Digging Roots, Building Immunity & Turning Inward

Being in the dirt has always calmed me & brought me peace (well, I am a Taurus).  And while I know getting elbow deep in garden beds isn't everyone's idea of a blissful afternoon there is definitely something about the Autumn season that brings us back into ourselves.  It makes us turn inward, dig deep into our spirits and assess things.

It doesn't only affect humans, all of Nature participates in this action in a way- the plants retreat back into their literal roots to sleep & await the Spring, as do the animals who hibernate through the colder season.

While Spring prompts you to BURST FORTH and create, play, explore, Fall prompts you to slow down, regroup, ground & turn inward.

Here are some of my favorite tips to ease you into the Autumn/Winter months to encourage a happier, healthier mind, body & spirit this coming Spring!

~Eat roots! Rooty veggies are super grounding, nourishing and help you to be very present, grounded and give us that super cozy full feeling in our bellies that we crave this time of year. Try a hearty stew, cassarole or bake!

~Make time for breath/meditation. Nothing grounds & centers you more than your own breath. And it's free! Whether it's 5 minutes a day of quiet breath work & reflection or simply remembering to breathe with intention throughout your day, it makes all the difference.

~Use Mantra. LAM (pronounced like "lama") is the Sanskrit sound for the root chakra.  The root chakra represents our foundation, what supports us, where we come from & our stability.  Chanting this sound in your mind upon waking in the morning or before resting at night will strengthen & balance your root chakra.

~ Make time for reflection. Journaling, meditation & prayer are all ways to clear our heads and make space for peace and quiet. When we still our minds, we get the most insight and inspiration for whatever is going on in our lives. Quietude is an essential part of  work of introspection.

~ Have fun with crystals & aromatherapy! One of my favorite ways to ground and center myself throughout my day is with a crystal in my pocket and an aromatic spritz in my space & on my face!
Crystals that can be helpful for grounding & strengthening the root chakra include: red calcite, petrified wood, pyrite, smokey quartz, red jasper & carnelian- or really any other red or dark colored stone. My favorite essential oils to ground (lately! My preferenceis always changing:)) are Patchouli, Palo Santo, Cinnamon, Cedarwood & Spruce. Think earthy, woodsy smells. These can be combined well with floral scents like Lavender & Clary Sage. But truly it's all about what scents ground YOU.
Whatever you decide use no more than 10-15 drops per ounce container you may be using to spritz yourself. A simple spray bottle filled with water or witch hazel does the trick! Have questions? Don't ever hesitate. (Btw. crystals, aromatherapy, prayer, Mantra, meditation & prayer go REALLY great together:))

~ Move. Nothing brings you more out of your chatter box brain and into your body than movement. Run, skip, dance, hula hoop, ski, snow shoe, ice skate, practice yoga, kick box, belly dance.... whatever speaks to your soul at the moment. But do move, especially during the time of year when it's extra challenging to get yourself up and moving! You'll be glad you did!

~ Make a healing root tonic! This tonic will help boost immunity, cleanse the liver & energize your whole body from the inside out!

Winter Tonic Recipe:
Equal Parts Dried or fresh:
Dandelion rt,
Burdock rt,
Sarsaparilla rt,
Ginger rt,
Yellow Dock rt,
 Braags Apple Cider Vinegar
32oz mason jar
*Optional (Horseradish, Turmeric, Solomon’s Seal, Astragalus, Ginseng…)
If the roots you use are fresh grate or chop them & fill the jar 1/2 way up. If dried fill the jar just about 1/4 way. Follow directions for tinctures above. Pour acv over the herbs just about to the top and poke around with a chop stick. Do your best to eliminate all air bubbles. Once all air bubbles have dispersed fill your jar the rest of the way up, cap tightly and store in a dark cool place for 6-8weeks. Shake daily and give it your love and good intentions! After after 6-8 weeks strain with a cheesecloth into a clean & sanitized 32 oz jar and store in a dark cool place. Take 1 tbs (adult) or 1 tsp (child, elder) daily for most benefit!

Follow all or some of these tips and I promise they'll serve you well through the Fall & Winter for a more grounded, balanced & rejuvenated you this Spring!

xo Amanda


Want more? Sign up for my e-newsletter HERE to receive health and wellness tips, recipes and musings..

*The information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only.  If you are pregnant, nursing, have  serious health condition or are taking prescriptive medication please consult your healthcare practitioner before using herbal supplements. 

Are You A Tick Magnet? Tips For Keeping Those Suckers OFF!

Don't let those bugs keep you from enjoying your Spring, Summer and even Fall (they love the cold weather ya know...) to the fullest!  Whether it's a long hike in the woods, gardening or just hanging out in the backyard, there are many simple ways to protect yourself & your loved ones from the dreaded tick.

