Greenwood Herbals

Meadowsweet - Filipendula ulmaria

We were in a class last week, where our teacher was discussing the zodiac man, astrology and herbs.  It was really fascinating.  I really don’t know a lot about astrology other than I’m a Virgo and my husband is a Gemini and we are both ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication and if Mercury goes retrograde, communication seems to break down. Well, I had to know more and there is so much information!   Basically, herbal medicine was linked to astrology by early herbalists.  Anyone who has read the farmers almanac remembers the man where different zodiac signs like Virgo ruled the intestines and Gemini the lungs.  Each planetary sign was linked to a part of the body, and what I learned  was that each planetary sign also has different herbs associated with it.   So we looked to see what planetary sign we were in and it’s Gemini and then we looked at the plants and there it was Meadowsweet.  My friend Cheryl, and I have been  discussing the duality of Meadowsweet.  Filipendula ulmaria and Spiraea.  Which works better on acid reflux?    Some herbalists say that the Filipendula is better and they have seen no results with Spiraea,  Really?  I thought that I was seeing results so I had to find out.  Maybe my clients weren’t telling me.  But then I realized that I tinctured all of the Spiraea and had dried the Filipendula.  I called clients to see if the tincture was working and was informed that it is, not only for acid reflux but some had discovered that it was good for headaches as well.  Well, yes, it does have those aspirin-like chemicals.   The Filipendula was put into my teas for an after meal beverage and I called these clients.  It’s a miracle they tell me.  So here we have two plants, both bearing the same common name doing the same job.  But I wonder how the Spiraea would work as a tea? When I suggested changing the tea or the tincture to my clients, they did not want any part of the experimentation.  What they have works so leave it alone.  I can understand this so respect their wishes, so we will just leave it alone.  I would experiment on me or Tom, as I always do but we do not suffer from GERD.  I guess I just have to wait for that one client who will be willing to try. 

  We actually have three meadowsweets here at Greenwood. 

 ,                     

Filipendula Ulmaria                  Spiraea Ulmaria                   Filipendula Vulgaris (dropwort). 

And yes, for those of you who care…  it is on the test!   

 

 

Meadowsweet is one of the best digestive remedies of herbal medicines in my opinion.  It is an excellent example of a digestive tonic.  First, let’s explain what a tonic actually is.  Tonics are substances provided by nature for the repair and maintenance of a normal human body.  They restore balance to the body systems that are under stress.  They do not stress the body, but by  themselves are suitable for long-term use in small doses.  Tonics differ from most medicinal substances in being bi-directional in action.  They correct illness-promoting imbalances, independent of the particular nature of the cause.  They contain a wide variety of active principles, which may possess opposing actions on a particular body system.  Yet, rather than cancel each other out, these actions are brought into play only where and when they are needed, actually responding to the changing state of the organism. This is what Meadowsweet will do with excess acid or excess alkaline.  Balancing the levels.  We have found that Meadowsweet works best for GERD, Acid Reflux.  It balances the acidic and the alkaline levels in the digestive system.  A lot of people who are suffering from what they think is excess acid is actually excess alkaline.  They do not know the symptoms or the signs to tell the difference.  The worst thing they can do is eat antacids to suppress the acid that they are not producing.  Meadowsweet soothes the mucous membrane of the digestive tract and eases nausea.   The aspirin-like chemicals (salicylates) explains why it works on headaches, helping to reduce fever and relieving the pain of rheumatism in muscles and joints.    If you are sensitive to aspirin, you should avoid taking meadowsweet.  That means asthmatics who are sensitive to aspirin—be aware. 

Other Uses:  The whole plant, but especially the leaves was used as a strewing herb, emitting an almond-like fragrance. 

 

Classes/Events:  . 

Makeup class for the apprenticeship is scheduled for June 7th.  If there are those who missed the first class and would still like to join the apprenticeship program, this is your last chance.  Class begins at 10 AM.

All Day Plant Id Walk is scheduled on June 24th for Apprentices.  See Debbie for details. 

