tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12350518410551433242024-03-05T07:15:43.744+00:00.Elaine's blog...of all things to do with natural 'wholth', healing ... and maybe a bit of crafty stuff!Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-74430590703487006682014-11-10T11:08:00.002+00:002014-11-10T11:11:08.709+00:00Manuka Honey...and a few uses!<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">FOLK
REMEDIES</span> …</u></b></div>
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Sometimes the oldies are the best (and cheapest!) .. so I thought
I would start putting a few 'Home Remedies’ in this Blog. If you know of any easy and simple home remedies,
please let me know and I will pop it in the next Blog post to share with
everyone.</div>
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In the meantime, here is a recipe for a decongestant syrup,
a remedy to ease heartburn and also a remedy for acne - all containing the wonderful Manuka
Honey … <br />
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><b><u>Manuka
Honey</u></b></span></div>
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You may have heard of Manuka Honey - it is a premium
medical-grade honey, produced by bees that gather nectar from the flowers
that grow on the Manuka bush (also known as Leptospermum scoparium) which is
indigenous to <st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region>
and certain parts of <st1:place w:st="on">Australia.</st1:place></div>
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Studies have found that Manuka Honey contains very powerful
antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory
and anti-fungal properties, making it extremely effective in treating a wide
variety of health conditions. <br />
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There are so many therapeutic uses for Manuka honey but one which always gets a lot of 'airplay' is the use to help leg ulcers, for which you can even buy Manuka coated dressings. You can google and get loads of info. on this use but I thought I would just share one link here that may be of particular interest to animal owners as it has loads of info on the use of honey but also its use on animals <br />
<a href="http://www.newzealandhoneyshop.co.uk/manuka-honey-animals.html">... click here to read all about it!</a></div>
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Most standard honeys contain hydrogen peroxide which is a
known antiseptic but Manuka Honey is significantly different in that it has additional
antibacterial properties that have the ability to destroy the infectious
bacteria that cause most health complications. Unlike standard honey, Manuka
Honey is also stable so there is no concern of it losing its potency or healing
properties. <br />
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Among its many, many uses, Manuka Honey can be taken for <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><b>GASTRO INTESTINAL DISORDERS</b></span>
ranging from Acid Reflux to Irritable Bowel Syndrome – one example of this use
is for …<b><u>Acid Reflux and Heartburn</u></b></div>
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All you need to do is ...<br />
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Take 1 teaspoon of Manuka Honey 3-4 times per day on a small
square inch size piece of bread or toast, 20 minutes before meals, to coat the oesophagus. How easy is that?!<br />
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Manuka Honey also has applications for <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><u><b>SEVERE ACNE</b></u> …</span> <br />
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After washing your face with warm water, apply a thin layer
of Manuka Honey all over the face and leave it on for 15 minutes.<br />
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If possible,
do this while in the bath while also enjoying the steam from the bath
water. </div>
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Wash off the honey with warm water after 15 mins and then
with a (pre-prepared) cut lemon slice gently wipe this over the area, then wash
off with warm water again and gently pat dry. </div>
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It is also brilliant to help the respiratory system - here is a remedy for ...</div>
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<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><u><b>DECONGESTANT
SYRUP – ONION-HONEY</b></u></span></div>
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<u><b>Ingredients: </b></u><br />
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¼ onion, chopped finely and 3 tablespoons Manuka honey </div>
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<b><u>Method: </u></b></div>
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Place the onion in a bowl and pour over the honey. Leave to stand
over night. </div>
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Dosage: </u></b></div>
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Take one teaspoon of the honey, three times a day.<br />
This may be continued for up to one week.<br />
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<u><b>Benefits: </b></u><br />
Clears mucus and congestion. A great for remedy for children
as they enjoy the sweetness.<br />
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I hope you enjoy these little remedies ! Til next time ... El x'</div>
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Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-81936695418633971002014-11-01T21:43:00.002+00:002014-11-01T23:26:45.658+00:00A little meditation, using the breath ...<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential; except when
you are busy, then a full hour is needed !</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">St Francis de Sale</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">s </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well, that quote just about says it all, doesn’t it? Actually, any amount of meditation is great
for your mind, body and spirit – even just being mindful and ‘in the moment’ is
of huge benefit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Someone once told me
that if the thought of formalised meditation was too much to contemplate, just
make a cup of tea, sit or stand with it and look at something wonderful (plant,
animal, scenery) and just focus and enjoy those two things ie, the wonderful
thing you are looking at and savour the texture and taste and feel of that cup
of tea … just being in that great moment to refresh and refocus your mind is
enough to set you up for a good day!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3zxE7h7RZtZxoYIa3RkWH8qfM4k60mfRdF0MzoVkl4W0_iNGHfKcMjV7wbAEkD0fuw6D0tvke5r582JrNeSUPVDP-yKRT_r7A4-dFdXmmlwZlil_XXrMAEnX9wSMKRJvl2ItHKXESuM/s1600/Inhale+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3zxE7h7RZtZxoYIa3RkWH8qfM4k60mfRdF0MzoVkl4W0_iNGHfKcMjV7wbAEkD0fuw6D0tvke5r582JrNeSUPVDP-yKRT_r7A4-dFdXmmlwZlil_XXrMAEnX9wSMKRJvl2ItHKXESuM/s1600/Inhale+love.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Meditation has been proven to be beneficial on so many
levels – it can relieve stress, boost the immune system, decrease anxiety,
improve brain function, improve clarity and focus, normalise blood pressure etc
etc. There are so many benefits, too
many to list here. I would recommend you
to just do what you can when you can, as much as you can … even a few minutes a
day will help.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There are so many forms of meditation available … I find
that if you would like to formalise your practice you will need to try
different forms out for yourself, to find something that suits you best. The first form of meditation I learnt, when I
was 18, was transcendental meditation, which employs the use of a personalised
mantra. I have learnt lots of other
forms since then but I find myself always reverting back to the transcendental
form. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I will write about different practices in later posts but for
now I just wanted to share a cleansing meditation with you, which uses the
breath as a tool to bring focus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This meditation can help to clear your mind and your body,
but is especially helpful for your lung health and energy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
If you can get into the habit of practising this ‘mindful breathing’ regularly,
you will become calmer and calmer and more energised at the same time! Focusing on the breath is one of the most
common and fundamental techniques for accessing the meditative state. Breath is a deep rhythm of the body that
connects us intimately with the world around us. </span></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></div>
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So – making sure you will not be disturbed for a few minutes, get yourself nice
and comfortable. Close your eyes, breathe deeply and regularly and observe
your breath as it flows in and out of your body. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Give your full attention to the breath as it comes in and
full attention to the breath as it goes out. Whenever you find your attention wandering
away from your breath, gently pull it back to the rising and falling of the
breath. <br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Inhale through your nose slowly and deeply, feeling the
lower chest and abdomen inflate like a balloon.
Hold for five seconds. Exhale
deeply, deflating the lower chest and abdomen like a balloon. Hold for five seconds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Do this 3 or 4 times, then allow your breathing to return to
a normal rhythm. You will begin to feel a change come over your entire body. Gradually you will become less aware of your
breathing, but not captured in your stream of thoughts. You will become more centered inward. You
will just ‘be there’ !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Hope it helps! ‘til
next time ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">El x</span></div>
</h2>
Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-47432161286391546242014-05-25T12:35:00.001+01:002014-05-25T12:35:35.274+01:00Wildflowers of Northern SpainWe are currently travelling in our motorhome around Europe and I am loving checking out the wildflowers. Here are some pics I took in Northern Spain ... mostly by the coast. We are now in Portugal but not gotten around to taking many pics yet ! That's all for now!<br />
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<span id="goog_1205123520"></span><span id="goog_1205123521"></span><br />Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-13344795773458757072014-01-25T23:00:00.001+00:002014-11-01T21:44:52.706+00:00Bowel Balls !Sorry - just couldn't resist that title !<br />
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I'm being admitted for surgery tomorrow and I am ever-conscious of the effect that anaesthetics and pain medications can have on bowel habits ! I am also informed by my 'Enhanced Recovery Nurse' that I won't be allowed to go home until I have moved them (my bowels that is!). She did tell me I would be allowed to bring in foodstuffs into the hospital with me, just not medications. With all this in mind I have concocted some 'Bowel Balls' which I suppose could be more appropriately called 'Digestive Truffles'?!!<br />
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Anyway, whatever you would like to call them, we now understand their purpose and so is a pic of my finished product ...<br />
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... and here is my recipe ...</div>
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<u><b>Ingredients:</b></u></div>
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½ cup ground flax seeds </div>
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½ cup ground goji berries, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds</div>
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¼ cup oat bran<br />
2 tbsp cocoa powder<br />
½ cup ground oats <br />
½ tsp cinnamon</div>
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¼ tsp ginger </div>
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¼ tsp turmeric </div>
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1 tsp dandelion root powder</div>
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1/2 cup good quality peanut butter or tahini<br />
Fruit Puree* (I used just prunes for my purpose, but you could use any dried fruit)<br />
Honey</div>
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Little water to mix if needed</div>
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Mix up dry ingredients and then mix up the fruit puree, honey,
peanut butter and a little water until it forms a reasonable 'dough' you can work with.</div>
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Roll this mixture in balls and roll in a coating of
desiccated coconut.</div>
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<i>*To make the dried fruit puree, if you fruit is not already 'hydrated' and ready to ear ...</i></div>
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<i>Soak one cup of dried fruit in two cups of warm
water overnight.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i>
Strain the fruit but keep the liquid because this will contain a lot of nutrients and can be drunk on its own to help bowel health. </i></div>
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Place re hydrated fruit in blender and blend until you get a creamy paste like consistency.</i></div>
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Enjoy ! See ya soon ... El x</div>
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<br />Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-12263684757836296652014-01-09T21:10:00.000+00:002014-01-09T21:12:04.914+00:00Kitchen Medicine Cilantro / Coriander …<div class="MsoNormal">
I love Coriander <span style="font-family: Webdings;">Y</span> <span style="font-family: Webdings;">Y</span> <span style="font-family: Webdings;">Y</span> … I think it is my most favourite (culinary) herb
of all. If I could, I would always have
the leaf available and add it to everything!! I think
it is a bit of a ‘Marmite’ plant though because it seems that you either love
it or hate it (ie, no inbetween!). It
seems to some that it tastes ‘soapy’ and I have seen it said that this may
either be due to the presence of an enzyme in saliva or to one of the
constituents that makes it taste so to some people!</div>
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Coriander’s botanical name is Coriandrum sativum and is
related to the carrot and parsley family.
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We generally think of the leaf of the Coriander plant as ‘Coriander’
but there is some confusion as to whether it should be called Cilantro and it
seems that this depends upon where you are in the world! Coriander is often referred to as ‘Coriander
leaves’ in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> but it is
also known as Arab, Chinese or Mexican parsley in <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region>. In the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> and other parts of
the world, it is called Cilantro, which is the Spanish word for coriander
leaves. What the?!!</div>
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What we can say for sure is that the flavours of the seeds
and the leaves have quite different tastes!
The root can also be used, as it is in Thai cuisine.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Coriander is often used for ‘balancing’ the flavour of hot
spicy dishes and is used for just this purpose in Thai, Indian, Moroccan,
Mexican, Chinese, Indonesian, African and South American cooking. </div>
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<br /></div>
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My Sister-in-Law, who was Thai, used to make up a simple
‘salad’ consisting of chopped carrots and cucumber, chopped sausage (could be
veggie sausage), soy sauce (which she used to keep in a jar with chillies
infusing in it … so it was chilli-soy sauce), lemon juice and lashings of
coriander leaf. It is delicious – and
can be modified in all sorts of ways but the mixture of tastes was wonderful
and the coriander leaf offsets the heat of the chilli-soy sauce.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Coriander is a little powerhouse of nutrients, containing Antioxidants,
Vitamins, Minerals and Volatile Oils.</div>
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<b><u>Therapeutic uses …</u></b></div>
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Coriander has a cooling effect in the body and is especially
used in this regard in Ayurvedic (Indian) medicine to balance hot, inflammatory
conditions, especially of the digestive tract.
</div>
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In <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>
they tend to use a lot of coriander leaf in foods both to prevent and remedy
symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, wind, colic and diarrhoea. It can also be used to enhance appetite and
improve digestion and the absorption of nutrients. Coriander seeds can be taken along side laxatives
to prevent any griping that they may cause.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The cooling effects of coriander can also be used to help urinary
disorders, particularly those with hot burning symptoms, like cystitis. I have included some recipes below and you can find a tea recipe there which can be used for this purpose. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander may also help to remedy hot flushes during menopause. An infusion of coriander can be used for this
purpose and you can read how to do this on the next page.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region>
coriander seeds are used to promote sweating and break a fever and are also used
to bring out the rash in infections like chicken pox and measles, plus to
stimulate the appetite.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander seeds can be used to help fight colds, flu, coughs
and catarrh and also act as a decongestant.
