Episode 54-Many, many women dread "that time of the month" because every month, they experience crippling painful periods. When I was a teenager, I became a frequent visitor to the nurse's office every month because of this. Of course, the nurse couldn't dispense any pain medications, so all I ever got was a hot water bottle. That didn't really help all that much. It wasn't until about ten years later that I learned how to banish painful periods forever. Let me share with you what I learned.
Helps for Painful Periods
At that time, I thought all women had painful periods. I mean, all the women in my family suffered. It wasn't really something my friends and I talked about, but there were plenty of teen magazine articles about it. I thought it was inevitable, just like acne. Every month, I just took some pain medication and hoped it would go away. But, after a while, I needed more and more medication to dull the pain. My periods were very heavy, too, and at the time, I didn't know the two things could be related. But, years later when I made this one change, everything else changed, too.
The first thing
The first thing I did was change my diet. I talked about this in the podcast on PMS symptoms, too. Diet is the foundation of any wellness regimen and my diet as a teen and young adult had been full of processed foods, sugar, and allergenic foods. Triggered by other health issues, I drastically changed what I ate and eliminated all allergens, processed food, and sugar. The transformation was amazing but it took three months! However, by eliminating those foods that caused a lot of inflammation and eating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, I saw amazing things happen! The cramps weren't just less intense, they were completely gone. That time of the month came along and I didn't even know it. You can hear more about my story on the podcast!
Stress Relief and Exercise
Another major contributor to cramping and pain is stress. Sometimes it's hard to escape or control stress, though. But, we can choose our attitude toward what's going on around us and we can pray, leaving our burdens at the feet of Jesus. Other things we can do are meditate on God's Word and exercise. Deep breathing, walking, running, dancing, biking, and other exercises all help us get rid of stress hormones. They also cause our bodies to release endorphins and increase serotonin levels. (Interestingly, a more whole foods diet also affects serotonin levels.)  Endorphins relieve pain and promote relaxation, while serotonin improves mood. So, exercise can be especially helpful if muscles are tight because of stress.
Herbal Helps for Painful Periods
There are times when, despite our best efforts, we still feel some tightness and cramping. A bath of Epsom salts can help as it soothes muscles and induces relaxation overall. Other herbal and essential oil helps include:

* Rubbing a blend of lavender, clary sage, Roman chamomile, sweet marjoram, and everlasting dissolved in a carrier oil over the abdomen.
* You could also create the blend and add it to bathwater.
* Drinking crampbark, dang quai, squaw vine, and/or raspberry tea. You could also take the tincture. Capsules are another option.

Get more herbs for women's health with my FREE email series! Sign up!

These tips definitely helped me, but sometimes painful periods are due to endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, tumors, or another serious condition.

Episode 53-If you are a woman in your 40's, you are probably in the years known as perimenopause. It is during these years--especially in your late 40's--that you may start experiencing hot flashes as well as other symptoms of declining hormone levels. Sometimes your doctor may suggest hormone replacement therapy to ease discomfort. But, hormone therapy can have unpleasant side effects. So, you may choose to try natural relief first. Learn more about these options in this episode of Crunchy Christian Podcast.
What Are Hot Flashes and Why Do You Get Them?
First, let's talk about what's going on in your body. Most women know that they will cease getting their period sometime around age 50 or so and this is called menopause. But, women's bodies start winding down and preparing for that time anywhere from four to fourteen years before that. That means that you can start experiencing symptoms of declining hormone levels as early as your late 30's. However, for most women, symptoms don't appear until a decade later. The age at which menopause occurs is genetic, but is also influenced by surgeries, pregnancies, and some health conditions.
Your hormonal cycle
Progesterone
The menstrual cycle is a dance between two hormones, progesterone and estrogen. We hear a lot about estrogen, but not so much about progesterone. Progesterone is produced by the remains of the egg follicle, or corpus luteum, after the egg is released. This hormone stimulates the uterus to thicken to support an embryo. So, progesterone levels are high in the second half of your cycle. Then, the corpus luteum naturally breaks down after 13-14 days if there's no embryo. Then, of course, progesterone levels fall and you have your period.

But if there is an embryo, the corpus luteum (and progesterone) plays an important role in nourishing and supporting the growing baby until the placenta can take over. Progesterone levels remain high throughout pregnancy. It is the hormone that gives us that baby glow and makes us feel happy.

