Still in Shock

I am still in shock over it all. I still can't believe that a so called "garden expert" with "25 years experience", and a college degree would think that using poison on the earth is an okay thing to do. Paul Parent Garden Club, is sponsored by Scotts. We all know that Scott's is owned by Monsanto. In my opinion, anyone with half a brain, would not accept sponsorship from Monsanto.
Now, I may not have a college degree in "gardening", but I do have a life time of experience in growing organic food. One does not need a degree in anything to know that what you put on the plant, will eventually end up in your mouth. It still amazes me that the Paul Parent Garden Club, and his "college degrees" can't figure this out on his own.
Sad isn't it.

Healing Powers of Herbs

Herbs have been used for centuries to heal.
We here at Cloverleaf Farm enjoy teaching people the power of healing naturally through herbs. We hold several classes throughout the year that help people use herbs to heal everything from Healing Anxiety Naturally to Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally .

The classes are fun and taught in small groups. Each student learns how to take control of their health using the healing powers of herbs. In each class, the student learns to make an herbal remedy using organic herbs, and how to use it at home.
The next round of classes is starting in June. Please check Cloverleaf Farm Herbal Center for a list of classes and the dates.

Take control of your health using the wonderful healing powers of herbs.

The Essential Herbal...Chamomile

Once again we will get back to the essential herbal ingredients in a natural herbal healing first aid kit. In all natural first aid kits, there are the essential herbal items. With just a few essential herbs you can heal naturally just about any illness. This is the third in the series. In this article we will discuss Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita).

Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita)

While most people think of Chamomile as a relaxing tea, Chamomile has been used for digestive issues since the 1st Century. It is gentle, and effective and a great herb for kids.
Chamomile grows all around the world. It is sown by seed in spring. The flower heads will be ready to be picked in summer.
Chamomile is a herbal relaxant. It can help calm frazzled nerves. Chamomile also works as an antispasmodic. Drinking a cup of chamomile tea when you have an upset stomach, can calm and soothe in a short time. It makes a wonderful tea for a child with an upset belly.
Chamomile, is also very useful on the outside of our bodies. An infusion of chamomile can be applied to the skin t help heal dry itchy skin. You can also add an infusion to your bath. Using an infusion of Chamomile to make a herbal skin cream would be of great benefit to your skin. It would get the benefits of both the Chamomile, and the oils and butters used to make the cream.
Chamomile also has anti-inflammatory properties which is beneficial both internally as a tea for stomach and digestive complaints, but also topically as an oil, ointment or cream.

The fresh plant of Chamomile can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. You should not use Chamomile if you are allergic to the daisy family of plants.

Healing Naturally...Herbs for Systemic Yeast

I still remember the day I went into to talk to my doctor about systemic yeast.
Out of 85 symptoms for systemic yeast, I had 62. He sat down and told me that there was no such condition. He began to explain that there was yeast everywhere. I sighed. I knew better. Most doctors do not admit to there being such a condition as systemic yeast. It is few and far between when you can actually get an allopathic doctor to admit to such a condition.

Yes, I know there is yeast everywhere. Yeast is not always a bad thing. You need yeast in your body, but it is when it grows out of control that is the problem. It can cause a wide variety of symptoms. Fatigue, body aches, itchy ears, itchy eyes, joint pain, neck pain, back pain and more. For a complete list please click here.
Now, if you have any of the symptoms listed, and want to try a natural way of ridding the body of yeast there are ways you can do it.

To follow a Candida diet, you have to change what you eat. Yeast feeds on sugar. You have to eliminate sugar from your diet. To follow a Candida diet, you also need to avoid yeast containing food such as beer, wine, breads, vinegar or foods containing vinegar such as mayonnaise, peanuts and pickles. You will have to avoid mold containing food such as tempeh, soy sauce or mushroom.
For a complete list click here.
Secondly, would be to add beneficial supplements to your diet, such as probiotics. Probiotics boost the population of beneficial bacteria and friendly yeast in the digestive tract. Eating yogurt can help, or you can buy lactobacillus or acidophilus capsules. Vitamins and minerals can be important for essential healing. Vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients are often lacking in people with a systemic yeast condition.
Last, but not least, there are antifungal herbs to support your fight against systemic yeast. Natural antifungal and antimicrobial herbs include Oregon grape, Goldenseal, Calendula, Thyme, Oregano and others.
I knew I had t do something to feel better, so I formulated a tea that has worked really well for me. It has helped keep my yeast at bay. If you would like to order some of my special herbal blend of Antifungal Tea please visit cloverleafherbfarm.com. Click on the herbal tea link.

The Essential Herbal...Calendula

In all natural first aid kits, there are the essential herbal items. With just a few essential herbs you can heal naturally just about any illness. There are 16 in all. In this article we will discuss Calendula (Calendula offincalis).

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Calendula is a must have. I can't live without a good supply of organic calendula in my essential herbal supply.
Native to southern Europe, Calendula is now grown worldwide. Mostly as an annual. It's herbal healing actions are wonderful. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, antiseptic, detoxifier, and is also mildly estrogenic. It is also a great herbal wound healer.

Calendula can be used as an oil, ointment, liniment, or cream for use on the skin. It is taken internally as a infusion (tea) or tincture.
Use it on cuts, scrapes, minor burns, and even makes a great herbal sunburn ointment.
Taken internally, it helps the digestive system with inflammatory conditions. It cleanses the liver and gallbladder.

Calendula is a definite essential herbal healer for all parts of the body.

