Dealing with Vaginal Dryness Naturally

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 Vaginal dryness, not a topic we much talk about however, it is an issue some women deal with. When we think about this issue we think about those going through menopause. It does occur during this time, but it also occurs for other reasons.

 Reasons for Vaginal Dryness

• Hormonal Changes - This usually occurs during the menopausal stages due to a lack of estrogen. However, this may also be the case after childbirth, breastfeeding, and during preimenopause. Those who go through chemotherapy may also have lower estrogen levels. Women who have had their ovaries removed may also experience this issue.
• Medicine -  Medicine taken for allergies or colds can also contribute to vaginal dryness along with some antidepressants.
• Allergies - If one is allergic or has a sensitivity to things like dyes, soaps, or perfumes these things may also contribute to the issue. Towels or clothing can maintain toxins from laundry soap and may not effect any other part of the body, but that feminine part. Anything inserted could cause a problem with vaginal dryness including douches. 
• Stress & Anxiety - Stress and anxiety effect the body in various ways and this is one of them. These two things can cause a lack of blood flow thus leading to less lubrication.
• Autoimmune Disease - An autoimmune disease called Sjogren syndrome causes dryness in the mouth, eyes, nose and the vagina.
• Lack of Foreplay - Gee this is a surprise some men need to know this is important for women. 

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The Importance of Female Lubrication 

 No, this lubrication is not just for making sex more comfortable for us there is more to it. This natural lubrication in women is produced in glands within the cervix. The lubrication moves slowly through vagina which aids in keeping it clean by removing dead cells. This lubricant is slightly acidic which aids in keeping our feminine part healthy and preventing infection.

When estrogen is lost the vulva and tissues become thin, less dry, and lose their elasticity scientifically this is called atrophy. Less estrogen also causes a more alkaline environment which can lead to irritation and a great risk for infections. This in turn can lead to psychology issues which in turn contributes more so to vaginal dryness.

Dealing with Vaginal Dryness Naturally

•  Electrolytes - A majority of vaginal fluids stem from the blood which forms droplets of natural fluid rich in electrolytes which penetrate vaginal cells 
• Water - The body in whole is more than 90% water and it is important for hydration and elasticity
• Omega 3, 6, & 9 Fatty Acids - They aid in balancing the hormones 
• Vitamin A - Vital for the health of the vaginal walls and aids in increasing estrogen
• Vitamin B12 - Aids in lubrication
• Vitamin E - Helps with itching, thinning walls, and dryness
• Natural Oils - Natural oils such as coconut oil can be used for lubrication before sex 

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 My Thoughts

 I am concerned about adding more estrogen to my body when we are bombarded by it. I recommend having your self tested, when I was tested my estrogen was high. When women have high levels of estrogen they are at a higher risk for breast cancer. While my levels were high, at 50, really when did that happen? I am experiencing this very issue. Please consider the fact that if you are not eating organic the risk for higher levels of estrogen are greater. At this time I do not understand everything on the topic of estrogen, the effects of hormones from the food, or how glyphoste, which contains estrogen, effects us. I do know this I am not a science experiment and the only way I want to find these things out is through research.

What has Worked for Me

I have been taking all the supplements except for vitamin A and it has done very little. The one thing I found that works the best is Key-E Suppositories . I read the reviews on Amazon and was a little uncertain because many women said it was messy. This was not a problem for me and one thing that was not mentioned in any of the reviews I read is that it lasts. I love this product I don't have to interrupt the mood to go lube up or remember to use it every day, you will know when it is time. My husband is also happy with this product and the naturalness of it.

Magnesium & DHEA

I stopped at the health store yesterday to pick up some hibiscus tea. For those who don't know hibiscus tea contains all the electrolytes our bodies need. It has a taste similar to cranberry and I love it over ice.

Okay back to the topic, while at the health store I mentioned that I was experiencing pain in my leg after meditating in the lotus position, known to us as Indian style. When I get up my leg locks up and hurts at the top of my thigh. I need to massage it and get it moving and it stops hurting. I thought maybe it was the joint, but no it is below the joint that connects the thigh to the torso. So, what is it?

