Tag Archives: adaptogen

Healthy Household: Licorice, Mommy’s Little Helper

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“Licorice root may be used to assist with upper respiratory catarrhs and is recognized by traditional Chinese practitioners as an adaptogen, helping the body to cope with daily stress. It may also be used to relieve minor abdominal discomfort, and is used in the herbal preparation STW-5 to alleviate dyspepsia.”
Mountain Rose Herbs: Licorice Root

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Licorice Extract is very easy to make at home and the extract tastes good to most children. If you don’t have time to made your own, you can purchase extracts from a local herbalist.

“Mommy, my stomach hurts,” is the most common childhood complaint I have heard over the years. Most children’s stomachaches are over very quickly and can be treated at home. This stomachache remedy is very easy to make and will save a trip to the pharmacy.

Licorice Extract
1 part licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), slices
3-4 parts organic vodka

All extract are made the same way. Use a small pint-sized glass canning jar with a plastic lid. Put the licorice root slices into the jar. Add the alcohol to the jar. Label the jar with the name of the plant, percentage of alcohol, today?s day, and the decanting day. Decanting day will be in six weeks. The jar will need to be gently, shaken every day for at least the first week. On decanting day, squeeze out all the liquid from the root slices. Store the extract in a dark glass bottle. If available, use a dropper top for easy dispersal.

For children one full dropper is usually enough. Most stomachaches will be gone within 15 minutes. A second dropper can be given after 15 minutes if the pain has not reduced by at least half. A hot water bottle, a story, and a nap works well to cure most stomachaches. We have also used licorice extract to treat motion sickness with good success. Ginger root works wonders for motion sickness too.

For adults, two full droppers will stop a stomach ache in about 15 minutes. People with high blood pressure shouldn’t use licorice root because it will increase blood pressure. People with low blood pressure or adrenal fatigue may find licorice root helps with symptoms of low blood pressure.

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Licorice roots slices can also be chewed to stop stomachaches and motion sickness. A few slices kept in the car can makes trips with children more pleasant. Just spit out the fiber after use.

For more recipes please see Healthy Household: Staying Clean Safely and Saving Money.

Healthy Household: Vitex Extract and Endocrine Health

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“High cortisol is the single most common hormonal problem I see in my practice, and high cortisol with low estrogen and/or progesterone is another common combination… Low sex hormones are inextricably linked to the prevalence of stress in the lives of modern women, and we know that the stress begins early.”
The Hormone Cure by Dr Sara Gottfried

Endocrine health is a complex topic and beyond the scope of this website. After addressing problems with our modern industrial diet, some of the most complex and troublesome problems we face as women can come from a dysfunctional endocrine system. A nourishing traditional diet is essential for healing endocrine problems, but years of abuse can require some additional help from the plant world. Unfortunately, there is no one remedy for everyone.

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Making Vitex Extract is very easy but takes a bit of time. It is a good endocrine tonic for women but only works if your cortisol is not too high or not too low… but just right!

Unlike men, women’s bodies must ride the ebb and flow of monthly cycles. In the history of herbalism, there have been some plants that have helped women ride these cycles and make life transitions a bit easier. Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) is just one plant that has been used for a long time. It works as a tonic or adaptogen, helping the woman’s system find its own balance:

  1. Vitex works primarily on the pituitary in a top-down fashion. This is why the plant can help with so many different types of endocrine problems.
  2. Vitex usually has the effect of enhancing progesterone and decreasing estrogen levels. But this is not always the case with all women.
  3. Vitex nourishes and supports the endocrine system. It helps the endocrine system find its own balance. Vitex does not have any hormonal building blocks like many medicinal plants used to help restore reproductive health.
  4. Vitex is slow acting. A woman will need to take the plant for 3 cycles for the plant to start doing its work.
  5. Vitex is not for men. It can cause testicular atrophy, impotence, and loss of desire. Traditionally, it was secretly used by wives dealing with their husbands’ infidelity. I wouldn’t recommend this traditional use of the plant, but instead the modern tool of divorce!

