Breathe Easy Herbal Sea Salt Bath Scrub

After a hot day in the yard covered with god knows what (undoubtedly some array of grass trimmings, compost and chicken "charms," and good ole sweat) what I really want is a nice soothing bath.  Preferably one that helps me breathe and eases the contact dermatitis I keep getting from that darn poke weed... or poison ivy, not sure.   Anyways those who know me can vouch for my bath and herbal smelly products habit.  

Herbal scrubs made correctly with good ingredients and essential  oils are incredibly healing, though beware that most commercial scrubs use petroleum based oils (Bath and Body Works for one) and other non desirable chemicals.  More ranting on that later- suffice it to say an herbal bath junkie wants affordable   aromatic and quality scrubs.  I am a big fan of Sunshine scrubs which I order online (no I am not an affiliate, I just like their ingredients), however my bath scrub and essential oil buying habit was starting to plunder the piggybank.  Thus I now make my own and it's so easy and fun anyone can do it (mental glimpses of sundry Geiko commercials here).  

To make a pint wide mouth mason jar of scrub:

wide mouth mason jar with lid

scoop

sea salt, coarse ground for maximal exfoliation or fine ground for more sensitive skin

extra virgin olive oil*

~1/4 c virgin coconut oil, melted (optional- you can use all olive oil if desired)

~1.5 T. cut and dried sage leaf (I used some from my garden)

1 T. dried orange peel granules

1 T. brown sugar (optional)

to smell and preference: essential oils of Eucalyptus, orange, and grapefruit 

*often sweet almond oil, sunflower, safflower and other oils are used as carriers (bases) but I used olive oil since it is cheap and almost everyone has it on hand. 

just add water and skin!

In your glass jar melt the coconut oil and add one part oil to two parts mix of sugar and salt. Add the amount of salt/sugar you desire for the "scrub" feel- anywhere from a few tablespoons to a cup.  Add half that amount of oil, the orange peel (just for more "grit" and orange essence), sage, and essential oils. Mix with a spoon.   That's it! Cancer promoting estrogenic free holistic scrub to soothe your body and soul for cheap!

 

The Romans called sage "herba sacra" and its namesake "salvation" attests to its healing powers.  Sage is useful for skin and oral infections, irritations, can help boost mood and even ease mild depression.  Sage also effectively reduces fatigue without the edginess of a stimulant.  For you Ayurvedic folks out there, it helps balance the pelvic chakra and for us common folk it supports the metabolism.  Sage is antifungal, slightly phytoestrogenic, and antitumorial and is often used to balance the hormones.  

Orange essential oil is a common blending oil and like most of the citrus family oils is composed of 80% to 96% limonene.  The high limonene content contributes the antiturmoral aspect of orange oil, though it is more commonly know for its uplifting, relaxant, and circulatory stimulant qualities.  Orange oil aids with muscle spasms and is a useful tool for both sore muscles and irritable bowel syndrome or dyspepsia.  Citrus oils also contain potent bioflavonoids such as Vitamin P.  Dr. David Jockers recently blogged about a few essential oils for ingestion and skincare, as can be read in his newsletter.

Eucalyptus essential oil contains concentrated eucalyptol and is know for its antimicrobial action in mouth washes like Lysterine, though it is also used in chest vapor rubs and toothpastes due to its expectorant and mucolytic qualities (a potent decongestant).  Eucalyptus oil is antibacterial, antifungal, and antivirual properties to boot.  I know I can finally get a good chest full of air taking a steep in it after a day in the yard.  

Grapefruit seems to be the hot item in beauty products currently with brands like Neutrogena pushing their pink grapefruit facial products for grapefruit's antiseptic and detoxifying aspects.   But thsi ruby gem is not just another delicious (and low glycemic) fruit treat, grapefruit oil itself boasts all the purported metabolism and cleansing actions of the fruit while also acting as a mild antidepressant.  In fact the oils of the whole citrus family are largely composed of limonene which gives grapefruit, lime, orange and bergamot cleansing and uplifting essences.  

