The Better living with herbs and natural health
July’2021
Tips for Weight Loss Using Fruit for Meditating Benefits of Citrus Essential Oil Plantain for Insect Bites and More
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Enjoy Summer but Stay Safe As I write this the west coast has been sweltering through the hottest heatwave we have ever expePublisher’s rienced. Note Yesterday was the hottest day on record with many cities smashing old records of heat. Lytton, B.C, in the Fraser Canyon, broke a record hitting 49.6 Celsius, other communities reached highs in the 40s as well. Global warming anyone? People have been hitting the beach, lake, river in droves – wherever they can go to cool off. But are they concerned about protecting their skin? That’s why in this issue of the Herbal Collective we take a look at warning signs of skin cancer.
Did you know skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in North America? It’s been growing through the years, from sun exposure and from people using tanning beds and other UV exposure. Using anti-oxidants and having a strong immune system will help your body fight off cancer better than only applying sunscreen. Also in this issue you’ll read about important summer herbs such as plantain (very useful for insect bites) and horsetail. Enjoy healthy tasting summer salads and fruits, plus make herbal drinks and popsicles. Discover an interesting way that fruit is used in meditation, which herbs to sow and harvest in July, adaptogenic teas for better hormone health, lipstick to promote weight loss and how to keep kids safe this summer. Sincerely Marilyn Zink
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Contents The Theme: This issue focuses on focuses on staying safe iand healthy n summer with a look at skin cancer, herbs to treat insect bites, plus herbs to grow, harvest and use.
Strange signs of skin cancer..............................4 Fruitful ceremonies explore meditation.......6 Plantain - for insects bites and more..............8 Healthy Herb Summer Salad..........................10 Basil and Lavender Fruit Bowl........................11 Hidden benefits of citrus essential oils.......12 Sunscreen, Vitamin D and more....................14 Benefits of citrus essential oils.......................15 Plantain leaf green juice...................................17 Plantain leaf face mask.....................................17 Adaptogenic teas for women and men......18 Sow and harvest herbs in July........................20 5 Tips to keep kids safe this summer...........22 Herbal symptoms cheat sheet.......................24 Natural health directory...................................25 Please note: The articles in this issue are not considered medical advice or treatment so please see your medical provider for proper evaluation and treatment. The Herbal Collective published by Pro Write Publishing Publisher/Editor - Marilyn Zink Contact: 250-729-1593 info@herbalcollective.ca, www.herbalcollective.news Contributors: Sarah Dafoe, Louis Hoolaeff, Klaus Ferlow, The Herbal Collective is published every month by Pro Write Publishing and distributed through social media, various platforms and the Herbal Collective blog and email list. Advertising deadline is around the 21 of every month. The opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the editor. Different viewpoints are welcome. All editorial material is copyrighted. Any medical advice is given solely for information purposes only and no responsibility is assumed on the publisher’s part. Copyright © 2021
Columns and Departments In the Kitchen Healthy Herb Summer Salad..........................10 Herbal Drinks.......................................................10 Basil and Lavender Fruit Bowl........................11 Herbal Popsicles..................................................11 see page 20
see page 11
In the News Errant Empire Medicine is a new herbal medicine dispensary and clinic in Victoria, B.C. Customers can order online or in person to get a custom herbal medicine formula designed for them by a Medical Herbalist. See www. errantempireherbalmedicine.com/about.
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Strange Signs of Skin Cancer The thought of skin cancer often rears its ugly head in summer when we’re more likely to be outside in the hot sun. Skin cancer can happen any time of the year but there are some signs you need to be aware of. Many people spent a disproportionate amount of time indoors from stay at home orders brought by COVID-19. Now as restrictions start to ease, and summer temperatures increase, some experts suspect that more skin cancer diagnoses will occur as a result of the outbreak. This is due to a person’s skin being no longer used to the sun. When they go outside for the first time and fall asleep in a park, their yard or a beach or are just outside too long, they end up getting a bad sunburn due
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to intense sun exposure. This can lead to melanoma, the most deadliest type of skin cancer. ‘Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States (Guy et al., 2015). It is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, leading to significant morbidity and healthcare costs (American Academy of Dermatology, 2020). In the United States, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined (The American Cancer Society Medical and Editorial Content Team, 2019).’* The two most common types of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. These are known as nonmelanoma skin cancer and are highly treatable if detected early. Melanoma is also highly treatable in the early stages however it can metastasize to internal organs. Known & Unusual Signs of Skin Cancer
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Uneven Mole - Check moles for asymmetry, uneven borders, color, diameter, and evolution, called the ABCDEs of melanoma.) Translucent Waxy Bump Sometimes skin cancer looks like a clear or skin colored bump. It could be early stage basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. A hard bump on the eyelid could be a rare skin cancer that starts in the oil glands called sebaceous gland carcinoma. Scaly Patch A scaly patch that isn’t healing could also be a sign of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma. The patch doesn’t respond to ointments and may also be growing slowly.
