home health kit, part 2

We recently returned from the most wonderful trip to Maine.  We spent the better part of a week visiting our friends (you can follow their adventures on the lovely Crafting Mama Librarian Blog), who graciously took us to The Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine.  The Fair is sponsored by and a benefit for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and is truly a fair like no other.  If you haven't been before, be sure to keep the Fair on your radar screen for the future.

One of the vendors at the Fair was a company called Avena Botanicals.  They are the first Demeter-certified biodynamic* farm in Maine, and offer a vast selection of hand-crafted herbal remedies.  The majority of the plants used in their remedies are grown on their beautiful 32-acre farm.  I purchased a few of their remedies to add to my home health kit, including the Be Well and Herbal Zinger herbal compounds to help with cold and flu season.   I also bought the Immune Soup for overall immune health and support; I am looking forward to brewing it up this weekend!

And finally, the favorite in our home (as voted by my five-year-old daughter), the Flower Fairy Cream.  Who could resist that?!  I am seriously thinking about asking Avena if I could bring some of their amazing remedies to UrthChild, but in the meantime, visit their online store.  And share with us the remedies you have in your home health kit and tips for staying healthy this fall and winter!

*  The principles of biodynamic agriculture were first outlined in a series of lectures by Rudolph Steiner, who also founded the Waldorf education system.  According to Avena Botanicals, while biodynamic farming adheres to the same practices as organic farming, a fundamental element of biodynamic agriculture is "to help heal the earth by using specially made preparations that are applied to the soil, leaves, and compost pile following the natural rhythms of the day, the seasons, and the moon and planets.  Steiner taught that the regular use of the biodynamic preparations would help garden soils be more open and receptive to receiving the spiritual impulses radiating from the cosmic forces. He also believed that the vitality of the food and herbs we ingest, revitalized by the use of the biodynamic preparations, would help humans be more fully conscious, more spiritually awake, more aware of the divine energy present in all of life."  (Source:  http://www.avenabotanicals.com/about-avena/biodynamics/)

thank you, annmarie

In my early 20s, I felt that everything about my appearance changed.  My skin went from clear to combination with trouble along the T-zone.  My hair went from straight to wavy (and not in a good way!).  I must have been going through one of Rudolph Steiner's seven-year changes.  For years and years now, I've been waiting for another seven-year change to come along and fix all that went askew in my early 20s.  

Enter Annmarie Gianni.   On a tip from my friend Muneeza at Healthy Moon, I gave Annmarie's natural skincare products a try.  There are a few things that make her products unique.  First, you'll notice right away that they are packaged in Miron violet glass.  This keeps the natural ingredients inside the bottle protected from light, increasing the shelf life of the product.  Some say the violet glass also imbues good energy.  Second, Annmarie is a stickler for pure ingredients.  Everything in her products is organic, wild-crafted, non-GMO, and completely and totally chemical free.  And with ingredients like Life Everlasting Flowers, how can you resist?  Third, the first ingredient in her products is "Love".  There must be something to that because my skin, my heart, and my mind just feel better when I am using her products.  I feel like I am treating myself with love and taking the time necessary to care for myself.   

We have been so impressed with Annmarie Gianni's products that we have brought her entire line to UrthChild.  You can purchase them here, and be sure to click the "Video" tab for each product to see Annmarie dishing on natural skin care.  If you'd like to try her products, use the coupon code "AnnmarieLove" for 15% off through October 15.

Over several blog posts, I want to take some time to introduce you to her products and pass along what I've learned.  This first post in the series will focus on five important tips I've learned from Annmarie.  The second post will discuss Annmarie's regimen and tips for caring for oily, hormonal, and combination skin.  Finally, we'll move on to talking about normal and dry skin types.

So, let's start!  Like I said, the first post in this series will focus on the top five important -- and surprising tips -- I learned from Annmarie.  Many of you may know these, but it never hurts to hear it again!

 Tip #1.  If you have oily or combination skin, use cool water to wash your face.  Cool water helps close the pores a bit so they don't release as much oil.  On the flip side, if you have dry skin, use lukewarm water to wash your face.  This will dilate your pores and help them open up more to release needed oil.

Tip #2.  Never use harsh scrubbing on your face.  I definitely did this to my skin.  Because I would break out, I figured I needed to clean harder.  Instead, scrubbing simply irritates skin and pushes toxins, dirt, oil, and make-up down into your pores, clogging them up.  Instead, use a fine facial scrub to help exfolitate and cleanse.

Annmarie Gianni's Ayurvedic Facial Scrub

Tip #3.  Creams are out and facial oils are in.  Oil loves oil.  Nourishing facial oils mix well with the oil in your pores, and as a result, are more easily absorbed by your pores.  This ensures that nourishment and healing oils are carried into your skin to reverse problems.  Creams, on the other hand, are difficult for your skin to absorb and can clog you up.

Tip #4.  Speaking of oils, never skip adding oil to your face...even if you have oily skin!  You need to nourish your skin, which a healthful facial oil can deliver needed nutrients.  Also, facial oils will not clog up your pores like a cream, and can help calm overactive sebum glands.

Annmarie Gianni's Coconut Body and Face Oil

Tip #5.  Protect your skin's acid mantle.  Your skin has a slightly acidic layer that is secreted by your pores.  Because it is acidic, this mantle kills bacteria and other nasties that want to get into your skin and cause trouble.  Harsh cleansers or cleansers that are not slightly acidic will damage or "strip" this delicate acid mantle, and therefore hinder your skin's ability to fight off blemish-causing bacteria.  

Annmarie Gianni's Aloe-Herb Cleanser

Okay, next up is the regimen for oily and combination skin...stay tuned.  In the meantime, give Annmarie a try and take 15% off her products at UrthChild through October 15 with the code "AnnmarieLove". 

the home health kit

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from my daughter's school with all the forms I need to submit, lists of gear she'll need to keep her warm during outdoor play, and a lovingly written reminder to keep sick children at home.  

That last part really got me...  

I'm just not ready for cold and flu season.  Not even close.  I want to hang on to this blissful summer (it's been a healthy one, for the most part, for my children).  But I will endeavor to be an adult about this.  

This blog post from Rachel at LuSa Organics, one of our manufacturers, reminded me to begin putting together a home health kit.  The post focuses on whooping cough remedies, but a lot of the remedies are good for overall immune support.

Oh dear, I really am going to miss her...

Aviva Jill Romm's book also has a great list of herbs and remedies to have on hand.  I love this book and have consulted it many times.  I mean, a bag of heated salt as a remedy for nausea?  I never would have guessed.

Stay healthy this winter!

sun tea

Just in time for the hot sun, 

one of my favorite blogs, Wilder Quarterly, had a great post about sun tea and 

various garden herbs you can use to make a healing drink.  

The other day, a headache hit me.

I remembered reading in Wilder's post that lemon balm is a headache remedy.  

Hauling myself off the sofa, I rambled with my daughter to our garden, 

and she happily plucked some lemon balm and placed it into a mason jar.  

We filled the jar with water and set it in a sunny spot to steep for a bit.  

The result?  Delicious tea and a headache soothed by either the magic of the herb 

or the feeling of creating a remedy from something we grew (or both).