓵𝓾𝓶 𝓿𝓾𝓵𝓰𝓪𝓻𝓮 (Fennel seed)

01/02/2024

Fresh, crunchy salads have emerged as a culinary trend, with numerous cookbooks dedicated exclusively to these vibrant dishes full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and the almighty fibre! For those daunted by long lists of ingredients or short of time, let me share my straightforward salad formula, which includes:

🥬 Cos lettuce, shredded
🥕 Carrot or beetroot, coarsely grated
🥒 Cucumber, cubed or thickly sliced
🍅 Tomato, sliced or quartered

For the dressing, I keep it simple by squeezing a quarter of a small lemon over the veggies, adding a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and salt & pepper.

This salad base can be easily transformed from a side dish to a main course by adding a good source of protein. Some quick and easy options are boiled eggs, canned tuna, shredded roast chicken meat, feta, or a medley of cooked beans.

If there is more time or inclination, the meal can be improved by adding extra raw, steamed, pickled, or fermented vegetables, fruits (including avocado), and herbs, such as parsley, mint, or coriander. Cos lettuce can be substituted for rocket leaves to enhance digestion or for iceberg lettuce for those who don’t like the slight bitterness of some greens (yet).

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23/01/2024

Amidst the constant reminders about the importance of stress management, it’s crucial to understand that not all stress is created equal. Consider that you may need to climb a mountain to get back home. Climbing demands considerable effort, but it’s a finite journey. It is comparable to an ACUTE STRESS response – an intense but relatively brief life-saving task.

The real challenge lies in the realm of CHRONIC STRESS – a prolonged struggle akin to carrying a mountain on your shoulders. Whether it’s unresolved infections, persistent psychological battles, or the burden of chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity, this chronic stress may contribute to the development of other chronic health conditions and accelerate aging.

To thrive, we must actively seek solutions to what ails us physically and mentally. After all, we are designed to climb mountains, not bear their weight.

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10/01/2024

Transforming your daily habits can be a powerful and economical first line of defence against various health issues, including ACNE. Acne is no longer considered an inevitable inconvenience associated with teenage years; instead, it is increasingly perceived as an indicator of physiological imbalance that holds the potential for preventative measures.

Here are some scientifically supported tips to help prevent and reduce the impact of acne:

🍬 Cut back on or completely eliminate simple sugars from your diet. Think twice about overindulging in sweets like cakes, candies, biscuits, and white bread. Did you know that some refer to acne as 'skin diabetes'?

🐄 Avoid dairy, with the exception of yogurt and aged cheese.

🌱 Integrate fermented foods into your diet, such as yoghurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and fermented vegetables.

🏃‍♀️ Strive to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

😴 Prioritise a good night's sleep.

🚭 Minimise exposure to pollutants like cigarette smoke, plastics, cosmetics, pesticides, and herbicides.

🚴‍♂️ Break a sweat with daily exercise, followed by a refreshing shower. Regular movement supports lymphatic drainage and aids in stress management. Stress poses a significant risk factor in worsening skin conditions, including acne.

These tips are not an exhaustive list of suggestions and should not substitute a personalised healthcare plan tailored to your unique health history, current medications, and other individual needs.

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For bookings, go to www.belmontherbalist.com

20/12/2023

Dosing of herbal preparations has many variations, and it is particularly important to consult a trained professional about appropriate dosing and frequency of your herbal medicine for its safe and effective use.

DOSAGE refers to the amount of the herb to take and when to take it (e.g., at a specific time of the day or in relation to your food intake). FREQUENCY refers to how often to take it.

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For bookings, go to www.belmontherbalist.com

HERBS IN MY DISPENSARY: 𝓔𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓪 𝓹𝓾𝓻𝓹𝓾𝓻𝓮𝓪 & 𝓔𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓪 𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓯𝓸𝓵𝓲𝓪

10/12/2023

A decoction makes for a delicious coffee substitute with numerous health benefits. Decoctions are made from the tougher parts of plants, such as seeds, roots, or barks, necessitating a more intense extraction process involving boiling them in water before straining and sipping.

If you've ever savoured Turkish coffee or the popular chai tea, you've indulged in a decoction. So, what's simmering in my small pot? A blend of roasted dandelion root, grated fresh turmeric root, dried burdock root, and some gently warming spices – coriander, cumin, and fennel.

I like my decoctions with a touch of plant milk for added creaminess. Here's to good health! Cheers!

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