Mother Nature at Home

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW
June/July, 2007
Relevant Times

Have you ever been stung by a bee and it really, really hurt? I rarely get stung, even with lots of bees and wasps around me. Today, however, I got it good. Not once, not twice, but 5 times the same wasp stung me! He ventured up the leg of my long pants, couldn’t find his way out, and in his frenzy (and mine) proceeded to sting away. It felt like a hundred stings, but the little red dots, turning into welts, confirmed 5. Youch!!!

My eyes quickly scoured the garden, but did not find what I looked for. The precious leaves which would soothe, remove the sting and pain, and lower the inflammation of multiple stings had yet to appear this year. (I would have to wait till summer). Five years earlier, I had been stung in August, when I could pick the readily available plantain leaves (plantago major), chew them and directly apply them to draw out the sting and take away the pain and swelling.

But when fresh is not available, we turn to trusty preparations made during the season when the plants are available. In this case, it was a soothing herbal salve we call “all-purpose.” We use this salve on bruises, cuts, scrapes, splinters, and other painful mishaps. It does a nice healing trick.

I dolloped the salve on the quickly swelling welts and repeated this several times over the next hour or 2. At that point, the pain and swelling was completely gone. I could see the 5 little red pin pricks of the stings, but that was all. Phew, I thought, thinking of past painful experiences of family and friends with multiple stings. I am glad I had that salve handy!

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Mother Nature at Home

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW
May/June, 2007
Relevant Times

Parents ask the question over and over: Can I address my child’s ADD/HD without prescription drugs? The answer is YES! There are numerous therapies to help support children and their families when ADD/HD is the diagnosis. The treatment usually co-relates to one of the following 4 ADD/HD premises:

Herbs to support children diagnosed with ADD/HD:

We all like the idea of chemical free children, and mother nature’s herbal gifts are a good beginning. Below are my 4 favorite picks for herbs to support a child’s nervous system.

Quantities and preparations vary by age, weight and each child’s unique situation. Please consult a qualified herbal resource for specifics for your child.

Chamomile Flowers (Matricaria recutita) are demure in stature, but competent in action. Used for centuries to relieve upset stomach, chamomile also calms and re-stabilizes hyped up energy such as after a sugary birthday party or when ‘bouncing off the walls.’

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) ~ A food-level herb that makes you feel strong and grounded. Oatstraw strengthens the nervous system through its rich vitamin and mineral content, including calcium and magnesium, and a full host of B-vitamins.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) ~ I like to mix small amounts of skullcap into tea blends for children with nervous energy issues. I find it feeds and regulates the nervous system, especially for those with thoughts that won’t stop. Proven in studies to reduce anxiety and is a great sleep aid too!

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinales) ~ Lemon balm is a useful tonic which promotes overall harmony and joy. Isn’t life nice when we are in harmony and feel joy? Lemon balm is considered anti-depressant, anti-viral and is vitamin and mineral rich too. Your child will make good friends with this truly delightful, gentle, citrus-smelling plant!

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Mother Nature at Home

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW
January/February, 2007
Relevant Times

Searching your soul or feeling in need of help? Engaged in a struggle or feeling low? I have found solace, strength, vigor, and other pleasant surprises when teaming up with healing plants, often called herbs. Herbs, in their unique composition, embody traits which they are willing to share with you for the asking.

To illustrate some spirit-renewing aspects of plants, I have chosen the Mint Family (Plant Family Laminaceae). The mints have a general affinity for the digestive and nervous systems and many are antibacterial. They also offer specific and refreshing ways to address the spirit. To explore the spiritual aspects, you may try them as a tea, drops of tincture (also called extract), a sprig of fresh or dried plant carried as an amulet, or you may sit with them in the garden for inspiration. Mother nature loves your attention!

Lemon balm (Melissa officinales)is one of my all time favorite herbs. It merits a lifetime of study, but in 2 words, I find Lemon Balm brings harmony & joy. Applications include times of grief, post-partum, hysteria, troubles of the heart, and to embrace joy.