When combined with turmeric and cumin in a hot tea, this is especially
effective. This tea also makes an effective
gargle for sore throats and oral thrush.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
As you can see, there are so many uses for Coriander apart from just its
culinary purposes. Following are a few
formulas and recipes for using Coriander…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Recipes …</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SALMON WITH LIME, CORIANDER AND CHILLI CRUST – taken
from the Daily Mail</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enlarge</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Serves 4<br />
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<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
INGREDIENTS:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finely grated zest of 1 lime<br />
1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped<br />
2 tbsp of chopped fresh coriander<br />
1 tbsp olive oil<br />
Salt and freshly ground black pepper<br />
4 fresh salmon fillets or steaks<br />
<br />
METHOD:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Preheat your oven to the hottest setting.<br />
Mix together the lime, chilli, coriander and olive oil to make a paste, and
season with salt and pepper. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Place the salmon fillets in a baking tray and press the
paste onto the top of each piece of salmon, totally covering the fish. Bake for 15 minutes, or until fish is opaque
and firm to the touch. Serve with basmati rice and steamed broccoli.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Coriander Pesto …</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
INGREDIENTS:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 clove garlic, peeled </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup almonds, cashews or brazil nuts or a mix of them,
chopped finely</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 cup fresh coriander leaves</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 tablespoon lemon juice </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 tablespoons cold-pressed: extra-virgin <br />
olive oil </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sea salt, to taste </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
METHOD:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blend the coriander and oil in a blender until the leaves
are chopped. Add the garlic, nuts and seeds and lemon juice and mix until the
mixture is blended into a paste. Add a pinch to sea salt to taste and blend
again. Store in dark glass jars and in the fridge to extend shelf life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Coriander Seed Tea ...</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander seeds can be made into a light yellow, aromatic
tea that eases digestion and relaxes the mind and body. You can drink it on its
own, but it works even better in blends.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
INGREDIENTS:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 teaspoon crushed coriander seeds </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 teaspoon ginger root</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Use 1 tsp of herb mixture to each cup hot water. Infuse for 10 minutes with the lid on the
teapot or lid on the pan. Add honey to
taste.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander and Fennel can help digestion while adding Cinnamon and Ginger to Coriander can help to cool fevers..</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Another Coriander seed tea blend …</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tsp of coriander seeds<br />
1 tsp of fennel seeds<br />
1 tsp of cumin seeds<br />
<br />
Add ½ to 1 tsp of the herb mixture to each cup of hot water and infuse for 10
minutes, with a lid on the teapot. This
tea will help soothe an irritated gut and cools the body. Add honey to
taste.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Coriander Essential Oil …</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander is also used as an essential oil … it is described
as having a sweet, warm, herbaceous fragrance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander has soothing and calming properties which can help
the digestive and the circulatory system.
Whilst being calming it can also refresh and uplift the mind and is
useful for mental fatigue, migraine, tension and nervous weakness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Coriander essential oil is also helpful for rheumatism and
arthritic pain, as well as muscle spasms and is also useful with colds and flu.
It also acts as a general cleanser of
the body, to rid it of toxins and fluid wastes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><b>Ways to use Coriander oil … </b></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In an oil burner – it can stimulate the mind and ease
fatigue. It can also help to improve the
appetite. Just add 2 – 3 drops to your
oil burner.<br />
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<!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Used in a bath – add 2–3 drops but note that essential oils
are not water soluble so they will float on top of the bath and skin passing
through the oil will be exposed to full strength essential oil. You can either mix the essential oils into a
carrier oil (eg Almond oil) first or you can even use full fat milk as a
dispersant in the bath … but agitate it well before stepping in!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add the essential oil to massage oil, cream or lotion,
wherein it can help digestion and pains of arthritis or rheumatism. Use only 4–6 drops of essential oil per
treatment and always diluted in at least 10 – 15 mL oil / cream / lotion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For babies (older than 2 months) use only 1 drop diluted
first as above. Do not use Coriander oil
during pregnancy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Enjoy using Coriander ... see you next time !</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
El x</div>
Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-21488786769239313622013-12-15T20:15:00.001+00:002014-11-01T22:31:37.190+00:00'Raw Food' Chocolate TrufflesI've been looking at raw food recipes lately and came across this one somewhere for truffles ... so I had a go and they taste pretty good!!!<br />
<br />
Here is the recipe...<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/2 cup cashew nuts</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
10 dates (no stones) (I also added in about half a cup of raisins that I had)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1/4 cup cocoa powder </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tablespoon of good quality peanut butter</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 pinch of sea salt</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
cocoa powder for dusting</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 tablespoon desiccated coconut</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u>Method:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Place the cashew nuts into a food processor and pulse until
ground into a powder. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add the cocoa powder to the food processor and mix until
combined and it resembles chocolate breadcrumbs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Add the dates and a tablespoon of peanut butter and process
until thoroughly combined. The mix should resemble a dough.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sieve the cocoa powder for dusting onto a plate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Take a piece of the dough and roll it into a ball in the
palm of your hand. Then roll</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
it into the dusting powder. Repeat until you have used all
of the mixture … then enjoy !!!</div>
<br />
This mix should make about 20 truffles - here are a few that I made ...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlz3FauJLD2GwkXB9n9aK-EG2mkYkjQl1EXFPfr3_oxlLgyzIMElvx544fbI52BvZKazcsXoK6n54t5CdwY4_FHrWWObIugbxMWOMcc0d_K72dLaSdctQT4N0kr6PRBAR6msArcgT4fw/s1600/P1040513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlz3FauJLD2GwkXB9n9aK-EG2mkYkjQl1EXFPfr3_oxlLgyzIMElvx544fbI52BvZKazcsXoK6n54t5CdwY4_FHrWWObIugbxMWOMcc0d_K72dLaSdctQT4N0kr6PRBAR6msArcgT4fw/s320/P1040513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
I tested one on Paul and he said it was really nice ... he didn't even realise it had 'healthy' stuff in it ! Yay - a success !!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-77687589396588037182013-07-30T23:03:00.006+01:002013-07-30T23:04:44.931+01:00St John's Wort ... and others at Hampton Court<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
We are currently moored up just beside Hampton Court Place on the River Thames and just 100m from our boat today I spied all these delights ...<br />
<br />
Purple Loosestrife ... so pretty !</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdfg4ri1584NuJo_jSwO_nkOOjc89C527NJLdDTTeIojtRmBqwZaF8Fs4kAOoGRSmW6VsPoTGrUl1JxzmK670ijEU_xiJ4C5IPE5oj2GFwQmq3C1RZwe2m2H3k5QjPHUGt91CeakgdtU/s1600/2013-07-30+17.12.42.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdfg4ri1584NuJo_jSwO_nkOOjc89C527NJLdDTTeIojtRmBqwZaF8Fs4kAOoGRSmW6VsPoTGrUl1JxzmK670ijEU_xiJ4C5IPE5oj2GFwQmq3C1RZwe2m2H3k5QjPHUGt91CeakgdtU/s320/2013-07-30+17.12.42.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lythrum_salicaria">Purple loosestrife</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURCDE8YLmb3-14W0gLHeBAm1hmycC09lcbfye_Ds3Bm8LCdd-hfBLsZuNKOK-IynRGS3ZIdN_UmSDzeYMRs2wchp79S4BeItGIfbLSlyk75eHTZX3kLO3D91v_yKJN5UbW1r_r_9MR6s/s1600/2013-07-30+17.23.34.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURCDE8YLmb3-14W0gLHeBAm1hmycC09lcbfye_Ds3Bm8LCdd-hfBLsZuNKOK-IynRGS3ZIdN_UmSDzeYMRs2wchp79S4BeItGIfbLSlyk75eHTZX3kLO3D91v_yKJN5UbW1r_r_9MR6s/s320/2013-07-30+17.23.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple loosestrife</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
Lovely Mugwort ... I will pick some another day and write more about it ...</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgutcbWAcW72HGY-2W_WeggaPR6eHQPLh1W__pDEf4fBhm2aasi3REgMOfpTJ7ZQk_712CTpNdRZFwMEl42z4GuwudRKJxlg1xeD_C1dFXq5LHL6Plz3bYS2ETYHvQVNDTAtOzMZBsf8/s1600/2013-07-30+17.13.17.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgutcbWAcW72HGY-2W_WeggaPR6eHQPLh1W__pDEf4fBhm2aasi3REgMOfpTJ7ZQk_712CTpNdRZFwMEl42z4GuwudRKJxlg1xeD_C1dFXq5LHL6Plz3bYS2ETYHvQVNDTAtOzMZBsf8/s320/2013-07-30+17.13.17.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mugwort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Apples !<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHZdpeq9djy5v0oPdOj3DbtyBVUHJvXPbmH2SRl2nhDz5c84I3T_BdtbKEJ1bwNti-CSTxx_4FW8vwhR7ehCHdd7MlTgLeZPNORSKdjEx8NU3Eqn9JZKXHZ7j5ZcZabw6EnF0DBkY58I/s1600/2013-07-30+17.24.53.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHZdpeq9djy5v0oPdOj3DbtyBVUHJvXPbmH2SRl2nhDz5c84I3T_BdtbKEJ1bwNti-CSTxx_4FW8vwhR7ehCHdd7MlTgLeZPNORSKdjEx8NU3Eqn9JZKXHZ7j5ZcZabw6EnF0DBkY58I/s320/2013-07-30+17.24.53.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Apple tree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHEJIXVlEtgbhtMDNHoqxCtyzkLrnZiLPA-zj1_Woz_UlBkHlnprysKsvwKwTgvRttBr7EJ9n_Uc7Bc96pgEam52k4TlPXwF1UqjTzh1rCPzH_1x4T1KJucQGv8NiYGrggUnH18g98rc/s1600/2013-07-30+17.25.01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHEJIXVlEtgbhtMDNHoqxCtyzkLrnZiLPA-zj1_Woz_UlBkHlnprysKsvwKwTgvRttBr7EJ9n_Uc7Bc96pgEam52k4TlPXwF1UqjTzh1rCPzH_1x4T1KJucQGv8NiYGrggUnH18g98rc/s320/2013-07-30+17.25.01.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Apples ... out of reach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Burdock ... such a useful herb! I will write about this one of these days too!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgz3hC-LZxhTV4Tl1DP_InJDBAnChDEi9U4WBdG8kERrYwZEib7UInVXmXqjldTKKO6_QBaDD5Yz-ZNBdoRidcHQbse1e8erIWTI932hkWhYbdMjAAIywoTUeo1TjULsNp-44NfoPq1w/s1600/2013-07-30+17.18.09.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNgz3hC-LZxhTV4Tl1DP_InJDBAnChDEi9U4WBdG8kERrYwZEib7UInVXmXqjldTKKO6_QBaDD5Yz-ZNBdoRidcHQbse1e8erIWTI932hkWhYbdMjAAIywoTUeo1TjULsNp-44NfoPq1w/s320/2013-07-30+17.18.09.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><a href="http://outdooredibles.com/burdock/">BURDOCK</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt3sImXvHlaJxKTpEDmsbsPR48n7JE13_5ZsXAJUU6Xbt1ulZi6fooLOOo04XvrX4qDLgvUX_CKlC0Qv8Oqc1tp2KXkCYzErRtTxDUSpFLlQuvsuHTRUxGnh7jea3UBlV_4aQYD94rcs/s1600/2013-07-30+17.18.18.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKt3sImXvHlaJxKTpEDmsbsPR48n7JE13_5ZsXAJUU6Xbt1ulZi6fooLOOo04XvrX4qDLgvUX_CKlC0Qv8Oqc1tp2KXkCYzErRtTxDUSpFLlQuvsuHTRUxGnh7jea3UBlV_4aQYD94rcs/s320/2013-07-30+17.18.18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;"><a href="http://outdooredibles.com/burdock/">BURDOCK</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
