DANDELION

Dandelion is reputed as an enemy of the well kept lawn by some. But, to others, the humble dandelion is an age old remedy and much esteemed plant. It has a very long history as both a food and a medicine, including Native American traditions. It attracts bees and butterflies when in flower, which makes it a good companion for fruit tree pollination. Children delight to blow the little puff ball heads that contain the seeds. That is how dandelion reseeds. Birds, animals, people, and the wind all help propagate this plant.

THE VIRTUE OF ITS POWERS

As a nutritive food, dandelion has the most balanced mineral pattern of any vegetable. The tender spring leaves taste best, and can be used in salads or cooked alone or with other greens, like spinach, mustard, collards, beet, etc. It is a bitter herb, but the taste is mild. Dandelion root can be dried, and ground into an herbal "coffee." It is easy to identify, and a handy herb to learn and use.

The dried leaves of dandelion are a mild diuretic, especially used in teas. Neither the taste nor the smell are offensive. Diuretics affect elimination through the kidneys, increasing urine output. Drink extra water if you use diuretic herbs. Unlike some diuretics, dandelion doesn't leach potassium. It is potassium rich, so any loss is replaced by the herb. It can be used in weight loss, and for edema. The root of the dandelion has a different effect. It is a mild laxative, promotes peristalsis, and is considered cleansing to the liver. An infusion of the root has been used for gallstones, jaundice, and liver problems. In combination - leaves and root - dandelion can be used as a minor detoxifier. Use fresh leaves and root when they are available in spring. Dried leaves and root will work, too. Minor detox is favorable, since it can be gently employed in moderation now and again. Dandelion root can be tinctured, too, then taken by adding a few drops to tea. The fresh milky sap of dandelion is said to remove warts.

BAD DREAMS

The flower essence derived from dandelion, a potent steam distillation extraction, is used to help those of us who suffer with bad dreams. It helps make dreams less disturbing, and more helpful. This essence is applied transdermally to pulse points, or to the inner right ear. We are empowered with answers received in dreamtime, rather than troubled by a fretful sleep experience.

Popular Resolution: Weight Loss

It's no wonder that when resolving positive life style change, weight loss is the big winner in the U.S. The way we usually gain weight is not a secret. Poor dietary habits, poor exercise patterns, and generally out-of-balance choices.

Many popular weight loss aids are powerful stimulants or powerful laxatives. Flower Empowerment's 3 Part Harmony Tea is neither. This is a trilogy of healthy helpers. There is much research available on the benefits of green tea. It does contain caffeine. The action of green tea on the body is to raise metabolism, increase fat absorption, and contribute antioxidants. Yerba Mate contains caffeine, too. I agree with my South American friends who have decades of experience drinking Mate. What they describe is a calm state of alertness. Yerba Mate has a long history of use in support of weight loss.

The third ingredient, Chamomile, is a gentle soothing herb that is calming and mildly sedative. Chamomile helps take the edge off. In this case that means the nervous, or anxious feelings associated with calorie restriction and behavior changes. Take a deep breath, settle down, and enjoy this fabulous cup of tea. Empower yourself to simply savor sip by sip to enter the present moment and let go of obsessive food thought and the compulsion to (over)eat.

I have clients who make single servings as they feel the need, especially mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Others like to brew a teapot, then partake throughout the day. These are your choices. Listen to your body. Let go of a bad habit, and add a good habit. There are aromatherapeutic blends that can also aid the process. The deepest work for empowering changes happens with flower essences. For help with essences or oils, please call me at 860-927-1331 or email pamela@flowerempowerment.com.

A word about Oprah: Oprah's contribution should not be minimized on the subject of weight management. She has tremendous resources to include doctors, therapists, and personal trainers. Oprah generously shares these experts on TV, and it's free for the taking. For those who enjoy that community, I heartily encourage participation.

Last, but not least...the ever popular digression for common sense and medical advice. Neither my products, nor my recommendations are meant to replace competent medical advice and guidance from a qualified health care practitioner. Excess weight can pose a serious health risk. In diagnostic criteria extreme weight is termed morbid obesity, which literally means life threatening.

May constructive action on your own behalf bring every blessing,

Pamela

THE HERB

This very ancient herb has been used for centuries, traced through the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. In Hispanic cultures this is the familiar "Manzanilla". There are really two distinct herbal chamomiles - German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, or recruita) and the Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis). The German Chamomile variety is the sweet, apple scented herb usually found in herbal tea preparations. Roman Chamomile is much bolder and quite intense. German Chamomile is an annual in most places. Roman Chamomile can occur as a perennial. The flower is a tiny daisy-like bloom, which is used in all three forms beyond the garden - as an herb, essential oil, and flower essence.

This gentle herb is a traditional remedy for children, pregnant or nursing mothers, and the fragile or elderly. In some cultures a weak tea is even given in babies bottles to assuage the discomforts of colic. Chamomile is used for sleep inducing and mild sedation, such as a cup before bedtime. When brewing teas with Chamomile, steep covered to retain the volatile oils in the infusion, rather than evaporating them into the air. Chamomile is generally considered safe, but cautions are advised for people with allergies to the ragweed family.