Lavender (Lavandula officinales) literally means “to clean.” Helpful for those who have learned in the “school of hard knocks.” Lavender can help bring on sleep, promote calm, and is considered antidepressive.

Sage (Salvia officinales) is for strength and wisdom. Turn to sage to curry these attributes.

Motherwort (Leonarus cardiaca) to me represents adamant, true and enduring love. Motherly love. Not necessarily mushy love, but the deep love and power necessary to make hard choices, to get in there and do what needs to be done, even when it is not glamorous. Motherwort is used to calm anxious states, and is invoked frequently by women in the middle of hot flashes! (not used as a tea; is very bitter!)

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia) ah, another favorite!!! Isn’t it hard to sort out your thoughts when the brain is cluttered, jumbled and jangled? When thoughts won’t stop and prevent sleep from coming and staying? Scullcap can be a good friend here, perhaps as a tincture, or mixed as an infusion with base herbs such as oatstraw and then some lemon balm.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) “ I fight the good fight and don’t tire. I repel injustice. If you’re engaged in a battle and are weary, come see me. I’ll bolster your internal armor and we’ll surprise the heck out of others. Remember your manners, however!”

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Peppermint is the most recognized of the mint family, known for its proliferation and lively living! Peppermint moves, loves life, and frankly has a lot to say on improving your sex life! Whoa!

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinales) Last but not least, Rosemary is for beauty. The path of beauty is the path of healing. “I am beauty,” Rosemary says. “I come to bring beauty, to evoke beauty, and to find beauty. I heal broken beauty. Try me. I re-member. I will mend. I am loving and clear and beauty-ful.”

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Mother Nature at Home

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW
January, 2007
Relevant Times

Here we are again in the time of increasing darkness and cold of the natural season. It draws us inward, homeward, to comfortable evenings spent cozy and warm in stillness and rest.

At the same time, our cultural crescendo expressing peace on earth translates to havoc for humans! Parties, family gatherings and holiday events beckon and indeed demand our attention! We rush and hurry trying cheerfully to ‘keep it meaningful’ but truthfully it’s enough to drive us over the edge. What are we doing?

Now is the darkest time of the year. In nature, the darkness, quiet and void are necessary for renewal and rebirth. Perennial plants die back to their roots, pulling sustenance from the deep dark earth. It is a necessary storage of strength with which to spring forward in the coming season, ready for that active and outward stage of the year. The dark can serve the same purpose for us. Imagine a time pulled inward to the comfort and privacy of your own dwelling – your body, your home, your family. Imagine feeling in sync with life and the seasons, at peace with the stillness and the dark.

Cycles are a natural design. They usually include light and dark, life and death, and in-between transitional stages. Night gives birth to day; winter to spring; a concealed womb to new life. The task in the dark or dormant stage of the cycle is usually one of rest, re-fueling, growth before emerging, or even emptiness and void. It is a necessary stage, vital to full life.

How can we honor this time in the cycle, this journey into quiescence that will culminate on December 21 at 7:22 pm e.s.t.? Can we be still in the darkness while living simultaneously in our culture of non-stop activity? And if we do so will we alienate ourselves from family and friends? Is there an in-between?

We deal daily with the dichotomy between what is natural and what is the norm in our culture. Confusion, longing and dissatisfaction are a byproduct of this split. ‘I feel different’ and ‘I don’t fit in’ are common expressions of the pull in two directions and the desire to live in sync with Mother Nature. We want to honor the natural, inherent cycles and rhythms of the year, of the earth and of ourselves.

Healing the split starts at home with our own choices. Ask yourself – is this a gain or a drain? Notice how you feel. It can take a while to sort through what works for your family.

