tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110625022024-03-07T13:28:46.337-05:00Living NaturallyFind recipes, advice, news items, and tips on living a healthy lifestyle. Includes gardening, herbal medicine, exercise, and gourmet cooking using foods from the wild and garden.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.comBlogger465125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-45899852811227787302010-11-03T17:15:00.000-04:002010-11-03T17:15:18.054-04:00My Favorite SuperfoodsThere are some foods that pack such a nutritional punch that they're considered superfoods. I don't know about you, but I've heard this term a lot lately. So I thought I'd make a list of all my favorites. I try to eat at least one or two of these foods each day.<br />
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<b>Chia Seeds. </b>These seeds are very good for you. I know that you are probably thinking about the chia pet right now. But <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/buy-chia-seeds">chia seeds</a> are also a nutritious and tasty addition to your foods. Try sprinkling it on salads!<br />
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<b>Flax seeds. </b>I love the nutty taste of flax seeds. Here in Germany (where I am currently living) they are fond of including flax seeds in breads. I think that is a lovely idea! These seeds are a good source of healthy fats.<br />
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<b>Berries. </b>I've been really into elderberries and blueberries lately and both are very good for you because of the antioxidants. Elderberries are also a good cold and flu remedy.<br />
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<b>Seaweed. </b>I can eat seaweed right out of the package, especially nori. It is rich in minerals and very nourishing.<br />
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If you haven't tried some of these, now is a good time to start!<br />
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</script></span></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-65665915383058330172010-11-03T16:57:00.001-04:002010-11-03T17:01:23.857-04:00Home Air Purifiers Improve Air QualityFor most people, allergy season is over. Not for me - I seem to be plagued by them year round. Though I've never taken an allergy test, I think I may be allergic to mold.<br />
So I finally caved in and bought an <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/best_home_air_purifiers">air purifier</a>. I have to say, it's really made a big difference in how well I breathe!<br />
Here are some tips for choosing one:<br />
<ul><li>Buying a HEPA filter is a good first step. Those are supposed to really help control allergies. </li>
</ul><ul><li>Shop around to find the best deals. There are several different kinds of HEPA filters out there.</li>
</ul><ul><li>Decide whether you will buy it online or not. If you buy it online, stick with sellers who have good reputations, such as Amazon.</li>
</ul>I turn it on at night year round and keep it on all day during the spring and summer. I put it in the bedroom and it really helps improve the air quality.<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=cf6ca2e1-2b7d-41a5-b25e-c429deece78a" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-49037064496775715422010-07-08T14:32:00.001-04:002010-07-08T14:33:37.918-04:00Review of Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights Cookbook<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=livingnatur00-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0061450995&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>I am currently reading Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl which at the time looked like a delightful little cookbook to read. I was right, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find that Miss Dahl used to be a lot bigger than she is now. In fact, I've heard that she's gotten quite thin. Her name seems a little familiar - is it possible that I knew of her back then, back in her model days?<br />
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In any case, her cookbook is a delight. It's not a weight loss guide but she does share her story from her modeling days when she was a few sizes larger than she is now. She said she was never classified as a full figured model, she just simply modeled. The cookbook doesn't even necessarily have "low fat" foods - in fact just the opposite. Some of the portions are generous. She loves to eat. The recipes have butter. And let me just say that the recipes look outstanding.<br />
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But one bit of advice that I did read in her narrative has been infinitely more helpful than anything I've read in any so-called diet books. Weight loss is about equilibrium. Sticking with regular meal times, eating relatively healthy foods, and having everything in moderation. It is the equilibrium comment that really got my mind going. When you are losing weight, you do fall into a rhythm. It isn't about dieting but rather feeding our bodies with the healthiest foods available.<br />
