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You just tried to make my Triple Black Vegan Cake. It took you a month to gather all the hard-to-find ingredients because you had to go to Mt. Kilimanjaro to buy organic black beluga lentils, and that in itself was a 17 hour flight there and back. Then, you had to stay up all night grinding the lentils into flour, which woke up your angry neighbors because the Vitamix was obnoxiously loud. When the cake was finally ready to eat, your Wendy’s Eating Husband hated it, and you thought it was just OK because you’re still getting used to the unsweetened life. After all that, you had to go to counseling to work through forgiving me for ruining your life, all for an allergy friendly, blood sugar friendly cake.

Well, you won’t need therapy after making calendula infused olive oil, because it is so easy to make. The ingredients are simple: dried calendula flowers, olive oil, and vitamin E. Even the Wendy’s Eating Husband wouldn’t complain about making this one, because he can’t stand long, drawn-out archerfriendly projects (isn’t it obvious that he likes the drive-thru?).

First things first, you need a crock-pot. I used the little one Mama Crow gave me in college when I got Interstitial Cystitis (IC). It was to help me make special IC friendly food. Oh, I forgot to tell you about Mama Crow. That’s my mom, and that’ll be her name around here, just like the other special names we have for people (WEH, WEBIL, CLD). Tuck Mama Crow somewhere in your brain for now, because I’ll write more about her in another post. We must get back to business before you get all huffy with impatience.

I make calendula infused olive oil via the digestion method. Dried calendula flowers fill a half pint canning jar. The dried flowers are fully covered in cold pressed, organic extra virgin olive oil. The jar is sealed with a toxic, BPA containing lid, and placed in a crock-pot water bath for two days (yes, those metal canning lids are not so healthy-hippie after all). Some people say that 10 days is the ideal time to make medicated oil in a water bath. I do a shortened version for 2 days, and the medicated oil always works wonderfully for me regardless. Let’s let go of perfection and call it good.

When the time is up, the calendula is strained out of the oil, and vitamin E is added to preserve it. The oil should be stored in the fridge to prevent it from going rancid. Now that you have calendula infused olive oil, you can do a million things with it!

Calendula infused olive oil can be used as:

• a skin moisturizer for anybody but especially for babies
• a topical agent for eczema
• a topical agent for burns
• a topical agent for diaper rash
• a topical agent for healing scars
• a topical anti-inflammatory agent
• a substitute for olive oil in homemade salad dressings for an extra gut healing boost
• a base for homemade herbal salve (ointment)
• a base for homemade herbal chapstick
• a base for homemade herbal face cream or herbal body lotion
• a base for homemade herbal conditioner
• a base for a facial cleanser via the oil cleansing method

Calendula Infused Olive Oil
Recipe for about 1 half pint canning jar of medicated oil

What You Need:

• dried calendula flowers (enough to fill one half pint glass canning jar)
• cold pressed organic extra virgin olive oil
• 1-2 vitamin E capsules
• 2 half pint glass canning jars with metal canning lid (1 for making it and 1 for storing it)
• a crock-pot that has a warm setting
• thermometer
• water
• stainless steel strainer
• cheese cloth
• bowl for straining the oil

Procedure:

1. Fill half pint jar about 80% with dried calendula flowers.
2. Pour olive oil on flowers until they are completely covered with olive oil, and then some.
3. Seal jar with metal canning lid.
4. Place jar in crock-pot. Add enough water to surround the jar in about a 1 inch water bath.
5. Turn crock-pot on warm, and note the time.
6. Periodically check the temperature of the water bath, ensuring it stays around 100°F. If the temperature goes a little too high, add ice.
7. After 48 hours, turn off crock-pot and remove jar from the water bath. The metal lid might be hot and you may need to use a pot holder.
8. Set up a stainless steel strainer to rest over a bowl. Place cheesecloth inside the strainer, making a double filter. Pour the flower and oil mixture through this set-up. What gets in the bowl is your calendula infused olive oil.
9. Transfer calendula infused olive oil to a clean half pint canning jar. Add 1-2 vitamin E capsules. If oil is not used right away, place a metal canning lid on it, and store it in the refrigerator.

Notes:

• To make more than what 1 half pint glass canning jar can make, double, triple, or quadruple the recipe above. You can have more than one jar in the crock-pot at a time, as long as it all fits in there.
• One half pint glass canning jar will lose about 25 mL of olive oil in the process, since both the calendula flowers and the cheese cloth absorb the oil.

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Getting enough sleep has been a long term issue for me, not because of insomnia, but because of my perfection-productivity personality complex. After years of pushing myself through medical school on sleep fumes with two little kids, my body can no longer tolerate sleep deprivation.

It’s been hard to remedy the situation because I am stuck in a vicious sleep deprivation cycle (or I just love my bad habits too much). I drink coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. I brain crash habitually by 6:30pm, if not earlier. This is when I enter the anti-productivity zone. My brain and body are too tired to function until I get my second wind around 9pm. Then, I’ll get so excited that I actually feel alive, that I’ll get to all the tasks I put aside from 6:30 – 9pm. Before I know it, it’ll be 11pm, and I’ll feel more energized than I’ve felt all day. The productivity queen in me will want to finish all the tasks I abandoned earlier, which will put me to bed around midnight or later. The next day, the girls will wake me up by 6:30am, and the cycle repeats.

