Posts tagged ‘Canada’

  |  
May 13, 2013

Plant Revolution

When growing food is an act of rebellion it is time for a revolution!image

How can anyone think they can create a better design than nature?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/04/10/f-gmo-genetically-modified-foods-consumers.html

How can we let companies patent life?  Genetically Modified Organisms GMOs are here in Canada and  the public remains largely unaware of it.

Everyone has the right to know what is in the food they eat. Everyone has a voice and a choice and I want to know what I am eating. People shouldn’t have to go to such great lengths to discern between what is or isn’t organic natural food.  Take away the patent on life and then the label debate is dead.

It is a time for a Grow Your Own Food revolution! I know some people don’t even have access to healthy organic food and that it is too expensive. I understand that not everyone has a green thumb or the resources  to grow some food that is why I think community gardens are important. Community gardens on every corner should be more popular than fast food outlets.

There are rooftop gardens, Aquaponics, hydroponics, square foot gardening, container gardening and all kinds of new exciting Eco designer ideas.  The world needs more permaculture, which is basically working more with nature instead of the monoculture mainstream, which works against nature and is unsustainable.

If you can’t grow your own support local farmers as much as possible.

Buy heirloom seeds and organic as much as you can.

You can’t get more fresh and local than home-grown! Even growing herbs or sprouts in a jar increases flavour and nutrition of meals.

Please sign the petition below against Monsanto the American company behind creating poisons that threaten bee populations, the banning of nature and creation of genetically modified seeds and foods.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_vs_mother_earth_loc/?faqemab&pv=44

Join The Plant Revolution! Grow your own food and herbs as much as you possibly can! If you can’t try to avoid buying from the companies that use Monsanto products.

Join the March against Monsanto worldwide.

https://www.facebook.com/MarchAgainstMonstanto?ref=ts&fref=ts

Please sign this petition no matter where you live, this is a world wide threat against humanity and nature.

 

image

Posted in Gardening, Natural Health, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
April 23, 2013

Boneset Herb

2. White Boneset, july 27 03

Boneset is a native to the Ontario region, but is less common in the northern part of the province in Canada. Boneset grows together with the two species of gravel root or joe-pye but Joe-pye grows in the south-western corner of the province. Both grow in wetlands, riverbanks, marshes and lakes and prefer open sunny areas. Joe-pye root and boneset herb are both wetland plants that boost the immune system.

2. White Boneset, July 27 2003Boneset is easy to identify because of the joined leaves around the stem that are paired opposite. In this picture of white boneset the white flowers are just about to bloom. It is best known for treating fevers and in Traditional Chinese Medicine it treats all three stages of fever, Tai Yang, Shao Yang, Yang Ming. Called boneset not because it knits and repairs bones like comfrey but because it is used for deep, aching bone pain like rheumatic typhoid and “bone breaking fever.” It is extremely bitter, cooling and drying while stimulating the liver and digestion. Caution is advised! This plant is becoming increasingly endangered due to destruction of wetland habitat and over harvesting.

Common Name  Boneset herb
Latin Name  Eupatorium perfoliatum
Family Asteraceae (Aster)
Parts Used Perennial- leaves and flowers
Target Organs immune, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, liver, stomach, throat
Common Uses Immune respiratory: stimulates immunity against infections. Used for fevers, dengue, malaria, colds, coughs, flu, infections, catarrh, sore throat, toxicity, Digestion: liver congestion, constipation, upset stomach, indigestion, gas, bloating Nervous system: debility, pain, neuralgia,
Properties Anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory(local, systemic) anti-infective, antimicrobial, antineoplastic, antirheumatic, aperient, appetite stimulant, astringent, bitter,  cholagogue, choleretic, digestive stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, immune stimulant, febrifuge, nervine, relaxant, stomachic, tranquilizer, peripheral vasodilator, vulnerary
Constituents polysaccharides, flavonoids: quercetin, rutin, astragalin, hyperoside, inulin, sterols, vitamin D1, galic acid, essential volatile oil, glucosidal tannin, tannic acid, diterpenes, bitter glycoside: eupatorin, sesquiterpenes lactones, fatty resin,
Cautions Medium strength: Only use dried herb. Avoid high doses long term use. May cause diarrhoea, vomiting in high doses. Low doses short term use for acute infections. Should not be used by pregnant, nursing women, infants and children under the age of ten. Use in formulation up to 25% for no more than 1 week or two. 
Dosage Tincture: 1-3ml                Dried herb Tea infusion: 3-8g cold infusion for exhaustion and acute fever

