Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) considered Nettles a cure-all and used it for dozens of illnesses, In the second century, Galen, the Greek physician, recommended Nettles as “a diuretic and laxative, for dog bites, gangrenous wounds, swellings, nose bleeding, excessive menstruation, spleen-related illness, pleurisy, pneumonia, asthma, tinea, and mouth sores.”

Well-known for the pain it can inflict if you accidentally walk or fall into it, Nettles can cause the skin to sting and swell, causing a burning sensation that may last for minutes, hours, and sometimes for days. This is caused by constituents found in the tiny hairs that cover the leaves of the plant called formic acid, histamine and acetylcholine; formic acid is the same compound found in a bee sting. If you get ‘stung’ by Nettles, immediately apply the crumpled leaves of burdock, yellow dock, rosemary, mint or sage, or try rubbing with clay-rich mud to reduce the sting.

Some people actually use this burning sensation for the relief of chronic pain, especially with rheumatoid arthritis and bursitis. Flogging, or whipping oneself with the aerial parts of the plant, is referred to as urtificatiion, and has been practiced since ancient times for arthritic joints, coma, typhus, paralysis, lethargy, circulatory problems and muscle spasms.

Nettles are considered to be the most nutritious land plant on Earth. They’re loaded with the vitamins C, A and B complex, and are very rich in the minerals: iron, magnesium, manganese, sulphur, potassium, and silica, making them an excellent choice for beautiful skin, hair, nails, mucous membranes and so much more. Nettles are often used for anemia, and helping to strengthen and restore fractured bones. Nettles tea is regarded as safe for pregnancy and supports good lactation.

Nettles are also high in protein, fiber, chlorophyll and numerous detoxifying phyto-chemicals that help to cleanse the blood, sinuses, skin and lungs of accumulating toxins. Throughout the centuries, Nettles were chosen by doctors and laypeople to help with asthma, bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, jaundice, ulcers and numerous other conditions. Nettles alkalize the body, helping to restore balance and prevent illness.

I have used Nettles for dozens of health concerns over the years for my family and myself. For years, I experienced severe eczema and psoriasis, especially in winter and during the intense heat of summer. When I began to use nettles tea, my skin seemed less susceptible, but when I added Nettles tincture to my health regimen, I found significant improvements in my skin as well as my mood and the symptoms of PMS. My daughters have used Nettles for rashes and eczema, too, and friends have found it remarkable for improving acne problems.

Nettles are reputed for stopping bleeding and have been used with success internally or externally for lacerations, nose bleeds, poor blood-clotting, hemorrhoids and more.

The root extract of the Stinging Nettles have been used to help reduce excess inflammation of the prostate gland, especially when combined with saw palmetto. My favorite product that combines these two potent herbs is New Chapter’s Prostate 5LX, found in the Wellness department of your local co-op or health food store.

Nettles are a delicious addition to many recipes, and may be eaten both cooked and raw. They do not sting once cooked or finely chopped. Harvest Nettles prior to flowering and use immediately, or you may find them at the Farmers’ Market in the growing season. In many parts of the world, people prepare them in any fashion that we’d normally associate with spinach, such as steamed, in lasagna, soup, salads, dips, sauces, and your grandmother’s favorite spinach recipe.

I’ve eaten Nettles in a wide variety of preparations over the years, but my favorite remains making Nettles pesto. I find them a bit too intense on their own, so I usually combine half Nettles and half basil or cilantro, and add a couple extra cloves of garlic and plenty of high quality olive oil. Incredibly nutritious and simply delicious!

You’ll find a wide variety of Nettles products throughout your local co-op or health food store. Nettles tincture from Herb Pharm, lozenges from New Chapter called Histamine Take Care, and capsules from Gaia, Oregon’s Wild Harvest and others are found in the Wellness section, and Nettles in bulk and tea bags are found in the grocery department.

Enjoy your Nettles any way you can, and reap the numerous improvements in your overall health and vitality!

Red clover, a common perennial herb that grows wild in meadows through much of the world, is in the legume family, just as beans, peas and peanuts are. Its Latin name, Trifolium pretense, means “three leaves, found in the meadow”. Red clover is well-known by organic farmers as a cover crop, ideal for fixing nitrogen to increase soil fertility. Some of its other common names are purple clover, cow clover, meadow clover and wild clover.

There are hundreds of species, and many are grown for feeding livestock, but red clover is believed to be of great medicinal value. The flowering tops, on the one day when they are at the peak of perfection, are harvested for use in tinctures, teas, capsules and body care products. Because red clover, once dried, easily loses its medicinal value, it is important to choose products carefully so that we may enjoy their numerous benefits.

Red clover is considered to be a powerful alterative, meaning that it’s a remedy that restores good health. Well known for its ability to cleanse and purify the blood, red clover is believed to help prevent some of the plaque deposits that can lead to heart attacks or stroke, improving circulation and overall cardiovascular health.

Assisting the liver with the detoxification process, red clover has been reputed as a safe and useful remedy for a variety of health complaints associated with the liver or ‘dirty blood’. Over the last several centuries, one of red clover’s primary uses has been for dermal inflammations, including childhood and adult eczema, psoriasis, dandruff and various rashes. Red clover would often be added to the tea pot for daily consumption and detoxification when symptoms arose. Ointments or salves containing red clover would be applied topically to the affected area. More recently, red clover has been useful for teen, cystic or hormonally-activated acne.

Red clover is considered to be an excellent antispasmodic, meaning that it helps to relieve mild cramping or muscle spasm and it works as an expectorant, helping clear lungs of phlegm and toxins. Traditional health practitioners have used it as part of a program to calm bronchial spasms and coughs associated with the common cold, as well as some serious respiratory problems, including whooping cough, bronchitis, asthma and pneumonia.

