herbal - - Page 2

July 24, 2016

My Herbal Sleep Bomb For a Better Sleep

It’s bound to happen from time to time: moms get tired. We become worn out, and Lord knows we need a break. Earlier this year when I was suffering from severe adrenal fatigue, insomnia hit like a ton of bricks and I became a “mombie,” aka: really tired mom. I got desperate to sleep better.

I was taking forever to fall asleep and, occasionally, I had nights where I was awake more than I was asleep. If I was awakened by a child (or husband, ahem) soon after falling asleep, my heart would race and my system would go into a bit of a shock. Forget about falling back asleep anytime soon after that. I would often wake up through the night and have trouble falling back asleep then, too.

I couldn’t get through the day without a nap and spent my days stumbling around haphazardly. I know zombies aren’t real, but y’all, if they were, you’d have mistaken me for one. I had to figure out a way to sleep better.

I had tried melatonin once before, but ended up with the worst migraine of my life, so no way was I going to try it again. (Besides, Empowered Sustenance makes a pretty compelling case here about why you shouldn’t take melatonin.)

I decided to try some herbs I knew were effective for inducing restful sleep.

How I sleep better: my herbal “sleep bomb”

I already knew that valerian root was helpful for sleep, but I needed more. Here is my winning combo, aka my “sleep bomb:”

Valerian root

This stinky herb has been used historically to help with insomnia, as well as calming, and has even been shown to help with symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.

While I typically prefer to use herbal extracts and tinctures because of their easily-absorbed nutrients, I refuse to take valerian in tincture form. I’m not lying when I say it smells slightly (ok, a lot) like a dead… something. But- it IS effective for calming the nervous system, relieving tension and inducing sleep. Valerian root helps me sleep better. Get it here.

Passionflower

Last year I learned about passionflower, and how it soothes the nervous system. It can be especially helpful for kids with hyperactivity, as it increases GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the brain, which inhibits stimulatory neuron activity. It is a very calming herb, that has been shown to help with anxiety as well.

When I added it to my nighttime herb routine, I noticed right away that began to I fall asleep faster and sleep better. Since passionflower has a light, syrup-y taste, I’m happy to take it in liquid form. Get it here.

Lavender

Aside from the fact that I adore the earthy smell of lavender, which really makes me inner hippie child burst into song, I love the calming, soothing properties of the herb. I had a lavender tincture on hand from my herbalist friend, which I had bought in hopes that it would be calming for my hyperactive kid, as well as help my occasional headaches.

Lavender helps to relive tension, and can help with anxiety. It was the perfect compliment to my herbal repertoire. Get it here.

I decided to hit my insomnia with all of the calming herbs I had on hand, in hopes that I would soon sleep better.

I was amazed to find that the combination worked wonderfully, the first time I tried it!

How you can use my “sleep bomb” to sleep better:

Lavender: one dropper full

Passionflower: one dropper full

Valerian root: 2 capsules

Note: these dosages are for the exact products I’ve linked. Change in strength changes my needs, and I’ve had to increase my dosage when I’ve used different brands and strengths. These brands and dosages work great for me.

I take this herbal “sleep bomb” 30 minutes to an hour before I plan to go to bed, and I get sleepy by the time I hit the sheets. It is such a relief to not toss and turn, waiting, no begging for sleep to come.

I have been using this combo of herbs for about five months, and I have had a huge improvement in my quality of sleep. I just sleep better when I make sure to take my herbs. Plus, if I run out of any one herb, the remedy is not as effective; I’ve found that the combination of the three is really the key to helping me sleep better.

Other things you can try to sleep better:

Avoid sugar and starchy foods in the evening.
Eat a balanced diet.
Turn off electronics and/or use blue light blocking glasses in the hours before bed.
Wind down before bed; try taking a hot epsom salt bath, reading, or even coloring.

Do you struggle with trouble sleeping? Please share using one of the links below to help your friends sleep better too!

June 23, 2016

Make Herbal Tinctures and Extracts: The Simple, Frugal Solution for Every Ailment!

I recently shared on Instagram that I was making some herbal extracts and many of you expressed that you’d love to learn how, too! Rest assured, it is ridiculously easy to make herbal tinctures and extracts, and will save you tons of money in the long run.

What are herbal tinctures and extracts?

Until recently, I thought they were basically the same thing, but my herbalist friend told me there is actually a difference. While tinctures are made using 1 part herbs to 3 parts alcohol, extracts are 1:1, making them stronger, and, in my experience, more effective.

To make herbal extracts and tinctures, you’ll need herbs and a strong grain alcohol; I like to use pure, gluten-free 80 proof vodka. For the herbs, you can use any combination you want, in any amount you want.

Recently, when I decided to make herbal extracts, I had my hubby bring me a 2 liter jug of vodka, which was enough to make just over 2 quarts of extract, which I divided into two glass quart jars. I had collected a few bags of dried herbs, including horehound, which I combined with elderberries and a little echinacea for a cough tincture; as well as a cystitis tincture with juniper berriers, uva ursi, sarsaparilla, and marshmallow root.

I use extracts and tinctures all the time, as they are my favorite way to treat any illness in our home. I wrote about how we used oregano leaf extract and another for parasites to heal my son from symptoms of PANDAS (a behavioral disorder in children caused by strep bacteria), and soon, I’ll share with you my winning herbal combo for helping me sleep.

How to make herbal tinctures and extracts

As noted, you’ll need two things: dried herbs and alcohol, plus a jar with a lid to store them.