Almost all of the symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle can be treated with this plant. For the young woman, Vitex can treat many of the symptoms of PMS such as: cramping, flooding, headaches, depression, water retention, constipation, acne, breast tenderness, and irritability. For the woman looking to conceive, Vitex enhances the chances of ovulation. If a woman is prone to miscarriage during the first trimester, Vitex will reduce the chances of miscarriage due to its effect on enhancing progesterone levels. After birth, Vitex helps a new mother to produce plenty of milk. For the perimenopausal woman, Vitex can help normalize irregular or scanty periods by helping balance the ratios of estrogen to progesterone. I took Tramadol as prescribed by a neurologist at the diagnosis of intervertebral hernias with acute severe pain. The effect came in less than an hour after taking the pill, the pain was dulled, it became clearly easier. Moreover, the drug has an affordable price, but sold only by prescription.

Vitex Extract
1 part organic Vitex or Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex agnus-castus), ground
3 parts organic Vodka
Vitex Extract combined with a nourishing traditional diet loaded with healthy animal fats can help balance a woman’s endocrine system. Grind the Vitex with a mortar and pestle. Grind small amounts at a time to avoid the round seeds from bouncing out of the mortar. Put the ground seeds in a pint mason jar and add the vodka. Label the jar with: all ingredients, today’s date, and the date six weeks in the future. In six weeks, decant your extract. Strain and squeeze-out the ground seeds with a cheesecloth. Compost the ground seeds. Take the Vitex Extract and decant into a dark bottle or store in a dark cool place. You will have to experiment with the dose. A standard dose is 1/2tsp two to three times a day taken in some water.

For a long time, I have been looking for a book that explains endocrine dysfunction with easy to follow lifestyle and diet adjustments. The best book I have found so far is The Hormone Cure by Dr Sara Gottfried. The Gottfried Protocol starts with a simple questionnaire of symptoms relating to common hormone problems. From this questionnaire she follows with appropriate lifestyle adjustments, dietary changes, supplementation and herbal treatments which will help most women. A few women may need to take the final step of bioidentical hormones… or not. Along with a nourishing traditional diet, the Gottfried Protocol gives women the tools to manage their own hormonal balance using lifestyle, diet and herbs.

BEFORE using the Vitex Extract make sure you PASS the cortisol questionnaire in the Gottfried Protocol. You need to address cortisol levels before addressing the any of the “downstream” sex hormone imbalances. Dr Sara Gottfried will explain pregnenolone steal in the book. You will find many adaptogen recipes in the Healthy Household Series which will help support adrenal function and healthy cortisol levels:
Healthy Household: Remedies for Stress, Depression and Grief
Healthy Household: A Good Night?s Sleep
Healthy Household: Adaptogen Green Drink
Healthy Household: Out-of-Whack Nut Balls

For more recipes, please see Healthy Household: Staying Clean Safely and Saving Money.

Healthy Household: Remedies for Stress, Depression and Grief

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Here are two home remedies for stress, depression and grief. Rhodiola is an adaptogen which helps manage stress and exhaustion common to the grieving process.

Stress, depression and grief are difficult topics to talk about. Most of us suffering from one or all of these states are too exhausted to talk. Here are some home remedies to help manage and overcome these difficult emotions.

Stress, anxiety and grief in children should be treated with a light touch. I use a few drops of Rescue Remedy rubbed into the outer area of the child’s ear for anxiety. (This remedy can also be used on pets too.) A warm cup of Chamomile Tea with some local honey and a heart to heart talk will usually help an anxious child regain their mental balance. Fortunately, most anxiety in children is very short lived. If only adults could learn from a child’s ability to let go of grief.

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Use a light hand when treating a child with anxiety.

If you are on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet these home remedies will be safer than commercial nutraceutical which can have troublesome additives. Unfortunately, no plant is safe for everyone. As a general rule, the leaf, flower and bark of plants are normally safe but roots and fruits with seeds can cause reactions. Always test a new plant to see if you tolerate the plant. Wait at least 72 hours for reactions before assuming a plant is safe. If you react, don’t use the plant. Note the Family name of the plant. You may also have problems with other plants from the same Family. Some people have a mild reaction to a herb and can rotate through a number of herbs to avoid negative outcomes.

Stress Buster Tea
1 part organic Rhodiola Root (Rhodiola rosea), ground
1 part organic Ginkgo Leaf (Ginkgo biloba), ground

When a cup of Chamomile Tea just won’t do the trick, try Stress Buster Tea. Rhodiola is an adaptogen which helps support a stable mood and can moderate mild to moderate depression while helping with fatigue. Ginkgo helps to improve thinking, memory and helps with depression.

