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What is an Herbal Electuary?

Mary Poppins may have popularized the phrase, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” but the idea itself is much older. So old, in fact, that the word for a sweetened herbal preparation, “electuary,” is believed to come from ancient Greek: ekleikton, “medicine which is licked away.” In short, an herbal electuary is a combination and honey and powdered herbs.

History of the Herbal Electuary

The practice of sweetening herbal preparations is believed to be older still, having traveled to Greece from Arab culture. In Making Medicines: A brief history of pharmacy and pharmaceuticals, Stuart Anderson credits the Arab nations for introducing “a number of sweet preparations including syrups, conserves, confections, electuaries, and juleps,” to the European tradition of herbal medicine. 


Indeed, the oldest written preparation involving honey was preserved on a clay tablet from Sumer, circa 2,000 BC. It reads, “Grind to a powder river dust and … (here the words are missing) … then knead it in water and honey and let plain oil and hot cedar oil be spread over it.”


Mixing honey and herbs, however, likely emerged organically in cultures worldwide. “The ancient Egyptians were not the only people who used honey as medicine,” writes Laïd Boukraâ in Honey in Traditional and Modern Medicine. “The Chinese, Indians, ancient Greeks, Romans, and Arabs used honey in combination with other herbs and on its own to treat wounds and various other diseases.”

In Ayurveda, India’s 5,000-year-old medical system, honey mixed with cinnamon, taken daily, is believed to extend the lifespan and increase stamina and strength. Circa 400 BC, the Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed many herbal treatments, often mixed with honey or wine.


Boukraâ notes in Honey in Traditional and Modern Medicine that these preparations were tried again and again throughout generations, “passed down through the millenia simply because they seemed to be effective.”

What to Look for in an Herbal Electuary

  • Raw honey
    Herbal electuaries combine the health benefits of herbs with those of honey, including antimicrobial properties, antioxidant properties, and support for gut health. These benefits are largely exclusive to raw honey, as heat and processing are believed to destroy the phytonutrients. “Heated above 110° F,” writes Richo Chech in Making Plant Medicine, “honey is quickly divested of its innate medicinal virtues and fragrance.”

  • High-quality herbs
    As with food, the way herbs are grown and processed will impact their nutritional value and effectiveness. Make sure your herbal honey is made with herbs grown free of pesticides and ground just before being added to the honey. If you are purchasing from a company, check to see if they are transparent about their processes and where they source their ingredients. If they’re vague on sourcing, that could be a warning sign.

  • Powdered herbs
    Powdering the herbs allows for maximum extraction and palatability. Writes Kami McBride in The Herbal Kitchen: “Over the years, I have made many honeys where the herbs were just chopped or grated and not powdered. I found that the herbs really do need to be finely powdered for a pleasant honey-eating experience!”

Ways to Enjoy Your Herbal Electuary

Herbal electuaries can be used almost any way you would use honey.

  • Stir a spoonful into tea.
  • Slather some on toast.
  • Top your oatmeal.
  • Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, with an herbal twist.
  • Add it to a smoothie.
  • Enjoy it solo! As the roots of the name suggest, this preparation can simply be licked away. 
  • Share your love of herbs with a kid. As Michael Tierra writes in The Way of Herbs, “An electuary is an old-fashioned way of giving unpalatable herbs to children who need them.”

In Closing,

You can treat yourself and enjoy health benefits, too. The herbal electuary is an inspired way to add flavor and nutrition to everyday foods, or to use when you need the support of particular herbs the most. 

Harvesting Vitality’s herbal honeys include immune and calming support for children. For adults, there are formulas to support the adrenals and energy, deep sleep, and the immune system — to name just a few. Check out our online shop for more, and take part in a pursuit of wellness that has remained a pleasure throughout the ages.

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Digestive Tea Recipe with Chamomile and Fennel

Ah, the holidays. A time to feast with abandon on delicious, rich foods — followed, perhaps, by a bit of regret as our bodies do their best to digest all of it. Fortunately, there are herbal allies we can call upon in such situations to support gastrointestinal function and ease digestive discomfort. We’ve combined four of these wonderful herbs into a simple and effective After-Dinner Digestive Tea recipe, featuring Harvesting Vitality’s Happy Belly Honey as a natural sweetener with herbal goodness of its own. 