... and then the highlight of my walk ... loads and loads of St John's Wort ...</h4>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_IPGLLxh54J3SsWJ-uGXS0wW5Gzz6Tw52BSXlzPmkr4v8-BxzZLjSClk-ac-XTyzq9cAUQTxmT8FO_cZ1nl-ZAsQDHeQaoVRpky9kzF4z0XIkjVPnt2LbthGhibzMmURviKMVSIvH78/s1600/2013-07-30+17.16.07.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_IPGLLxh54J3SsWJ-uGXS0wW5Gzz6Tw52BSXlzPmkr4v8-BxzZLjSClk-ac-XTyzq9cAUQTxmT8FO_cZ1nl-ZAsQDHeQaoVRpky9kzF4z0XIkjVPnt2LbthGhibzMmURviKMVSIvH78/s320/2013-07-30+17.16.07.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ST JOHN'S WORT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKcKzJOck9whACCPJRfN5lww-5r5j83oZHlgwXCe_73BU1YPK6V9eRDybtBgxGAs-Qt0Y1V6bOjb1de9wkHgUNkARDIDbUSiUIxIXqJB-JT_brKZhGs_1j09a0czObesYYiMi7yIPrAE/s1600/2013-07-30+12.42.06.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKcKzJOck9whACCPJRfN5lww-5r5j83oZHlgwXCe_73BU1YPK6V9eRDybtBgxGAs-Qt0Y1V6bOjb1de9wkHgUNkARDIDbUSiUIxIXqJB-JT_brKZhGs_1j09a0czObesYYiMi7yIPrAE/s320/2013-07-30+12.42.06.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ST JOHN'S WORT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dGB_eMZ7s87J2lhez8SE-Y9OvQ34szjiWm_mc5QXbuEq_IK4isLVyAdGZDQCHHvnPqN0O8zzSL0hwulULJlfyImjv3yZwdbosbRDO4AriwO8SUN7GyZQniyjZPT5_8SFp6ZGxFWLNQU/s1600/2013-07-30+17.16.53.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dGB_eMZ7s87J2lhez8SE-Y9OvQ34szjiWm_mc5QXbuEq_IK4isLVyAdGZDQCHHvnPqN0O8zzSL0hwulULJlfyImjv3yZwdbosbRDO4AriwO8SUN7GyZQniyjZPT5_8SFp6ZGxFWLNQU/s320/2013-07-30+17.16.53.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ST JOHN'S WORT</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweFYVTlqUjXL-kQ-C9bNHUhMHzxl3RpId9WCcJjES9Qp5xuxrNZBzHXTll5WLc4XNoagxkGNuwB3LJZeOmiUZ_AtBUxARwE8GWA-eAMQ63dSKUJyz17zGDhSvmokHKID4YC1bdFvto1s/s1600/2013-07-30+17.17.03.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweFYVTlqUjXL-kQ-C9bNHUhMHzxl3RpId9WCcJjES9Qp5xuxrNZBzHXTll5WLc4XNoagxkGNuwB3LJZeOmiUZ_AtBUxARwE8GWA-eAMQ63dSKUJyz17zGDhSvmokHKID4YC1bdFvto1s/s320/2013-07-30+17.17.03.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ST JOHN'S WORT AND BEES - LOADS OF THEM!</td></tr>
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Zoomed in on my bee pic !<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTxkZtR1zkB60NZWCNfOzlhTtR03kOdNnw2XNzS52GMlYzxzqz99YSq8dD4a-v_N1q55RSX9XuFSW4XDBDKbVFWOMtM-mA1MLA66moXFaZzOKPtc-QIWwFFla1SZDqunjaBMgJZ7Sq7s/s1600/bee.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTxkZtR1zkB60NZWCNfOzlhTtR03kOdNnw2XNzS52GMlYzxzqz99YSq8dD4a-v_N1q55RSX9XuFSW4XDBDKbVFWOMtM-mA1MLA66moXFaZzOKPtc-QIWwFFla1SZDqunjaBMgJZ7Sq7s/s320/bee.JPG" /></a><br /><br />
As there was soooo much of it, I picked some St John's Wort flower heads and also a few stems to put in a little vase! I am sure the bees didn't mind me sharing it with them - they really do have so much to play with !<br />
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When I get some more I will make an infused oil with the flower heads (which will turn a wonderful red colour) but until then I just picked a few so that I could make up a flower essence. Flower essences are easy to make - <a href="http://www.flowersociety.org/SJW.htm">you can read more about St John's Wort and flower essences on this website (click here)</a>. Basically flower essences contain the essence or the energy of the plant (as in homoeopathy) ... you will not find any physical constituents in the essence as the energy cannot be measured ... just felt ! Flower essences - as in Bach flower essences - are great for use with emotional issues.<br />
<br />
St John's Wort's botanical name is Hypericum perforatum --- a really well known herb for treating depression but it is really so much more! The herb and oil can be used for different purposes (I use the oil in Dorn spinal therapy ... but that is a whole other story!). For the purposes of using the flower essence it can help allergies, stress, nightmares, bedwetting, sensitivity to light, seasonal affective disorder and can also be used for 'protection' - as in psychic protection - as Hypericum is great to help overly sensitive individuals who may be open to psychic attack.<br />
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I found <a href="https://www.wrc.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=374&Itemid=1056">this great website</a> which gives a lot of info about this essence - saves me re-inventing the wheel!!!<br />
<br />
To make the essence you fill a glass bowl with about a cupful of spring water, then cover the surface of the water with flowers. (Note ... While I was picking the flowers I was giving thanks to the plant ... you should always be in a good frame of mind when picking flowers, especially for energetic work). The flowers are then left there for an hour or two (I left mine surrounded by a crystal grid also, to add an extra 'charge'). When your time is up, the water will still look clear but the flowers will be wilted. Lift the flowers carefully out of the water with a fork - thanking them as you go - then pour the water into a clean bottle that is half full of brandy. This is then called your <b>'mother essence'</b>. If there is any water left over ... just drink it!<br />
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To use the essence put three drops of the mother essence into a 25mL dropper bottle filled with brandy. This is then termed your '<b>stock bottle'</b>. With this you can include it in any creams / salves / lotions / oils / soaps you may make, for added benefit (just add a few drops from your stock bottle) - or just add it directly to the skin, where needed. You can also add 20 drops to a bath or footbath - and then soak your stresses away.<br />
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To take it internally you can just add a few drops into a glass or bottle of water and sip during the day or make a <b>'dosage bottle</b>' ... by putting three drops of the stock essence into a dropper bottle containing a 50/50 mix of brandy and water. Use several drops dirctly under the tongue as needed, or at least twice a day.<br />
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So easy and so useful! I am so happy and so blessed to have found this herb today on my walk ... wonder what tomorrow till bring !!</div>
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Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-81100381099457326442013-07-29T21:13:00.001+01:002013-07-29T21:13:52.939+01:00Comfrey...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
What a brilliant time of year - all the wonderful growth of wildflowers and herbs to spy along the towpath ... one thing that stops me in my tracks ever time is all the wonderful, wonderful Comfrey! It is so pretty when it is in flower ... and it is so abundant too! I am sure hardly anyone even notices this common plant but I am here to tell you that it is one of the most valuable herbs around! Unfortunately it has got a fair bit of bad press in the past but a lot of herbs get themselves into bad books - especially when they are in the 'absolutely vital' category!!! I won't go into conspiracy theories here - you can read all about it elsewhere ... this herb has been much documented ... you can read much of it here ...<br />
<a href="http://www.comfreycentral.com/">http://www.comfreycentral.com/</a><br />
<br />
I <b>will</b> tell you all the positives of Comfrey here and things that you CAN do with it!<br />
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Here is a pic of a big batch of it I found about a couple of months ago ...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqzjWYOQ1qVAFfhRfWqgPk7Jrpmq78MdQwJ-LXSPhYp7IZr5eQ6v6B6RZ4Thodiua5MgzdLXzFDtsXX6COCYK-GZXOoXcw_KLwr3ZSO6wbRnbpGCaylM14amam3c4aWXGDd5vqOMzmDc/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqzjWYOQ1qVAFfhRfWqgPk7Jrpmq78MdQwJ-LXSPhYp7IZr5eQ6v6B6RZ4Thodiua5MgzdLXzFDtsXX6COCYK-GZXOoXcw_KLwr3ZSO6wbRnbpGCaylM14amam3c4aWXGDd5vqOMzmDc/s400/DSC_0007.jpg" /></a><br />
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I did a bit of foraging and put them into the life ring for a while to let any bugs escape before I used them...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jxcYOGpfjtoIV2T3smoVXN9RPT742ETUgCsgY_rn3u1KMdT_pq1Z-26uYIlAxFRAXpv0QpkLEgRFgvubDQ0CwEw6M92q4s2Ilh0JEcA2Sr6Vasc_oJUI5IeXTBGISWFkQD1190-UcZc/s1600/DSC_0009.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jxcYOGpfjtoIV2T3smoVXN9RPT742ETUgCsgY_rn3u1KMdT_pq1Z-26uYIlAxFRAXpv0QpkLEgRFgvubDQ0CwEw6M92q4s2Ilh0JEcA2Sr6Vasc_oJUI5IeXTBGISWFkQD1190-UcZc/s400/DSC_0009.jpg" /></a><br />
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... and this is the aforementioned batch ... part left to dry out and part included in an oil infusion, which I have recently used to make up some soap ...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j7GNABZdpDz0PHY1J0b5vMMATKyKx4GTDMNcmKr4FW3fMdB83K0LokVZScjfDi0SZcWpMep0gEl1sKnZH2h3K97UM8ZWM_YFdZBABq2OweZQ9QFGMqYir_iz4H68uYs_gfUrH0XUQ7c/s1600/2013-05-12+16.00.34.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j7GNABZdpDz0PHY1J0b5vMMATKyKx4GTDMNcmKr4FW3fMdB83K0LokVZScjfDi0SZcWpMep0gEl1sKnZH2h3K97UM8ZWM_YFdZBABq2OweZQ9QFGMqYir_iz4H68uYs_gfUrH0XUQ7c/s400/2013-05-12+16.00.34.jpg" /></a> </div>
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... and here are some lovely plants we saw when we were passing through Braunston ... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQIsdofdovDzZcgpzva7Iq9QoMPLCCEFY_ansXYDj6fttJBxq9n6-gsEFbRl9akYEAPfmjviNIXxGjHOdOaF-fXwY1vyzgKWnPPB7TCVtCfaNhWHaG_F6FC6PxxHofu8NpAweXmRwPnk/s1600/2013-06-08+13.30.59.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQIsdofdovDzZcgpzva7Iq9QoMPLCCEFY_ansXYDj6fttJBxq9n6-gsEFbRl9akYEAPfmjviNIXxGjHOdOaF-fXwY1vyzgKWnPPB7TCVtCfaNhWHaG_F6FC6PxxHofu8NpAweXmRwPnk/s400/2013-06-08+13.30.59.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzQa0kD3Fyq2uzm5JtA1oODCUBPDB2DAIB5_NDO5ZIVri99zZatVAf-8RdoKrrXF37tUzK6gOeIykk8PnucHofQSG957hSQRu8qcQkczEqLRtNahOy6T9gv20N1kXydJowx6hlASgoiw/s1600/2013-06-08+13.31.06.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzQa0kD3Fyq2uzm5JtA1oODCUBPDB2DAIB5_NDO5ZIVri99zZatVAf-8RdoKrrXF37tUzK6gOeIykk8PnucHofQSG957hSQRu8qcQkczEqLRtNahOy6T9gv20N1kXydJowx6hlASgoiw/s400/2013-06-08+13.31.06.jpg" /></a><br />
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I thought there was a lot there but travelling down the Grand Union canal to London recently I saw masses of it everywhere ! Wonderful :)<br />
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Comfrey is marvellously healing - and it can be used in so many ways. <br />
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It is from the same family as Borage (aka Starflower) - or the Boraginaceae family. The plant is native to Europe and some parts of <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place>. The name comfrey is said to come from Latin '<i>con firma'</i> which
means to make whole again. I have also read that it comes from the Roman word <i>'conferre'</i>, meaning to join together. The botanical
name for comfrey is Symphytum officinale – which comes from the Greek <i>'symphyto'</i> meaning <i>'to unite</i>’. It seems that the <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saxons referred to the
plant as “Yulluc” and utilised it in travel magic. Comfrey was apparently also
given to bards and minstrels to protect them during their travels. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">You can read much more on the history of Comfrey on this website ...</span><br />
<a href="http://www.herballegacy.com/Ollman_History.html">http://www.herballegacy.com/Ollman_History.html</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Comfrey has a long history of use and has been
documented as far back as 400 BCE when Greek physicians used comfrey leaves to stop bleeding and treat
respiratory illnesses. In <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the
Middle Ages, people used comfrey leaves to heal wounds and mend broken bones.</span></div>
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Nowadays Herbalists generally only use comfrey externally for their clients. these There are
restrictions on its use internally due to the ‘pyrollizidine alkaloids’ it
contains, which are purported to have a cumulative effect on the liver –
although it would take a vast (and ridiculous) consumption of the plant (roots
and older leaves) to do any harm. It is
a shame it is no longer permitted to be used internally because the benefits of
this amazing plant far outweigh any possible dis-benefits!</div>
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One of Comfrey’s common names is ‘knitbone’ – which gives us
a leading clue as to one of its benefits!