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Do I recommend Sophie Dahl's cookbook? Hell ya! The stories are great, the pics are fab, and I can't wait to try out the recipes. They all look outstanding. It really is okay to cook and eat and it is possible to still lose weight. An inspiring message indeed! <br />
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</script></span></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-82615802456460966622010-06-28T04:50:00.004-04:002010-06-28T07:53:45.236-04:00You Like This Blog, Don't You!I took a browse at my keywords for this blog today and a lot of you are finding me by typing the blog name directly into Google or whichever browser you use.<br />
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It made me feel bad! I've had other projects and have let all my blogger blogs go. But the popularity of it (even though I haven't posted since February) is making me second guess the decision to let this blog go.<br />
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I have you to thank for that. If I didn't see that my blog gets a good amount of traffic and that people are actually seeking it out by name, I would likely still be ignoring it.<br />
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So, I just wanted to stop and and say thanks! Thanks for reading my content and hopefully you're learning something. I am passionate about the topic and I guess it shows.<br />
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Oh yes, and expect more posts in the future. I am going to start posting here more regularly. I miss it!<br />
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=a52d0ddd-5ca2-4eed-be7c-7320a02777fa" style="border: medium none; float: right;" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script defer="defer" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" type="text/javascript">
</script></span></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-84597363298678904122010-02-17T10:53:00.004-05:002010-02-17T11:18:16.557-05:00Herbal Remedies for PMS<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 169px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oenothera_speciosa0.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Oenothera_speciosa0.jpg/300px-Oenothera_speciosa0.jpg" alt="An evening-primrose flower, showing the cross-..." style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 159px; height: 120px;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Oenothera_speciosa0.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p>I don't know about you, but when I have PMS I don't like to reach for the standard over the counter medicines like Midol. For one, they don't really do anything to help the problem itself - they're really just designed to make you feel better.<br /><br />As an herbalist, I believe that eating right, exercising, and balancing your hormones gently with herbs is a better approach. In other words, I like to use <a href="http://www.brighthub.com/health/alternative-medicine/articles/55057.aspx">natural herbs for PMS</a> instead of relying on medication to just numb the pain, relieve the anxiety, or to give me energy.<br /><br />The link I shared above is for an article I wrote that talks about some top herbs for PMS. In the article I listed<br /><ul><li>Chaste tree berry</li></ul><ul><li>Licorice root</li></ul><ul><li>Dandelion</li></ul><ul><li>Evening Primrose Oil</li></ul>All of these are considered wonderful herbal remedies for PMS.<br /><br />In the herbal tradition that I follow (the wise woman tradition) we don't believe in shocking our body with harsh herbal medicines and complicated blends. We believe in nourishing our bodies with the right nutrients and using herbs that also fit the "nourishment" purpose.<br /><br />In looking at the list, the first two natural remedies I'd try are dandelion (especially fresh spring greens right from the lawn) and evening primrose oil. And bear in mind that it may take several months for your hormones to balance out so you may not notice that much of a difference right away.<br /><br />Do you have success treating your PMS naturally?<br /><br /><br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/94c213af-7fc7-4bd3-a7d6-5a6d76aa4bf2/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=94c213af-7fc7-4bd3-a7d6-5a6d76aa4bf2" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-3892900253299642642010-02-16T09:28:00.003-05:002010-02-16T09:49:54.332-05:00Natural Living, Weight Loss, Herbal Remedies - My Big Welcome!<p class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; display: block; width: 152px;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Aya-preparation.jpg"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Aya-preparation.jpg/300px-Aya-preparation.jpg" alt="Ayahuasca being prepared in the Napo region of..." style="border: medium none ; display: block; width: 142px; height: 126px;" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Aya-preparation.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></p>Living naturally is the first blog I ever started. I never did shut this blog down when I stopped writing here and I must say, I miss it! I thought I'd move on to starting a blog on its own domain but you know what? I just started a blog on making money online and I essentially didn't even have a space where I could share my herbal knowledge with all of you aside from my<a href="http://www.ehow.com/members/kohuether.html?view=3rd"> eHow articles</a>.<br /><br />But I've decided to come back.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Weight Loss Journey<br /><br /></span></span> I've recently started getting reacquainted with living a healthy life. I haven't been in shape for some time (well, I'm in shape - but I just don't look that great in a bikini at the moment). So part of the reason I decided to start posting here again is to share with you all my progress.<br /><br />I haven't weight myself in a few months - not because I'm scared - I know what the scale will say - but because my scale has been packed in a box for a very long time. But if I do this weight loss thing right, I won't need a scale. I'll be able to tell by the way I look and the way my clothes fit when progress is made.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">And Yes, I'll Share Herbal Stuff Too<br /><br /></span></span>It's simply too fun not to share, don't you agree? Herbal remedies are accessible and fun. I love wildcrafting when I can, blending my own tea blends, and in general living as healthy of a lifestyle as possible.<br /><br />You see, I got away from this for a while - that's why I gained weight. But I'm putting a stop to it. The same time I'm getting in touch with my Herbalist self, I suspect I'll lose weight. The two are definitely related.<br /><br />Anyway, just thought I'd write an update. I don't quite no what my plan is yet... other than eating right and exercising. If I try to have too many rules, it has the opposite affect for me.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/64a3bc5e-5acf-45ed-b90a-08d0b3517cac/" title="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=64a3bc5e-5acf-45ed-b90a-08d0b3517cac" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-16627749036237743992008-10-20T01:49:00.002-04:002008-10-20T01:57:50.803-04:00Rosemary - The Herb of the WeekWhen I was working towards my Diploma of Herbal Studies, I went through an "herb of the week" program in addition. The rules were simple. Each week I chose an herb to learn about and use. For example, one week I adopted Lavender to be my studied plant. I even made bread that had lavender flowers in it.<br /><br />I've decided to revive this tradition. So, I chose Rosemary to be my plant of choice this week. This means that I will cook with it, use it for beauty, make ointments - whatever I can think to do with it. I believe this to be the best way to get to know a plant.<br /><br />My first assignment? I am going to buy a fresh rosemary branch and stick it in a bottle of wine to use as a heart tonic. I read in my Australasian course materials that it is a good tonic for low blood pressure which is something I am afflicted with. Plus, I cook with wine all the time and rosemary infused wine will give my food an extra kick.<br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/544e2509-94f7-451e-8b9f-0926476d48c0/" title="Zemified by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=544e2509-94f7-451e-8b9f-0926476d48c0" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]" /></a></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-77434758251549726722008-10-06T13:00:00.002-04:002008-10-06T13:07:05.799-04:00Keeping Your Liver Healthy with HerbsThe liver is one of those organs that we often don't think about until it stops working. Whenever we drink or eat something, or liver steps in. It helps metabolize fats and the foods we eat and helps regulate our weight.<br />So what's the problem? It has TOO MUCH work to do. Obesity, taking medication, drinking too much, etc can all affect the way the liver functions. In other words, it is easy for the liver to get overworked which throws the body out of balance.<br /><br />In Chinese Medicine, practitioners often help their clients restore liver health as a vital first step to any healing program. I believe in doing something similar. But instead of waiting for health to decline, I like to take herbs that are good for the liver on a constant basis.<br /><br />Here are some of the herbs I use:<br /><ul><li>Milk Thistle</li><li>Dandelion Root</li><li>Burdock Root</li></ul>I go into greater detail about the herbs in an article I wrote: <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2094510_use-herbs-liver-health.html" target="_blank">How to Use Herbs for Liver Health. </a><br /><br />I also enjoy certain foods that have liver cleansing properties. Foods like lemons, artichokes, and watermelon are a vital part of my diet.<br /><br /><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://reblog.zemanta.com/zemified/ab416304-c78c-458e-bad1-d5e9a18b450b/" title="Zemified by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none ; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=ab416304-c78c-458e-bad1-d5e9a18b450b" alt="Reblog this post [with Zemanta]"></a></div>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-26249170411117212042008-09-24T14:27:00.002-04:002008-09-24T14:39:19.345-04:00Living a Healthy Lifestyle is all About SimplicityI've learned the hard way that we tend to over complicate the process of being healthy and fit. We go to the gym all the time, we restrict our calories and measure our food portions. While this is good to some extent - things can get complicated and frustrating rather quickly.<br /><br />Instead, I've discovered that simplicity reaps for more rewards than complexity. When we want to lose weight or become healthy, most of us reach for the self help books and magazines. I don't know about you, but when I do this it tends to overload my brain. When that happens, I don't do anything.<br /><br />But when I keep things simple, great things start to happen. I lose weight. I get fit and healthy. My health improves and I don't get as many colds. My allergy symptoms nearly dissapear. Here's what I try to remember:<br /><ul><li>Maintain a simple yet balanced workout program that features activities that I love doing.</li><li>Drink plenty of water and herbal tea.<br /></li><li>Eat lots of whole grains, a good amount of protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables</li><li>Take a time released food based vitamin daily.</li></ul>And that's it. Losing weight and being healthy is <span style="font-style: italic;">that simple</span>. Yet, I often forget that. For more of my thoughts on this subject, read an article I wrote on eHow.com called <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2091345_enhance-health-simple-living.html" target="_blank">How to Enhance Your Life Through Simple Living.</a>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-4944456870998179722008-09-23T20:07:00.002-04:002008-09-23T20:15:51.455-04:00Treating Menstrual Cramps with HerbsI get menstrual cramps pretty much every month. Some months it's worse than others. And each time, I try to resist the urge to take painkillers like ibuprofin because I always get an upset stomach from them. I couldn't pull this off without herbs, however.<br /><br />There are two ways that I use herbs to tret menstrual cramps. The first way is by using the plants to prevent cramping in the first place. I take stinging nettle and oatstraw throughout the month, which help a lot.<br /><br />When I actually have the cramps, I use the following herbs to help bring me relief. I don't use them all at once - I'll just pick one or two and stick with that.<br /><ul><li>Chamomile</li><li>Ginger</li><li>Basil</li><li>Peppermint</li><li>Cramp bark</li></ul><p>I use a tea for all of them except the cramp bark. For that, I take a tincture. I never mix them - I just take one plant at a time because they don't seem to mix well together. The exception to this is with peppermint and chamomile.</p><p>That can help you get started. For more information, check out an article I wrote on ehow called <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2091457_relieve-menstrual-cramps-herbs.html">How to Relieve Menstrual Cramps with Herbs.</a></p>Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-26136599314097726022008-09-20T01:43:00.003-04:002008-09-20T01:55:41.970-04:00Using Herbs for Weight Loss the Safe WayI've been in weight loss mode lately. I'm doing it the old fashioned way - more exercise and healthy eating. But as an herbalist, I can't help but consider herbs that will aid my weight loss efforts. I know, this concept has mixed reviews by some - but hear me out. :)<br /><br />My first experience with taking herbs for weight loss occurred when ephedra was popular for this, and it was not banned at the time. As an herbalist, I knew that it was utterly ridiculous to try it because of the side effects, but I went for it anyway. Ephedra is not traditionally used as a weight loss helper in the herbal world - it is known as a great respiratory herb and can help with asthma and other lung related problems. Sudafed is derived from this plant.<br /><br />Anyway, I had an odd reaction to it. It accelerated my heart rate and made me sleepy - the total opposite of how it was supposed to work. In fact, I had to take long naps when I took it. Needless to say, it didn't work.<br /><br />Over five years later, I know better. Now, I believe that the best approach to using herbs for weight loss is to focus on keeping the body healthy and strong and focusing on the liver. The liver is responsible for fat metabolism. And, since it tends to be overworked, especially if we are overweight, taking medication, drink too much alcohol, etc it is safe to say that if the liver is healthy it can really help. So, I'd focus on herbs like milk thistle, dandelion, and yellow dock to help with weight loss.<br /><br />I wrote an article at ehow on <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2094370_lose-weight-herbs.html" target="_blank">How to Lose Weight With Herbs</a> that goes into this concept in more detail. I also mention herbs such as green tea and calming herbs such as chamomile to also help with weight loss.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-15126694573579643262008-09-02T00:33:00.002-04:002008-09-02T00:38:13.347-04:00New Weight Loss Blog - Watch Me SucceedI love showing people that doing certain things is possible. I currently have a goal to lose weight but I don't believe in diets. So, I started a blog called The <a href="http://rebeldieter.com/">Rebel Dieter</a> - it's all about my quest to lose those extra pounds by changing my diet and lifestyle. The focus is on becoming healthier, not on dieting and deprivation.<br /><br />Diets make me feel obsessed with food and that's the last thing I need when trying to shed unwanted pounds. I've learned that losing weight is all about moving the body and feeding it the right things to keep it healthy. The blog is all about how I'll go about doing that.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-35796359788642567012008-05-14T23:45:00.003-04:002008-05-15T00:12:47.858-04:00How Do You Like Your Tea?I absolutely love drinking tea. I drink on average four cups a day. Green tea is my go-to but lately I've been enjoying Rooibos and fruity blends. The fruitier blends are wonderful iced and sweetened with a little honey.<br /><br />One thing I love to do is slice up fruit like peaches and oranges and add it to my iced tea pitcher. I take out the tea bag after around ten minutes of steeping but leave the fruit in. The fruit adds natural sweetness without the extra sugar and gives black tea, which I usually find pretty boring, a little more interesting.<br /><br />You can also spice things up by creating a <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2080481_tea-ritual.html">tea ritual</a>. I like to create a quite moment with relaxing herbs and quiet music. Sometimes, tea is about more than just drinking a beverage.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-23957336145565213732008-05-09T10:38:00.002-04:002008-05-09T12:31:00.529-04:00Are Natural Remedies Safe?I love using natural remedies and herbal remedies when I have an ailment or to simply boost my health. But it wasn't until I really sat down and studied Herbal Medicine seriously at the Australasian College of Health Sciences that I realized that herbs can have side effects.<br /><br />Natural doesn't necessarily mean safe.<br /><br />I'm not saying this to stress people out, but it serves as a good warning. Certain people shouldn't take certain herbs. For example, if you retain water or have high blood pressure, you should stay away from licorice root. Browsing the herbal tea aisle at whole foods I can find at least three different blends with licorice in it. And you can't rely on the company to have a disclaimer on the box. Some don't. In fact, most don't.<br /><br />If you want to get a really good resource, check out the German Commission E - there's nothing like it in the United States. This was a project funded by the German government. Experts got together and assessed the positive and negative data concerning different herbal remedies and published what they found. I own a copy and it has been invaluable to me.<br /><br />Visit my page at Ehow for more advice on <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2080477_learn-herbs-safely.html" target="_blank">how to use herbs safely</a>.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-59673025055303814222008-05-07T10:59:00.002-04:002008-05-07T11:15:09.598-04:00What to Do If You Have DiabetesI may shock you with this one. But the first thing you should do if you have diabetes is take your insulin on schedule. Some cases are more advanced than others. But still - your body needs insulin and if it doesn't produce it on its own, you'll need to take it as prescribed to you.<br /><br />However, there are ways you can manage your disease. By eating a healthy diet, exercising, and supplementing with certain herbs, you can help your body adapt much better. And, if you have Type II diabetes or pre-diabetes, making diet and lifestyle changes may reverse it. If you have type I, however, the best thing you can do is learn how to keep it in check.<br /><br />Learn <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2080492_use-herbs-diabetes.html" target="_blank">how to treat your diabetes with herbs</a>. There are some herbs that can help normalize blood sugar that are a real help to those with both Type I and Type II diabetes.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-66973074518385312022008-04-17T21:16:00.002-04:002008-04-17T21:31:06.271-04:00First Weed Walk of the SeasonI spent the night at my parent's house. When I woke up this morning, I realized that not only is it a beautiful day, but that the lawn is filled with early spring greens. My dad is an organic gardener so I can browse the lawn at will.<br /><br />We walked through the lawn together and he told me stories about my great grandmother. She came from Greece and would always eat the dandelion leaves. She made tea out of the flowers, at the leaves, and roasted the roots for dandelion coffee. The art skipped two generations before it got to me, it seems.<br /><br />In the end, I picked enough greens to make a salad. I also picked some cleavers for my dad to dry and make a tea out of. Here are the greens that I included in my salad:<br /><ul><li>dandelion</li><li>chicory</li><li>mullein</li><li>yarrow</li><li>clover</li><li>cleavers</li></ul>I seasoned it with a lemon vinaigrette and topped it with goat cheese. I had artichoke hearts and Greek Easter rolls on the side.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-13739752169622154402008-04-07T14:08:00.002-04:002008-04-07T14:14:39.419-04:00Herbal Hair Rinse for Natural BeautyIn order to keep my hair shiny and healthy, I like to make an herbal hair rinse. My basic recipe includes:<br /><ul><li>apple cider vinegar</li><li>herbal tea</li></ul>I put essential oils, too - but that's optional.<br /><br />The basic formula is 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and two cups of herbal tea or infusion. If I choose to put essential oil, I add 5 drops or so.<br /><br />Why do I do this? It keeps my hair shiny, healthy, and strong. I also use it to problem solve. If my scalp is flaky I choose an herb like parsley. If I want to enhance my dark highlights, I use rosemary. If I want light highlights, I use chamomile.<br /><br />I wrote an article at Ehow about this on <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2080238_herbal-hair-rinses.html" target="_blank">How to Make Herbal Hair Rinses.</a> Check it out for more detailed information.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-70430517547030273302008-04-02T10:25:00.002-04:002008-04-02T10:32:22.461-04:00Training for a Marathon - My Long RunsThe clock is ticking. The Vienna marathon is on April 27. Am I prepared? I think I'll be okay. But, I need to get in two more long runs before I start to taper. One run will be 14 miles, another will be 18 miles. And that's all I'm doing.<br /><br />But when am I going to do them? I have to do my 14 mile run sometime this week. I looked at the weather and today is too windy. It's supposed to rain on the weekend except on Sunday. So, I guess I'll do it on Sunday.<br /><br />Here's my workout schedule:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday (Today)</span>:6 mile run, bodyweight exercises<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday: </span>6 mile run, bodyweight exercises<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday: </span>walk, bodyweight exercises<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday: </span>rest<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday: </span>14 mile run<br /><br />Time is ticking. I need to get these runs in so I can taper my mileage before the marathon!Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-76522497924419385212008-04-01T10:04:00.003-04:002008-04-01T10:06:49.992-04:00A Daily Walk in the WoodsI've started this little tradition - I take a daily walk in the woods. I do it both for fitness, and to connect with nature. We live disconnected lives. I sit in front of the computer all day, do housework and run errands.<br /><br />But it is so important to spend some time outdoors. It helps me stay in touch with the herbalist side. And, this is an exciting time. I go out every day to look for signs of life and that spring is coming. I want to see the plants push up out of the earth.<br /><br />In about another month, I bet the leaves will start popping out and the spring plants will be in bloom. Some things are starting to come up, like daffodils. But I think spring may be late.<br /><br />My walk is a 3-4 mile trek in some conservation lands by my house. If there's no one around, I stop halfway and do some calisthenics, too.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-73411600874738514372008-03-31T11:41:00.002-04:002008-03-31T11:49:13.123-04:00Chamomile - One of My Favorite HerbsChamomile is one of those herbs that is highly versatile. It is my favorite nervine herb because it is so gentle. I know that I can drink it in the middle of the day to unwind and I won't need to take a nap, unlike the stronger nervine herbs like skullcap.<br /><br />But, there are also other things that I use chamomile for. Here's a list:<br /><ul><li>break fevers</li><li>hair rinse to bring out light highlights</li><li>gentle pain relief</li><li>relieves cramps</li><li>tummy aches and other stomach problems</li></ul>My favorite way to take this is with a tea. If you can find a brand from Germany, they have the best chamomile flowers - I can smell them blooming!<br /><br />Do you want to learn more about chamomile? Learn <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2080193_chamomile-health.html" target="_blank">How to Take Chamomile for Health</a> at ehow.com.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-25456301707718166572008-03-27T14:47:00.004-04:002008-05-05T12:09:15.460-04:00Relaxing Herbal Tea Blend RecipeThere is something about drinking relaxing herbal tea that can really help keep you focused and stress free. If you can't find the herbs in your nearest health food store, check out mountainroseherbs.com. All the herbs listed are dried.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Relaxation Herbal Tea Recipe<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>2 tbs. chamomile flowers<br />2 tbs. oatstraw<br />1 tbs. spearmint<br />1 tbs. rose petals<br />1 tsp. hibiscus<br />1 tsp. dried orange peels<br /><br />Add all the herbs to an airtight amber glass jar. Shake to mix and store away from light. When ready for your tea, brew 1.5 teaspoons for every cup of hot water.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />Do you want more information about relaxing herbal teas? <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2070642_relaxing-herbal-tea.html" target="_blank">Check out</a> an article I wrote about it at ehow.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-89264861927838363042008-03-20T13:32:00.002-04:002008-12-10T23:14:36.154-05:00How to Identify Wild Plants Safely<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g7q4tce_pbs/R-KgxFulCXI/AAAAAAAAAFI/ytnaVzFDpmw/s1600-h/Red+Clover+II.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_g7q4tce_pbs/R-KgxFulCXI/AAAAAAAAAFI/ytnaVzFDpmw/s200/Red+Clover+II.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179879286641068402" /></a><br />Now that the warm weather is upon us where I live in New England, I'm excited to be able to go out in my yard or in the woods to look for my own herbal medicines. First, I'll look for chickweed which even starts growing under the snow. Dandelion is not too far behind and neither is violet or shephards purse.<br /><br />If you haven't done this before, I created a tutorial for you over at ehow on <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2070640_identify-wild-plant.html" target="_blank">How to Identify Wild Plants</a>.<br /><br />A lot of people avoid doing this because they think it is unsafe. Well, it isn't. I've been doing it for years. I mean, most people already know what plants like dandelion look like. Start with what you know. Learn about the plant, cook with it, drink it as a tea, etc... and then move on.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-80812976906990868442008-03-19T11:44:00.003-04:002008-03-19T11:48:46.455-04:00One of My Favorite Bath Care Companies - Lush<a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-2450223-10415709" target="_top"><br /><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-2450223-10415709" alt="Lush Skin Care Products" align="left" border="0" height="60" width="234" /></a> I thought I'd pay tribute today to one of my favorite skin and body care companies - Lush. I first found them in Vancouver, British Columbia back when they weren't available in the United States yet. This was almost ten years ago...<br /><br />The exciting thing about the company is that they make their products fresh and they actually have an expiration date. I love their shampoo bars (the one with coconut milk is my favorite) and their conditioner as well as their bath bombs. Check out their glitter ball - it's incredible. Smells so good and when you get out of the tub, you're covered head to toe in glitter.Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-14435184396265056262008-03-18T09:25:00.002-04:002008-03-18T09:29:56.319-04:00Cooking with Wild Spring GreensSpring is just around the corner - I can feel it! Every morning when I wake up, I hear the birds chirping away and the sun is shining through the window. <br /><br />For me, this means that the early spring greens such as dandelion, chicory, and chickweed will be pushing up through the earth as well as edible flowers such as violet. I love these early spring salads - it doesn't get any fresher than this.<br /><br />Dandelion and chicory both taste best in the early spring and the late fall. In the spring, you need to pick the leaves before the flowers pop up. Once the flowers appear, the plant gets really bitter.<br /><br />I like to squeeze a little lemon juice and olive oil over my salad once it's assembled. And goat cheese such as feta or ricotta salata is absolutely perfect. I wrote an ehow article about this called <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2070638_wild-herb-salad.html" target="_blank">How to Make a Wild Herb Salad</a>. Stop in and take a look!Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11062502.post-59079171859011005842008-03-15T11:02:00.002-04:002008-03-15T11:05:36.195-04:00Making Herbal InfusionsI love to use herbs on a daily basis to help enhance health. To do that, I often make a strong herbal infusion that is steeped for several hours. What this does is leech out the vitamins and minerals from the herb so that it can be more effective.<br /><br />You can't just use any herb to do this. My favorites are:<br /><ul><li>Stinging Nettle</li><li>Oatstraw</li><li>Lemon Balm</li><li>Red Clover</li></ul>You can use others, such as mullein, but those are the main ones. I have detail instructions on how to make an herbal infusion at <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2070636_herbal-infusions-health.html" target="_blank">ehow.com.</a> In fact, I have a whole collection of herbal articles (over 60 of them) on the site so you may want to stop and look around. :)Katherine Huetherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02809471117550750398noreply@blogger.com0