Category Archives: Natural Healing

March 27, 2020 · 7:11 am

Herbal Classes Online

If you’ve been quarantined, you may find it a blessing in disguise. Perhaps you have more family time or can sit quietly with your cat for a while. Maybe, however, someone in your house is sick or in the high-risk category for contracting an airborne illness like COVID-19. What better time to enroll in an herbal class and learn about boosting your immunity naturally! 

Herbs are not a “cure” for COVID-19, however, utilizing herbal infusions may be useful in reducing the severity of the most troubling symptoms like cough, aches, pains, and difficulty breathing. Incorporating more herbs and plants into your diet can strengthen your body’s immunity over time. And you can do that by adding some as seasonings to your regular meals, making teas and tinctures or just eating them raw. 

Herbal Academy is committed to educating the world about herbs and their benefits. Last week, I shared the newest online offering, The Mushroom Course. Right now you can enroll with a discount of $50 until April 6 and start learning about the beneficial properties of fungi. 

Preview Lesson from The Mushroom CourseDownload

This week I wanted to let you know that several of Herbal Academy’s programs are 50% off.

The Introductory Herbal Course is designed for those with little or no herbal knowledge. You can preview a lesson from this course here.

The Intermediate Herbal Course is meant for those that have some understanding about the practical use of herbs for wellness. Both courses are 50% off for the next three weeks.

Even at this reduced rate, you might find the budget too tight and the future just too uncertain to justify these classes right now. That doesn’t mean you need to give up on your herbal education entirely, however. Huckleberry Mountain Botanicals offers free herbal content for you to enjoy. 

I know I’m using this time to reflect on my health, make determined decisions to improve my wellness levels, and take the time to appreciate what I have. What about you?

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March 11, 2020 · 6:49 am

Natural Healing–La Miel Sagrada

As if you needed another reason to consume honey regularly, here’s a little bit of information about the sacred Melipona honey. 

gailhampshire from Cradley, Malvern, U.K [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]

The Maya used the honey from the native stingless bee Melipona beecheii extensively in their traditional remedies. They believed that illnesses that could be cured with this honey had supernatural origins. It was used to treat both “hot” and “cold” infirmities including respiratory and digestive ailments, cataracts, pterygium eye and conjunctivitis, as well as wounds, burns, fevers and poisonous stings and bites.

The reason supernatural illnesses could be treated with this honey was because they believed it was a sacred gift from the gods, specifically the bee god Ah Muzen Cab. The Maya communities continue to use this sacred honey to treat cancer, sinusitis, typhoid, laryngitis, bronchitis, cough, bacterial infections and postpartum issues. It has and continues to be used as a sweetener, an antibiotic and the main ingredient in the fermented drinks balché and Xtabentun.

When Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba first arrived in the Yucatan in 1517, he encountered enough bee yards producing honey that was traded throughout Mesoamerica. The importance of this activity is evidenced in the Madrid Codex, one of the four surviving Maya codices, which was devoted entirely to beekeeping.

Honey contains iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1 to B8. It is antimicrobial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, making it ideal for pain alleviaion in the throat, and as a result of burns and ulcers. Applied topically, it will moisturize the skin and is beneficial in wound healing. Honey can help ameliorate thyroid disturbances and reduce the risk of developing diabetes as well as fight cancerous cells. 

Regular honey consumption lowers cholesterol and reduces the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Honey can help alleviate dehydration and potassium loss caused by diarrhea. Furthermore, it aids in digestion and reduces issues caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The amount of nutrients that honey contains varies according to the local plant source.To determine whether a particular batch of honey is pure, drop a spoonful into a glass of water. Adulterated honey dissolves, while pure honey remains in a ball. Honey can be stored at room temperature. If it crystallizes, setting it in a pan of hot water will liquidize it again.

Melipona honey is slightly different than honey made from other types of bees. It is more watery, less prone to crystallization and contains more fructose than glucose giving it a distinct taste. The honey from these stingless bees has more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties than honey produced by stinging bees. 

The Melipona bees are in danger of extinction. The ecosystem which they have co-existed for centuries is being destroyed. They are also facing increasing competition with the Apis mellifera bees since commercial beekeepers prefer their more abundant honey production to the native species. If you are in the Yucatan, be sure to take advantage of the local sacred Melipona honey available to you.

Precaution: Honey should never be given to children under one year of age because it may cause botulism. 

Have you tried Melipona honey?

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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.

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March 4, 2020 · 7:08 pm

Natural Healing–Árnica Mexicana

The other day, while perusing the teas at the market, I happened upon some Árnica tea. This intrigued me because I had only ever seen Árnica used in una pomada (ointment) for bruises and muscle pain. So off I went to do some investigation on the matter. 

Árnica Mexicana’s botanical name is Heterotheca inuloides and should not be confused with arnica montana which grows in Europe. In fact, one of the names of Heterotheca inuloides is false arnica, as the “true” arnica is arnica montana. Árnica Mexicana is native to Mexico and has been used medicinally for centuries by the indigenous people. It is also known as Árnica del país and in Nahuatl, Tlalyetl. 

Most commonly Árnica Mexicana is used to treat skin inflammations, rheumatism, muscular pain, menstrual cramps, and colic topically. However, it is also used for nervous disorders, dental issues, and gastrointestinal problems, hence the availability of the Árnica tea. 

Scientific studies have shown that Heterotheca inuloides contains antioxidants, and functions well as anti-tumor compound. It has been shown to effectively treat giardiasis, a stomach infection caused by the parasite Giardia lamblia found in contaminated water. Yet another study has demonstrated the positive effects of Árnica Mexicana and rosemary water extract on the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain.

Other studies have demonstrated its topical benefits. Used externally, it has mild antiseptic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is effective in the treatment of skin disorders caused by fungus and bacteria. It is an effective natural insecticide and weed killer as well. 

You can find Pomada de Arnica at nearly every pharmacy in Mexico. However, if you’d like to make your own wash, tea, or tincture you can try one of these remedies. 

For bruises add 10 to 15 branches with flowers and leaves to ½ liter of alcohol and allow it to steep for 15 days. Rub the resulting tincture on the affected area. Another remedy calls for 2.5 grams of flowers, roots, and leaves gathered from 20 branches and steeped again for 15 days. 

As a hemorrhoid wash, boil 100 grams in two liters of water. A second remedy suggests 25 grams boiled in one liter of water. 

For stomach ailments, drink 10-20 drops of essential oil in water three times a day. As a tea, take one tablespoon every two hours made from 2.5 grams of flowers boiled in ¼ liter of water. Or one cup drunk four times a day made from 8 grams of flowers and leaves boiled in one liter of water. 

Precautions: 

Because this little yellow flower is part of the Asteraceae family, those who are sensitive to ragweed and feverfew should not use arnica because it may trigger allergic reactions.

Internal use of arnica should be limited to a few days due to potential toxicity. 

So, although I picked up a box of this Árnica tea at the market, after my investigations, I believe I’ll keep it for medicinal use rather than a regular breakfast beverage. 

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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.

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