Last but not least is coconut oil which is righly nourishing to the skin as well as internal organs.  It is antiviral  antifungal, antibacterial, and high in vitamin E.  The MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) lauric acid, caprilic acid  and myristic acid among a few of the components of coconut oil which contribute the antimicrobial qualities of the oil.  Don't worry about feeling "greasy" when using coconut oil on the skin- simply rub in and if desired rinse off 10 or so minutes later to leave your skin soft and supple.  The skin being our largest body organ and membrane is quite permeable and absorbs any products which we apply.  Since coconut oil is a whole food and free of tany man-made chemicals you can have your scrub and eat it too!

Excellent Blogs + Spiced Vegan Chai Cocoa

Sorry for the uber long delay here! Thank Cheryl over at Gluten Free Goodness for dragging me out of the blogging closet with her nomination of Cindalou's for an Excellent Blog Award. I begrudgingly (and gratefully, I might add) brushed off our basement office mold and dust to peck yet again at the keyboard. (This time it is not for calculations of the rate of matter spiraling into a black hole or deriving the gauge transformation with the trace reversed metric perturbation ... sorry, that's GR speak polluting my brain from our midterm exam).

This time, however, I can share goodies about Cheryl and her nutrition-packed gluten, dairy, soy, egg, and corn free (whew!) kitchen. Hey, that beats the heck out of ion implantation stuff. How can Neon ions compare with her pesto? Admittedly, I'll need to nut-free that pesto for myself with a heaping pile of extra kalamata olives, but that garlic-y pesto looks deliciously green and appetizing. Alternatively, you may prefer Cheryl's creative Pesto-ed Fish, featuring garlic scapes. If you like healthy allergen free recipes with tons of fresh garden produce, I recommend Cheryl and re-nominate her for an excellent blog award. I don't know if that's possible, but rules are just guidelines anyways ... especially when they come between garlic pesto fish and myself. As an organic gardener and cook, Cheryl makes excellent dishes with seasonal produce. If you have a bumper crop of pears, basil, or veggies, then check out her concoctions for dinner ideas!

Here's the spiel:

The rules that accompany this award are as follows:

“Please find at least 10 more blogs of any kind which you deem to be excellent; but hey if you only come up with 3 or 5 (I chose 8), I don’t mind. Post about the blogs you picked, linking back to me and to them. Once you’ve posted, return here to let me know your post is up, and of course let your 10 award winners know too."

Cindalou's "Excellent Blogs":

Gluten Free For Good: Pumpkin anyone? Beets and Greens? Melissa over at Gluten Free for Good has a fantastic blog (and website) that extends beyond the gluten free community, as she lends her nutritionist expertise to everyone with an ear to hear (eye to read?). Seasonal ingredients (with recipes!) punctuate the health posts and exposes on hot nutrition topics. Melissa also knows how to have a good time, as she often shares her beautiful photos taken while hiking the Colorado wilderness. I can admire those sharp mountain peaks from afar, drool over her Pumpkin Pancakes, and laugh out loud at her humorous rantings on nutritional disasters and the advertising conspiracy. If you haven't seen the high fructose corn syrup commercials yet, read her comments on it and the role of sugar in modern diets versus health. If you have a sweet tooth, don't despair! Even as a bonafide health professional, she makes sweet amends and provides recent Celiac health & nutrition conference updates to the rest of us *unprivileged* non-health pro invitees.

Gluten Free Mommy: Unfortunately Natalie is out of the kitchen blogosphere right now due to her pregnancy (what a great reason, yey!), but GF Mommy is one of my favorite (and NC local) blogs. Her fish stew is reminiscent of one of my favorite quick healthy recipes for cool nights, and her beautiful pictures of gluten free cakes make me pine for dairy and a trip to Raleigh :). Also, if you enjoy Indian food as much as I do, you don't want to miss Natalie's bombay chicken and kung pao chicken. Update: She posted a fantastic Thanksgiving Frozen Pumpkin Pie which looks oh-so-tempting (once dairy-freed, of course).

Book of Yum: Although Sea is already an "E" blog as well, I'm going to jump aboard and give Book of Yum another vote. How could I forget such an expansive multiple-allergen friendly food blogger with a kindred appreciation for turmeric and spinach? I love the exotic Asian-inspired and Indian dishes from Book of Yum, as well as the focus on creative and often vegetarian and/or vegan recipes. Her uncheese nutritional yeast dairy free spinach pie and recent poppy seed goat cheese beet salad are calling my name (darn that goat cheese!). If you are adventurous in the kitchen, check out Sea's creations for great bento (lunch box) and dinner idea. Sea also gives many nondairy (often soy or nut based) "butter" and "cream" recipes for dairy-intolerant individuals like myself.

