Ginger is my friend

Ginger (Singiber officinalis) has been a lifesaver for me this past week. To be more specific, ginger candy. The IV steroid treatments I'm going thru leave a really bad metallic taste in my mouth after the IV has been running for about 30 minutes. It really tastes like I have been sucking on dirty quarter coins. Blehh! This has generally lasted about 24 hours, or just in time for my next treatment. I have found that citrus flavored things like juice and Starburst brand jelly beans help for a few minutes, but didn't do much for my stomach. Because I've been pretty out of it in general, I asked around a bit if anyone knew what might help. I should've thought of it myself because I use ginger in my tea formulas, but it never occurred to me to use it for this.
My friend, Kate, at TeaNoir, suggested the ginger and she was so right! it really helps the taste and the nausea I've been having immediately after the treatments. I'm sure that these would also help for anyone undergoing chemo treatments.

Kate said that ginger Altoids were really effective. Well, I couldn't find those, but I did get some ginger candy by these folks, GingerPeople. I liked these because they are individually wrapped so I can pop them into my purse. Of course, you could also get some bulk crystallized ginger at your local healthy grocer.

In my Throat & Cough Soother Organic Tea, I use powdered ginger as a circulatory stimulant and expectorant. It's good for cutting chills in the body if eaten in a meal, or taken as a tea when you are sick. Ginger oil or a poultice is also good to use in topical applications for rheumatic aches and pains. When massaged into the body, it brings blood to the area and increases circulation.

I think that I will have to take another look into cooking with fresh ginger root. I'm one of those people who always buy a piece of ginger, and then it sits in the back of my veggie bin in the fridge until it shrivels into nothing.

I haven't been able to think about eating anything fishy since I started the steroids. Once I get done with these treatments, I'm thinking shrimp, ginger and snow peas! I also found a recipe for Ginger and oatmeal muffins. Yum! If you have a good recipe with ginger, I'd love to see it! Post it in the comments!

New items!!!

Wow! It's Monday already? How did that happen?

Well, I've been busy getting my new tea ready for sale. The formulation and testing always take longer than I think, but being a bit of perfectionist when it comes to my products, I guess I shouldn't be surprised!

Drifting Away 100% Organic Herbal Loose Tea Blend is a relaxing blend of herbs to help you relax at the end of your busy day! If you're like me, once you lay your head on the pillow, you start thinking about your day: what happened, what you should/could/must do about EVERYTHING! Well, this gentle tea blend can help quiet that inner chatter! The key word here is Gentle! This won't zonk you out, just help you relax. It's also a good choice if you are taking a homeopathic sleep aid, as I formulated this blend without mint so it won't antidote your remedy. You might also like this tea when you get home from work, in the event of a very stressful day!

The other item I listed yesterday is this lovely Calcite Geode! It's unusual in it's formation due to a calcite crystal growing on the edge. This formation is referred to as a "diamond".It's a pretty little stone and I hope you like it!

Yesterday, I spent most of the day working. I took a bunch more photos of the crystals I have yet to list in my shop! Have you ever tried to photograph Labradorite? You know that beautiful blue flash you can see in it when you turn the stone to the light? Well, just try to capture that with a camera! Sheesh! I just about drove myself nuts with that! Anyway, once I get those photos edited to size and correct the color, I'll let you know.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

New Stuff!

I was delayed posting today due to another round of frozen pipes at my house this morning! This time the water main pressure switch was frozen, or so the plumber said. We had water when I got home from Vermont this morning, but only for an hour or so. Called the local plumbers and they were out here in about an hour! Love those guys! So, they got us going again, and now I can relax and regroup, not worry about possible broken pipes. Whew!

I want to tell you about a few new things in my shop! I have posted a couple more crystals, such as Lepidolite and a lovely enhydro Herkimer Diamond. I also have a new organic herbal loose tea sampler available. This pack has four of my most popular teas in it, so you can try them before you commit to a larger bag of any one kind of tea. Each packet makes about ten cups of tea. In a few days, I will be listing my new Drifting Away tea! This is my evening/bedtime relaxation blend. Of course, it's 100% organic, like everything else I make!

You're going to love it!

Red Clover for Magick & Medicine

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is one of my most favorite herbs! The part you would use are the flowering tops. The beautiful purple blossoms make a very healthy and delicious cup of tea.

It is known as an alterative herb. Alteratives help to gradually restore health and proper function to the body's systems. They aren't a quick fix, but help other herbs to work better in the body.

Red clover acts to purify the blood and is helpful for many chronic conditions. It is specific in rheumatoid arthritis formulas and acts as a mild nervine to relax you. It is also wonderful to strengthen your hair and nails, being specific for childhood eczema. It is gentle enough to drink every day as part of a vitamin and mineral blend (I've included it in my Daily Support Tea).

Red Clover will grow almost everywhere in North America, and in Europe. I can't find published accounts of it being used as a healing herb in very arid areas. This herb, like most "weeds" grows readily near where people have disturbed the earth. If you want to harvest the blossoms, make sure that the plants are growing in areas that haven't been sprayed with chemicals and aren't by roadways. Cut the flowers off when fully opened, and dry on paper in a warm, shady area. Then store away from light or heat once dry.

Brew one tablespoon of flowers , lightly crushed, per cup, covered for 10-20 minutes, depending on taste.

Magickally, Red Clover has some very useful properties. Scott Cunningham writes in his Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs:

"Gender: Masculine, Planet: Mercury, Element: Air, Deity: Rowen,

Powers: Protection, Money, Love, Fidelity, Exorcism, Success. "

Of course, the four-leaved clover is well known to bring luck. Red clover can aid in prosperity particular to specific deals you may be working on. It also can help with cleansing negative energy from a space, particularly from past Spirits. I like to have clover growing near my front

door. It helps to clear the energies approaching my house. (that's another whole subject).

Clover is said to ease a broken heart, as well.

These are just a few of the wonderful properties of Red Clover!