I’m desperate to forever break out of this unhealthy sleep deficient lifestyle. I crave a life that blesses me with quality sleep. This won’t happen on it’s own. I have to make it happen. I have to intentionally make a new way, an escape, out of the old sleep deprived life and into the new sleep sufficient life.

Statistics tell me that you’re not getting enough sleep either, so here’s the escape, for you and for me.

1. GET IN BED, on time, every day, at the same time.

Your body really does work like a clock, and it runs by a rhythm. Do your best to get in bed at the same time every single day. No more of these 11pm, 11:30pm, and midnight bed times when your kids wake up at 6am everyday.

2. Get off the coffee crutch.

Coffee is the jet fuel for the sleep deprivation ferris wheel. It numbs out your awareness of how tired you really are, and leads you to falsely believe that you can get away with little sleep. If you don’t drink it, you’ll realize how tired your body really is.

3. Drink green tea.

Green tea has enough caffeine for a mini pick-me-up, but without a 4:00 pm coffee crash. It’s loaded with antioxidants, so it will also fight any inflammation in your body that’s contributing to your fatigue. Besides, sleep deprivation is pro-inflammatory.

4. Drink more water.

Sleep deprivation leads to dehydration because you forget to drink water, and dehydration makes you tired. It’s a double whammy. Drinking all the water you need may take the edge off your sleepiness in a way that helps you do what you need to do so that you can get in bed when you need to get in bed.

5. Stop eating the foods that make you feel like crap.

Sleep deprivation confuses your hunger cravings, which can lead you to eat foods that make you feel even more tired. When you’re sleep deprived is when you need to be eating the best. You need to eat the food that will optimize the little energy you do have from living on so little sleep.

6. Stop eating before bed.

Insufficient sleep results in a decrease in the hormone that makes you feel satiated from food (the hormone is leptin). This not only leads to overeating but eating at inappropriate times. Eating before bed can keep you awake longer than you intend to be, thus propelling the sleep deprivation cycle. Either you’re eating instead of sleeping, or you’re not able to fall asleep right away because you’re getting acid reflux from laying down too soon after eating.

7. Take energy supporting supplements.

B complex vitamins and adrenal supporting herbs can throw you a rescue rope. They shouldn’t be used as a substitute for sleep, but they can get you through the sleep deprivation like nothing else. Sometimes you need this kind of energy to get your life back on track so that you can actually sleep. Don’t be your own doctor. See a licensed naturopathic doctor who can prescribe the best supplements for your situation.

8. Exercise

It sounds so counterintuitive, but exercise is the best antidote for fatigue. Exercise will also improve your quality of sleep.

9. Complete essential tasks before luxuries.

Ask yourself, “What do I need to do today so that I can get in bed early?”. Do those things before you spend your time on non-essentials. Finish what’s required of you, when it’s required of you, and then if there’s leftover time, you can indulge (but not if it’s going to keep you up late).

10. Don’t sit in front of a screen when you only have enough energy to lift one finger to click.

I have a friend that struggles with chronic fatigue, and she told me a little secret. When she opens her laptop, she stands. Because she’s so tired, if she sat down, she wouldn’t be able to get up. If you need to check something on your computer briefly, stand to do it, and then be on your merry way. And by all means, do not turn on the tv when you have energy this low! Get in bed.

11. Create a social media bedtime.

Many people lay in bed with their phones, scrolling their Facebook or Instagram feeds right before (and after) they turn out the light. Then, they’re complaining about how tired they are the next day. If you’re so tired, then you should not be on social media when you should be sleeping. Using social media immediately before bed is especially a bad idea because the type of light emitted from the cell phone can negatively affect your melatonin secretion (melatonin is a sleep hormone).

12. Let Go.

Fifteen minutes before your bed time, it’s time to stop your day and get ready for bed. Let go of the unfinished tasks you weren’t able to complete in time and bless them for tomorrow.

Are you currently stuck on the sleep deprivation ferris wheel? How can you get the sleep you really need? 

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Before I had Selah, my first baby girl, I made her homemade diaper salve and baby lotion. The herbal show-off in both of these products? Calendula! In case you don’t know, a salve is an ointment made out of beeswax and herbal infused olive oil.

Calendula is otherwise known as marigold, it’s common name. The flowers are the medicinal part of the plant, and they are packed with many herbal capabilities. Its number one application is for healing the skin externally and mucous membranes internally. Calendula can circulate lymphatic fluid, kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus, and also support the immune system.

Herbal First Aid Remedy

We keep a calendula based salve stocked in our house at all times. I just quized the Wendy’s Eating Husband by asking him what we use it for. His answer? Burns! He’s really catching on to our naturopathic infused household. Calendula is an excellent choice for your herbal first aid kit. It is a classic wound healing herb. Calendula can heal lacerations, burns, and skin abrasions. It should only be used on wounds once they have been cleaned.

Safe & Amazing for Sensitive Baby Skin

Gentle and safe for babies, calendula is one of the best herbs to consider for herbal baby products. That’s probably why Weleda makes Calendula Baby Cream and other calendula based baby products. I used a calendula based diaper salve for both my baby girls, and there’s nothing that works like it. It can heal diaper rash overnight. Powdered calendula or calendula infused olive oil can also be used. A study compared the effects of calendula to aloe vera in the treatment of diaper diaper rash. Although both were effective, calendula resulted in fewer rash sites.¹

Internally Good for Stomach Ulcers & Urinary Tract Conditions

Calendula is a demulcent that can heal internal inflammation and irritation. Licorice root and marshmallow root are also demulcent herbs. Calendula can heal stomach ulcers, and even mitigate some of the inflammation in interstitial cystitis. It’s has an anti-inflammatory effect on all of the membranes it touches, from the mouth to the anus.  When it comes to urinary tract infections, it not only soothes and heals irritated tissue, but it also helps to kill the bugs.