Measure out your herbs and decide if you plan to make an extract or a tincture. Place the herbs in the jar, then fill with the appropriate amount of alcohol.

For a quart of extract, I used two cups total of herbs, then filled the jar with another two cups of alcohol.

If you want to make a tincture, use 1 cup of herbs and 3 cups of alcohol.

Once you have filled the jar, seal the lid tightly and place in a cool, dark place for 2-6 weeks. Make sure to give your jar a shake every day.

After 2-6 weeks (personally, I like to let it go on the longer side for greater potency, but have been told that beyond 6 weeks, the potency does not change), use a fine mesh strainer to strain out the herbs as you pour the tincture or extract into a clean jar.

That’s it! You can transfer your extract into a clean dropper bottle for ease of use and dosing. I typically take a dropper full of tincture for myself (20-40 drops), and give the kids lesser amounts based on their weight, from about 6, up to 20 drops. I just put the medicine in a little water and drink it.

Make herbal kid-friendly extracts

Personally, I don’t have a problem giving my kids alcohol-based extracts, but some people prefer to avoid alcohol for their kids. In this case, you can substitute vegetable glycerin for the alcohol. The result will be slightly sweet, and many kids don’t mind taking it at all.

Why make herbal extracts yourself?

You may be wondering why you would bother making herbal remedies yourself. Here are three reasons:

#1- it saves a ton of money!

Herbal extracts typically cost $10-20/oz! If you make them yourself, you will pay pennies per ounce.

#2- you can customize your remedy

You can pick and choose herbs with the precise properties you need, like I did with my cystitis formula. Otherwise, sometimes you end up with ingredients that won’t personally benefit you.

#3- it’s fun!

I get such a kick out of DIY-ing anything I can. When I first began experimenting with creating my own herbal medicines, a friend called me “Dr. Quinn, medicine woman.” I took it as a compliment! I just love having another tool for taking care of my family.

Do you make herbal remedies or would you like to learn more about it? Let me know in the comments, then be sure to share using one of our convenient buttons below!

August 3, 2015

Our Battle with Strep & SIBO

If you’ve read our story, you know that we are battling strep… but what does that really mean? A few months ago, we had testing done via stool, urine and blood, and found out that Camden (8), had strep overgrowth in his gut, and that I had it in my gut, too, and that it had colonized throughout my body. The strep had taken such root that the good probiotics we were taking were not colonizing. We had SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, which had led to leaky gut, which had led to lots of other problems.

I began a one month treatment of azithromycin, followed by an herbal medication and Camden started the herbal medication as well. I immediately felt better, with my fatigue and migraines nearly disappearing overnight, and Camden’s behavior began to improve tremendously as well. His Oppositional Defiant Disorder behaviors went away and hyperactivity was diminished, if not taken down to a “normal boy” level.

After a while, though, I felt like I was struggling with fatigue some again, and I experienced a migraine. Camden’s behavior also regressed some as well. So, after reading this guide by Diane Sanfilipo, I asked our doctor about a prescription called Rifaxamin for Camden. It seemed like a perfect solution. However, we found that our insurance would not cover it, and one month of treatment would be $1200! It was back to the drawing board.

Where Are We Now?

We are currently looking into a stronger herbal treatment our doctor has recommended, which would include two additional medications, including this monolaurin-based supplement and this supplement formulated to target gut dysbiosis. I am considering taking another round of antibiotics (!), though the herbs might be enough. Even though it has only been a few months, I can’t help but want to see better results NOW! Because we had such outstanding results for a solid month early on, I want and expect to be able to accomplish that again. This is certainly a lesson in patience. But the fact is, I know it’s possible!

In the meantime, I’m following my friend Candace’s advice and celebrating the small victories: I’m thankful that when Camden does have ODD behavior, it only lasts 15-30 minutes, instead of all day or weekend like it used to. I’m thankful I’ve only had one migraine in several months’ time, instead of 2-6 times per month like I used to. And when we have a really bad day, I use it as a reminder of how far we’ve come! And I remember that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it! Ultimately, I think we just need to give everything more time.

Our Spiritual Health

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you how we’re healing spiritually as well. When we started the healing of our bodies a few months ago, there was a lot of anger in our home. After some prayer and spiritual deliverance, I received freedom from the oppression of anger, and as a result, we began to be free from anger in our home as well. This has been a huge part of Camden’s healing from Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Now, when we begin to struggle physically or behaviorally, I realize my focus has shifted and I am not choosing to walk in the freedom I’ve been given.

So, I stop and I ask the Holy Sprit to fill our home and give us a spirit of peace. I repent for choosing to walk in anger, and I tell the spirit of anger to LEAVE! And I take authority and rebuke Satan and claim freedom in our home. Each time I have done this, our health, physically and behaviorally, instantly improves. When I choose not to participate with anger, fatigue, grouchiness, and sickness, those things have no power over me and they cannot stay. Does that mean I won’t have to do it again? Probably not. But it does help us to regain that freedom once again, and remind the enemy Who is the boss in our home! You can read more about gaining spiritual freedom yourself here.

What’s Next?

We are praying about and discussing further with our doctor the increase in herbal treatment. We are also preparing for the GAPS intro diet, which was created to heal the gut and promote good bacterial growth. We plan to start in September, so I’m currently stocking our freezer with broth and will make a big batch of fresh sauerkraut soon! I’ll keep you updated as we continue to prepare and begin.