Chamomile

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flowers have been a popular folk remedy since the times of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, when it was used to treat a wide variety of ailments. Among the many benefits attributed to this herb is its ability to support digestion. Prepared as a tea, in particular, it has a long history of use easing digestive disturbances that are accompanied by pain, from sluggish digestion to diarrhea to nausea. This wide-range of action combined with chamomile’s slightly sweet flavor makes this herb a great base for our Digestive-Aid Tea recipe.


Note: Although rare, some people are allergic to chamomile. A reaction is more likely to occur in those allergic to other plants in the Asteraceae family, such as ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, or daisies.

chamomile flowers on a table for a digestive tea recipe

Fennel 

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds have a carminative action, helping to minimize gas either by preventing its formation or facilitating its release from the body. Fennel seeds do this in part by relaxing the smooth muscles of the intestines, reducing gas, cramping, and bloating. Their volatile oils also stimulate the mucus membranes of the digestive tract, encouraging proper movement of the digestive walls. In addition to the role of these aromatic oils in supporting digestion, they give fennel seeds a mild anise flavor, making it a distinctive addition to the Digestive-Aid Tea recipe.

Ginger 

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) root has been used in China, India, and Southeast Asia for millennia to ease a gamut of gastric woes: nausea, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, belching, bloating, and ulcers. Today’s research tells us ginger is carminative (reduces gas), and encourages movement and healthy function of the gastrointestinal system. Studies have also confirmed ginger’s effectiveness in alleviating nausea and vomiting. Ginger brings all of this to the Digestive-Aid Tea recipe, with a pungent and warming, slightly spicy flavor.

ginger rhizome on a wooden table for a digestive tea recipe

Peppermint

Another herb with popular and long-standing use as a carminative, the volatile oils in peppermint (Mentha x piperita) have been shown to relax gastrointestinal tissues and soothe discomfort. Although studies of the effects of peppermint leaf and tea on digestion are very limited, clinical trials using peppermint oil capsules found evidence that peppermint oil decreased the duration, frequency, and severity of discomfort in children with abdominal pain. As the final herb in the Digestive-Aid Tea recipe, peppermint adds its carminative action along with the signature flavor of refreshing mint.

Happy Belly Honey

Harvesting Vitality’s Happy Belly Honey contains all four herbs described above, combined with several others to promote gastrointestinal wellness. These include additional carminatives, such as cardamom (Elettaria cardamommum) and agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria), along with herbs to soothe the gastrointestinal tract: plantain (Plantago spp.), marshmallow (Althea officinalis) root, and meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Finally, burdock (Arctium lappa) root is added to nurture the microbiome and support the hepatic system, which is responsible for detoxifying blood, metabolizing glucose, and synthesizing proteins. As a final touch to the After-Dinner Digestive Tea, Happy Belly Honey brings additional supports and a bit of sweet to the recipe.

Harvesting Vitality's Happy Belly Honey is a wonderful addition to a digestive tea recipe

After-Dinner Digestive Tea

Makes 16 servings.

 

Ingredients

¼ cup dried chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flower
¼ cup dried fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed
¼ cup dried peppermint (Mentha x piperita) leaf
¼ cup dried ginger (Zingiber officinale) root
1 spoonful of Happy Belly Honey for each serving 

 

Directions

  • Combine all the herbs in a big bowl, mix well to combine. Transfer to a clean, dry, glass container with a lid for storage, and label it clearly with the contents and date. 
  • For each serving, add 1 tablespoon of loose-leaf tea to a heat-proof container. Add 1 cup of steaming hot water per serving, and let steep, covered, for 10-12 minutes. 
  • Strain the herbs and pour the tea into mugs to serve.
  • Stir in a healthy dollop of our Happy Belly Honey to each mug to enhance the digestive properties and sweeten the overall flavor. 

In Closing, 

The herbs in this Digestive-Aid Tea recipe are ready to soothe and support you this holiday season. You might already have these popular kitchen spices in your cupboard. If not, gather the ingredients as you do your holiday shopping, and serve this tea as a healthful and tasty finale to your holiday meal. Your guests will thank you!