Proposed class on making your own Hydrosols.  Date and time to be announced sometime in June.  

REMINERALIZING SOUP - for one generous serving

One medium potato

One small to medium onion

Three stalks of asparagus

A double handful of nettle tops

About seven tops of apple mint

Celtic sea salt or herb salt to taste

Scrub the potato and peel the onion. Cut the potato into smallish wedges and slice the onion and cook in a cup or so of water. When cooked [ but nit soft and mushy] tip in the nettles and mint. Stir till wilted then tip the whole works into a strong blender, and whiz into a thick, fragrant soup. Add salt to taste.

If blender is not strong, chop the nettles and mint first.

 Submitted by:  Jane Kuntz

 

 

The plant that ate the South...

I’m writing this as I sit in Florida.  It’s almost the end of April and I’m wondering at this very moment what is happening in Maine.  It’s hot and humid here.  The air is full of wonderful scents, blooms of Jasmine, Magnolia, Hibiscus and other tropical plants.  It’s wonderful and luscious to the senses, bringing back memories of childhood fun in Florida.  It is also making me think about my garden and what is to come this summer.  At the moment I can only guess and according to Harley, what may be popping in my own garden.  On my way here I drove through different stages of spring.  In Massachusetts, they were at least 3 weeks ahead of us, by the time I got to Virginia, the dandelion and pipsissewa was out in full bloom.  In a matter of 24 hours, we went from new budding to the bliss of full blooms of tropical scents.    I love road trips!!  As we drove we couldn’t help but notice the Kudzu.   The plant that grows over everything, trees, houses, cars in the fields so that left unattended, in a matter of a year or two it is out of control.  This is the plant that I have heard others refer to as the plant that ate the south.  It certainly does seem to be out of control.  I didn’t know much about this plant as it is not one that I am familiar with in the Northeast, but a lot of people have called asking about Kudzu and Alcohol withdrawal.  I started my research a few months ago just for this reason but found  so much more—and then to see it in a full charge, creeping and moving over everything.   Yikes! 

 

Kudzu—pueraria montana lobata 

An obnoxious weed that was introduced to the Southeastern United States to decrease soil erosion and as a foraging crop.  Farmers planted it and even the Civil Engineer Corp encouraged it’s use up until 1953.  It now covers approximately 7 million acres in the deep south and has been nicknamed “the vine that ate the south”.  Looking at it you would not consider this an exaggeration.     It was once thought that Kudzu could not withstand harsh winter conditions but it can now be found in as far north as Indiana.  It seems to grow well under most conditions and soil types.  It grows rapidly, up to 60 feet per season (about 1 foot per day) and it’s large leaves can smother native plants, kill trees through girdling, blocking the sun and uprooting trees. 

          

Edible Uses:  The root is a staple food in Japan.   The flowers can be cooked or made into pickles and the stems and young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.  Herbal Teas can be made from the leaves and jam from the blossoms.  The young leaves can be cooked like spinach.  The roots ground into a powder make a good substitute for cornstarch.  

Medicinal Uses:  This plant is being touted for it’s alcohol withdrawal capablilites at this time.  Kudzu causes acetaldehyde to accumulate in the blood faster.  So if you take dried Kudzu (in capsule form) with your first drink, you literally start feeling the hangover effect before that drink is gone.  This tends to make people cut back on drinking excessively. What most overlook is that this plant is also an anti- spasmodic, which makes it useful for muscle spasms, stiff neck and achy muscles.  It is also a demulcent, diaphoretic, hypoglycemic and hypotensive.  It is useful for IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) as well as a liver tonic.  It is also useful for angina pectoris and migraine. 

Other Uses:  The woody fibrous stems can be used to make textiles and paper or woven into baskets.  It is even being used to make candles (it’s related to the legume family (soy)).  And is used in all types of scented products from soaps to body oils and lotions. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classes/Events:  . 

We are still accepting applications for the 2009 Apprenticeship Program—Registration deadline has been extended.  Payment plans are accepted.  Call the office if you are interested.  If you need to set up a different payment plan than what is being offered.  We will work with you.    207-793-3553

May 16 the 2009 Apprenticeship program begins. 