Red clover is high in numerous nutrients, including the B vitamins, niacin (B3) and thiamine (B1); vitamin C; and several minerals, including calcium, chromium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Nutritionally, red clover is most well known as a very rich source of isoflavones, a group of compounds found in many plants. These phyto-chemicals, also found in soy, look similar to the female hormone estrogen.

Red clover is often used in herbal formulations to help girls and young women with cramping, moodiness and breast tenderness associated with PMS. Red clover has become popular for helping women with menopause and peri-menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. It is used by women of all ages to help protect the breasts and improve hormonal health.

There is a lot of confusion in the media and on health websites about how phyto-estrogens, such as isoflavones, work. When plant-based chemical compounds are naturally occurring in an herb such as red clover, these hormone-balancing little gems simply fill some of the estrogen receptors within the body. When isoflavones have been chemically isolated away from the complexity of the plant, they lose the checks and balances of the whole, natural, full-spectrum herb. They can then act more like hormone-replacement medications, providing potential results but with greater possibility for side-effects. Red clover in its whole form such as herbal tea or tincture has not been associated with any side effects.

Red clover has been used for cysts, cancerous tumors, and other growths in Europe, Asia and the Americas for centuries. Early test tube research shows that it may stop cancer cell growth or kill cancer cells altogether. Human research shows promising evidence that red clover interferes with the progression of endometrial cancer (the lining of the uterus) and may block enzymes believed to contribute to prostate cancer in men. Another study showed that red clover also may slow the development of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

Red clover has been a key ingredient in traditional remedies used by Ojibway and other native tribal healers. It has been an important part of several detoxifying herbal preparations in the past hundred years, as well. Rene Caisse, a nurse in the 1920’s in Canada, opened a cancer clinic using a formulation containing red clover. A portion of her formula is now marketed as Essiac, and for decades these herbs have been used to help people and their pets  with various types and stages of cancer and other blood disorders.

Also in the early 1900’s, the Hoxsey formula was used in 17 cancer clinics throughout Texas and the US. An excellent book called “When Healing Becomes a Crime” was written by Kenny Ausubel about Harry Hoxsey and his experiences with herbal and alternative cancer protocols.

The Eclectic doctors in the 1800’s used red clover often. A fomentation (hot, moist herbal compress), salve, liniment, infused oil, or poultice made with red clover and other cleansing herbs was applied topically to help reduce growths.

You’ll find several excellent red clover products available in the Wellness department and the tea aisle of your local co-op or health food store. Look for Herb Pharm’s tincture of red clover, as well as their wonderful detoxification formula, Red Clover – Stillingia Compound, for a daily or occassional blood purifying effect. And at least twice a year, we should all participate in a more therapeutic cleansing program, which might include one of my other favorite red clover products, such as:

• the detoxification formula called Flor-Essence Herbal Tea Blend, which is based on the original Ojibway formula passed along to Rene Caisse, offered in liquid or dry herb tea,

• Eclectic Institute’s Blood Support, which combines freeze-dried burdock with red clover, yellow dock, nettles and dandelion root to support liver and blood detoxification,

• Eclectic Institute also has a straight-up freeze-dried red clover. I prefer the combinations above, but this is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a high quality red clover capsule.

Happy cleansing on your path to wellness.

Calendula Officianalis, or simply calendula (pronounced kə’-lend’-ju-lə), is a garden favorite often referred to as field marigold or pot marigold. Originally native to the Mediterranean region, calendula, a member of the daisy family, has naturalized throughout much of Europe, North America and the world.

Calendula has a rich history of use as food and medicine that goes back to the ancient Romans, Persians and Greeks. Calendula flowers and leaves were added to soups and stews to strengthen and fortify the immune system and to increase feelings of happiness. Throughout Europe, calendula petals were added to butter and cheeses to make a pleasant yellow coloring.

By the mid-1800’s, calendula was commonly used by doctors for major injuries and after limb amputations to help prevent infection and heal the wound. During the Civil War, doctors used dried calendula flowers to speed the healing of soldiers wounded in battle.

Only the Calendula officinalis with deep orange flowers is used to make herbal and medicinal remedies. The sticky, bright flowers should be harvested on dry days after the dew has fully evaporated. They may be used fresh or dried for making tea, and wilted or dried for most other herbal preparations. If you’re not a gardener or need some today, look in the bulk herb section of your local co-op or herb shop. Garden varieties of Calendula, in many shades of yellow, orange and red, are often planted around the periphery of the garden to ward off potentially harmful pests.

Today, calendula is used primarily in topical formulas to help the body to heal external wounds and lacerations. You will find a variety of fine herbal first aid and skin healing products with calendula as one of their primary ingredients in the Wellness dept. of your local co-op or health food store.

Moms may find it helpful to keep a calendula salve or a tube of gel in their purse or diaper bag for applying to cuts, scrapes, minor burns, bug bites, diaper rash or cradle cap. Weleda offers several baby care products containing soothing calendula.

Try Boiron Calendula Lotion the next time you spend too long in the hot sun and your skin appears cooked like a Maine lobster. I bet you’ll feel cooler and more comfortable in no time.

Calendula lotion is wonderful for those of us who are prone to rashes, hives or other skin irritations. Immediately soothing, calendula calms the itch and helps with the redness and inflammation. Calendula may also be quite helpful for areas prone to chaffing or bedsores.

Internally, calendula has been use for lymphatic system stagnation and to support immune system function. A common sign of lymphatic stagnation is swollen glands; try a cup of calendula tea or a dropper of tincture the next time you feel your glands swelling or a cold coming on. Or float one flower, fresh or dried, in your favorite tea every day to help keep the doctor away. Remember to steep your herbal teas with a tight fitting lid so as to retain the medicinal properties. Uncovered, much of the medicinal benefits will go up in the steam and you will be sipping warm flavored water. When steeping your tea in a mug, you may use a saucer or plate as the lid.

