Snow is swirling around outside, covering the ground and gardens with a new and beautiful clean, white coating, covering the grays and browns that take over after the gardens have vanished and the trees have shed their leaves. It is this time of year when gardening catalogs begin to show up in mailboxes, and when plans are made for the spring garden season.
For some, Spring may be a time building that dream home on a plot of land that you have purchased. With the economy as it is, Home Plans don’t have to be something that is out of the question, especially when you can sit in the comfort of your home, without a hired contractor, and review plans online at houseplansandmore.com. I was simply amazed at the selection available, every design you can imagine, and more…everything from log homes (I’m a little partial to those as we live in one), bungalows, ranch houses, victorian homes, cottages, Contemporary house plans and even plans as nice as French Country House Plans.
While you are planning the location of your dream home, consider the layout of the land and where you will place your gardens. I will be doing some posts to inspire you as you dream of warmer days ahead.
Oh, and you readers in warmer climates…as tempting as warm weather sounds at times, I’d really miss our beautiful snow! I’m off for a walk in the snow before it gets too cold, we’re headed for the teens and below this New Year’s Eve….Happy New Year to all!
Herbs and Christmas come together when I think about the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus according to the biblical accounts of Christ’s birth. Two were herbal, and one isn’t an herb, but does have medicinal properties.
Frankincense is a resin that is very aromatic, taken from a tree with the botanical name Boswellia carterii. Frankincense has been used since ancient times and is associated with spiritual things and meditation, which may be why the wise men thought it an appropriate gift to give to Jesus and his family. I have Frankincense essential oil on hand.
Myrrh, and is a medicinal herb we have discussed already on this blog, you can find a link to the post in the listing to the upper right of this blog, I list all single herbs alphabetically as they are posted so that they are easy for you to find.
Gold, the final precious gift of the wise men, also has medicinal properties. Here is an article I just found on Gold provided by The Whole Food Farmacy, a wonderful source of medicinal grade Gold in their “Joule” and “Heart of Gold”:
The earliest records of the use of gold for medicinal and healing purposes come from Alexandria, Egypt. Over 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians ingested gold for mental, bodily and spiritual purification. The ancients believed that gold in the body worked by stimulating the life force and raising the level of vibration on all levels.
The Alchemists of Alexandria developed an “elixir” made of liquid gold. They believed that gold was a mystical metal that represented the perfection of matter, and that its presence in the body would enliven, rejuvenate, and cure a multitude of diseases as well as restore youth and perfect health.
As many as 4,500 years ago, the Egyptians used gold in dentistry. Remarkable examples of its early use have been found by modern archaeologists. Still in favor today as an ideal material for dental work, approximately 13 tons of gold are used each year for crowns, bridges, inlays and dentures. Gold is ideal for these purposes because it is non-toxic, can be shaped easily, and never wears, corrodes or tarnishes.
Historically, medicinal gold has had a reputation as a “nervine,” a therapy for nervous disorders. A review of the historical literature shows gold in use during the 19th century for conditions including depression, epilepsy, migraine, and glandular problems including amenorrhea and impotence.
The most notable use of gold was in a treatment for alcoholism developed by Leslie E. Keeley, M.D. Gold has been used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases for more than 75 years, but until now, the way that gold worked has remained a mystery.
Harvard Medical researchers report in the February 27th, 2006 issue of Nature Chemical Biology that gold, platinum, and other classes of medicinal metals work by stripping bacteria and virus particles from the grasp of a key immune system protein. “We were searching for a new drug to treat autoimmune diseases,” says Brian DeDecker, PhD, “but instead we discovered a biochemical mechanism that may help explain how an old drug works.”
Once again, modern science has confirmed what the ancients seem to have known all along – that gold is indeed a very precious metal. At The Wholefood Farmacy, we are proud to offer two exclusive products which offer an easy and delicious way to bring this ancient wisdom into your life today, “Joule” & “Heart of Gold”.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and offer my best wishes for the coming New Year.
If you would like a fact sheet about any of the items marked in red, please send me an email. Thanks!
I have used Jojoba in my hair, it is an oil that is pressed from the seeds of the Jojoba plant, also called “Joshua Tree”. This woody, bushy evergreen plant grows in semi-dry climates, such as southern Arizona, southern California, and in parts of Mexico. It is cultivated because of it’s use by the cosmetic industry in both cosmetics and hair care products. Native American Indians used the oil for skin wounds and to soothe the throat many years ago.
In my case, I purchased a small bottle of pure Jojoba oil, and massaged it into the scalp. This can be done before bedtime, covered with a cap to protect bedding, and then wash out in the morning. Depending upon the kind of hair you have, or the way you style it, you may want to put it in your hair after washing during the day, using the oil for styling.
Jojoba is said to cleanse and nourish the hair follicles, which is wonderful for everyone, but may be especially beneficial to those who have trouble with hair growth.
Herbs and Christmas come together when I think about the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus according to the biblical accounts of Christ’s birth. Two were herbal, and one isn’t an herb, but does have medicinal properties.