Posted in Health conditions, Herbs, Natural Health | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
April 22, 2013

Canadian Maple Syrup

maple

Fresh pure Maple syrup from the Maple Syrup festival is such a treat it deserves a blog! The maple leaf isn’t on the Canadian flag for nothing! The red leaf officially became Canada’s flag in what year? 1887, 1918, 1965, ?

85% of the world’s maple syrup comes from Canada with Quebec and then Ontario being the largest producers. Who knew that maple syrup is a good source of calcium besides being nature’s delicious candy.

The maple tree has to be at least forty years old to tap and the harvest season lasts six weeks. The best conditions and times to tap are when it is below freezing at night and above freezing in the day time.

On an average season one tree can produce 10 gallons of sap. The sap is evaporated into a quart of maple syrup. Enjoy real Canadian Maple Syrup! YUM!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
November 2, 2012

Yarrow

Yarrow is one of Canada’s great wildflowers with a popular past, it needs to be used more often today. The Latin species name ‘millefolium,’  means thousand leaves named after the finely divided alternate feathery leaves. Thousand leaf and milfoil are also common names besides the name yarrow. Used externally the leaves are astringent which stops bleeding, reduces inflammation and speeds healing.

The Latin Genus name ‘Achillea’ is named after Achilles who healed his soldiers with yarrow during the Trojan War. Known as ‘herba militaria,’ yarrow helped treat wounds suffered in battle up to the 17th century.  Yarrow was popular and was picked to aid digestion, stop fevers and to use as a nose snuff.

There is a long history of metaphysical uses. The dried stalks were popular for divination for the ancient Chinese oracle the “I Ching.” In the middle ages the common name was Devil’s Nettle because of its use for divination and spells.

Pink Yarrow in British Columbia

The colour of the flowers vary from white to pinks in the wild. Hybrids are usually bigger and are available in beautiful bright colours of gold, yellow and reds. Yarrow is easy to grow because of its wildflower nature and grows in full sun with good drainage.

Country of Origin for essential oil production: Canada and France. Canadian essential oil is diploid and the colour is deep dark blue. European triploid essential oil variety is yellow-green colour. 

 

Common Name  Yarrow herb aka Milfoil, Thousandleaf
Latin Name  Achillea   millefolium
Family Asteraceae (Aster   family)
Parts Used/ Habitat Growth: Perennial   invasive wildflower grows 2-3 ft. Flowering tops picked in the summer in July
Target Organs Digestion, respiratory,   circulatory, female reproductive, skin, immune, cardiovascular
Common Uses Immune respiratory: coughs, colds, flu, fever, catarrh, infectionsVascular conditions:HBP, (Sitz bath) veins,

Skin/muscle: wounds,   bruises, sprains, strains, cuts,

Digestion:   spasms, ulcers, IBS,

Female reproductive: balancing tonic, spasms
Properties Antiallergenic,   antibacterial, anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory(local, systemic), antimicrobial,  antispasmodic (digestive, general), antiulcerogenic,   antiviral, aperient, astringent, bitter, carminative, cholagogue, choleretic,   diaphoretic, febrifuge, haemostatic (styptic, uterine) hypoglycaemic, hypotensive,   sialagogue, stomachic, styptic, stimulating emmenagogue, vasodilator (peripheral),   vascular tonic, uterine tonic, vulnerary
Constituents Essential Oil:.05%-.08%Ketones: thujone, camphor;

 Lactones:achillin, achillicin,   hydroxyachillin, millifin, millifolide,

alcohols:Borneol;

Sesquiterpenes: Azulene 1-51%   chamazulene, dihydroazulene, sabinene caryophyllene,

