Just a quick post to let you know that come February, I am going to start a monthly series of blog posts called, "Disease of the Month."
This series will go in depth on what exactly the disease is, how it presents, symptoms, etc and then detail how I would move forward with herbs to assist your body during that time. It will detail whether or not herbs have the power to cure that disease or if they can just help ones body deal with it in the most optimal way possible. I will be starting off the series with the disorders and diseases that mainly plague women, as that is who I specialize in treating. Once those have been exhausted, then we will move onto other disorders and diseases. I am excited to share this series and my knowledge about herbs and how they can best be used for each disease. I will also detail how other holistic therapies can be a good complement to herbs and help as well. I really hope you will join me for this series and learn all you can and more about the wonderful, marvelous power or Nature and Herbs. Blessed Be, Shannon
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The name of this Herb might get your mind thinking about sowing wild oats and you would be correct! Traditionally used as an aphrodisiac over the centuries, it perhaps got people out there doing just that! What exactly is this herb about and what do we use it for? Read on, to find out.
The common name of this herb is Wild Oats. It can also be found under the common names of Oat straw and Common Oat. This herb is found in temperate and sub-tropical climates. It is believed to have originated in the Near East and Europe. The Latin name is Avena sativa. The oat tops, also known as the aerial parts, are what is used in this plant. Traditionally, it has been used for supporting women's health and gained quite a reputation for being an aphrodisiac in both men and women. The saying "Sowing your wild oats," was thought to have originated from that particular use of this herb. It has also been used in baths in Europe for treating rheumatism, sore muscles, and even kidney problems. It has also been used for treating epilepsy, anxiety, migraines, shingles, and fatigue. It is a very powerful nervous trophorestorative. This means it helps the nervous system recover from being exhausted. Long term anxiety, depression, fatigue, tension, insomnia really take a toll on your nervous system and working properly. As such, long term use of Wild Oats can help get the nervous system back into line and help it regain its health. The active constituents (the chemical found in the herb that lend to its actions in the body) found in Wild Oats are saponins, polyphenols, sterols, nutrients (it is very high in minerals and vitamin B), monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and proteins. The therapeutic actions that Wild Oats impart on the body and that we prize its use for are it being a nervous system trophorestorative, nervine, anti-depressant, sedative, antispasmodic, nutritive, demulcent and vulnerary. As explained above a trophorestorative is a herb that works on one particular body system and helps it regain optimal function. The anti-depressant activity is for mild to moderate depression. Severe depression should always be treated by a medical doctor with herbs coming on board as complimentary to whatever pharmaceuticals the doctor was prescribed. The sedative action makes it good to help treat insomnia. Anti-spasmodic means it helps with spasms throughout the body. A demulcent coats the intestines and helps reduce inflammation and a vulnerary means it is useful in healing wounds. WOW! As you can see, this one herb has many different uses throughout the body. It is prized for its ability to calm the nervous system and help with anxiety and depression, but as you see, it has many different uses as well. So, how do I usually use this herb in my practice and for my clients? Good question. I tend to lean towards its nervous system actions the most as it is top notch at helping with anxiety, insomnia, and restoring a depleted nervous system to health. I typically give this to individuals who have suffered with anxiety that leads to panic attacks as well as generalized anxiety disorders that have them feeling "on edge" constantly and not able to ever truly relax. I have also used it in blends to help restore those suffering from insomnia to an optimal sleep schedule and restoring their restful nights. I also tend to use it when someone informs me that they have a very stressful period coming up in their lives. It can help the body deal with the stress and not become too depleted. Other ways it can be used, especially in women, is as a hormone regulator. It helps regulate estrogen levels in the body. Now this can work for men as well, as men do also make estrogen, just at lower levels than women. This is probably where its use as an aphrodisiac came from. Proper levels of hormones, especially estrogen, increase ones sexual drive. Fuck yeah! It is used as a way to get extra nutrients in as well for someone suffering from a poor appetite, perhaps caused by stress, anxiety, or other reasons. Due to its nutritive content, it is also used many times to help stabilize blood sugar levels as well in diabetics. Of course, I recommend only taking any herb under the guidance of a Master Herbalist and with any medical doctors on your team being aware as well. If you think wild oats might help you, please contact me for a consult and we will work together on how to use them properly and safely for you. So you might be wondering, "How in the hell do I take these wild oats?" Usually, they are given 1 of 2 ways. The best way to dose them is through a water extraction. Which is a fancy way of saying, "tea." You would take 1-2 teaspoons