It is also called knitback, bruisewort, boneset, ass ear(!) among many
other names. These common names of course relate to its astounding ability to <b>heal broken bone</b>s but it also has the ability to <b>knit flesh together*</b>, speeding the healing of wounds. It can also be used effectively to treat <b>bruises, dislocations and sprains</b>.<br />
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<i>* I thought I might just add here one of my own experiences with using a Comfrey tincture. I managed to bash my hand against the side of a wall while carrying a heavy basket of towels ... this caused me to slice my knuckles, which was bad enough, but the worst was that a whole flap of my index finger was hanging off ! Oops! I went to the GP and they offered me a tetanus (plus Diphtheria plus something else!) shot - which I declined but also said they couldn't stitch it up but could only glue it together with their special glue. They attempted to do this and then bandaged it up. When I went to change the bandage a day or so later I found that the bandage had also adhered itself to the glue and as I took the bandage off, so my flap of skin opened up again! At this point I took matters into my own hands .. I reached for my Calendula tincture to make sure the area was thoroughly clean and then dowsed the wound with Comfrey tincture and covered it lightly with a dressing. Amazingly I noticed the whole wound repairing within a matter of hours. I also covered any potential infection with taking doses of Garlic tincture. I am happy to say my wounds healed remarkably and today you can hardly see any scarring on my finger at all. It is truly wonderful :)</i><br />
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As mentioned, Comfrey is amazingly helpful in the treatment (externally)
of cuts, bruises, sprains, eczema, varicose veins, broken bones. Internally it was used in the past to help
heal bone breaks, ligaments and even blood disorders … but, alas, no more (unless, of course, you choose to do so yourself)!</div>
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Comfrey contains mucilage, allantoin, tannins, resin,
essential oils, pyrroliizidine alkaloids, gum, carotene, glycosides, sugars,
beta-sitoserol and steroidal saponins, triterpenoids, Vits A, C and B12, protein and zinc
… what a wonderful powerhouse of ingredients ! </div>
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Nowadays, Comfrey is used quite commonly in remedies for skin treatments – because it has the ability to accelerate skin healing and help wounds close
faster. (It is known as a
‘cell-proliferant’ where it promotes the growth of connective tissue, bone and
cartilage). <span style="font-size: 16px;">Comfrey has also been found to break down red blood cells, therefore supporting its use for bruising. I</span>t is the allantoin content of the plant that is attributed these healing benefits but – as with all herbal remedies – the whole plant constituents
should be acknowledged in its actions … it is always a mistake to consider only
one of the constituents to be entirely responsible for its actions. </div>
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<h2>
<b>Ways in which Comfrey can be used</b> … </h2>
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<b><u>In your cooking ...</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
Comfrey can be used as a <b>culinary plant</b> where a little of
the fresh leaves and shoots can be sliced and incorporated into a salad or used
as a vegetable. You should always wear
gloves when harvesting comfrey as the leaves and stems can be very prickly !</div>
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When incorporating comfrey into cooking, you could harvest
some young, fresh leaves, slice them and cook them until they are wilted and
added into any pasta dish – or stir fries – or any dish where spinach is called
for like the Indian dish ‘Saag Aloo’ – young Nettle leaves can also be used in
this way.</div>
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A favourite dish for <u>Comfrey is in <b>Comfrey fritters</b></u> –
following is a recipe …</div>
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Make up some <b><u>batter</u></b>
to start …</div>
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1.5 cups SR flour</div>
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1 cup milk </div>
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¼ pint milk </div>
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1 egg lightly whisked</div>
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Salt and pepper to taste</div>
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Coat one or two comfrey leaves with the batter.</div>
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Fry until crispy. Serve as a starter or with fish.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1235051841055143324" name="bhajis"></a> </div>
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You could also try adding in some Indian spices or curry mix
to this batter to spice things up a bit!</div>
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<br />
- or for a variation on this theme you could make …<br />
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<b><u>Comfrey Pancakes<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Make a batter the same as for comfrey fritters or using your
usual batter mix. </div>
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Chop two comfrey leaves finely and add to a pan of hot oil. Pour in the mixture so that it just covers the
bottom of the pan. Fry each side until golden.
Yummy !</div>
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If you choose to do so you can also make fresh <b><u>Comfrey tea</u></b>. I, personally, chop up a fresh handful of young
Comfrey leaves and pour about 1 litre of boiling water over it. Keep this covered and let it sit for a few
minutes before straining it and it is ready to drink … you could also add some
mint or chamomile. On a hot day, let it
cool day, add some ice and mint and drink it for a refreshing brew!</div>
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<b><u>Using Comfrey
topically … <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Well, the uses here are endless and if you need any
suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me … </div>
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<u><b>Sprains – Strains – Bruising …</b></u><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">The
easiest way to use Comfrey is to pick a whole leaf (using gloves), give it a
rolling over with a rolling pin and then apply it to any strains, sprains,
bruises – cover with a gauze bandage or similar and leave on overnight or for
no more than 8 hours. Reapply as needed.<br /></span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: center;">You
could also chop leaves and mix with olive oil to create a poultice and apply
that to sprains, strains and bruising. You could also just chop the leaves and wrap them in a piece of cotton or similar and (when cooled!) apply it to the injured area for no more than 8 hours.<br /></span></li>
<li>The
leaves can be made into an ointment or poultice and used externally as a
poultice for rheumatic pain and bruises, for ulcers and soft swellings.<br /></li>
</ul>
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<i>If I don't publish this post now it will still be in the drafts next year but come back soon when I update it with a nice salve recipe you can incorporate comfrey into!</i><br />
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Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-30177621764976661582013-04-13T23:04:00.001+01:002013-04-13T23:19:28.601+01:00More soap ... Cupcakes and Pumpkin !<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
On 22 March I made up a few more batches of soap - this time I thought I would experiment with my silicone cupcake moulds - they came out quite well since I have never ever iced a cupcake in my life ! I may have to perfect my icing technique though as they do look a bit 'wormy' !! This is them the day after I made them when I unmoulded them ...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b3qSue2q8XH_VneC-ivoljrSSCve0_lSUMXDN8N-sfSuPahvjbu-kaK1uAAE8mQvQLfPeO2pmc1AH_kJg56uguf7RZr6esX5tK_QXWTMhZwAH0WFFXmYkN-rumj8h8-KWFnoFha7zSk/s1600/snow+march+014.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b3qSue2q8XH_VneC-ivoljrSSCve0_lSUMXDN8N-sfSuPahvjbu-kaK1uAAE8mQvQLfPeO2pmc1AH_kJg56uguf7RZr6esX5tK_QXWTMhZwAH0WFFXmYkN-rumj8h8-KWFnoFha7zSk/s400/snow+march+014.JPG" /></a><br />
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and this is them today - all wrapped up nice - with sparkles on top !</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gqaw3hK6mcBhG1YoPKHHDVRAHHuS1SsweEUA7IyUSe9cuu2v57e8NxV-7qc6-n7OyN6a9YTio9Zvs4RZpA4YIhyD_mLMupj_HI0EJPffHnMV57dBxCjM5jYlkhY7x05asNV2gZ3JTsM/s1600/P1080830.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gqaw3hK6mcBhG1YoPKHHDVRAHHuS1SsweEUA7IyUSe9cuu2v57e8NxV-7qc6-n7OyN6a9YTio9Zvs4RZpA4YIhyD_mLMupj_HI0EJPffHnMV57dBxCjM5jYlkhY7x05asNV2gZ3JTsM/s400/P1080830.JPG" /></a><br />
The recipe I used was my Shea butter recipe which contains Olive oil, Palm oil, Coconut oil, Castor oil, Shea butter and a tiny bit of colouring and fragrance ! <br />
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The <b><u>second batch</u></b> I made was a Pumpkin soap recipe - to be honest I only added in pumpkin as I had some spare and then realised what a wonderful ingredient it actually is ! It is full of antioxidants and vitamins A & C, which may help to keep your skin youthful and refreshed ! <br />
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This is the batch in my silicone loaf mould ...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx7JFbD1n5EosGVy6LAyOkSsgRI9Hil2WHJj20EaxPQ8pWvmRcW3BZVYguiG2i2_e5Z8ZPvEvpvd7K-5KR7S8G7G6zsgM7L0NtRzIj5KJTA5j5vlsKuqyNBOI_YiMj1Wi4dL9WFY0dMc/s1600/snow+march+015.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLx7JFbD1n5EosGVy6LAyOkSsgRI9Hil2WHJj20EaxPQ8pWvmRcW3BZVYguiG2i2_e5Z8ZPvEvpvd7K-5KR7S8G7G6zsgM7L0NtRzIj5KJTA5j5vlsKuqyNBOI_YiMj1Wi4dL9WFY0dMc/s400/snow+march+015.JPG" /></a><br />
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This is the soap unmoulded a couple of days later ...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTDcLgN4DTB2vtd6oiFy9OYlPNQ1yjG0tduEPvhHBm1PMuiE2ELwHMH97FXehEJbDc4Ca-YKfTDPkSlVGEKWyBOJYkFJaHQdqBkl_8go-c-iD-XOCnVdEuDBMEcVLOVapD9RfLXUPSsE/s1600/snow+march+017.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTDcLgN4DTB2vtd6oiFy9OYlPNQ1yjG0tduEPvhHBm1PMuiE2ELwHMH97FXehEJbDc4Ca-YKfTDPkSlVGEKWyBOJYkFJaHQdqBkl_8go-c-iD-XOCnVdEuDBMEcVLOVapD9RfLXUPSsE/s400/snow+march+017.JPG" /></a><br />
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and this is it all chopped up, ready for the curing rack !<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamQS4xdA0dsOJoMHgnVvD5_cA1SKjrk9qQ6fmB52jNfBbWUhNjgzLEwv6yzSBwJfNApM9JEXPz5EpyfLjw890TPz32XMQ8ZjL50gO8Nb_YT8tSOvVn7S02lDm73fXIwFH_znvys7GPDo/s1600/snow+march+018.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamQS4xdA0dsOJoMHgnVvD5_cA1SKjrk9qQ6fmB52jNfBbWUhNjgzLEwv6yzSBwJfNApM9JEXPz5EpyfLjw890TPz32XMQ8ZjL50gO8Nb_YT8tSOvVn7S02lDm73fXIwFH_znvys7GPDo/s400/snow+march+018.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
... and this is it today - we still have 10 days to go until it can be used but it is OK to be packaged up at this point. I actually cut the slices in half as I realised they were a bit too chunky !<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjpC3vj2K48seAaOscfG-roireVpDYgWYQYZTj_MiE6k4SCeNlgh384qNMA3eJH3zViVB-HQSKoiGWt03wabRwxoFVxxx4myd4m7MkVL_u-dswRxeSLeWtnxrrllP5S2gMkrXvj9LYwU/s1600/P1080831.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjpC3vj2K48seAaOscfG-roireVpDYgWYQYZTj_MiE6k4SCeNlgh384qNMA3eJH3zViVB-HQSKoiGWt03wabRwxoFVxxx4myd4m7MkVL_u-dswRxeSLeWtnxrrllP5S2gMkrXvj9LYwU/s400/P1080831.JPG" /></a> </div>
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The recipe I used for this soap included saponified Olive oil, Palm oil, Coconut oil, Castor oil, Pumpkin puree, mixed with Calendula herb and some mixed herbs - plus a little orange and ginger fragrance and a little colouring. (Colouring wasn't too successful in this batch - I think I will give up trying to colour my soaps - never seems to work out !)<br />
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The third batch I made was this one ... which isn't too pretty but the recipe I used always makes a good soap. As it is an inexpensive soap to make I am going to felt these pieces but I might wait a few more days before I do that - just to let it cure some more ... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eFC544BRrAjmHooyM2greUjX3PBC2zApXnYR90G0Og4IuhQTy54LOxqQjUte8hD-6OMIj1Ak2sXNf6x6YoOHYbtWLTBMDzYpEFQxGqYvlpd0D-JDFBsXM7cKtVdKr2xinHC1LJZGKIM/s1600/snow+march+016.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eFC544BRrAjmHooyM2greUjX3PBC2zApXnYR90G0Og4IuhQTy54LOxqQjUte8hD-6OMIj1Ak2sXNf6x6YoOHYbtWLTBMDzYpEFQxGqYvlpd0D-JDFBsXM7cKtVdKr2xinHC1LJZGKIM/s400/snow+march+016.JPG" /></a> </div>
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This recipe is really easy and just uses saponified vegetable oil ... I used Tesco vegetable oil (which I found out is actually Rapeseed oil) plus Pumpkin puree and Calendula herb.<br />
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Happy days - I have a full basket of soap again !<br />
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If you have any need for any 'bespoke botanicals' I would be happy to discuss them with you (just send me an email following the link on the blog page) ... I recently made up some shampoo, a cream and a healing salve for a lady with psoriasis ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV92CW38tHoKMIvDmmL8olhvW_ZvkwggfqWsQ-WeWhaA-f6dNsjojx7YniMPCMBmW4zXLOR3f-j8Qd_ReMqIIKnqxzWc__W_CiayP-zcPGge-PHzVHSTkkm1JuViITB1wbXRWIVkJk-A/s1600/P1080488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKV92CW38tHoKMIvDmmL8olhvW_ZvkwggfqWsQ-WeWhaA-f6dNsjojx7YniMPCMBmW4zXLOR3f-j8Qd_ReMqIIKnqxzWc__W_CiayP-zcPGge-PHzVHSTkkm1JuViITB1wbXRWIVkJk-A/s320/P1080488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Toodloo for now :)</div>
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Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-43128365312046720112013-03-17T21:35:00.002+00:002013-03-17T21:36:34.176+00:00Yummy Healthy Oat / Banana Cakes !Hi there ! I have been digging through my recipe archives and have found this old winner !<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvo9dn1HBx5XAuaOjUMkM6gJOGgfrr_405yjmpzFxHLw9UTc6fWvHnMXDDf_XfyDys9Og0dlMYCvbaXHet59_h82yzzX6_5FpweMr4IcbCZmc0Raq4tTalnAOlrqh__5SRd_DJzE6mas/s1600/oat+cakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvo9dn1HBx5XAuaOjUMkM6gJOGgfrr_405yjmpzFxHLw9UTc6fWvHnMXDDf_XfyDys9Og0dlMYCvbaXHet59_h82yzzX6_5FpweMr4IcbCZmc0Raq4tTalnAOlrqh__5SRd_DJzE6mas/s400/oat+cakes.jpg" /></a></div>
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It is a recipe for Oat Cakes - without using any flour ! I have modified it slightly and you can make your own variations on the theme but here is the basic recipe ...<br />
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2 cups rolled oats<br />