Great Mastications: Orla dishes up some great gf healthy recipes with a serious Canadian appreciation of healthy hemp, as well as teaching all of us a little more common sense about sustainable green living (see her post Green Business for a great "Stop buying crap we don't need" read). Come spring and summertime, I'll be gorging myself with her hemp seed and green onion dip, mmm!

Gluten Free Bay: Fall is brimming with holiday opportunity to try out a few of the Bay's plethora of creative kosher gluten free recipes. I am looking forward to some matzo balls for chicken soup and some low glycemic sweet potato and leek latkes. If you keep kosher and juggle allergies, the Bay is an invaluable resource for recipes and product updates!

Caveman Food: Elizabeth serves up great Paleo meals like the Sam I Am Eggs (told you Mom!) and Lamb Meatballs. For everyone on a low carb or cavemen-esque diet, I highly recommend her site. It's easy to get stuck in a rut on a low carb diet and eat the same ole ho-hum food, but Elizabeth's meals can appetize the low carber and regular diner alike. Who doesn't like (gluten and dairy free!) chicken fingers? Don't forget your vegetables either! Vital to health and the low carb and Paleo lifestyles, Cave(wo)men do eat their veggies! Restricted diets can be hard without further limiting food groups voluntarily, so check her out for gluten free, dairy free, low carb/Paleo meals.

Aprovechar: I know everyone else has given Sally an "E" already, but I must chime in. Sally's recipes are great healthy recipes for anyone looking for allergen free weight loss dinner ideas, but the real sparkle in her blogging comes from her heartfelt discussions regarding her life experience. Sally harbors the genuine glow of someone who has overcome traumatic health problems through an inspiring recovery. I know many people who can fake optimism, but Sally really has a true light shining from her soul. Besides, she makes tempting gluten free vegan Mesquite Chocolate Chip Cookies featuring flax seed (horrah!) to munch while you ponder enlightenment.

Jeena's Kitchen: Mediterranean cuisine (not all gluten or allergen free) with tons of delicious photographic recipes with everything from lamb and fish to traditional vegetable curries and desserts. The lamb dishes are always some of Jon's favorite objects 'o drool, like her lamb mint meatballs (use gf bread or ground flax).

I'm sure I missed a few excellent gluten free blogs, so my apologies. Other top authors are Cathy Wong and Dr. Ben Kim, both very knowledgeable alternative health authorities and creative cooks. Dr. Ben Kim even has a healthy corn syrup and HFCS free pecan pie recipe stocked full of delicious dates for the holidays! All of these yummy blogs are stirring my appetite for a nice warm mug of cocoa ...

Spiced Vegan Chai Cocoa
[low glycemic to boot]

The onset of brisk cold nights here in NC drags out a plethora of random herbs and unsweetened cocoa powder for a nightly rendevouz with my otherwise shivering hands. I have to make all my own cocoas since commercial AND affordable varieties come complete with a) corn syrup, b) dairy ... and more derivatives of dairy, and c) tons of other crap.

Unsweetened non-dutch processed cocoa is not treated with alkali and is all we use at Cindalou's. Why no dutch processed cocoa? The dutch processing destroys most of the flavonols present in cocoa, as discussed in this Chocolate as a Health Food article. Besides, addition of unnecessary metals to perfectly good cocoa for a milder taste seems .. unnecessary. Curious minds can find a concise description of the sundry varieties of chocolate and cocoa at this Wikipedia site.

All of the cocoa details aside, if you want quick and easy homemade vegan cocoa, gather any combination of the following herbs and ingredients and stir away! (The amounts are approximate, and as such, this is barely a recipe at all. This is an herb-y cocoa based on my old slippery elm tea of healing warmth.)

