Mind Body Soul Health & Wellness

01/19/2024

Vaginal yeast infections (vaginal candidiasis) occur in about 75% of women at some point in their life and are most commonly caused by the yeast Candida albicans and sometimes Candida glabrata, a condition characterized by itching, discharge, and discomfort.

Recently, a laboratory study found that rose essential oil inhibits both Candida albicans and Candida glabrata at a concentration of only 0.05%. This suggests that highly diluted rose essential oil could actually be helpful for restoring balance during episodes vaginal yeast infections.

👉🏽📖🧫🦠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38074845/

12/16/2023

Vaginal yeast infections (vulvovaginal candidiasis) are difficult to treat due to their high resistance rate against antifungals, ability to form persistent biofilms, and virulence (ability to cause disease and damage).

A laboratory study found that Melissa essential oil, also known as lemon balm, significantly inhibited Candida albicans and C. krusei strains isolated from vulvovaginal samples taken from women with recurrent yeast infections.

In total, 49 strains were tested, 94.4% of which were resistant to fluconazole and all resistant to nystatin. Melissa oil also reduced biofilm formation and produced a synergistic effect when combined with nystatin and in some cases fluconazole (in other cases it antagonized its effects).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37998884/

12/13/2023

Did you know that exposure to cigarette smoke increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?

This study found inhalation of mandarin Co2 aromatic (similar composition to cold-pressed essential oil) via atomizing diffuser reduced lung injury and inflammation and regulated immune responses in a preclinical model of COPD caused by exposure to cigarette smoke.

The Co2 aromatic also improved body weight and the mental health of subjects with COPD.

Citrus reticulata essential oil can alleviate histological injury of the lung and regulate macrophages and CD8+ T cells in COPD rats. The study suggests that citrus reticulata essential oil could be a potential therapeutic agent for COPD.

10/28/2023

When to use high proof alcohol in a tincture?
This is a question I receive a lot.

Here are some good guidelines to follow:

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE & HERBS

40% to 50% alcohol by volume (80- to 90-proof vodka)
• "Standard" percentage range for tinctures.
• Good for most dried herbs and fresh herbs that are not super juicy.
• Good for extraction of water-soluble properties

🌿Using 67.5% to 70% alcohol by volume. For this you will use 1/2 80-proof vodka & 1/2 190-proof grain alcohol.
• Using this method extracts the most volatile aromatic properties.
• Works best for fresh, high-moisture herbs like lemon balm, berries, and aromatic roots because the higher alcohol percentage will draw out more of the plant juices.

🌿Use 85% to 95% alcohol by volume 190-proof grain alcohol for the following.

• Dissolving gums and resins, it's just not necessary for most other plant material.
• Extract the aromatics and essential oils bound in a plant that don't dissipate easily.
• Also important to note that this alcohol strength can produce a tincture that's not palatable and will also dehydrate the herbs if used for botanicals beyond gums and resins.

Pictured below is a large tincture batch of Nopal fruit (prickly pear), excellent for inflammation and arthritis. Because prickly pear's are a juicy fruit, I you can use a 70% alcohol ratio. This will infuse for 6 weeks, the standard time for all tinctures.

I hope this information helps and gives everyone some good basic guidelines to follow.

10/11/2023

It is estimated that 40% of individuals aged 65 and older experience constipation, which increases to 74% if they live in a nursing home. Left untreated, constipation can cause f***l incontinence, a**l fissures, bowel perforation, gas, and bloating. An abdominal massage with lavender and ginger essential oils (diluted to 2% in sweet almond oil) decreased constipation severity, softened stool consistency, and reduced symptoms associated with constipation. Five mL of the oil blend were massaged into the abdomen for 15 minutes between 9:30am and 12:00 on 5 weekdays over the course of 4 weeks. A control group received no massage.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0531556522003321

To mimic the study, add 1 drop each of ginger and lavender to 5 mL of carrier oil and massage to the lower abdomen in a clockwise motion for 15 minutes.

03/26/2023

05/16/2022

There’s a big difference, don’t let the nonGMO label fool you!

04/14/2022

If you like tea, make adjustments to avoid these brands. Many have pesticide residue and others have toxic plastics chemicals in their tea bags.

Here's some of the problems with tea and alternatives: https://healingthebody.ca/when-tea-is-no-longer-a-healthier-beverage/

04/08/2022

If you didn't realize, the majority of vanilla extract purchased from the store doesn't even have real vanilla in it. Most vanilla extract sold these days is what is called imitation vanilla extract, meaning it's made in a process that refines two petrochemicals into vanillylmandelic acid, a chemical that is somewhat similar to real vanilla. A different process uses yeast to make a vanilla substitute, but most is made from petrochemicals.

🚫☠️🚫 That's just nasty. At one time vanilla flavoring came from beaver a**l glands, yeah you read that right.... but it appears no companies use that anymore, all the beaver stuff goes to make vanilla fragrance now....perfume, soaps, shampoo, etc.... yuck.....

So this is why it's best to just make your own, you know what you're getting. No petrochemicals in this.

This process is extremely simple, hard to mess up and produces a great product that can be bartered or sold for good money.

