“New age” anything can in some cases look like so much on the surface and yet be substance-less at its core.  Xylitol is still in that gray area. Is it something more than just another processed sweetener?

It has been claimed that xylitol reduces the incidence of dental cavities by obstructing the growth of Streptococcus mutans bacteria, it may prevent ear infection, it may help your skin, it may be antifungal, as well as prebiotic (feeds beneficial flora).

It’s worth noting here that there’s nothing really “natural” about xylitol, except that it was originally derived from the fibrous parts of plants, such as corn and birch trees. While not yet found to be anywhere near as unhealthy as high fructose corn syrup, it is still a processed sugar, as all sugars with the desired sweetness people are searching for today are. Even maple syrup and honey require mild processing before being made available for purchase.

But Xylitol is HIGHLY processed, in some cases requiring the addition of dangerous  chemicals, which must then be removed before consumption is possible.

So, as with most new things on the market with huge potential for profits, the final word on xylitol is still out. Do your own research. Generally, the more unprocessed, the better for you.

ok…i did it.  i started at the top left hand side of the herb jars…and I’ll go through one by one.  so, it was alfalfa first.  Medicago sativa is the botanical name and it is from the pea family, or Fabaceae.  It is an herb often used for its nutritive qualities…containing constiuents such as vitamin K, minerals, coumarins, steroidal saponins, and chlorophyll.  It is especially helpful for people who are convalescing or have another reason to improve the body’s assimilation of nutrients.

the smell of the dried leaves in the jar was pleasant.  kind of like what i think a meadow would smell like, even though i haven’t stood in a meadow for years.  so, i was encouraged by this…and yet still apprehensive about the tea.  i placed a handful of the dried leaves in a mason jar and covered them with hot water. i ran to the bank and ate my lunch and so after twenty minutes of all that, i strained the plant material and was ready to drink.  it smelled like the water left over after steaming spinach.  my encouragement slipped away and i was really not looking forward to this.  but i am an herbalist, right?  just drink the damn tea already, i told myself.  so…i did.  and i didn’t like it.  i know, i wanted to like it.  i did.  by the end of my second cup…that admittedly, i gulped instead of leisurely sipped…i didn’t think it was quite as bad.  but then again, i was at the end of my experiment for the day.

until next week!

melissa

so, as luck would have it.  bad and good.  i forgot about drinking tea today!  oh no.  and i also accidentally drank something other than coffee or water this morning.  so mission accomplished and here i am offering my thoughts on the beverage i drank, which is herbal, by the way.

we have a product here, one of our tea blends…rainbow roast.  i actually may have mentioned it before, i really love it.  it is a blend of roasted chicory root and roasted dandelion root.  it comes in what looks like coffee grounds (can you tell i am a coffee drinker?)  and my favorite way to make it is to get a pot, put about 3 tbsp of the roast in it and maybe a couple cups of water.  i get it going to a boil, then bring it to a simmer and forget about it.  then about a half hour later, i think…wait a minute.  i want some of that roast.  so i head on back, strain myself a cup…add some cream and sweetener…and enjoy.  yum.

when it is simmering the smell is so deep and calming.  and with today’s weather in seattle, rainy and chilly…what could be better.  so…come on in and get some roast!  i think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  especially you coffee drinkers out there, like me.

peace…

melissa

hello out there!

here i am, your rainbow herbalist…asking for forgiveness in my lack of efforts in the tea drinking endeavor.  my light of excitement burned quickly and before i knew it, was out.  i do believe i mentioned my desire to find more love for herbal teas.  it’s not that i dislike them…cause then what kind of herbalist am i, anyway?  it’s  just that i don’t typically partake in them everyday…or every week, month, season.  i have other beverages to occupy my taste buds.  i drink for pleasure, i take tinctures and capsules for medicine.

my co-worker, megan, on the other hand…she loves herbal teas.  drinks them daily. mulitple times even.  so, she has offered her inspiration to this “new hope” for me to fall in love with tea.   and couple that with a new determination i have found within myself, through bikram yoga…i just think i can bring this tea thing on.

so…stay tuned.  starting next wednesday…my tea challenge begins.  what should the first new tea be?  shall i spin around in front of the jars and pick the one my finger stops at?  or would you like to suggest your favorite?  i’d love to hear from you!

til we meet again….

melissa

Recently my partner and I spent a year and a half traveling around the country.  Most of our time was spent exploring the farms, countryside, mountains, and woods of this amazing country.  We passed through many cities, but spent minimal time there, always looking for a quiet farm, a weathered beach, a shady forest.  Now as we return to an urban life for the time being, I am struck by the overwhelming differences between urban life and living in “nature”.   Specifically, I notice a physical change in my own body.

When we stand next to a river that flows across colored stones and marbled wood we can’t help but relax a bit and drink it in with all of our senses.  When we move through the cool green air of a forest breathing, we also breathe deep and full.   And when we stand on the edge of a rocky ledge and look out across a valley that is vast and beautiful, our hearts open and expand to take in all that we can.  We feel relaxed, enriched, open.

In the urban setting, there is a very different sort of physical interaction.  We are bombarded by sensory messages that are bright, hard, loud, sharp.  We frequently close off, shut down, disconnect with our physical selves in order to navigate through the neon, concrete, metal, and pollution.  It does not come naturally to our bodies and so defense mechanisms set in.  It is important to note that city life is not all bad, of course.  We come together for community, expression, stimulation, education… but this can be exhausting and stressful on our bodies and this trade off is important to be aware of.

There are a number of ways that we can combat the negative aspects of urban life.  I believe that one of the best is to get out of it for a while.  Give your body a break from filtering and buffering.  Breathe deep, relax, take part in system that was created neither by nor for humans.  Swim in a lake, nap in a meadow, climb a mountain, stroll through a forest.  And when you can’t do that, try these common remedies to make urban living more liveable:

Adaptogens and Adrenals:  These are what they sound like, herbs that address the function of  stress response and energy output, as well as the elements in the body that deal with adapting to stressful, difficult, and/or draining situations.  There are numerous herbs in this group, and your situation is unique so explore the different elements that each herb addresses and find what suits you and your needs.

B Vitamins, and Vitamin D:  There are a number of different B vitamins that address specific concerns and deficiencies, but maintaining levels of all B vitamins is generally useful for the health of the immune and nervous system which are both negatively affected by the impact of urban environments. Vitamin D is also important for the immune system and difficult to get in areas where sunlight is low (read: Seattle).  Both of these can be beneficial for mood balancing and easing depression which are common outcomes of responding to the urban onslaught.

Flower Essence:  When the impacts we deal with manifest through emotional channels, a more energy based approach can be helpful and effective.  Flower essence seeks to remind your body of qualities and emotions that are beneficial to its nature and to break free from unhealthy patterns and habits brought on by the defensive nature of urban living.

Relaxation:  As with all natural remedies, this is different for each person.  Find what helps you relax.  Take a bath with lavender bath salts, light some sweetgrass incense and meditate,  have some herbal tea and read a book, take special moments for yourself whenever you can.

I would say if there are just two things you do to begin the process to help minimize the harm caused by our urban settings it is this:  First, pay loving attention to your body!  This can be difficult when you are also trying to shut off in order to cope, but this is the start to living a healthy life.  Only you know what you need and how you respond, so give yourself the room to react and then respond accordingly.  Second, work in whatever way you can to improve our city in way that increases its beauty, its green spaces, its sustainability, and its consciousness so that eventually urban life can be a place that nurtures our bodies and spirits as much as the natural environment does.

Be Well Seattleites, its good to be home!