I started taking turmeric three times a day and it helped, but I now started meditating on the couch. I was happy to see the owner's son there who is a RN, but uses natural healing methods. After determining that the pain was not arthritis he told me to try rubbing some magnesium oil on it. He said if it was a muscle, which he believed, this would help.

Magnesium oil? Never heard of it, he produced a 2 oz small bottle of it from Health and Wisdom, which I purchased. He also gave me a pamphlet about the oil which I took and read when I got home. The following is from the pamphlet.

Purchase Now

Functions of Magnesium

Magnesium (the relaxer) is required at the center of every cell in the  body. When the cells are low in Magnesium, Calcium (the constrictor) moves to the center of the cell to protect the cell integrity. This causes  EVERY CELL in the body to be tight. It is little wonder we suffer from muscle stiffness, headaches, insomnia, rage, and more! Magnesium is required for the proper function of over 300 enzymatic processes in the body. Magnesium is needed to keep the brain, nerves, flexors, motor system functioning properly. Passion cool under the influence of magnesium. Negative passions such as hatred, temper outbursts, jealousy, quarrels, resentment, bitterness, hostility, selfishness, greed NEED MAGNESIUM!

                      Why Topical Magnesium?

"Most people are deficient in magnesium and transdermal is the best and fastest way to use it. Furthermore, trandermal is the only way which has been proven to raise DHEA."

"Except for patients with kidnsy failure, there is virtually NO illness which is not helped significantly by magnesium."

 ~ Dr C. Norman Shealy

Because the skin is the largest organ on our bodies it absorbs magnesium faster than ingesting it. All our nerves end on our feet by rubbing magnesium on the bottoms of our feet it is being absorbed through out the body. You could also use some in your bath water or soak your feet. For a foot soak use two to four ounces of magnesium oil for twenty to thirty minutes. Soaking your feet or in a bath for 6 days for 3-4 weeks will significantly raise cellular magnesium levels in most people. Note you can pour some in the palm of your hand and rub anywhere on your body, for men where there is no hair. Hair prevents the skin from fully absorbing magnesium.

Purchase DHEA for Women

  So, just what is DHEA? 

This was not included in the information. DHEA, dehydroepiandrosterone, is a steroid hormone, which converts into both testosterone in males and estrogen in females. It is created from cholesterol in the adrenal glands. At about 6 or 7 our bodies start producing DHEA. DHEA is at its peak in our bodies during our 20s, then it starts to diminish. By age 75 our bodies are producing 20% less than it did fifty years ago. Another way DHEA is lost in some individuals is by taking oral birth control, corticosteroids, or drugs that treat psychiatric disorders.

DHEA has come to be know as "the fountain of youth, hormone," "the super hormone," and "the mother of all hormones." DHEA is said to aid in the following in those over 26.

• Anti-aging
• Weight loss
• Depression
• HIV/AIDs
• Alzheimer
• Heart disease 
• Diabetes 
• Inflammation 
• Immune disorders 
• Osteoporosis  
• and so much more

This information is strictly for educational purposes. Always consult with your professional health care provider before taking any supplements.

Creating Shea Butter Naturally

Recently I had the pleasure of doing some freelance writing for Wayne Dunn owner of Baraka Supplies. He sells Shea butter along with Bolga baskets and accessories. My job was to create a write up about Shea butter, what it is, how it is made, where it comes from, you get the picture. You know one thing I love about freelancing? Not only do I make money, and get to write about topics I love, but I also gain knowledge.

Did you know that Shea comes from a fruit of a tree in both Western and Central Africa? I learned that the best Shea butter is created by the village women. They gather the fruit from July to August and there is a process of drying, which is done in the sun. Using a very large mortar and pastel the seeds are gently cracked open, separated from the shells by hand, and once again left to dry. The majority of the process is done by hand except for the grinding of the nuts.

Everything has to be washed before they start making the Shea or it will be contaminated. You should always wash your hands before touching your Shea for the same reason. The women in the villages spend up to two hours gently separating the Shea from the oil. This is all done by hand as they gradually add water to it. Once that is done they have a beautiful slightly yellow butter which is packaged up and sold. Wow!!! I could not believe it, it was amazing. Of course the Shea contained in store lotions goes through a more industrialized process which removes the healing properties from the butter along with bleaching.