A mug of tea with a honey spoon

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Our 5 Favorite Herbs to Boost Immunity

A complex network of organs, cells, and tissues, the immune system is your body’s first line of defense against illness. Because it works within and between the body’s other systems, we can foster optimal immunity by bringing all of these systems into balance — a process that can be supported with herbs. Each of the following herbs brings a different superpower to the mix, from supplying high concentrations of an essential micronutrient to helping the body recover from stress to ushering you into a solid night’s sleep. These are our five go-to herbs to boost immunity!

Keep in mind that lifestyle choices, such as diet and stress, may outweigh the influence of any herb. We plan on diving into those elements in future posts, so stay tuned!

Herbs to Boost Immunity

Rosehips for Vitamin C

rosehips are one of our favorite herbs to boost immunity.

The fruit of wild roses (Rosa spp.) are called “rosehips” and they contain high concentrations of vitamin C — as much as 426 mg in a quarter cup! Vitamin C is known for its immune-boosting powers. Most animals can make their own vitamin C; however, humans cannot, so we have to get it entirely from outside sources. Taking at least 200 mg of vitamin C daily has been shown to decrease the length and potentially the severity of cold symptoms. In rosehips, compounds ranging from flavonoids and tannins to phenolic compounds and organic acids add to the natural benefits. 

Studies suggest that rosehips have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cancer-inhibiting actions, that they protect the liver, kidneys, and heart, and help to slow aging, making this herb a go-to among herbs to boost immunity. 


We love rosehips so much, that they’re one of the main ingredients in our Sailin the C’s: Vitamin C Honey

Sailin the C's Honey by Harvesting Vitality

Schisandra for Resilience to Stress

If chronic stress is the culprit for your depleted immunity, turn to schisandra (Schisandra chinensis) from a genus of twining and climbing shrubs. As an adaptogen, this little red berry helps our bodies handle and recover from stress by supporting the adrenal system. Although research on adaptogens is still emerging in Western medicine, a 2019 review of medical literature confirmed that the lignans in this genus have adaptogenic effects, and schisandra has a longstanding history of use in traditional Chinese medicine for improving vitality.


Find Schisandra chinensis combined with other adaptogens in our Bee Energee honey. Or learn more about adaptogenic herbs from our founder, Catie Winters, in this blog post: The Grace of Adaptogens through Transition and COVID 19

Passionflower for Better Sleep

Passionflower is a wonderful herb for immunity.

You’ve heard that “rest is best” when it comes to recovering from an illness — but do you know why? While you are sleeping, your body is actively fighting disease, increasing the number of “naive” T cells to respond to pathogens the immune system has not yet encountered. Your body also increases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, messenger molecules that let the immune system know when a problem is at hand. There is even evidence that your immune system creates its “memory” of a pathogen during night-time slumber.


In an era of smartphones and packed schedules, however, it can be difficult to transition from a busy day to a restful night’s slumber. Cue passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), a traditional herbal sedative that supports the body’s natural sleep cycles.


When it comes to relaxation, passionflower is a powerhouse. In our Sleepezzz: Deep Sleep Support honey it leads a formula of herbs designed to nourish and nurture the nervous system, ultimately promoting immune-supportive sleep.

Elderberry and Elderflower — Both Herbs to Boost Immunity

elder flower

Elder (Sambucus nigra) has been considered the “medicine chest of the country folk” for centuries and is often turned to in cases from stomach aches and sinus congestion to the common cold and rheumatism. 


While the berry of this shrub has received a great deal of attention as an immune-supporting and virus-inhibiting herb, the flower also has a rightful place among herbs to boost immunity. Elderflower has been shown to stimulate the immune system’s macrophage (“big eater”) cells and help antibodies bind to pathogens.


Combined with anise and other herbs in our Elder & Anise: Children’s Respiratory Immune Support honey, elderflower supports the immune system in a formula gentle enough for children. Note that elder is most beneficial taken at the first onset of symptoms, or even upon suspected exposure. 

Licorice for Antimicrobial Action and Adrenal Support

The rhizomes of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) have been shown to weaken virus activity, stimulate the immune system, and inhibit the activities of bacteria. All of this would likely be enough to secure its position as one of the top herbs to boost immunity, but licorice also helps us recover from stress by supporting balanced adrenal function. Many consider it an adaptogen, while others have pointed out that it does not strictly meet the criteria. Its actions are specific rather than nonspecific, and high doses taken regularly over time can affect health negatively.