During perimenopause, your ovaries aren't reliably stimulated to release an egg each month. That means that some months, you don't release an egg. No egg, no progesterone, although your adrenal glands do produce a very small amount. Less progesterone then results in unpleasant PMS symptoms such as heavy bleeding, weight gain, mood swings, irritability, and more.
Estrogen
Now let's talk about estrogen. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, both estrogen and progesterone levels are low. The low levels stimulate the pituitary gland to release follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and this, in turn, stimulates the ovaries to produce more estrogen. Estrogen stimulates the follicles to mature an egg for release and levels continue to rise until ovulation, then dip briefly, and then rise again until menses.

During perimenopause, the declining number and quality of follicles means that less estrogen and less progesterone is produced. Sometimes the pituitary gland will produce more FSH as an extra effort to nudge the ovaries, but of course, it's in vain. This is the time when hormone levels become erratic and periods become very irregular both in timing and in heaviness. We also experience more and more menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. Then finally, the ovaries aren't producing any estrogen or progesterone. At that point, the little estrogen circulating comes from our adrenal glands and fat stores.
Natural Relief
Not every woman experiences hot flashes, but many do. Doctors are not sure what causes hot flashes since those who experience them have the same hormone levels...

Episode 52-Most women at some point in their lives get a yeast infection. Most of the time, we reach for an over-the-counter anti-fungal medication. But, sometimes we experience nasty side effects from those or we have an allergic reaction. So, it's a good idea to know some natural yeast infection remedies to try. It's also good to understand how to prevent those infections from occurring in the first place. Let's explore how to help ourselves with this common issue.
First, prevent yeast infections!
A bit more about yeast
One key to understanding how to prevent yeast infections is to learn more about the yeast that naturally inhabits our bodies. Everyone has yeast and it has an important role in our internal ecosystem living in all of our potentially exposed areas: skin, mouth, intestines, and vagina. These areas are naturally acidic and keep yeast in check. That's due in part to the Lactobacilli bacteria also living there that release a slightly acidic waste that helps maintain pH.

However, when there is an imbalance, a change in pH to more alkaline can encourage yeast to migrate and become a problem.  pH can also change because of douching. In addition, keep in mind that yeast eat sugar and decomposing organic matter. Undigested food in the intestines and a high sugar diet combined with a change in pH can spell disaster. Not only can it lead to yeast infections, but it can also lead to a systemic candida overgrowth that invades the rest of your body. We'll talk more about how such imbalances occur in just a bit.
Symptoms of an infection
Most women are familiar with the intense itching, cottage cheese like discharge, and burning associated with yeast infections. But, it is important to distinguish yeast infections from bacterial infections which have different symptoms. If you're not sure which one you have, it's best to see a qualified health professional for a diagnosis. Bacterial infections require a different approach, so don't overlook this.
Why you're getting infections
So, why did you get the yeast infection in the first place? Remember that yeast migrates from the gut to the vagina because of pH changes and an absence of the bacteria that keep it in check. And, it reproduces rapidly when you eat a lot of sugar. That makes diabetics more vulnerable to yeast infections. But, diabetics are not the only ones. Women on birth control and women who take a lot of antibiotics are also prone to more yeast infections. Listen to the podcast to hear other causes of yeast infections.

So first line of defense is prevention! Eat a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory diet full of good fats and plenty of fruits and veggies. Be mindful of medications, including birth control and especially antibiotics. And consider switching your menstrual products. If you experience recurring yeast infections, maybe your husband has a yeast infection, too. Then, he should try some natural yeast infection remedies at the same time as you are to prevent this.
Natural Yeast Infection Remedies
Food and supplements as natural yeast infection remedies
Your first line of defense should be nutritional. While these types of natural yeast infection remedies don't really kill the yeast, they serve other important purposes. First, they encourage good bacteria to grow which then changes the pH of your gut and vagina. These good bacteria also compete with yeast, creating the proper balance of both in your body. Second, these nutritional helps strengthen your immune system and make it harder for the yeast to grow and spread. So, make sure to incorporate them as part of your natural yeast infection remedies strategy.

Food and supplement helps:

Episode 51-Many women struggle with monthly cramps, cravings, irritability, and other symptoms. In this podcast, Julie kicks off a series on women's health with some easy tips for how to help PMS symptoms improve. Try these tips if you want to feel better naturally and you've ruled out more serious issues such as PCOS or endometriosis.