Another interesting thing I learned is that when Shea melts and solidifies again it becomes gritty. Once it has melted it will not go back to having that smooth butter like texture. The ahhhh moment when I learned why the Shea butter I have is gritty and harder to apply then the Shea Wayne sent me. You should store your Shea butter in a dark cool place and it will last up to a year.

Oh yeah I almost forgot not only did this wonderful man pay me to write for him he sent me 4 kg of Shea butter. I almost died when I found out that is 8 lbs of butter!!!! I have been using the one from Baraka, which by the way means thank you in Wali a Ghanaian language. That is where they get their Shea butter from, Ghana, and let me tell you it is awesome. It is so smooth and creamy with no gritty texture, angels singing, I'm in love and will get all my Shea from him. Oh and I noticed it has just a hint of smokey fire, I love it thinking about all the work these women do to create it. I would love to visit with Wayne some day during the season and help them create this amazing butter.

I have not used it to create any homemade products I feel like it would be an insult. What I have decided to do is giveaway the other 4 lbs. So, Thursday during Real Food Fridays we will be giving away 1 lb of Shea butter. We decided to split up the happiness, so this will be one of three giveaways to come. What about the fourth lb, hey gotta spread the love to my Real Food Friday hosts.

Uses for Shea butter include.

• Reduces wrinkles
• Prevents peeling from sun burn
• Helps to heal surgery wounds quicker
• Reduces stretch marks
• Heals cuts quickly
• Great for various hair types
• Moisturizer
• And more

I have included two of the videos I watched while doing my research together they are about 20 minutes long, but worth it in my book.

More Workouts on YouTube

I have added some more work outs from
YouTube onto my Exercise channel.  You can see some of my favorites from my post on "YouTube for Fitness" post.

As I mentioned in my post "Jillian Michaels Killer Abs Review," my abs are my where I have the most trouble, so they are my main focus. Of course you need a cardio to get rid of the fat and so off the muscle you have. Which is one reason I love workouts geared for the abs that contain cardio.

So, I found two more videos on YouTube geared towards abs with cardio. The first one is Jillian Michaels 6 Week Six-Pack Abs level 1, which is a 35.40 minute work out with a warm up, and cool down. While it is not the whole work out which consists of three levels it is a great work out. A work out mat is a must, along with 3-5 lb weights, I use both. You can get the 6 Week Six-Pack DVD with all three workouts for only $9.95 which is 71 minutes long. Oh my gosh, as I scrolled down to look at the reviews, just curious, I noticed that they had a bundle with this DVD, and two of the other ones I do on YouTube for $28.91. So, you get the 6 Week Six-Pack, 30 Day Shred and No More Trouble Zones. While the last two are on YouTube in full, I think I might order this bundle. I have had some videos I worked out with deleted from YouTube.

The other one I found is now another favorite, It's done by an unknown, Chris Freytag, it is a 40.02 circuit ab workout. Like Jillian she incorporates cardio with the ab work out. It is called 10 Pound Slimdown Xtreme-Core, it's four circuits, you will need a mat, and some hand weights. This is just one segment of her DVD 10 Pound Slimdown which includes four other work outs besides the core. Each work out is 20 minutes long, hmm may add this to my wish list, for $17.99. You can also find them on YouTube, great way to preview a work out before you buy it.

Okay after realizing I could get other work outs from Chris Freytag's DVD on YouTube, I added some more of the segments to my exercise channel. I added Total Body Circuit oh man side planks with row, Cardio Kickbox, oh yeah.  There is also a Upper Body and Lower Body work out, but I didn't add those. I like to work the whole body whenever possible to save time, but if that is your weak area you might want to check those out.

Oh my I have to tell you about the two I found for the rebounder/mini trampoline, you can read my post on The Rebounder/Mini Trampoline Benefits to learn more about it. I only have one DVD for my rebounder, and wanted more options, so off to YouTube to see what I could get. I love kickboxing, so 10 min Kickboxing was a must, and kicked my butt. I also love Tabata, and found one Tabata work out for the rebounder called Rebounder Exercise Tabata Workout. I looked for more, but that was the only one bummer, guess I'll have to come up with some on my own.

My husband always asks me what I want for Christmas I think I know just the thing.