Regardless of the label, researchers agree that licorice supports the adrenals — and it has a long history of use assisting the body during periods of fatigue and stress.


Licorice’s immune-boosting qualities make it an ideal addition to Harvesting Vitality’s Cold and Flu Away: Respiratory Immune Support honey.

Cold and Fly Away Honey by Harvesting Vitality

In Closing,

The plant world offers us delicious options for immune support with these five herbs to boost immunity. Consider stocking up on these honeys now so you have them on-hand when you need them most. 


If you feel under the weather and need one-on-one support, contact our founder, Catie, a certified clinical herbalist and clinical nutrition consultant, for an herbal consultation.


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5 Health Benefits of Honey — in Ancient Times and Today

Honey’s use for health and healing is older than the history we have to trace it. But the health benefits of honey are not merely ancient tales. Although scientific research once minimized traditional wisdom when it came to honey’s benefits, many researchers have validated the healing, revitalizing, and medicinal properties of honey in the last few decades. Here are five of the most impressive health benefits of honey, from thousands of years ago to today. 

A pot of honey on a wooden cutting board surrounded by fresh herbs

1. Increasing Longevity with Honey

India’s longstanding medical system, Ayurveda, regards honey as a wonder medicine capable of lengthening life. In the Ayurvedic tradition, honey is used to soothe ailments from upset stomachs to arthritis. But two of its most valued benefits are slowing the effects of aging and inhibiting cancer. To this end, honey is believed to be especially effective when mixed with cinnamon and taken daily, extending one’s lifespan and increasing stamina and strength in the elderly (Sampath-Kumar et al., 2010).

 

What does modern research say?

 

Although honey is composed primarily of sugars and water, it also contains trace amounts of vitamins and minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium, and the B vitamins riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, and folic acid (Ajibola et al., 2012). 


Importantly, honey contains several flavonoids and phenolic acids, antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals. Because free radicals damage DNA, reducing their presence does indeed slow aging and decrease the likelihood of cancer (Sampath-Kumar et al., 2010).

2. Supporting Gut Health

The importance of the gut microbiome is a trending topic in health circles today, but the concept has been around since at least the third or fourth century BC. That’s when the Greek physician Hippocrates is credited with saying, “All disease begins in the gut.”

 

Hippocrates was slow to prescribe drugs. Instead, he said, “I eat honey and use it in the treatment of many diseases because honey offers good food and good health,” (Boukraâ. 2014).

 

Recent research confirms that oligosaccharides are one of the health benefits of honey. These non-digestible prebiotic substances foster the growth of probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the gut microbiome, improving metabolic function. There is also a possibility that oligosaccharides work synergistically with honey’s antibacterial actions, although more research is needed to say for sure (Mohan et al., 2017).

3. Better for Blood Sugar

5 health benefits of honey

Speaking of honey and gut health, isn’t all that sugar bad for us? While some ancient texts specify that the health benefits of honey are optimized when it makes up a relatively small part of the diet, there is evidence that tribal peoples have relied on honey as a significant source of food. During honey season, Mbuti pygmies of the Congo get up to 80% of their caloric intake from honey. And for the Hadza of Tanzania, meat and honey combined make up 20% of the diet by weight, to no apparent ill effect (Boukraâ. 2014). It is important to remember, however, that the vast majority of indigenous peoples have a significantly different lifestyle and diet than the vast majority of us today, which is probably, in part, why they’re able to consume honey in such quantities with no ill effect. 

 

Per gram, honey has a more moderate effect on blood sugar levels than refined sugar (Shambaugh, Worthington, & Herbert). This also holds true with type I and type II diabetes, for which honey has been shown to have a significantly lower glycemic index than glucose or sucrose. Other studies have found that honey stimulates the secretion of insulin, decreases blood glucose levels, and elevates the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood (Eteraf-Oskouei & Najafi, 2013). That being said, it is still wise for most type 2 diabetics to significantly reduce or restrict sugars, even honey, and to consult with a qualified nutritionist or health care provider if they want to make honey a regular part of their diet.

