A New Perspective...

A few years ago I came across this article and have never forgotten it. It presented itself to me again the other day so I thought I'd share it with everyone. It's my hope that you will see the analogy in it, and that it will give you pause for thought and a new perspective as it does me every time I read it.


Suppose that I, a family doctor, make a house call to see a patient with a pain in the gluteus maximus -- the buttock. In the course of my physical examination I find that the patient is sitting on a tack.

Were I to honor the implicit contract which postulates symptom suppression as the primary objective of my visit, I might administer a quarter grain of morphine, write a prescription for codeine pills, and leave instructions to call me in the morning. The morning report might be something like, "As long as I take the pills, it doesn't hurt, Doc."

In a few days, the pain medicine loses its effectiveness. Time and increasing dosage bring two new developments. The symptom suppression stops and side effects begin to appear. Symptoms may now include nausea and vomiting along with pain in the buttock. Faced with apparent failure of the drug approach, I might recommend surgery.

There are varying surgical solutions to the problem. I could sever the nerve which carries pain sensations from the buttock to the spinal cord, or I could perform a dorsal root rhizotomy. That's a highly specialized neurological operation where we cut the sensory nerve as it enters the spine.

Alternatively, we could freeze the thalamus in the brain, which is thought to be the body's pain center. I might send him to a pain control center where a group of specialists would give instruction on how to live with pain. As a last resort, I might suggest a prefrontal lobotomy, after which there be would be pain, but the victim wouldn't notice it.

If I suggested getting up off the tack, the response would likely be, "But Doc, I make my living sitting on tacks."

Sound absurd? The American Health Foundation reports that some 400,000 new cases of occupationally related diseases are reported each year -- and 100,000 Americans die of them. Furthermore, "the extent of occupational disease is thought to be underestimated because the connection between job and disease often goes unrecognized."

--excerpted from "Fiscal Fitness" by Vicki Robin,
Holistic Medicine, Jan-Feb 1995.

Are you "sitting on a tack?" I was. I was in a high stress job and as much as I knew it, I didn't stop until I suffered a heart attack. I won't make that mistake again! Please listen to your bodies and instead of masking issues that may come up, take action to solve them and rid them from your life. You will only be stronger for it.

The Magical Dragonfly

As you know if you've been a reader of my blog, I love superstitions, myth and lore, and I love learning how they came about. I have always believed in the luck of the dragonfly and I have one flying around me on almost any given day during the summer months. I have always been comforted by the site of them so I decided to read more on this insect to see what other things I could learn of it.

The dragonfly encourages us to live by the motto, Let There Be Light. Learn to use the light force and the life force will inspire your imagination and creativity. The beautiful jewel like colors of the dragonfly are a reminder that we too are beings of light and need to allow our own true colors to shine through. Dragonflies inhabit two worlds; as nymphs they begin their lives in the water, then go through a metamorphosis and adapt into life in the air. If the dragonfly is your totem, you experience the depth of your emotions through your relationship with water, and achieve the highest mental clarity as you shift to the realm of air.

They are often represented in Japanese paintings, representing new light and joy. In ancient Japanese culture the dragonfly represented protection and good luck to warriors on the battle field. To some Native Americans they are the souls of the dead. Faerie stories say that they used to be real dragons.

In some parts of the world it is considered lucky to have a dragonfly land on you, even to the point of yielding seven years of good luck.

Dragonflies carry messages that deal with deeper thought - and they ask that we pay attention to our deeper thoughts and desires. The dragonfly flies only for a fraction of its life and usually not for more than a few months. The adult dragonfly does it all in these few months and leaves nothing to be desired. This style of life symbolizes and exemplifies the virtue of living IN the moment and living life to the fullest. By living in the moment you are aware of who you are, where you are, what you are doing, what you want, what you don’t and make informed choices on a moment-to-moment basis.

Symbolism of the dragonfly is prosperty, good luck, strength, peace, harmony and purity.

Are you also fascinated by dragonflies? What do you feel brings you luck? I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Birthday To My Daughter!

Please join me in wishing my daughter a Happy 29th Birthday! We couldn't be prouder of you and you only get better with age. (I like to think you take after your mother.. :)

Let Them Eat... 7-Up Pound Cake...

