Heal Thyself: Elderberry Syrup for Colds & Flu

I've always been one for natural healing. I trust the use of herbs and diet for my well being as well as my families. I recently found a recipe for Elderberry Syrup while I was searching for ways to use Elderberry for some cold/allergy related symptoms I'm having. I've known for some time now that Elderberry is great for the immune system and is effective in fighting 8 strains of the flu virus. Also, I have come across studies done with elderberry which showed that it reduces excessive sinus mucus secretion, and may help lessen swelling of mucous membranes, improve sinus drainage, and decrease nasal congestion. This sounded like the perfect thing for my family right now - and I had all the ingredients, so I made it and I'm sharing it with all of you!

You'll need:

• 2/3 cup Black Elderberries (I used dried)
• 3.5 cups of water
• 2 TBSP of fresh ginger root - finely minced, or 1 tsp dried Ginger
• 1/2 - 1 TSP Cinnamon powder
• a pinch of Cloves or Clove powder
• 1 cup (or less) raw honey

Mix all of the ingredients in a sauce pan and let simmer for 45-1 hour (until the liquid has reduced by 1/3).

I like to use Ball Jars for just about everything, and this would be no exception. I love that I can also use them to measure! I put 1 cup of honey in the jar -

Then I took some muslin cloth and set it up for straining using a strong rubber band. Make sure that the fabric sinks into the cup as much as possible without sinking too low into the jar and also while being completely surrounded by the rubber band.

Once the Elderberry mixture has simmered down to 1/3 the liquid it was, remove it from heat and let cool until the pan is touchable. Tip the pan and begin to separate the pulp from the liquid.

Use a spoon and scoop the liquid into your muslin cloth over the jar and then take your spoon and gently (but firmly) stroke the bottom of the fabric back and forth with the back of your spoon until all the liquid is in the jar and you are left with pulp. Scoop the pulp out and set aside.

Do this until all of the liquid you can get out is in the jar. Then take your cheese cloth off of the jar and lay it on a plate. Scoop some of the berries from the pan into the middle of the cloth, bunch it up and squeeze it out into your jar.

Really get in there - getting a little messy is the fun part!

After all of your liquid is within the jar, it will probably look like this:

Simply stir it up well and you are done! You've just made your own medicine that is safe and natural for you and your whole family. Doesn't that feel good? The love and healing energy that you put into this as you are making it will return to you and your family 10 fold. I took some extra time to give the mixture Reiki as it was simmering. The feeling that I get out of making something like this is WAY cooler than any medicine I've ever bought at the store.

Elderberry Syrup: Store in the fridge - good for 3 weeks! 

Want to know more about Elderberry? 

I found this woman's post called "Everything you need to know about alcohol-free Elderberry Syrup for preventing colds and influenza" which turned out to be a GREAT read on the topic. Made me start thinking of more ways that I could use Elderberries....using it as a dye for my baby wraps is one exciting possibility! They are such a beautiful red color. Paired with Beets I bet that would make a GREAT dye!

Here's what Mountain Rose Herbs (an online source for herbs) has to say about it:

"Summary:

Extensive research show that elder stop the production of hormone-like cytokines that direct a class of white blood cells known as neutrophils to cause inflammation, especially in influenza and arthritis. On the other hand, elder increases the production non-inflammatory infection-fighting cytokines as much as 10 fold. Elder berries are known to be effective against eight strains of influenza. This suggests that elder be superior to vaccines in preventing flu, because flu vaccines are only effective against known strains of flu, whereas the virus is continually mutating to new strains. Vaccines have another draw back: over half of people who get them report side effects. Dr. Madeleine Mumcuoglu, of Hadassah-Hebrew University in Israel found that elderberry disarms the enzyme viruses use to penetrate healthy cells in the lining of the nose and throat. Taken before infection, it prevents infection. Taken after infection, it prevents spread of the virus through the respiratory tract. In a clinical trial, 20% of study subjects reported significant improvement within 24 hours, 70% by 48 hours, and 90% claimed complete cure in three days. In contrast, subjects receiving the placebo required 6 days to recover."

I am taking frequent doses of the syrup because I am fighting something - and I am also giving it to my children as well. Since each batch is going to be different in potency, I would suggest doing what feels right for you and your family and adjust as needed.  I am taking about a tablespoon every 3 hours, the older kids a teaspoon and the little one (2.5 years) is getting a little less than that. I'll probably also use it on our pancakes and may give some to Zander watered down in a cup as well. 

I do not recommend the use of the elderberry syrup for pregnant or nursing mothers - only out of precaution. I do, however, think that if used in moderation only when exposed to a virus it could be a beneficial way of keeping mama from getting sick. 

So, there you have it folks! I'll get back to you on how quickly my symptoms clear up. It may be allergies, too, but - either way this stuff makes my throat feel better, helps with the mucus, tastes great AND boosts my immune system. I'll take all of that I can get. :) 

Shedding My Skin and Transforming Before Your Eyes...

I have been working so hard ever since I returned from Florida. I recently met with someone who I had met with right before I left and shared my goal to open the community center. She reminded me that I had told her that when I got back from Florida I planned on hitting the ground running with this project - and it's really nice to look back and realize that I have done exactly that. I've come so far in the past 4 months, and now I'm even on the verge of finalizing my birth doula certification through DONA. Last night I completed the last requirement which was a breastfeeding class at the place I used to work at. Not only was it nice to complete this, it was also nice to see Kelly - my old boss. 

I regret that I allowed myself to wear my heartbreak on my sleeve when she gave the lactation cookie idea to another company when I was working on it myself. I know that she was just thinking about her business. I see now that it wasn't something she did to purposely hurt me, that just happened to be the outcome. On my part in this, I felt victimized and therefore acted like a victim. Regardless of how valid I felt, I have learned a lot from that experience, especially since out of it I feel I lost the connection I once had with Kelly. Though I was hurting, I should have remained professional and not allowed myself to speak out publicly about how I saw it. I need to let these kinds of things be water under the bridge. I don't feel like things are the same between Kelly and I, but I am glad that I reached out and apologized for my part in it. I value her, and I always looked up to her as more than my boss...I think that is why this all hurt me so much. The more I focused on the things I did value in her, the easier it was to forgive and seek a peace with it. I do feel like things are now on the right track between her and I, and I seriously hope that they continue that way. 

I haven't been writing in a while because, well, I've been sinking a bit. Well, more than a bit. Part of it has been sickness - it seems like someone in this house has been sick for the past 2 months straight. As I type this now I am still feeling the tail end of a serious sinus infection as well as a headache...but, it's better than it has been. The kids all just seem to pass it back and forth, back and forth. I'm hoping that will be over soon. I don't think it's ever been this bad in my house. I'm out of XanGo Juice for the time being, and I can surely tell. It seems that things got really bad for me a few days after I had none. I got sick and ended up backsliding into a depression again. 

There are lots of contributors, but, mostly I have felt unsupported by my husband and some of my friends. Because of this lack of support (and even downright discouragement) I have had this feeling that I might be loosing myself. I felt that maybe because these people who were supposed to love me and try to understand and support me were the ones who weren't meant that I was doing something wrong. There have been many times that I have sat in this very chair and almost convinced myself to quit what I was doing. It would be easier, that is for sure. But, I'm realizing that it might not be me that needs to change course...that maybe the people who are unsupportive of me and what I'm trying to do (and even who I'm doing it with) are what might need to change in my life. This isn't easy, and it hurts. A lot. But, I am realizing that though I am the one changing, I am changing for the better. I am not out to hurt anyone and my intentions are purely motivated by bettering not only myself, but my community. And, as someone told me last night - things can't continue to move into my life without some things going out. I have to look at this and realize that I can not be everything for everyone and that maybe these relationships have served their purpose in not only my life, but theirs as well. Maybe, just maybe, it's time to simply move on. Not that I desire too, because I don't. Mourn my losses, but stay on track. That is the plan as of this moment, anyways. Whoever is there when all this is said and done will be there for a reason - "Those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." As badly as I may desire to hold onto everyone tightly, I simply can not. 

Having a house of three children that I am raising practically by myself hasn't been the easiest part of this journey, either. We're lucky if we see Shawn 3 hours in a day....and that's every day - 7 days a week - every week. My kids are all in different stages in life, so there are all kind of different demands placed on me. I am considering weaning Z because he is now 19 months and becoming very demanding about the boob. I feel as though I am not much more to him than just that. Calvin and Kiyra fight ALL. THE. TIME. They "hate" each other and "can't live with" each other. I know this is normal...but...it doesn't make it any less exhausting. Trying to balance home and work has been the number one biggest road block for me thus far. There are times when I am out and taking care of my business or doing something motivating where I feel pure inspiration and motivation to work and grow, then when I get home and walk through the door it seems as though there is nothing but guilt placed on me for being gone AT ALL and/or demands from every direction. This easily overwhelms me and instantly knocks me down from my previous feeling of high inspiration and belief in myself and what I'm trying to do. I think that I react with anger to this sudden exchange of emotional state because they are SO contrasting. 

I tend to dread going home, dreading the "mom" role. It's so completely demanding of my entire being that I have a very difficult time allowing myself to do it. I fight it...but, I'm realizing that by choosing to fight it I am only making things harder on myself and my family. I haven't yet found a way to not feel trapped by my role as a mother, maybe because I have been one since I was 16, but - I am starting to see that I have to continue with my quest to find balance. Maybe sitting out in the driveway for a minute before going into the house to prepare myself for the role switch. If I sit there and visualize how I would like things to go when I walk through the door maybe I will better be able to emotionally prepare myself for a better reaction. I can not expect the kids not to be kids...and I know this is difficult for me because I was forced to grow up at such a young age, so, I don't really understand kids. But, I'm trying. I'm always trying....and that in itself can sometimes be exhausting. 

One thing I've learned is to forgive myself. Although I have felt as though I have been backsliding over the past couple of weeks, I forgive myself. I realize that when obtaining massive amounts of information, putting just about all of my energy into growth and prosperity there has to be some down time to process this information and recharge my batteries. My only regret in this little low I've been in is that I haven't spent that time purposefully relaxing and processing. Instead I allowed my feelings and fears of loosing those around me to take me over. Almost loosing the information and progress I have obtained in the meantime. But, today, after facing these feelings and some of the relationships that I am in, I feel more on track. It's as if a weight has been lifted from me and now I can see the issues more clearly. I think I was just afraid I wasn't going to WANT to see what was there, I felt that if I didn't face it it would just work itself out - but energy is funny like that. It still remains and still effects us whether we want it to or not. By facing it at least now I can see the issues more clearly and things can be out in the open either to be addresses or worked out, or not. Either way, I know who I am again. I am again seeing the progress I have made and the things I am doing as right and positive. Because it coincided with my final course for finishing my certification, it was a conformation that I just have to keep on moving forward. I can't be everything for everyone, especially when those expectations of me are not made clear. It isn't my job to decipher peoples feelings or expectations of me - and that's OK, too. I have to just have faith that things will be OK and hold onto my love for the people who have been and are close to me. I choose to take the good things along with me and leave behind the negative. Learn from it, but forgive myself and others and leave it behind. 

I always seem to obtain information or advice (or even horoscopes) that completely coincide with what I am currently going through. Yesterday I received an e mail from Jennifer Lee which had a lot to do with resting and recuperating. She had some great suggestions that I would like to share with you here because we all need to allow ourselves to have some down time. It's all part of the process of growth. As she put it - rest, recuperate and repeat. 

• "Block off time on your calendar. I worked with one of my clients to commit to blocking off time after returning from a business trip or running a program. That helped to create some recovery and re-entry time following an intense period of work. I do the same thing and keep my days meeting free if I've just come back from a trip or completed a big project.
• Give yourself permission to take it easy. This can be super difficult for type A personalities. Yet, when you dial down your over-achiever personality, you can actually give yourself some space to just be and that's key to recharging.
• Embrace your inner Eeyore. I know you probably don't want to be a perpetual Debbie Downer or the dark-cloud-over-your-head Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, but sometimes, it's important to let yourself just be with the blues so you can move through it. In her new book Glad No Matter What SARK talks about turning toward your feelings so that you can navigate them more quickly.
• Pay attention to your body. What signals is your body sending you? Are you tired? Are you getting sick? Those can be clues to simply slow down.
• Book a vacation. Sometimes after completing a big project, you just need some time away. My hubby, our dog Emmett, and I took a short weekend trip up to Napa not that long ago. It was a great way to make sure we relaxed and had time together. You don't have to do anything extravagant. Even just a day trip to somewhere beautiful and inspiring can reinvigorate you."