Historically, Calendula has also been used as a cough and cold remedy, used either internally or try rubbing calendula oil on the upper back or chest.

It is especially helpful when the person is feeling very weak and tired, with a rattling chest cough. And calendula was a choice herb used for exhaustion during and after a long or severe illness or infection.

So it is time to restore this valuable orange flower to a place of honor in the herb cupboard. Choose it often as autumn begins to set in and maybe you will find that cold and flu season will go more smoothly next winter.

Immune Strengthening Autumn Miso Soup with Calendula Flowers
Makes 6 servings
3 cups vegetable stock, filtered or spring water
1 onion, chopped
1 medium sweet potato, thinly sliced
1 medium daikon radish, cut to half moons
1/8 to 1/4 oz organic kelp or dulse, soaked and chopped finely
2 TBSP calendula flowers, dried and chopped finely
1 4-6” pc astragalus (cooked, not eaten)
1 cup kale, chopped finely
1 cup more cold vegetable stock, filtered or spring water
6 – 12 tsp miso, white, red or brown

Combine all ingredients (except miso and 1 cup of liquid) in a soup pot. Bring to a boil, turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 40 minutes. Remove from heat. Add last cup of cold water or stock. Stir briefly. Place miso paste in a soup bowl; add a ladle of soup broth; stir in completely with a fork or whisk. Add miso mixture to the pot of soup. Stir again. Serve and enjoy.

Both the neem seeds and leaves are pressed for their valuable oils; neem seed oil is widely used for pest control in the home, garden, commercial farms and industrial food storage warehouses. Neem seed oil is approved for organic gardening, and when properly diluted, it is considered safe for children, pets, birds, butterflies, and has even been shown to help increase earthworm populations. Please check out the Thera Neem brand organic Neem Oil for the Garden, produced in Florida by Organix South, found in the flower or natural health department of your local co-op or health market.

Neem extracts were tested by the Malaria Institute and found to keep mosquitoes from biting for up to twelve hours. According to John Conrick, author of the book, Neem: The Ultimate Herb, it is also helpful for defending against ticks, fleas and biting flies. The lemongrass scented

Thera Neem Herbal Outdoor Spray is regarded as safe for the entire family, including babies. I have used this product, as well as the straight neem oil, with my family, friends and dogs for years to fend off bugs with very good results.

The neem leaf oil is used extensively in body care products and many cosmetics. Numerous studies confirm what the Indian people have known for centuries; neem is very helpful for improving and maintaining beautiful skin and overall good health. Straight neem leaf oil is used to prevent infection in wounds and for bacterial and fungal infections including impetigo, athlete’s foot, nail fungus, yeast infections (candida), jock itch and ringworm. Neem leaf oil has also been used for cold sores and herpes outbreaks for decades.

Neem cream or lotion is wonderful for diaper rash, bug bites, acne, skin irritations, ulcerations and rashes. Two separate studies have shown neem cream to significantly reduce symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and extremely dry or cracking skin for months. Try applying after swimming in a chlorinated pool or when you’ve gotten too much sun. It’s wonderfully cooling and nourishing! You’ll find Thera Neem Leaf and Oil Cream or their Neem Leaf and Oil Lotion to really feel like it’s helping your body calm, sooth and heal your damaged skin.

Neem shampoo and coconut-scented conditioner can help provide relief for an itchy, irritated scalp, and are widely believed to help prevent or rid us of dandruff and head lice. I’ve known teachers, day care workers and nurses who swear by these products. For more serious results, you may want to add a few drops of the pure neem leaf oil to your shampoo in your hand to help loosen nits. It is generally suggested when one is known to have lice to leave the shampoo and oil mixture on the scalp (wrapped in a towel) for 30 minutes before rinsing.

Both modern research and ancient writings show neem bark powder to support a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. It is high in beneficial antioxidants and leaves the mouth feeling fresh and lively. TheraNeem Herbal Toothpaste and Herbal Mouthrinse are formulated with organic neem to refresh the mouth and support the digestive tract, (which is often the real cause of bad breath, rotting teeth and receding gums.)

The rapidly growing neem tree has been planted along thousands of avenues in tropical cities around the globe for shade, beauty and firewood. It has also been planted throughout many of the world’s deserts and arid regions, helping to restore a more diverse ecology. Used for malaria, diabetes, viral and bacterial infections, and so much more, the neem tree could be the most valuable tree for the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

For more information, please read

Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems, compiled by the U.S. Office of International Affairs and Neem: The Ultimate Herb by John Conrick.

Here is a partial list of symptoms, conditions and degenerative diseases that have been shown to be helped over the centuries through safe, natural periodic cleansing and simple daily detoxification practices:

o Acne
o Allergies; sinus, tactile, digestive, hives, etc
o Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia syndromes
o Anxiety
o Arthritis
o Asthma attacks
o ADD /HD (attention deficit)
o Autism spectrum
o Body odor (foul)
o Brittle nails
o Chemical sensitivity
o Chronic constipation
o Chronic digestive disorders
o CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome)
o Chronic infections
o Chronic respiratory issues
o Chronic weakness
o Cirrhosis of the liver
o Crohn’s disease
o Depression
o Drug /food addiction
o Eczema
o Fibromyalgia
o Gallstones
o Gout
o Gum disease
o Hair loss
o Halitosis (bad breath)
o Headaches
o Hot flashes and night sweats
o Immune disorders
o Insomnia
o Irritability
o IBS (irritable bowel disorder)
o Kidney disease
o Kidney stones
o Low blood sugar
o Memory loss
o Migraines
o Mood swings
o Multiple sclerosis
o Muscle aches / pain
o Obesity
o PMS
o Parkinson’s disease
o Psoriasis
o Rashes, itching (chronic discomfort under skin)
o Sinus pain (drip, irritation, sinus headache, etc)
o Ulcerative colitis
o Ulcers
o Weak bones
o Weight gain (excess)
o Weight loss (excess)

Accumulating toxins may affect just about any region of the body or mind as the incomplete list above shows. Properly cleansing the debris from the body’s organs, tissues and cells allows the body to find its center, restart nutrient utilization and resume a better working order. Rejuvenated organs and cells offer us more energy and vitality as well as a sense of inner peace and calm. This can lead to more restful sleep, a lift in spirits and a release from chronic pain and discomfort.