May 16th is also the 2009 Master Gardener Plant Sale at the extension office in Springvale.  I believe the doors open at 8 am.  Mark it on your calendar! 

May 31—Plant ID walk with Debbie at Greenwood Herbals.  $15.  11:00—1:30 pm  Plant id books are optional.  But if you wish to learn to key out a plant—call the office to register and we will recommend some books that we use.  207-793-3553

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Announcements:

·  Greenwood Herbals has now changed over to our summer hours.  We will be open Thursday thru Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.  Wednesday’s by appointments.  

· The apprenticeship program is starting on May 16th.  Please get your application into the office,  in order to receive the welcome package in time for the beginning class. 

· Greenwood Herbals consultation form is now on-line for your convenience.  You can fill it out on-line, and send it back to herbalist@greenwoodherbals.com or print it off, fill it out and mail it back to 561 Parsonsfield Rd.  Limerick, Maine  04048.  Once I receive the form I will call you to schedule the appointment. 

· Consultations are $65 for the first two hours.  This does not include the cost of products. 

 

Spring Nettle Tonic

4 cups of nettle leaf (cut the top 6” aerial part)

Water

Organic Butter

1 diced onion

Garlic

Olive Oil

Salt and pepper to test

Cover the leaves with water and bring to a boil.  Cook over medium heat for twenty minutes.  Five minutes before the leaves are ready, sauté’ the onions and garlic in olive oil.  Take the leave and chop them and add to the onions and garlic.  Serve with butter on the tops of the leaves. 

Keep your nettle plants harvested to encourage the stalks to grow new, tender leaves. 

 

 

 

 

Springtime and Lavender

Spring is finally here.  The snow is slowly melting at Greenwood Herbals.  Where there isn’t snow you will find a  sea of mud.  We are officially into mud season here.  Boards line the walk-way to the shop, the chickens and the greenhouse.  Today we actually opened the greenhouse to let the cool air in.  The temperature inside was at 100 degree’s by late morning.  My Grandson, Harley, who had followed me down to the greenhouse, had the sole treat of  grazing off the bed of Johnny-Jump-Ups.   After that,  we couldn’t help ourselves and started poking around in the woods where I found Skunk Cabbage coming up, along with the Foam Flower and other green friends who are waking up from their long winter sleep.  Then onto the Poplars to check on the buds.  I am waiting to make another poplar bud oil.  I love poplar bud oil and tincture for joint and muscle pain.  But alas, they aren’t ready.  Just starting to develop with hardly any swell.  It won’t be long though.  This has been another long cold winter and I am so ready for the warm days that are promised ahead.    I am ready to greet the rest of the garden.

Lavender—lavandula angustifolia “Munstead”

 

A bushy, branching shrub, dense, woody, with small lavender purple flowers.  It can grow up to 3 feet.  It is difficult to get strains to breed true and it has a long germination time, so it is best to propagate through cuttings.  To encourage it to spread over a wide area, make sure it has enough lime and add root cuttings to prepared soil.

 The munstead variety grows best in our New England climate.  It is hardy enough, when winter mulch is applied for protection, to make it through the bitter cold winters and still show it’s beautiful head by mid June.  Yes, mid June, sometimes even later!  I use to pull all my lavender plants up in May, thinking that they had not survived the winter.  A few years ago, only because time had gotten away from me, I didn’t have a chance to pull up the dead lavender plants.  It was mid June when I noticed the new growth.  Depending on the conditions of May and June, I have waited until the end of June to find that the plants were still hardy and strong.  It needs full sun and likes well drained soil.  It absolutely hates wet feet.   Remove all mulch once the chance of frost is over.  Do not mulch with anything other than gravel.  This is a good companion plant for Thyme and benefits all vegetables.  It attracts bees and butterflies and repels insects and deer!  

Today the largest percentage of blooms goes into perfumery and perfumed products.  It is used to cleanse the skin, by adding to bath or for facials.  It helps with sleep. 