Excellent Postpartum Herb

Calendula salve made with beeswax works wonders for the cracked, sore nipples that occur from a newborn learning to nurse. It’s safe if the baby gets it in his mouth. Calendula flowers are used in herbal sitz bath formulas to heal torn tissue after a vaginal delivery. I used herbal sitz baths containing calendula after both of my vaginal deliveries.

Ear Infections, Gingivitis, & Conjunctivitis

Calendula works really well for ear infections when it is in mullein and garlic oil formulas.  Calendula works synergistically with the mullein and garlic to quell ear pain and fight the infection. When used as a mouth rinse, calendula can fight gingivitis bacteria and decrease gingival inflammation. It can also be used as a compress or eye rinse in allergic or infectious conjunctivitis

Can Heal External Hemorrhoids & Anal Fissures

Hemorrhoids are much more common than you would think. If you start asking around, I bet you’d find a few people in your circle that have regular rectal bleeding due to hemorrhoids. People get a little skeevy about this, so they avoid the doctor. This is dangerous! Rectal bleeding can be a sign of colon cancer. Calendula salve can heal those external hemorrhoid puppies right up! Imagine, a life with no rectal bleeding!

Any Skin Condition Can Benefit from Calendula

Calendula can be used for almost any skin condition. It can be used topically on eczema, psoriasis, molluscum contagiosum, and chicken pox.

Herbal Beauty

With calendula’s affinity for the skin, its strong anti-inflammatory capacities, and because it’s an antiseptic, it can prevent blemishes. I actually use calendula salve as a make-up remover, in hopes that the calendula will work its magical anti-inflammatory powers to prevent dark bags under my eyes. I’ve been wanting to try the oil cleansing method to wash my face, but I’ve been waiting on it because a step up from using plain olive oil would be using calendula infused olive oil. I just need to find the time to make it! Rosemary Gladstar, in her book, Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, has a recipe for herbal shampoo, and I’m dying to make my own calendula infused version of it.

If you would like to start using Calendula officinalis medicinally, please consult your naturopathic doctor. A licensed healthcare practitioner can tailor the dose according to your needs.

References
<sup>1. Panahi Y, Sharif MR, Sharif A, et al. A randomized comparative trial on the therapeutic efficacy of topic aloe vera and Calendula officinalis on diaper dermatitis in children. Scientific World Journal. Epub 2012 Apr 19.
2. Yarnell, Eric. Compendium of Pharmacological Actions of Medicinal Plants and Their Constituents. 2009.</sup>

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To ensure that you won’t give your future naturopathic doctor the stink eye when she prescribes you a bunch of supplements, here’s my mother load. I snapped these photos 3 days before my clinical licensing examinations, so I was a little OCD about taking everything. I also had an extra supplement in there that I took only for brain juice, which I’ll talk about soon.

This photo project was a fun study break to the monotony of studying all day long. I didn’t have many minutes to spare, so all the photos were quickly taken on my Android instead of my digital SLR.

Before breakfast, I had two Gaia Thyroid Support capsules (caps), one Ashwagandha cap by Ayush Herbs, and one Bacopa Plus cap, also by Ayush Herbs. The Gaia Thyroid Support caps are the two in the middle. I took these pills as soon as I woke up in the morning, on an empty stomach. I regularly take the Thyroid Support because I’ve been borderline hypothyroid for a number of years, and I regularly use the Ashwagandha as an adrenal supplement. The Bacopa Plus was the extra pill that I don’t normally take. I took it to better my memory since I had been feeling brain dead from studying so much.

Still before breakfast, I had some glutamine powder by Vital Nutrients that I mixed in water and slurped up with a straw. I take glutamine powder to help heal my intestines in hopes to get rid some of my food reactions.

With breakfast that day, I took digestive enzymes with HCl (Panplex 2-Phase by ITI), vitamin C, a prenatal pill (Ultra Natal by Biogenesis), two Quercetin + Nettle caps by Designs for Health, and a Multi-B Complex cap by ITI. The digestive enzymes with HCl help my body break down food so that I can absorb it better. The vitamin C was for allergies and to also keep abdominal pain at bay since the two Quercetin + Nettle caps didn’t work as well for me as my straight up quercetin from Scientific Botanicals. Speaking of quercetin, it’s the first thing that made my daily abdominal pain go away. I took the prenatal pill in place of a multivitamin because I was still nursing Re’uth, and since one serving is divided into 3 pills, you’ll see it two more times (quality vitamins are almost always packaged in more than one pill). The Multi-B Complex was for energy and stamina in the face of severe adrenal fatigue.

With lunch, I had the enzymes and HCl again, my prenatal pill again (which I labeled MVM in the picture and stands for multivitamin and mineral), two caps of Glucosamine & Chondroitin by Vital Nutrients, the Quercetin + Nettles again, and vitamin D. One time when I was a distance runner I decided to see how long I could wear a pair of running shoes until they gave out. I did it without orthotics and completely killed my knees, so that’s why I take it. Knee pain as a result of joint wear and tear. I don’t always take the vitamin D everyday, especially in the summer. But because I am always below normal on my labs and I live in Seattle and I didn’t want to get sick right before my exams, I took it.

Around 4:00pm and on an empty stomach, I took a second Gaia Thyroid Support cap, a second Ashwagandha cap, and a second Bacopa Plus cap.

With dinner, I had the enzymes and HCl tablet, my prenatal pill, two Quercetin + Nettles caps, vitamin C, and Nordic Naturals Cod Liver Oil. I regularly take cod liver oil for its omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory. It helps to decrease my food reactions and keeps my skin looking pretty. Plus, your body’s omega-3 stores get depleted when you’re nursing a little one.

A little after dinner, I had some Theobroma cacao and Coffea arabica chewable supplements. While these plants were part of my naturopathic medical program, this is just my fancy way of saying I had some chocolate covered espresso beans. GOTCHA! Totally not a supplement. They’re too sugary to be medicinal, and I ate them for some extra zing to study that evening. In case you’re curious, we bought them at Trader Joe’s and I wish they made them with half the sugar.

Right before bed, I had an effervescent calcium magnesium powder by Thorne that I mixed in water and drank with a straw. It’s sour! As you can see by the little fingers, someone woke up and I did all of this one handed. I don’t take the calcium everyday.

What wasn’t pictured from this day is a probiotic. I usually take a Therbiotic Complete probiotic by Klaire Labs everyday with dinner. I don’t know why I didn’t take it with dinner on this particular day.

How many pills did I swallow? Twenty five. It would have been 28 if I remembered my probiotic at dinner and took a second dose of the glucosamine and chondroitin.

It’s true that naturopathic doctors can prescribe a lot of supplements, but ideally, we don’t want you taking them just as much as you don’t want to be swallowing 25 pills a day. I certainly don’t want to be swallowing 25 pills a day for the rest of my life. But we live in a ruined world with ruined bodies. Supplements have helped my body function when it had nothing, and they also serve as prevention. The cod liver oil prevents cardiovascular disease and my calcium supplement prevents osteoporosis. My health wouldn’t be where it is today without them.

This post has stimulated speculation over how much we actually spend on supplements, so I hope to write a post on that in the near future.

Just because I take these supplements for the very little reasons given doesn’t mean that you should. Do not take these supplements because you see me doing it. Consult your naturopathic physician prior to starting any supplements.

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I’m almost done my last quarter as a student clinician at the Bastyr teaching clinic.  Lucky for me, I get to finish my student career on two different specialty shifts that focus on diabetes and cardiovascular wellness.  I absolutely love this area of medicine!

On these shifts, I have seen several patients seeking natural treatment for atrial fibrillation.  Initially, this surprised me because I didn’t realize how popular this heart condition was.  After I looked it up on MDConsult (an online tool for doctors loaded with medical info), I learned that atrial fibrillation is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia.  I probably learned that before, in pathology class or cardiology class, but apparently I don’t remember everything to a T.  That’s OK, though!

First things first.  If you want to be a cool cat, you have to say “a-fib” instead of atrial fibrillation.  In very watered down terms, a-fib occurs when the atria, your upper heart chambers, flutter like crazy.  Obviously, that’s not good.  A-fib occurs most frequently in those 65 and older.  It is rare to occur in kids.

The first time I saw atrial fibrillation on our patient schedule, I thought to myself, “naturopathic medicine’s got nothing for that.”  Boy, was I wrong, wrong, wrong.  There’s actually a lot that naturopathic medicine can offer atrial fibrillation, but only as adjunctive care.  All of the patients I have seen have been concurrently under the care of their cardiologist and on medication to manage their a-fib.

Complementary and alternative medicine addresses three key areas to improve the health of those with a-fib:

1.  Diet

A healthy diet affects everything, even a-fib.  Alcohol, caffeine, and chocolate can aggravate it.  A naturopathic physician can fine tune your diet for optimal cardiovascular health.

2.  Lifestyle

It is very interesting how much mismanaged stress can exacerbate atrial fibrillation.  A 2013 study based on subjective reports from patients found that those people who suffer from persistent a-fib also have emotional distress.¹  This isn’t an Einstein discovery.  Poorly managed stress ruins good health.

Yoga can improve a-fib symptoms and may reduce its incidence.  This is fascinating, since yoga can also improve one’s quality of life and, aha, reduce stress.  There are actually some published research studies that discuss the benefits of yoga in those with atrial fibrillation.

3.  Natural Supplements

There are multiple natural supplements that can benefit atrial fibrillation.  Each supplement must be carefully considered in terms of one’s underlying cardiac conditions, other health problems, and medications.  Supplements for a-fib should never be taken willy nilly (I love saying that phrase), and should only be used under the supervision of a naturopathic physician who feels confident co-managing atrial fibrillation with a conventional cardiologist.  Not all NDs feel comfortable doing this.

Some supplements include, but are not limited to, magnesium glycinate, vitamin D, fish oil, hawthorne berry, CoQ10, L-carnitine, and D-ribose.  I’m not telling you these supplements so that you can prescribe them yourself, but to say that, yes, there are natural things you can take to benefit your a-fib.  Self-prescribing natural supplements for atrial fibrillation can be dangerous.  A naturopathic doctor knows the right brands to use, the appropriate biochemical form of the supplement for optimal effectiveness (because they can vary), and the ideal dose.

A licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) can offer many different natural therapies to complement the conventional management of a-fib by your cardiologist.  He or she can assist you in finding the best diet, the best lifestyle choices, and the best supplements to reduce a-fib symptoms, occurrence, and adverse complications.  Since not all naturopaths feel comfortable working with this condition, call in advance to check.  If you can’t find an ND in your area that will work with a-fib, some offer phone consults.

References:

^{1.  Kupper N, van den Broek KC, Widdershoven J, et al.  Subjectively reported symptoms in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and emotional distress.  Frontiers in Psychology.  2013 April 24;4:192.}

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I first heard about WishGarden Herbal Remedies from a patient, who reported that she was taking Kick-Ass Immune tincture.  “Did she just say the a– word?”, I asked myself, before I had her repeat the tincture again.  I heard right.  She really was taking Kick-Ass Immune tincture.

This company has the funnest names I have ever seen for botanical formulations.  How about KungF’u Fighter?  Maybe they are all on Genius Juice over there in Colorado.

WishGarden makes herbal formulas in the form of tinctures, teas, salves, and more.  Tinctures are fresh or dried herbs that are extracted in alcohol or glycerin.  The herb gets strained out, and the remaining liquid is what’s in the bottle.  In herbal medicine, it is common practice to combine several different herbs in a single formulation with a chief purpose in mind.  The herbs usually bring different properties to the table, and can also work synergistically for an amplified effect.  Each herb in a botanical formula is carefully chosen in an attempt to ensure optimal balance for the optimal effect.

All of WishGarden’s herbs are certified organic or harvested in the wild.  I especially LOVE that they make a special line of products for pregnant moms and another line just for kids.  What’s even cooler?  The company is woman-owned!

WishGarden offered me no free products or money to host this giveaway.  They’re giving you all the loot!  They are generously giving 3 tinctures away to two lucky winners.  Two winners will receive the following three tinctures, free of shipping charges:

1.  Kick-Ass Immune
2.  Kick-Ass Sinus
3.  Serious Relaxer

I’ll announce the winners at the top of this post on Monday morning.

To enter, see the giveaway below.  Only a comment on this post is required, but there are many other options to earn additional entries.  Make sure to click the large green button for each option completed in order to earn a point for that entry.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

By participating in this giveaway you are acknowledging that I am in no way whatsoever diagnosing or treating your health condition.  A consultation with a registered herbalist or licensed naturopathic physician is recommended prior to using any herb.

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I’m so glad that I photographed Scotch broom last May. I took these photos a year in advance knowing that May through August of this year would be a time starved season.  It is!  I will be Dr. Archer in 42 days.

Scotch broom’s formal latin name is Cytisus scoparius, and the plant is botanically a legume.  It is most widely known as a weed and not a medicinal herb. In the Pacific Northwest, it blooms in May with dandelion colored flowers.

I got all these Scotch broom shots at a local Seattle beach on a sunny spring Saturday morning. The entire family was with me, so we didn’t miss the opportunity to snag some shots of the girls. The Wendy’s Eating Husband got to play photographer while I played hide and seek.  In the photo below, I’m ducked behind the log where Selah and Re’uth are sitting, secretly stabilizing Re’uth.  At 9 months old, she was a little wobbly on there.  Doesn’t all the Scotch broom in the background look like a fake pull down screen?

Herbal Antiarrhythmic Agent

The human heart has a regular rate and rhythm.  When this rhythm goes haywire, it’s known as an arrhythmia.  The location of the arrhythmia determines its severity.  An example of an arrhythmia would be atrial fibrillation, which is one of the most common types of arrhythmias.

Scotch broom is an herbal anti-arrythmic agent, but it is not commonly used.  Many naturopathic physicians feel more comfortable with pharmaceutical interventions in this situation.  However, Dr. John Sherman, ND, said in The Complete Botanical Prescriber, that “atrial and ventricular fibrillation seem to disappear” with the use of Cytisus scoparius.¹  This property is most likely do to a constituent in Scotch broom known as sparteine.  This constituent used to be available on the market by itself and was a class 1a antiarrythmic agent.  Sparteine was taken off the market by the FDA.

Diuretic

Scotch broom has a diuretic effect on the body, which may make it useful for edema caused by a cardiac condition.  In case you don’t know what a diuretic is, it helps to pull water out of the body.

Cautions

• Due to its alkaloid content, Scotch broom is a toxic, low dose herb.
• This herb should only be used under the supervision of a licensed naturopathic physician.  It can actually cause arrhythmias if used inappropriately.
• Scotch broom has an oxytocic effect, meaning that it can stimulate strong contractions of the uterus.  It should not be used during pregnancy, except for labor induction at full term.
• Avoid the use of Scotch broom if you have atrioventricular block, heart failure, or hypertension.

References:
<sup>1.  Sherman, J.  The Complete Botanical Prescriber.  Third Edition, 1993.
2.  Yarnell, E.  Cytisus scoparius.  Monograph.  Bastyr University, 2008.</sup>

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Licorice chew sticks!?

I get excited easily.  I found them while I was at the herb shop to purchase Wise Woman’s Children’s Glycerite during our share of the neverending cold. Discovering the licorice chew sticks was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow when you’ve been trudging through grey clouds and non-stop rain.  I was grumpy and sleep deprived, but a 15 minute stop at the herb shop brought me to life again.

My mind revved with ideas of what I could do with the licorice twigs.  The best idea I had was dipping them in unsweetened chocolate.  Licorice root is naturally super sweet.  One of it’s constituents, glycyrrhizin, is about 170 times sweeter than sugar!¹  I thought the licorice twigs would have the same flavor as the root, and thus, pair well with unsweetened chocolate.

If you think I have strange stevia taste buds, and you don’t like the weird, mostly unsweetened food I make around these parts, then you better not gnaw on licorice sticks (unless you want to quit smoking).  They are unbearably sweet and bitter at the same time.  So no, they would not taste good dipped in any kind of chocolate.

Fortunately, the medicinal part of licorice comes from the root and not the sticks.  The taste of licorice root is quite palatable in the form of DGL, tincture, and tea.  No need to project your childhood black jelly bean trauma onto it because the licorice flavor is much more subtle and earthy.

At least the sticks make for a cute picture.  The plant I photographed in the Bastyr herb garden was looking a little whimpy.

What’s DGL?

My 19 month old, Re’uth, knows where the DGL is stored in our kitchen.  Whenever that cupboard is opened, she starts pointing and vocalizing the “Ooooo OOOOoo OOO”, indicating that she wants her daily dose of DGL.  DGL is the de-glycyrrhizin-ated form of licorice.  Glycyrrhizin is a constituent in licorice root that can mess with your electrolytes and cause hypertension.  It’s the main reason why straight-up licorice root should not be consumed every day over a long period of time. Glycyrrhizin is the big daddy constituent in licorice root, so when it’s removed, a lot of its herbal properties are removed with it.  DGL’s main bust is for healing stomach ulcers.

DGL Is Safe for Kids

I give DGL to Selah and Re’uth because of how reactive they are to many different foods.  I was hoping (and so was their pediatrician) that it would help to minimize their food reactivity by taking down some of their GI tract inflammation, but I haven’t noticed a difference.  Their pediatrician recently said that I could stop giving it to them, but if they love it, there’s no harm in continuing it. Re’uth has been getting DGL since she was 12 months old, but it’s safe for babies younger than that because the risky part of it has been removed — the glycyrrhizin.  Of course, consult your pediatrician first.

Five Star Anti-Ulcer Agent

Licorice is in the business of healing mouth ulcers, esophageal ulcers, stomach ulcers, and duodenal ulcers.  It is a demulcent, which means that it coats, soothes, and heals irritated mucous membranes (we talked about demulcents before).  Licorice is most often used as a demulcent in the form of DGL, since DGL preparations retain most of this activity and can be used indefinitely. DGL is frequently used for chronic acid reflux in order to heal irritated stomach and esophageal tissue.  It doesn’t necessarily treat the cause of reflux.  Healing the esophagus and stomach with DGL not only means less pain, but more importantly, a decreased risk of esophageal and gastric cancer.

Mimics Pharmaceutical Corticosteroids

Corticosteroid drugs like hydrocortisone and prednisone are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that work well.  Their downside is immune system suppression and inhibition of cartilage synthesis. Do note that suppressing the immune system is not always a terrible thing as it can be lifesaving in some situations.  However, because they inhibit your body from making cartilage, they have a tendency to weaken connective tissue (skin, ligaments, tendons, bones, etc.).

Licorice root mimics the action of pharmaceutical corticosteroid drugs on a smaller scale by prolonging the life of cortisol in the body.  It does this by inhibiting the enzyme that breaks down cortisol both in the liver and the kidneys.  Increased cortisol in the body leads to a systemic anti-inflammatory effect.  What’s amazing is that licorice root modulates the immune system instead of suppressing it (like pharmaceutical steroids do).  I’m tempted to say that licorice root stimulates the immune system so that you get what it does, but I was taught to avoid using that phrase, as it’s not entirely accurate.  You can think of “modulates the immune system” as in it helps your immune system work for you and not against you.

Hepatitis Helper

Licorice root is a liver protector, meaning that it helps to keep liver damage at bay.  The constituent that’s removed from DGL, glycyrrhizin, can benefit both hepatitis B and C.  Most of the current research available has been extrapolated from a special IV formula called Stronger Neominophagen C, which contains glycyrrhizin, cysteine, and glycine in a saline base.  Some studies have shown that it can lower liver enzymes and mitigate symptoms for those with Hepatitis B or C.  Outside the body (in vitro), two studies have shown glycyrrhizin to stymie the hepatitis B virus from producing hepatitis B surface antigen.^2,3  Oral licorice root products for the treatment of hepatitis B and C have much less research, but they may result in similar benefits.

Herpes Outbreak Prevention & Pain Reduction

Licorice root is an herbal anti-viral agent that works particularly well for the herpes family viruses.  A study compared the effectiveness of glycyrrhizin (the big daddy constituent in licorice root) to acyclovir, gamma-globulin, and interferon beta in the treatment of herpes zoster.  Out of all of them, acyclovir worked best, but glycyrrhizin came in second place!⁴  Glycyrrhizin can inactivate the herpes simplex virus.^5,6  A 2005 study found a different licorice root constituent, glycyrrhetic acid, to be 10 times more effective than glycyrrhizin in its anti-viral activity against herpes simplex 1.  All this to say that topical and oral licorice root may prevent oral and genital herpes outbreaks. If an outbreak does occur, licorice root can lessen the pain and possibly the duration of the lesion when it is applied topically.  Some people like this topical licorice product.

Herbal Relief for Lung Ailments, Allergies, & Menopause

My clinical board review book (for my ND licensing exams coming up in August) says that licorice “does everything but shine your shoes”.⁷  There are many more uses for licorice than what I mentioned here.  It can work wonders in the lungs, be it for a cough, bronchitis, or asthma.  It works well used in the short term for adrenal fatigue and can also be brought on board for Addison’s disease.  Some practitioners use it for allergies.  Licorice root is also a phytoestrogen, which means that it can help to offset menopausal symptoms.

Safety

Licorice root can be dangerous when consumed inappropriately.  Using licorice root medicinally requires medical supervision by a licensed professional.  This is due to glycyrrhizin, a constituent of licorice root that can mess up your electrolytes and cause hypertension.  Licorice root (excluding DGL) causes your body to excrete potassium.  It should not be combined with medications that also cause potassium excretion.

If you would like to start using Glycyrrhiza glabra medicinally, please consult your naturopathic doctor. A licensed healthcare practitioner can tailor the dose according to your needs.

References:
<sup>1.  Mizutani K, Kuramoto T, Tamura Y, et al.  Sweetness of glycyrrhetic acid 3-0-beta-D-monoglucuronide and the related glycosides.  Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry.  1994 Mar;58(3):554-5.
2.  Sato H, Goto W, Yamamura JI, et al.  Therapeutic basis of glycyrrhizin on chronic hepatitis b.  Antiviral Research. 1996 May;30(2-3):171-7.
3.  Takahara T, Watanabe A, Shiraki K.  Effects of glycyrrhizin on hepatitis B surface antigen: a biochemical and morphological study.  Journal of Hepatology.  1994 Oct;21(4):601-9.
4.  Aikawa Y, Yoshiike T, Ogawa H.  Effect of glycyrrhizin on pain and HLA-DR antigen expression on CD8-positive cells in peripheral blood of herpes zoster patients in comparison with other antiviral agents.  Skin Pharmacology.  1990;3(4):268-71.
5.  Pompei R, Flore O, Marccialis MA, et al.  Glycyrrhizic acid inhibits virus growth and inactivates virus particles.  Nature.  1979.  Oct 25;281(5733):689-90.
6.  Pompei R, Pani A, Flore O, et al.  Antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid.  Experientia.  1980.  Mar 15;36(3):304.
7.  Piscopo G, Yarnell, E.  Naturopathic Clinical Boards Study Manual.  2011 Edition.  Volume II.  Healing Mountain Publishing.  Wenatchee, 2001-2011.
8.  Yarnell, E.  Natural Approach to Gastroenterology.  Volume I.  Healing Mountain Publishing.  Wenatchee, 2011.</sup>

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It all started when Re’uth had the sniffles.  The sniffles led to an ear infection, which resulted in a ruptured ear drum.  Two weeks later, a second ear infection arose in the same ear.  Unlike the first one, the second one presented with a fever.  Because I suspected a bacterial ear infection, I got her in to see the pediatrician.

We decided to treat it with herbs first.  Fighting a bacterial infection with herbs is tricky and requires lots of monitoring and frequent dosing.  Most often, herbs work slower than antibiotics.  If it’s a fast moving infection, you gotta move quick, so the kids and I went straight to the herb shop following Re’uth’s visit to the pediatrician (I did not have the herbs I needed at home).  With this same mindset, I wanted to get the herbs in Re’uth right away, so I opted for car medicine administration prior to our drive home.  Total fail.  Read on and you’ll see why.

By 8pm of the same day, her fever was over 104 F, which meant that we needed to pull out the big guns and give her antibiotics.  This was her first antibiotic prescription!  The next day, we took her to the ER at Seattle Children’s Hospital because she wasn’t improving like I thought she should.  She ended up being just fine and antibiotics really did save the day!

Meanwhile, Selah was also brewing the neverending cold.  Hers started with a fever and sore throat, followed by an ear infection, a ruptured ear drum, a 104 F fever, and then her first antibiotic prescription, too!  Their illnesses did not coincide, so two trips were made to the local pharmacy on two different occasions.  I brought Selah to the pharmacy with me when we picked up her antibiotic, and when she walked inside in her tank top, shorts, and her 104 F fever, she said, “Wow! It’s really pretty in here!”.  The drug store was all decked out for Valentine’s Day.

In the middle of all this, I decided to get Selah’s blood drawn to run some tests because she had one subtle symptom that was a little peculiar:  petechiae.  She did cry a tiny bit this time (she did not cry during her first blood draw), but she had fallen asleep in the car on the way there so the experience was more of a wake-up surprise.  And, yup, she got a red #40 ring pop distracter, but this time around it was heart shaped.  She nursed it for nearly 24 hours.

We’ve been dealing with the sickity sick bug for 3 weeks now, and at points, all I could do was laugh (it’s either that or cry, right?).  I took advantage of the situation by extracting some observations for you in case the neverending cold bug knocks on your burglar proof door.

1.  When you visit the herb shop to buy botanicals to kick some neverending cold bug butt, buy something fun for yourself because you probably won’t have time to stop there in your real life when everyone is healthy.
I splurged on licorice sticks.  This was a morale booster for enduring 2 weeks home from preschool, missed clinic shifts and classes, zero free time, and sleepless nights from crying kids.