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 1 big banana)<br />
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1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or mixed spice<br />
1/2 cup desiccated coconut<br />
1/2 cup rasins or cranberries (I also used Sultanas and finely chopped
Dates)<br />
1/4 cup honey (I used 1/8 cup honey and 1/8 cup molasses)<br />
1/4 cup olive oil</div>
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Preheat oven to Gas Mark 4 fan forced (actually I used Gas
Mark 6 – but then I do for most things in our Narrowboat oven!). Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. </div>
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Pull out approx 1 tbsp of the mix and roll into into a rough
ball, then flatten slightly before putting on the baking tray. Bake for
25-30 minutes. Cool before eating. Store them in an airtight
container and they last about 5 days.</div>
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Will make about 12 cakes.<br />
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<i>(If you want a gluten free option, just choose gluten free oats !)</i></div>
Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-73160058034895073232013-03-06T19:19:00.002+00:002013-03-06T19:19:56.294+00:00Hedgerow Hawthorn Hearts !<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
Since we have had a lot of time on our hands lately (been moored in the Marina over winter and this week we are on the hard stand at Stafford Boat Club, painting the bottom of the boat) - I have been feeling 'crafty' ...<br />
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I found a load of twigs under the Hawthorn bushes on one of our recent towpath walks - and had an idea what I could do with them ... et voila ! Hedgerow Hearts ... I am loving making them - it is just that we now have a boat full of Hawthorn Hearts ... so I might be palming a few of them off to folk along the way (whether they like it ot not !!).<br />
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Anyway, here they are ... I am going to put some embelishments on them, but it is work in progress at the moment!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl22SOX1AE0hbH2v86L4wv29XHlClVNULBgS2hJL_R8TtDIMpx3jpTMvz5pHnIFzK07GCDrvHbvqEmQYz9UkhVB9IaoJEQ9BL_9ZOTSf-tUDMN0ONmiBWl2VjaxiVYfpfMml3UHrTFbQ/s1600/P1080108.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOl22SOX1AE0hbH2v86L4wv29XHlClVNULBgS2hJL_R8TtDIMpx3jpTMvz5pHnIFzK07GCDrvHbvqEmQYz9UkhVB9IaoJEQ9BL_9ZOTSf-tUDMN0ONmiBWl2VjaxiVYfpfMml3UHrTFbQ/s400/P1080108.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U0_iw9UtWPRcUKVxvZHJmK8Y5IyvKkmLkizwSne1lKAzJMO6ipf3XTtDTkP3Oq_3AMYqDDzB-b_NPrDx1Cf6y45x9k7TnZhE35JwB9z4hoRoc5ivldkPSHAwyf4uhjAM5nycRRXxP7Y/s1600/P1080109.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U0_iw9UtWPRcUKVxvZHJmK8Y5IyvKkmLkizwSne1lKAzJMO6ipf3XTtDTkP3Oq_3AMYqDDzB-b_NPrDx1Cf6y45x9k7TnZhE35JwB9z4hoRoc5ivldkPSHAwyf4uhjAM5nycRRXxP7Y/s400/P1080109.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CwFi5PWn78_Iq-xmA_ypdvdZYvUbUhy6-s1KFy-EJ-ndEfFWRuAHxB4v59xpNnRWhGOhWcTuIUDTcCFEq2qw0GVBVIk2ORANpdqltADXzsDRGn_6vl_9kF4jo6MVo7bktheP7JgNw0M/s1600/P1080110.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CwFi5PWn78_Iq-xmA_ypdvdZYvUbUhy6-s1KFy-EJ-ndEfFWRuAHxB4v59xpNnRWhGOhWcTuIUDTcCFEq2qw0GVBVIk2ORANpdqltADXzsDRGn_6vl_9kF4jo6MVo7bktheP7JgNw0M/s400/P1080110.JPG" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCBwnUGxxXX5-W9gtq95qzdVIhDud-IOLbtbTWRZHDmNXd0Hp2l12viRTz5BpvHfsuv0qp5a_U-A0zTqeCqwaQBEUQVrrCM3jqPYhszW2w_9GRRg3vRJQZXvCo2xoJswOMBylI2l0Zl8/s1600/P1080111.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCBwnUGxxXX5-W9gtq95qzdVIhDud-IOLbtbTWRZHDmNXd0Hp2l12viRTz5BpvHfsuv0qp5a_U-A0zTqeCqwaQBEUQVrrCM3jqPYhszW2w_9GRRg3vRJQZXvCo2xoJswOMBylI2l0Zl8/s400/P1080111.JPG" /></a><br />
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Whilst I was making them I had an 'aha' moment ! I was making hearts out of Hawthorn twigs ... Hawthorn (as a herbal tincture) is one of the best remedies for the heart ! Well ... I was excited anyway and thought I would write up a bit in next blog entry all about the mighty Hawthorn ...<br />
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Stay tuned !</div>
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Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-30442147621822376282012-12-24T21:45:00.002+00:002012-12-24T21:45:32.585+00:00While the cat's away ...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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the mice will ...<br />
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well ... felt soap ! <br />
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Yep - amongst other things - whilst Paul has been away I have been felting my home-made soap! I discovered felting along my many 'google' travels and promptly put an order in for some merino wool to commence felting with from <a href="http://sarastexturecrafts.com/">Sara's Texture Craft</a>s.<br />
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I got a few different tops and mixtures of wools, so I could experiment with them. You can google how to do it - there are quite a few You Tube videos to watch, that are helpful when learning to felt !<br />
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Basically, what you do is ...<br />
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Apply your wool to your soap in layers (chop off any sharp edges on the soap before you start). Wrap the wool pretty tightly around the soap until you have your desired 'pattern'.<br />
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<input role="presentation" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; height: 1px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 4px; position: absolute; width: 1px; z-index: -1;" tabindex="-1" type="text" /><br />
<input role="presentation" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; height: 1px; opacity: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 4px; position: absolute; width: 1px; z-index: -1;" tabindex="-1" type="text" />Then - grab an old pair of tights or stockings and, using just one leg, you carefully put your soap and felted wool into the foot end, wrap it up and then dunk it into hot water (as hot as you can bare) until all the air bubbles disappear.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_bCVmRBRL6VZ7_M4-YRmDw1y6I0HtPFjrtvUeyiJK6rCqDV5KGmbICpTdlcZM1K-Gj6BEzIQv4e_UXhsBWOqNTaP6oAVRChXmDwurVJaH9_YjH4R6WFK3YA81DlON7uf7m0D_uvYtQQ/s1600/DSC_0002+%25283%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_bCVmRBRL6VZ7_M4-YRmDw1y6I0HtPFjrtvUeyiJK6rCqDV5KGmbICpTdlcZM1K-Gj6BEzIQv4e_UXhsBWOqNTaP6oAVRChXmDwurVJaH9_YjH4R6WFK3YA81DlON7uf7m0D_uvYtQQ/s400/DSC_0002+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
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Then you rub it against a (pre prepared!) sheet of bubble wrap for a few minutes - on either side of the soap. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66hAhfqRq4-OJ4zvbabYvJEYwewxKvg2ENg3JGz1xXmWGXuiTIa0U0KRGxT_wWfvIeJlPdeH_xQeVIOXKGhAUVD9pe_RyJt95Af7kzUucCPSzsDOV40L1gznURVZMJoK9M9E6ggS_fTs/s1600/DSC_0003+%25282%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66hAhfqRq4-OJ4zvbabYvJEYwewxKvg2ENg3JGz1xXmWGXuiTIa0U0KRGxT_wWfvIeJlPdeH_xQeVIOXKGhAUVD9pe_RyJt95Af7kzUucCPSzsDOV40L1gznURVZMJoK9M9E6ggS_fTs/s400/DSC_0003+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBktEvl-qKQiAHg2lIEcG2tsUBwsCGfZvA8pB1nxzpbpVwdGFQdbfUJTrACFVeaTh3PWbdooUCJWnUgCYxTtwyCWEquXf01y18vIz1Daw5D1UtlS6lb6Bo7Nu6Fo0muqNCqhA3luhyNw/s1600/DSC_0004+%25282%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBktEvl-qKQiAHg2lIEcG2tsUBwsCGfZvA8pB1nxzpbpVwdGFQdbfUJTrACFVeaTh3PWbdooUCJWnUgCYxTtwyCWEquXf01y18vIz1Daw5D1UtlS6lb6Bo7Nu6Fo0muqNCqhA3luhyNw/s400/DSC_0004+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Then you unwrap your soap, give it a bit more friction until the wool is firmly felted and firm.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOktdZnEdcAiBUZeMzpuw1NC79VNgDKKe0K1RIQBGBITthHtuW4LNEYaSJycAtDmTitjuDCbb9-u0SsYwDGxYyYwyCGnorUDmfjUgk68jeYmhLl-mKn6ObDRw5Zjz4DYY1LRL62MGRXk/s1600/DSC_0005+%25283%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOktdZnEdcAiBUZeMzpuw1NC79VNgDKKe0K1RIQBGBITthHtuW4LNEYaSJycAtDmTitjuDCbb9-u0SsYwDGxYyYwyCGnorUDmfjUgk68jeYmhLl-mKn6ObDRw5Zjz4DYY1LRL62MGRXk/s400/DSC_0005+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Give it a rinse under some cold water, dry it off with a towel and 'hey presto' - felted soaps ...</div>
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg7xWYkQFaB8OLG1IBuWz1N0IN7ahe9kwGujaB2OmdH3O5uJWeqtoSQUubIJfnYMM98deW5T-EP2cHZ8t2ZBn6BTosDv5zLRti5c2C7YC8mGB0Tq8LZKNzLj25-AH5IEE6ed-FFS5cm8/s1600/DSC_0006+%25282%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdg7xWYkQFaB8OLG1IBuWz1N0IN7ahe9kwGujaB2OmdH3O5uJWeqtoSQUubIJfnYMM98deW5T-EP2cHZ8t2ZBn6BTosDv5zLRti5c2C7YC8mGB0Tq8LZKNzLj25-AH5IEE6ed-FFS5cm8/s400/DSC_0006+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZq2Lg0Ue9D4bQCoAfSrTCCBvot82JMWK94iA_W5NUYNPNCeC1D8BgeSocKcqgy_tiG4B3cgjLpX-8weDl6y3Fkuqb6RFKlYkBhsKOh67Ub7ECf0LhOmZAYHF2HbuB2PfdNPvH5kcYpPc/s1600/DSC_0007+%25283%2529.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZq2Lg0Ue9D4bQCoAfSrTCCBvot82JMWK94iA_W5NUYNPNCeC1D8BgeSocKcqgy_tiG4B3cgjLpX-8weDl6y3Fkuqb6RFKlYkBhsKOh67Ub7ECf0LhOmZAYHF2HbuB2PfdNPvH5kcYpPc/s400/DSC_0007+%25283%2529.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5xpGbD4TCqKmlIbkg1nkngnZTauP-3G4CB_Z894fzqHTjFzjt2OhkykhBEL2UYdGkn2bFCULhCRM8nqZuW5rX0oWIfZogYtrDeygnHFRGhtRfPXsbmRwUoh8vcaE3b_1JSEuS91jRT8/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5xpGbD4TCqKmlIbkg1nkngnZTauP-3G4CB_Z894fzqHTjFzjt2OhkykhBEL2UYdGkn2bFCULhCRM8nqZuW5rX0oWIfZogYtrDeygnHFRGhtRfPXsbmRwUoh8vcaE3b_1JSEuS91jRT8/s400/DSC_0007.jpg" /></a> </div>
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<br />
I love them - I am now officially a felting addict !! <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Why felt soap, well - here are a few reasons ....</u> </span><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; text-indent: -0.2in;">Ø<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.2in;"><span style="color: maroon;">It is your soap and washcloth
all in one !</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .2in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .2in; text-indent: -.2in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--></div>
<div style="color: maroon; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="color: maroon; font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Ø<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: maroon;">Felting wool around soap is an economical and beautiful way to
extend the life of your soap. Your soap
is protected with a layer of wool</span><span style="color: maroon;"> – it stops soap going gloopy or breaking up!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Ø<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: maroon;">Wool has natural anti-fungal properties and will retain its
freshness. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Ø<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: maroon;">As you lather the soap, the wool remains tight around the soap -
making the bar last longer. The felt
shrinks along with the soap as you use it … the casing can be reused by
slitting along the edge and inserting a new bar of soap – or it could just be
used as a face / shower scrub on <span style="font-family: inherit;">its own.</span></span></b><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<b><span style="color: maroon;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;">I have felted my Coffee Soap, Horsetail and Comfrey Soap and Olive oil so far but my stocks are diminishing so I have just made up some new batches of soap ... which I will blog about next !</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.2in;">Til then ... Happy Christmas to all !!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.2in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.2in;">
<span style="color: maroon; font-family: inherit;">Elaine xx</span></div>
</div>
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Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-10454662726467597122012-10-23T19:59:00.003+01:002012-10-23T20:00:35.656+01:00Banana (and apple) muffinsI am not the world's greatest baker of cakes and have always wondered what I was doing wrong! My cakes inevitably turn into biscuits and are very often inedible !!!<br />
<br />
However, today I had some old bananas that needed to be turned into banana cake so I thought I would dig out a recipe and hope for the best --- and what do you know, they worked !!!<br />
<br />
Here is the recipe ... slightly modified to include some cooked apples I also had !!<br />
<br />
1/2 cup butter<br />
2 eggs<br />
3 small ripe bananas<br />
1 tsp bicarb of soda<br />
50 mL milk<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
1 and a 1/2 cups of self raising flour<br />
1 cup of cooked apples<br />
<br />
Cream butter and sugar<br />
Add eggs separately, beating well<br />
Mash bananas and mix in<br />
Dissolve bicarb in milk<br />
Add in the flour and the milk mixture alternately<br />
Add in the cooked apples<br />
Bake on gas mark 5 for 40 mins or til cooked<br />
<br />
I baked them in a muffin tin - I also added on another 10 mins cooking time as they were a little moist (probably because of the apples). I've never added the bicarb to milk before but I think that made all the difference ?!<br />
<br />
Yay - they are nice - and edible too - oh Happy Day !<br />