First, let's talk about hormones and estrogen.
What are hormones and what does estrogen do?
The simplest way to discuss hormones would be to liken them to a sort of telephone system that keeps your body up to date with information.  They help your body do things. These chemicals are made in specific organs in your body, which are then sent all over your body to tell your body what to do.

Estrogen is a female sex hormone, and the majority of it is created in your ovaries. Some of it is also produced by fat cells and extra fat can affect estrogen levels in your body.

Estrogen controls important processes in the body such as the menstrual cycle. Estrogen plays a role in many body processes besides the obvious ones such as puberty and pregnancy, too. For example, it can also influence your weight, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and specific other body tissues. It can also protect you from some health issues, such as bone loss.
Estrogen’s Job Changes During Your Life
One of the most interesting things about estrogen, is how much it’s job changes through your life. When you are young and beginning to become and adult, a period of time called puberty, estrogen send signals to cause different parts of your body mature. As you reach complete adulthood, estrogen also activates the growth of adult characteristics. Estrogen also keeps your body from continuing to ovulate when you become pregnant.
How to Help PMS: Recognize the Signs of Hormonal Imbalance
Although unpleasant, the body provides you with signs that help you to be able to find answers for various conditions. Hormonal imbalances are no exception, so some of the basic symptoms could be tenderness in your breasts, changes in your menstrual cycle, or weight gain around your midsection and thighs. Other symptoms can include sudden decreases in your sex drive, mood swings, depression, difficult periods, problems in the gallbladder, and endometriosis. If you have been experiencing and of these symptoms, see your doctor to be sure you don't have underlying serious conditions that need medical attention.

To learn about important factors that contribute to hormone imbalance, listen to the podcast!
Tips for Improving PMS Symptoms
Before I share some easy tips, I want to say that these tips are for women who have already ruled out serious health conditions.  You will find that the best ways of how to help PMS symptoms are also the best ways to help many other health issues.
Foods that Help
As you might imagine, a healthy balanced diet plays a significant role in managing PMS symptoms. Some hormones in the body are made of protein chains. But androgens such as testosterone and estrogen are made of lipids, which means they are made from cholesterol. That’s why athletes who over train and have very little body fat often don’t menstruate and also have hormone imbalances. It’s important to maintain a healthy weight with an appropriate amount of body fat. That means a balanced diet of whole foods. Cutting the sugar and the junky snacks can do a lot for PMS.

These foods can be especially helpful:

* cruciferous veggies,
* berries/fruit,
* nuts,
* seeds
* soy and other dried beans are high in phytoestrogens but be careful.
* probiotics

Sage is a wonderful garden plant with which you may not be familiar. Listen in as Julie discusses historic and modern sage uses.
Historic Sage Uses
Salvia officinalis comes from the Latin word "salvere," meaning "to be saved." Records of sage uses go as far back as ancient Egypt, where it was used to promote fertility in women. Perhaps it was clary sage that they used as other species aren’t used that way by any other culture. For example, the ancient Greeks used sage to treat snake bites. In addition, they thought that eating it made one wise and that its very garden presence brought long life.
How the Romans Used Sage
The Romans had sage uses in several areas of life. They revered it so much that just cutting it involved wearing special clothing, ceremonial foot washing, and the use of a special knife. Roman scientists had noticed that if they used iron, it changed the chemical composition of the plant. Women cooked with it because they believed it helped them better digest fatty meats. They also hung it on bedposts because they believed it promoted fidelity.  But, their most important sage uses were in medicinal use. It was considered by Dioscorides, Nero’s military physician, to be one of the most important herbs of the time, appearing in the official Roman pharmacopeia. The herb was used to heal ulcers, stop the bleeding of wounds, soothe a sore throat, and for ulcers.

Listen in on the podcast to hear more about Native American and Celtic uses of sage. It’s not what you think!
Sage in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, the French became well-known for their crops of sage and traded it all over the known world, even as far as China. The Chinese loved sage tea so much, they traded four pounds of Chinese tea for every one pound of sage tea. Many people in China used sage to treat colds, joint pain, typhoid fever, and kidney and liver issues.