of the dried wild oats and place in a cup. Pour 8 ounces (240 ml) of boiling water over them and let them steep for 10 minutes. Strain and drink 2-3 times a day. The other common way to dose them is through a tincture format, or an alcohol based extraction. In this way, you would take 3-5 ml/cc of the 1:5 tincture up to 3 times a day. (If you purchase a pre-made tincture from another distributor, the tincture should be labeled with its herb to alcohol ratio ie the 1:5. If it is a lower number after the 1 then it is stronger and as such will need to be dosed at a smaller amount. Please consult me before dosing a stronger tincture on your own.) The only caution with this particular herb is to proceed with caution if taking morphine as it can increase the effects of morphine and as such send you into respiratory failure. Yikes! If taking any kind of narcotic pain medications, please consult myself or your medical doctor, before taking this long term or not under the close watch of a Master Herbalist. So, in conclusion, this is a very versatile herb and can help an individual in many different ways. Go try some Wild Oats today and then go sow some wild oats after! Then come back here and let me know all about how well it worked for you. (but not with all the details. I don't need to hear that. HA) Blessed Be, Shannon So you might be wondering? Just who is the Nomad at the Nomad Apothecary and how did that business name come into being? Well, lets find out shall we?
The Nomad in the Apothecary is Shannon. That's me folkx! I am a bisexual mother, wife, herbalist, nurse, and intuitive healer. Oh and on top of all that, I also have ADHD, which I wasn't diagnosed with till I was 35! Whew. When I write that all out, it sounds like I never have time to sleep! (Slight spoiler alert: I don't!) The biggest chunk of my life is taken up with my children. I am the biological mother to one amazing daughter and the lucky bonus mom to 3 awesome bonus kids (2 boys and a girl). I adore the life I have with them, even if it does get crazy sometimes. All my children are neurodiverse (like me!) so I use many of the treatments I would recommend to you for them and myself and see in action every day just how much they can help and how much good they do. If you saw my disclaimer HERE about being a safe spot for LGBTQ+ individuals and POC, you are probably no longer wondering why. I am a very out and open bisexual woman. My biological daughter is Black and my bonus daughter is, in her words, Gay as Fuck! I strive to make sure everyone is treated with equity here and I do not discriminate against anyone for any reason. The next biggest chunk of my life is my husband. You can find a picture of him and I from our wedding on the About page. I was a single mom basically from the time my daughter was born due to some crazy circumstances. Domestic violence is a very real thing here in the US and it is awful how many individuals suffer from it. I was lucky in my being able to get away safely. (If you need to leave a bad situation please reach out to the Domestic Violence Hotline: 800.799.SAFE (7233)). What is an elderberry? An elderberry comes from the Sambucus nigra plant which belongs to the Adoxaceae family. These bushes are found throughout temperate to subtropical regions across the world. They tend to be found near sources rich with nitrogen. While the uncooked elderberries are toxic to eat, cooked berries are just fine and are very safe. Elderberries have been used for hundreds of centuries for helping the body fight off colds and flu and other viral illnesses. These dark berries are also used for natural coloring in foods and to dye fabrics. Through studies they have found that the anthocyanins in the berries are the active constituent that helps support the body during viral illnesses. The therapeutic benefits that have been observed in elderberries are its diaphoretic, antiviral, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and antioxidant abilities. So how exactly do these therapeutic actions help during a cold or flu? A diaphoretic is anything taken that causes the body to sweat and help break a fever. So it can help bring a fever down by this action. An antiviral and antimicrobial are helpful in supporting the immune system in building its defenses up and fighting off whatever is causing trouble. A cardioprotective helps protect the heart muscle and an antioxidant helps inhibit the process of oxidation. Due to these therapeutic actions, elderberry is typically used during colds and flu season as a maintenance dose to help guard against coming down with the above. If you already have gotten a cold or flu you can take a higher dose to help your body fight off the infection. The berries also help manage a fever and soothe the membranes of an inflamed respiratory system. They also help decongest the system. A lesser known use for elderberries is helping to fight off digestive system infections as well. And taken daily to help strengthen and protect the cardiovascular system. All in all, elderberries are a very versatile and good herb to keep in stock during the winter in your house. Elderberry syrup is the most common way to take them and its sweetness and nice purple color make it appealing for children as well, making it easy to dose them as needed. A normal dose is 1 tbsp every day for maintenance and 1 tbsp every hour when acute illness has occurred. The dose is the same for children and adults. You can buy elderberry syrup here from The Nomad Apothecary and keep all your winter blues away and the family healthy. Have you used elderberries with good results for your family? Share your experiences in the comments below. I love hearing how herbs and plants have helped others in their journey to their best health.