So, tell me do you use YouTube for working out?

The Rebounder/Mini Trampoline Benefits

After my month in health, and being told I was not doing the right type of exercise, I bought a rebounder. A rebounder is basically a mini trampoline.

There are many benefits to rebounding.

• Detox your lymph nodes
• Burn calories
• Lower impact on the  joints
• Work the whole body at once
• Positive effect on every muscle and cell in the body.
• Strengthens the musculosketeal system
• Increases circulation and oxygenation to improve both organ and tissue health.
• Strengthens the heart
• Aids in increasing healthier red blood cells
• Aids in lowering blood pressure 
• Less strain on the heart
• Improves lung capacity and respiration
• Helps to produce alkaline ph easier, important because the majority of us are to acidic.
• Aids in cellular and tissue repair when used on a regular basis.
• Better sleep
• Helps to improve balance
• The biggest benefit is that it is fun.

I went to the local sports store, which here is the Academy, and bought an Urban Rebounder. My reasons for choosing this one are, first I have never used a rebounder and liked that it came with a stabilizing bar, which can be removed. It was not on for to long before I took it off, still nice to have. It also folds up for easy storage, came with two DVDs and can recline. Here you see how the recline feet fold under and are strapped when you don't want to use them. Since I use the DVD mine are down all the time as you can see in the picture below.

The first DVD is just an introduction to the rebounder and includes brief demos of the other DVDs you can purchase separately. The second DVD contains 3 workouts, Quick  Start Training, 30 min. workout, Cardio Blast, about 40 min, and Core Training, about 40 min. I do not recommend these workouts for anyone with joint issues, as you are also on the floor. I have yet to make it all the way through the Cardio Blast without stopping, but I have noticed I burn more calories. Totally love the Core Training. The DVD is definitely not for beginners, more advanced intermediate to advanced.

You can buy various DVDs to workout with both for the Urban Rebounder, and the rebounder in general. I took a look at the DVDs for the Urban Rebounder and don't like that there are various types of workouts on one DVD for instance on #1 which  I would think was for beginners includes first timer, basic, intermediate, advanced, senior, and abs. Why would you do that, put seniors in the mix they need their own. So I decided to view some other rebounder workouts.

As I set off in search for other DVDs I came across the rebounder ones again surprisingly they have great reviews. That just goes to show you everyone is different. So, if you are interested in checking them out here are the links Urban Rebounding Workout DVD, Compilation 1 6 work outs, Urban Rebounding Workout DVD, Compilation 2 5 work outs, Urban Rebounding Workout DVD, Compilation 3 4 work outs,  Urban Rebounding Workout DVD, Compilation 4 4 work outs, all have at least 4 stars, and you can watch a clip.

This post is long enough, so I will do another one on other DVDs that I would like to purchase in the future. Hmmm I'm thinking some for Christmas sure would be nice, burn off the extra holiday calories.

Benefits Resource

Do you do the rebounder? Do you use DVDs, if so what are your favorite?

Changed the Crackers and Chips

It dawned on me that many people might want to switch to organics, but know brands they should buy, or where to start. Changing the foods you eat on a regular basis takes time, one thing at a time. I have researched every company whose product we buy. I wanted to know where it came, how it was grown, how they made it into whatever it was, in this case crackers and chips.

Location is important to our family to because even though it is not talked about, some states have higher levels of radiation than others. Radiation? You may be asking, yes, radiation from Japan. So, that is an issue for us as well.

The brand I selected for crackers and chips for our family is Late July in MA. They have a nice selection, I replaced our Ritz crackers with Late July's Classic Rich Crackersgreat with cheese. We also purchase their Round Saltine Crackers great in soups, and chili. My oldest loves the Bite Size Crackers Cheddar Cheese,so long Cheez It, there's a new GMO free cracker in town. You should know that the crackers are made in a plant that also processes milk, soy, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts for allergy purposes. They have mini Cheddar Cheese bites, and peanut butter sandwich crackers as well which are like the Ritz Bites, but we have not had those.