Here are my top 10 favorite general cleansing herbs and foods. It is not good enough to purchase one or more, however, unless you pay close attention to the quality of the product you choose. Please buy organic/ local whenever possible.
For more info, read my article “Quality is Everything” .

Turmeric
Ginger
Holy basil (tulsi)
Red clover
Burdock
Hempseeds
Sea vegetables
Blessed thistle
Dark leafy green vegetables
Sprouts

Acne, from a holistic viewpoint, is caused by toxins accumulating in the blood, liver, colon, lymphatic system and other organs of elimination. Proper cleansing of the organs and blood can have a dramatic effect with all types; teen, adult and cystic acne. Eating the right foods is essential during the time of detoxification, as well as afterwards during the nourishing and strengthening period. For those of us that experience extended episodes of acne, cystic acne or other chronic skin conditions, scheduling a cleanse for 7 to 15 days each spring and fall, or for a few days during each of the four seasons, will help the body with the toxin overload that is believed to lead to breakouts on the skin.

Acne is related to candida overgrowth; a symptom of candida, so to speak. When we address candida thoroughly, using detoxification and nutritional support, skin problems are alleviated or eliminated. Candida is a naturally occurring fungus within the intestinal tract, but when we use antibiotics, steroids, birth control pills, chlorinated water, etc; an overgrowth of one (or several) of the more than 70 species of candida can cause harm to our health in a variety of ways.

The liver and colon are nearly always congested whenever a skin imbalance occurs; whether we suffer with oily, dry or combination skin problems. Ideally, our colon should eliminate (bowel movements) two to three times daily; easily, well-formed and somewhat abundantly. For most Americans, this is not the case. Too many doctors have given their chronically ill patients incorrect information over the past few decades when they have told them that elimination two or three times a week is just ‘normal for them’. WRONG! This is NOT normal for anyone! It is a sign that the body is not functioning properly and is accumulating lots of toxins, further damaging our health.

Before we can begin to eliminate the toxin overload from the skin, blood, liver and other detoxifying organs, we MUST get the colon eliminating with ease daily. To correct a stagnant colon, more fiber is definitely needed, preferably from a healthy, natural foods diet containing LOTS of vegetables! Vegetables are truly the key to great health.

Notice I didn’t say ‘fruits and vegetables’? This is because they should virtually never be grouped together in one category! Fruits, although good for us in moderation, are very sweet and should be eaten infrequently and mostly when that particular fruit is in season in your area. So if you live in Wisconsin or Vermont, bananas and kiwi should be a rare treat, not your daily breakfast or snack foods. Think about what folks one hundred or more years ago would have eaten in your region. Make food choices with this concept in mind.

Change your diet in small ways each day or as you are able, thinking of them as lifestyle changes to support your overall health and vitality, rather than a dramatic diet or quick fix.

So; we need to eat more vegetables! This includes roots, dark leafy greens, squash, sea vegetables, etc. Every week, try adding a new vegetable to your meal plan that you’ve never had before. Find some interesting recipes that include it, and try preparing it a couple different ways; baked, steamed, raw in a salad, etc. It may be time to invest in a couple new (mostly vegetarian) cookbooks!

If the addition of more vegetables is not enough to get your colon eliminating sufficiently, a fiber powder product may be called for. My favorites are all made by Renew Life; Fiber Smart, Triple Fiber and the delicious cinnamon flavor found in the Organic Bowel Cleanse. Using fiber products in capsules is expensive, and you do not get very much real benefit compared to these tasty powders.

I would urge folks to also avoid fiber products found in most grocery stores and pharmacies, as well as those containing psyllium seed or husk, cascara sagrada or senna leaf. There are inherent concerns with each of these products and herbs, but that is a post for another day.

Avoid laxatives as well; even the ‘natural’ ones. Laxatives, by their very nature, stifle the body’s ability to eliminate on its own. Just five days in a row using a laxative product will reduce your body’s ability to eliminate without help. This can increase dependence on laxatives and further reduce complete elimination of the accumulated toxins that lead to poor health and skin problems.

If adding more fiber is only marginally helpful, and you’re not yet eliminating with ease, try Planetary Formulas’ Triphala or Renew Life’s Cleanse More. These powerful, yet gentle colon moving products work with our body to evacuate the colon. They do not cause us to loose our peristalsis, the rhythmic contractions in the intestines that directs food downward through the digestive tract and the body’s waste toward the rectum.

With issues of acne, especially with cystic acne, the lymphatic system has become quite sluggish, blocked or stagnant. Moving the lymph occurs with daily exercise, but not if we’re stressed out and uptight when we do the exercise. The lymphatic system doesn’t come with a pump, in the way that the circulatory system has the heart, so this daily exercise is necessary for the relief of the congestion or stagnation that the lymphatic system is designed to flush away from the organs and cells.

Exercising outdoors will provide us with increased benefits over the same workout done indoors or in the gym. Breathing fresh air invites us to release toxins more completely as we exhale, providing more room in the lungs for a greater inhale, and thereby delivering more oxygen to the cells.

Probably the most important first step would be to address the foods that you eat. What foods do you consume regularly? Take a close look at this for a few days. Keep a journal of everything consumed (foods and liquids), if necessary. The partial list below contains some of the most important things to eliminate (or at least reduce)as your body begins to regulate so that your skin may heal.