Edible Uses:  The flowers and leaves are used in vinegars, jellies and sparingly in salads and in baking. 

Medicinal Uses:  Carminative, antispasmodic, relaxing nervine, antidepressant.  It can be used to relieve headaches, especially when related to stress.   It has also proved itself to be quite effective in clearing depression when  used with other remedies, such as holy basil, damiana and rosemary.  It is a gentle strengthening nervous system tonic.  The essential oil may be applied externally directly to the skin to ease aches and pains of rheumatism or insect bites.  There is no need to add this essential oil to a carrier oil. 

There are no side effects or drug interactions with lavender.

To make a tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried herb and infuse in a covered container for 10 minutes.   I don’t like the taste of lavender when it stands alone.  It is very strong and only a little is needed.  I prefer it in a blend, such as our Composure Tea, which contains Lavender, Hibiscus, Roses, Lemon Verbena and Chamomile. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classes/Events:  . 

We are still accepting applications for the 2009 Apprenticeship Program—Registration deadline has been extended to May 9th.  Payment plans are accepted.  Call the office if you are interested but need to set up a different payment plan than what is being offered.  We will work with you.    207-793-3553

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Announcements:

·  Greenwood Herbals will be closed April 17th through May 2, 2009.  We will be on vacation. 

· Please get your orders in before April 15th for shipment.  Any orders placed between the 16th and the 2nd will be shipped out on May 6th. 

· Greenwood Herbals consultation form is now on-line for your convenience.  You can fill it out on-line, and send it back to herbalist@greenwoodherbals.com or print it off, fill it out and mail it back to 561 Parsonsfield Rd.  Limerick, Maine  04048.  Once I receive the form I will call you to schedule the appointment. 

Consultations are $65 for the first two hours.  This does not include the cost of the products.

 

                  Lavender Cookies

 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbs of Lavender Flowers finely chopped

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 375

In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and lavender.  Mix well.  Combine the flour and baking powder and add to the lavender mixture, stirring until well blended.  Drop by teaspoonsful onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned on the edges.  Cool on baking sheet for a minute and then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.  Makes 4 dozen cookies

Reprinted from our June 2005 Newsletter by request. 

Children and Elecampane

 There have been many parents coming in this winter.  Parents looking for something other than what is available to them at their local pharmacy for their children.  The respiratory issues have been huge this year.  Even my 18 month old granddaughter, Zoe’ ended up with Bronchitis.  I have been administrating some tea by the teaspoon and was surprised at how much she loved it.  Within three days she was doing much better and we learned that she loves tea.

One of my teachers, long ago, told me to watch the plants and take note of what is growing abundantly in the area, because the plants that are needed will come before the ailment. I have seen the truth in her words over the years.   So it had crossed my mind back in July with the amount of mullein growing in the fields, along the roads, around the local schools.  And even in September and October while we were harvesting our Elecampane, the size of the roots caused me to wonder again.  Were we going to see a lot of respiratory afflictions this winter?  And sure enough, it started in January and I still don’t see an end in sight.  My elecampane root is getting low as well as the mullein leaf.  But thankfully, parents and children are taking and using the tea with good results.

I have had to stress the fact with parents that you have to remember that anyone under the age of twelve needs to have their herbal medicine administered by their weight and age.  Just because it is herbal does not make it weaker or less effective.  Before using herbs on children, please contact a qualified herbalist for dosage and the correct herbs for your child.    