 

During the reign of Charlemagne, sage was planted widely by order of the king. And, in one of his schools, sage was one of 100 plants grown on the property. Even today, monasteries are required to grow it, it is such an important medicinal herb. In fact, sage was one of sixteen herbs used for therapies and played a key role in drug preparations of medieval times.

Learn more on the podcast!
Growing Sage and Sage Uses in Food
Sage is an integral part of making bread stuffing for turkey and pork. Another common sage use is in making sausage. It adds a nice flavor to cheeses, butters, and roasted root veggies, too. Due to its ability to kill harmful bacteria, it has also been used to keep meats fresh when there was limited or no refrigeration.

This pretty perennial garden plant has velvety grey-green leaves and square stems. Depending on the variety of sage you grow, the color of the flowers varies. It is a bit bushy and can be grown in pots. If you want to grow sage, remember it is a lot like other members of the mint family to which it belongs. It is native to the Mediterranean, just like thyme and oregano. So, plant in full sun in well-drained soil. Remember, these plants don’t like wet soil. Sage can take a while to sprout, so it may be better to grow it from a small plant. Watch out for mildew with sage.
Modern Uses and Discoveries
Sage essential oil contains salvene, pinene, and cineol; borneol, esters, and thujone. Some varieties also contain cedrene and salviol. Its actions are stimulant, antispasmodic, astringent, tonic, and carminative. It has been used as a mouthwash and gargle for oral complaints. It has also been used internally for fevers, blood cleanser, digestive complaints especially regarding the stomach, and also for nervous headache. Julie talks more about the essential oil on the podcast. Only one tablespoon of this herb provides 43% of RDI for vitamin K. It is also a significant source of vitamin A, B6, calcium,

TaleDo you like to use rosemary in cooking? Well, rosemary is a delicious, aromatic herb, but it also has many historical uses beyond making food taste good. In this episode, join Julie as she discusses rosemary uses beyond cooking.
Rosemary Uses in History
Rosmarinus officinalis, but now called Salvia rosmarinus. The scientific name, Rosmarinus, comes from the Greek ‘ros’ and ‘marinus’ (“dew of the sea”), named for its origins in the Mediterranean. This herb was known even to the Egyptians as dried sprigs were found in their tombs.

There are many legends around this woody herb. One holds that when Mary and Joseph fled Egypt to return to Israel, they stopped near a rosemary bush. When she threw her blue cape over the white flowers of the bush, the flowers turned blue. Another bit of Christian folklore claims that rosemary can live up to thirty-three years. That’s not far from the truth. However, the reason for the claim has to do with Jesus’ life and death, since the plant has that association with Christ and Mary.

Some other rosemary uses included warding off evil. For example, in Italy and Spain, it was used as a protection from witches and general evil. In England, it was burned in the homes of those who had died from illness and placed on coffins before the grave was filled with dirt. Sleeping with a sprig under one’s pillow supposedly would ward off bad dreams and hung outside, was supposed to ward off evil spirits.

Learn more historic rosemary uses on the podcast!
Medieval Rosemary Uses
Not all people of the Middle Ages used rosemary for superstitious purposes. After all, a list of rosemary uses can be found in the Zibaldone da Canal, an early 14th-century book by a Venetian merchant. It lists 23 uses and preparations of rosemary. These include the following: for all illnesses within the body, as a face and hair cleanser, to kill worms, to get rid of rheumatism, protect against nightmares, “prolong your youth and strengthen your limbs,” protect you from serpents and scorpions, get rid of diarrhea, treat gout, address mental issues, and repel insects from eating your clothes.

There are more rosemary uses on the podcast!
Growing Rosemary
Woody perennial with needle like leaves and small blue flowers. This shrubby herb is a slow grower at first. The seeds can take weeks to sprout, and the young plants grow slowly, not flowering until the second year. However, this plant can live 30 years, so careful gardening in the early years is well worth the effort. Rosemary likes full sun and dry, sandy soil. Wet winter soil will kill the plant, even though it is hardy in mild, 20F winters. Some varieties tolerate 10F winters. Make sure the soil drains well and you’ll keep your bushy rosemary plant happy.
Modern Research and Rosemary Uses
Today, people use both the herb and the essential oil. The herb is popular for meats and stews and people sometimes infuse it into olive oil as a nice aromatic drizzle for salads. The essential oil is frequently adulterated, so take care when trying to find a reputable source. There are three main chemotypes of rosemary essential oil. These are the camphor type—which contains terpene ketones, terpene oxides, and terpene hydrocarbons; the cineole type—which contains cineole and terpene hydrocarbons; and the verbenone type—which contains the ketone, verbenone, cineole, and terpene hydrocarbons.

