Monthly Archives: March 2016

Preparing for allergy season

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Stinging Nettle infusion and dried

Stinging Nettle infusion and dried

Wintertime is travel time for our family. By the end of February, after much travel, we start to get back into our normal routine. Part of our routine is drinking a quart of Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica) infusion daily to prepare our bodies for allergy season. Nettles nourishes your body all year long, but when taken daily for a couple of months before allergy season, it nourishes the body in a way that helps it deal when faced with allergens.  Nettles are a natural source of quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid that supports the body’s response to allergens and inhibits histamine release (the substance produced in the body that causes sneezing, itching, and respiratory issues). An allergen is a substance such as pollen that may provoke an exaggerated immune response in individuals who are sensitive to it. Through this potential action, nettles help to reduce allergy symptoms. It also contains natural antihistamines that help to open nasal passages and ease allergy symptoms.

During spring and throughout late summer, I pick fresh Nettles for my infusions and recipes. Fresh Nettles can be used in any recipe that you would use spinach. Nevertheless, I also dry them during this time in preparation for allergy season. I have found it to be most effective when I drink a quart of infusion daily for at least two months before the pollen flies. It strengthens and supports my body, so allergens don’t hit me like a ton of lead. For any stray allergy symptom, there is always Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) to the rescue.

If you did not happen to dry any Nettles last year, you can purchase them in the bulk section of a health food store or co-op. Don’t waste your time on tea bags, as you need more Nettles than that. Use about an ounce of dry herbs per quart jar, pour boiling water over it and let it steep at least four hours. I like to make it the night before and drink it throughout the following day. It will produce a beautiful rich deep green color, which will nourish and support the entire body, particularly the endocrine, immune, urinary, respiratory, and circulatory systems.

Do your body a favor and start drinking Nettle infusions every day.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

 

Being in the Moment

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Mathew 2004Twelve years ago today my one and only decided to allow us to bring him into the world. I use the word allow, because he was not going to take the initiative. After 36 hours of labor, 6 hours of active labor (pushing) and 3 hours of crowning the doctor needed to pull him out. He simply would not be pushed out. A cesarean was not an option as he was hanging out (stuck) in the birth canal for 3 hours; ergo, we could see and touch his head. Remarkably, there were really no complications; he was just happy hanging out inside me. He was in the moment.

Mathew 2005From the instant I went into labor, the writing was on the wall; Mathew did not and still does not do transitions well. He was and is always in the moment. Luckily, he doesn’t make a big fuss, he just says, “in a minute.” Moreover, I have found that his concept of a minute has nothing to do with 60 seconds. If the truth be told, waiting on him tends to irritate me at times; however, I am very jealous of this trait. I am always aware of the next step or rather the next 10 steps and this tends to feel like I am always more in the future than in the moment.  It must be so magical to be 100% in moment, not bothered by what needs to happen next. He hardly ever hears a timer go off, no matter how annoying the sound is, now that’s concentration! Fortunately for us, he never gets irritated when we remind him to move on. When he was little, I would just pick him up, sometimes upside down and move him to the next task. He might say, “hey” but once he was in the new place he eagerly refocused on the new situation. The same can be said today, but he is too big for me to pick up anymore, so more reminders and sometimes threats are involved. Hey, a parent’s gotta do what a parent’s gotta do, and if limiting computer time stimulates movement, I will use it.

Although it was a long labor, Mathew gave us the first of countless gifts with his arrival on March 1st. His ability to be in the moment, delaying his birth throughout the entire day of February 29th made parenting a little bit less complicated. I remember people claiming how wonderful having a Leap year baby would be. Frankly, it just seemed like one more decision among the countless decisions we would need to make parenting. I am so happy that Mathew chose to wait a little bit that day so we can now celebrate his 12th year around the sun and not his 3rd. Here’s to being in the moment! May Mathew never lose this glorious quality and may I find it.

Happy Birthday Sweetness!Mathew sailing 2015