Chemical additives- preservatives, fillers, artificial flavors, colors, synthetic vitamins, minerals, etc.
Sugar and all soft drinks, especially the sugar-free variety.
Fried foods- including sautéed and deep fried foods
Vegetable oils- commercially prepared oils, even most of the ‘natural’ ones
Flour- even whole wheat; so no bread, pasta, pastries, cereals, junk food, etc. for awhile.
Junk food- chips, cookies, bagged snacks, fast food, pastries, etc.

Increase your consumption of the following cleansing, nourishing foods:

Sprouts- broccoli, radish, alfalfa, red clover, bean, etc.
Fermented foods- miso, yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, pickled beets,, cured olives, etc.
Indian spices- curry, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, etc.
Whole grains- (not flour) brown rice, millet, quinoa, barley, rye, etc.
Cruciferous vegetables- cabbage, kale, collards, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, etc.

Nourishing the blood, organs and cells is also imperative for the return of healthy, glowing skin. We know that skin health depends on nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K. But skin health responds far more readily to the complex array of vitamins, minerals, micronutrients and phytonutrients available in high quality organic foods than in the isolated nutrients and food-based products that most vitamins are made with. When foods and herbs are properly grown, harvested, dried, processed and/or extracted into clean, pure, excellent quality, high energy products the effect can be immediate and help to mend the imbalance that has lead to acne in young people and in adults.

Another important product to completely avoid is Olestra (also called Olean), a fat-free oil substitute. Many believe this stuff to be complete poison. It is reported to have caused many, possibly thousands of cases of long term bowel disease and disorders. And for many, it is believed to have caused severe acne problems, as well.

The most important thing about using herbs, even more essential than which herbs you select, is the quality of the product that you choose. Please read my article “Quality is Everything!” if you haven’t already. Now, I could just suggest all those same herbs that most of the other websites and books suggest, but if you don’t have the good fortune to choose a high quality herbal product, the herbs and supplements will be of little benefit, (except to line the pockets of the manufacturers of those poor quality products).

Check out any of the following herbal products for cleansing the liver, blood and skin:

Blood Support
Herb Pharm’s Dermal Health Compound
Gaia’s Skin & Nail Support
Flora’s Flor-Essence Tea tea
Lumina Health’s Cellfood

For cleansing herbs, it is helpful to take them in cycles; say 5 days on then 2 days off; or 10 days on and 5 days off. This is not because of some associated side effects, as has been rumored. In more than 5000 years of use, there are few true reports of side effects associated with clean, pure herbal remedies. The reason that it’s best to take herbs in cycles is that this is how we seem to get best results! This is likely due to the idea that the body gets a break from the herbal program, internally adjusts, and is ready to be affected by the next round of herbal support.

Essential fatty acids are another crucial part of good skin health. The EFA’s, as they’re often referred to, that support skin health are the ‘good 6’s’. The non- essential fatty acids that are omega 9’s are also excellent. Try organic hemp oil on your rice, salad or in a smoothie. It’s got the prefect balance of EFA’s for every cell in our bodies, is high in lots of other good nutrients, and tastes wonderful! Do not rely on fish oils, however. (I cannot tell you how often I’ve seen or heard fish oil recommended for skin conditions, but in reality, it’s the opposite of what’s really needed for healthy skin!)

If you prefer to take your ‘good fats’ in capsule form, you may want to try Renew Life’s Oil Smart. I have seen remarkable results with the use of this product, along with a good detoxification program, for severe acne problems. This is likely due to the fact that it contains plenty of lipase, the enzyme that helps us to digest and use all those good fats in our cells.

Now, most acne is associated with hormonal imbalances, which is often another symptom of a candida imbalance. To support this, you may choose to add a good hormonal balancing herbal product. Even though these products are geared toward women, men and boys with acne often benefit from their addition for the return of good skin health. (Please note: There is no estrogen or other harmful chemicals in any of these products.) Look for:

New Chapter’s Estrotone
Gaia’s Phyto-Estrogen
Herb Pharm’s Phytoestrogen Tonic.

For additional help and support, please look into a therapeutic detoxification program in your area or contact me. With the right cleansing foods and support herbs, you will likely begin to see the return of beautiful, clear skin in two to four weeks. Be patient with your body, smile and love yourself and feel gratitude for all that you’re blessed with.

Have you continued to use DEET-based (N, N-diethyl m-toluamide) insect repellents because you thought that it was the only thing that can really prevent mosquito and black fly bites? The good news is that it looks like we may finally have other serious options.

‘So, what’s the problem with DEET?’ you ask. Both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics have recently implied that DEET may not be as safe once thought.

The EPA website states:
“As long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions, insect repellents containing DEET do not present a health concern. Human exposure is expected to be brief, and long-term exposure is not expected.”

Brief? Where do you suppose those people live, anyway?

The EPA report also requires manufacturers to remove any child safety claims from products sold with low levels of DEET.
“The scientific data on DEET does not support product label claims of child safety based on the percentage of active ingredient.”

And products that contain both DEET and sunscreen may be a more significant concern for us,
“since directions to reapply sunscreens generously and frequently may promote greater use of DEET than needed for pesticidal efficacy and thus pose unnecessary exposure to DEET.”

Now,the American Association of Pediatrics still recommends the use of DEET to repel mosquitoes and prevent disease; as long as you adhere to the following precautions:
• In formulations of less than 10 percent.
• Applied sparingly, according to product label instructions.
• Only to exposed skin, and not to a child’ face, hands or skin that is irritated or abraded.
• After the child returns indoors, treated skin should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.

Now that’s not exactly what one might call a glowing endorsement!

Prevention is an excellent avenue for mosquito bite control. The following suggestions may help:

• Wear long sleeves, long pants or slacks, and long socks when outdoors if weather permits.
• Reduce or eliminate mosquito breeding locations. Empty any standing water around your house, including toys, containers, flower pots, drainage ditches, tires, etc.
• Change water in bird baths and splash pools every two to three days.
• Replace or repair all screens. Even a small tear can let a tiny hungry mosquito into your home.