• 2 T. unsweetened non-dutch cocoa powder
  
  
• 4 drops liquid Stevia (if desired) or agave/honey to taste
  
  
• 1 t. slippery elm - various soothing digestive actions, high in iron and vitamins, helps kidney problems, diarrhea and constipation (similar action to psyllium)
  
  
• 1 t. cayenne pepper - arthritis, pain relief (internal & external), soothes & improves digestion, metabolic booster
  
  
• 2 t. cinnamon - antifungal, antibacterial, improves glucose metabolism (diabetes), anticlotting, helpful for memory
  
  
• dash ground ginger - excellent nausea and digestive aid, antiinfammatory, aids in prevention of cancer, immunity booster
  
  
• 1 t. crushed fennel seeds - very high in Vitamin C, improves immunity, high in folate (a B vitamin) and fiber, helps keep the colon and heart healthy

• dash ground fenugreek - high in fiber and amino acids, lowers cholesterol and regulates blood sugar, helps soothe digestion, loosens mucous, can stimulate the sex drive, and has an interesting folk use for breast enlargement. It also improves milk flow from nursing mothers, may help fight obesity, aids in heart disease, and can ease menstrual pain. It should not be used in high, frequent doses, or by pregnant women
  
  
• 1 t. cardamom (ground) - digestive aid, gas reliever, stimulant, and helps to break up mucous. Add extra cardamom to your tea, soups, stews, curry dishes, or pies if you have a cold or some congestion
  
  
• dash coriander (ground) - helps control blood sugar, useful in diabetes, good source of mucilage, and helps control cholesterol
  
  
• dash cloves (ground) - the active eugenol in cloves aids in inflammation and arthritis, digestive disorders and cancers, detoxification from environmental pollutants, pain relief, and anesthetic. Chew on a clove bud for a toothache and your whole mouth will go numb! It is also high in minerals and contains some Omega 3 fatty acids.

• 2+ cups boiling water or 1 c. boiling water 1 c. hemp milk (or other milk or favorite milk substitute)

Mix all in the mug(s), pour over water and/or warmed [hemp] milk and stir. Dilute and sweeten to preference. Use Stevia or agave for low glycemic (~0 and ~11 glycemic index, respectively), or add honey (~32 a low g.i.) as desired. Honey harbors amazing antimicrobial, antiviral, and antioxidant benefits, so don't fear the honey bee! If you want more health benefits on each ingredient, check out the links above.

Serves: 1-2 (depending on water or "milk" use)

Purslane, Plum and Avocado Salad [Vegan] [Low Carb]

Perhaps you've heard recent hype about an obscure green weed with amazing health benefits for depression, but the truth is that purslane is an old herbal remedy-food and long-time enemy of a tidy gardener. If you're not sure about the safety of harvesting it in the wild, stop off at your local farmer's market. Now we can add "Purslane, Not Prozac" to the book "Potatoes, Not Prozac," or my personal (contrived) favorite slogan "pushups, Not Prozac." Whether you are concerned about depression, the odds are you know someone close to you who is. While exercise to alleviate depression as demonstrated by these Duke University studies may not necessarily be your cup of tea, perhaps a nice bunch of purslane in your salad, stir fry, or soup might be. Heck, while you're at it, toss in some fresh avocado and seasonal fruit- peaches, plums, nectarines. You might even forget the ominous "healthy" stuff in your meal after you take a bite.

1-2 organic plums
~ 2 lb. fresh purslane
1 ripe organic avocado
5-6 roma tomatoes
slivers red onion
oregano, to taste

Dressing:
50-50 mix of organic extra virgin olive oil, crushed red pepper, red wine vinegar, sea salt, and pepper. Wash and pat dry the purslane and plums. Tear into bite sized pieces and put in a large bowl. Slice the red onion, plums, and avocado and add to the purslane. I cut my plums into thin wedges since I prefer them that way. Add the tomatoes and toss with dressing and oregano. That's it- fast, easy and delicious healthy greens and Omega 3's all in one tidy package.

If you are waiting to be impressed, check out the Nutritional profile of purslane. Purslane is high in magnesium and Vitamin C, so helps with:

• depression
• cardiac arrhthmia
• cold and flu
• gingivitis
  

It is also high in potassium, healthy omega 3 fats, Vitamin A, folate (a critical B vitamin), and calcium. Dr. Duke in his classic herbal reference The Green Pharmacy lists purslane as packing

"... up to a whopping 16 percent antidepressant compounds, figured on a dry-weight basis."

