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Need to Beat the Heat? Try Hibiscus Iced Tea
Word of the week: Sour This week’s word is sour. Sour is a taste we are all familiar with which is connected to acids present in foods. Some foods that are sour include citrus fruits, vinegar and vinegar-based foods, and fermented foods. Other fruits and vegetables, like cranberries, rhubarb, tomatoes, and olives are also sour. And as…
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Why Are Salads Eaten So Often in Summer?
Word of the week: Bitter Last week, I wrote about carminative herbs that help the body to eliminate gas. That is one way herbs can help the digestion process. Another category of herbs that help digestion are bitter herbs. Bitter herbs have a bitter taste. The taste sends a signal to the digestive system to…
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Please Pass the Gas
Word to know: Carminative A few years ago, I discovered that I have an intolerance to corn. If I eat any corn products – even baking powder (which contains cornstarch), my body will react by swelling just a little in every cell, it seems. I get bloated and feel terribly uncomfortable. After I stopped eating…
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Are You Feeling “Stuck?” Word to Know: Lymphatic
This week’s word is lymphatic. Lymphatic means related to lymph and the lymphatic system of the body. Lymph is a fluid in the body that seeps out of your cells as plasma and collects toxins and bacteria. Instead of going back into your cells, it is collected into different kind of vessels which are part of the lymphatic…
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Word to Know: Immuno-Stimulant
How to Stay Healthy! Welcome to my herbal newsletter, in which I share a tidbit of herbal wisdom in the form a Word of the Week to help you become acquainted with herbs without becoming overwhelmed. This week’s word is immuno-stimulant. Immuno-stimulants are herbs that stimulate, or support, the body’s immune system. As musicians (and anyone who freelances or…
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Word to Know: Anxiolytic
This week’s word is: anxiolytic. An anxiolytic is a substance, such as an herb or a pharmaceutical, that reduces anxiety. Anxiety is the body’s response to stress. It is psychosomatic because it involves symptoms in both the mind and the body. When we experience anxiety, we have racing and worried thoughts, a feeling of restlessness, and…
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Word to Know: Anti-Spasmodic
This week’s word is: anti-spasmodic. I think the importance of this week’s word is less about the definition of the word than to understand when an anti-spasmodic herb might be helpful. When do we experience spasms? We often associate spasms with either serious problems like epilepsy, or with slight annoying things like an eye twitching. Those…
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Word to Know: Demulcent
This week’s word is: demulcent. The “c” is soft. Herbs with demulcent properties are moistening and mollify (soften) inflamed and irritated tissues. You are probably familiar with the gel of an aloe vera plant. Perhaps you have used it on a sunburn and have personally experienced the soothing qualities. Not only does it help a little with…
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A Story About Pain
Back in 2011, I needed back surgery. That is the short version. The long version involves the reason why it happened, and the experience I had with the medical system. One day, I was walking my dog. I had foolishly tried to follow my kids, who were riding their bikes, and of course the dog…
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Word to Know: Analgesic
This week’s word is: analgesic. Analgesic is a word that you might associate with a doctor’s office. It sounds medicinal and scientific, doesn’t it? Well, there’s a reason for that – and it is because herbs actually have medicinal properties! Analgesic herbs help to relieve the sensation of pain. Pain is an indicator that something is wrong in the…
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Herbs for Musicians 