In a Vitamix machine or spice grinder, grind an equal amount of Rhodiola root and Ginkgo leaf into a very fine powder. Label and store in a glass jar. To make the tea, add 1tsp of the mixture to 2 cups of boiled water. Cover and let the tea steep for 10 minutes before consuming. Consume the solids at the bottom of the cup for the best result.

Rhodiola Root Extract
1 part organic Rhodiola Root (Rhodiola rosea), dried
4 parts organic Vodka

All plant extracts are made this same way. Use a small pint-sized glass canning jar with a plastic lid. Put the Rhodiola root into the jar. Add the alcohol of choice and fill the jar. Label the jar with the name of the plant, percentage of alcohol, today’s day, and the decanting day. Decanting day will be in six weeks or longer. The jar will need to be turned over every day for at least the first week. On decanting day, use a cotton cloth or metal sieve to squeeze out all the liquid from the roots. Store the extract in a dark glass bottle. If available, use a dropper top for easy dispersal.

To make tea from extract, just pour some hot water into a cup and add about 1/2tsp of extract once or twice a day as needed. If you don’t have any hot water, take the extract sublingually. Hold the extract in your mouth for a minute before swallowing.

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Holy Moly Tea is very easy to make. You will be making it for distressed friends.

Holy Moly Tea
1 part organic Holy Basil leaf (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
1 part organic Lemon Balm leaf (Melissa officinalis)
1 part organic Passionflower leaf (Passiflora incarnata)

Holy Moly Tea is for those very stressful days. You know the days I mean. Holy Basil is an adaptogen which helps with managing stress. Lemon Balm is a mild sedative with a pleasant taste. Passionflower helps with anxiety and insomnia caused by repetitive, circular thinking. My mother has diabetes and I often need to buy some medications. I keep researching on different websites where medications are available online. I’m looking not only for high quality drug but also affordable price . https://northcentralhealthdistrict.org/pharmacy/ offers the great system of discounts and I appreciate it very much.

Mix an equal amount of Holy Basil, Lemon Balm and Passion Flower. Label and store in a glass jar. To make the tea, add 1-2T of the mixture to 1L of boiled water. Cover and let the tea steep for at least 30 minutes before consuming. The tea tastes better the longer it steeps. Using a tea cozy or thermos will help keep the tea warm.

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Five Taste Iced Tea is a nice de-stressor at the end of the day.

Five Taste Iced Tea
1-2T organic Schisandra berries (Schisandra chinensis)
1L boiling water
Schisandra is an adaptogen with a long history of use in Chinese medicine. It is said that Schisandra can ?calm the heart and quiet the spirit?.

Put the Schisandra berries into a 1L mason jar and fill with boiling water. Cover and let infuse for 12 hours. Serve over ice for a refreshing, stress busting afternoon drink. Eat the soaked berries for the best result.

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This is Reishi fungus slices and dried ginger root. Reishi is an adaptogen with a long history of use in Chinese Medicine, where it is consider a “cure all”.

Reishi Tea
1L filtered water, simmered
10 wildcrafted Reisha fungus (Ganoderma lucidum), slices
1T organic ginger root (Zingiber officinale) (optional)

Reisha is an adaptogen with a long history of use in Chinese Medicine. Most people find Reishi has a nasty taste, but the nasty taste seems to wear-off after drinking the tea for a while. Simmer the Reishi slices in water for 20 minutes before consuming. Try the Reishi tea before adding the ginger. If you can’t stomach the taste of the Reishi tea add the ginger root and simmer for another 10 minutes before consuming.

If you would like to learn more about the human stress response please see this lecture by Nora Gedgaudas.

For more recipes please see Healthy Household: Staying Clean Safely and Saving Money.

Updated April 21, 2014: My husband came up with a wonderful new adaptogen drink — Reishi Iced Tea. Pour about one cup of cooled Reishi and ginger root tea over a glass full of ice. Squeeze the juice from 1/4 of a organic lime, and enjoy!

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Reishi Iced Tea is a revitalizing drink after a spring day working in the garden.