COVID or no COVID, here comes Spring
The jonquils and the wattles are flowering – along with grasses across the state – so it’s hayfever time. (Or seasonal rhinitis – which is its medical name.) If you get in early, there’s a lot you can do to minimise your symptoms and keep yourself well. Hayfever is essentially an immune system response – […]
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Articles, Health
Comments Off on Leave “ruminating” to the goats – restore your mind in nature
Leave “ruminating” to the goats – restore your mind in nature
It’s a scary time in Australia as COVID-19 escalates. Particularly in my Melbourne home, where we’ve just gone back into lockdown. Anxiety and stress can have short term and long term consequences. In these limited times most of us can still do one simple thing – and go for a walk in nature. This is […]
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What to do about Poor Sleep
There are three main organs in the body that respond to stress: The hypothalamus (manages the release of hormones and other physiological functions) The pituitary gland (receives signals from the nervous system) Together they control the adrenal glands that release hormones in response to stress. 3. The adrenal glands (near the kidneys) Together these are […]
Reading...Are you OK?
The next R-U-OK day in Australia isn’t until 10th September 2020. That’s WAY too far away. At the moment, probably every day could benefit from being an R-U-OK day. All of us are dealing with a world in crisis – at a level that hasn’t happened for 100 years! Even if you’re not in immediate […]
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Articles, Health, My Garden
Comments Off on Food and medicine Foraging: Warragul greens & Sage
Food and medicine Foraging: Warragul greens & Sage
Warragul Greens loves some sunshine and thrives on moisture. You can train it up and over fences too.
Next you can see Common Sage or Salvia officinalis. ‘Officinalis’ means this is the official species used botanical/herbal medicine.
Commonly used in cooking, sage helps ensure digestive processes work well: especially to muster our bile flow to break down consumed fats/oils. You can use sage fresh or dried for later use.
In herbal medicine sage has a broad sphere of action: antimicrobial (including antiviral) taken as a tea and/or gargle/mouthwash; improving cognition and memory, reduces excess perspiration (sweating) in fevers or during menopause, reduces milk flow in weaning mothers. Commonly used in upper respiratory tract infections like sore throat and sinus issues.
For best effect and safety of any herbal medicine you must consult a Practitioner to guide you on the most appropriate dose and preparation FOR YOU . Generally sage in its basic leaf form for cooking or tea is considered a very low risk herb. Easy to grow from cuttings. Let me know if you’d like to give it a go to grow. I have plenty to share. This plant has travelled around our garden for about 25 years!
jenie
Articles, Health, My Garden
Comments Off on Food and medicine Foraging Series: Warragul greens
Food and medicine Foraging Series: Warragul greens
Food Feast: Warragul Greens/New Zealand Spinach aka Tetragonia tetragonoides. Easy nutritious green to grow in your garden (likes moisture) and you can find it along the Aussie shorelines (tastes a bit saltier). High in Vit C, magnesium, phytonutrients and fibre, this food has been a favourite of Australian indigenous peoples and early European colonists and had a resurgence of interest as a Bush Tucker option easy to grow in our own gardens. The leaf is mild to the taste and soft to the palate so easily incorporated into pies, pestos, salads and salsas. It contains some oxalic acid so those with kidney issues consult with a Practitioner first if you are concerned.
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Partners in touch – connection and communication
I’ve been working in CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) for many years, and one powerful healing modality I use is massage. I find that teaching massage is enormous fun as just a little know-how and technique delivers a whole new experience. I’ve been running various Massage classes since 1992, and Massage for Couples (mostly at […]
Reading...The Changeology of Good Health
I recently discovered the work of Sydney’s Les Robinson on Enabling Change and his book on the art and science of “Changeology“. As I explored his website and resources, it occurred to me that it was as applicable to individual health improvement projects as to world-changing community and social change work. Here’s what the model […]
Reading...The iron deficiency that isn’t about iron
We meddle a lot with women’s bodies – contraception, HRT, low carb diets, extreme exercise. Our bodies aren’t machines – they’re complex chemical/electrical/biological systems. For some women, it gets even more complicated if they have food intolerances or chronic fatigue issues. Sometimes, when things get out of whack, the things we think to be CAUSING […]
Reading...HIIT – take the boring out of fitness
Back in July last year (2018) I watched Michael Mosley’s documentary on staying healthy despite living a busy life. He shared his research on different ways to stay fit and healthy. One solution he found a lot of evidence for was High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) without equipment at home. It made a lot […]
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