Now, let’s get back to the good news that I mentioned earlier.

There are several botanical essential oils that may be found in ‘natural’ bug dope products. One is now FDA approved. Another should be. The rest may work a little bit, but I wouldn’t want to rely on some of them out in the deep woods, (and I’ve tried).

A couple of products containing lemon eucalyptus essential oil [researchers identify the active ingredient as: p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], are now registered with the EPA. In two recent scientific publications, oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes here in the US. It was shown to provide protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

Another potential solution is neem. For centuries, people in Asia have used neem to keep mosquitoes away from their rice fields, crops, villages, homes and themselves. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s database, includes a 1993 article from the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association:
“Two percent neem oil mixed in coconut oil, when applied to the exposed body parts of human volunteers, provided complete protection for 12 hrs from the bites of all anopheline (mosquitoes that carry malaria) species. Application of neem oil is safe and can be used for protection from malaria in endemic countries.”

Neem is also shown to be helpful for dry, cracked skin, rashes, acne, psoriasis and eczema, so those with sensitive or problem skin will have a safer option to choose.

A report from the National Research Council, published by the National Academy Press, stated that neem
“deters certain biting insects more effectively than the synthetic chemical called DEET”.

But what is neem and is it truly safe?

Neem oil is pressed from the leaves of the Neem tree. The Neem tree is indigenous to India and Sri Lanka. The Indian people have revered every part of the neem tree for countless generations. Early writings of neem’s curative powers date back to 5,000 years ago. It has been used for countless conditions and has come to be known as “the village pharmacy”. There have never been any reports of side effects.

Neem has been used since antiquity as an insect repellent for people, their homes and food crops. Researchers have found that neem prevents mosquitoes from landing on us for up to twelve hours and may also keep ticks, biting flies and sand fleas from bothering us, as well. Several compounds in neem have been shown to be more effective insect repellents than DEET, and are probably much safer, too.

Organix South out of Florida has a great product called the Herbal Outdoor Spray containing high quality neem oil, along with some lemony essential oils. It goes on easily, smells great and seems to really keep the bugs away! It’s not allowed to be called a mosquito repellent, but it certainly acts like one! They also make Neem Oil for the Garden, and just like it sounds, it keeps pests from getting to your crops before you do. They also provide us with the only certified organic neem oil in the US (and they’re available in other parts of the world, too.)

I met a guy last week whose dog comes in with numerous ticks just about every day, nine months a year. When he uses the neem oil on her coat before she goes out, she returns tick-free. (See the spray recipe below.)

It would only make sense to replace potentially harmful chemical pesticides, repellents and fertilizers with health promoting botanical products. When we protect our environment, we improve our own health and that of all life on Earth. Neem has been used to keep the lawn, garden and plants healthy, all the while enhancing flower production and crop yields.

Eating raw garlic or taking a garlic supplement with the oils intact has been believed to prevent mosquitoes from landing on people or pets. The only garlic supplement that I use is Garlicforce from New Chapter; potent, powerful and I don’t smell like garlic because of the digestive herbs inside. Garlic is also believed to prevent fleas on people and pets. (Garlic powder, by the way, doesn’t work.)

Plant calendula, marigolds, lavender and mint around your yard. Biting insects don’t like them, so fewer will hang around.

Other essential oils used over the years to repel biting insects include:
Clove
Thyme
Cedar
Citronella
Lemon balm
Rose geranium
Pennyroyal
Lemongrass
Eucalyptus
Peppermint
Tea tree
Lavender

These essential oils may be added to high quality carrier oils, including almond, sesame, coconut, avocado or jojoba. Add 15-30 drops of a single or combination of the essential oils per tablespoon of carrier oil. If you use Oshadhi oils, you may only need 8-15 drops per TBSP.

To make a spray:
Fill an 8 oz spray bottle with the following:
5 oz purified water or witch hazel
2 oz aloe vera gel
Add 20-30 (or more) drops of neem or lemon eucalyptus oil.
150 drops of the essential oils listed above, if desired.
Shake well. Spray on and rub into exposed skin.

Maybe this year, you and your loved ones will finally be mosquito free and you’ll get to feel really good about it!

She got chickenpox twice, too. The first time, she was under a year and a half, so she didn’t build up resistance and got them again a few years later; high fever and more than 700 itchy welts across her body. We counted them to take her mind off the itchiness for awhile.

Mollie had various tactile allergic reactions, sometimes to things that she ate or came in contact with, she got hand-foot and mouth disease, and reacted to two or three different antibiotics and another medication that I was dubious at best about giving her in the first place.

Each different rash had its own characteristics, often a slight fever accompanied them and some had other side symptoms. They all seemed to me to relate to her liver health. Unfortunately, we weren’t having complete success with restoring her immune system to good health. Her dad had just gotten a new insurance plan and wanted to try western medicine, drugs; I reluctantly gave in.

The rashes became a bit more frequent, as did her bouts of strep. We had some successes in finding ways to deal with the rashes and accompanying fever, but I wanted to get to the core of the issue, so that she wouldn’t have to suffer. Mollie was normally a very feisty gal when she was a kid. The funny thing was that she became incredibly sweet, gentle and kind when she got sick. These details help with homeopathy, but from a Mom’s perspective, it made me want to hold her and rock her and comfort her in any way I could.

When Mollie was about four and a half years old, I had a consultation with a healer friend of mine about her repeated bouts of strep, the rashes and all that was going on with her health. We discussed the idea of feeding her more roots, lots of dark leafy greens and spicy herbs such as ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, basil and oregano. Having taught whole foods cooking classes, I suggested a few of my most favorite dishes that incorporate combinations of these culinary herbs and spices that I thought she would like.