They have a nice selection of chips which are made 16 whole grains, and is gluten free. My favorites are the Dude Ranch Multigrain Tortilla Chips tangy sour cream with a blend of herbs and spices. Mild Green Mojo has green chiles with cheese and a hint of lime, yum. Other flavors we have not tried are Summertime Blues, Sweet Potato, Red Hot Mojo, Sub Lime, and Sea Salt. I did have the Sub Lime once, and those were really good too.

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Celebration Giveaway!

My online friend and fellow blogger has reached her 600th post on Back to the Basics. She wants to celebrate, and wants all of you to be included in her achievement. I have offered to join her in her amazing giveaway, which includes more than what is here. So, I invite you to get to learn more about Mary, and please indulge your self in her giveaway.

GOOD MORNING!!!!!!

Can you tell I'm excited this morning?  It just dawned on me several days ago that I was inching towards post #600.  I decided to  get together a super fun giveaway for YOU and share a bit about me and what's been going on.

Who is Mary?

I'm not your average "Martha."  I love cooking and creating although my "crafting" is a bit more Mad Scientist than Suzy Homemaker.

My husband Doc is a Chiropractor and together we own a wellness-based chiropractic office.  We have 2 sweet fur babies Rocky and Lucy who make the occasional appearance on the blog.  I have worked in chiropractic offices for 12 years as of this month!

The garden is my stress relief and at the moment it's a mess!  I created Back to the Basics as a way to share health information when I became more interested in health and GMOs back in 2009.  I also blog over at Mary's Kitchen.  After a break from blogging I came back in full swing with Mary's Heirloom Seeds and the fight against GMOs.

Mary's Heirloom Seeds continues to grow with the awakening of people around the world to the dangers of GMOs and the disgusting chemicals and pesticides used in conventional growing around the world. If you're looking for rare seed varieties or REAL Heirloom, non-GMO varieties Mary's Heirloom Seeds has got you covered!

In August this year I decided to take the next step and opened up a super cool booth at the Yellow Green Farmer's Market as well as offering Workshops in our office in Hollywood, FL.  The first 2 workshops have been such a success that I have 2 more planned for October.  I'm really excited for the future while enjoying the present!

The Giveaway

I have decided to offer several different prizes for the 600 Celebration.  There will be 4 different winners!  Prizes include:

Garden Gift Basket
Basket includes 24 peat pellets, 1 pair women's size medium gloves, plant markers and4 packs of heirloom, non-gmo seeds
 
"Basil 3 Ways" Seed Combo Pack
 Get all 3 varieties we carry of organic, Non-GMO, heirloom Basil Seeds.

 

Mary's Organic Sprouting Kit 
Includes: wide-mouth glass jar (quart size),  lid with screen, 2 oz.  Organic sprout seeds and detailed sprouting instructions.

 

Mary's Real Food Cookbook
"To me, real food means homemade.  It's simple, healthy food with an occasional decadent dessert.  The book would not be complete with out Great-Grandma's 14 Karat Cake.  Recipes include a mix of traditional, exotic, light and sinful all in one compact book."

 
1 Month Ad Space @ Back to the Basics

And More!

Over the next few days I'll be sharing Product Reviews, Guest posts and DIY Projects to celebrate.  Also, World Food Day is Saturday, October 12.  Do you know where the nearest event is taking place?  I do!  Stay tuned!

The giveaway is LIVE and will end Wednesday, October 16th at Midnight.  The Ad Space is open to ALL countries but I reserve the right to refuse ads based on content. The rest of the prizes are open to residents of the US and Canada.

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Herbs for Pre-Menopause/ Menopause

At 48 I realize I have to think about pre-menopause, aghh really? I don't feel like I am 48, but none the less I am and took out my handy book "Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health" by Rosemary Gladstar.

Rosemary has a whole section in this book for woman's health. There are seven herbs just for the female system even if you are not at that point in your life like I am. If you are you would want to go to page 227 for the "Essential Supplements For Menopause.

Dong quai is known as the woman's herb it is great for over all gynecological issues, uterine tonic, hormone regulator, circulatory system, and high in minerals especially iron. DO NOT use this herb if you are menstruating or pregnant. You can take two capsules three times a day, eat 1/8 of the root, or take 1/4 teaspoon of the tincture two to three times a day.

Calcium goes without saying we know how important it is for bone health which will help to prevent osteoporosis, but did you know it also prevents hot flashes. There are many foods that contain calcium such as almonds, kale, spinach, nettle, and of course cultured milk products such as yogurt.