 Elecampane-Inula helenium

   

 Elecampane is a strikingly beautiful plant.  It stands up to 4 to 5 feet tall.  Will grow in sun or partial shade and all soils.  When it first shows itself in the garden it produces a huge rosette of pointed leaves that can grow up to 1 1/2 feet long and at least 4 inches wide.  It has toothed margins and reminds me of mullein when it first shows itself.  It produces large yellow flowers that are in bloom from June to August.  It resembles a sunflower.  The flowers go to seed in September and it does self sow.    We harvest the second year root, which is a large fleshy root stock, and smells like fresh bananas.  It stands tall and beautiful along side the mullein that I let grow wild in my gardens

Edible Uses:  The root can be eaten as a potherb.  It contains a starch known as Inula, which is indigestible by humans.  Some people experience flatulence if it doesn’t pass through the digestive tract, but instead begins to ferment

Medicinal Uses: The actions of this plant are classified as an expectorant, anti-tussive, diaphoretic, hepatic and anti-microbial.  It is a specific for irritating bronchial coughs, especially in children and the elderly.  It is helpful for bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, including bronchial asthma.  The mucilage has a relaxing effect, while the plant oils bring about the stimulation that both soothes irritation and promotes expectoration.  It has also been used in the treatment of tuberculosis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  It can be combined with other herbs and used for infections such as flu and tonsillitis.

Elecampane can also be an aid in stimulating the digestion and appetite.

Folklore:  It is believed that the colonist brought this plant to North America.  Not because of it’s beauty or its’ medicinal valve to humans, but instead for the care of their horses and other livestock. It takes two of its common names from its early medical use,  “horseheal”  for its use by veterinarians for treating pulmonary disorders in horses.  And “scabwort” from the herbs’ effectiveness in healing scabs on sheep.   

Other uses:  A blue dye can be obtained from the bruised or macerated root.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classes/Events:  . 

March 8th — Anne Dickerson will be presenting an Introduction Overview of Business Practices and User-friendly Methods of Accounting. This has been adapted for herbalists but applies to everyone.  9 am to 1 pm.  This class is already filling up fast.  Please call the office at 207-793-3553 to register.  $40.00

March 10th—Exploration of Medicinal Herbs - I am presenting at Old Orchard Beach Adult Education. 6 to 8:30 pm  Call 207-934-7922

March 15th—Exploring Flower Essences with Christine Tolf of Lichenwood Herbals, Barrington, NH, 664-3393.   Held here at  Greenwood Herbals - 2-4 pm  $25.  See our web-site under Classes/Events for further details.  Call the office at 207-793-3553 to register. 

Announcements:

·  We are now accepting applications for the 2009 Apprenticeship Program.  See our web-site  www.greenwoodherbals.com for more details and the application form.  Registration Deadline is  April 30th, 2009. 

 Recipe: 

Lemon Ginger Zest  Tea

A nice tea for indigestion, a head cold or just to warm you up on a cold March Day. 

Slice up a 1/4 piece of fresh ginger root and a whole lemon.  Add to a stainless steel or enamel pot, add enough water to cover the root and lemon.  Bring water to a boil, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.  Strain and add a dash of cayenne. 

New Seeds and Hawthorn - Crataegus spp.

February 2009

 

It’s time!  I’ve been collecting them, hoarding them since November.  Those wonderful seed catalogs that come in during the Christmas hustle and chaos.  Those catalogs that are collected and stored away for that day when the thought of lifting one more shovel of snow might push you over the edge.  Those arctic blasts must be breaking records this winter.  Last fall I had the boys, my two grandsons collecting the vegetable and herb seeds and this morning they checked them to make sure that they were still okay.  When we were collecting those seeds we had a great discussion on why and so I  decided to show them the complete planting cycle from collecting the seeds to planting them again in the spring.  So they are just as anxious as I am to start those seeds.  We have the time tables ready, the seeds are ready, the plans for more beds are done.  All I have to do is sit, look through the catalogs, and place that order.   It’s always so  pleasurable on a cold snowy day to sit and go through the catalogs.  Now I have these two little boys looking through them with me and who are finding as much joy in the ritual as I do.  

Hawthorn —  Crataegus spp.

           

Hawthorn is a thorny deciduous tree or shrub that can grow up to 25 feet tall.  It bears small white flowers in late spring, May and early June.  The flowers have five white petals.  And it produces an unpleasant smell of decaying fish.  These flowers later in the year bear numerous small, oval dark red fruits called haws.  The younger stems bear long sharp thorns.  Hawthorn is native to all of Europe but can also be found in North America.  It can be found along roadsides, fields and woods.  Will grow in all soils, in the sun or partial shade.  I have found Hawthorn growing in our woods but it tends to be thin and leggy reaching for the sun.  The fruit will be more profuse when it is growing in an open sunny field.  This shrub was planted all over New England as a hedge in agriculture.  The spines and close branches make it a very effective and natural animal and human proof fence.  Hawthorn actually means "thorny hedge" in old English. 