We always tried to include Mollie in any discussions that involved her health or education, so she was with me for the consultation. Mollie looked up at me at this point and boldly stated, “I won’t eat it like that. But you can put anything that’s gonna help into my miso soup; but you better cut it up really small, ‘cause I sure don’t want to see it.”

This dramatic statement didn’t really surprise me, knowing Mollie’s strength and tenacity, but it certainly startled my friend. “She likes miso soup, huh?”
“Loves it.” I replied. “She eats it at least once, usually twice, every day; but it’s got to have a lot of miso. She loves lots of sea vegetables, roots and kale, too, cut up real small.”
“That’s great! Good luck with this. I hope it helps her.” I bet it did. It took some time, but her immune system has become quite strong.

Both of my daughters enjoyed drinking herbal teas. We made them by the quart or half gallon. They often contained nettles and red raspberry, since Kaia loved nettles and Mollie favored red raspberry. Both are nourishing to the skin and detoxifying for the blood. We also made several versions of Indian spiced teas, such as chia and Mu tea.

Kaia liked to use a high quality aloe vera healing gel with comfrey on her skin throughout the summer and autumn months, and Mollie liked to use the aloe because her big sister did. I have found that the high grade aloe vera is so much more effective for us than the regular ones (nearly every product on the market). Ideally, we want to be certain that it’s hand filleted or hand extracted. As you can imagine, this is much more labor intensive than dumping a truckload to be pulverized at one time. These superior products work very well for restoring the skin, protecting and nourishing to help the body heal itself.

Calendula was Mollie’s herb of choice for topical use on her rashes. There are several good calendula products on the market, many of them are homeopathic formulas, but our first choice was always Boiron – Calendula Lotion, the only one that comes in a 6.7 oz bottle. It worked for her every time we used it.

We first learned of this particular product when Mollie had her second round of chickenpox. When a child gets them a second time, it is more serious, like when an adult gets them. She was very sick, had a frighteningly high fever and heaved everything she tried to eat. We bathed her with oatmeal and herbs, and made sure she drank plenty of water. Nothing seemed to work on the eruptions though; they were as itchy, irritated and about as inflamed as could be.

A lady at our local health food store suggested that we try the Boiron’s Calendula Lotion because the feedback she’d gotten from a few loyal customers was that it helped when nothing else would. I was desperate to find relief for my itchy child. Calamine lotion, oatmeal baths etc felt good, but she (and I) had gotten very little sleep the night before due to her discomfort and we both needed a get night’s rest.

We bought several brands of calendula products, creams, gels and salves over the years; and they were all good, but this particular calendula lotion seems to be helpful (for Mollie and others that I’ve spoken with) even when nothing else seems to.

We’ve also used several good herbal healing salves containing St John’s wort, comfrey and calendula. My three favorites, other than the ones I’ve made myself, are Avena Botanicals’ Heal All Salve, Herbal Ed’s Salve produced by Herb Pharm and Comfrey Compound Salve. They helped soften and provide relief from the itching for awhile, but Boiron’s Calendula Lotion literally helped every rash she ever got once we found it.

One time, we were out of it and she had a fiery red rash with a medium grade fever. We used at least six different gels and creams during the first day and a half. They each provided her temporary relief, but within fifteen minutes she was itchy and irritated again with a field of red pimple-like bumps across her belly, left side and both arms.

I called our local health food store where we usually bought it, but they were out. I called each of the next six or seven health stores progressively less near me, but nobody had one on hand. I finally found one at a store more than a half hour away. I drove out there to buy it and returned to find Mollie with her winter mittens on so that she wouldn’t scratch her itchy body!

We smeared the calendula lotion liberally across the red patches of bumpy skin. her discomforts subsided in just a few minutes. When it began to return thirty minutes later, we reapplied the lotion. We put it on one more time before she went to bed an hour or so later. The rash hadn’t returned yet, but we wanted her to sleep comfortably. In the morning, her skin looked normal and her fever was gone. We loved that product!

If I knew about neem back then, I’m sure I would have tried it with her numerous rashes. Neem is amazing for folks with very dry, irritated, rashy, oily or combination skin. There’s a great neem lotion or cream from the Thera Neem folks called Neem Leaf & Oil Cream that I’ve seen help with a couple of peculiar rashes these last several months. My guess is that it would have been a second ‘tool in the tool shed’ had we only known!

There are so many side effects associated with the over-the-counter and prescription rash preparations out there on the market. It’s a relief to know that there are some safe, sane, gentle and helpful alternatives that we can try instead.

Now, it was getting redder and was slightly oozing puss. Her daughter, Kara, who is currently taking an anatomy and physiology course, came by for a visit. “Mom, that looks BAD. Burns that serious become infected easily, and yours looks infected already. It can’t get better without medicine and a skin graft. You HAVE to go to the doctor!”

Clarissa researched skin grafts and then called me immediately. She knew the story of my daughter, Kaia and I getting burned and she wanted to know what that oil was that we used. I let her know that we had used Herb Pharm’s St. John’s Wort Oil, available at most health food stores.

Most people have heard of St. John’s wort for depression, but it has been used for centuries for many injuries and conditions to help the body repair nerve damage. When a significant area of the skin is burned, millions of nerves become damaged, making St. John’s wort a specific herbal remedy according to ancient healers and Eclectic doctors to support regeneration of the damaged tissue.

She told me that the pain had nearly prevented her from being able to walk since it happened, since it stretched the burned area when her knee bent, even a little bit. We said goodbye, and she immediately visited her local Whole Foods, found the St. John’s wort oil and sat down right there in the store and applied it to her painful, inflamed burned knee. She called me directly from the store. I answered and she squealed “That’s AMAZING! The pain is nearly gone. I’m sure some of it will come back after awhile, but it’s GONE NOW! Thank you! Thank you!”

Over the next two days, Clarissa applied the St. John’s wort oil liberally to her burned knee several times. By the third day, it looked so much better and so she used the oil only a couple of times that day. Her daughter, Kara, came by before her class and was astounded to see that her Mom’s leg was nearly healed.