Rosemary essential oil can help improve circulation and respiratory issues. It may also be helpful in cases of hair loss and acne. The traditional rosemary uses for memory and nervous tension continue, particularly as that tension affects digestion. The herb has astringent, diaphoretic, and stimulant properties. Nutritionally, it contains significant amounts of vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin A,

peoThose popular, pretty, yellow and orange (and sometimes white or pink) flowers pack a punch. You might know them better as the skin herb, Calendula. Discover Calendula uses for more than just skin on this podcast with Julie.

First, marigolds and calendula are not the same plant. They look similar and are both in the Asteraceae family, but they are different plants in several respects. It gets confusing because Calendula is often known as pot Marigold or common Marigold, and even some herbals will list Calendula as Marigold! But, this is a misnomer as Calendula and true Marigold are in different plant genuses. Calendula is found in northern Africa and south-central Europe, while Marigolds or Tagetes sp. are native to the tropical and hot parts of the Americas.

Most importantly, Calendula plants are edible while many Marigold species are not. Best to make sure you’ve got the right plant. And, because of their spicy, somewhat unpleasant aroma, Marigolds are the better choice for pest control in your garden. Calendula grows well in pots, but don’t try to transplant them into your garden from those pots. They don’t transplant well. Grows well in almost any soil. Prefers at least partial sun.
Historical Calendula Uses
Calendula officinalis, also known as Mary-Bud, Mary-Gold, Pot Marigold and Poor Man’s Saffron, has been cultivated at least since the 12th century, but was known and used for centuries before that. The Latin name, Calendae, means the first day of the month. The Romans observed that it flowered on the first day of each month, almost like clockwork, and thus the name. But, while ancient Egyptians used calendula for skin treatments, the Greeks and Romans primarily used it in cooking and in rituals. For rituals and weddings, they would string the flowers together into garlands.

Find out about its calendula uses in cooking on the podcast.
Myths and Superstitions
Marigold legends
Some old calendula uses were more superstitious and mythical. For example, there are several stories about how it came to be called Marigold (which is confusing, as I said earlier).

One tradition stems from church legends describing an event that they say happened to the Holy Family during their flight to Egypt. The legend says that robbers came and took Mary's purse. However, when they opened it, all that they found were the golden flowers, so the calendula was ever after known as 'Mary's Gold'. And thus, the calendula uses in early Catholic events in some countries.

Another folk legend describes a beautiful, golden-haired child called Mary-Gold who spent all her time watching the sun until one day she disappeared and was never found. In the place where she used to sit, there grew a little sun-like flower. The child’s friends proclaimed that the little flower was really Mary-Gold and that she had been turned into a flower. And that is the country folk came to call calendula Marigold.
Other superstitious beliefs and stories
During the medieval era, there were many other superstitious beliefs about calendula uses. One held that strewing calendula under your bed offered you protection from robbers and thieves. And, if you had been robbed, calendula would help you find the robbers. Another common belief was that it was considered wise to carry a bit of calendula in your pocket when going to court to ensure a positive outcome. And another story is that women who walked barefoot across calendula petals were supposedly able to communicate with birds.

Learn how people thought calendula was a love charm and other superstitions on the podcast.
Calendula Comes to America
Calendulas came to the New World with the first European settlers. They believed the plant would protect them from native witchcraft in addition to physical ailments. They also brought it for cooking,

Lemon Balm is a useful plant to include in any herbal garden. The benefits of lemon balm for the entire family are worth the effort. Join Julie on Crunchy Christian Podcast today as she talks about this wonderful, mild herb.
Historical Benefits of Lemon Balm
Greeks
Melissa officinalis appears in ancient texts as far back as 2000 years. People strongly associate lemon balm with bees and  sometimes refer to it as bee balm. It certainly is a “balm” for bees as they can’t seem to resist the smell. Perhaps that’s the observation from which Greeks derived their mythology.