As you sort, consider adding any of the activities below that honor the peace and quiet of this dark part of our earth cycle:

Go into the dark

Rest in the dark

Create in the dark

Explore the dark

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Nourishment with Herbs

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW

Herbs that are rich in vitamins and minerals and which can be consumed safely in large quantities are considered Nourishing. I am quite fond of this food-level consumption of herbs as a foundation for health, and do so regularly in the form of drinking herbal infusion. Infusion is a method of preparing herbs, developed and made popular by Juliette de Bairacli Levy and Susun S. Weed. An infusion is basically a very strong tea made with a large quantity of herb (about 1 oz to 1 quart of water) and steeped for a long time ( 4-6 hours). This long steeping time allows for the multitude of vitamins and minerals to infuse into the water, ready for the body to absorb in exceedingly easy fashion.

The 4 herbs I use most commonly in infusion are very rich in minerals and vitamins and nourish the body overall. Each also has a special affinity to particular areas:

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) Is one of my best bets for increasing strength and feelings of well-being. It is traditionally used to strengthen and tone the nervous system and is a good foundation for general 21st century health! Think of oatstraw in times of stress, debility, infertility and recovery from illness. Rich in calcium, magnesium and B vitamins.

Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus) grows wild around me and I love the wavy, feminine leaves of 3. This astringent herb is traditionally used to tone & strengthen the reproductive system, including pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy, and post-partum; Used as a prostate tonic for men. Rich in calcium, magnesium, B vitamins, iron and more.

Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) I think of nettles as green nourishment for the entire body, supporting and sustaining life itself. I consider nettles in situations of allergy, pregnancy and post-partum, lung disturbances, helping the body to adapt to stress, and in many urinary, kidney, and bowel situations.

Red Clover (Trifolium praetense) This purplish blossom of the common meadow and roadside weed is a member of the legume family. It has a rich folk history as a cancer remedy, preventer of strokes (contains blood thinning coumarins), nourisher of reproductive health and for help in skin conditions, coughs and much more. Note: not recommended for those on blood thinning medications.

Remember that while each of these herbs have an affinity for special body parts and conditions, they are overall general tonics and food level nourishment. Please remember that any person can have their own unique response to any food or herb, and a good way to test your reaction is to try only one herb at a time. As with any food or substance, stop is unwelcome symptoms appear.

Infusion Recipe
Making herbal preparations at home is simple and has been done throughout the ages. Herbal infusions are vitamin and mineral rich strong teas. On a daily basis, they provide nourishment. Over time, they can have a tonic effect on the body, bringing the body to optimal level of functioning. Some herbs I use for this purpose Stinging Nettles leaf, Oatstraw, & Red Raspberry leaf and Red Clover blossom Enjoy!

So Easy!!!

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Put Some Tonic In Your Spring!

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW
From The Wise Mom, A Quarterly Electronic Newsletter
for Holistic Moms Network  Members • Mar. 2006

Did you know that spring tonics are aimed towards improving the digestion? They traditionally help the body switch from its winter needs - keeping warm via storage of fat - to its warmer weather needs – keeping cool and releasing stored fats.

Spring is a nice opportunity to give our digestive system a tune-up, and it needn’t be difficult. I find that simple additions, sometimes of only one thing, can make a big difference over time. When given what it needs, the body’s wisdom knows how to maintain health.

I invite you to choose from the following list of ways that can make a positive influence on your digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Were you to choose just one, I dare say you would see a change. Feeling bold and dramatic? Choose 3, and let me know in 30 days what you have noticed!

1. Add bitters to your diet. “Bitters” gets the digestive juices flowing in your system. The taste of bitterness on the tongue will stimulate digestive secretions of the stomach, duodenum, and gall bladder and stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas. This is how our food is digested and thus utilized.

Bitters before a meal are a time-honored tradition, and the origin of our modern day salad. Dandelion leaves, chicory leaves, and bitter salad greens will do the trick. At this time of year, stepping outside and picking fresh dandelion leaves is a super way to add bitters, connect with the season and give yourself a nice spring tonic. Did you know that eating 3 fresh-picked dandelion leaves a day provides 100% of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin C? In addition to dandelion, (Taraxacum officinales) nibble garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and a few young Mugwort leaves (Artemesia vulgaris), wild bitters which are readily found near my New Jersey home.