Oxides: 1, 8 cineole 10%

Monoterpenes: pinene 16%;

Other: flavonoids,   tannins, bitter alkaloid minerals, trace minerals, chlorophyll,   vitamin C, fatty acids, phytosterol
Cautions Mild remedy:Caution due to thujone content-uterine stimulant, neurotoxin. Do   not use during pregnancy, and with babies.
Dosage Tincture: 1-4mlTea: 1-2 tsp. infuse 10-15 minutes

external use: infused water use as a compress, poultice or a wash for wounds

Posted in Aromatherapy, Gardening, Health conditions, Herbs, Natural Health | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
June 2, 2012

West Coast B.C. Devil’s club

For five years I lived on the west coast of Canada in both Victoria, and in Vancouver. I love going back to visit, it is so beautiful! I thought I would share some pictures of Brandywine falls, Shannon falls and the beautiful scenery of the west coast.

Biking around the seawall in Vancouver B.C. Canada was amazing and a huge improvement from when I was living there. Big changes since hosting the Olympics. I did some mountain biking, hiking, paddleboarding, and saw Crankworx! biketrix in Whistler. On some hikes I noticed Devil’s club growing everywhere. It is so big and thorny it is best to avoid it, it’s called Devils’s club for a good reason! The red berries are poisonous! It is an adaptogenic root like ginseng, but it is more specific to treating pancreatic disorders. It is strong medicine so consult a qualified practitioner before taking it. Caution is advised!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Common Name  Devil’s club root
Latin Name  Oplopanax   horridus
Family Araliaceae
Parts Used perennial thorny   shrub root/ rhizome
Target Organs pancreas, immune
Common Uses diabetes,  pancreatic, pain, arthritis, stops milk flow,   colds, TB, infections
Properties Adaptogen,   analgesic, alterative, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic, pancreatic, nutritive,   antimicrobial,  tonic, laxative purgative,
Constituents saponins,   glycosides, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, tannin,
Cautions Medium Strength: Purgative emetic in large   doses. Potentizing herb: Use 15% and combine with demulcents in a formula.   Red Berries are poisonous
Dosage Tincture:   2-4mlTea: 2 tsp

Posted in Herbs, Photography, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
May 23, 2012

Coltsfoot

Coltsfoot ~ Tussilago farfara L. is one of the first wild flowers to bloom in Ontario in spring time.

Coltsfoot grows all around Georgian Bay and prefers to grow near water in wetter areas near stream banks and ditches. It looks like dandelion flowers and it is from the same Aster family. The flowers resemble a bent horse leg before and after flowering because they nod.

The leaves appear after the flowers have gone to fluffy seed that fly through the air in puffy white little clouds.

The leaves look lung shaped and treat lung conditions helping to reduce inflammation and spasms. It is mildly bitter, demulcent, astringent and cooling.

Common Name Coltsfoot leaves/ flowers
Latin Name Tussilago farfara
Family Asteraceae
Parts Used Perennial flowers bloom first in spring and then turn to seed, leaves follow in May/ June
Target Organs respiratory, throat
Common Uses Lungs: acute chronic lung chest infections, irritating dry coughs, External leaves: wounds, bruises,
Properties relaxing/ secretolytic expectorant, demulcent, vulnerary, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, diuretic, anti-catarrhal, emollient
Constituents Flowers: flavonoids: rutin, carotene, taraxanthin, arnidiol, farfardiol, tannin, Essential oils

Leaves:mucilage, polysaccharides, tannin, bitter glycosides, inulin, sitosterol, zinc

Traces of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, hormonal substances, calcium, magnesium, sodium, trace minerals
Cautions Due to traces of pyrrolizidine alkaloids do not use for extended periods of time at high dosages. Do not use with children under the age of 8, during pregnancy or lactation.
Dosage Tincture: 2-5ml                Tea: 6-14g

 

Posted in Health conditions, Herbs, Natural Health | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , ,
May 22, 2012

Georgian Bay

Georgian Bay is Ontario‘s best kept secret boasting the world’s longest fresh water beach, 30, 000 islands, camping, diving and all kinds of outdoor activities. Wasaga beach on Georgian Bay is the longest fresh water beach in the world and sandy beaches stretch for miles around the Bay of clear blue water.