The earliest texts place lemon balm in Ephesus, which is in modern day Turkey. Ancient Greek texts are rife with mythology around this plant. For example, in Greek mythology, Melissa was the nymph who discovered honey and nursed the infant Zeus, who later became king of the gods. Nymphs were said to be able to take the form of bees.

For the Greeks, these Melissae were priestesses serving the great goddess mother of nature. They believed that only those who lived a righteous life could become Melissae and then return to heaven, like a bee returning to the hive. And of course, the genus name, Melissa, is the Greek word for “honeybee.”

Learn more about some ancient benefits of lemon balm on the podcast.
Middle Ages
In the ninth century, Charlemagne consumed lemon balm teas and tinctures to promote health and longevity. He decreed that lemon balm should be included in all apothecary and monastery gardens in his realm.

On the podcast, Julie talks more about the monastic gardens and Carmelite water!

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance period, people praised the benefits of lemon balm. They claimed it as a sort of fountain of life and overall tonic, using it in elixirs, liquors, ointments, and baths. They even used it as a furniture polish and room freshener. Lemon even makes its appearance in Shakespearean plays as an anointing herb and as an herb for grief.

It’s no wonder why settlers would bring lemon balm with them when they came to North America. The benefits of lemon balm over the years made it indispensable.
Benefits of Lemon Balm
Beekeepers crush the leaves to release this smell and draw worker bees to a newly-constructed hive—a technique in use since antiquity. Lemon balm contains many of the same chemicals that are found in bee pheromones, such as nerolic acid. Its actions are nervine, sedative, mild antidepressant, mild antispasmodic, carminative, diaphoretic, antiviral, antioxidant. Contains: flavonoids, tannins, rosmarinic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, methyl carnosoate, hydroxycinnamic acid, and several phenols and aldehydes, including citral and geraniol, especially in the essential oil. Interestingly, a worker honeybee’s Nasonov gland also contains geraniol and citral!

Also contains vitamin C and thiamin and when added to drinks, makes a refreshing summer tea. It has also been added to jams and jellies to add a nice lemony flavor. Some people even candy the leaves!
Growing It
A perennial member of the mint family, growing up to three feet tall. Square stems with oval or heart-shaped serrated leaves. Small flowers in pale yellow, white, or pink. Has a lemony smell and flavor. Grows best in cooler climates and tolerates weather down to -20F. Dislikes hot climates. Grows best in rich, well-drained soil but will grow in almost any soil as long as it isn’t too wet. Might be good to plant it with Thyme and Lavender. Grow it near your cabbage family vegetables as it helps deter insects that like those plants. Another of the benefits of lemon balm is that it attracts honeybees, as already discussed. So, you could also plant it near fruit trees or other plants that depend on bees for poll...

You have probably heard of lavender essential oil. Lots of people are familiar with it for helping with sleep issues. But, there are many other lavender uses that make it the oil you can’t live without. Join Julie on Crunchy Christian Podcast as she talks about lavender.
Lavender Uses You Can’t Live Without
A long history
Ancient history
Lavandula sp. (47 varieties, all with some medicinal qualities) is part of the mint family. Documented use for 2500 years. Egyptians used it in mummification and perfume. Greeks used it to fight insomnia and to treat backaches. The Greek doctor for the Roman army, Dioscorides, probably had a hand in teaching the Romans about lavender uses. He wrote that it relieved indigestion, sore throats, headaches, and healed wounds. Evidence suggests that they took his advice and Romans burned lavender in rooms where there were sick people.

Listen in on the podcast to hear additional lavender uses, including Biblical references!
Medieval lavender uses
In Medieval and Renaissance France, people called women who took in washing “lavenders.” They washed clothes in lavender and laid to dry on lavender bushes. People also used lavender to scent drawers, perfume the air and ward off infection and heal wounds. In addition, medieval doctors used lavender as a remedy for the Great Plague in London in the 17th century. And, grave robbers who washed in lavender didn’t get sick. 16th century glove makers in France, who perfumed their gloves with lavender, escaped cholera.