If picking fresh isn’t likely for you, there are many proprietary “bitters” blends, and you will find them at a natural food store or online. Often they contain herbs such as gentian, orange peel, artichoke leaf, dandelion root, mugwort or wormwood and are consumed just prior to meals.

2. Eat in a relaxed manner Did you know that how you feel affects how you digest? Emotions influence both the function and structure of tissue in the stomach and intestines. Our bodies have an immediate response to anger, anxiety, fear and all forms of stress and worry. Is it possible to shake off the stresses of the day or moment prior to eating? Can you take time, sit down, and give thanks for your meal? Perhaps use the traditional European meal as a model of leisurely eating. If you are feeling angry, anxious or stressed out you might consider postponing your meal.

3. Eat yogurt. Yogurt and other fermented foods help maintain the balance of digestive flora necessary for optimal digestion. Eating one quart a week of organic, plain yogurt is an exceedingly easy way to aid your digestion. It is readily available in most grocery stores and is great for kids too! I eat it plain, but my daughter adds berries for taste and great swirls of color!

4. Pick, pick, pick! Go outside and sample the greens growing wild around you. You will need a field guide or someone who is experienced in identifying weeds. Choose from Dandelion leaves (Taraxacum officinales); Chickweed (Stellaria media); garlic mustard leaves (Alliaria petiolata); Mugwort leaves (Artemesia vulgaris, I usually choose those under 3” tall); young Plantain leaves (Plantago major); and young Mallow leaves (Malva). All do wonders for the gut as well as nourish you! Starting with only one type of herb is fine.

5. Chew your food. “Kids, don’t wolf down your food!” my dad continuously admonished us as we shoveled it in, not wasting time to chew. He was right! Chewing is the beginning of our digestion. It literally pulverizes the food and increases the surface area exposed to gastric juices. Chewing also allows ample time for bodily recognition of the specific food and signals the production/release of the appropriate digestive enzymes, thus jumpstarting the 2nd component of digestion, the chemical or enzymatic breakdown of the food. Try chewing your food 20-30 times before swallowing. Why not give your high quality food the best possible chance of being of use to you?

As you can see, spring tonics or cleanses need not be drastic nor difficult to be effective. Try one and see! Happy eating, and happy spring!

Cathy!

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HERBAL WISDOM: Calming Herbs

by Cathy Lauer, MS LCSW
From The Wise Mom, A Quarterly Electronic Newsletter
for Holistic Moms Network Members • Dec. 2005

Peter Rabbit drank Chamomile tea to calm down after a stressful day in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Did you know it might help you too? Herbs have a rich tradition of successful use to calm, relax, tone and feed the nervous system. There’s no time like the holidays to find out which ones can help you when you feel run-down, stressed-out, sleepless or worried!

The first herbs I choose to help deal with stress are Oatstraw, (Avena sativa), and Stinging Nettles leaf, (Urtica dioica). Both provide abundant minerals and vitamins to build a strong nervous system, help the body adapt to stress, and support and strengthen the body overall. CLICK HERE for a complete discussion of these herbs from my last column plus a recipe for making herbal infusions.

In addition to the above infusions, I have some other favorites for easing the mind.

Lemon Balm, leaf, stem & flower (Melissa officinalis) - Lemon Balm is for joy! I find it harmonizing and gentle - especially in times of grief, sadness or whenever joy is absent. It is also anti-viral and considered anti-depressive and anti-hysteria. I use this as a tea, brewed to the ratio of 1 1/2 Tablespoon dried lemon balm leaves per pint of water, steeped for 15 minutes. Kid friendly!

Lavender flowers (Lavandula officinalis) - Lavender is one of my all-time favorites for calming & relaxing. It is considered anti-depressive, anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic, cools a fever and helps to induce sleep (that’s why we have lavender sleep pillows). I like lavender in a bath for washing away a stressful day and preparing for bed. In a 2 quart saucepan, I boil about 1 1/2 quarts of water. Turn off the heat. Add 3-4 tablespoons dried lavender flowers – a small handful. Put on the lid and let steep 30 minutes. Strain the herb out, then add the liquid to your bathwater and soak for at least 20 minutes to allow your skin to drink in the benefits. This is the way I prepared my daughters bathwater for the first year of her life, and still do when she asks “Mommy, please can I have an herb bath, please?”