<br />Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-78274899504584190902012-08-31T22:20:00.001+01:002012-08-31T22:25:54.117+01:00Wonderful Horsetail !<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Horsetail is seen by many as a pesky weed - hard to control - but when I saw it on one of my towpath walks I was so excited to see a plant 'in the flesh' that I have been using in my herbal practice for years - albeit as a Herbal Extract! In my herbal medicine practice I would usually use Horsetail in a herbal mixture for strengthening damaged or wasted tissue, skin / nail / hair problems, calcium metabolism distortion - but only in very small doses. (NB: Never try to diagnose or treat yourself with herbal medicines - always see a fully qualified practitioner because even seemingly 'natural' products have their cautions and contraindications!). </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Horsetail – has been attributed many folk names, such as Dutch Rushes, Horsetail Grass, Horsetail Rush, Paddock pipes, Pewterwort, Scouring Rush, Shave Grass – but we will just settle for Horsetail ! Mind you, there are around 50 different species – so to be sure that we are talking about the right thing, maybe are best to use the botanical name ...</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The botanical name for the commonly used Horsetail is ‘Equisetum Arvense’ – this name being made up from ‘Equus’ which is latin for horse and ‘seta’ which is latin for bristle / brush. This name was formulated as it was thought that it looks like a horse’s tail !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its dry rough stems give us a clue as to why it was also called Pewter-grass or scouring-rush – as they have been used to polish metal in the past!<o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an ancient plant which dates back to the carboniferous era of earth’s vegetation!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were once primitive, gigantic horsetails but their relatives today are somewhat smaller!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will see the horsetails with their spirals twisted tightly against the flowering stem-head when conditions are dry but they uncurl rapidly when humidity rises or rain falls – a clever old plant – I wonder why I have seen so many of them uncurled this year !!!!</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxExpCbpcVPHfEstKH2v_bSZaRh03QgOr80-S-AJtFQh6fZmockZYdVzHKw6oi4IJUEhzyhLPa2RDt3HR_dPnxYO_iWtxcUFLujFKCzcAqEEyN5Qo_fBkkX0WKN4n0kBQ59qdFdTkIFE/s1600/DSC_0073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxExpCbpcVPHfEstKH2v_bSZaRh03QgOr80-S-AJtFQh6fZmockZYdVzHKw6oi4IJUEhzyhLPa2RDt3HR_dPnxYO_iWtxcUFLujFKCzcAqEEyN5Qo_fBkkX0WKN4n0kBQ59qdFdTkIFE/s320/DSC_0073.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Horsetail is a massive storehouse of the (trace) mineral silica (but, of course, contains many other compounds). You will often see supplements of Silica derived from Horsetail advertised for strengthening hair and nails. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, before you run out and buy silica supplements (from Horsetail) you should know there is another side to this plant – it also allows for powerful elimination through the skin, bowels and especially the kidneys – so if you ever do buy these supplements, I would advise you to always start on half the recommended dosage first. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to the above Horsetail has a role to play in digestion, circulation, in the musculoskeletal system, in the urinary system and externally can be used to stop bleeding and speeds healing of cuts and wounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also antiseptic and anti-inflammatory for skin problems. What a plant – indeed - a handy weed !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As if all this wasn’t enough Horsetail is also ‘calcium protective’ to the body – hardening bones and teeth and is an essential mineral for nervous-system resilience too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Silica is stored in the nerve sheaths – which are the protective sheaths which ‘insulate’ the nerves – allowing for quick nervous energy recover after mental and physical effort).</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where Silica in Horsetail is especially magical is that it aids the regeneration of healthy tissue in the body and can also help to break down abnormal tissue, such as abscesses; my Herbal Medicine teacher used to have us imagine that the Silica was like a little hammer and chisel, carefully chipping away at unwanted matter in the body!</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where I am using my batch of Horsetail is for skin products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silica is really important for the skin and has even been termed as a plant ‘collagen’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Collagen is a common form of connective tissue in the body – as we get older our supply of collagen diminishes, with the result that our skin becomes less elastic, losing its tone, while our nails may become brittle and our hair become coarser and loses something of its shine).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silica – along with many of other substances it contains – is vital to help form and preserve collagen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay !</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I noticed the Horsetail growing, I thought what a great ingredient it would be to include in a home made soap - I would then have a soap which would have cell rejuvenating properties and would help to increase the elasticity of the skin - maybe??!! I will give it a go anyway ... </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><strong><u><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></u></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <strong><u>Here is what I have done so far ...</u></strong> <o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p> </o:p>I gathered some young horsetails stems (you can see that they are young as the 'spokes' face upwards, rather than outwards!). I was careful not to pick the plant too close to the edge of the towpath (where little doggies might have visited it!) – I gave it a little wash in some rain water and left it to wilt and dry a little overnight. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p> </o:p>The following day I filled two glass jars (which had been sterilised first) with the whole, broken Horsetail and then filled them to the very top with some Olive Oil. I also placed a bit of cling film on top of the jar to ensure it is air-tight. I left leave this in the sunshine for a couple of weeks, shaking it occasionally. Some people keep the jars in a dark place, but I really like the idea of the sun infusing its goodness into the oil!</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVWo43k4ttHvQgtpsFj5QcMSVgJEiVUvOOUqz763rlnceb5NK8_crT-8Y4vI4NLf0Y2QNFmyITJHD8u1byrNyBd_5Dt0VtlGwBZxDZji-8R8EEeSCdA0Av2gdCw6y65TesvkPg1wx9Ts/s1600/P1050502.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVWo43k4ttHvQgtpsFj5QcMSVgJEiVUvOOUqz763rlnceb5NK8_crT-8Y4vI4NLf0Y2QNFmyITJHD8u1byrNyBd_5Dt0VtlGwBZxDZji-8R8EEeSCdA0Av2gdCw6y65TesvkPg1wx9Ts/s400/P1050502.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oils infusing ... from left to right - Horsetail, Comfrey and Calendula</span></td></tr>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see, I have also been infusing some Comfrey and Calendula - but more on those soon !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This method of creating and infusion is a ‘cold method’ – which I prefer as I feel that ‘things change’ once heat is added to the equation – however, either is effective in extracting the active, fat-soluble ingredients found in herbs and plants. After two weeks, I strained the oil through a muslin cloth and stored it in a dark bottle in a cool area. (In Sydney I kept most of my oils in the fridge - because it was hard to find really cool areas - here in the UK I don't struggle so much !)</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p>Just as a note, if you wanted to do this more quickly, you could employ the </o:p>‘hot method’, whereby you would need a double boiler (or a pyrex glass bowl inside a saucepan with a layer of water in the bottom of it)..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place 250 gm of dried herbs / plants or 500 g of fresh plus 2 cups of olive oil into the double boiler and heat <strong>really slowly and gently</strong> for 2 hours, occasionally stirring gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this is done you let the herbs cool and strain the oil through a cheesecloth or muslin cloth and store as above. </span></i></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The uses for the finished product - ie, the infused oil are numerous, including massage oil, hair oil / treatments or can be used in making lotions, salves, creams or soap. I used my infused oil in some soap that I made up ...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I get onto the soap, I thought I would include here a little recipe for an easy 'healing salve' - which could include this infused oil ... I have made lots of variations of this in the past - </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><o:p><strong><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Healing Salve - may help fingernails / cuticles / unhealing skin problems ... </span></u></strong></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">120 mL infused oil - or maybe a combination of oils - depending on your preferences</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14 g beeswax (if you don't have a supplier, you could even grate some beeswax candles and use that!) </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You gently heat the infused oil and beeswax in a double boiler (as above) until the beeswax is thoroughly melted. If you would like to add a preservative you could add 20 drops of Vit E oil to the mix. </span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allow it to cool for 3 - 5 mins and then you could add in some essential oils if you wished - to keep things simple, I would just add 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (not Fragrance oil) to the mix. Pour the oil into a dark glass jar, cover with some cling film and allow to cool completely until putting on a lid. This would be an excellent ointment to help nail / skin health in general and may also be used for dog's skin and paws.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To preserve it, you can keep it in the fridge until ready to use.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One more easy, topical use for Horsetail is to make a compress - this can help to relieve rheumatic pain and chilblains and heal cuts and wounds ...</span></u></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take 50 g of the plant and steep it in 1 litre (2 pints) of hot water for about an hour, stirring occasionally. When the water is tepid pour the water onto a pad of cotton wool and bandage it in place. Keep it in place for as long as it is needed (but not longer than overnight !)</span></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway - I digress ! With the infused oil that I made up, I made up a batch of soap ...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ItxQYpuvB2JFrbTtp3lk8vL81W8wzQGafQxen6KhYXLMwicmzm7ZR9Z08mjS5Wcce5DcN_OHh1A97cj9Lmcd4_0a5_wUegeGk6OhSAPTm8BulSCFRcxlukDVZAD60S6HvbffECP2RE8/s1600/DSC_0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ItxQYpuvB2JFrbTtp3lk8vL81W8wzQGafQxen6KhYXLMwicmzm7ZR9Z08mjS5Wcce5DcN_OHh1A97cj9Lmcd4_0a5_wUegeGk6OhSAPTm8BulSCFRcxlukDVZAD60S6HvbffECP2RE8/s320/DSC_0026.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When making soap I used the 'cold process' method - there are loads of websites you can visit to discover more about this. I also included a Comfrey infused oil that I had prepared at the same time as the Horsetail (more on Comfrey in a future blog entry!) - with the extra soothing properties of Goat’s Milk and Oats</span> </b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Because I make the soap with Lye, it is required to sit and 'cure' for a minimum of 6 weeks before use - I made this batch on 10 August, so still have a wee while before I can use it ! It is looking good though !</b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><b>If you see me along the canals, (on our Narrowboat 'Caxton") give me a hoy and I will give you a chunk - to be used only after mid September !<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I first noticed the Horsetail growing back in July - at that time we were travelling around Wales and thereabouts (in our Narrowboat); at the time of writing we are down Oxford way and there is not a bit to be seen - darn - should've grabbed more and dried it ! Ah well - lesson learnt !</span> </b></span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></span></a></div>Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-55724290617260637862012-07-16T18:07:00.000+01:002012-07-16T18:07:56.851+01:00Procrastination - the thief of time !!Hello ! It seems that this blog entry is somewhat overdue - hence my title - 'Procrastination ...' - it is indeed the thief of time ! I have spent way too long thinking of what sort of presentation I wanted for my little blog and what theme of things of wanted to include - instead of just blogging about all the wonderful things I wanted to share ! So - it seems this blog will just be whatever it becomes !!<br />
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I have really enjoyed being in the countryside this summer - even though the weather has been somewhat inclement! My husband and I what is called 'continuous cruisers' in the narrowboat world - meaning that we are - well - continuously cruising the canals of the UK! I get to walk the countryside towpaths every day with my dogs - and get to see all the wonderful wildflowers that are appearing - different ones day by day ! I have lived in Australia for the past 18 years, where I studied Herbal Medicine - that is, Western Herbal Medicine. My teacher, Dorothy Hall, had the theory that Western herbs should be used for Western peoples, Chinese herbs for Asian peoples and Indian herbs for Indian (and thereabouts) peoples etc. - as she postulated that these were the local herbs which support these individual's societies and nourish the people of those lands and cultures.<br />
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Anyway - what I am getting at is a sad confession ! I have lived near the City of Sydney for the past 18 or so years - and didn't get into the 'bush' too often (nor the Botanic Gardens !) - so very rarely got to see the raw product of the Herbal Tinctures and Extracts I was using in my practice - that is to say that - apart from pictures in books, I rarely saw the original plants ! Shame on me !<br />
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So - with my new 'career' of narrowboater / lock-keeper extraordinaire / tow-path wanderer, I have had a renewed connection with my beloved herbs and wildflowers and will add a few articles in here on what I have been doing with my new 'friends'!<br />
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Today I saw a lovely big batch of Horsetail, so that will be the subject of my next blog entry !!<br />
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See you there :)Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-36001387253747280512012-01-27T00:12:00.001+00:002012-07-16T16:59:14.453+01:00<div class="tr_bq"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>I havn't been to my little blog for ages ... been too busy with trying to sell our house ! Anyway - here I am now for a little ramble !<u>!</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Poor me syndrome …</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is taken from my last Newsletter in December 2011, where I was commenting on all the disasters – natural and otherwise of last year – and how last year was also just a ‘strange’ year for many people – full of surprises … </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><blockquote>"Talking of ups and downs … when things don’t go to plan or life gets frustrating – or just plain go wrong, it is so easy to fall into a slump of self-pity. But at times like that I’ve found the best trick is to become ‘the observer’ of your thoughts, eg, when you catch yourself thinking ‘oh poor me’ or variations thereof, observe that thought and turn it around – make yourself think instead of all the good things you have in your life and things that you are grateful for.<br />