2.  Do not administer a tincture to a baby in the car.
(I haven’t talked about tinctures yet, and I hope to soon, but basically they are herbs extracted in an alcohol or glycerin medium.)  Remember how I opted for car medicine immediately after our herb shop stop in hopes to get the herbs in Re’uth as fast as possible?  Once Re’uth was all strapped in her car seat for the drive home, I pulled out the dropper that came with the tincture, and attempted to squirt an entire dropperful in her mouth. She spit and flailed her arms just like professional 18 month old babies do.  Then, I ended up with a sick and MAD baby, wasted herbal tincture, and a messy Pumpkin Patch pea coat that will most likely be permanently stained.

3.  Delivering liquid medicine to an 18 month old is a very messy experience, even outside of vehicles.  WEAR OLD CLOTHES.
I thought the car situation was a messy one, but it’s the same story for giving a tincture to an 18 month old in a house.  And same for liquid antibiotics… except the antibiotics are fake pink instead of natural brown, and they smell like artificial cherry flavoring.

4.  Switch up the delivery method when your older kid tires of taking herbs.
It was almost impossible to get herbs into Re’uth, but it was easy with Selah since she has a fascination with taking medicine.  But after 3 weeks of extra medicine and tinctures, even she became disenchanted with the process.  When I had gotten back Selah’s lab results, some of her kidney function markers were abnormal.  Since I wasn’t sure what was going on, I gave her Parietaria diffusa tincture until she saw her pediatrician.  She was not interested in taking it, but when I offered it to her in my polka dot Anthropologie glass, she was all over it.

5.  Petechiae can indicate a serious health condition.
Had I not gone to medical school, I probably would not have known what the “rash” was that showed up on Selah’s chin.  Petechiae are like miniature bruises that are the size of pen dots and cluster together.  They can be subtle in one small area or they can be obvious and all over the body.  If your child has petechiae, even if it is subtle, it most certainly warrants a call to his pediatrician (if not an office visit).  Sometimes petechiae can occur with a viral cold and it means nothing serious.  Either way, be proactive and let your child’s doctor know.

6.  Get help and don’t feel guilty about it.
Three weeks of neglected house tasks from illness cycling in an out of two kids (and a mom) can leave the house a complete disaster.  Driving to doctors appointments and blood draws and having no evening free time due to crying sick babies can really take a toll on your emotional health. There’s no shame in hiring someone to come over to do the dishes, pick up all the toys, and wash your laundry.  When I had to stay home from clinic shifts due to sick kids, I still had my nanny come over to help with house tasks.  I wrestled a lot of guilt for this “luxury”, but we don’t have family in town.  Getting house help was a domestic and emotional life saver for enduring the neverending cold.

I’ve heard that the sick bugs are really bad this year!  What about you?  Have you experienced the neverending sick bug yet?  Have your kids ear drums ever ruptured?  Do you get outside help when the whole family is super sick?

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When I think of elderberries, I’m reminded of Grandma Ruth.  I met her when I was 4.  I lost her when I was 16, not to death, but to divorce.  Her son was my step-dad. That makes her my ex-step-grandma.  I was disconnected from her for over 10 years, but I talk to her now, and she still let’s me call her Grandma Ruth.  I like that.

In the life I had before the divorce, I had an awesome Grandma Ruth that grew her own elderberries, made her own elderberry jelly, and gave it to us for Christmas every year.  A few years after the divorce, when my mom had met the Coors Light Drinker, finding homemade elderberry jam under the Christmas tree was something that only happened in fairy tales.

I had no idea that elderberries would later reappear in a life I never thought possible.  I’m living that life now.  I’m in love with the Wendy’s Eating Husband (but I’m not in love with his diet).  I have two beautiful girls.  I’m so close to being the doctor I’ve always wanted to be.

Elderberries give me a taste of the past while delivering physical healing to the present.   They have a special interest in the lungs, which is interesting, since Chinese medicine says that the lungs can act up when there’s suppressed grief.  Grief can also take a toll on the immune system, and elderberry likes to buffer that up too.  Gosh, get me these berries right now.

Tasty Cold & Flu Agent

Dayquil’s got nothin’ on elderberry.  Elderberry’s claim to fame is its work against respiratory tract viruses.  When compared to a placebo in two different double blind trials, elderberry fruit syrup was shown to relieve symptoms and speed recovery from the nasty flu virus.^2,3  And BONUS, this is cold medicine that tastes good!

Wicked Antioxidant

Elderberries are loaded with antioxidants, the natural factors that fight against aging, disease, and inflammation.  Their high antioxidant content may be why they are so effective at combating common cold and flu viruses.

Super Safe

So safe that my paranoid OCD brain could handle taking it when I got sick during two different pregnancies.  It’s also safe for use in lactation, and of course, totally kid friendly.

If you would like to start taking elderberry, please consult your naturopathic doctor.  A licensed healthcare practitioner can tailor the dose according to your needs. 

Resources:
<sup>1.  Yarnell, Eric.  Botanical Medicine IV.  Bastyr University.  Fall 2008.
2. Zakay-Rones Z, Thom E, Wollan T, et al.  Randomized study of the efficacy and safety of oral elderberry extract in the treatment of influenza A and B virus infections.  J Int Med Res 32(2):132-40, 2004.
3.  Zakay-Rones Z, Varsano N, Zlotnik M, et al.  Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra) during an outbreak of influenza B in Panama.  J Alt Comp Med 1(4):361-9, 1995.</sup>

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