Blessed Be, Shannon I have had this question many times recently. Many individuals seem to be confused on just exactly a herbalist is and what our function is.
I have had many ask me recently if I am licensed to grow and sell weed (herb). While that would be fucking amazing, no I am not. Not even close. So, now that that has been cleared up, what exactly can I do and sell? Good question! I have been formally trained by a Master Herbalist through the Centre of Excellence, a UK based holistic university. I graduated with a 97% overall and a distinction in the course. (which is the same as with honors in the US). Prior to that I did formal training through a master Herbalist here in the US and became a certified Herbalist. What this means is that I have had training in all the herbs/plants/roots/berries/ etc that I use to help assist your body to be in an optimal state. I know their active constituents, their therapeutic actions, proper dosing of each, and any contraindications (reasons they shouldn't be given) to make using them safe and effective. I have been trained in how to best prepare each herb, how to dose it, and how to forage it in the wild. I have been trained in how to do a consultation, a head to toe assessment, and how to decide which herbs to use when and for what conditions. Combined with my 15 years as an RN doing assessments daily on my patients, administering medications, and using my intuition to guide me in what was going on in their body and using that knowledge to treat them, I am very capable of determining what is going on with your body and the best way to treat it. Herbalists combine that knowledge of herbs/plants and assessment and use it to make herbal preparations that assist your body in reaching its optimal state. They watch how you respond to the herbal blends and use that knowledge to tweak them for what your body needs. Basically, they are alternative health practitioners. One of the many reasons someone comes to do a consultation with myself and other Herbalists, is they feel they are either not being treated correctly by modern medicine and therefore not getting better, or they have seen all the medical professionals they can for their illness/disease process, and they have not received any answers. Most individuals are tired of not being seen, heard, or adequately treated and are looking to alternative medicine for help and answers. Treating those who feel they have been mistreated or cast aside by modern medicine is our specialty. I help with chronic and acute health issues, mental health issues, stress, tension, exhaustion, headaches, pain, menstrual issues, and more. We work together to assist you in changing your lifestyle, diet, and using herbs to help your body heal itself and work on getting back to health. Ultimately, I help you take control of your health. While growing weed and selling it would be cool, I do grow my own herbs when possible and sell those. Probably not as cool (or lucrative) as the weed industry, but still helping people in a similar way and very fulfilling. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation to discuss any issues, click here. Blessed be, Shannon You may be asking yourself right now, "What the hell is fire cider?" and you wouldn't be the only one in the room asking that same question, more than likely.