 Edible Uses:  A tea is made from the dried leaves as a substitute for China tea.  The flowers can be used in syrups, and the seeds roasted and used as a coffee substitute.   The berries can be made into wines and jellies. 

 Medicinal Uses:  Hawthorn is an excellent cardio-tonic that supports good heart health. Traditionally the berries were used but research has proven that the flowers and leaf have stronger properties.  It is especially indicated in the treatment of low and high blood pressure.   It is effective in the beginning stages of heart disease, as well as speeding up the recovery time after a heart attack by strengthening weak heart muscles.  The plant reduces cholesterol and regulates blood pressure  It seems to increase the liver’s conversion of bad cholesterol into good cholesterol, which helps to stop plaque formation.   It should be taken for at least eight weeks to be effective.  It’s primary attribute appears to be its ability to improve circulation.  Hawthorne is believed to stabilize the collagen in the bone, thus helping with osteoporosis and arthritis.  It reduces joint damage by reducing inflammation.  Hawthorne berry increases blood circulation to the brain, halting inflammation in the brain due to allergies.  Hawthorn is being used with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and when combined with Gingko, enhances memory.  This is truly an amazing herb.

 Contraindications:  Hawthorn may result in a dramatic drop in blood pressure if used with pharmaceutical heart medications.   Use with caution in cases of colitis.  If you are taking medications for gout, hawthorn may thin your blood causing easy bleeding and bruising.  Consult with your health care practitioner before using Hawthorn with these medications.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Classes/Events: 

February 7th — We will be at Garden of Atlantis, participating in the Fun Fair.  508 Clarks Mills Rd (Rte 35), Dayton, Me.  11 am to 4 pm —Come and visit us and others at the Fun Fair!  See:   http://gardensofatlantis.org for more details. 

March 8th — Anne Dickerson will be presenting an Introduction overview of Business Practices and user-friendly methods of accounting. This has been adapted for herbalists but applies to everyone.  9 am to 1 pm.  This class is already filling up fast.  Please call the office at 207-793-3553 to register.  $40.00

March 10th—Exploration of Medicinal Herbs - I will be presenting at Old Orchard Beach Adult Education. 6 to 8:30 pm  Call 207-934-7922

March 15th—Exploring Flower Essences with Christine Tolf of Lichenwood Herbals, Barrington, NH, 664-3393.   Held here at  Greenwood Herbals - 2-4 pm  $25.  See our web-site under Classes/Events for further details.  Call the office at 207-793-3553 to register. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Early Bird Registration for the 2009 Apprenticeship Program is March 1, 2009  - Register before March 1st and save $75. 

· We are now accepting applications for the 2009 Apprenticeship Program.  See our web-site  www.greenwoodherbals.com for more details and the application form.

 I came to Greenwood Herbals after nearly a lifetime of allergy suffering and allopathic cures that made me ill with a destroyed immune system.  After realizing that most of my allergy symptoms were a direct result of chemical sensitivities, I started to regain my health.  My intention with the apprenticeship was to learn to make cold remedies without artificial colors.  I also wanted to make my own shampoos and lotions without the typical chemical fragrances and petroleum bases.

What I received from the apprenticeship was so much more than I originally bargained for!  A tea has kept my husband's gout at bay for 2 years now.  It's been just as long since I've had a cold sore outbreak.  A liver cleanse tea cleared up a persistent redness in my right eye which three doctors had written off as merely irritation.  For the first time in my life, I kicked a cold in 24 (yes, 24!) hours thanks to fire cider.  I have been completely free of medication for over a year now and will never, ever regret my decision to take the course.  It has more than paid for itself!

Amy Provost