Clarissa finished up the bottle of St. John’s wort oil over the next week. By then, nobody could tell where the burn had been. Her skin healed without the skin graft and without scarring. Herbs rock!

My shins and calves would itch so badly during the night that I would scratch them until they bled. I used both topical products and supplements that would help for awhile, but the pain and itching never fully left my body during all those years. I also found acupuncture to be fairly effective, having gotten treatments for several years. Although my skin improved, it never cleared completely. Wintertime was always the worst time of year, and summer was only marginally better. And then something wonderful happened!

For the past ten or twelve years, I have freed myself of the daily (and nightly) discomfort, irritation and pain that I’d experienced with my skin throughout most of my life. I will first share with you how I relieved the discomfort, and at a later date, I will explain how we can all find long-term relief from the distress of auto-immune conditions, including eczema and psoriasis.

Many holistic health practitioners believe that all skin imbalances are linked to the liver and often the colon, as well. The liver is the master detoxifier of the body, and with tens of thousands of new chemical compounds produced in these last few decades, our livers are overwhelmed with the burden of ridding our bodies of these toxins, to say the least.

The liver may literally work for weeks or months, attempting to produce an enzyme or agent to break down one of these chemical compounds. Meanwhile, it will store the assumed toxin in fatty tissue. The fatty tissue protects the toxin similarly to an egg carton protecting the fragile eggs. We would all do very well if the toxins were stored in our hips or behind, but fatty tissue may also be found in the brain, eyes, skin, etc. and the liver may choose one of these storage locations.

Once the liver has rendered the toxin harmless, it is sent to the colon for elimination. The problem here is that most people’s colons are a mess, and the structure of the intestinal lining is stressed and leaking. These unhealthy intestinal conditions are called by many names; IBS, constipation, leaky gut, Crohn’s, colitis, etc, but the bottom line is that those toxins that the liver sent to be expelled via the colon end up being reabsorbed into the bloodstream, where they can wreak havoc.

This pattern of imbalance is believed to be the underlying problem that leads to many, if not all, of the auto-immune conditions. The liver may use the skin (or eyes or brain) to dump or store excesses, leading to either dry or oily conditions.

So, you must be noticing by now that there is a great need for effective detoxification. Most cultures of people throughout the world have used the changing of the seasons to cleanse the body and mind of accumulated toxins. Today, we pollute our food, water, air, bodies and minds on an unfathomable scale, but many of us no longer take the time to reduce or eliminate the accumulated waste from our cells and organs with proper detoxification.

Before any liver detoxification is to take place, it is crucial to get the colon working effectively. Regardless of what doctors often tell patients these days, it is NOT NORMAL to only have a bowel movement two or three times per week! This could not be more wrong if we want to be healthy and prevent disease. For thousands of years ‘normal’ elimination has been a bowel movement at least once, and up to three times daily, (and at times, such as during detoxification periods, even more often).

If this is an issue for you, you may want to increase your consumption of vegetables (and not necessarily fruits, as they can feed candida, a story for another day). You may also want to add flax seeds. Please, don’t buy the flax meal that is already ground up for you. The oils are rancid in these products, and they’ll charge you four times as much for this inferior form of flax. And please be sure to buy organic! There are some silly scientists now messing with flax and genetic engineering.

Now, I’ll address the program that I’ve found most effective for very dry skin. There are probably two dozen other excellent products for these purposes, but for every great product on the market, there are 50 or more that are of very poor quality. Choose wisely if results are what you desire.

We need good fats for every cell in the body, and the omega 6’s and 9’s are the ones our skin desires. Don’t think that because you’re taking the omega 3’s in fish or flax oil, that you’re all set. Those fats are not what our skin needs, so you may want to find a product containing all three or add an oil such as black current seed oil.

My favorite combination of the omega 3’s, 6’s and 9’s is the Renew Life’s Oil Smart. It contains an abundance of lipase, the enzyme needed to break down fats in the digestive tract for much better absorption and utilization. In a liquid form, my favorite is Udo’s Choice Udo’s Choice Oil Blend from Flora. This is delicious on salads, in smoothies, etc and is sold in glass bottles, just as all good oils should be.

To address liver and blood detoxification, there are a few excellent choices. If you can find it, the product made with organic freeze-dried herbs by Eclectic Institute called Blood Support is superb. To this, one might choose to add a tincture of burdock seed. The one I often use is Herb Pharm’s Burdock Blend.

Neem, a tree found through much of the subcontinent of India, has been used for a wide range of skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. Dozens of studies have confirmed what the people of that region of the world have long known; the leaves and oil of the neem tree are rich in compounds that offer powerful and safe anti-inflammatory activity. Neem has been used both internally and externally for skin conditions for thousands of years.

The most therapeutic neem products in the US are from a company called Organix South, and go by the brand name Thera Neem. You may want to try their soaps, especially the maximum strength one with sweet orange and ylang ylang. They also make a rich, nourishing cream called Neem Leaf & Oil Cream, available in a soothing, almost unscented Vanilla as well as a gentle sweet orange and ylang ylang scent.

These luscious healing body creams contain a valuable amount of shae butter and neem leaf oil, and were voted as one of the top 10 creams in the world for dry skin by the Independent Newspaper in London.

I’ve long understood that issues of the skin must be addressed internally, and although I do have my favorite products to apply when my skin is dry and chapped, long-term real relief will come from within. The Thera Neem folks also offer some very potent organic neem capsules. Neem, taken internally, is quite bitter, and helps to neutralize some of the excess sugar that most of us have in our blood. This is believed to directly support healthy, beautiful skin.

If you have experienced rough, dry, irritated skin, it’s time to help your body heal itself so that the next time you pass the mirror, you will be looking at a more soft, supple, beautiful you!