THE OIL

Essential oils are to be worn, for external use. Essential oils of chamomile are also sedating, relaxing and soothing. The oil from the German Chamomile is called Blue Chamomile (it is actually blue) and is generally considered non-toxic and non-irritating. Use of this oil during pregnancy is not recommended. Essential oils are metabolized and be detected in the urine within a few hours. The Blue Chamomile essential oil is preferred for healing properties, while Roman Chamomile essential oil is preferred for its smell. Both are used in aromatherapy, usually in blends with other oils. Since the action of chamomile essential oil is calming, sedating, and pain relieving, blends in carrier oils can be made to rub onto the abdomen for stomach distress, on the temples, forehead or shoulders for headache or sleep, for backache in massage or bath blends, and certainly in skin care preparations.

THE FLOWER ESSENCE

As a flower essence, Chamomile helps us overcome the tendency to not stand up for ourselves, or to swallow our hurt feelings when we feel wronged. With Chamomile we become more confident about our right to assert our own position and we find the impetus to speak our piece. We are moved from a "victim consciousness" attitude that lets us feel misunderstood, un-cared for, apathetic and disappointed to the empowered position where we become able to take a stand on our own behalf. As an immunity enhancement, Chamomile flower essence would support healthy gall bladder functioning.

Lavender (Lavendula officinalis, augustifolia)

Lavender is one of the best loved herbs. The scent is calm and clean. The whole herb has been used for centuries in teas, confections, and compresses.

Lavender is sedative, aiding recovery from headache and congestion. The sweet smell can deter moths, and is used in herbal skin care. Lavender is used to scent culinary oils, vinegars, and honeys. In Germany, Lavender is prescribed for insomnia, nervous stomach, and anxiety. The British recommend Lavender for flatulence, colic and depressive headaches. In Spain Lavender is used in teas to treat diabetes and insulin resistance. The taste is floral, yet charmingly delicious. I have enjoyed a bit of lavender in tea cakes, and even in a custard. It can become bitter when boiled. Lavender is used beyond the garden in all three forms - as an herb, an essential oil, and as an essence.

Sedating and Calm Oil

Lavender is a magnificent essential oil, used extensively in medicinal applications, and as a fragrance. Essential oils are to be used externally, although on occasion a prescriptive dilution may apply. The oil of Lavender, like the herb, is sedating and calm. Extracted from the flowers by steam distillation, the scent of Lavender is herbaceous and floral. Lavender essential oil can reduce anxiety, insomnia, and tension. It is often added to perfumes or in aroma therapy as a harmonizer, blending very well with many other fragrances. Since Lavender has such a calming force, it is useful for asthmatic and bronchial conditions. It can reduce the spasms of wheezing, coughing, and difficult breathing, so that deep smooth breaths may return. Lavender is a favorite for massage, bath salts, and foot rubs.

Lavender's properties are analgesic, anti-convulsive, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, anti-tussive, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, insecticidal, nervine, parasiticide, sedative, tonic, vermifuge, and vulnerary. It is no wonder that Lavender is listed as one of the seven poly-valents (meaning useful for many things).

Essential Harmony and Blessings

As a flower essence, Lavender helps us notice and appreciate our blessings. When we can focus to appreciate our blessings, the insatiable desire for bigger, better, and more can be released, and we can feel at peace in the present moment of grace. Flower essences are completely safe, and can be used with other therapies, medications, and treatments.

I got this from a source I can no longer recall, but I think it bears sharing.

I am definitely a proponent of drinking a soothing cup of hot tea during the cold winter months, for pleasure and for health. Almost any tea - black, white, green, red, or tisane - will do wonders for internal feelings of cold and the miseries and challenges of staying well. I have a couple of favorites.

Try to notice the first sign of decline as soon as possible. You know, that little message that comes with a cough or a sneeze that signals more than a cursory event...Oh, no, I don't want to catch this!

I have had very good results with Lemon Soothe tea in just this situation. I like to add a big squeeze from a fresh organic lemon. This boosts the vitamin C, and acts a bit antibiotic with the mucosal lining of mouth and throat. If the throat and cough are "ticklish" I recommend the addition of honey, another natural wonder. This wonderfully warming brew will hydrate, and hopefully keep congestion loose. Lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena and lemon peel....with a squeeze of lemon! Sort of a fabulous herbal hot lemonade. It tastes very good.

Classic Peppermint tea works well in this circumstance, too. It feels good and it smells wonderful. Take deep inhaling breaths from the steaming cup between sips. This is very soothing., and especially good when there is stomach upset or queasiness. Children like this one, but don't brew it overly-strong for them.

A fine blend of essential oils makes a great rub for chest and upper back. It smells good, feels good, and can help ease those spasmodic coughs.

In our culture, we tend to keep right on working or going to school, rather than taking ourselves out of the game to rest, restore, and keep from spreading our colds. Anything we can do to assuage the onslaught of colds and seasonal viruses is desirable. There are flower essences for this circumstance that can help early on, or for those times when overcoming these winter maladies seems to drag on. We have choices, and these are not secrets.

Let common sense dictate when it's time to see a physician, but don't be afraid to take steps on your own behalf. Some of us are sick of pills, and really don't want to use antibiotics unless it's absolutely necessary. The body really does have a natural ability to heal itself.

Evolution of Medicine

...I have a headache...

2,000 B.C. - eat this herb

1,000 A.D. - that herb is infected. Say this prayer.

1850 - that prayer is superstitious. Take this potion.

1940 - that potion is snake oil. Take this antibiotic.

2008 - that antibiotic is artificial. Eat this herb.