Ginseng is a great tonic herb, builds life force slowly, great for long term deficiencies and imbalances.  A steady flow of grounded well balanced energy, also aids to eliminate mood swings and depression.I eat 1/8 inch of root daily, you can also make a tincture and take 1/4 teaspoon twice a day.

Iron is beneficial for robust health, high energy, and helps keep blood oxygen rich. If you are exhausted, fatigued, or stressed it could be your iron is low. There are large selection of foods listed in the book that are high in iron including alfalfa, cereal grains, eggs, oats, and more. There are also herbal sources such as Herbal Iron Syrup, horsetail, nettle, parsley, spinach, wheat germ and more.

Spirulina by weight, 55 - 70 percent protein, concentrated amounts of B vitamins (helps strengthen the nervous system) and gamma-linolenic acid helps prevent degenerative diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis. Take 1-2 tablespoons of powder or 6 capsules daily.

Vitamin E is a great nutrient for the reproductive system, a specific remedy for hot flashes, muscle cramps, and vaginal dryness. Various foods are mentioned like whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, bee pollen and others. It is often recommended for those going through menopause, 400-600 I.U. a day. CAUTION if you have diabetes, rheumatic heart, or high blood pressure should not exceed 50 I.U. daily, consult with health practitioner first.

To  learn more about natural healthy pre-menopause or menopause herbs I highly recommend this book. There are recipes for various tincture geared toward menopause along with more useful information. Also this book is not just for woman's health there is a section for men, children, elders, stress and anxiety, every day ailments, and beauty. There is also 175 teas, tonics, oils, salves, tinctures and other natural remedies for the whole family.

I purchased mine through The Bulk Herb Store for $16.95. Please consider using the affiliate link on the right if you would like to purchase this book. Note I did not write this as a way of getting others to use my affiliate link. These herbs have been helping me so I thought I would share my source of information.

I am not a doctor, this is strictly for educational purposes only. Always consult with you health care provider before taking natural remedies.


Do you have a go to natural book in your personal library?

Update, I just got The Bulk Herb Store newsletter and was happy to see that this book is one of the specials for June. Get it for $11.87 using code JUNHOM, once again please consider using the affiliate link on the right.

This post shared on Wildcrafting Wednesday and here.

Teaching Children About Herbs

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Mountain Rose Herbs and Learning Herbs dot com have put together a book club for kids to learn about herbs. This is done through various ways, stories, coloring pages, recipes, games, crafts, and so much more.

This program was designed by Kimberly Gallagher, wife of John Gallagher founder of Learning Herbs dot com. The book club runs for 13 months, each month you and your child/children will have access to one title of the book series "Herb Fairies," a magical tale of plants and their remedies. This is not just an ordinary book club this is a learning system for children.

The cost for the book club is $97, WAIT!!! This is for a LIFE TIME, so you can use it as much as you like when you like. Just added today April 11. 2013 payment plan, start for just $37, and then make two additional monthly payments of $37 go here, and scroll all the way to the bottom. Okay another up date came in my email this morning, you can test drive one book for FREE!!! What a great way for homeschoolers to do science, fun, hands on, education. You can easily use this for children at different levels allowing one curriculum for various children. Even if you don't homeschool this is a great way to teach children about the herbs around them, and their healing properties.

Books are available in various formats, hard copy (on demand), PDF, Kindle, I Pad, all other e-readers, tablets, and smart phones. These are chapter books which consist of 40-50 pages each with full color illustrations. The books are meant to target children between the ages of 5-12 however, it is said that all age groups love these books. You also get an audio for use with any MP3 player, great for non-readers. Now read on to find out more about this unique book club.

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It is actually a web site where you have access to the books in all their formats (except hard copies which also has an additional charge), items to create a journal, coloring pages/posters, recipes,  even a discussion board, and more. Children will experience various fairies, male and female, whose names relate to a particular herb and their characteristics also coincide with that herb. One thing I think is really cool is that the fairies are not only various ages, but also represent the ethnic group from the country the herb is native to.

