Candles are made by boiling the naturally occurring wax from the berries, and then putting it into whatever candle form one decides to use…simple instructions are found here on eHow.

As for the health benefits, the source that I get medicinal Bayberry from uses the dried bark from the root of the plant. It has been used for a number of body systems, from the reproductive system to the liver and immune system. In contains astringent properties. Even though it has been historically used for the reproductive system, do not use it without consulting with your doctor or health care provider.

I have used it as part of a prepared herbal combination where it works in synergy with other herbs…the particular combination benefit:

• The Immune, Digestive and Respiratory System
• The Lymphatic and Respiratory System (you have more lymphatic fluid in your body than blood)
• As part of a natural, herbal eyewash.

Please contact me by leaving a comment (they are moderated so information requests will remain private) if you would like more information about any of the three combinations listed above.

Image by oakum on Flickr.

The plants are not hard to grow, and there is no excuse for them not being in my garden, so as I sit here with some snow outside and temperatures of 18 degrees, I dream of planting some in my garden when the warm weather comes.

I am so focused on the medicinal properties, especially of Echinacea Purpurea, that it took a visit to coneflowers.com to make me realize that there are many varieties and beautiful colors to these plants. Vibrant oranges, purples, pinks, yellows, reds and a variety of different petal shapes.

Generally the plants are not hard to grow, and though I prefer heirloom plants when possible, the hybrid varieties available are more suited to some gardens, or containers, as heirloom plants tend to get very large. I noticed that there were hybrid Cone Flowers from some of the top growers.

I hope you are enjoying this time of year when we dream and plan our gardens, do you have Cone Flowers in your garden?

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 19^th 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 27^th, 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!

Not only is this a healthy plant, but unlike some nutrient drinks, I hear that it tastes quite good, and is offered with a complete range of vitamins and minerals in the small, daily amount that the people who take this supplement drink. If you want more information, you can find it at the official Monavie Acai Juice website.

What Science Has to Say:

Milk Thistle contains silymarin, a mix of bioflavonoids that have properties that protect the liver. German scientists isolated silymarin in 1968, and it is now one of the most researched and prescribed herbs in European medicine. It also contains high amounts of chromium, fat, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, tin and zinc.

How do the medicinal properties act on the liver? It changes the structure of the outer liver cell membrane, preventing liver toxins and poisons from entering the interior cell. It stimulates protein synthesis in liver cells which generates DNA and RNA, helping to regenerate liver cells, but interestingly, DOES NOT stimulate growth of malignant cells.

Salymarin also inhibits the enzyme lipoxygenase, which forms leukotrienes from oxidized polyunsaturated fats that damage the liver. As an antioxidant, silymarin is at least ten times more powerful than vitamin E. The gluthathione (GSE) content of the liver is increased with salymarin. GSE detoxifies hormones, drug and chemicals. An easy way of saying this, is that it is very helpful in cleansing the liver of environmental toxins.

Studies in Germany find that the herb is highly effective with few side effects. It approves use during lactation and pregnancy as there are properties that promote lactation.

There are several other studies I could share with you, and if you want the references for the studies mentioned, please so email me.  I can send fact sheets about Milk Thistle as well, just ask.

Myrrh is available in essential oil form and is associated with inspiration, strength and endurance, something Jesus Christ needed and inspired during his physical life on earth. Perhaps this was the symbolism behind this gift brought to Jesus by the Wise Men. I use a combination of herbs that is good for the upper respiratory system that contains myrrh, especially when I have a sore throat, as it has an affinity for the throat. I tried using the exact same combination that contained Golden Seal in place of Myrrh, and it did not work nearly as well in my case for an upper respiratory infection that involved the throat.  Though it is good to be very careful with a case of strep throat, it has been known to remedy this as well, but please, don’t use it for this unless you know what you’re doing…and especially in the case of children, take them to your health care provider if you suspect strep.

Please contact me through a comment if you would like fact sheets about any items marked in red…I moderate comments and will not post a personal request if you prefer.

It is also a place that can easily grow mold. So far, at least as far as I know and as far as our health indicates, we don’t have black mold, but I did have a friend who did. She had many mysterious symptoms and after a long time trying to find the cause, testing the air in her home showed high levels of black mold. Her entire family had to move from the home temporarily while a crew came in and did Black Mold Removal, which was quite an ordeal, but with professionals to do the job, she was able to save her home, move back in, and hasn’t suffered from symptoms since!

Click here to learn more about black mold…something that grows…but isn’t very pretty.

Next post, we’ll get back to our pretty plants and herbs

The day came to go home, and when we got to the airport, and went through customs, I was asked if I had any plants or animals, so I showed them the Noni fruit, only to find that I could not take it home with me. How disappointing. So this picture is the next best thing to being able to show you my noni fruit.

If you know much about supplement companies at all, you will know that there is one that is completely devoted to one type of Noni. I am not involved with that company, but do have available to me, and to my clients, Noni, or Morinda citrifolia fruit juce.

The medicinal properties in the juice made from the fruit are said to benefit the Immune, Structural, Nervous, Digestive, Intestinal, and Respiratory system…wow, that is a lot! It contains many phyto-nutrients which nourish the cells, organs and tissues, and antioxidants that battle against free-radical damage. This is beneficial to the skin and joints, and to the body as a whole.

This source of Noni Juice is sold as 2 32 oz. bottles (likely not from the company you may be thinking of) and lasts a long time, as you don’t consume a lot each day.

Please contact me with a comment if you would like a fact sheet about Noni, I moderate posts and will not publish the post if you prefer.

But the Bee is a gardener’s friend, in fact anyone’s friend for more reasons than helping in the perpetuation of plants; look closely at the bee, and you will see a little ball of pollen on the hind leg. Many describe bee pollen as a perfect food because it is said to contain all of the nutrients that are essential to sustain life. Bee pollen has been used nutritionally since over 2000 years B.C.

A common way to collect bee pollen is to have the bees enter their hive through a mesh that will allow them to enter the hive, but through an opening just small enough to knock the little pollen balls off the the hind legs into a collection container.

Bee pollen contains 100 different vitamins, minerals, enzymes, co-enzymes and amino-acids. There is approximately 30% protein, 50+% carbohydrates, up to 2 percent fat, and 3 percent minerals. This can vary a bit depending upon the location of the bees.

I take Bee Pollen on a daily basis.

If you would like a fact sheet about any of the items marked in red, please send me an email. Thanks!

Warning: Approximately .05% of the population are extremely allergic to bee pollen. It is suggested that if you take bee pollen, you start out with very small amounts. I have heard, but cannot verify from personal experience, that people can take tiny amounts of bee pollen and increase gradually to reduce allergy symptons. I would do this with guidance from someone knowledgeable about these things.

Warning: Honey should not be taken by children under the age of one.