Did you know two famous queens loved lavender? Listen to the podcast to learn more.
Foundation of aromatherapy
It must be noted that lavender pretty much founded the science of aromatherapy. In the 1930’s a French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé, burned his hand while working in his laboratory. Quickly, he reached for what was on hand, which happened to be lavender oil. The wound healed so quickly and completely, that he published a book, “Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales,” (Aromatherapy: Essential Oils, Plant Hormones) and coined the word aromatherapy (the therapy of aromatic plants). As a result of his findings, doctors used lavender during WWII to heal wounds and more research on aromatic plants began in earnest. Today, Gattefosse’s book is considered an important founding work in the field of aromatherapy.
A garden favorite
Shrubby perennial plant native to mountains of Mediterranean countries, particularly France. But, people all over the world cultivate it wherever there’s rocky, dry soil and lots of sun. It grows best in this environment and can get to about 3 feet high, occasionally a bit taller. If you listened to the podcast about Thyme, you know that the two plants like to grow near each other. They both hate wet, humid climates and soil, so if you want to keep lavender happy, remember that it naturally grows in more arid, dry, rocky places. Lavender has long been a gardening favorite as it lends both fragrance and beauty to a landscape and is fairly easy to grow.

Listen to the podcast to hear how lavender uses turned the economy around in one American small town.
Modern research on lavender uses
The essential oil of lavender is sometimes adulterated to bring up the ester content of lesser species. Generally safe for use, even with children over age 2. Creates calm and lifts mood, relieves anxiety and induces sleep, can improve memory when under stress, reduces pain associated with arthritis, menses, headache, and lower back. Also good for skin healing, insecticidal, and bruises, burns, and wounds.

You can find lavender in nearly every natural food stores and even today, many folks add it to drinks, baked goods, baths, drawer sachets,

Thyme uses go far back in history, but today, it's mostly known as a culinary herb. Discover how this humble herb not only makes your food taste better, but it also improves your health. Learn about thyme uses and benefits that you need to know about now!
Thyme Uses in History
Ancient Historical Uses
Thymus vulgaris is the Latin name for thyme. The uses of Thyme in history goes back to ancient Egyptians, who used it in their mummification process. Apparently, they equated scent with holiness and purity. They also used thyme as a pain reliever. However, the thyme they used might have been a wilder version than the one we currently use. The currently used thyme originates from a wild version that grew in the mountains of Spain and other Mediterranean countries, as well as northern Africa and Asia Minor. It is said that the name either came from a Greek word that meant fumigate or the Greek word thumus, which meant courage. They did use it as a sort of incense to clear the air, but their thyme uses included it as a source of invigoration. They certainly used it as a fumigator as referenced by Virgil in one of his books and Pliny tells us that the incense “puts to flight all venomous creatures.”

Others have said thyme was associated with grace and elegance and that if someone said you smelled of thyme it was considered a compliment. They didn’t really use it as a culinary herb, although the Romans used it to flavor cheese. The Romans also ate sprigs of it just before a meal to protect themselves from poison and for this reason, it became a favorite among emperors.

Thyme Uses in the Middle Ages
The idea that thyme invoked courage lived on into the middle ages as the ladies embroidered into their scarves a bee hovering over a sprig of thyme and gave them to their favored knights. And the traditional Roman belief that it warded off poison and could also counteract poison persisted. When the Black Death struck in the late 1340s, millions of people turned to thyme for relief and protection. They incorporated the herb into many of their herbal concoctions to ward off the disease.

Listen in on the podcast to hear thyme uses in Victorian times and more!
Growing Thyme
Thyme is a small, somewhat woody plant, usually growing only to about 8 inches tall, occasionally growing to a foot tall. It has small green-gray leaves, small purplish flowers, and is very fragrant. Because of its size, it is ideally suited for an indoor herb garden. It likes a dry, light soil, not a super moist soil. Too moist soil is a great way to kill it. It also likes to grow alongside lavender. They are “friends,” if you will. It is a perennial, so take winter precautions to protect the plants from frost.

Modern Research
Thyme has antiseptic, antispasmodic, tonic, and carminative qualities. You can use the whole herb or the essential oil. Thyme uses include whooping cough, sore throat and congestion, colic, fever, gout, sciatica, leprosy, mouthwash, and to kill parasites. At times, it has been made into an ointment to get rid of swellings and warts and as herbal tobacco useful for digestion, headache, and sleepiness. Can be used as a preservative and to ward off insects. Hear about modern research about potential additional thyme uses, including MRSA, on the podcast!



Warnings
Avoid large doses in early pregnancy and if you are on doxorubicin, an anti-tumor agent, be careful about thyme. It may interact with the drug.