Home Air Purifiers Improve Air Quality

For 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.
So I finally caved in and bought an air purifier. I have to say, it's really made a big difference in how well I breathe!
Here are some tips for choosing one:

• Buying a HEPA filter is a good first step. Those are supposed to really help control allergies.

• Shop around to find the best deals. There are several different kinds of HEPA filters out there.

• Decide whether you will buy it online or not. If you buy it online, stick with sellers who have good reputations, such as Amazon.

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.

Review of Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights Cookbook

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?

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.

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.

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!

Herbal Remedies for PMS

Image via Wikipedia

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.

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 natural herbs for PMS instead of relying on medication to just numb the pain, relieve the anxiety, or to give me energy.

The link I shared above is for an article I wrote that talks about some top herbs for PMS. In the article I listed

• Chaste tree berry

• Licorice root

• Dandelion

• Evening Primrose Oil

All of these are considered wonderful herbal remedies for PMS.

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.

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.

Do you have success treating your PMS naturally?

Rosemary - The Herb of the Week

When 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.

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.

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.

Keeping Your Liver Healthy with Herbs

The 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.
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.

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.

Here are some of the herbs I use:

• Milk Thistle
• Dandelion Root
• Burdock Root

I go into greater detail about the herbs in an article I wrote: How to Use Herbs for Liver Health.

I also enjoy certain foods that have liver cleansing properties. Foods like lemons, artichokes, and watermelon are a vital part of my diet.