<o:p> </o:p>In the film ‘The Secret’ one of the presenters had a ‘Gratitude Stone’ in his pocket – and whenever he felt the stone in his pocket, or saw it when he turned his pockets out, he used it as a trigger to remember all the things he was grateful for in his life. Great idea !<br />
<o:p> </o:p>By focusing on the things that we are grateful for on a regular basis, it is said that we then attract more things to be grateful for. So – adopting an ‘ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE’ also brings your focus back to the present moment in your life and the more you are able to live in the present moment, the greater you can build on your foundation for a brilliant future.<br />
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Of course, terrible things happen – it’s a fact! But, whether we have an attitude of a ‘glass half full or glass half empty’ is all our choice !<br />
<o:p> </o:p>I actually found myself in a horrid ‘poor me’ head space the other day and then I read my ‘stars’ which reminded me of all the above … I will copy them here because these are indeed words of wisdom …<br />
<o:p> </o:p><i>“<b><u>Aquarius</u></b> …<o:p> </o:p>Every moment in life brings a choice. A bad experience is only ever one negative thought away. A state of joy and delight is equally near at all times. It is a bit like walking on a high wire. If you slip, you can fall a long way. But if you just keep putting one happy thought in front of another, you can travel safely to your destination. The question this weekend is not, is your outlook good or bad? The question is simply, what are you going to make of it? No matter what you think or fear, that choice is yours and yours alone.”</i><br />
<o:p><br />
</o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Jonathan Cainer</div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://www.cainer.com/"></a><a href="http://www.cainer.com/">http://www.cainer.com/</a></div></blockquote><blockquote>Pretty powerful stuff eh? That certainly jolted me out of it and back into gratitude mode – I have so much to be grateful for … here are just a few examples–<br />
<o:p> </o:p>I am grateful I …<br />
<o:p><br />
</o:p><br />
<ul><li>have had the opportunity to live in this beautiful country (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>)</li>
<li> </li>
<li>have beautiful, caring friends and family</li>
<li> </li>
<li>have a lovely, safe house and environment to live in (have a roof over my head !)</li>
<li> </li>
<li>have good health and an amazing health care system</li>
<li> </li>
<li>am able to earn money doing what I love (and have wonderful clients)</li>
<li> </li>
<li>have running water, electricity and gas – sounds funny – but so many people don’t in this world !</li>
<li> </li>
<li>am able to give my (rescued) animals a wonderful life</li>
</ul> etc. etc. – so you see, it is easy and the list is never ending once you get going – and it really makes you feel GOOD !!<br />
<o:p> </o:p>Many of the things we should be thankful for often get forgotten because we are so used to them and it is often only when we lose them that we remember how fortunate<br />
we were.<br />
<o:p> </o:p>So - don’t wait until something’s gone before you are grateful – your sight, your health, your family – always remember to take some time to appreciate these wonderful things …<br />
<o:p> </o:p>I remember when I was younger I used to have a ‘thing’ about my nose and used to whinge about it whenever possible until one day one of my friends turned around and said to me ‘you know, you are lucky you have a nose’ - from that day, I never whinged about it and became grateful for my fully functioning nose!! Simple, but effective – and I have never forgotten her words!<br />
<o:p> </o:p><b><u>Good or Bad ?</u></b></blockquote><blockquote>So often I hear people getting upset about trivial things and often the old saying comes to mind …’don’t sweat the small stuff .. it’s all small stuff !’ As an example, say you were making plans for a celebratory event and plans were going a bit askew. Instead of getting all worked up / cranky and ‘poor me’-ish about it, a better course of action would be to realise that we are actually so blessed to be able to have – and be able to afford – such an event and to make the most of what we do have! To be able to celebrate with friends and family – with no restrictions is a valuable gift!<br />
<br />
Just bringing your thinking back to the fact that we are so lucky for what we do have and blessed to be able to do what we are doing, puts you in a much better frame of mind !<br />
<br />
Situations are rarely ‘all good’ or ‘all bad.’ These are, to a large extent, labels we put on situations whereas, in reality, it is our response to the situations that determines what kind of experience it is. Even in the most apparently awful situation, we can derive some benefit if we can adopt the right mindset. <br />
<o:p> </o:p>I think most people would agree that growth and development usually involves some degree of pain, and so challenging situations are opportunities for such growth.<br />
<o:p> </o:p>I remember a few years ago, I had a cancer scare (that turned out to be a false alarm) but I went through a lot to get to that outcome. At the time, I think only twice did I fall into self pity mode, but decided to use the experience as an opportunity. <br />
<o:p> </o:p>I wasn’t working for a while, so I had to opportunity to really meditate on the situation I had found myself in and do a lot of ‘soul searching’ that I otherwise probably wouldn’t have done! I also found that having gone through invasive tests and surgery that I had an opportunity to (partially) understand what cancer patients have to go through (and also how I could maybe help such patients afterwards!) – having that first hand knowledge and experience was invaluable ! I remember being actually surprised that some people felt that I should be angry or upset at the situation I found myself in !<br />
<o:p> </o:p><b><u>A Gratitude Journal …</u></b><br />
This is something that many people keep and something very tangible that you can do to ensure that gratitude is a conscious and regular part of your day or week. Once you start writing, it becomes clear that we really do have a lot going for us ! So – at the end of the day, why not take ten minutes to list a few of the good things that happened during the day .. or things that gave you an opportunity to grow or to learn !<br />
<o:p> </o:p>… you will end up with a beautiful record of things you are grateful for which it will be very helpful to read in times of stress or unhappiness.<br />
<o:p> </o:p>If you need some proof of this ‘gratitude stuff ‘ – here it is …<br />
<br />
The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Miami</st1:placename></st1:place>* undertook a Research Project on people who practiced some form of conscious gratitude – they found that the people …<br />
<ul><li>“exercised more regularly, were healthier, slept better and felt more optimistic …</li>
<li>made more progress towards personal goals</li>
<li>were more alert, enthusiastic and could handle stress more effectively”</li>
<li>Of course, some people are naturally more optimistic and positive than others, and it may be that to an extent, our genes determine happiness. However, even the most pessimistic of souls can develop a more optimistic and happier mindset with gentle and persistent practice !</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/labs/emmons/PWT/index.cfm">http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/labs/emmons/PWT/index.cfm</a></div><o:p> </o:p>When I was on a plane earlier in the year, I watched a brilliant show (from the ABC) about the topic of gaining happiness – I was so sad (!) when the plane landed and I hadn’t watched the whole programme – but if you get a chance to see it, I would highly recommend it ! I found a link to the website, which is here …<br />
<o:p><br />
</o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/theshow.php">http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/theshow.php</a></div></blockquote> .. and here is a summary of what it is about …<br />
<blockquote><b><u> “Eight volunteers. Three experts. Eight weeks. One vision.</u></b><br />
<ul><li>For the first time ever in Making Australia Happy, the latest and most fascinating research from the science of happiness has been compiled, consolidated and taken for a test drive on the suburban streets of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:city>. Three of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region>’s leading experts have been set the challenge: take eight people from <a href="http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/news.php?newsid=1">Australia's unhappiest area</a> and give them the tools to become happier”.</li>
</ul><o:p><br />
</o:p><br />
<ul><li>You might also like to follow this link for some helpful tools in the quest for happiness !</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/positivepsychology.php"></a><a href="http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/positivepsychology.php">http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/positivepsychology.php</a></div></blockquote><blockquote><a href="http://makingaustraliahappy.abc.net.au/positivepsychology.php"></a><o:p> </o:p>Well – that’s it for my bit on happiness and gratitude but I will say that – as with all things - success requires persistence. A little bit of gratitude every day can, over time, make a big difference to our level of happiness and well being why not give it a go<br />
… right now ! <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></blockquote>Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-80143932176901017772011-08-19T08:47:00.000+01:002014-11-10T11:41:45.157+00:00The Gut and the Immune System (and Castor Oil Packs !)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">When most people think of their immune system the last thing that comes to mind is the gut ! However, about 70% of the body's immune system is found in the digestive tract!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our large intestines are inhabited by bacteria often referred to as probiotics (pro=encouraging, biotic=life). These bacteria composed primarily of acidophilus and bifidobacterium species are introduced to our system during the birth process and play a crucial role in our health. Without probiotics, humans would be extremely vulnerable to food borne illnesses, be deficient in key nutrients and vitamins, and have a much weaker immune system in general.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lifestyle factors play a significant role in determining how friendly our large intestines are to hosting these important bacteria. Eating a diet high in sugar, fat and processed foods prevents them from growing and thriving. Consumption of fibre from fruits, vegetables and whole grains along with lean proteins like fish, chicken and turkey helps to create an environment that promotes the growth of probiotics. In addition, the frequent use of antibiotics can greatly disturb the probiotic flora in the gut.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Although antibiotics are intended to kill only the bad bacteria, they also affect the good ones.<span> </span>This is why many people experience diarrhoea and yeast infections when they take antibiotics. As the good probiotic bacteria are killed, bad (pathogenic) organisms like yeast are able to get a foot hold in the system. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Frequent or long term antibiotic use can dramatically alter the gut flora and can be a significant contributing factor to other long term health problems related to immune dysfunction and intestinal conditions.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u>Protecting the System:</u></div><div class="MsoNormal">Probiotic bacteria are unique in that they do not cause infection and actually help to prevent infection from other aggressive micro-organisms related to food borne illnesses like salmonella and bacteria associated with traveller’s diarrhoea. When healthy populations of probiotics are present in the large intestine, other bacteria that can potentially make us ill are crowded out, preventing them from causing a major infection. Without them we would be extremely susceptible to food borne infect</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>GALT</u></b><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">GALT stands for Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue.<span> </span>The GALT is a vast network of <span> </span>several types of lymphoid tissue in the gut that store immune cells, that carry out attacks and defend against pathogens.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Probiotics in our gut are constantly interfacing with the GALT and essentially priming the immune system for contact with other bacteria. They serve as a way for the body to learn how to respond to bacteria without actually having to suffer an infection. This becomes particularly important in young children whose immune system is in constant state of development until about age 7. <br />
<br />
Foods like yoghurt are made by using these probiotics (acidophilus and bifidobacterium species) to culture the dairy product. Some residual live organisms are left in the final product and these can help to support healthy bacterial levels in the gut. However, most shop bought dairy products do not contain any live organisms by the time the product hits the shelves. For this reason, taking a high quality probiotic supplement is the best way to guarantee maximum health benefits.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><b>Castor oil packs and the immune system </b></u><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">One area of the GALT lymphoid tissue referred to above are named ‘Peyer's patches’, which are<span> </span>aggregations of lymphoid tissue that are usually found in the lowest portion of the small intestine. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Castor oil ?<span> </span>Isn’t that what they used to give to kids for constipation?<span> </span>Well, yes – they did – but these days it can help us and our immune systems via topical application !<span> </span>Castor oil contains a substance called <span> </span>ricinoleic acid and it is this responsible for castor oil's remarkable healing abilities.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ricinoleic acid has been shown to be effective in preventing the growth of numerous species of viruses, bacteria, yeasts and moulds. <span> </span>Castor oil application has been used to successfully treat such things as ringworm, keratoses, skin inflammation, abrasions, fungal-infected finger- and toenails, acne and chronic pruritus (itching). Generally, for these conditions the area involved is simply wrapped in cloth soaked with castor oil each night, or if the area is small enough, a castor oil soaked Band-Aid can be used. (For persistent infections and those finger- and toenails that have discoloured and hardened, a good 10 to 20 minute soak in Epsom salts, prior to applying the castor oil, usually speeds up the healing process.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><br />
</u></b> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">I was first introduced to the concept of castor oil packs about 15 years ago, and I have found these fascinating and useful ever since then !<span> </span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">The theory behind the castor oil packs (and I will explain how to do them down the track .. ) is that the castor oil is absorbed into the body and helps to improve the function of the thymus gland and other areas of the immune system – in particular the Peyer’s patches.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In studies it has been found that patients using abdominal castor oil packs had significant increases in the production of lymphocytes* compared to increases among those using placebo packs.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">*Lymphocytes are the disease-fighting cells of your immune system. They are produced and housed mainly in your lymphatic tissue. This includes the thymus gland, the spleen, the lymph nodes and the lymphatic tissue that lines the small intestine (Peyer's patches) <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Castor Oil Packs – how to !</u></b><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">These are one of the most useful methods of using castor oil. Packs are an economical and efficient method of absorbing the ricinoleic acid and other healing components of castor oil directly into body tissues. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To make a castor oil pack you will need the following items: cold pressed castor oil, a heating pack of some description, some plastic or some cling wrap, a flannel and a couple of small towels.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Start by placing your flannel (wash cloth) on top of the piece of plastic or cling wrap (this should be big enough to cover the abdomen) or area being treated.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Apply a good layer of castor oil onto the flannel (about half a cup should do).</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This pack can now be placed against the body with the oil-soaked flannel on the skin. <span> </span>Then apply the heating pack on top of the pack and cover with a big towel to hold it all in place and prevent any spillage onto furnishings !</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For general conditions the pack should be placed on the abdomen. (For treating lower back problems, the pack can be placed there.) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The pack should remain in place for at least half to one hour and the temperature of the heating pack should be kept high. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you remove the pack, the remaining oil can either be massaged into the skin or cleaned off using a little soda water made from 1 quart of warm water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The flannel can be reused if stored properly after removing the pack. Put the flannel in either a plastic bag or air tight container and place it in the refrigerator. Before using it next time let it warm up and always add another 1 or 2 tablespoons of fresh cold pressed castor oil. (After a month of use I would recommend using new flannel.)<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Apart from assisting the immune system, castor oil packs may also</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">- be applied to an area of inflammation or pain, such as in swollen joints, arthritis, bursitis and muscle strains; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">- it may also be applied to the right side of the abdomen to stimulate the liver or used as part of a detox programme; </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">- be applied abdomen to relieve constipation and other digestive disorders; </div><div class="MsoNormal"> <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">- be applied to the lower abdomen in cases of menstrual irregularities and uterine and ovarian cysts;<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">- it may also help to loosen adhesions and scarring after surgery.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><b>Buying Castor Oil</b></u><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></div><div class="MsoNormal">Any oil that enters your body either orally or through the skin should be of the highest quality. Castor oil is no different. Always ensure that you buy<span> </span>cold-pressed castor oil for these purposes. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To be effective, a castor oil pack must be used at least 3 times a week, although 5 times a week is better. In cases of long-term chronic pain, it works best to commit to a 6 week treatment period using a castor oil pack 5 times per week, then as needed for episodes of pain. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Who would have thought this little plant could do so much ?!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><br />
Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-86979145776549232252011-05-11T08:45:00.000+01:002012-07-16T17:00:33.365+01:00Cheesy Herb Damper<div class="module recipe-ingredients" style="color: #666354; font-family: 'Trebuchet Ms', Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="module-header" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h2 class="ingredients" style="color: #6fb163; display: block; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">I made some pumpkin soup the other night and realised I didnt have any bread in to go with it .. so I dug out this recipe for good ol Aussie Damper ... it was pretty tasty if I say so myself !!!</h2><h2 class="ingredients" style="color: #6fb163; display: block; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</h2><h2 class="ingredients" style="color: #6fb163; display: block; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ingredients (serves 6)</h2></div><div class="module-content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="font-size: 13px;">1 cup (160g) wholemeal self-raising flour</li>
<li style="font-size: 13px;">1 cup (150g) white self-raising flour</li>
<li style="font-size: 13px;">60g unsalted butter, softened</li>
<li style="font-size: 13px;">1/2 cup (40g) grated tasty cheese</li>
<li style="font-size: 13px;">1/4 cup chopped oregano leaves</li>
<li style="font-size: 13px;">3/4 cup (185ml) milk, plus extra to glaze</li>
<li style="font-size: 13px;">1 tbs grated parmesan</li>
</ul></div><div class="module-footer remove" id="addToShoppingList" style="margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 8px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="module recipe-method" style="color: #666354; font-family: 'Trebuchet Ms', Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="module-header" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h2 class="method" style="color: #6fb163; display: block; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 25px !important; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Method</h2></div><div class="module-content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ol id="method" style="list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 10px;"><div style="display: inline; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Preheat the oven to 180°C.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 10px;"><div style="display: inline; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sift the flours into a large bowl (adding in any flakes from wholemeal flour) with 1 teaspoon of salt. Rub in butter until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs, then stir in tasty cheese and oregano.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 10px;"><div style="display: inline; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In a separate bowl, combine milk with 1/4 cup (60ml) water. Make a well in the centre of flour and stir in three-quarters of the milk mixture. Add remaining liquid a little at a time until mixture just comes together. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently for 1 minute.</div></li>
<li style="font-size: 13px; list-style-position: inside; list-style-type: decimal; margin-bottom: 10px;">Shape into a round loaf and place on a greased baking tray. Brush top with milk and sprinkle with parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Serve warm</li>
</ol></div></div><div class="module recipe-notes" style="color: #666354; font-family: 'Trebuchet Ms', Verdana, Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="module-content" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul class="notes" style="list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></li>
<li class="print-hide" style="font-size: 13px;"></li>
</ul></div></div>Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-32923276215237716992011-04-25T08:58:00.000+01:002012-07-16T17:02:08.192+01:00Yummy (and Healthy) Brekky barsThis is one of my well-used recipes and, having just baked another 'loaf', I thought I would share it on my blog here ...<br />
<br />
Makes - 18 pieces<br />
<b><u>Ingredients</u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">3/4 cup self-raising flour</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 cup shredded coconut</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/2 cup sunflower seeds</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/3 cup sultanas</div><div class="MsoNormal">1/3 cup chopped dried apricots</div><div class="MsoNormal">3/4 cup low-fat milk</div><div class="MsoNormal">1 egg</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Method</u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal">Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 3cm-deep, 17cm x 27cm (base) slice pan. Line with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang at long ends.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Combine flour, coconut, sugar, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sultanas and apricot in a bowl. Whisk milk and egg together in a jug. Add to flour mixture. Mix to combine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Smooth top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until firm. Stand slice in pan for 15 minutes. Turn out on to a wire rack to cool completely. Cut into 18 pieces ... enjoy ! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Today I didn't have any seeds, so used some ground up almonds and brazil nuts that I had. I also used half the amount of sugar and used a 'dollop' (technical term) of Manuka honey. I also added in a dollop of LSA (Linseed, Sunflower and Almond meal) and some Lecithin - just for good measure. Also - instead of sultanas - I used 'Craisins' - which are the cranberries. It takes pretty good to me .. just shows you can modify it with whatever you do have !</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1235051841055143324.post-40245116949519086112011-04-23T08:16:00.002+01:002012-07-16T17:03:21.206+01:00Hello !<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Well, here I go with my 'Natural Health Musings' - recipes / hints / helps etc.! I hope you enjoy this blog and if I can help you with anything, please let me know! My contact details can be found on my regular website at <span id="goog_40187004"></span><a href="http://www.holistica.com.au/">www.holistica.com.au</a> <span id="goog_40187005"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">As a bit of background, I am Naturopathic Herbalist (Dorothy Hall Graduate), Aromatherapist, Massage Therapist, Bowen Therapist, Dorn Therapist, Reflexologist and Reiki Master. My business is called 'Holistica Natural Therapies' and I currently practice in Sydney, Australia. My hope is that I will still be able to 'do a bit' when we eventually get cruising on our Narrowboat in the UK (hopefully in March next year! See our blog <a href="http://nbthemanlyferry.blogspot.com/">NB the Manly Ferry </a>for more info. on that !) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">To kick off, I would like to give you the following recipe, which is a herbal drink to help kick colds / respiratory conditions etc ... It is also really soothing to a bad throat in a hot/cold/smelly kind of way !</span><br />
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<div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Ingredients: </span></div><ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOgGfg3p_NdH_RtMUBEEuxG86OoM9ufnPGb7rGyyRSvMuXRLidE41mmxxG9FAH6srynkZAWDbBpzj51dXukBXo_k9t7Vn_k5Xt3cg3g4qmNpUl-OW0kQply7e_62fYmJl83LIaO84L3A/s1600/hot+toddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOgGfg3p_NdH_RtMUBEEuxG86OoM9ufnPGb7rGyyRSvMuXRLidE41mmxxG9FAH6srynkZAWDbBpzj51dXukBXo_k9t7Vn_k5Xt3cg3g4qmNpUl-OW0kQply7e_62fYmJl83LIaO84L3A/s200/hot+toddy.jpg" width="151" /></a>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="EC_031334709-14012008">One (or two, depending how brave you are!) small cloves garlic crushed in garlic press</span> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="EC_031334709-14012008">Juice of a lemon plus some of the rind shredded / grated too </span> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="EC_031334709-14012008">Half tsp ground powdered ginger</span> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="EC_031334709-14012008">Pinch of cayenne pepper</span> </span></li>
<li><span class="EC_031334709-14012008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Tablespoon of honey (preferably Manuka honey for the beneficial antibacterial effects)</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">as an optional ingredient, you could add a dash of Whisky / Brandy - to make it into more of a 'hot toddy' type drink ! </span></li>
</ul><div></div><div><span class="EC_031334709-14012008"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Mix together and add to a small cupful of water, just off the boil. </span></span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Drink the whole lot down ... the solids and the liquids if at all possible - as it is bearably cool and 10 - 20 mins before bed. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">This blend will probably make you sweat a bit - the heat and the lemon, garlic, ginger, cayenne will all produce excretory action through every channel possible ... lungs, nose, skin and ?? bowel and bladder as well !! (If you do happen to have loose bowels the morning after drinking this, it just means that your body has fought hard all night and has removed a large proportion of toxic, yukky (technical term) stuff from your system ! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">This will probably be more useful for my Aussie friends at the moment as we are just coming into winter ! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Today is the Saturday of the Easter weekend - and it has barely stopped raining all day ! Winter is looming for us - but I had better start getting used to it if we are to battle a few winters in the UK soon !!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">See you again soon !</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Elaine x</span></div>Paul and Elhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02258665852848373291noreply@blogger.com0