Crusty or Oozing Patch Anything crusty or oozing that is not healing is a classic basal cell carcinoma lesion. Spider bites crust and ooze but eventually heal over. Get it checked out by a dermatologist.
noma and three times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma than women. Skin tone – Caucasians have a higher risk of skin cancer than non-whites. Those who have blonde or red hair, blue or green eyes or skin that burns or freckles easily have a Red or Purple Lesions higher risk. Merkel cell carcinoma can appear as a blue, Lifestyle risks, such as smoking, chemical red, or purple nodule, according to the Mayo exposure or UV exposure, place those indiClinic. Another rare cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, viduals at higher risk. can show up as discolored skin too. From a natural health perspective, it makes Spots or Bumps that Don’t Heal sense what you put in your body is just as If it’s a spot or bump you never noticed important as what you put on your body. before and it doesn’t heal, get it checked out. Experts urge using sunscreen daily. However, it’s critically important to support the Risks body’s immune health by taking supplements The increase in the incidence of skin cancer like Vitamin C daily and anti-oxidants that can be mainly attributed to the use of artifilower the risk of getting skin cancer. cial sunlamps and intense exposure to ultraChange lifestyles for the better – quit violet (UV) light (Bolognia et al., 2012). smoking, eat fruits and vegetables daily, It has been shown that individuals who use tanning beds before the age of 35 years increase their risk for melanoma by 75% Customized Herbal Medicine (International Agency for Research on CanNOW Online! cer Working Group on Artificial Ultraviolet *Custom herbal medicine is the [UV] Light and Skin Cancer, 2007* wave of the future. But there are other strong risks for skin cancer too. Frequent sunburns, especially when young, increase the risk. As you age, the risk increases, due likely to accumulated exposure to UV radiation. Conditions that weaken the immune system, such as viruses (including Covid-19 virus)or diseases make the body more susceptible to skin cancer. Viruses like the human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, particularly those that affect the anal or genital area, place the individual at higher risk for skin cancer. Gender plays a factor too. Men are two times more likely to develop basal cell carci-
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Fruitful Ceremonies Explore New Ways to Meditate By Marilyn Zink
There’s a new way to enjoy fruit that combines it with meditation for a healing experience that connects it with the five senses to feel more grounded and inspired. This new way of meditating with fruit is the brainchild of Alejandro Glatt, who found difficulties connecting to meditate during healing experiences. Meditating takes focus and stamina, so he found fruit grounded him and linked him with the earth. As a result, he started using fruit as a visual and tasty tool to bring people together and escape stress with a new way to meditate. Glatt says he grew up with a fascination of fruit and played with different types of fruit to experience different sensations. He calls it fruit healing, which gives people Alejandro Glatt with a papaya, often used as part of fruit ceremony. Photo submitted a new way to tap into meditating by touching, smelling, scratching and licking fruit. “I figure how difficult it is for a lot of peoHe has a permaculture design background ple to meditate, says Glatt. specializing in fruit so he understands the “It’s difficult to tune in, stop thinking and fruit growing process and how to manifest an connect.” abundance cycle. He finds and shares the essence of the fruit, Glatt calls the experience Feel the Fruit, a represented through an artistic and sensual lifestyle brand that encompasses giant fruit lens. mandala art pieces as well as eclectic dried Through altars, ceremonies and workshops, fruit jewelry accessories. his message to the world is to connect, play Fruit offer a variety of health and wellness and interact with Mother Nature’s resources. benefits and Glatt is pioneering a unique way Glatt has been featured in Envision festival to implement the sweet produce into daily Costa Rica, Art With Me Tulum and Miami, life through ceremonies of appreciation Project Heart in Turkey, Art Week in Mexico Based in Tulum, Alejandro Glatt is a multi- City, Ahana Yoga in Miami and in a variety disciplinary artist, passionate about the aesof hotels, festivals and retreats in Mykonos, thetic and energetic interactions between Melbourne, Los Ángeles, Joshua Tree, Santa fruit, colors, and humans. Teresa, Xilitla and Tel Aviv. 6
Herbal Collective July ’2021
Try our Luxurious Silky Beauty Cream Rosa REJUV Cream was designed with our famous Rosa Cream in mind – however we’ve created something entirely new. He says participants gather in a circle and everyone is invited to create a collective mandala out of fruit. The fruit used is native to the country they are in, such as papaya in Mexico “We start to connec t with breathwork and after eat the fruit in the process. So we are awakening the inner child to come out and play.” Glatt says participants often report feeling joyful, pure and happy as a result of the ceremonies. They become aware of the fruit’s healing properties and every time they eat the fruit in life, they are more conscious of what they’re eating. “We’re exploring this ancient wisdom of the fruit,” says Glatt. “For me, it’s important to keep fruit as natural as possible.” By connecting all the senses, people can awaken all their senses and have a deeper experience in life, explains Glatt.