1.  Keep Your Immune System "Strong Like Ox" (said in an accent.)
This seems an obvious thing and yet we often overlook its importance.  A strong immune system makes it harder for microbes, viruses and negative bacteria to prevail and wreak havoc on our systems.  The same goes for being preyed upon by bugs.  It's been proven that ticks in fact seek out the weak to attack and infect, more so than animals with a strong defense- or immune system. Since we're ALSO animals, the same is true for us. So let's keep our immune system strong with these helpers:
     *Probiotics: the good guy bacteria we need in our gut for proper digestion & immune function.  You can find encapsulated probiotics at your local health foods store for the greatest benefit or in fermented foods like kimchi, kombucha, kefir and yogurt.
     *Eating a whole foods diet focused on fresh fruits and veggies- especially greens. 
     *Pure clean water intake- and lots of it- at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces.
     *Take immune enhancing herbs like Astragalus & Eleuthro on a regular basis- especially during tick season.  I find tincture form is the most potent. Ask your health care practitioner for details.
     *Manage your stress, whatever that looks like for you.  Meditation or breath work, exercise or just taking time out for you....whatever works- because stress is one of our worst enemies for a healthy mind, body & spirit.

2.  Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself- of rather, the tick does.
Ticks, whether or not they bite, sure do like crawling all over  you assessing the situation-but hey, as long as they don't bite- you're in the clear!  BUT do check yourself often.  They love all of our nooks and crannies-yes you know the ones... so each time you go inside to use the restroom, or back to the tent while camping- shake out your clothes and check your body: arm pits, behind the knees, ears, hair, under breasts and nether regions thoroughly.  LOOK HARD deer ticks can be really TINY!

3.  Make Friends With Essential Oils.
Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Rose Geranium *& Lemon Tea Tree are the heavy hitters when it comes to tick prevention.  Essential oils are versatile, anti-microbial in action and they smell great!  Here are a few easy ways to use them:
     *Make your own tick spray: buy a 1 ounce spray bottle, fill with water or a combination of witch hazel and water, then add 1-15 drops of essential oils.  Shake well and spray your skin, hair and clothing as needed.  If you want a heavier blend that will last longer on your skin, use a carrier oil like grapeseed, almond or olive oil instead of water in a 1 ounce pump bottle.  Again add the 10-15 drops of eo's, shake well and apply to skin before dressing yourself.  
    *Add them to everything!  I love using tea tree essential oil ( I find that ticks hate this essential oil the most). In the shower after a day outside in tick-land (aka the garden!), I use unscented Dr. Bronners castille  soap and add tea tree essential oils to it. Once again using the 10-15 drops of eo's per ounce ratio.  Another option is buying (or making!) an unscented body lotions to lube yourself up with after a nice hot shower (btw ticks HATE hot temperatures- so make your shower extra steamy!)

4.  A Non-essential Oil To Love.
Neem Seed Oil is a pressed oil from the seed of the Native Indian Tree- the Neem Tree.  It smells a little like garlic and peanut butter to me ( I know, gross), but man does it work!  Add this to your tick repellent oil or spray and give it an extra punch for tick prevention!  The Neem tree is known for it's anti-EVERYTHING properties.  From fungus, parasites, microbes and even malaria- Neem is your plant to kick butt.  Neem seed oil is also an excellent  choice for keeping ticks off your pets, as animals are often too sensitive for essential oil use.  Simply dilute Neem seed oil (6 drops per ounce) in a carrier oil of choice and rub into your pet's collar.  Put the collar on your furry friend (or ruffle the oil blend into their fur- or both!)  and they will be good to go!  Refresh the collar with new Neem oil every few weeks. 

5. Meet Your Herbal Allies.
Since ticks are the culprit for Lyme disease and it's co-infections, prevention is key.  Prevention of getting bit by a tick and keeping our bodies strong to combat the possible infection (heaven forbid) is where we need the most help.  The herbs are here to do that for us. 
     *Garlic: A heavy duty herb that boosts immune function, flushes viruses and microbes, calms inflammation, boosts circulation, repels parasites and fungus and so much more- EAT UP!
     *Astragalus: As mentioned above, Astragalus is and amazing adaptogenic herb, which really just means it's a "super hero" herb.  Adaptogens have the ability to bring our bodies back to balance, enhance or modulate immune function and aid in combating stress of all kinds- pretty great right?!  Astragalus has a particular affinity to the immune function and it has an anti-spirochetal action (spirochetes are the bacteria like critters that come with Lyme.)
     *Eleuthro: As mentioned above is another adaptogen specific for boosting immunity in a  very depleted and stressed states as well as supporting adrenal function.
     *Stinging Nettle: One to the most mineral rich herbs that gives the whole body a boost!  I call it an herbal "multi-vitamin".  Nettle is specific for supporting an building a healthy nervous system but offers a myriad of other benefits-one of my absolute favs!
     *Red Rood Bark: Red root gets things moving!  Especially the lymph which is where we often have a lot of toxins built up in our systems.  Getting the lymph moving and supporting our liver/spleen function, Red root will help out bodies get back on track in no time.
You can find all of the above herbs in tea, tincture or capsule from at your local health foods store.  I find that tinctures are the most potent and fast acting form of herbal medicine.  As your health practitioner for guidance.

In conclusion, don't choose to live in fear over ticks & their possible infections and deprive yourself of time enjoying Mother Nature- act now, prevent, now, just plain take care yourself  now and not only will you stay tick free, you'll just feel fantastic.

XO AMANDA

Do you like  reading my blogs and want more? Sign up for my e-newsletter HERE to receive health and wellness tips, recipes and musings on a somewhat monthly basis. xo

*All of the information shared on this blog is for educational purposes only and  is not meant to treat, cure or replace any other form of medicine or treatment. Use herbs under the guidance of your healthcare practitioner.