Everyone will love the lemony flavor of this cake. Not lowfat or sugarfree but every now and then one has to enjoy a wonderful piece of cake! Wouldn't you agree?

Ingredients:
2 sticks margarine (I use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter cubes)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (7-ounce) bottle of 7-UP (you can use diet)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Grease and flour tube or bundt cake pan. Cream margarine and shortening with sugar; add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon extract; add flour and 7-Up alternately, beating after each addition. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until cake tests done.

Candle Magic...

Candle magic is one of the earliest and simplest forms of magic around. It has been in use for centuries and can be traced to ceremonies and rituals as far back as the Palaeolithic era. Most of us have performed candle magic without even thinking about it. How many times have you blown out a candle on your birthday cake to make a wish come true, or lit a candle in church for a special ritual (such as baptism or a memorial)? You are tapping into the wonderful world of candle magic.

Anyone can practice candle magic, as there is no set beliefs to this practice. In order to manifest or dispel the right energy, there are colors to be used to obtain the outcome you are seeking. Try it the next time you want to make something happen in your life!

Any type of candle can be used but cleanse it first. This allows the candle to have the vibrations and energies it needs to be pure and new. Consecration of candles is created through the use of specific oils or herbs for specific purposes. You can also use salt water or alcohol to rid the candles of negative energy before you state your purpose and light your candle.

Here is a list of purpose for green candles. I will list other color uses in the future.

DARK GREEN
Invokes the Goddess of regeneration, agriculture, financial.
GREEN
Brings abundance, prosperity, fertility, healing, health, good fortune, generosity, money, wealth, success, renewal, marriage, balance, growth, employment, rejuvenation, ambition, and to remove greed and jealousy.
MINT GREEN
Use this color with gold when looking for financial gains.
AVOCADO GREEN
This candle is used when you seek new beginnings.
LIGHT GREEN
The color for seeking to improve the weather.

Fairies And The Wind...

It is believed that when fairies leave for their home, they travel in eddies of wind. On calm summer days, if one sees a kind of cloud of dust that moves in the sky without any breath of air, it should be assumed that a pack of fairies with their takings is going back to Fairyland.

People that have been "lifted", and embarked in these eddies usually do not remember any detail about their journey. Some have been carried to some inaccessible place to which they could never have made their way alone, on the top of a distant hill or from one island to another.

Have you ever spied that cloud of dust carrying the fairies off to their homes?

What To Do With Rhubarb? Make Some Currach!

Rhubarb is out at our Farmer's Market now and this recipe is a perfect way to use it!
Do you love rhubarb as I do? What are some of the things you make with it?

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup chopped rhubarb
2 cups raspberries
3 tablespoons honey
2 cups whipping cream (heavy cream)
4 tablespoons whiskey

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread the oatmeal out on a cookie sheet and bake until golden brown, approx 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

In a medium saucepan, add the rhubarb and half of the raspberries with 2 tablespoons honey. Cook gently over a medium heat until the rhubarb is tender but not mushy. Cool. In a large bowl whip the cream until stiff. Fold in the remaining honey and whiskey. Layer in a trifle bowl or individual glasses some of the cream mixture, some toasted oatmeal, the rhubarb mixture, and some fresh raspberries. Then repeat. Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint leaves if desired. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Serves approx. 6

The Elegance Of Brooches...

If you are a lover of vintage, join today's fashion forward. They are enjoying the beauty of antique style pins and brooches and there are so many ways to wear them!

The Victorian Era saw an explosion of brooch design with insects, birds, and flowers becoming wildly popular as well as cameos and Celtic knots. The brooch had finally come of age as a powerful fashion statement, and it remains still today. Not for shrinking violets, the most inspiring pieces are big, bold, and colorful, sparkling with rhinestones and crystals or dripping in faux pearls and gemstones. Originals from the Victorian and Edwardian eras are a great investment for your collection but you can never have enough faux vintage pieces!

Women once wore brooches to keep their dresses closed at the waist or shoulder but today we wear brooches in a variety of ways. In addition to wearing brooches pinned to our jacket lapels, they look equally as alluring on a turtleneck sweater. I love wearing them on my scarves and shawls. You can also purchase pendant converters and dangle your lovelies from a strand of pearls, cords, chains etc. Pin one to your hat and transform it into a very special look.

Strut Your Stuff Today...

