Garlic Lemonade

Pregnant and feel a cold coming on? Then try this remedy as suggested by Aviva Jill Romm in her excellent The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition and Other Holistic Choices. I highly recommend this book for all pregnant women who are looking for a holistic approach to their pregnancy.

Garlic Lemonade by Aviva Jill Romm.

Steep 4 to 6 cloves of chopped raw garlic in 1 quart boiling water (cover the jar while you steep) for 30 minutes. Then add the juice of 1 or 2 lemons and honey or maple syrup to taste. Drink warm, up to 1 cup every two hours. If you don't find this tea palatable, try steeping the garlic as above, but add a couple of bouillon cubes or 1 tablespoon of miso to the tea instead of lemon and honey. This is a warming tea if you have chills but can be used at any time of year.

I have made this wonderful tea for years, both when pregnant and not. I make it every time someone in my family is coming down with a cold, and besides my very picky three year old, they all take it and believe it helps them feel better (although my daughter prefers hers cold). I've just made it again this morning, as another cold hits our house. And this time, it's me. 

Wellness blessings to all...

P(amper) M(y) S(elf) Potion

The moon is waning, and tomorrow evening will be the New Moon, also known as the dark moon. This is a time to rest and reflect, to plant seeds of change, to ponder and start anew. My menstrual period will begin in a day or so, I've already started to spot and feel the need to nest and rest, and make comfort foods. 

Like many women, I crave chocolate during this time of my cycle and after careful research and experimentation, I came up with this recipe which combines chocolate with traditional PMS helpers. By the way, you do know what PMS really stands for, right?

Pamper My Self Potion Recipe

3/4 cup chocolate soy milk (rice or cow works, too)

3/4 cup red raspberry leaf or nettle infusion*

1 cup frozen raspberries

1 frozen banana cut in chunks

dark chocolate shavings for garnish

Combine the soy milk, infusion, raspberries & banana in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid if you like it thinner. Pour into glass and garnish with dark chocolate shavings.

Soy contains isoflavones which are thought to balance estrogen levels. Red raspberry leaf infusion is an overall uterine tonic, and nettle infusion is good for water retention among other things. Raspberries and bananas contain nutrients vital for overall health, and dark chocolate is heaven!

Enjoy and remember to pamper yourself as often as you can!

* To make nettle or red raspberry leaf infusion, I use a 20 oz canning jar and put in about 3 TBS of herbs. Fill with boiling water, put the lid on and steep for 4 hours. Strain and drink as desired.

Moonwise Mondays

In Old English, most Germanic, Norse, Dutch, Japanese, Korean and in many other languages, the word Monday literally means Day of the Moon. Monday is traditionally for new beginnings, healing and the feminine mysteries. Thus, we've decided to devote our blog entries on Mondays to all things Moonwise...

Our Moonwise Mondays will offer ideas for embracing and celebrating your cyclic nature, nurturing yourself, tracking your fertility signs, and following as the moon waxes and wanes. One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves & our daughters is a healthy, positive attitude towards menstruation. 

Are you in tune in the moon?