4. The Antimicrobial Health Benefits of Honey

Ancient cultures would not have called honey antimicrobial. Still, honey’s ability to stop or slow pathogens is likely the reason it was used to treat such a wide variety of ailments. In Egypt, for instance, the substance was named 500 times in 900 remedies, (Zumla & Lulat, 1989). 

In Western medicine, the antibacterial activity of honey has been recognized since 1892. Subsequent research has shown that honey inhibits some 60 species of bacteria, from aerobes to anaerobes, gram-positives to gram-negatives (Eteraf-Oskouei & Najafi, 2013). 

 

And here we find one unexpected benefit of honey: where modern antibiotics destroy the bacterial cell wall or inhibit a cell’s metabolic pathways (Eteraf-Oskouei & Najafi, 2013), the antibacterial properties of honey are the result of low water activity, the presence of bactericidal substances, and high acidity (Sampath-Kumar et al., 2010). Because honey works differently than synthetic antibiotics, it has a possible advantage over antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains.


And while honey’s antibacterial actions have attracted more attention than its other antimicrobial effects, research has shown that honey can slow the growth of fungi including Candida, ringworm, and athlete’s foot. Honey has also shown promise as an antiviral, with uses in treating herpes lesions and inhibiting the activity of the rubella virus (Eteraf-Oskouei & Najafi, 2013).

5 health benefits of honey

5. Healing Wounds with Honey

On papyrus dating between 2,600 and 2,200 BC, Egyptians used hieroglyphics to document a treatment for a wound salve: a mixture of fat, honey, and lint or fiber (Zumla & Lulat, 1989).

 

This is one example of how honey’s antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties make it a stellar treatment for wounds. As the high sugar content keeps pathogens from growing, its low water content pulls unneeded water from the damaged tissue, effectively drying the wound (Sampath-Kumar et al., 2010).

 

A moist environment for a wound does have some advantages. Top among them is promoting epithelialization, a process in which epithelial cells migrate to the wound and repair it (Tan & Dosan, 2019).


Honey, however, seems to possess the benefits of both dry and moist wound dressings. Clinical observations have recorded that honey helps clear infection, inflammation, swelling, and pain. In addition, epithelialization is hastened, as is the generation of new connective tissue. Here, the health benefits of honey are that healing occurs quickly and with minimal scarring (Sampath-Kumar et al., 2010).

Harvesting Vitality

In closing, honey’s healing, revitalizing, and medicinal properties have been observed by humans across cultures for thousands of years. Today, the health benefits of honey are confirmed by medical research. Harvesting Vitality’s herbal honeys not only harness these benefits but elevate them by mixing locally-sourced Vermont honey with beneficial powdered organic herbs.

 

 Find herbal honeys for digestive health, whole system and body health, and more in Harvesting Vitality’s online store

 

Or make an appointment with owner Catie Winters, a clinical herbalist who can help you address specific health concerns. 

 

REFERENCES

 

Ajibola, A., Chamunorwa, J.P., & Erlwanger, K.H. (2012). Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutrition & Metabolism, 9, 61. https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-9-61

 

Boukraâ, L. (2014). Honey in traditional and modern medicine. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.

 

Eteraf-Oskouei, T., & Najafi, M. (2013). Traditional and modern uses of natural honey in human diseases: A review. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 16(6): 731–742.

 

Mohan, A., Quek, S.Y., Gutierrez-Maddox, N., Gao, Y., & Shu, Q. (2017). Effect of honey in improving the gut microbial balance. Food Quality and Safety, 1(2), 107–115, https://doi.org/10.1093/fqsafe/fyx015

 

Sampath-Kumar, K. P., Bhowmik, D., Chiranjib, Biswajit & Chandira, M.R. (2010). Medicinal uses and health benefits of honey: An overview. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2(1): 385-395.

 

Shambaugh, P., Worthington, V., Herbert, J.H. (1990). Differential effects of honey, sucrose, and fructose on blood sugar levels. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 13(6): 322-325.

 

Tan, S.T., Dosan, R. (2019). Lessons From Epithelialization: The Reason Behind Moist Wound Environment. The Open Dermatology Journal, 13: 34-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874372201913010034

 

Zumla, A. & Lulat, A. (1989), Honey — A remedy rediscovered. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 82: 384-385.