Well, with that resume why not try some purslane with your salad? As your salad? I'm sold, although this salad's a winner even without the purslane! I adore avocado, especially when combined with fresh organic peach or plum. It's an addiction akin to peach salsa. The seasonal local plums here add a nice juicy bite of Vitamins A, C, K, and a little fiber (eat the skin, always!) with a very low glycemic load of just a few points (under 55 glycemic index and under 10 glycemic load are "low"). Don't forget the humble avocado, harbor of healing monounsaturated good fat, a large amount of fiber (40% RDI of fiber: 13 carbs, 10 fiber per 150 g.), and a plethora of Vitamins C, K, E, folate, panthoethic acid (another B vitamin), and B6. Avocado also provides a good source of magnesuim, potassium, and other trace minerals necessary for health. Actually, I could (and may) write an entire post on the wonders of avocado and its use outside the parochial realm of guacamole dip or sliced topping. But for now, you can have your feel-good food without guilt (as if anything was stopping you).

Note: If purslane is hard to find in your area, watercress, spinach, dark leafy lettuce (not iceberg) are great alternatives.

Slippery Elm Bark and a Yummy Healing Tea [Vegan]

Just recently, I discovered slippery elm bark (powder). If you are not aware of it, read on! Slippery elm has a number of amazing benefits (particularly for those with irritable bowels); I am a huge fan!

Slippery Elm Bark can be found in the bulk herbs section in your local health food store (or online). I'll give a brief list of the healing properties of the bark and an easy tea recipe which has performed miracles on my digestive track recently. Seeing how many people, especially high stress individuals (that's me!) and Celiacs, have irritated digestive tracks, I thought this information was relevant from Wikipedia and Dr. Karl Smith's informational sites.

Slippery Elm Bark, or ulmus fulva, is an herb from the inner part of the elm bark which is usually sold in a finely ground powder. It hails from the elm tree and masquerades under many names: American elm, Indian elm, red elm, moose elm, sweet elm, rock elm, and winged elm.

It is a very safe and gentle herb and is allergen free (unless you are allergic to elm trees). Slippery Elm Bark herb can be taken by anyone; infants, pregnant women, and the elderly can all enjoy its benefits. The inner bark, normally ground into a powder, is used for a variety of medicinal purposes. The soothing properties of the bark benefit both the skin as well as the respiratory and digestive track.

General Health Benefits and Nutrients:

Slippery Elm Bark can actually sustain life for a short period of time since it is high in many essential nutrients:

• sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, selenium, iodine, copper, zinc, phosphorus, bromine, manganese, and vitamins E, F, K, and P
• It is excellent for those who are sick or have cancer or other destructive "wasting" diseases.
  

Medicinal Uses (internal):

• Digestive Problems:
• indigestion
• cramps
• ulcers
• colitis, gastritis, GI hyperacidity,
  
• kidney problems
• diarrhea and constipation

• wasting diseases
• cancer
• It soothes nausea and is not likely to be thrown up

To take internally: Make an easy tea! See my recipe at the end. I adjust the slippery elm amount and spices to taste each time.

Another great herbal recipe is from Dr. Smith who gives the following: Take equal parts of slippery elm, marshmallow root (both of these herbs soothe and buffer the stomach and GI tract), comfrey (improves digestion), echinacea (fights off infection), and cayenne capsules (acts as a stimulant and magnifies healing properties of the herbs). Many people use honey, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to naturally flavor herbal remedies.

Medicinal Uses (External):

The soothing and inflammation-reducing properties of the bark make it ideal for:

• burns
• rash (diaper rash)
• sores, wounds
• hemorrhoids and boils

To apply externally: Mix slippery elm in some water to make a thick paste and apply it directly on the affected area.

Heal an Irritated or Acidic, Damaged G.I. Tract:

Take as a hot tea or add to your baked goods, soups, smoothies, or really anything to take for an irritated digestive system.

The bark has been shown to neutralize acidity and protect mucous membranes along the GI tract by coating the membrane surface. This "buffering" of the membranes helps the irritated area (stomach, intestines, throat) heal themselves while the acidic offending environment is isolated from the membrane. The coating action also soothes ulcers.