Skullcap leaf, stem & flower (Scutellaria officinales) - I like skullcap tincture as a sure way to bring on sleep in times of anxiety and overworked mind. You know – when the thoughts won’t stop running through your head? Used as a tincture, 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon at bedtime is a traditional quantity for a 150 pound adult.

Oats (Avena sativa) - tincture of oat seed in milky stage. You’ve read what I think about oatstraw infusion. This is another part of the plant used in a tincture form, which means it has been steeped in alcohol to extract the medicinal properties of the plant. Tincture of milky oat seed is traditionally used to help the body adapt to stress, build a strong nervous system, and overcome feelings of depression. Traditional quantity is 1/2 – 1 tsp, 2-4 times a day for a 150 pound adult.

A nice cup of herbal tea – and taking the time out to drink it – is another great way to step back from frazzled times. Some reliable choices are chamomile, linden flower, passion flower, catnip, oatstraw, lemon balm, or valerian. Proprietary blends abound and are readily available at grocery and natural food stores.

I strongly urge you, in addition to some of the herbal ideas above, to take time to care for yourself during stressful times! Add in comforts such as rest, good food, conversation with supportive friends, exercise, or time alone. Also, look to make the holidays “do-able.” One thing I did this year was to re-schedule the sending of annual greeting cards. Last year I started but never finished my cards. ‘How easy it would be to send them during the relaxing heat of August,’ I thought, ‘when I am not so rushed.’ And that’s exactly what I did! I wrote a “2005 Non-Holiday Greeting” and mailed them out on Labor Day weekend! I was in a much calmer frame of mind to pull together the sentiments I wanted to send out to friends and family afar and it felt great!

I also encourage you to know the difference between feeling down and feeling seriously depressed. If you are in doubt, run your feelings by an honest friend, therapist or trusted other. It is a strong move to get help when you feel helpless. Always check out any suicidal thoughts with a therapist.

I wish for everyone a calm and do-able December, and raise my mug of herbal tea to wish you a very happy holiday season!

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HERBAL WISDOM

by Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW
From The Wise Mom, A Quarterly Electronic Newsletter
for Holistic Moms Network Members • Sep. 2005

This article is the first in a series on herbal medicine for ourselves and our families.

We live in a land full of nourishment, healing and abundance. It is the land around us, rich in herbs, available and free for the taking! No matter where you live – city, country, or in a highly landscaped suburb like me, the herbs peek through, waving their green arms for us to notice them and partake of their healing gifts.

Herbs are plants identified as helpful to the body – either as food or medicine. Many that we consider weeds, such as the dandelion, were intentionally brought here by settlers who wanted to have their medicine on hand. Herbs have been used throughout time, before “alternatives” were even invented.

Herbs are the medicine of the people. They have a rich history of home use, by women, to care effectively for their families. If you are looking for health care that is natural, whole, accessible, and which not only removes symptoms but actually heals - herbs are for you!

In this series of articles I will lay a foundation and context for herb use and share some recipes that I use frequently. My goal is to help bring Mother Nature back into our homes and enable you to use herbs with confidence. You may be surprised how simple it is!

Many people are curious about herbs for caring for their children, and rightly so. Herbs can be gentle, sure and speedy in resolving childhood illness. But before we get to remedies for illness, lets first go to recipes for health.

My first recipe for health is a food-level nourishing drink called an herbal infusion. It’s basically a strong tea made from herbs which are vitamin and mineral rich and have a tradition of being safely consumed in large quantities. Infusions serve as a daily nutritional boost that can promote sustained energy, good nervous system function, healthy hormonal functioning, and overall health. Kids can drink infusions too. My 6 year old daughter drinks a 1/2 cup infusion in the morning. I feel good knowing she has a baseline of good nutrition in her, especially before school. For kids you may dilute infusions, add honey for taste, or brew them with a bit of dried mint for flavor.