 

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The Grace of Adaptogens through Transition and COVID 19

We are nearing the end of summer, and what a unique and interesting summer it has been for so many of us. Big life changes have been catapulted into this shared reality and the looming question of whether or not school will begin in-person or if we will again go into lock-down, anxiously hangs over our hearts and minds.

 

These past months of the COVID 19 experience spans a wide spectrum on the stress scale for everyone on the planet. While many have been dropped into the depths of despair and utter loss, others have been left relatively unscathed. Beyond the necessary hard work and repair from such devastation globally, prayers of gratitude for what we have, focused vision for what we truly want to create for ourselves and a dedication towards health for all life, may steer us with clarity and a steadfast swiftness into the winds of change so needed at this time and sweeping us up regardless. We are far more powerful and capable, as individuals and a collective, than we remember. Several things that can impede our power are despair, isolation, disconnection and stress. We know that elevated stress (not the good kind, called eustress) can certainly have a negative impact on our health; the stress and fear response dampens the immune system and can promote inflammation and when left unchecked, can pave the way for chronic disease to set in.

 

There is a best-suited starting point for every unique individual to find a healthier balance in life; while some may need to focus inward and practice mindfulness and gratitude throughout their days, others truly need to focus on the physical body by eating healthier, increasing physical exercise or changing habits or lifestyles that are stressful to the body; perhaps finding ways to just get good sleep is significant enough for many. One thing is true for almost everyone on the planet right now; an increase in stress, whether it be psychological, physical, emotional or even spiritual has been ramped up significantly. Another thing is also true; we are in immense transition with incredible possibility surrounding us.

 

In addition to eating a healthy, highly plant-based and diverse diet, the medicinal plant world is there to support us through most anything that we could go through in life, including such stressful times. Adaptogenic plants assist us by lessening the stress load on the psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrine systems. Some of my most trusted adaptogenic allies that I include in my herbal honeys for stressful times (sometimes just everyday, modern life!) are Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera) in Queen Bee, Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) in Peaceful Mind, Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero) (Eleutherococcus senticosus), Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis), Gynostemma (Gynostema pentaphyllum) and Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) in Bee Energee, Tumeric (Curcuma longa) in Pot of Gold, among many others including our beloved and powerful Nettle (Urtica diocia) in Bee Nutritive, Bee Nourishing, Bee Energee, Breathe Easy. Their assistance not only helps us to feel better throughout our days, but also aids in physiologically maintaining balance and proper functioning within our body systems, most importantly our endocrine, neurologic and immune systems, thus mitigating any deleterious effects of more chronic stress. We also cannot discount the energetic and spiritual attributes of plant these medicines.

 

Nervine herbs also come to our rescue in stressful times, to support, calm and restore the nervous system. Some well known favorites, also included in many of Harvesting Vitality Herbal Honeys, are Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) in Sleepeez, Flower Power, Happy Belly, Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) in Sleepeez, Children’s Cool n’ CalmLemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) in Flower Power, Children’s Cool n’ Calm, Motherwort (Leonarus cardiaca) in Flower Power.

In addition to our herbal allies, strengthening communal ties, supportive networks and interpersonal bonds within our families and communities is also adaptogenic in many ways. Physical contact with our loved ones, such as cuddling, hugging, or hand-holding also strengthens our neurologic, endocrine and immune systems by increasing the production of endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine, the feel-good-hormones. In a time of decreased social contact, increasing this type of physical contact with those we feel safe to do so with can only be of significant benefit. Ultimately, love, not fear, is one of our greatest allies.

 

Pausing in moments throughout the day to acknowledge the state of our physical, psychological, spiritual and emotional body, allows us to breathe in possibility, strength and healing in perhaps entirely new and different ways; for what we need now, more than anything, is inclusiveness, expansion and empowerment, all of which cultivate the deep well of love we each have within us. Through the cultivation of love, we will be far more capable to stand firmly in the empowerment of each cell within our magnificent bodies; in the empowerment of the self and our greater purpose at this time; of our local communities coming together to support one another beyond our differences; and in the empowerment of our global community, collectively upholding the sacredness of Life.