The Essential Herbal...Arnica

In all natural first aid kits, there are the essential herbal items. With just a few essential herbs you can heal naturally just about any illness. There are 12 in all. In this article we will discuss Arnica (Arnica montana)

Arnica(Arnica montana)

Arnica key constituents are sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and volatile oil. Sesquiterpene lactones are are a class of chemicals found in many plants. In 1981, they were studied in Germany, and they were found to act as counterirritants. This means that sesquiterpene lactones produce a stimulating sensation that boosts the circulation to the injured area where the Arnica is applied. Flavonoids give the plant their antioxidant activities. The volatile oil, or essential oil is the aroma of the plant.

Arnica has been extensively used in Europe since the 1700's in folk medicine.
Arnica is an effective herbal healing ointment for bruises, sprains, and muscle pain. It improves the local blood supply and speeds the healing process.

Arnica is used mainly as a ointment, cream, or gel. You can use a tincture as a liniment and rub onto affected area. Arnica should be applied 4-5 x a day for best results.

Arnica should not be taken internally except homeopathic dosages. It can be toxic. Arnica should not be applied to broken skin.
Arnica's key herbal healing actions work as an anti-inflammatory, an anti-swelling agent, and as a mild analgesic (pain reliever).

Healing Naturally...Natural Household Cleaners

Everyone wants a clean house ,but who wants to inhale all those fumes from chemical cleaners. They are toxic and can wreak havoc on your health.
You can use natural cleaners to be both safe and effective in cleaning all surfaces in your home. They are fun and easy to make, and won't cost you much. This is part one of the series of natural cleaners for the home.

All Purpose Cleaning Spray

Mix liquid castile soap, baking soda with a little water. Add more soap for heavy jobs. Add essential oils of lemon, lavender or pine for extra disinfecting properties.

Window Cleaner

Use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle.

No Streak Glass Cleaner

Mix 1/4 cup white vinegar with 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Stir well. Add 1 quart warm water and stir again.

Scouring Powder

Use baking soda. Put on a sponge and scrub. Add essential oils of lemon for a clean fresh scent.

Non Abrasive Soft Scrub

In a bowl mix 1/4 cup of borax with 1/2 teaspoon lemon essential oil. Add enough castile soap to make a paste. Store in a squeeze bottle.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1.Blend castile soap with baking soda or borax. Pour in toilet and scrub.
2.Sprinkle baking soda into the toilet bowl. Add vinegar and scrub. Clean and deodorizes the bowl.

There are several more, and I will continue them in part 2.

Leap Into Good Health

It's a New Year.
It's a Leap Year.
It's the year you are going to take control.
You resolutions might be to eat healthy, lose weight or maybe stop smoking or be less stressed.

Aromatherapy and herbs can help you achieve your goals.
There is no magic pill to help you stop smoking, but aromatherapy can help reduce the stress that comes along with quitting. Aromatherapy has been used successfully in reducing the anxiety and stress of nicotine cravings. Organic herbal teas will help to cleanse the body of the chemical toxins from the nicotine.

Losing weight will be a boost for your body. Extra weight literally weighs you down. It puts stress on you joints and is not good for the heart. The best way to lose weight is to adopt a healthy eating regimen. Dieting can work, but once you are off the diet, chances are you will regain the weight. Ditch the salt shaker. Instead use organic spices and organic herbal blends in your cooking instead of salt. This will give your food a delicious taste, and you won't even notice the missing salt.

To be less stressed, you have to take the stress out of your life. Too much on you plate? Then take some off and take some time for you. Visit with friends. Bake some low-fat cookies. Take a long hot bath, and relax for 10 minutes. It may sound funny, but a 10 minute bath can reduce a days worth of tension.

Be happy, be healthy in the new year.

Healing Naturally...Using Herbs Wisely

The term herb we use on this site refers to plants used for medicinal purposes.

While using herbs to help treat illness may seem to some like a modern phenomenon, it has been around for over 5000 years. The medicinal benefits of herbs have been used for centuries by many different cultures. Man has always been dependent on herbs. What was a healing herb a hundred years ago is still a healing herb today. Many of the benefits of herbs are not so much based on scientific study but rather on the observations made by herbal healers through the centuries.

Herbs may be natural, but they are still potent medicine, and should be treated with care and respect. Herbs should be treated like other medicines in that it is important to follow the recommended dosages. Most herbs are typically milder than synthetic drugs and have fewer side effects, they are neither completely safe nor poisonous. Some are even dangerous if taken improperly or for extended periods of time. Most problems stem from overuse and misuse. Herbs, when properly used, are safe, gentle and effective.

Traditional doctors and pharmacists may have little training in herbal medicine, if that is the case ask your practitioner for a reference to an alternative practitioner. Practitioners with knowledge of herbs include herbalists, homeopaths, naturopaths, and doctors of Oriental medicine.

Herbs include leaves, bark, berries, roots, gums, seeds, stems and flowers. They can also be found in the form of tablets, capsules, liquid beverages, bark pieces, powders, tinctures, extracts, creams, lotions, salves, and oils.

Before using any herb, it is important that you follow these important guidelines:

1. NEVER self-diagnose. Be sure you have received a diagnosis from a doctor before seeking alternative care. Proper medical care is critical to good health.
2. Work with your doctor. If you are currently on medication, you must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or starting any herbal treatment. Make sure your doctor knows about any herbal supplements you are taking. There could be possible interactions with other treatments you are receiving.
3. If you're pregnant (or trying to get pregnant) or breast-feeding, avoid herbal remedies. Substances in these remedies may pass to your baby.
4. Do not be fooled by the word "natural". Natural does not always mean safe. Herbs are natural substances, but that does not mean that they can be used indiscriminately. They are natures medicine, and should be treated that way. Many perfectly natural plants are highly toxic and poisonous. Before trying any herbal remedy, be sure that you know what it does, how to use it, and the possible side effects. Never exceed the recommended dose.
5. Keep in mind. Many herbs are effective on their own, but some work even better if they are part of a comprehensive treatment plan focusing on diet and lifestyle changes as well