Items needed -
Quart jar with lid
2 cups 190 proof everclear
2 cups distilled water
10 to 15 vanilla pods

1) Mix 2 cups 190 proof everclear with 2 cups water and fill the jar. You want the proof to be between 70 and 100. Too low and not enough flavor gets extracted, too much and the beans will be fried and won't release any flavor. You can use a lower proof everclear or vodka, but I think the vodka messes with the flavor. Everclear is neutral. Do not use pure everclear! It will not work correctly. Some flavors are extracted with the alcohol, some with the water so that's another reason you can't use pure alcohol.
2) Cut beans in half and slice open revealing the insides. My pack came with 11 pods so we used them all. Add more for a stronger flavor. These are potent and fragrent so I'll be fine with 11 in a quart.
3) Put in jar, put on lid
4) Wait for it do get dark colored.....minimum 8 weeks, but preferably 6 months to 1 year for best flavor.

That's it. You can strain it if you like. I just remove what I need from the jar. You can top the jar back up with alcohol but it will get weaker over time. It's easy to make and tastes way better than what you get in the store. I made this jar (32oz) for less than $15, which would have only gotten me a very small jar of real vanilla extract if I bought it. This will last us years and I have enough to trade if I want to.
It improves lots of baked goods and just plain tastes better that the petrochemical imitation, not to mention it's probably healthier too. Hope yall make some and enjoy it!

02/06/2022

If you are trying to incorporate healthier options into your lifestyle but still find yourself drinking a lot of Coke & Pepsi products it’s important to understand just how harmful they are.

Coca-Cola products contain GMO based high fructose corn syrup which is detrimental to gut health, caramel color— a known carcinogen, and phosphoric acid— a corrosive chemical that can also harm the gut, and caffeine which is a natural diuretic that often leads to dehydration and headaches.

If you love carbonated beverages but you’re palate is not quite ready for seltzer, try swapping out your Coca-Cola and Pepsi for these instead. They are nonGMO, sweetened with 70% natural juice, and contain no corrosive ingredients, caffeine, or artificial dyes.

02/03/2022

Every now and again I might not be feeling real great after eating something, even though it was something that I would’ve normally eaten in the past. I think because all the products and foods that we eat/use are so clean & pure now that when we have something that isn’t, our systems really react to it. Even though we eat and use most of the same things that everyone else does, the QUALITY of the products is vastly different, which changes everything. I think most people just don’t realize HOW good you can really feel. You don’t HAVE to put up with all of those things that you do. Little changes can make HUGE impacts.

Do you know the difference?

I love the benefits of baking soda for natural and preventative health remedies but also for cleaning my bathroom and kitchen. When I ingest baking soda for my health or use for my teeth and baths, etc., I always use the natural form (Bob’s or Frontier). When I clean my home, I use the synthetic form (Arm & Hammer).

Here’s the difference:

A brand like Bob’s Red Mill or Frontier are natural brands of baking soda. They are mined directly from the ground in its natural sodium bicarbonate state (also known as nahcolite). In fact, both brands are mined here in the US. There are no chemical reactions, nothing added or tweaked. It’s just pure sodium bicarbonate, the way the earth made it.

On the other hand, Arm & Hammer baking soda uses a chemical reaction process through which trona ore is mined, then heated until it turns into soda ash. Then the soda ash is treated with carbon dioxide, and it becomes baking soda. I like to say one is natural from the Earth and one is synthetic made in a lab. Additionally, Arm & Hammer adds Dementia & Alzheimer’s causing aluminum to their product.

Know the difference and use accordingly.

01/27/2021

Since going plant-based, I often hear people say that they would love to try going vegetarian and eliminate things like dairy, fish, meat, and eggs, but they are concerned about the nutritional consequences. One of the major concerns, more so for women who suffer from anemia, is not being able to maintain optimum iron levels. 

But the truth is, if you are a eating a whole food vegan or vegetarian diet, there are actually lots of amazing food sources plentiful in iron.

Here are just a few 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

01/25/2021

Look at that salad! 😱

01/24/2021

Nut based meatloaf made with TVP and besan flour topped with homemade Buffalo–BBQ sauce atop a salad served with homemade blue cheese dressing.

01/24/2021

Organic calendula seeds available

To prepare calendula for eating, the petals are plucked from the medicinal-tasting green flower base and can be eaten raw or cooked. Try calendula petals in salads, salsas, scrambled eggs, quiche, and frittatas. The yellow and orange confetti adds merriment and festivity to any dish. Add the petals to herbal compound butters with other edible blooms, such as chives.

In the summertime, whole flower heads can be frozen in ice cube trays, creating decorative ice cubes fit for the finest herbal libation. You can fancy things up even more by freezing the flowers in colorful herbal tea. For one of my favorite recipes, see my article on Herbal Ice Cubes. Harvest flowers with longer stems intact for adorning iced herbal teas and botanical cocktails, and add a sprig of mint for contrast.

Calendula’s petals are more than a fetching culinary adornment. Like other edible blooms, they are loaded with antioxidant compounds. Its colorful petals are high in carotenoids, such as flavoxanthin and auroxanthin. The whole flowers can also be dried and added to soups and stews as a winter immune tonic. This traditional folk use heralds from medieval Europe, where the flowers were likewise added to bread, syrups, and conserves. In the classic 1863 text The Complete Herbal, Nicholas Culpepper wrote, “The flowers, either green or dried, are much used in possets, broths, and drink, as a comforter of the heart and spirits, and to expel any malignant or pestilential quality which might annoy them.” It can be used in tinctures, teas, or applied topically for a variety of different issues. It is definitely a must have in your garden.