Remember that when you walk into a room like you think you own it, other people will think so too. Confidence is everything! Let your perfect posture, confidence and self-assurance portray an image of complete composure to the world.

Unwanted Weeds Tip...

Do you have unwanted weeds or grass growing in the cracks of your driveway or sidewalks? You can keep them weed free if you use this great homemade solution!

Just mix:
1 gallon vinegar
1 cup salt
8 drops liquid detergent

Put in spray bottle and squirt the areas where you would like it to remain weed and grass free!

Note: Do not use around your beloved garden plants...this solution will kill them as well.

Pumpkin Chocolate Brownies

I'm not sure why but I have been longing for fall treats lately. Not only the tastes of fall but the scents. Pumpkin and spices warm from the oven..maybe it's our weather. Our cottage seems to be shrouded in clouds or marine layer daily, while my daughter who lives 10 miles away is enjoying then sun. It's almost as if we have are living in different seasons!

If you love pumpkin, chocolate, or brownies you will enjoy this recipe. Why wait until fall? Bake yourself a batch today!

Ingredients:Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup 100% Pure Pumpkin
1/3 cup brown sugar blend (such as SPLENDA)
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon Baking Cocoa
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Morsels

PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Spray 8- or 9-inch-square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

COMBINE pumpkin, sugar blend, egg, egg whites and oil in large mixer bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Add flour, baking powder, cocoa, cinnamon, allspice, salt and nutmeg. Beat on low speed until batter is smooth. Stir in morsels. Spread evenly into prepared pan.

BAKE for 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into 2-inch squares.

Clogged Drain?

A great way to clean your bathtub's drain is to pour two packets of dry yeast and a pinch of salt down the drain, followed with very hot water. The yeast reproduces and expands, which breaks up stubborn grime and hair clogs. It may just save you a visit from the plumber!

Cookies Stuck To The Tray?

If you find your freshly baked cookies are stuck to the baking tray, simply hold a length of dental floss taut and slip it underneath the cookie. It works better than a spatula or your hands and you will be able to keep the cookie intact.

What's In Your Shopping Tote?

Many of us have gotten into the good habit of taking our own shopping bags with us when we do our shopping, but did you realize you should clean them after each trip to the market even if nothing has spilled out into them?

According to a study conducted by the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University, 97 percent of consumers never wash their bags. About 50 percent of the bags tested contained coliform (fecal) bacteria, and 12 percent contained E. coli.

Many people use their bags for multiple purposes such as transporting books, children's items etc., so washing them after each use is the key to stopping contamination from vegetables or raw meat.

Cloth bags can go directly into the washer and dryer, and recycled plastic bags can be wiped down with hot soapy water or treated with a disinfectant spray followed by a thorough dry in the sun. At the very least, if your tote has the removable plastic insert in the bottom, it is wise to take it out and wash it. Researchers also advise using each bag for only a single purpose: carrying raw meat, carrying vegetables, transporting laundry, or as a miscellaneous shopping tote.

Lastly, try to remember not to store your shopping bags in the car when it’s warm outside. It will only help the bacteria multiply.

The Hawk In Celtic Lore

Like many birds, the hawk is considered to be a messenger between the physical and spiritual worlds. The hawk is a keen hunter and symbolizes skill, boldness, strength (for one's size), clarity of purpose, decisiveness and nobility. To be compared to a hawk is the highest of compliments. Celtic oral tradition lists the oldest animal as the Hawk of Achill. If you hear a hawk cry during a journey, be alert to upcoming situations that need boldness and decisiveness to keep from being thrown off balance.

Uses For String...

Do you have a dripping faucet? Is it keeping you awake at night? There’s an easy way to silence it until the plumber arrives. Just tie a piece of string to the fixture with one end right where the water is oozing out and the other end hanging down to the bottom of the sink basin. Water droplets will travel down the string silently instead of driving you to the brink of madness.

Make a quick package opener! The next time you’re preparing a box for mailing, take a second to make it easier for your recipient to open. Place a piece of string along the center and side seams before you tape it closed, allowing a tiny bit to hang free at one end. That way, the string just needs to be pulled to sever the tape without resorting to sharp blades that might damage the delicate contents. Do the same for packing boxes when you move.

Measure irregular objects...this one comes in quite handy. A cloth tape measure is the ideal tool for measuring odd shaped objects, but you may not have one if you don’t sew. Wrap a plain piece of string around the item instead, then hold it up to a ruler to get the measurement you need.

Stop slamming doors! Is a slamming door getting on your nerves? We are going to have to use this one for our cat. He tends to close himself in rooms and it makes me nervous he will do it when we aren't home, leaving him trapped.

A piece of light twine tied to both sides of a knob and running around the door edge provides just enough friction to slow it down and prevent a loud slam when it shuts.
Use thicker rope the same way to temporarily prop open a door that automatically locks when it closes or to make sure pets don’t get trapped in one room of the house.

Make a curtain. Yes, a string curtain! A string curtain is basically made up of hundreds of individual strings, similar to a beaded curtain, but without the beads.
A string curtain hung on the top beam of a door frame creates the illusion of division, while still maintaining a nice level of air flowing throughout the house. This option is great for those situations where you just need a little bit of privacy in your room, without completely locking out the outside world. Great on windows as well.

Maple Oat Nut Scones

If you like the Maple Scones at a certain coffee house, you will LOVE these!! They freeze well so I always double the recipe.



Ingredients:
For The Scones
1 cup oats (quick or old-fashioned)
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 1/2 tablespoons cold butter (small pieces)
1 large egg
1/2 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
1/2-3/4 teaspoon maple extract
2/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Maple Glaze
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
5 teaspoons water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Using a food processor or blender, finely grind oats.
In a mixer, mix flour, oats, sugar, salt and baking powder.
Add maple syrup and butter and mix well.
In a small bowl, beat the egg with the cream and maple extract.
Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and mix well.
Add pecans and mix just to incorporate.
Place dough on a floured surface. Knead and pat dough into a 8 to 10 inch circle and cut into 8 wedges.
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place wedges on top and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until light brown.
Remove scones from oven to wire rack. Let cool about 3 to 5 minutes.

Mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Adjust the amount of water to get to the desired consistency. I find it works best when the glaze is thick. Spread lots of glaze over each scone and dry about 15 minutes before serving.

Sharpen Your Scissors...

Did you know that you can use aluminum foil to sharpen your scissors? In between professional sharpenings (or for those 99 cent pairs of scissors that you don’t want to pay to have sharpened), use aluminum foil to keep them in top form. Cutting through 6-8 layers of foil will improve the cutting surface of most scissors.

I use foil to put around the crust of my pies as they are baking so they do not overbrown. This way I don't waste the foil I have cut in to strips.

In Case Of Emergency...

Here is a frugal and thrifty tip. You never know when you might need a quick mend to a piece of clothing while away from home, and a small candy tin is just the right size to make yourself one. Fill it with a selection of needles, thread, a button or two, safety pins and a couple small pieces of double sided tape or fabric tape. You might want to slip in a bandaid in case of a blister or scrape as well.

Is Your Personality Color Orange?

Did you know that the colors you love to wear speak of your personality? If you love wearing orange, you are action oriented and competent. Orange symbolizes practicality, independence, organization and creativity. You are self-motivated, active and competitive. You need to be careful not to try and dominate others. Orange is the color of youth, strength, fearlessness, curiosity and restlessness.

Did You Know...

That rice was used in traditional folk medicine? In the past, when someone had a slight ache or pain, a minor cold, or a stiff joint, mothers would use an old remedy to ease the discomfort; a remedy that had been handed down from generation to generation.

With today's technology and an ever-increasing dependence on modern medicine, many seem to have lost the art of simple home remedies. Many home remedies can work as fast as conventional drugs and are as close as your kitchen.
Warning...this is not meant to take place of your Doctor's care so please seek professional advice when appropriate.

Rice contains high levels of carbohydrates. It is rich in vitamin A, B, C and E. In addition, rice has high levels of potassium, iron, and is sodium-free. Rice is a good digestive aid. It helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

* Eating rice each day can help reduce heartburn and edema, and it can lower blood pressure.

* Drinking rice water (the water after rice has been steamed) can calm an upset stomach.

* Ingested before a menstrual cycle, rice can help reduce bloating and symptoms of PMS.

* A rice flour poultice can help with acne, burns, and other skin disorders.

Keep Your Buns Warm...

Do you like to serve biscuits, breads, or rolls with your meals? If you'd like to keep them warm while you're at the table here's a tip.

Fold some aluminum foil the shape of your breadbasket, warm it in the oven, then place it under a cloth in your basket. It will help the breads retain heat.

Pumpkin Cheese Swirl Brownies

I have been eagerly looking forward to fall (my favorite season) and just can't wait any longer to bake my favorite fall treats. These cake like pumpkin brownies are made more interesting and flavorful with swirls of cream cheese batter. They're perfect to tuck in to school lunches, but as always, I love them with tea. Bake a double batch and freeze some for later. You will love them!

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
For cream cheese mixture:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons flour
Preparation:
Butter and flour an 11x7-inch baking pan. Heat oven to 350°.
In a large mixing bowl, beat butter with brown sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 eggs until light and creamy. Beat in pumpkin puree. In another bowl, combine 1 cup of flour with baking powder, soda, salt, and spices. Slowly beat into the first mixture until well blended. Spread in prepared baking pan.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, 1 egg, confectioners sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons flour. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy. Spoon onto the pumpkin batter. Using a small narrow spatula or butter knife, swirl the cream cheese batter into the pumpkin batter.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Go Green And Make Your Own Wood Cleaners

If you have a lot of wood furniture like we do, you know how expensive wood cleaners can be. I like to make as many of my own products as possible to "clean green" and avoid chemicals. Here are a couple of ideas for wood cleaning. We have alot of oak and pine and have never had a problem with this cleaner. You may want to test a small spot on your wood surface (underneath just to be sure) if you have cherry, maple or some other type of wood.

Furniture Polish
For homemade furniture polish as good as any purchased at the store, add 1/2 tsp. light olive oil to 1/4 cup white vinegar and enough water to fill a 1-quart container.

Treated Dust Cloth
Place an old, but clean, cotton T-shirt or other soft fabric in a glass jar, add 2 tbsps. of furniture polish, seal the jar and let it sit overnight.

The oil will spread throughout the cloth and be just enough to pick up dust without leaving an oily residue. Put the cloth back in the jar after each use. When it gets dirty, wash it and repeat the oiling process.

Wood Polish
In a bottle, combine:
1/2 cup of lemon juice
1 cup of olive oil
Mix well and pour a few drops onto a rag. Use to polish all your wood furniture.

The Merrows...

The word merrow or moruadh comes from the Irish muir (meaning sea) and oigh (meaning maid) and refers specifically to the female of the species. Mermen, the merrows male counterparts, have been rarely seen. They have been described as exceptionally ugly and scaled, with pig-like features and long, pointed teeth. Merrows themselves are extremely beautiful and are promiscuous in their relations with mortals. The Irish merrow differs physically from humans in that her feet are flatter than those of a mortal and her hands have a thin webbing between the fingers. It should not be assumed that merrows are kindly and well disposed towards mortals. As members of the sidhe, or Irish fairy world, the inhabitants of Tir fo Thoinn (the Land beneath the Waves) have a natural antipathy towards humans. In some parts of Ireland, they are regarded as messengers of doom and death.

Merrows have special clothing to enable them to travel through ocean currents. In Kerry, Cork and Wexford, they wear a small red cap made from feathers, called a cohullen druith. However, in more northerly waters they travel through the sea wrapped in sealskin cloaks, taking on the appearance and attributes of seals. In order to come ashore, the merrow abandons her cap or cloak, so any mortal who finds these has power over her, as she cannot return to the sea until they are retrieved. Hiding the cloak in the thatches of his house, a fisherman may persuade the merrow to marry them. Such brides are often extremely wealthy, with fortunes of gold plundered from shipwrecks. Eventually the merrow will recover the cloak, and find her urge to return to the sea so strong that she leaves her human husband and children behind.

Many coastal dwellers have taken merrows as lovers and a number of famous Irish families claim their descent from such unions, notably the O'Flaherty and O'Sullivan families of Kerry and the MacNamaras of Clare. The Irish poet W B Yeats reported a further case in his Irish Fairy and Folk Tales: "Near Bantry in the last century, there is said to have been a woman, covered in scales like a fish, who was descended from such a marriage". Despite her wealth and beauty, you should be particularly wary about encountering this marine fairy.

Do You Believe In The Power Of Stones? Lovely Lapis...