Children will learn how to identify herbs in the wild, how to harvest them, their medicinal properties, and how to make various recipes with them. Through this children will be more likely to try the homemade healing remedies because they are creating them with you.

Hurry, there are only 5 days to join, and then it will be closed until the spring of 2014. Why is that you are wondering? Well that is just another awesome point of this book club, children will learn through out the growing season about the different herbs blooming during each season.

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If that is not enough there are two freebies, "Herbal Roots" is a magazine your child/children will receive each month for the 13 months of the book club. The herb contained in each issue will coincide with the herb in each book being studied. There are song, puzzles, games, recipes, and so much more.  Just added today you also get "Herbal Remedies for Children," a 93 page e-book full of information for the cold & flu season, plus more such as remedies for teething, and tummy aches.
 
 For more info on this amazing book club visit Learning Herbs and just scroll down. If you would like to view the promotional video along with watching the testimony included or just sign up than just click here.

You only have five days, and one day is already gone the club opened yesterday April 9, 2013, so hurry up so you don't miss this great teaching opportunity!






  Book One: Stellaria’s Big Find

"Imagine the excitement of four children playing in the park when they discover a real, live fairy. Not just any fairy, but Stellaria, the chickweed fairy. Chickweed is one of their favorite healing plants and it turns out Stellaria was looking for them. She needs the children’s help to restore the fading magic in the Fairy Herb Garden. When Stellaria takes them to her fairy home, the children find that restoring the magic means facing a troll. Can they figure out how to use chickweed to heal the troll’s ailments? Will they be able to solve the riddle to guess her name?"                       Taken From the Learning Herbs Web Site



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Organic Foods Worth the Price?

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Little by little we have made changes in were we shop, and the foods we buy. I have heard others complain that organic food is more expensive, yes it is, but it is worth it for various reasons.

First off organic food is more natural, and contains the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need. I found before we started eating organic that even after I ate I was still hungry, or was I? No, I wasn't hungry for food, but for the vitamins, and nutrients our food no longer contains. Since I have started eating more organic foods I am no longer feeling like I need to eat all day. As a matter of fact the whole family is experiencing this.

Secondly because organic foods contain the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need we don't need to eat as much. I used to allow the boys one bag of chips a month, they would last a couple of days and be gone. We have started buying rice chips from the local health store, and they are lasting a longer time. I also want to mention that the bag is smaller than one we used to buy. My 16 year old, who has had a hard time with the changes, loves them and commented on how he likes them better because not only do they taste good they fill him up.

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Another point is how organic foods effect your body. Before we changed to organic foods I would never eat bread, for the first time in years I have eaten bread. Why didn't I eat bread? Because it would plaster it self around my abs like paper mache, how unattractive is that, plus I always put on weight. Well for the first time in years I ate bread yesterday, we picked up some raisin bread from the health store that is awesome, and contains no flour.

 I had the same problem with mayonnaise, and very little of it, I mean I love egg salad, deviled eggs, and other dishes that are made with mayonnaise, but really had to limit my self.  Now with the organic mayonnaise I don't have dread what it will do to my body because it does nothing but nurture it now.


One last point to make, my husband drives a truck three days a week for 12 1/2 hours. He used to take a granola bar, and crackers with him, one day he stopped in the health store for some snacks instead. Turns out he was full faster, and did not get hungry for a longer period of time. 

In conclusion buying organic may cost more, but you don't eat as much, so are you really spending more?  I don't think so, here are some of the organic products we have been eating and love.

Lundberg Rice Chips wheat and gluten free my husband loves the sea salt, while my 16 year old prefers the sesame & seaweed, and I use the Santa Fe barbecue in my taco salad replacing the Doritos Nacho Cheese.

Ezekiel 4:9 Cinnamon Raisin bread from Food for Life100% whole grain bread, low glycemic, and complete protein. Be aware that this bread is pricy, we paid just over $7 for a loaf, but I will buy it again.

Spectrum Organic Mayonnaise from Spectrum Organic Products made with cage free eggs gluten free, other types of mayonnaise also available.

There is also an organic mix my husband loves for energy, but it is all gone, and health store was all out. So, these are some of the organic products we are buying and love.

Yes!!!! Organic foods are worth the price for our health. 

Do you have a favorite organic food? I would love to hear about it.

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