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Plantain - for Insect Bites, Wounds... By Sarah Dafoe
Plantain (Plantago spp.) is notable for its ability to colonize compacted and disturbed earth with heavy clay and low fertility. Hidden within lawns and grass verges it has evolved to survive being trampled on, offering up a variety of medicinal support to those who take the time to slow down and connect with it. Plantain is an important plant not only for soil rehabilitation, but its abundance provides quick and easy access to a sustainably strong first-aid source, whether you need to soothe an insect bite, extract a stubborn splinter, staunch bleeding or support gut health, plantain is a readily available ally. Plantain leaves were commonly worked with in folk medicine as skin poultices for wounds, sores or insect stings and the root was worked with for fevers and respiratory infections.
shape looks like the pointed tip of a knife, with its ability to cut and pierce the skin, both types of leaf being extremely useful for insect stings and all types of skin abrasions. In late spring and summer, the plant develops tall narrow flower stalks, topped with small dense seed clusters, providing another type of medicine to work with internally, in the form of Psyllium.
Plantago is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family Plantaginaceae. The plant is native to most of Europe and northern and central Asia and has an ancient tradition of medicinal use in those regions, it has been widely naturalised elsewhere in the world. There are hundreds of species of plantain, but the two best-known to Western herbalists are Plantago lanceolata (known as lance-leaf, ribwort, or narrow-leaf plantain) and Plantago major (known as greater, common, or broad-leaf plantain). The leaf structure of both Plantago major and lanceolata indicate how the plant can be worked with. Broad-leaf plantain reminds me of the rounded wings of a bee and the lance-leaf
Chemical Makeup: iridoid glycosides (2.5%), aucubin, apigenin, baicalein, catapol, asperuloside, flavonoids, mucilage (2%), tannins (6.5%), phenolic acids, saponins and flavonoids.
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Herbal Collective July,’2021
Origin and History: Plantago has had a reputation in medicine from remote antiquity, appearing in the ancient collection of medicinal texts called Lacgunga (remedies), as one of the nine most important sacred herbs of the time. In the 16th and 17th centuries, plantago was worked with in Europe to treat a host of issues from boils and dog bites to cold, flu and fever.
Energetics and Taste: Plantain leaf is bland in taste, with a slight bitter edge. It is mildly cooling, soothing and moistens tissues while also tightening them. This gives plantain a uniquely balanced energy. The seeds of Plantain are bland and very mucilaginous, when soaked in water they attain a gel-like consistency and also offers a balanced energy when applied internally, supporting bowel regulation.