I have seen depression, infertility, virus, behavioral difficulties in children, insomnia and more clear up simply by drinking daily infusions. Don‘t expect herbs to take the place of basic needs such as sleep and good food, but consider them allies for health. My four favorite herbal infusions for overall good health are:

Oatstraw (Avena sativa) Traditionally used as a nervous system tonic to help the body adapt to stress, lessen depression & build strength; Contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B complex. ( a great one to start with for kids due to its mild taste)

Red Raspberry Leaf, (Rubus idaeus) Traditionally used to nourish a healthy uterus and ovaries, especially before, during, and after pregnancy and to build a rich milk supply in nursing women. Used in France as a prostate tonic. This grows wild near my New Jersey home and bears beautiful & delicious red berries in July.

Stinging Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica) Often referred to as “nettles,” this “herbalists favorite” nourishes the entire body with calcium, iron, potassium and much, much more. Nettles is traditionally used to help the body adapt to stress by nourishing & strengthening the adrenals, stabilize blood sugar, promote even energy levels, promote a healthy pregnancy, healthy baby, and abundant breast milk.

Red Clover Blossom (Trifolium pratense) The purply/pink blossoms of this wayside plant are mineral and vitamin rich and have been traditionally used to increase fertility, to help normalize the thyroid function, moderate hot flashes and to help prevent strokes due to their blood thinning agents. Red Clover has a rich folk history as a remedy against cancer. Red Clover blossoms are high in iron, chromium and B vitamins. Caution: Not for use by those on coumarin or blood thinning drugs.

Infusion Recipe

Place 1 oz dried herb in a clean quart jar, such as a canning jar.
Fill to the top with water that has just boiled. Put lid on tightly.
Let sit for a minimum of 4-6 hours, overnight is fine. Strain and drink.
Refrigerate any unused portion. Drink within 1-2 days of brewing. Drink it hot or cold, with ice, diluted or mixed with another beverage.

I drink 2 -3 cups a day, more if I am under stress or sick. I usually rotate between several herbs, as opposed to drinking mega-amounts of one only – the body likes variety!

“French Press” method - place dried herb in a French press coffee pot, brewing as above. When brewing time is complete, simply press down the plunger and pour. So easy!

A word about safety: the above listed herbs are considered safe for adults, children, elderly, the sick and the well. Keep in mind that individuals may have a unique reaction to any substance (shrimp, strawberries, chocolate, peanuts…) and that does not invalidate it as a food for others nor remove it from the grocery store shelves! It is the same with herbs. If you feel you have an adverse reaction, stop drinking the infusion and drink plenty of water. Consult a health care provider with any symptoms of concern.

Stay tuned for next time when we will explore herbs for building immunity and dealing with common winter complaints. Until then, enjoy your herbal infusions!

For a reading list and links to sources for quality, organic herbs, go to CathyLauer.com.

Cathy Lauer is a professional herbalist and licensed psychotherapist with a practice in New Jersey. Cathy teaches traditional uses of herbs as food and medicine, including a 13-month Herbal Apprenticeship which begins in October. Visit CathyLauer.com to learn more!

This article is educational in nature and does not diagnose illness nor prescribe for illness. As always, health care choices are ultimately the responsible of each individual.

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Want Your Kids To Eat Better? 

By Cathy Lauer, MS, LCSW

I think Mother Bear had the right idea.  In The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food, Mother Bear gave the family a crash course in good eating by clearing out every bit of "junk food" and starting on a good eating plan when the family's eating habits got out of hand. 

As an Herbalist & Holistic Psychotherapist, I see many parents who want to provide sound nourishment for their family and want to know where to begin.  I begin with the premise that most of us already know what healthy eating is. It's implementing that can be tricky!  Whether the issue is too much junk food, picky eating, meal time bargaining, or just wanting to return sanity to your family's nutrition, the below short-term plan can help: