food as medicine

Healing our spirit is just as important as healing physically and mentally. Our spirit can get injured, sick, and tired just like our body and mind can. It is important to know what you can do to help heal yourself in all aspects.

The Indigenous and Native peoples of North America, as well as other those from other regions around the world, used what is referred to as The Four Sacred Medicines. These medicines consist of Tobacco, Sage, Cedar, and Sweet Grass. All of these plants are considered to be spirit medicine.

If you don’t know what herbal tonics are, winter is a really great time to learn about them. They are easy to make and simple to store, but the benefits are incredible.

What Are Tonics?

Herbal tonics consist of an infusion of herbs mixed with water, consumable alcohol, vinegar, or oil. Tonics are used to restore and refresh our bodies, as well aspromote our general health and well-being. There are various ‘tonic herbs’ that will increase your overall vitality, improve longevity, invigorate the internal systems, and even strengthen the spirit.

Oats are the grains of the common oat plant, Avena sativa. From being mocked as the ‘poor man’s breakfast’ oats have become an asset for many to combat bad lifestyle and poor nutrition. Full of carbohydrates, proteins and fiber, a bowl of oats in the morning is definitely a start to a healthier you...

Why are oats so healthy?

Oats are healthy because of what they contain. Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients of oats:

Spirulina is a blue-green algae growing in fresh water and is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and has many health benefits.  Spirulina has been used by the Aztec people since before the Conquistadors.

Kale is a member of the species Brassica oleracea, which includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, cauliflower and broccoli. It has been cultivated for more than 2000 years and though originally found wild in the Mediterranean region it is a cold climate tolerant plant. The term kale is derived from the Scottish word “kail” and the word was used in the 19^th Century, referring to dinner.

Chia is a species of the sage plant which produces pods filled with tiny seeds. It is a New World plant that has long been used by the Native Peoples of Central America, northern South America and southwestern North America. The term chia is the Aztec word for strength. When soaked in water, it changes into a gelatin-like consistency that was used to make refreshing drinks and porridges. The Aztecs also dried and ground the seeds to make flour for baking breads. They sprouted the seeds for salads and sprinkled them on many dishes and stored the seeds for future use.

Mother Earth provides medicine for all forms of healing, helping in many aspects of our overall well-being. Her medicines are strong and they heal our minds, bodies, and spirits.

Psychiatric Disorders such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and phobic conditions can be treated naturally just as any physical ailment or disorder can. Mother Earth’s medicine is amazing in that way.

The agave plant ranges from the southwestern United States down through Central America to the northern regions of South America. It is the same plant that is used to make tequila. For centuries, the native peoples gathered the plants and removed the leaves to extract the sap from the core. They boiled the sap to form a thick nectar. Agave nectar did not find its way into modern America until the 1990’s when the process of hydrolysis could be applied to the agave. This process heats the extracted agave juice in a mass production, making it a viable commercial product.

There are currently 25 states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana. Regulations and restrictions vary from state to state.

Did you know that your flower bed may contain medicine? That’s right -- Mother Earth provides us with medicine of many sorts.

Houseleeks, Daffodils, Heart’s Ease, Lily of The Valley… the list really could go on, but I’m guessing out of those 4 flowers you recognized at least 3 of them. Think of how beautiful a medicinal flower garden could be…the possibilities are endless! Today I would like to share with you 7 garden flowers that contain healing powers.