It was so hot this year it was the first time in May I dipped in Georgian Bay. I have seen the most stunning sunsets on Georgian Bay and I wish I could post them all on here.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Around Tobermory is where Georgian Bay meets the rest of the Great Lakes and thousand-year old cedars grow on windswept cliff sides. There is camping, diving, hiking, biking, swimming, a natural grotto and all around beauty to take in.

I love Georgian Bay!

Posted in Photography | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , ,
March 19, 2012

Medicinal Mushrooms

Polypore mushrooms are medicinal mushrooms used for centuries as a tonic to detoxify, cleanse and strengthen all systems. Polypore mushrooms are adaptogens that have a high level of antioxidants that nourish and balance the body.

This group of mushrooms grow on rotting logs and stumps and are called bracket fungi because look like shelves or brackets. They are usually found on rotting birch trees but are also found on other trees. Mushrooms that grow on birch are desirable because they have some of the properties that birch has like the essential oil betulin. Betulin and other fat soluble parts can only be captured in a tincture because water preparations like tea only capture the water-soluble constituents.

Artist’s conk is the only fungi identifiable by the ability to etch designs and words on it and it grows on hardwood trees like maples.

Remove Mushrooms with a hatchet, axe or knife and chop them up with a hammer or axe in a cardboard box. You can dry them out for a couple of days in a warm place. Use polypore mushrooms medicinally in a tea or tincture and are typically not culinary.

This is a good documentary about knowing your mushrooms.

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/know-your-mushrooms/

There is new research into how mushrooms can clean up the planet by eating up oil spills and breaking down plastics.

There are culinary, medicinal and poisonous varieties of mushrooms so correct identification is important. Caution when picking mushrooms because misidentification can lead to fatalities.  Get fungi from a reputable source or take a guide with you into nature and some field guide books to wild-craft but caution is advised!

This is a good website about mushrooms in eastern Canada and United States.

http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomartist.html

VARNISH POLYPORE FRUITING BODY/

BRACKET FUNGI

 Common Name  Varnish Polypore Fruiting Body/ aka Bracket Fungi 
Latin Name  Ganoderma spp. L. Includes:

Lacquered Polypore- G. lucidum aka Reishi

Hemlock varnish shelf- G. tsugae

Artist’s Conk- Ganoderma  applanatum
Family Polypore family Ganodermataceae L. 
Parts Used Fruiting body/Mushroom/Fungi
Target Organs Immune, Nervous, Endocrine, Pancreas, Spleen, Digestive, Urinary, Heart
Common Uses Strengthens and cleanses all systems.

Tonic to: Immune, Nervous, Endocrine, Heart, Pancreas, Spleen, Digestive, Urinary Systems

Lowers cholesterol, normalizes blood pressure, Cancer, diabetes, infections, allergies,
Properties Underlined properties are primary:

Adaptogen, adrenal tonic, analgesic, antiallergenic, antiatherogenic, antibacterial, anticarcinogenic, anticardiotoxic, anticatarrhal, antidepressant, antihepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagencic, antineoplastic, antinephrotoxic, antineurotoxic, antioxidant, antiradiotoxic, antithrombotic, antiulcerogenic, antiviral, anxiolytic, aperient, appetite stimulant, astringent, bitter, blood pressure normalizer, cardiac, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, decongestant, emmenagogue tonic, expectorant secretolytic, hypocholesterolemic, hypolipidemic, immune stimulant, immune tonic,  nervine, pancreatic, relaxant, spleenic, tranquilizer, vasodilator, vulnerary
Constituents Polysaccharides, polyphenols, phytosterols.

Betulinic acid, betulin are in mushrooms only found on birch trees and are fat soluble and only available in tincture form.
Cautions Polypore bracket fungi are edible but correct identification is important to avoid poisoning, illness and possible death.

Posted in Health conditions, Herbs, Natural Health, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , ,
  |  
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 3,465 other followers

%d bloggers like this: