Surviving Mexico

October 19, 2020 · 6:42 am

Gifts For Reading Addicts

Recently I signed up to become an affiliate for the UK company For Reading Addicts. With Amazon’s drop in the “goodness” ranking (at least in my book for unscrupulous employee policies, price gouging, and paying no taxes on a business that generates trillions of dollars for its owner), I thought I’d look for alternatives when it comes to shopping online this holiday season.

I’m bringing this delightful bookaholic site to your attention so far in advance of the typical gift giving season because many of the products (get this!) are made to order and as such take longer than mass produced items.

Just look at this hooded blanket, for example. It’s hand cut and sewn when you order which adds a processing time of up to 10 days. It comes in adult and youth sizes. The edges are embroidered. The interior is ultra-soft polyester. Don’t tell me you can’t imagine yourself curled up in this beautiful blanket!

Do you have a Harry Potter fan in your life? No matter the age or size (twin to California king), cover your bed with the house of your choice, the Marauder’s Map or a collage of book covers.

That’s just a little sample of all the drool-worthy items sure to please any book lover at For Reading Addicts. There are book lights, bedding, home accessories, clothing, totes, coloring books, face masks, shoes, coffee mugs, and more! There are Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day themed products plus items featuring 13 book or book series. I’ve recently become obsessed with Outlander and was thrilled to find a whole section devoted to this time-traveling romance series. There’s even a section in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Other thematic items include:

So there you have it! An amazing place to order the perfect gift for any book lover this holiday season. With worldwide shipping, a money back guarantee, and guaranteed quality, and secure online shopping, what more could you ask for?

What alternatives have you found to Amazon?

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Natural Healing –Retama

The gorgeous yellow trumpet bush, locally known as retama, grows wild in La Yacata. It’s a favorite of hummingbirds, so I always am delighted when it sprouts up in the backyard. My husband, not so much. He says it’s only good to make tea to stimulate the appetite and that it’s a horrible tea to drink, speaking from experience.

That couldn’t be all this lovely plant was capable of, so off I went to track down its medicinal properties. The botanical name is Tecoma stans and it is native to the Americas. It is drought-resistant and prefers rocky soil, which makes La Yacata an excellent habitat for it. Throughout Mexico, it is known by many names including flor amarillo, Hierba de San Pedro, Palo de arco, and tronadora.

In Nahuatl, it was known as tecoma xóchitl (flower in the form of a vase), Candox, Nixtamal Xóchitl and used medicinally by the Aztecs. In Maya, it is K’anlol or Xk’anol.

In Mexico, traditional remedies still use the stems, flowers, leaves, branches, bark and root of this plant to cure. An infusion of the flower stems is given to reduce the effects of a hangover. Tea made from the roots is prescribed as a diuretic. The leaves are used to make a decoction drunk before breakfast for nine days to treat gonorrhea.

To treat whooping cough, a decoction is made from the leaves of the retama, cabbage rose petals, and stems of tasajo cactus. Retama is also included in remedies to treat adult onset diabetes. The leaves and flowers are used to treat the common cold, fever, headache, kidney problems and jaundice. The flowers and leaves are also applied externally as a poultice to treat skin infections. A tea made from the flowers is made to calm menstrual cramps.

The leaves and flowers have both antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has a high level of pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity, making it an effective treatment for diabetes. The flowers are nephroprotective, making it an accessible treatment for kidney issues.

It certainly seems a useful plant to have around!

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Interested in natural remedies? Uncover herbal remedies from traditional Mexican sources for healing and wellness in the Exploring Traditional Herbal Remedies in Mexico series.

Finding Something to Look Forward to (with Herbs)

I’ve started gearing up for a holiday season without much social interaction this year. Mexico is moving towards full reopening. Campeche was the first “green” state on the COVID scale. However, the state that I live in, Guanajuato, still has rising cases and is in fact second after Mexico State or third if you could Mexico City as a separate entity.

So since I’m not planning on spending time at el Panteon for El Dia de los Muertos, watching the parade for El Dia de la Revolucion or sing in unison during Las Posadas, I did some thinking about how I could enjoy my holiday season without social events.

Happily, I can still enjoy traditional dishes without leaving my home. Hot chocolate, tamales, pozole, pan de muerto, and ponche here I come! I’m also working on more Mexican herb monographs (which will be available shortly through Ultimate Bundles! I’m so excited!). I’m kept busy with our animals and teaching the huge increase in online classes, too.

If you are struggling to find something to look forward to, Herbal Academy has some amazing new courses available and I’m rubbing my hands together in glee!

Follow your nose and enroll in the Natural Perfumery Course by Herbal Academy

The Natural Perfumery Course is open for pre-registry until October 18 for $39. Not only does it look to be an amazing class, but it’s just the thing to make your own perfume for holiday gifts this year. The class includes 7 lessons, 20 recipes as well as several perfumery plant monographs. A little natural scent does wonders for your mood! And if you know a budding herbalist, this would make the perfect gift!

Herbal Academy is also offering a Botanical Nootropics Intensive Course through The Herbarium. Nootropics refers to substances that enhance cognitive function, brain-boosters if you will. This 3 lesson course will help you become more familiar with how herbs affect brain function.

One-year access to The Herbarium is $45, but a 3-day trial membership is just $3. With membership, you’ll get access to the new course and six other short courses in addition to 170 herb monographs, more than 200 articles, videos, ebooks, and podcasts.

See a sample plant monograph and sample article from The Herbarium.

Enroll in the Herbal Self-Care for Stress Management Course

If the state of the world is getting you down, the Herbal Self-Care for Stress Management Course can help. In his class you’ll learn how lifestyle practices, herbs, and food choices can impact your wellbeing. And don’t forget to download the Cold and Flu Season Ebook FREE for even more herbal care tips.

Herbal Academy has a number of other classes that I’ve enjoyed over the years. Taking charge of my health through natural healing has been one of the things that have kept me even keeled during this uncertain time. The classes are informative and the practical applications fun. Working with herbs is an extremely satisfying experience–one that I highly recommend.

Herbal Courses from beginner to advanced

So herbs, herbs, and more herbs are on my agenda for the next few months. What are you planning this holiday season?

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Surviving Mexico

Gifts For Reading Addicts

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Natural Healing –Retama

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Finding Something to Look Forward to (with Herbs)

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