Heal a Sore Throat or Respiratory Infection:

The acid buffering and anti-inflammatory action of the bark soothes sore throats and relieves dry and irritated bronchi and lungs. It is an expectorant, meaning that it breaks up mucous stuck in the throat or bronchi (as is the case in bronchitis or a cold/flu) and causes you to cough it up. Conditions appropriate for slippery elm usage:

• asthma
• bronchitis
• sore throats, coughing, hoarseness
• tonsillitis
• pleurisy, lung bleeding, and leukorrhea

To soothe a sore throat: Karl Smith, D. C., has a fantastic page on his University Chiropractic website. He has many easy herbal remedies and good looking recipes if you're adventurous. A favorite lozenge recipe of Dr. Smith's: Take some locally grown honey and mix it with slippery elm powder till it makes a thick paste. Add 1-5 drops of peppermint oil to taste. Put in a container with a lid and store it in the fridge. Eat by the spoonful 2-4 times daily until sore throat subsides.

Here is my easy slippery elm tea that really soothes my tummy and intestines. It really helps constipation and is very gentle. I do not get bloated from it, which is rare. Since the powdered bark absorbs the hot water as it steeps, this tea is filling and prevents me from after meal fridge raids for which I'm famous (always hungry since my absorption is still fairly poor). This tea is allergen free and can be spiced up to your liking. If you can tolerate some light coconut milk, or almond milk (careful, Almond Breeze brand has soy lethicin), both are great in this tea. As I've mentioned before, I don't recommend soy milk since unfermented soy is damaging to your health.

Slippery Elm Tea [Vegan]

~ 1 T. slippery elm bark (powder)
1 c. water, boiling
1 T. sweetener of choice**
2-3 oz. light coconut milk (optional) or other "milk" of choice

** I use organic unsulfured blackstrap molasses (optional) or 1 packet (1 g. total, 10 mg herb) Stevia

spices (adjust to your liking):
hearty dashes of:
cinnamon, nutmeg, caradmon (powdered)
dash of 50-50 cayenne pepper & cinnamon mixture
powdered ginger

Variations: Add 1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process - it's processed with alkali)

Just boil the water, spoon in the elm powder, and add the spices to your liking. Stir in the molasses (or other sweetener) and "milk" beverage. Drink hot.

Vegan Holiday "Eggnog" [Soy Free] [Low Carb] [Low Fat] [Paleo]

This "eggnog" is my vegan low fat and low carb substitute for traditional dairy eggnog. I used to drink the Silk Soy Nog, but since I am (mostly) soy free now and avoid added sugar if possible, I had to invent my own nog-like substance. This turned out fantastic and I am really looking forward to using it in my holiday eggnog espresso "lattes" and even as a dessert sauce as well as a great nog substitute. Adjust the molasses and Stevia to your liking. I think this is fairly sweet as is.

The sweeteners I used here were Stevia and organic unsulfured blackstrap molasses. Look for the molasses at Whole Foods or your local health food store. It is currently on sale for the season. Unsulfured blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of iron and many other minerals. The sugars in the molasses are only partially digested in the stomach as well, so they do not cause a spike in blood insulin. The leftover sugars slowly digest in the intestine and provide nutrients for the good bacteria in the gut. I love the molasses now and I have found that it does not aggravate my blood sugar levels (at least so far; being a physicist, I cannot help but to take many sugar level readings with my meter -> more glorious data points which I can analyze and compare :) ). I would consider this diabetic friendly, but use your intuition and common sense if you are sensitive to molasses. This nog is egg free, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, low carb, low fat, and low glycemic impact/load. It does contain nuts (almond milk) and lite coconut milk. I apologize if anyone else out there has a recipe like this already, I haven't seen one yet so I'm really excited that this worked out so well. I hope you all like it!

~300 mL. unsweetened original almond milk
200 mL. unsweetened lite organic coconut milk (or regular for non-low fat version)
~1/4 t. cinnamon
nutmeg
1 t. organic (gluten free) vanilla (not imitation vanilla or other vanilla with corn syrup)
1 heaping T. organic unsulfured blackstrap molasses (~1 T. +1 t.)
2 packets Stevia
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half for garish

Combine all ingredients except the cinnamon sticks in a shaker cup or blender. Mix briefly and serve cold with cinnamon stick garnish. As I mentioned before, this would be great in espresso or even just warm alone. This is nonalcoholic, add spirits or rum to your liking.