Traditions are a part of us. Whether they are of familial, cultural, or religious roots, they seem somehow to lend a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives. In ancient times some believed dreaming of Lapis meant that the person would find everlasting love and faithfulness. Romance and sentimentality were the major themes of the Victorian age, and they adorned themselves with gemstones for which they believed had meaning.

Lapis lazuli is a beautiful opaque stone ranging in color from a deep blue to denim. Lapis can be made of several minerals besides lazurite, namely sodalite, hauyne, calcite (white streaks) and pyrite (metallic streaks or flecks). Stones that are deep blue with small patches of pyrite and calcite are considered the most valuable. The ancients believed that divine favor and success came to those wearing lapis, and it was largely reserved for royalty. Claims to origins of lapis lazuli range from Afghanistan and ancient Babylon to Peru and the Inca civilization. Regardless, those who wore lapis claimed that "power amulets" were formed when this beautiful stone was shaped into the form of an eye and ornamented with gold.

Some other facts on the lapis are:
Magical Properties:
Energy: Receptive
Element: Water
Deities: Isis, Venus, Nuit
Powers: Healing, joy, love, fidelity, psychic powers, protection, courage.

Lapis has timeless associations with the kings and queens of all realms. In ancient Sumer, the stone was very closely associated with the deities in general, and in carrying it, it's possessor bore the potent magical power of a deity, for the stone contained the force behind all divinity.

The energy of this stone is very high quality, and it does not lower its power to your level; rather you must raise yours to match the power of the stone. You must raise your mental, emotional and spiritual energies to connect with Lapis. It teaches you to set aside your personality and all it's quirks so that you can clearly see what is actually occurring within another person or a given situation. It will also help in wiping out any part of the past, in this life or others that you are still carrying but need to let go of.

The Herb Chamomile

Chamomile is a versatile herb that treats a wide range of common ailments. Generally, there are three categories of use, as an anti-inflammatory for the skin, as an anti-infective for many common ailments, and as an anti-spasmodic for such problems as stomach cramps and indigestion.

Used in a tea, or in capsule form, chamomile flowers are used internally for many common physical symptoms, including menstrual cramps, stomach cramps, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhea, fever, colds, congestion, headaches, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, stress, nervousness, and poor digestion. For babies, it has been helpful for symptoms of colic and teething pain. Always consult your healthcare provider if you have questions regarding tea for this use.

Externally, chamomile flowers can be ground into a paste (you can grind with mortar & pestle and add some water or unsweetened tea - add oatmeal slowly as needed for consistency) and use to treat skin irritations such as ulcers, infections, rashes, and burns. The flowers can also be used in a bath to ease the pain of hemorrhoids and cystitis, and the essential oil can be applied to combat neuralgia and eczema.

To prepare a bath, put a handful of flowers in a mesh bag, hang it on the tap using string, and run the bath water over it. I have used Chamomile teabags in my bath for years. You can also use chamomile tea on brown or blonde hair to create golden highlights. I have strawberry blonde hair and using chamomile tea gives it luster.

Did You Know...

That in days gone by, giving someone an orange blossom meant the same as saying to them "your purity equals your loveliness?"

During the Victorian era, flowers adorned nearly everything...hair, clothing, jewelry, home decor, china plates, stationary, wallpaper, furniture and more. Scents of flowers had their own meanings and though the Victorians loved them, a gift of a scented handkerchief might be given in place of actual flowers.

The flower symbolism associated with the orange blossom is innocence, eternal love, marriage and fruitfulness.

The Peridot...August Birthstone

"Wear a Peridot or for thee,
No conjugal fidelity,
The August born without this stone,
`Tis said, must live unloved alone."

The Properties of the Peridot
For those who were born in the month of August, the Peridot is the traditional birthstone. The August birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Peridot is associated - love, truth, faithfulness and loyalty. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the August Birthstone Peridot are fame, dignity, and protection. The healing properties of the August birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the lungs, lymph, breast and sinuses. The Peridot is also used to enhance prosperity, growth, and openness.

August Birthstone Zodiac Sign
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The August birthstone of the Peridot is considered to be the birthstone for Leo (The sign of the Lion) and relate to those born between July 23 - August 22. The Zodiac sign of Leo also responds to Onyx, Diamond, Carnelian, Sardonyx and Ruby.

Information from The Birthstone List