"I am likely to miss the main event if I stop to cry and complain again. So I will keep a deliberate pace. Let the damn breeze dry my face. Oh, mister wait until you see what I'm gonna be. Here it comes, a better version of me."

Here's to TODAY.

EnergyTouch and Taxes.

"One of these things does not belong here, one of these things just isn't the same...."

Yesterday was a good day. Zander and I went to an antique shop that I have been wanting to check out for quite a while. I found an amazing 1970's vintage dress, a I Love Lucy licence plate for Cassie (because she loves Lucy and because she signed on her first two people in XanGo and I'm really proud of her), and a fun playing card set that has never been opened but has fun 70's mushrooms all over them. LOVE!

From there we went grocery shopping - Zander's favorite...yea right. I had just enough time to get home, make some lunch and then leave again to head down to my EnergyTouch session. This was my third session in this building/school and the first time with a year two student. All the other ones have been year one. The year ones have been amazing, but there were definite notable differences in this. For those of you who do not know, EnergyTouch is a way of healing and communicating with our energy fields on the cellular level. Check it out:  

The EnergyTouch healer is trained to:

• Work with disease and illness on a cellular level
• Access outer level tools and energies
• Work with diseased cells on the DNA level
• Pull viruses on the RNA level
• Move effortlessly between levels of the field
• Change the physiology of organs in the physical body
• Work off the body by means of the Hologram
• Release belief systems that no longer serve
• Work with the earth grids, universal grids, plants & animals
• Connect with their “Higher Self” Spiritual Guide and Guardian Angel
• Give their client the skills to deal with the emotional issues that can be the root cause of many diseases and illnesses.
• Believe!

This is not just for anyone, though. I really think that you have to be willing to accept this gift in order to receive it. There are a lot of people who might read this and think it's simply crazy. And that's OK - this is obviously not for you. For me, though, this stuff is very real. The energy I see and work with on a daily basis is very real, so why would I not believe for a second that someone trained and in tune with their abilities could heal and transform themselves and others through this gift? I feel blessed to have found this foundation and to have been given the opportunity to explore these realms, heal and transform myself. Every time I leave I feel new. I feel recharged and inspired, clear and motivated. Physically I feel more aligned and alive, I am in touch with my natural vibration and pulsation within this living realm. It's pure magic.

So, after this amazing experience with my EnergyTouch session (which I'm purposely not sharing details about because they are personal to me right now and I am still processing everything), Cassie and I had a tax class to go to to learn all about what is and isn't OK to write off, how to keep records, etc. It was an interesting exchange to go from deep spiritual work to taxes, but I really think it actually helped clear the way for it all to be well absorbed and better understood by me. It was a GREAT class and I really did learn a lot. It makes me all the more excited to continue on the path that I am on and to do everything right right from the start. 

Overall, it was a great day. I had a couple of bumps in the road, but that's to be expected as a mother of three. I have decided that there are two new rules of the house, though. 1. Leave me alone until at least 10 minutes after I get home. I find that I am bombarded with requests for my attention and sometimes step into a negative or high stress situation and it puts me in a state of mind of uncontrollable anger and aggression. I have always wondered why I could be outside of my home and feel SO happy and well adjusted, almost (and sometimes) high on life and then the second I walk in my house that all disappears and I instantly feel resentment and anger.  I only recently realized that maybe if I ask for some space when I get home that maybe I could take some time to adjust first. 2.) Do not come in my bedroom unless it is an emergency. I need my alone time to process, meditate and RELAX. We'll see how those go. 

Today I am thankful for:

Spring. Even though it is cold outside, I can smell you. I know you are right around the corner and I am embracing you with open arms and an even more open heart.

Mentally I feel:

Pretty good!! I've been feeling well adjusted, catching myself faster and faster when I begin to back slide and overall I am just happy and excited for each day!

Physically I feel:

Also pretty good. After my session with my healer especially. I feel like I am much straighter and able to sit up correctly without nearly as much discomfort.