Fire cider is a folk preparation, usually made in the winter, and used throughout the winter as a tonic, a warming stimulant, and to kick your immune system in gear when you feel a tickle of illness trying to start. As this is a traditional folk preparation it is made with items that you can usually find in season at the time you make it, so the recipe is more of a guide and less of a "do it this way or else!" recipe. The base ingredients are apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers. You can add plenty of other herbs in as well or in place of one of the ingredients. Sometimes you may have grown more jalapenos than you could eat, or give away, toss some in here! Some traditional makers make this at the beginning of the autumn season and bury it in the ground for a month, then strain and use. Others let it sit in a dark cabinet. You do whatever vibes best with you. Fire cider is taken by the tablespoon-full usually, but you can also add it to salads as a dressing, tossed into smoothies, add to soup bases, mix with veggies as a drizzle, or toss into whatever you are cooking for dinner that night. Take it daily as a preventative during the winter months and take extra when you feel a tickle of illness coming on. Have fun with the recipe. Let me know how yours turned out, any changes you made, and how it helped you and your family, this winter. FIRE CIDER RECIPE 1 medium onion, chopped 10 cloves of garlic, crushed/chopped 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1/2 cup of fresh grated ginger root 1/2 cup fresh grated horseradish root 1 tbsp turmeric powder 1/4 tsp organic cayenne powder Apple Cider Vinegar 1/4 cup raw honey or to taste. Prepare the roots, herbs, and fruits. Place them in a quart sized glass jar. Horseradish is very strong when grated and will open your sinuses! Be prepared! Pour the vinegar in until it covers all the ingredients and reaches the top of the jar. If you have a metal lid, place a piece of parchment paper over the top of the vinegar. This keeps it from reacting to the metal lid and causing you to have to toss the jar of fire cider out. Shake well. Store in a dark, cool place for one month. Shake daily. After one month, strain out the pulp and pour the vinegar solution into a new jar. At this time add the honey and stir until dissolved. Taste and add more, if desired. Blessed Be, Shannon This may be your first time thinking about visiting a herbalist or an alternative medicine practitioner and you have no idea what to expect. What does this entail? Will they be knowledgeable about your conditions or health problems you are currently experiencing? Will they be able to help? To actually help? Will you get brushed off like you have in the past by other medical practitioners?
You may have had some bad experiences with modern medicine and their practitioners. This can definitely cause some anxiety about seeing someone new. So, what exactly can you expect when setting up a wellness consultation with Shannon at The Nomad Apothecary? First, you can expect compassion, empathy, and understanding of any fears you may be experiencing, any embarrassment over whatever is currently occurring in your body, or rejection of the problem due to your race, age, gender, or sexual orientation. Shannon treats everyone holistically. This means she treats the entire person AND their problems. You will be seen and heard at your appointment. Second, you will be expected to fill out an intake form. This is a very detailed, in depth look at you, your health history, your medications, your current problem, diet, lifestyle, job, current stress issues, family history, and more. This will help Shannon get a more complete picture of what exactly is occurring and the best ways to go about helping you with those. This is typically filled out and sent back prior to the consultation so Shannon has time to look it over and get to know you and make a list of herbs and other things that can really help your current health problem(s). Third, upon arrival for your consultation, either virtually or in person, Shannon will greet you and go over your paperwork and get any details she needs about the information contained therein. Shannon practices Intuitive Healing, so she will take this time to take in and read your energy as well. If in person, she may also do a physical examination. This may include a blood pressure reading, listening to heart or lungs or bowels with a stethoscope, or even palpating (feeling) different parts of your body. This will help her in determining the full extent of the issues at hand. During this time, you may notice her jotting notes while you speak. This is her going through the relevant herbs that may help with your current problem(s). Fourth, once she has all the information she needs, she will take a few moments to narrow down the best course of action and the best combination of herbs to assist you. Once this is done, she will discuss the possible treatment plan with you. This is your time to ask questions, get better understanding, clarify information, and add your input to the treatment plan. The best treatment plan is one that you will stick to doing. Once a treatment plan is finalized, Shannon will prepare your herbal blends and preparations. These may be available immediately before you leave (if in person), or they may need to be blended and you return to pick them up. If a virtual appointment was done, these will be mailed to the address you provided during the consultation. Overall, a wellness consultation is an in depth look at you, as a person, and looks for ways to support you and your body. This is achieved through diet changes, lifestyle changes, and herbal preparations. Shannon assists with all kinds of illness and health issues. The wellness consult helps you to take control of your health. As wellness consults are such an in depth look at you and your history, 90 minute sessions are the recommended amount of time to make sure all areas can be addressed and better herbal preparations recommended. Shannon understands time constraints and monetary constraints and as such offers a tiered way to schedule consults allowing you to pick the one that works the best for your schedule. If you have any questions, please contact us [email protected] and we will gladly get back to you and answer your question to the best of our knowledge and ability. Blessed Be, Shannon |
AuthorShannon, master herbalist, shares her thoughts, educational information, and more. Archives
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