...Poultices and More Organs Systems Affected: skin, blood, mucous membranes, throat, lungs, bladder and urinary tract, gut, gallbladder, liver and eyes. Medicinal Properties: Vulnerary: Plantain's vulnerary action calms irritated tissues and has an intense drawing ability, helping to suck out dirt or venom, bring a blister or pimple to a head, or extract a deeply-imbedded splinter or bee stinger. Expectorant: In cases of upper respiratory infection and irritated cough, plantain leaf’s expectorant properties help the body expel mucus. Diuretic: Plantain has a mild diuretic effect, and its aucubin content boosts the kidneys’ uric acid production. These properties, along with its cooling, soothing, antiseptic effects, make it a good ingredient in blends for cystitis and urinary tract infections. Demulcent: Plantain’s combination of toning tannins and soothing demulcent properties makes it a good
remedy both internally and externally for any sore or irritated condition. Astringent: Plantain helps to tone and tighten tissues both external skin and the internal mucus membranes. Inflammation Modulator: Generally inflammation
is energetically hot-natured so the cooling and soothing properties of plantain can be useful for acne, also working well as a mouthwash for inflamed gums or canker sores. Antiseptic: Plantain can help fight bacteria in cases of open wounds and is also Continued page 16
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Healthy Herb Summer Salad
2 ears corn, husked and cooked 12 lettuce leaves 2 limes, juiced 1 bunch scallions, trimmed and thinly slices 1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley 1/2 cup feta cheese 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Freshly ground pepper In a medium bowl, mix together scallions, cilantro, parsley, lime juice and olive oil. Strip the corn from the cob carefully using a sharp knife and add the kernels to the herb mixture. Stir until all ingredients are well-combined. Divide the mixture into 12 and scoop into lettuce leaves. Top with feta cheese and season with ground pepper. Eating nutritious hasn't been this good - try these amazing low-calorie herbs and spices snacks for a healthier and slimmer body!
Herbal Drinks Cool off with herbal drinks. Make an herbal infusion with 2-4 Tbsps fresh herbs such as mint, lemon balm, lavender and chamomile. Boil a cup of water in a pot, add the herbs, then turn off the heat and allow to infuse for 30 minutes. Strain and storein fiidge. Drink as is on hot summer days or make a smoothie with your favorite milk or nut milk with ice. Ahhh!
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Basil & Lavender Fruit Bowl 2 peaches, diced 1 cup grapes 1 cup watermelon cubes 1/2 cup blueberries 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon dried lavender buds 1/2 teaspoon finely minced fresh sweet basil Heat the lime juice and the honey over medium heat in a small saucepan. Stir until well-combined. Remove from heat when heated through then add lavender buds and basil leaves. Set aside and let sit for 8 to 10 minutes. Place peaches, grapes, watermelon cubes and blueberries in a large bowl and pour basil and lavender syrup over fruits.
Herbal Popsicles Use the same ingredients from the left, following the first step combining the lime juice, honey, lavender buds and basil leaves. Combine your ‘dressing’ mixture with 1 cup coconut milk. Stir and pour into popsicle molds.
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Essential Oils
Hidden Benefits of Citrus Essential Oils
Citrus goes well with summer – fresh, bright, clean and uplifting. Citrus fruits are certainly enjoyed but so are citrusy essential oils. Citrus essential oils offer a variety of health benefits and these oils typically cost less than other oils like lavender, and rose oil.
Oranges Tangerines Grapefruits The oil is cold pressed from the rind of the fruit to yield a 100% pure therapeutic grade oil that is used for various health purposes. Some of their health benefits include the ability to neutralize acid in the body and promote immune system health that in turn helps us fight infections, bacteria, and viruses better. All these oils, like the fruits from which Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils they are derived, are full of healthy antioxicontinues to be one of the preferred alternadants and other beneficial nutrients. Citrus tive methods of healing that is 100% all natu- oils also promote natural energy; they are ral and safe when used as directed. uplifting and have anti-depressant qualities. Essentials oils are extracted from plants, bark, flowers, fruits, and other botanicals to Lime Oil yield a highly concentrated therapeutic grade Lime oil has a sweet, refreshing, stimulatoil. ing, intense, and tart scent, just like fresh There are many different types of essential limes! oils for good health, including, but not limHealing Properties: Lime oil is an antiited to lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, tea septic that can cure infections and protect tree, jasmine, and citrus fruits. against them. Citrus fruits offer a large variety of essenAs a topical application, it can cure minor tial oils to enjoy. Extracts of the following skin wounds like rashes. It also helps psoriafruits all fall under the category of citrus es- sis. sential oils When consumed, it can help with infections of the mouth, colon, throat, stomach, Varieties Of Citrus Oils and urinary tract. Lime oil also helps alleviLemons ate respiratory infections, such as bronchitis, Limes flu, coughs, and is effective as a home cold Mandarins remedy. 12
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